The Rays are compiling a list of managerial candidates and could announce a formalized list by the end of the week, writes Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune. The team’s goal is to have a new skipper in place by Thanksgiving, according to Mooney, who also notes that the Rays are taking the unusual step of asking their players on the qualities they would like in a new manager. “We don’t really bother ourselves with what is the norm,” Silverman explained. “We do what we think is right for our ballclub. They’re an important voice into who leads our clubhouse.”
More from the AL East…
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds to the recent Adam Lind trade speculation by writing that those looking to guess the first significant trade of the offseason would be wise to bet on the Blue Jays moving Lind. There are “strong indicators” that the Jays would like to reallocate the funds that are dedicated to Lind, so the team could very well exercise his $7.5MM club option and deal him. Sherman lists the Mariners and Athletics as potential fits, noting how well his platoon role fits the A’s model.
- Meanwhile, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets that he doesn’t see the Mariners as a fit for Lind given the team’s bulk of left-handed bats. While I agree that it’s an imperfect fit, Lind strikes me as a reasonable fit there if the club can find a right-handed bat to pair with him at DH.
- In his latest Yankees Inbox, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com writes that the team’s likely preference would be to retain David Robertson for one more season before handing the ninth inning over to Dellin Betances. That, of course, makes a qualifying offer likely, though I can’t envision any scenario where Robertson would accept the offer. Hoch also writes that Ichiro Suzuki will be seeking more at-bats than the Yankees have to give, even in a part-time role. Hoch wonders if he’d be a fit for an NL club who could use him off the bench and in the late innings while giving him occasional starts in the outfield as well.
I don’t think Ichiro would get 300+ AB’s as an NL bench player.
He might if he goes to an injury prone team such as the 2014 Yankees. Not a sure thing, but it’s probably his best shot to get to 3000. An NL team at least gives him a pinch hit at bat in most games.
San Diego Padres?
Might be one of his better bets, although they may prefer to give Renfroe, Liriano and Fuentes a shot rather than him when someone goes down.
True but he will get pinch hit at bats and he can cover the day-to-day injuries and serve as a fourth outfielder, and if one of there starting 3 go down long term then Renfroe and the others can come up and show what they can do
I agree that he could do that, although I believe he might be looking for a team that might have to use him a lot out of necessity if something happens to one of their starters. Strangely enough, and if they don’t make any moves for an outfielder, the Mariners might be a good fit considering their lack of upper minor league outfield depth. I doubt that would happen, though.
The Mets might be a better fit, actually.
Think of Mark Kotsay for them a few years ago, more of a pinch hitter fill in and a good clubhouse add
I’m not saying that they couldn’t use him for that purpose, but considering he needs 156 hits, probably in 2 seasons, he might not get there by going that route. Kotsay didn’t get all that many at bats, and he could also play first base on top of the outfield.
Ichiro essentially needs a full season at this point in his career. Maybe he can get lucky and find a Juan Pierre opportunity where a team has a need, but doesn’t want to spend a lot, and can carry lower offensive production.
Gotta figure Ichiro is shooting for 3000 hits. 156 gets the job done. He’d need a full season of full-time play to get that at this stage of his career. I can’t see any other reason to hold on. He’s pretty much an average hitter who plays average defense.
Agreed, but also he fits what was the prototype for a no.2 hitter, meaning get the runner over, handles the bat well, doesn’t strike out. Somewhere in baseball a team could still use that type of guy on a regular basis.
Of his 102 hits last season 86 were singles. He had an OPS+ of 89. I don’t think there are many teams that would want a batter that anemic hitting out of the number two spot. He’s once fit the prototype for a number two hitter. He’s probably an 8 or 9 now.
I agree with your reasoning but only in the sense that you base it on the current no 2 hitter paradigm. A singles hitter who can handle the bat used to be the prototype no 2 hitter; that was my point.
