Though he gutted out a quality start after a tough first inning last night,Yankees southpaw CC Sabathia is dealing with bone-on-bone arthritis in his right knee, the left-hander told MLB.com’s Barry Bloom last night. Sabathia told Bloom that he’ll eventually need knee replacement surgery, but “that’s the price you pay.” Sabathia has been wearing a brace on his injured knee which he says prevents the ligaments in the joint from rubbing together when he plants to throw a pitch. As such, he’s able to maintain his mechanics.
A few more notes from around the AL to kick off the week…
- The Red Sox could use an “alpha dog” atop their rotation, writes Peter Gammons of the MLB Network and GammonsDaily.com. Gammons breaks down a number of options for the Sox, including Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda (whom, according to one scout that spoke to Gammons, is “too slight” to pitch every fifth day in the Majors). Gammons outlines the case for and against the Sox reeling in top free agents David Price and Zack Greinke within his column, and he also looks at Johnny Cueto’s struggles since over the past month with the Royals.
- Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes that while the trade of Kevin Jepsen from the Rays to the Twins doesn’t stand out as one of the more memorable deals from this past deadline, it had a significant impact on the Rays’ clubhouse. There was a feeling in the air that the team had given up by trading one of its top setup men to a team they were chasing in the Wild Card race, Topkin hears from people around the clubhouse, especially considering that the return was a pair of low-level minor leaguers who weren’t going to contribute in 2014.
Still in favor of Cueto, or none of the available top FA SP available. Grienke only if LA allows him to walk, which won’t happen.
Maeda is an interesting option, though believe teams in need of SP depth will be more interested in him than a team like Boston, not to mention have a feeling Seattle could be his final destination.
Are there any teams in need of top starting pitching more than Boston?
No, but aside from Pedro, Boston has always stayed away from signing top tier FA pitching. Adding a pitcher with a 25+ million AAV doesn’t seem like a great idea for the Sox right now.
…because they already signed back end starters for front-end (#2) money.
Pedro was acquired by trade not free agency
There are other teams that need a top starting pitcher just as bad as they do and have just as bad, if not worse of a rotation if you look at just who they are running out there day in and out. If looking at teams under pressure to prove to the fanbase in 2016 that they are a playoff contender and need a top starter? Boston is the team most in need.
I think Detroit is a very close second if not a tie for first
There are alot of doubts about Maeda and the signing of Dice K is still in the minds of many sox fans. If the Red Sox spend big this off season its probably going to be on 1-2 MLB starting pitchers who don’t require a pick. ( Price, Cueto, Kazmir, Leake, etc)
Nope, if they don’t do something soon they will wind up wasting the cheap years of Bogaerts and Betts. Not to mention whatever productive years Pedroia has left.
Colorado needs it more, but they won’t sign any since Hampton and Neagle imploded.
One of the teams had in mind in post above, along with Arizona, Minnesota, Cincinnati with the entire rotation now gone (other than Bailey coming back from an injury next year). None of those teams are under the microscope of a huge fanbase and media like Boston has. Pressure is always there to win and 2 seasons in a row of losing, while in a place like Minnesota might be somewhat normal (they lost for years 70-‘s-80’s and was a right of passage under griffith). But it’s not in Boston.
I don’t mind watching them rebuild slow, saw them lose during the 60’s and only win 1 time during the 70’s and once again during the 80’s.Boston Media will crucify Henry and the rest if they don’t turn everything around next year.
Cueto’s little collapse his KC is enough to make me want the Sox to start far away on the FA market.
Grienke can opt-out, so it has nothing to do with LAD letting him walk (IIRC the contract terms). They could make him a stupid offer, but barring that Grienke should be in play for many teams.
Price has the AL East track record, but his age will be an issue in negotiations. Not to mention that he’s had some publicized spats with members of the team, which would lead to fit questions. He’s probably the technically best fit though, but the cost would be steep.
Greinke… I just don’t see doing well in a market like Boston or New York.
Anything to do with his social anxiety issues in the past? He’s coped with the bright light of LA extremely well.
He has never been the star in LA though. That has always been Kershaw.
I don’t think that’s been an issue since he got on the right meds before his Cy Young season. Like any other free agent, he’ll go where the money is.
John Henry needs to open up the bank and sign Price.
It’s 2015
What about going to a 6 man rotation?
The explanation ,in an article about Cueto and his catcher Perez on MLBTR this morning, may have the rationale as to why he has had a rough go of late. The RSox gave him a tough game at Fenway, one of his worst outings ever right after the deadline.
To me Cueto will be the Sox Target.
I think they may also package Pablo and Marrero or Brock to get Shields in the off season. Marrero would be a good fit at SS for the Friars.
ERod, Miley and Porcello could round out the rotation with Owens, Johnson and Wright starting the season in AAA in the event someone falters.
DD must then turn his attention to the pen.