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Quick Hits: Hunter, Stewart, A’s, Nats

By Mark Polishuk | October 13, 2014 at 12:58pm CDT

It was 100 years ago today that the Boston Braves finished off their sweep of the heavily-favored Philadelphia A’s to win the 1914 World Series.  The “Miracle Braves” were in last place on July 18 and didn’t even hit the .500 mark until August 1, yet they rocketed to the NL pennant with a 61-16 record over their final 77 games.  The Braves’ championship was even more stunning since they hadn’t even had a winning season since 1902.  Let’s see, a team with a lack of recent success going on an incredible late-season run….a century after the Miracle Braves, could the Miracle Royals be next?

Here’s some news from around baseball…

  • “If the Tigers want me back, we will work that out hopefully.  Other than that, I’m still thinking about my situation,” Torii Hunter wrote in a text message to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.  Hunter hinted at retirement following the Tigers’ elimination in the ALDS, and it seems that he might more inclined to hang up his cleats if he can’t return to Detroit in 2015.
  • If the Pirates can’t re-sign Russell Martin, backup Chris Stewart wouldn’t be a bad option to take over the regular catching job next season, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review opines.  Stewart can serve as a bridge to the Bucs’ young catching prospects, and while the 32-year-old isn’t much of a hitter, he is an excellent defensive catcher and pitch-framer.  Since the Pirates would have to choose between a lot of flawed catching options on the open market, Sawchik reasons that the team could stick with a known commodity at a low cost.
  • Athletics hitting coach Chili Davis is a contender to be the team’s new bench coach, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.  With the Yankees, Red Sox and possibly the Cubs all interested in Davis as a hitting coach, the A’s could offer him a promotion to stay in the fold.  The rest of the A’s coaching staff and (as Slusser previously reported) Cardinals bench coach Mike Aldrete are also candidates for the bench coach job, while Kirk Gibson and Ron Washington are unlikely to be considered since recently-fired managers usually aren’t so quick to accept bench coach gigs.
  • On paper, the Nationals don’t have any great need for any bullpen additions this offseason, yet CSN Washington’s Mark Zuckerman wouldn’t be surprised to see the club add another notable relief arm.
  • Six pitchers seem like candidates to receive qualifying offers this offseason, Fangraphs’ Mike Petriello writes.  Max Scherzer and James Shields are locks to receive and reject the one-year, $15.3MM offers, while Petriello thinks Francisco Liriano and Hiroki Kuroda will also reject the QO — Liriano in favor of a multiyear deal and Kuroda since he could retire, pitch in Japan or re-sign with the Yankees for slightly more than the qualifying offer (as he did last year).  Petriello also tentatively thinks Ervin Santana could reject a QO from the Braves while David Robertson could actually accept the qualifying offer, since his market could be hurt by draft pick compensation.
  • The Yankees will address the closer’s job, the rotation, third base and shortstop as their main offseason focuses, George A. King III of the New York Post writes.  King notes that the Yankees like Alcides Escobar, though he obviously isn’t a trade candidate this offseason since he’s such a key part of the Royals’ success.
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Detroit Tigers New York Yankees Oakland Athletics Pittsburgh Pirates Washington Nationals Alcides Escobar Chris Stewart Torii Hunter

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53 Comments

  1. Dogger27

    11 years ago

    If the pirates don’t resign Martin, I think they gotta make a trade for their future backstop! Reese McGuire has struggle this year and is about 3 years away! Maybe give the mets a call about one of their catcher. The mets will probably listen if the pirates offer up one of their young outfielders like bell or Meadows. Or even Allen Hanson might interest the mets.

    Reply
    • N_Cap

      11 years ago

      McGuire s numbers say other wise. But meadows should be untouchable

      Reply
  2. Scott Berlin

    11 years ago

    I didn’t realize Chris Stewart was with the Pirates too, they got both of the Yankees previous catchers.

    Reply
    • MB923

      11 years ago

      Yep, Yankees traded him to Pittsburgh

      mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/yankees-acquire-kyle-ha…

      Reply
  3. First Bleed

    11 years ago

    I understand the logic of ‘there is no bad one-year deals’, but offering $15 million to a closer or a SP that has a whip over 1.30 for his career and never pitched 200 innings in a season is not smart.

    Reply
    • MB923

      11 years ago

      Robertson’s career WHIP is 1.21 (though for the last 4 years it has been 1.17 or lower). As far as never pitching 200 innings in a season….well duh

      Reply
      • First Bleed

        11 years ago

        I said ‘a closer or a SP’ – implying 2 different pitchers Robertson and Liriano.

        Reply
        • pitnick

          11 years ago

          Could be read two different ways..

          Reply
    • DarthMurph

      11 years ago

      I wouldn’t offer a QO to a closer who pitched 200 innings. I’d have Scott Proctor give him a call to sympathize over a ruined career.