I think Robertson would be nuts to skip out on a qualifying offer. Very few teams have the luxury of blowing $14+ mil a year on a closer, let alone be willing to give up a draft pick in addition to paying that kind of money. If he gets a QO and doesn’t take it he could be spending a long winter hoping for a contract – perhaps even waiting until after the draft.
He wouldn’t wait until after the draft. The Yankees would still offer him more money than any other team, and he’ll sign a slightly lower-value contract than if he had negotiated one in the first place. But no player is going to sit out a third of the season again.
tigers? who else would give up a pick/top cash for a closer like that?
Good point stonepie – the Tigers always seem willing to blow money and closer has been an issue for awhile for them. Not what I’d call a smart use of money if it is $14+ mil a year but an option. Cheaper might be to get Papelbon out of Philly and pay him $13 mil in 2015 and maybe another $13 in 2016 but getting Philly to cover some of that.
No way the Tigers would do this. If they are going to overspend, Miller is a much better choice without losing a draft pick.
Steve addressed this in his profile of Robertson. The Nationals have already done exactly this in signing Soriano two years ago. They could well punt their low first-rounder to add Robertson, esp. since they could be loaded up with picks in the 2016 draft if they lose a bunch of QO guys.
Rangers, Yankees, Tigers, maybe Dodgers … and then there’s always the wild card of talented young teams with minimal future obligations (White Sox & Astros being the ones with obvious bullpen openings).
No way the Tigers would do that.
Much easier to just sign Miller if they are going to overpay.
Personally, I think Ichiro would be a good fit in San Diego
Robertson might very well take the offer, if he’s comfortable with his talent level and his ability to sustain performance. There will be plenty of money for him the following year, and he might not even have to worry about the QO next year.
If he doesn’t have to worry about the QO next year that either means he signed an extension or something terribly went wrong with him.
I tend to figure this is Dave Martinez’s one real shot to manage. He was on everyone’s short list for interviews for a while then nothing. So if he;s going to be a a manager it will be with a club that knows him and a team that already likes him.
“though I can’t envision any scenario where Robertson would accept the offer”
You can’t? He’d be the highest paid relief pitcher in baseball if he accepted it (someone correct me if I’m wrong on that, maybe 2nd to Kimbrel). It would be very wise of him to accept it.
You don’t settle for one year when you are a dominant 29-year-old reliever, unless you have to, even if it means you have the highest single-season salary for a reliever.
After what happened with Santana, Drew, Morales and Cruz, I think players are going to start learning a lesson. $15+ million isn’t chump change, particularly for players who pitch about 60+ innings.
In my opinion, 1 year/$15 million >.2 year/$25 million or 3 year/$30 million.
Those are all mid-teir players that had no business turning down the QO when they’d be lucky to even get that AAV on the open market, especially Drew.
But 1/$15 (or something close enough to it) will still be on the table for Robertson. That’s why you don’t take it at the first chance. There’s basically no downside to testing the market.
And I don’t agree necessarily on that assessment of value, though individual players and teams will have their own preferences, of course. Generally, teams will pay a premium for shorter deals and players will take a discount for longer deals. They are not irrational actors.
Anyway, 3/$30 would be a disappointing result for Robertson. I think he’ll do better.
Yeah…it’s more about total guaranteed dollars than it is about maxing out the one year earnings. His arm could explode at any second.
“Hoch wonders if he’d be a fit for an NL club who could use him off the
bench and in the late innings while giving him occasional starts in the
outfield as well.”
You mean…..like he pretty much did with the Yankees last year? Only reason he became more of a starter was because of Beltran’s injury. I don’t understand how this scenario can’t or wouldn’t work just as well as an AL club as it would with an NL club.
I think the idea is that NL clubs use the bench more, which would result in more playing time.
I doubt Ichiro would be put in as a pinch hitter though. More so of a defensive replacement
For the record, 6 out of the top 7 clubs in baseball with the most PA by OFers were in the American League. On the contrary, 5 out of the top 6 clubs in baseball with the most Games Played by OFers were in the Naitonal League
I don’t watch National League baseball really, but those stats probably tell you that OFers come in as defensive replacements way more than they come in for AB in the NL. Therefore I don’t see how the latter part in the stats above tells me Ichiro will be getting more AB’s in the NL.
