Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports has been a busy man today it seems, as his Twitter timeline is rife with updates on free agents in search of work. Here's the latest from Morosi, with all links pointing to his Twitter unless otherwise noted…
- One potential hangup in the Stephen Drew market could be the fact that Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz will be cleared to sign in two weeks. The 23-year-old was declared ineligible to sign after falsifying his age last year (Diaz claimed to be 23 then, in order to be eligible for MLB one year early). Morosi reminds that MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez listed (MLBTR link) the Red Sox and Yankees as two of eight clubs to have shown interest in Diaz back in December, and both have been linked to Drew.
- Morosi spoke with Tommy Hanson's agent, Greg Genske, and was told that Hanson has received multiple offers. Genske said Hanson is in a great place both mentally and physically, which could not be said last year as he dealt with the tragic death of his brother.
- Agent Craig Landis tells Morosi that his client, Jon Garland, is unlikely to pitch in 2014. Garland is not retiring and is willing to sign and pitch in the right circumstances, Landis told Morosi.
- Morosi also chatted with Landis regarding another of his clients — lefty Joe Saunders. Saunders is fully healthy and plans to pitch this season, according to Landis. Saunders is coming off the worst season of his career, though his 4.23 xFIP was more than a full run lower than his 5.26 ERA. Saunders maintained his career strikeout rate, posted a career-best ground-ball rate but was plagued by a career-worst 14.5 percent homer-to-flyball ratio.
What is the latest that Drew can sign? Would he still show up to Sox camp if he hadn’t signed somewhere? Or would he need to accept the qualifying offer first?
The qualifying offer is gone now. As far as I know he can’t attend any spring training until he signs with a team. Lohse, for example, pitched to college kids near his home until the Brewers signed him.
He could sign a contract that has an opt-out before the end of Spring Training. That way he could go to a camp and wait out his market a bit more. It would be unorthodox, but I think legal.
It doesn’t matter what kind of contract he signs, that team will still have to surrender the draft pick.
The qualifying offer option is out the window. He has no ties to the Red Sox organization currently and wouldn’t report to camp with them. He could theoretically wait until after the draft and no longer be tied to a draft pick, but I’d imagine he signs before that.
Kyle Lohse didn’t sign until March 22 last offseason.
so although he has no ties to the sox, whoever signs him owes the sox a first round pick, right?
Depends on if the signing team has a protected 1st rounder or has already used its 1st rounder on another Free Agent signing. Then, it would get a 2nd rounder from the signing team
Not true anymore. The signing team still loses a first- or second-round pick (Top 11 are protected this year), but the Red Sox don’t get that pick. That pick simply disappears, and the Sox get a compensation pick between the first and second rounds.
Not true anymore. The signing team still loses a first- or second-round pick (Top 11 are protected this year), but the Red Sox don’t get that pick. That pick simply disappears, and the Sox get a compensation pick between the first and second rounds.
Nope. They just forfeit their pick, and the Sox get a comp pick between the first and second rounds.
The system you’re referring to was done away with under the last CBA.
If Drew (or any other QO player) waits until after the draft to sign, do the Sox still get a compensation pick? I know the draft pick tied to players is dragging down their market but if the losing club also loses it’s comp pick (and corresponding pool money) it might make them more inclined to sign Drew. Better to get something than nothing.
No, once the draft occurs, he would not require giving up a pick to sign.
But would the Sox still get a comp pick? I don’t think they would but was just curious.
No they wouldn’t because the draft would be over.
so although he has no ties to the sox, whoever signs him owes the sox a first round pick, right?
The Yankees badly need Diaz.
There are two big problems with Drew waiting past Spring Training. He’s had plenty of injury concerns which increases the need for proper conditioning. He also further limits his market by basically eliminating the possibility that he could switch position since that process would be rushed.
I would like to think a veteran coming off a $9M dollar contract has the brains and the money to train himself and prepare on his own, out of his own pocket. Also, if he felt the need to change positions I think he could do that without an organizations help too
Players have been known to show up to camp out of shape. There’s no reason to expect that Drew would, but the World Baseball Classics have shown the potential dangers in disrupted Spring Training routines.
Drew wouldn’t change positions unless a team signed him to do so, which at this point is unlikely unless the Yankees sign him. Given that the Yankees have been linked to him, he stands to lose leverage if other teams don’t think there’s a chance he’ll sign there.
