Grady Sizemore underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this week and though the Indians say they expect him to be ready for spring training 2012, there’s no guarantee that they’ll exercise his $9MM option. Buster Olney weighed in on Sizemore and the Rays in this morning’s blog entry at ESPN.com. Here are the details:
- If the Indians let Sizemore walk, many teams would be interested in his services. Specifically, Olney suggests the 29-year-old center fielder would draw interest from teams like the Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies.
- At times, talent evaluators saw Sizemore’s old explosiveness this year and it wouldn’t be surprising if he became a star player again.
- He’s not likely to be back with the Indians in 2013, Olney writes.
- Olney outlines the options for Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, who expressed frustration with the team’s season-long attendance issues despite its on-field success. He could sell the franchise, continue with a low payroll and low expectations or look to move the team to Tampa or another city. "The St. Petersburg baseball market is dead," Olney writes.
Why would the Phils, Yanks, or Sox be interested? Victorino, and to a far greater extent, Granderson, and Ellsbury, are all guys at or near the top of their game.
I would expect any of them would put him in a corner OF position. It would put far less stress in his body than CF.
Agreed with Paka. The Yankees could decline Swisher’s option ($10.25MM) and get Sizemore for far cheaper if the Indians let him go. Sizemore’s $9MM option is already cheaper for the Yanks, but he could probably be had for around $5MM or less with his injury history.
Still doesn’t make sense to dump Swisher, who has been durable and productive, for Sizemore, who might be a little cheaper, but is far less dependable. Simply wouldn’t make sense to rely on him.
ok i may be wrong or super crazy. but my thinking is, the yankees are going to the post season with or without swisher. and if swisher cant do anything in the post season, why have him.
The Phillies need someone to replace Ibanez. They have Mayberry but I’m not sold on him. I don’t know about the front office but I’d prefer to get someone else and keep him to a 4th outfield role.
Man if they signed Grady, wtf would they do with Dom Brown? Eventually the kid has to play or be traded, he doesn’t do any good wallowing in AAA. Gotta sink or swim.
Trade for a 3B? I’ll take Mark Reynolds in CBP. I don’t know, he could draw some major interest.
I’d imagine Grady would be a 1 year deal to give Domonic a year to collect himself.
It’s more than likely it’s Mayberry/Brown in left field to start the season. I was just saying why they’d be interested. I’m fine with that platoon btw. Domonic was hitting the ball well before he got sent down and then he moped for a couple months.
The Red Sox could potentially use him in RF, as could the Yanks if they decline Swisher’s option. The Phillies have Ibanez coming off the books, and a healthy Sizemore could play right with Pence moving to left. Or all three could see him as a super-sub 4th OF, giving him tons of time on the field while still keeping him healthy.
I could see teams like the Cardinals (Jon Jay), Nationals, and Marlins eyeing him as well.
If you like Grady in right, you havent seen him play much. Grady, when healthy, brings a lot of tools, but a RF arm has NEVER been one of them.
And speculation in Cleveland has long centered (no pun intended) on Grady playing left instead of center–the medical people have weighed in that left will be harder on his knees than center, because of the sharper cuts required to get to balls in left.
The Nats still lust after BJ Upton, who they wanted at the deadline. I’d expect them to go after him way before Sizemore in the offseason.
I agree with the Nats. Sizemore is exactly the type of reclamation project signing that Rizzo would look for–someone he could not break the bank for because of injury history but has a potential to turn into something decent.
Might as well throw the Mets in threre as well if they don’t resign Reyes as they need an upgrade over Angel Pagan as well.
Pence has an amazing arm. Moving him to RF would take away one of his best tools. I do agree that an OF of Sizemore/Mayberry Victorino and Pence would be nice but that is only if they can trade Brown for a third base option (assuming Polanco may be out for surgeries and possibly even retire).
I wonder what kind of return Brown would get right now. He has been horrible of late and certainly hasn’t helped his stock.
Cleveland’s frustration with keeping Sizemore on the field for a prolong time recently is understandable. That being said, they spent money on Jimenez to help speed up their return to the post season, so is a $9MM investment for one year really something to really ponder?
The guy is a serious talent when healthy, and you can be sure he’s eager to show that he can produce. The only way he’s not a bargain is if he’s not healthy. Sign him
Check his WAR when he is on the field. Maybe it’s just that he’s playing hurt or so much time off has led to rust, but dude’s not the same player he was prior to 2008.
Move the Rays to New York -bring back a third team
Only if they play in Brooklyn!
And then move the A’s to Portland.
The Yankees and Mets have territorial claims. Good luck with that move.
Injury prone outfielder? Yeah screams Red Sox, oh wait, it may scream Cubs.
On the Rays notes, please move them to Las Vegas, the Rays are a good name, we have lots of those 360 days a year, we have a good support of the 51’s, we would love a mlb team.
