Nationals fans may not want to re-live the pain quite so soon, but Barry Svrluga recapped the Nats’ tumultuous 2015 season in a three-part series for the Washington Post. The first entry focuses on the early-season hype as World Series favorites that was only slightly dimmed by several injuries and Ian Desmond’s struggles, while the second part looks at Bryce Harper’s superstar year and Stephen Strasburg’s frustration. The third and final installment is perhaps the juiciest in terms of behind-the-scenes information, as Svrluga tracks the discord of the last two months (including the disastrous Jonathan Papelbon trade and the Nationals’ fall out of contention) and reports on a clubhouse confrontation between Jayson Werth and Matt Williams. The entire series is a must-read look at how a seemingly can’t-miss team fell to pieces, to put it mildly.
Here’s some more from around the baseball world…
- The Nationals’ drama has helped take some of the Beltway media focus off of a disappointing Orioles season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes, as rumors continue to hint at tension between Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter. There has been speculation that Showalter could take over the baseball operations department and Cal Ripken Jr. could become the new manager, but both Showalter and a Ripken spokesperson deny the rumor. Sherman also hears from an Orioles employee that owner Peter Angelos wouldn’t want to hire Ripken since it could create an awkward future situation if Angelos had to fire the franchise icon.
- The Red Sox have quietly been one of baseball’s best teams in the second half of the season, a hot stretch that gives the franchise a lot of hope for 2016, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes. Speier recaps some of the key events of the last two months and focuses on how many of Boston’s young stars took a step forward in recent weeks.
- This hot streak may have also had something to do with Hanley Ramirez playing less and less before eventually being shut down for the season, as Speier reports on tension between Ramirez and the coaching staff. A source says that Ramirez was “ostracized” from his teammates partly due to this conflict stemming from Ramirez’s unwillingness to work on his left field defense.
- Some major names with big contracts could potentially be dealt this offseason, former Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd writes in a piece for MLB.com. Of the five names O’Dowd lists (including Joey Votto, Robinson Cano, Matt Kemp and Werth), I would guess his old outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is the most likely trade candidate.
- The Blue Jays were the big winners at the trade deadline, Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper writes in his recap of which teams helped themselves most on or prior to July 31st. Most of Cooper’s “helped themselves” picks are playoff contenders, unsurprisingly, though it’s worth noting that the NL West-winning Dodgers lead the “not helping” category, having gained a negative bWAR from their deadline acquisitions.
This is like, really out there, but if (and this would be a challenge by itself) Boston manages to unload Hanley somewhere, does anyone see a scenario where they take on some of Votto’s contract and put him at 1B? The dude still rakes and Boston’s 1B scenario is shaky at best (although I kinda like Shaw). The lineup would be pretty incredible.
This would take away money for spending on the rotation, but if Dombrowski decides to look to the trade market for a top shelf starter, it won’t really matter (like a Tyson Ross or Carlos Carrasco).
Just a thought.
Boston can’t unload Hanley anywhere so no. The only way that “could” work would be if Cincinnati took on all of Hanley’s contract in a trade.
Which is still problematic. Votto might be coming off a superb season, but he’s 32 and controlled until he’s 40. Even with all of Hanley’s money shed, it doesn’t look that great for the Sox.
The only plausible place I can see Hanley going is to the Angels, and even then Boston would have to take on a good chunk of the money. But in a Votto scenario, I’d think that Cincinnati would take on a good chunk of his contract too. I don’t think they’ll be competing anytime soon.
There’s no way they’re going to pay loads of money to send their franchise star coming off a near MVP caliber season away. It would take a king’s ransom that I don’t see any team paying.
What good is Votto in a full-scale rebuild, which seems likely? And how can Cincy try to extend Frazier, who seems to be taking over the franchise image, with Votto’s massive contract on the books? I think in any Votto trade, the Reds would be taking on some money.
I love Votto, but like the commenter above me said, that contract isn’t gonna look pretty in 2-4 seasons. With Hanley they just have to ride it out and eat money for the next few years if they don’t move him, which is highly unlikely. I’d rather them unload Allen Craig because it’s slightly more plausible and at least Hanley is playing in the MLB, Craig’s making $8.5m in AAA
It ALWAY dangerous to trade for Players in their Mid-Thirties. Especially with big Money Contacts
What exactly would you propose though?
Ramirez + Holt + Swihart for Votto + Cash?
I wouldn’t do the deal and don’t think that would get it done from the Reds’ end. There would need to be another top pitching prospect and probably another b level one as well.
I was thinking Ramirez would be in a completely different deal (maybe Angels, O’s, Cleveland?), and then something along the lines of JBJ, Devers, Marrero and maybe a lower level prospect for Votto and cash. Maybe sub out JBJ for Vazquez, if the Reds want to move Mesoraco elsewhere to keep his health.
Ramirez being in a separate deal makes no sense. Look at what the Jays did with including Reyes in the Tulo trade. They’re never going to be able to clear enough of his money to make it work and the Reds aren’t going to include tens of millions for those prospects.
That deal is horrible for the Reds.
Thats a massive overpay on Boston’s side. Votto has less value than hanley given the amount he’s owed (199mil) and the years he’s signed to (8 years stetching until hes 39)
While both are bad contracts, Vottos is truly an albatross. At least Hanley’s is over in 3 years and only has 60mil left.
