TODAY, 2:48pm: Even the reliever-rich Royals have expressed interest, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets.
11:05am: The Dodgers are “showing significant interest” in O’Day, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports (Twitter links). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com previously connected O’Day to the Dodgers. With a number of teams pursuing the veteran, some executives tell Crasnick that a deal well in excess of last year’s Luke Gregerson contract (three years, $18.5MM) could be in order.
MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes has predicted that O’Day will take down $22.5MM over three years. His age (33) is perhaps the only major limiting factor in his market, and a serious run-up in demand could conceivably get him a fourth year guaranteed.
YESTERDAY: The market for free-agent right-hander Darren O’Day is moving quickly, reports ESPN’s Buster Olney (links to Twitter). The Beverly Hills Sports Council client already has offers in hand, according to Olney, and he’s planning to meet with the managers of some of those teams in the coming week. Olney lists the Tigers, Red Sox and Giants as three clubs to have shown interest in O’Day, though it’s not known if any of those three are among the teams to have extended a formal offer.
Typically, it behooves free agents — especially relievers — to sign contracts early in the offseason. A look back to November relief signings over the past few years shows the likes of Zach Duke (three years, $15MM), Joe Smith (three years, $15.75MM), Javier Lopez (three years, $13MM), Jonathan Broxton (three years, $21MM), Jeremy Affeldt (three years, $18MM) and Joaquin Benoit (three years, $16.5MM back in 2010) all landed sizable contracts despite not being considered the top names on the free agent market. Of course, O’Day also has the advantage of being the consensus top name on this year’s relief market, so perhaps it’s not as crucial for him to sign early. Still, striking early while each club has its entire offseason budget at its disposal isn’t a bad route for O’Day’s camp.
Over the past four seasons, the 32-year-old O’Day has worked to a 1.92 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9. He saved his best season for his contract year, establishing new career-bests in ERA (1.52) and K/9 (11.3); opponents batted just .198/.257/.283 against O’Day. He yielded just a .210/.293/.333 batting line to left-handed hitters and dominated right-handed bats, who mustered only a .192/.236/.256 line against him.
Interest in O’Day was said to be “steep” from day one at the GM Meetings, with the Cubs, Royals, Nationals and Dodgers all being connected to the former Oriole yesterday as well.
O’Day is a monster. Whoever signs him are lucky. Wish my Rays could go after him. At least he leaves the AL East hopefully. Hope he goes to Detroit or a national league team.
Astros or Tigers is my thinking.
highly doubt the astros spend even more money on their bullpen. just rely on the kids on the farm most likely.
Why is it tagged to the Giants? They are not even listed among those interested in him.
Also, the author was making the point about signing early but included the two Giants signings, Lopez and Affeldt, of their own players, which I think is different circumstances, as the Giants tend to sign their own players back relatively quickly (and for more than the public thinks that they should), at least until last off-season, when they were chasing the great white whale, and left some free agents hanging until later.
The Giants are indeed listed as a team with interest. First paragraph of the MLBTR post/second tweet linked from Olney.
The Lopez/Affeldt signings were indeed to re-sign their own guys, but both pitchers had the opportunity to speak to other teams, which undoubtedly influenced the amount of money the Giants had to pay in order to lock them up. I don’t consider it abnormal in the sense that it can’t be a useful data point in saying that November is the time to sign if you’re a relief pitcher.
I can see why the Giants would be interested (especially since they have starters who don’t go deep into games), but I can’t see them going over 7-8 M/yr. I think someone else will offer him more.
Could see 3 years 27 million. As to the team? Red Six, Tigers, Yankees. Dodgers, Cubs, all make sense. Unless someone else swoops in.
the tigers need a cf first and foremost. if anything they should be targetting span. but yes they need bullpen help as well, but they need depth in bp not just one guy, so more likely spread around to 2 or 3 guys.
They need bullpen help, but I think they’re more of a long shot here. I only mentioned them because they have money, but probably not for a top of the line reliever. You’re right. Their other needs are a lot more pressing.
The tiger’s bullpen has been downright awful the past few years. Other than starting pitching, this is their biggest need
The tigers have gose. They need to address left field, not CF. They should be and are very interested in o’day
The team that offers the fourth year will probably get him. I think every team is willing to go 6-7 million a year for 3 years. I hope he comprises with the Os and signs for 4/24.
What’s up with the new commenting system? How do you reply to a comment?
Hit reply, genius.
Lmao
Several people are missing the reply option. Don’t be so insolent.
Oh there it is.
Thanks toolbag
Funny, but sort of not nice. haha
I’d love the Mets to be in on the bidding, but I’m sure they’ll say it was too much $$.
Same here. They could have most of their offseason wrapped up already if they got him, aside from normal smaller signings and possibly pursuing Zobrist or Desmond.
It’s such an area of need, and even though relievers have more fluctuation in performance, O’Day is a proven guy with a great track record. I’d overpay and go to four years if necessary, considering how close they are in contending.
The Mets won’t be in on Zobrist (cost) or Desmond (QO, cost). The Mets got more out of their SS last year by a decent margin than what Desmond was worth. O’Day would make much more sense than either and will cost less.
Not suggesting that they pursue either guy instead of O’Day. Just saying its a possibility to pursue.
For the record, though, Desmond is worth far more than Flores/Tejada if you judge his entire career instead of his terrible first half of 2015.
The ability to reply to another’s comment seems to be turned off. Only the reply box at the bottom is available. No comment has the bold reply at the end of it.
Noticed this too, its an entirely different format/layout – no more “voting” system.
Tim & Crew – was this intentional?
