SungWoo Lee, the diehard Royals fan from South Korea whose visit to Kansas City earlier this summer made headlines around the sports world, is on his way back to watch his favorite team compete in the World Series. The Royals have gone 40-20 in the regular season and playoffs since Lee first arrived in the United States on August 5. Lee’s very first game at Kauffman Stadium was a matchup between the Royals and (talk about karma) the Giants on August 9, which was won by K.C. as part of a three-game sweep.
As Kansas City prepares for its first World Series game since 1985, let’s take a look around the AL Central…
- The Twins have yet to schedule a private workout for Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas, 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson tweets, and there have been “no serious talks, just brief ones” between the club and Tomas’ representatives.
- Emilio Bonifacio, Luke Gregerson, Brandon McCarthy, Andrew Miller and Colby Rasmus are five free agents who could be fits for the Tigers’ bullpen, center field and No. 5 starter needs this offseason, Mlive.com’s James Schmehl opines.
- The Indians and Royals top Baseball America’s list of teams who had the best 2014 draft, based on how the prospects selected in June have thus far performed in their young pro careers. A number of AL Central prospects appear in the follow-up lists based on player performance, with Royals lefty Brandon Finnegan’s name appearing multiple times — no surprise there, given that Finnegan has already reached the majors and has thrown some key bullpen innings for K.C. during the postseason.
Bonifacio really doesn’t strike me as much of an upgrade in CF
Re: Tigers possible free agents:
1. Bonifaco: Tigers already have 4 SSs (that could each play 2nd or 3rd) plus Don Kelly. This does not seem like a big need.
2. Gregerson: Would prefer Neshek who will be cheaper and was better in 2014.
3. McCarty: A ground ball pitcher in the mold of Porcello and Fister. Sounds good… but not with the sub-par Tigers defense.
4. Miller: 90% chance in my mind that he signs with the Red Sox to be their closer. He likes Boston.
5. Rasmus: Now a below average defender. UZR/150 worse than Rajai Davis. Better to make a reasonable deal to get Jackie Bradley Jr. and hope he can hit at least .240.
The trade the Tigers should make is Castellanos (good fit for the tiny LF in Fenway, but can also play 3rd) + “something” (good, not great prospect)…
…for Cespedes (good fit for the the giant LF in Comerica) + Jackie Bradley Jr.
I believe the author was talking about Bonifacio as a CF option
Agree, but #DKB can already play CF too. Bonifacio is just a more expensive “Don Kelly Baby”, without the hashtag, high socks and “R32PECT” T-Shirts. (“2/3rds of the Earth is covered by water, #DKB can handle the rest”)
With or without the hashtag and t-shirt Don Kelly is a bellow average hitter and very poor defensive center fielder.
Red Sox also have a logjam at 3rd and OF, can’t see them trading Cespedes after just acquiring him, but I could definitely see them wanting to unload Bradley Jr. and the Tigs wouldn’t have to unload Castellanos to get it done. Gonna be interesting to see how Dombrowski tries to retool this team.
The Red Sox would trade Cespedes. I actually give it a good chance of happening. According to recent reports they are tiring of his work ethic particularly as it applies to plate discipline and right field defense. Plus he just signed with Jay-Z and has let it be known that he does not want to stay in Boston once his contract is up after 2015. Bradley could obviously be had but the Sox need to get a prospect with upside or something to help like a decent reliever. Castellanos just jams the picture up, I agree m
1. Logjam at 3rd? Who? Middlebrooks and ____?
2. JBJ’s value right now is a B+ prospect, because no one knows if he will ever hit. Perhaps Moya or Robbie Ray.
middlebrooks and brock holt
Cespedes and Jackie Bradley for Castellanos? No…..just no. The Red Sox have enough young cost controlled players on the left side of the infield and Castellanos has been overrated. Plus they need a lefty bat at third to balance out the lineup.
The Tigers are not going to trade Castellanos after only 1 season at third, Detroit should not touch Cespedes for all the reasons that Boston is trying to get rid of him. He is a 1 year rental at best, since he is not worth what he will demand as a FA. Best trade candidate for Center Field could be Peter Bourjos. Covers lots of ground to fill the gaps in Comerica and allows DD to get a more offensive minded Right Fielder (Hunter).
Tigers:
Biggest holes are in the outfield (CF/RF supposing Torii is gone)
Potential fill-ins: Rajai Davis (who is already a lock), Steven Moya , Devon Travis (may not be likely due to a late 2014 injury), Tyler Collins, Andy Dirks, Daniel Fields
I could see them try to swing a trade for Peter Bourjos (Eugenio Suarez for Bourjos trade maybe?) during spring training if their prospects don’t work out. Rasmus wouldnt be an upgrade imo.
Bullpen:
Tigers NEED a left hander otherwise, its Phil Coke or Ian Krol again in addition to Blaine Hardy. So Andrew Miller>Gregerson. But they will probably get outbid again.
Tigers bench: Bonifacio may be good to have. But, I wonder if Torii Hunter would be willing to be a bench bat.
Both Miller and Gregerson would definitely strengthen the pen, we absolutely need another lefty, Hardy did ok last season, but i cant stomach another year of Phil Coke, i just cant.
Rasmus – not so sure, talented but i think whoever gets him may end up overpaying for what he is.
Gregerson has a great ERA but 5 Blown saves plus 3 more as blown saves/losses. His 22 holds slides him into a 7th inning guy. Too much money for that. If you are going to pay that much. get the Lefty Miller. Rasmus has a BA 20 points lower than Don Kelly and he strikes out as much as Avila. Save most of your FA $$$ for V Mart and RP. Trade for Span, Revere,or Fowler to fill the CF spot and leadoff. Bonifacio, a switch hitter, would help fill many holes as a strong bench bat/platoon guy. McCarthy would fill in well as a #4-5 starter but we have more pressing needs than getting another starter unless DD trades one while Max leaves.
If we are moving money around, I would very much be in favor of signing McCarthy and then trading Price for a good CF and some bench help. Re-sign VMart, and put Moya in RF. Sign Miller and Greggerson!
No reason to sign Gregerson if they pick up Soria’s option. If they did , between Nathan, Soria, Miller and Gregerson you are looking at a $32 million bullpen!! Moya is not ready for a full time roll. He would be a strike out machine.
I would let Soria walk and sign Greggerson. I realize Moya may not be ready, but in the interest of getting the pen squared away and keeping VMart, Moya will have to learn at the MLB level.
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