      Reply
    • Vmmercan

      11 years ago

      Why? Would you do it for say, 8-10 million? If so, I would rather have Liriano and Robertson over 5 million bucks the team probably ends up eating anyway.

      Even so, Robertson as stated below, has a much lower WHIP than that and his K/9 offsets anything unlikable about his WHIP. He also has now proven he can close in NY and the downside is either paying him 15 million (which the Yankees can easily do) or getting a pick instead of nothing. It’s a no-brainer in NY and a smart move for any larger market.

      Reply
    • Since_77

      11 years ago

      I guess they are looking at Liriano’s potential. Prior to last season, Phil Hughes had a career whip higher that 1.30 and had never pitched 200 innings before. He put together the best year of his career. He signed a $24 million FA deal.

      Reply
    • pitnick

      11 years ago

      Pretty arbitrary cutoff point. Liriano has thrown as many as 191.2 innings in a season, and has thrown at least 150 in each of the last three years. If those are quality innings (like in 2013), the QO amount is a good deal.

      Reply
  4. Since_77

    11 years ago

    Chris Stewart was terrible as the starting catcher for the Yankees in 2013. He has a good glove but he had a slg % of .272 in over 300 PA.

    Reply
    • Nathan Boley

      11 years ago

      Yeah he’s got no power (didn’t hit a single HR this year) but his glove is pretty good and he went .385/.418/.462 after the break. Not expecting anything like that from him, but he’s hardly a poor option. I don’t know if I’d trust him starting though.

      Reply
      • RyÅnWKrol

        11 years ago

        A team’s offense must be pretty bad to be worried about the catcher having no power.

        Reply
  5. DarthMurph

    11 years ago

    Kuroda will be an interesting one to follow. I don’t really see why he wouldn’t accept the QO. He’s not going to get more money and I think the his desire to play in Japan is overblown. What Japanese stars have gone back to NPB?

    Reply
    • Since_77

      11 years ago

      The infamous Kei Igawa.

      Reply
      • DarthMurph

        11 years ago

        I meant Japanese stars in MLB.

        Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          11 years ago

          Kaz Sasaki was a solid closer for the Mariners before he returned to Japan. Apparently he struggled with assimilation.

          Reply
    • Vmmercan

      11 years ago

      My bigger fear is he retires.

      Reply
    • truthlemonade

      11 years ago

      Kenji Jojima, Tadahito Iguchi, Kaz Matsui, Kosuke Fukudome. Kuroda in 2014 was better than all of those guys in their final seasons of MLB. And I may have misspelled all of their names.

      Reply
      • jb226 2

        11 years ago

        I think he was referring to ones who had good major-league careers, not ones who went back because they couldn’t cut it in MLB.

        Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          11 years ago

          Kaz Sasaki saved 129 games for the Mariners over three seasons before returning to Japan.

          Reply
  6. slider32

    11 years ago

    Yanks will have CC and Nova coming back which should help the rotation, I think Robby will get a QA but not sure about Kuroda. I would think they try and sign Sheilds or Kuroda. As for SS, and 3rd, I think they go after Lowrie and Headley.

    Reply
    • MB923

      11 years ago

      I’m not so certain CC can help the rotation.

      Reply
    • weaselpuppy

      11 years ago

      did you see those guys pitch the last 1.5 years? help? no bueno

      Reply
      • MB923

        11 years ago

        Nova did excellent in 2013.

        Reply
  7. Vandals Took The Handles

    11 years ago

    Discussing free agency during the playoffs is like discussing where teams will finish in spring training. It’s fun, but once the market starts evolving, considerations come into play that were not foreseen.

    One thing I liked was the Dodgers leaking information that they would probably not pay big for Scherzer, they’re cutting back on long-term contracts for large amounts. Apparently they’re now playing the game the way their large money brethren – the Yankees and Red Sox – have for years….they say they have to cut back on spending and don’t want to go over some arbitrary amount…..then they always do. It’s a negotiating ploy that a veteran agent such as Scott Boras (Scherzer’s rep) looks upon as no more then a low level speed bump.

    Reply
  8. ChiefIlliniwek

    11 years ago

    Alcides Escobar not a trade candidate?

    I wouldn’t go that far. He was a negative-value player as recently as last year. The guy’s top comps are Rafael Ramirez and Royce Clayton.

    I’d definitely be listening if somebody wanted Alcides Escobar. He’s not useless, but dismissing the possibility of a trade out-of-hand is a bit much…

    Reply
    • Vandals Took The Handles

      11 years ago

      We talking fantasy league or MLB?

      What would the Royals do for a SS as the team is peaking right now? Why would they break up their chemistry?

      In mid-September the MLB Network was going over positions and ranking players. The panelists all agreed that Alcides Escobar was the best all-around SS in the AL this year. It’s not even close.

      Reply
      • Vandals Took The Handles

        11 years ago

        Let me add….

