Here are a few tidbits from Ken Rosenthal's latest video from FOX Sports:
- There aren't many good third base options available this offseason (Chase Headley is available, and Aramis Ramirez has a mutual option), so retaining Pablo Sandoval makes sense for the Giants.
- Rosenthal wonders if the Pirates could sign either Stephen Drew or Kendrys Morales after the draft in June, at which point they wouldn't have to worry about the draft-pick forfeiture attached to each of them. After a quiet offseason, the Pirates should have the financial wherewithal to pursue a bigger-name player. In a tiny sample size, Jordy Mercer has not hit well so far this year as the Pirates' starting shortstop. The team is currently platooning Travis Ishikawa and Gaby Sanchez at first base.
- Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel are off to good starts with the Cubs, who could trade either player by the end of July. The Cubs dealt Matt Garza and Scott Feldman in-season last year, and Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm the previous season.
- Tyler Thornburg is off to an excellent start out of the Brewers' bullpen, which makes clear why they were unwilling to trade him to the Mets this offseason.
- In a separate video, Rosenthal says that five teams bid upwards of $60MM for Jose Abreu: the White Sox, Astros, Rockies, Brewers and Red Sox. The Red Sox still wanted to keep Mike Napoli, however, which would have meant that Abreu might have started the season in the minors if he had signed with them. Abreu is currently hitting .273/.365/.659 in his first couple weeks with the White Sox.
Might want to list Abreu’s HR and RBI count. I’d put money on Redsox not enjoying Napoli after this year while Abreu is in his prime.
Abreu just as well could have sucked. He looks good now but its only a matter of time before teams gather some video on him and figure out where to pitch him.
Doubt it. Guy can hit the away pitch to either field for power and turn on an inside pitch without a problem. There are maybe two or three guys that can do all that a generation. Kudos to the White Sox for seeing this and paying any cost.
Wow you are already calling him one of the best of his generation?
Guess if we are making insane predictions after two weeks I am taking time off in Octomber to watch my Brewers in the world series.
I’m not the only one seeing and saying these things. One of the guys on ESPN said he was young Albert Pujols at the plate. The talent is that apparent that the professionals can’t even deny it.
Yah cause the professionals are always right and never jump on bandwagons.
Actually, Abreu isn’t hitting the inside pitch and he’s doing most of his damage out of the strike zone according to the advanced stats. Eventually he’s going to have to start hitting the inside strike or he’s going to have a second half like Puig. And it’s way too early to start to judge his talent.
I’ll only defend him by saying he’s a truly refined professional hitter. Most batters go through adjustment periods, but the Sox got as major league ready bat as possible. I’ve seen Abreu flip mistakes past the opposite field gap. The talent is there.
Napoli is signed through next season, and while Abreu looks good after 10 whole games lets see where ends up. Sox will have had Nap for 3 years at $37mil, pretty good value
It’s good value for Redsox fans.
For the Red Sox organization as a business decision to sign Napoli….good value
3 strong 3B is a lot on the market. Last winter you only had Peralta/Infante/Drew that aren’t nearly as good with the bat, and are primarily infielder market. Next winter you also have several ss that could also slide to 3rd if the money there.
Other:
Any idea what the value on the mutual option is for Aramis. Original MLBTR post on his signing has no value, neither does Cots, just the $4MM buyout. Might be his last chance at a big payday, especially since this contract only gave him $12MM aav, including the buyout. He could probably get something in the neighborhood of Beltran’s $45MM/3years.
It is for 14mil.
Though something you are overlooking is if he declines the option the Brewers can turn around and slap the QO on him. Add in his injury issues, age, and Brewers lack of a viable replacement I would expect him to return.
But he has $4MM buyout, so it is essentially $10MM in new money. If he declines and takes QO, he would gain around $5MM over the option.
No because declining the option means the buyout is gone. The buyout is gone after the Brewers accept their half.
He could gain $1mil by declining the option and accepting the QO, but I doubt he or his agent is going to go through the hassle for just that. I could see the Brewers working out a 2 year deal with Aramis too.
Regardless it is going to be nearly impossible for him to find money outside of Milwaukee if he has a good and healthy year. He will be turning 37 and trying to find a good deal will be pretty tough with the QO stuck to him.
If he has a good and healthy season I would offer him 2/26mil +13mil option based on health in 2016. It will take him 2 more years to hit most of his career milestones and if he can still play an additional year to get to 2500 hits. Would make a very interesting HOF case.
Jed Lowrie can play 3b. He played it in Boston and back then at least had the arm for it just fine.
Should be able to. He has been a regular shortstop, so can still handle the throws from the left side. 3B and SS are the only 2 positions where there is any value really next winter. Free Agency looks pretty bad.
Stanton isn’t mentioned in this thread, but thought would bring this up here.
He just hit a 470′ HR at Philly, he had already hit one over 480′ last week. Is leading the NL in RBI and has little protection in the marlins lineup.
When does he cross 500′?
Not sure why rumors happen surrounding the Pirates and free agents. Just not going to happen. If they are in the running, they will trade away a couple of their top prospects in September for a month rental.
Doesn’t mean the buyout is gone if he turns down his part. All depends on what they negotiated, and players do regularly still get the buyout.
Why would he leave the $1MM on the table because it is a hassle? If they offer him the QO he makes more money with the same team, if they don’t then he will not have an offer attached to him and he can get a 2-3 year contract at more money than the option.
Carlos Beltran is a year older than Aramis and isn’t very good defensively now either. I don’t think it will be that hard for him to find money outside of Milwaukee. Beltran had at least 1 other offer in the same range as his $45MM/3.
I have read he does not get the buyout if he declines. It wouldn’t be $4mil if he got it either way.
Even in a weak market Ramirez won’t be getting 3 year offers. Way to much for a guy losing power and have some leg issues.
The Pirates have never traded top prospects for rentals….last year they sent a solid but nothing special 2B Dilson Herrera and decent minor league RP Vic Black for Buck and Byrd, and sent backup OFer Alex Presley and PTBNL (Duke Welker, who they reacquired) for Morneau. The Pirates are very smart about keeping their top core prospects.
And yea, no way they sign FAs…Polanco and Lambo will be up at some point. And Mercer will improve at SS.