Would definitely love it if the Yankees sign Diaz & Hanson. Diaz for obvious reasons (could possibly move to third or second, and/or possible replacement for Jeter) & Hanson because he is still young and was once highly touted. He can be a huge addition for a very low price.
Not one post so far regarding the non retirement of a back end SP who has somehow managed to rake in 52m over his career, even though he has put up a 1.387WHIP, 4.37ERA, allowed more h than IP, 3BB/9IP?
Maybe the MLBPA should look at careers/stats like these when they are bewildered at why people can’t get signed.
One thing to keep in mind is that Garland managed 200+ IP 7 times from 2002-2010 and 190+ in every season during that period. He may not have been dominant but he saved bullpens. Key word here is back end starter. Anytime you can get a 200 IP, or just 190+, out of any back end starter, your team is going to have a rested bullpen. 4.37 career ERA in the 4 or 5 spot isn’t going to destroy a rotation. In fact that’s what one should expect from a back end spot. Plus, one can argue that if Garland were in his prime today, in a more pitching/defense friendly era, his ERA, WHIP, etc could probably be lower.
I understand what you are saying there, then bad teams don’t pay their back end starters 6-8m annually. For his career normals, or even his better years (05-09) he wouldn’t have been worth 6-8m annually in today dollars on a LT deal to a low-mid market team as a FA like 3y coming off those seasons.
Not one post so far regarding the non retirement of a back end SP who has somehow managed to rake in 52m over his career, even though he has put up a 1.387WHIP, 4.37ERA, allowed more h than IP, 3BB/9IP?
Maybe the MLBPA should look at careers/stats like these when they are bewildered at why people can’t get signed.
I’m surprised there hasn’t been more rumors surrounding Diaz. He could potentially fill a hole for a team looking for a long term SS. A desperate team could start him, while a better prepared team could see him as their SS for 2015 and beyond. As a Mets fan, I haven’t liked the idea of signing Drew to a 1 year deal, effectively destroying any chance of finding a long term SS internally, but if they signed Diaz and shelved him in AAA for a year I wouldn’t mind them signing Drew
would love the mets to sign Diaz.
reports are saying that his defense is questionable and that he is more likely to play 2B if he makes it to MLB.
reports are saying that his defense is questionable and that he is more likely to play 2B if he makes it to MLB.
Saunders also had a very high H/9 and his BB/9 was inflated as well. It translated into a WHIP of 1.601. That’s terrible. Of course he had a high HR/FB ratio, he’s more of a GB pitcher. His HR/9 was 1.2, which was also consistent with his career average. He got hit hard and walked too many hitters. Even Joe Blanton had a better WHIP, in the 1.50 range. But Blanton’s ERA was more reflective of his WHIP because he actually does give up a ton of HR’s. The question now is what kind of contract would Saunders get in 2014. 1 year? Minor league deal?
Bazooka Joe gave up plenty of rockets at Seattle last year. Still? I kind of thought he might have returned as a MiLB invitee since the Bonderman experiment didn’t turn out too well in the end and they may have to wait a month (or 2) for Walker/Paxton to get into the groove at the start of the season.
Joe can get into a roll sometimes, much like Vargas. Something abour lefty junkballers.. righties just don’t seem to have that niche, but lefties do.. bill lee would roll them off also,
This system appears to be hurting players but at the same time when I look at the list I see players that are big question marks both on and off the field.
Can someone give me the rundown on Diaz?
As a Yankee fan, I would love to see us pick Hanson up on a 1-2 year deal, especially if Pineda’s health does not pan out as everyone is hoping. Had no idea he lost a brother, hell when I was a kid, I left a high school playoff game when I heard my sister broke her ankle! I feel like he could bounce back big time! On a side note, PLEASE DON’T SIGN DREW. I just don’t feel it’s necessary. By the way, I’m a long time reader on here; love most of what you guys have to say..time to join in!
As not a Yankee fan I would love to see them pick up Hanson. HR would be flying all over the place!
I’ve always gotten Joe Saunders and Jon Garland confused and it’s funny to me to find out they’re represented by the same agent.
I am a Sox fan—we are deep at SS–Xander, Marrero, Brock and Herrera. I am concerned not signing Drew may put added pressure on Bogaerts but he has to be tested sometime.
Drew would be the perfect fit for the Yankees to start at SS and move Jeter to 3 B.
Ryan is a great glove–no hit. Drew would improve his power numbers at the Stadium. The Yankees would not lose much of a draft pick.
The Mets are going nowhere—don’t bother with Drew.