        Please understand that I watched portions of somewhere between 800 – 1,000 games this year on the MLB subscription service. (I always watch 2 games at once, and switch when a game gets out of hand). While I enjoy statistics, I place a priority on what a player does to keep his team in the game, and what he does to turn momentum in his teams favor.

        Mr. Escobar was is as much responsible for the Royals success this year as anyone of the roster. He has at least a few good years left in him. I don’t see a traditional FO dumping a guy early because he might get the team a prospect or two. Short of major injuries, there is no reason the Royals don’t remain WS contenders for the next 2-4 years.

        Reply
        • Vmmercan

          11 years ago

          I can’t decide if your method of baseball watching is psychotic or fanatical.

          Reply
        • start_wearing_purple

          11 years ago

          I fear you.

          Reply
          • Vandals Took The Handles

            11 years ago

            Why?

            Has it occurred to you that the non-moneyball teams that play solid fundamental baseball are the ones that go the furthest in the playoffs…..and have for years?

            I don’t think is FO, manager/coaches. teammate or Royals fans have any doubt as to the value of Alcides Escobar.

            And why would the Yankees want him?

            Reply
            • Dock_Elvis

              11 years ago

              Yankee fans, some any way, also think they can dream of unicorns and trade them to the mountains for Troy Tulowitzki

              Reply
            • start_wearing_purple

              11 years ago

              I was refering to your statement that you watched between 800-1000 games this year. I’m not convinced I’ve seen that many in the last 20 years.

              Reply
        • Justafan

          11 years ago

          I do the same thing with my MLB subscription. I got it at the all-star break for a deal, and I cant wait to get it next year. I watch two games at once as well, and I love it. I’ve just graduated from Uconn and studying my series 6 atm. I half watch the games while learning and I love it. idk if you know this but you can go back all the way to I think 2009 thats probably the coolest thing of all time of anything cool to ever exist except for me

          Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          11 years ago

          The Royals potentially have a lot of quality innings to replace if James Shields walks, and a mid order batting need if Butler goes. That said…this offense vastly underperformed and overcame some serious mismanagement by Yost. Any team that can finish over .500 is a world series threat… it isn’t necessary to win 100 games. Royals won 89…06 Cards took it all with 86

          Reply
      • ChiefIlliniwek

        11 years ago

        I’m not sure how this is a response to what I wrote.

        There aren’t that many people in baseball I’d consider “not a trade candidate”. To put Escobar in that group is a little silly.

        If somebody wants to overpay for a guy who just last year managed to “hit” (if that’s even the right word) his way to a 53 OPS+, then I’m listening. If they’re not willing to overpay, then I hang up.

        Reply
  9. Julio Zuleta

    11 years ago

    The Cubs hired John Mallee as their hitting coach last Thursday. You can take them off the list of suitors for Chili Davis.

    Reply
  10. arthur3

    11 years ago

    I am surprised to think that the Pirates will present each a $15.3 million qualifying offer to Russell Martin and to Francisco Liriano. This seems to go completely opposite of the spending pattern of Pittsburgh Pirates owner and management through the years. It would be a big step in the process of building a championship team, but o I just don’t see Nutting approving the spending.

    Reply
  11. eedwards027

    11 years ago

    Chris Stewart is a terrible defensive catcher and can’t hit and I fully expect him to be the Bucs starting catcher in 2015

    Reply
    • pitnick

      11 years ago

      In what universe is Stewart a terrible defensive catcher? Based on what? Exactly which part of his defensive game do you object to?

      Reply
  12. Justafan

    11 years ago

    Why would Liriano not accept the QO, in fact why would Pitt even offer a QO? He hasn’t broken 170 innings in 5 years, and his 4.5 BB/9 should scare plenty of suitors. If I was him I’d politely reqest ownership to offer a 3yr 30m deal. He averages 5 2/3 innings a start. He’s a tax on the bullpen and shouldn’t be treated like the 2006 player he pretended to be in Minn. I’m not saying he’s a waste, but I think his numbers say more about this infamous pitching coach than it does about him.

    Reply
    • Dock_Elvis

      11 years ago

      Sounds like a replacement for James Shields built in the aggregate with another arm for the Royals.

      Reply
  13. tomymogo

    11 years ago

    Braves should consider Torii this offseason. Great clubhouse guy, a lot of contact. Him and Aoki should be considered

    Reply
    • Fred Hunter

      11 years ago

      I totally agree,Hunter is the type of guy this team is lacking

      Reply
    • John Cate

      11 years ago

      His defense is terrible now, and the Braves don’t have a DH slot that they could hide him at. The Tigers could get away with a DH in right and a DH at first because their pitchers try to strike everyone out. Atlanta doesn’t have the same type of pitching staff.

      Reply
  14. tomymogo

    11 years ago

    If the Yankees want a quality defender at SS with speed and a below average bat, I’m sure the Rangers would listen on Elvis Andrus

    Reply
  15. N_Cap

    11 years ago

    Thought Ervin could receive a qo two years in a row

    Reply

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