Vegas still has a bad rep… I think it will be awhile before any pro sports franchise gets the courage to move there.
I dont think the city of Las Vegas would have the money to build the stadium. Modern ownership expects the city to build the stadium while they reap the rewards.
Las Vegas has some bad unemployment problems now.
The only way they could do it would be to add taxes to rooms or meals etc as “tourism taxes” but then the casinos will want that tax money to go to things that help them (like the tram line) and not to a baseball team.
The Rays don’t even need to move out of Florida they could easily move over to Orlando which would support the team far better then Tampa/St. Petersburg is right now and they have the land the build a stadium for them its just getting the city to support the move which they should honestly.
That move (orlando) would be the far wiser choice, even over just moving them across the Bay from St.Pete to Tampa, but 1st one has to let them break that horrible lease they signed years ago and those people in St.Petersburg only will if they sign another one if they build the new stadium in the same, rotten location.. On the WRONG side of the Bay..
I also see them moving due to non support and the people of St. Petersburg generally just do not care, it’s honor the lease or move with them..
Orlando would draw in all of central Florida and tourist traffic to one of the hottest areas in all of the country, it’s a no brainier to people with brains, something St. Pete leaders are lacking.. They just seem to want tax payer dollars for a stadium that the people of Florida are smart enough to NEVER give them..
The Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox would be interested? Shocking. What about the Marlins, Nats, Mets, Braves, Cubs, Astros, Pirates, Reds, Brewers, Cardinals, Padres, Rockies, Dodgers, D’Backs, Giants, Rays, O’s, Blue Jays, White Sox, Twins, Royals, Tigers, Mariners, A’s, Rangers and Angels? I think just about every team would be interested in him to some extent.
Did anybody else have a “smh” moment reading this post?
You forgot the Indians …
Sizemore should be Alderson’s primary offseason target. Him rebounding would fill the Mets holes in the outifeld in a big way.
Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips for Bartolo Colon.
One of the greatest trades of all time.
Hmmm… How about.. no?!?
Yep, just an absolute fleecing
Yeah, Exhibit A on why Omar Minaya should never be allowed in a front office again.
I’d love to see Sizemore on the Giants, who need a CF. J. Sanchez for Sizemore. Enigma for injury enigma.
Maybe – IF Sizemore could get thru a season. But, he can’t and his value as an every day player has diminished because of his endurance abiliity. Doctors can re-build an arm to be stronger than it was originally (Tommy John et al) – but not the knees. Too many parts – and when one area is worked on, it stresses another spot.
I’d like to know who these “talent evaluators” are that saw so much explosiveness out of him. Sure, when he came off the DL THE 1ST TIME, he had a great few weeks of hitting doubles. But, he was 0-2 in stolen base attempts, shows no more raw power and strikes out at a very alarming rate while not drawing walks anymore. 5 surgeries over 3 years (microfracture to 1 knee, 2 groin, elbow, and now arthroscopic on the other knee) and drastically declining stats do not warrant a $9M option being picked up.
I would be VERY surprised if he approached stats he used to have. He WAS a 30-30 guy that would hit about .280 and that is just not going to happen again. Sure, he may look good in a lineup like Philly, NYY, or Bos, where he wouldn’t be relied pon so much, but where is he going to play? And to Alex, I’d much rather have Swisher at over $10M than Sizemore at even $5M at this point. So be careful what you wish for.
Agree with you; when he came off the DL in early 2011, he played well but speed was gone from basepaths. Also, his 2nd SB attempt is when he blew out his other knee, and couldn’t get healthy again all year. Too many surgeries, young still but aging, apprehensive mixed with occasional wrecklessness – sorry Grady. Maybe the Rays, or an NL PH/late-inning def replacement. And what’s that worth? $2-3M. Too bad, he used to be my favorite Indians’ player. Wish him all the luck …
Cleveland fan here. Grady’s not nearly the same player he was up until ’08. Having watched him since his first game in the bigs, I’d tell you he’s a great highlight-reel/stat stuffer, but he’s not at all clutch. He strikes out way too much, and he’s no longer a threat on the bases. He has absolutely no arm, and his OBP is down. That being said, go ahead Yankees/Red Sox fans. Whatever it takes to make you miss out/get knocked out in the 1st round of the playoffs is cool with me.
Look for the Rays to sign Sizemore. They need some more pop from OF positions and can use Zo @ 2B. Maybe get him for $6-7M which would be a bargain if he’s healthy. The whole thing on Grady is his health and endurance from here on out. Health can be verified but endurance is the gamble. I personally think he cannot be an everyday player and remmain healthy; his style is far too wreckless, kind of like Josh Hamilton. Great for the fans to watch, but terrible for a team to work around. A team has to have a front line player ready to step in at any time – so why bother with Sizemore?