The thing is that Votto is actually producing like a beast while Hanley was among the least valuable players in the majors. So Votto’s worth a good amount of prospects, but his ridiculous contract means the Reds would have to eat some money.
I disagree. Votto has zero value. Probably negative value. He’s a fantastic player, theres no denying that, but his contract is one of the worst in baseball. The Reds should be pleased just to get out of it. Likewise with Miguel Cabrera.
In 3-4 years, Votto’s contract could become the worst in baseball.
I disagree, a premier hitter like Votto is worth upwards of $20MM annually…the problem is when he gets into the upper 30s when he’s making $25MM annually. But if the Reds took on some of that, I’d definitely love to have Votto.
Of course, hes worth more than 20mil annually right now, no argument there. But the problem is, hes already 32 and is signed for 8 more years. In 3-4 more years (when hes 35/36) that could be one of the worst contracts in baseball.
I like Votto. I think hes an awesome, smart player and would love to have him. But I can’t talk myself into giving a 32 year old a 8 year deal, especially if he’s going to cost young talent as well.
Votto, even considering the back end of the deal, does not have negative value. That’s absurd. 1 WAR is worth like $7-8MM right now (conservatively, I believe) and it’s only going to go up. Votto has 8 years, $204MM left (or 9 and $217). He’d only need about 30 WAR over the next eight years to break even. He’s coming off a 7 WAR season. You’d get probably 3-4 premium seasons and then have 4-5 good/average/potentially bad seasons.
Remember, one of his major skill sets is his patience and eye at the plate. Even as his bat speed diminishes, he’ll still get on base.
But also, factor in that salaries continue to rise with no signs of stopping. The value of a win will continue to rise, and a full 6-8 years from now, Votto’s salary will not be as bad in comparison.
Tell that to the Yankees with Teixeira’s contract the last couple of years.. Not only does Votto have a massive contract but when he hits the DL they are not going to be able to sign anyone decent to cover 1st.. Teixeira has made good this year but he once again hit the DL when the Yankees needed him the most.. Luckily, they had Bird ready to take over..
One season while Votto was awful last year.. Right and he was awful because he was hurt.. Right? Well Hanley was decent the 1st half this season and awful the 2nd half because.. he was hurt..
Check his numbers 1st half vs 2nd half.. He had like a 450ops after the AS break. All 19HR were prior to the break. he hurt his shoulder.
If your going to compare “awful” and “beast”. Be fair.
One is hurt one year and the other the next.
Facts are Hanley is signed at 22m over 3 seasons and just might have a healthy shoulder next year, why he finally shut it down last month of the season.
Votto is owed 8y and nearly 200m. Looks like many teams are not wanting to take that kind of gamble even in FA to someone who would be 40 when the deal is done, much less give up TOP young 22YO players who have already established themselves in MLB.
I agree. That Votto contract is a massive timebomb waiting to go off, just like Fielders. The same way ARod’s exploded (poor play wise) on NY and Pujols has already on the Angels. Those 2 have and will be drags on payroll for years to come.
Votto’s still has 8 years left averaging 25(!!)m annually. Ramirez has 3 and will be the DH for pretty certain in another 1-2. No way Boston gives up Holt and/or Swihart to take that thing on and do Cincy a favor.
I think that could potentially work, but even if Cincy would be up for it. Boston would have to include prospects, probably one or two great prospects.
if Boston were to eat a substantial portion of HR’s contract, the Rangers could be a possible destination. Texas needs a Righthanded Bat with some punch. Maybe he plays first and some LF and some DH. If TX were to be willing to give HR maybe 14 million over the next three years, Boston might be glad to see him gone. TX is not going to give up any major prospects for him, though.
Why would Boston give him away for that cheap? He hasn’t been caught with cocaine.
If any club takes on 60% of Hanley’s contract, I’d deal him for next to nothing. Without a DH spot, anything he does on offense, if anything, will be negated by his defense.
Billy Butler got 3/30mil on the FA market. My thinking is Hanley, as a DH, is probably worth around 3/45mil.
He’s owed 3/66, so assuming JH is willing to eat 20mil, I think he can be moved.
Hanley is such a poor clubhouse guy it’s hard to imagine anyone would take him. The team that could use him is Tampa but I question whether DD would be willing to help them out unless we got a like McGee in return. He would give Longoria some protection and become a full-time DH.
The Sox might have an easier time trading Pablo for a pitcher and moving Shaw to 3B with Swihart to 1B and Vazquez behind the plate.
Fielder pretty much has the DH spot on lock in Texas, and Moreland looks good at 1B already. I think the Angels might be a better fit, with Hanley as pretty much a full-time DH. Cleveland could use some power as well, but I don’t think they would take on the money.
TX has not done well vs LHP this year. They need to address this problem in the off season. I don’t know HR is the answer or not but they need someone with some pop in their bat to come to the plate 250-300 times. Right now, they’re using Napoli in Left Field vs lefties……he sure can’t be the long term answer.
These Oriole rumors are getting more and more absurd by the day.
Look, I am not denying that there is a problem somewhere, but what i don’t want is Showalter to be GM and I don’t want Ripken Manager.
That is a recipe for disaster!