Not a great sign if the Jays need to reallocate the funds. How is $7.5mm for one of the best hitters in ML against RHP not a good use of funds? Just pony up a little more to get that 2B.
A story a few years back had Ichiro quoted as saying he wanted to become a knuckleballer once he was 40. Any updates on that? Is he just messing with all of us? That would be pretty great and I figure he’s just weird enough for it to possibly be true…
If I’m the Jays, I don’t trade Lind unless I get something significant in return, his 7.5 million dollar salary is completely fine for the production that he brings and, for the cost of players these days, this extra 7.5 million won’t net you much.
How much less should Miller get?
Other than the fact he has never closed, Miller seems to be every bit the pitcher that Robertson is… and he is likely to NOT get a QO.
He can’t get a QO b/c he was traded.
Issue there is his shallower track record. I think his market will overlap a bit with Robertson’s, but that they will mostly have appeal to different teams (or to the same teams but for somewhat different reasons).
But yeah, he was filthy this year and will draw wide interest. Tim predicted he’d land 4/$32MM.
Forgot about that trade negating the QO.
As a Tigers fan, I would rather have Miller. I heard him interviewed on MLB Network Radio yesterday. Seemed perfectly happy pitching ANY inning. Understands that the most crucial outs of game could be earlier than the 9th inning. He did not insist on being a closer for his ego’s sake.
Ideally Nathan is a good closer in 2015 and Miller is the 8th inning guy. In years 2-4, Miller could then be the closer. If Nathan fails, the Miller steps in immediately. Good back up insurance policy AND a long term solution at closer.
I thought I was the one of the only people who thinks Robertson won’t accept a QO.
Most are arguing whether or not he Should accept it. Whether or not he Does is another story. There are positives and negatives for him accepting and declining it (assuming he got one and I think he will).
A reliever more than anyone should explore getting a multi-year deal vs a one year offer.
And a reliever more than anyone should be the lowest paid player(s) in baseball, if not 2nd lowest to bench players.
I would love to see Ichiro in Atlanta. One of my all time favorite players. Assuming we finally bite the bullet and cut BJ or make him the world’s most luxurious pinch runner.
The problem is Ichiro needs 2 years to get to 3000 hits this point. That is a big commitment for a 41 year old.
Well, it’s not terribly likely, but it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that he can do it in 1, if he had a full time role and had a decent year. Plus I think he could be had on the cheap. Maybe a 1 year with an option or something?
Could Ichiro be in an “Old Guy platoon” with Torii Hunter?
Hunter is a better hitter now. Ichiro is still considered an average RF on defense. Both would be excellent bench pieces when not in the starting lineup.
Neither has a title and Detroit is still a contender.
Give them both identical 1 year / $5MM contracts?
I’m not on board with the Mariners trading for Lind at all. First of all, his power completely disappeared this year, not exactly the best trait for a DH. Second, he is totally useless against LHP (lifetime .212/.257/.331 slash line against LHP), so the team would have to get a right-handed hitter to complement Lind, so now you have 2 players for one spot. Not an ideal bench composition when you’re carrying 12 pitchers. Third, there are better options on the free agent market that you wouldn’t have to give up talent for. If the M’s are going to trade away someone like Miller or Taylor and/or a piece of the bullpen, there are far more attractive options than Lind. I also don’t want to see the M’s pursue Billy Butler in free agency (the Royals should turn down his option and put him on the market); another DH whose power has gone away. Victor Martinez would be the #1 target here, and believe it or not, I would rather have Michael Morse come back to Seattle and DH than have either Butler or Lind. Morse has “ballpark proof” power when healthy, and DH’ing can certainly help keep him off the DL more often.
I see Ichiro as a fit in Atlanta. Veteran guy who knows a thing or two about hitting. The Braves lack a veteran guy and he could be one of those guys.