It’s an exceptionally quiet night on the transaction front, so let’s turn our attention to a poll. Tomorrow is Yasmani Tomas day with the Cuban slugger scheduled to workout at the Giants Dominican complex in front of about two dozen clubs. Even though tomorrow is a landmark date in Tomas’ move toward the majors, it is really just the beginning of the process. Like with fellow countryman Rusney Castillo, I assume Tomas will conduct private workouts with the most interested teams in the next few weeks. It’s also worth noting that Tomas has not yet been declared a free agent by major league baseball.
We heard last Sunday that Tomas could command as much as $100MM in a bidding war. While we can assume that every team with some modicum of interest will be represented at the showcase, we’ve seen eight teams directly tied to Tomas. The Yankees and Phillies are popular speculative destinations. Hall of Fame journalist and MLB Network contributor Peter Gammons mentioned five clubs as front runners, including the Phillies, Rangers, Tigers, Padres, and Giants. The Red Sox and Mets have also been tied to Tomas here at MLBTR.
So my question is this: who do you think will sign Tomas? I’ve removed a few teams from the poll below based on payroll or other constraints (i.e. the Rays). If the team you think will sign him is not represented, you should vote for “other.”
[polldaddy poll=8321043]
definitely think the Red Sox have the biggest chance with the Yanks, Mets, and Giants closely behind
And why don’t the Phillies have a shot?
i think cherington should spend on the rotation before he spends on a strength on his team already
The Sox have already announced they’re planning on opening up the checkbook in the offseason so going after Tomas and pitching isn’t out of the realm of possibility. If the Sox go after Tomas, which I kind of doubt, my guess will be Betts will the bait in going after either Hamels, Cueto, or whoever else might be on the market and could potentially anchor a staff.
the Red Sox payroll is 150+ million this year. that is 4th most in MLB. they need pitching badly also they have 6 OF that could start everyday next year. where are you going to put all these OF with Ortiz at DH and Napoli at 1B. they have to trade 2 OF before the season starts as is. remember Rosters are only 25 guys you can’t just get everyone no matter how much money you have.
I’m betting Victorino will likely be traded during the offseason with the Sox eating half his salary or more depending on the return. Also I wouldn’t be surprised to see Napoli being moved with Craig taking over first full time.
I’m not saying the Sox will go after Tomas, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility of them signing him and a pitcher and trading for other pieces.
The all Cuban outfield?
I really don’t think the RS have the biggest chance, unless they honestly feel he is a complete bat, that get’s really undervalued.
They have Cespedes, Betts, Craig, Castillo, Victorino as well as JBJ/Holt that can backup. They don’t have room for another outfielder, it doesn’t fit with the team, they would only be spending money to keep the players away from other teams. Even if Tomas would be the best outfielder on the team, the money would better be spend elsewhere.
Tomas costs money, that means the Mets are out of the running. They’re broke.
the Red Sox have Rusney Castillo, Allen Craig, Yoenis Cespedes, Shane Victorino and Jackie Bradley jr. they have too many OF as is and with Napoli at 1B and Ortiz at DH the have no space for Yasmani Tomas. they have to trade atleast 1 OF before the season starts right now.
Don’t forget Mookie Betts.
And they also have Nava. Thats seven in the outfield. Plus they have a couple other OF on the 40 man
The Red Sox have seven outfielders on a likely 90+-loss team that ranks last in scoring in the American League. Quantity is not the same quality. Many of the seven would have trouble finding a role on a better club.
Jackie Bradley jr. was the 2nd best Sox prospect last year and 28th overall are you saying trade him and Mookie Betts or make the kids sit on the bench and hinder their development. what about Victorino is he just gone for nothing and you eat 13-mill. Craig is owed alot more (26.5-Mill over 3 years including the buyout). just ship him out the door for nothing and eat a ton of cash. he had a terrible year his trade value is basically nothing. but he is one year removed from .315/.373/.457 season. these guys are not bums and they are also very expensive. the Pitching is a mess and the real problem of this team. Shields should be number 1 priority not Tomas.
If there’s one thing Ruben Amaro Jr can’t resist, its jumping out too early and making an offer that just proves once again he doesn’t know how to negotiate. Any agent can start the bidding at a higher number with Ruben, and he will just go with it.
Dear Sandy, If you get Tomas I will personally carry you from Florida back To NY next spring
Might as well trow out the other team option and just plug in the 9 teams not listed.
I think the point is to try and push people to voting for a particular choice, instead just picking their team.
I don’t understand why the Red Sox would want or need to sign another OFer
This. Even if he would be their best outfielder, they have other much more glaring needs.
I think the Cubs will sign him…. Young and good… just in time for a soon to be complete rebuild.
i doubt it, not for 100 million. If they need a power hitting left fielder to put them over the top and make them contenders…. well, there’s this kid in Iowa right now named Kris Bryant….
It all depends on the team’s impressions tomorrow. I feel like he could fit great with the Yankees, but it all depends on what their impression is. And honestly if it’s $90MM I see quite a few teams being out of it.
Are the Yankees going to trade Beltran?
Is Beltran an option to play 162 games?
Well Beltran can be the DH..
With Texiera and A-Rod too?
Teix isn’t a dh. He is still ok defensively. Most of his problems getting injured have been from his hitting, not defense.
So injuring his wrist has nothing to do with him diving all over the infield like he was 180 pounds? I don’t care who you are, you don’t land on your feet making diving stabs. You break your fall with your hands?
