Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa says he has hired Ed Lewis to take charge of the team’s analytical department, Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal reports on Twitter. Lewis is an old friend of La Russa’s who does stock market analytical work, the head D’backs baseball man tells Costa. The question whether and how the Arizona ballclub would incorporate analytics into its operations has been a topic of interest since even before La Russa’s hiring, and it will be interesting to see what this latest front office addition means for the team’s intentions.
Here are a few more stray notes from the National League:
- The Mets do not have any near-term intentions to approach second baseman Daniel Murphy about a contract extension, GM Sandy Alderson tells ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin. At the same time, the team is “reluctant” to deal him away at present, said Alderson. That could change, of course, if the club adds a new shortstop or otherwise adds offense, per the report.
- Rockies GM Jeff Bridich says that deciding whether to deal stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez is “not just a casual type of process” for the club, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports. Calling them “marquee” players, Bridich said it could be that other teams will not be willing to give up a haul that meets that lofty standard given both players’ injury issues. “We may or may not find out in the coming weeks,” he said. “Nothing of substance has taken place, so here we are.”
- The Cardinals have “payroll muscle” at their disposal, GM John Mozeliak tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Though the team has no intentions of spending its money just to put it to use, Mozeliak says it will do so in the right circumstances: “You’re definitely right in the assessment that we do have resources. If adding a year or adding a higher [average salary] means a deal, yes, we’re capable of doing that as long as it stays within the parameters of being rational.”
- Deciding to deal a high-performing veteran is a difficult decision in many circumstances, none more so than for a team that intends to contend. That is the strategic choice facing the Nationals, who have several top players entering their final year of team control. As I noted about ten days ago in my offseason outlook for the Nats, the concept of a trade (most likely involving Zimmermann) has to at least be entertained, particularly if a young middle infielder was part of the return, and GM Mike Rizzo sounds willing to consider anything. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post argues, quite validly, that this is not the time to be viewing the pitcher as an asset to be optimally leveraged, but rather an opportunity to push for the present (comfortable with the knowledge that a qualifying offer would still be available). Drew Fairservice of Fangraphs, meanwhile, proposes that the Nats should move the righty as a means not only of setting up for the future but also possibly addressing present needs (namely, second base).
Zimmerman for Kendrick? Both have 1 year of team control remaining, Zimmerman is a more valuable player but is also owed nearly double what Kendrick is owed. Frees up some payroll space for the Nats and solves their 2B issues while giving the Angels an ace they desperately need.
Don’t think Rizzo would do that. You said it yourself, Zimmermann is a more valuable player. A Zimmermann trade would be looking for at least a prominent young, cost-controlled MI.
Could see Rizzo being interested in a different deal for Howard.
Angels are after pitching, the only realistic trade targets I see for LAA for WSN are Zimmerman and Fister.
Also I see the Nats have very minimal payroll obligations for 2015 and beyond, perhaps they have the money to replace Zimmerman with Scherzer/Lester.
Highly doubt Zimmermann and Fister would go. Guys the Angels would be interested in for one year of Kendrick include young cost-controlled arms: A.J. Cole, Ross Detwiler, Blake Treinen, Taylor Jordan, Tanner Roark.
The Nats have issues with all of their rising arbitration candidates, and they have questions to deal with upcoming extensions for Zimmermann/Fister/Desmond/Strasburg/Harper. They can’t afford all of that, thus why Zimmermann is being brought up in trade rumors as he has shown he wants to test FA.
There goes the payroll.
Roark and Cole would obviously interest the Angels more but as you mentioned the Nats have questions to deal with upcoming extensions for Zimmermann/Fister/Desmond/Strasburg/Harper. They can’t afford all of that, thus why Zimmermann or Fister seems more likely to be dealt than Roark or Cole who still have plenty of cost controlled years ahead of them.
True about Roark and Cole, they are more valuable to the Nats. I was throwing out names that would interest the Angels. Nats also have Giolito who is one of, if not the top RH arm in the minors, but he is their untouchable.
I feel as if the Nats are willing to let Fister play out 2015, if he leaves after, they are fine with handing a QO out and getting the compensation pick in return. Zimmermann though they will only deal him if the right offer comes around, which I suspect would revolve around a young MI as Ian Desmond insurance. I just don’t see a match atm Zimm/Fister for Kendrick unless another piece came from the Angels end. Maybe, I’m being greedy, but neither side has to deal their guy.
I see Cubs/Red Sox as the best matches for J Zimm.
That payroll space will be offered to Desmond 1st. The decision on Harper’s status will also be figured in.
Interestingly enough, I remember just last year reading on here that the Angels offered up Kendrick in a potential Fister trade.
The schizo Mets…Murphy isn’t worth an extension but Cuddyer is worth 2/20 + a draft pick?
mets have a whole barn full of 3 WAR players on the farm
These “3 WAR players” have proven nothing. In fact most of them will turn out to be nothing. That’s just the way it is.
yeah I agree with you…hence there’s no need to sign Cuddyer
Murphy will probably command more years and money than that in FA or through extension and they have young cost controller players that can play 2nd base with higher upside than Murphy in Flores, Herrera, and even Reynolds. There’s nobody like those guys in the corner outfield above Nimmo who is still a year away.
Den Dekker, Newenheis, Cesar Puello…
You cannot go into a season with Den Dekker and Kirk starting in the outfield, they are nowhere near on Cuddyer’s level.. Murphy is expendable since, as stated, Flores can give you comparable play for far less and for more years. Murphy is a nice trade chip at a position of depth. Really has nothing to do with Cuddyer.
I’ve got to hand it to Mozeliak. If he’s in the hunt for a bat right now, he’s keeping his cards really close to the vest (no pun intended).
I love the organization the Cardinals have become.