It was on my tablet (fire hd) that I could not reply to comments. On my laptop, the reply option appears.
Now the old version is back
If you watched the Tigers the last few years, it has been the bullpen that has been their undoing. Since their are few sure thing relievers available in FA, that’s where they need to move first, before they are all gone. As to CF, they have one. His name is Gose. What they need is a LF. Span would fit there.
Seems like Tigers are in the mix. They are desperate enough to overpay before relievers “go on sale” later in the offseason.
Would prefer that the get 2-3 “left over” relievers later in the offseason for cheap. There is too much variability with relievers to overpay.
Also, make Fulmer into a reliever for a year. His arm is ready, but not as a starter.
VerHagen is the wildcard. I really think he will be a very solid reliever. Wilson is also solid. Hope either Al Al or Rondon are contributors, and one of the leftover free agents pan out, and they have a solid bullpen.
O’Day is absolutely not going on sale. He’s the #1 reliever arm available to buy without giving up prospects. That’s not going to change.
Get 2-3 guys later when the reliever prices come down. Not O’Day.
Reievers don’t “go on sale”. Prices come down because what is left is not worth the money. Some starters usually slip through, but I can’t recall a reliever. The only success the Tigers have had is when they signed Benoit quickly. I would like to see them sign one of Soria/Madsen/O’Day for the right side, and Sipp frm the left. As to moving Fulmer to relief, forgetaboutit! You don’t move your best starting prospect to the bullpen, when you are in need of starters. You do it when the rotation is set. VerHagen, Farmer, Ryan and Lobstein have limited value as starters which is why you move them to the pen. Fulmer, Boyd and Norris stay in the rotation for now. They get called up only when they are ready as starters..
The Red Sox lucked into their 4th choice at closer and won the World Series with Uehara. He was on no ones top 10 list of offseason acquisitions, yet he won the ALCS MVP.
Proves my point of variability in relief pitching. Foolish to overpay for position that is based much more on luck year to year. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule but O’Day is not Mariano Rivera.
Fulmer can be a reliever for just 1-2 years. Like countless other young prospects including Smyly. Smart teams absolutely make young starters into relievers temporarily. Look up what St. Louis has done for example.
I’m okay with having fulmer in the bullpen if he’s major league ready to ease I’m into the mlb workload, but only if he’s ready. If not, keep him the minors
A lot of people don’t realize the Os got Oday off waivers from Texas. He has pitched well and deserving of a big contract but when the cost to sign him hits a certain point it is almost always better to find another option. Every year though a team will do it.
Why turn Fulmer into a reliever when he can start?
Because his arm may not be ready for 180-200 innings of work. A lot of young pitchers these days are being eased into that workload by being a reliever for a year or so.
And if he waits til Christmastime he will have offers from all 30 teams. There isn’t one player out there who should wait as long as possible than O’Day – even with all the big reliever arms on the trade market, he’s clearly the best one on the FA one.
I was thinking Zobrist would be the wait it out guy but I could see it being Oday. I just think as soon as he gets the fourth year from somewhere he likes he will sign.
I wonder where the Mets are with this… From what I’ve seen with what moves they should be making O’Day would be a priority.
Hope this downgrade in the commenting section is only temporary – not edit option is going to drive me crazy, haa
* NO edit option – its already happening!
I guess I need to slow down before hitting post now.
Not an O’s fan, but they should thank god that they will still have Zach Britton on there roster heading into 2016. Because like ‘danray13’ has already said, this cat (O’Day) is one hang of a good (great) reliever & the O’s record will most def. suffer losing him. Not to mention losing Wieters & Davis, as well.
Losing O’Day will hurt but the pen is one of the O’s strengths going into next year. Britton has proven to be more than capable to close out games. The O’s will also have Brach who has quietly put together a nice career. Most notably is the O’s young sidearm pitcher Givens who throws mid to upper 90’s sidearm. Wieters is a meh loss as well as his backups out preformed him. Davis on the other hand will be a huge loss.
It’s a good time to be a bullpen arm
O’Day will sign with some NL West team so he can get as far away from Jose Bautista as possible… ; ))
“Reliever-rich Royals”
They actually have like 2 good relievers; Herrera and Davis. Unless you want to count Hoch.
Morales, Madson, and Holland are all FAs.
Young is a FA, and Medlen is probably going to move to the rotation.
Depending on how the off-season goes and if they are able to obtain a starter or 2, I think Duffy may join that group. Is also possible to see Almonte/Zimmer in a relief role this year as well. But yeah definitely going to have to re-tool the bullpen this year.
With Addison Reed set to rake in like $6MM in arb, I would so much rather the Mets not tender him and put that money towards O’Day.
Or they can keep Reed and add O’Day. Reed>O’Day>Familia looks nice on paper.
Totally agree. I feel like they’re going to cry poor when it comes to O’Day, though, while spending $6M on Reed.
Hey, hey we can sort now…excellent!
Anyway, please someone take O’Day!
I simply do not get all this interest.
Might have something to do with that 1.52 ERA, or the 2.07 ERA since 2009.
O’Day has put up elite closer numbers in six of the last 7 seasons, just in a middle relief role. That’s why everyone is interested in him.
Please be Red Sox
Before the off season I wondered if the O’s made a mistake not giving O’Day a QO…. maybe they should have.
no reliever is worth 15.8 million
At this rate, it may be more efficient to send an auctioneer to the Winter Meetings, stash O’Day in a storage locker until the appropriate time, and then conduct a “Storage Wars” sale for him.
Dodgers need him. 3/27 with a vesting option for year four based on innings in years 2 and 3.