Jeez, I wonder where all the wear and tear in his wrists have come from?
Texeira is not a DH
Good luck trying to get more then 80 games from the guy every year then. The guy goes way too hard in the field for a 230 pound 35 year old.
He still managed 110+ games in the field this year, and they only need to hold it together 2 more years. He has injury concerns, but it seems like everytime he gets hurt it is because of his batting. They will hopefully have better options for dh than him.
He’s had numerous injuries this year, his production is way down because of it and his contract is turning into that of a immovable one.
Also like I’ve said, wrist injuries happen when you dive around a lot and land on them. They’re wear and tear injuries. For example, Bautista’s injury the other year happened when he missed a Robinson Cano liner and he could be seen holding and stretching out his wrist after the play. The next time he came up to the plate, he took a swing and “pop”. Suddenly he’s down in pain. Wear and tear injuries is what Texiera is going through. He’s not in his 20’s anymore.
Pujols isn’t the great fielder he once was, he can’t go at that type of level anymore without suddenly getting hurt and Texiera should take a page out of his book if he wants to stay healthy an entire season and not go as hard out there.
who is going to play SS and 2B next year also what are the Yankees going to do about the bull pen. there are way more glaring needs than Tomas. also the Yankees payroll is at 172,267,857 for 2015 do you know what the luxury tax is
Did you forgot the NYY dont care about the luxury tax .
with Alex Rodriguez back and making 25-mill next year along with all their expensive shiny new toys Tomas will take them over the luxury tax if they are not already there. they need a SS and 2B they don’t need Tomas because they have Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Carlos Beltran
Braves should trade Justin Upton and sign Yasmani
Justin Upton is a proven MLB player and a good one at that. i love Yasmani Tomas potential but he could be a bust. a bust like that would hamstring the Braves for years.
the Mets should sign Yasmani Tomas. they have a need for right handed power behind Duda and an open spot in the corner OF to put him. they should have enough cash to sign him with all the pitching so young, cheap and good. and they should sign him now before Harvey, Wheleer, DeGrom and others get too expensive or leave in free agency.
Mets have no cash.
Why are the METS an option in the poll?
Right? Way to many options…21/30 teams? Should have narrowed it down to 5 plus other.
Philly or Boston. NYY are committed to Gardy/Ellsbury/Beltran long term so none of them will sit. Mets aren’t spending any money. Philly & Boston are big markets accustomed to winning… and spending.
NYY are eliminated because they have 3 outfielders, but Boston fits because it has 5?
I don’t understand the logic.
Cespedes is the only sure thing in Boston’s OF, Bradley, Nava, Gomes haven’t shown to be everyday guys to count on
It doesn’t matter, Cespedes and Castillo will both be starters. While Betts will also start as long as he doesn’t get traded. Heck, they also have Victorino and Craig. I dont see them as major players for Tomas.
I don’t think they gave Castillo $72MM, or took on $26MM with Craig to bench them either. Not to mention also having Victorino. Gomes doesn’t even play for the Red Sox anymore.
when Beltran and Ellsbury are your starters and 40 year old Ichiro is your primary backup, it’s hard to argue you’re set in the outfield. add in the Yankees average team age and they make a lot more sense than the Bosox
Boston doesn’t have any sure thing in their OF other than Cespedes. Beltran/Ellsbury/Gardy are all signed for multi-year deals and will not be sitting- Beltran owed $30M through ’16, Ellsbury owed $126M through ’20, Gardy owed $60M through ’19, none of them nor Tomas will be on the bench… unless Beltran moves to FT DH or they trade Gardy… but if A-rod comes back and can’t play the field then there’s an expensive logjam at DH which no team ever wants
the Red Sox also currently have 5 different options to make an outfield from and already paid big money for an unproven cuban.
And i don’t care how much Beltran of Ellsbury are making… one’s old and the other has proven rather fragile his entire career. whether the Yankees want to or not, there is, in fact, a good chance one or both of them will ‘sit’ for an extended period at some point next season. Even if Tomas sits most of the year anyway this would still be the Yankees chance to pick up the equivalent of a power prospect to replace Beltran.
I think Tomas makes a lot more sense for a team like the Phillies than the Yankees, but your logic of why the Sox need him more than the Yankees is fatally flawed.
I think there was a reason the Yanks backed off Castillo. The reason was Yosmani Tomas
Castillo is more of a center fielder. They already have 2 of those, they want a power bat.
White sox
Can you imagine an outfield of 25 year old Adam Eaton, 24 year old Yasmani Toma’s and 23 year old Avi Garcia? Jose Abreu will call his buddies from Cuba to come on over. The only unfortunate thing is because of what Rusney Castillo got, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Tomas get closer to $125 million.
The Yankees have a lot of holes to fill, but they are giving great retirements to washed up players.
I´m surprised you didn´t remove the Mets based on payroll constraints.
If he can hit the ball for power then I am all for the Yankees going super hard for him. We are in desperate need of power hitting.
Maybe this is just wishful thinking but I say the Padres. Ownership claims that they want to make a splash this offseason but with the team on their patented late season/not bad enough streak, signing a big time FA is out of the question.
I just don’t see him getting 100M, his market opens when he lowers his price. Not many teams with big time spending money have much of a need for an unknown outfield bat. He sort of reminds me of a less raw Dayan Viciedo.
I think the Mariners should sign this guy. They have the worst OF production in baseball, and they are a team that expects to compete with Cano and Felix on board long term.
Padres! Definitely padres!