Former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto is expected to be the first external candidate to interview for the Mariners’ GM vacancy, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (Twitter link). Dipoto resigned this summer after a highly publicized feud with Halos skipper Mike Scioscia and has since taken an advisory role with the Red Sox. The Mariners fired Jack Zduriencik in late August and are said to prefer an experienced general manager to step into the GM’s chair.
Here’s more from the AL West…
- Mike Zunino won’t return to the Mariners in 2015, writes Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Instead of being recalled to the big league roster in September, he will report to the instructional league to “overhaul” his swing with hitting coach Cory Snyder and Edgar Martinez. The 24-year-old Zunino, formerly the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, batted just .174/.230/.300 in 386 plate appearances this season. Zunino unquestionably has power — he hit 22 homers in 2015 — and is considered a very strong defender, but he’s highly strikeout prone and has a career .193 average/.252 OBP. Many feel that he was rushed to the Majors, and for what it’s worth, he obliterated Triple-A pitching in a small sample after being demoted the day Zduriencik was fired.
- Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs — a player for whom Dipoto traded on two separate occasions — tells Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times the he, his agent, his doctor and the Angels will discuss an innings limit for 2016 this offseason. Skaggs will enter the 2016 campaign about 18 months removed from Tommy John surgery. The story, of course, comes in the wake of the Matt Harvey controversy — a scenario which Skaggs says he wants to avoid.
- David Paulino, whom the Astros acquired in the 2013 trade that sent Jose Veras to the Tigers, has shown very serious big league potential and emerged as a “steal” for Houston, opines Fangraphs scribe James Chipman. Paulino has battled injuries throughout his pro career but has made huge strides with his fastball and curveball over the past nine months, writes Chipman. If he can hone his changeup, he’s a potential mid-rotation arm, but if not, he could still be a high-leverage reliever. Chipman’s piece includes video and a full scouting report.
Do you really need an innings limit after getting 18 months to recover?
Though I understand players wanting to be cautious after returning from a serious injury I think this might be getting out of hand.. The teams are the ones signing the paychecks and are the ones being handicapped with the innings limits.. Agents need to stop acting like they care about anything more than their future commissions.. Maybe they can address this in the next CBA and perhaps something like a panel of top doctors can set the return path on future players returning from injuries.. Take control away from teams and agents and put it exactly where it should be, with the doctors.. Teams pay vast amounts of money for the best doctors and rehab therapists and I doubt after investing millions in the players that they would add any unnecessary risk.. Agents need to shut up and leave it to the professionals.. They are nothing more than sleazy used car salesman who could care less about the players team, teammates, or fans.. I am sure if it was up to Boras he would have his players sign their contracts and then ride the bench until their next contract year.. Its too bad that all agents can’t be like Casey Close.. He seems to actually care about his players.. Sooner or later teams are going to get fed up with Boras and its the players that are going to suffer.. Not the superstar players that all teams want/need but the 2nd/3rd tier guys.. Teams are going to pass over players strictly because of who the agent is that they will be dealing with..
Leave it to the doctors sounds nice.
Have you ever seen a doctor about a major physical issue? The old line applies…
“I saw 4 different doctors”.
“So what did they tell you?”
“About 10 different things”.
Teams may tire of Boras, but there is no doubting he is one of the best at what he does. As long as that continues there is no way players migrate away from his representation. A Boras free team and organization may sound great to a fan, but it is not very realistic nor would there be much talent
Blue Jays — zero Boras clients
Tigers — one Boras client — Iglesias
Cardinals — two Boras clients — Holliday, Rosenthal
Angels — two Boras clients — Weaver, Green
It is not hard to deal with Scott Boras when you limit the number of his clients.