Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has tons of great info and insight in his latest column. The whole article is worth a read, but here’s a look at a few of the highlights:
- Before acquiring Francisco Rodriguez via trade, the Tigers made an offer to free agent Joakim Soria, major league sources tell Rosenthal. They also inquired on a few Nationals relievers, including Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen. George A. King III of the New York Post first reported that there were discussions earlier this month between Soria and Detroit. Soria is seeking a three-year, $27MM deal, so that was likely too rich for the Tigers’ blood.
- Papelbon and Storen have been mentioned in rumors for some time now and sources tell Rosenthal that both are likely to be moved. Meanwhile, talk persists that the Nationals have been one of the clubs trying to pry closer Aroldis Chapman away from the Reds. All in all, it seems like Washington is looking for a major overhaul in their bullpen. Still, the Nats feel that a left-hander hitter is their biggest need and they could also be on the hunt for a starting pitcher.
- The Rangers inquired on Yoenis Cespedes multiple times when he was crushing homers for the A’s, sources tell Rosenthal, but it still seems unlikely that they’ll send the money necessary to sign him this winter. Last week, Steve Adams looked at the Rangers’ various options as a part of MLBTR’s Offseason Outlook series.
Cepedes to that rangers 5 years and 145 million
That would make no sense with money or personnel. Cespedes is isn’t worth the money, Texas doesn’t have it and Texas has Hamilton in LF. Finding Hamilton a rh LF/1B for the bench makes more sense.
I don’t think we have that kind of budget
No way he gets that much, it’ll be closer to $20 mill/yr than $30.
Now even close there’s no way he’s getting 29 million a year. Should be around 20.
Noone trades for papelbon unless the nats eat his entire salary or they get a prospecf back in the deal. Hes too much of a head case.
The fact he isn’t gone yet makes me think they aren’t shopping hard enough yet. I thought it’d be interesting if he was included in a trade for chapman where his salary was eaten and of course prospects…
Is paps a head case? Of course. But he has been successful in Boston before, and if taking on papelbon with the majority of his contract gets us storen as well just to ruin the prospect haul then I think DD successfully overhauled the bullpen because that would give us 6 competent arms in the pen.
Avila did it correctly. He had 5 needs: SP2, SP5, RP, LF and Closer.
He checked off two of them for about $16MM. Very efficient.
He has about $40MM for the remaining three needs.
No reason the cannot easily afford Zimmerman, a leftover cheap innings starter (Colon, Simon, for example), and a mid-tier RP.
I think you’re being a bit generous with 40M left. They started with around 40M. Maybin runs em 5.5 this year and Krod(because the differed and the buy out can cost against this year) runs 8.5M.
That says they have about 25 M left. I assume one starter and one reliever. Leaving the fifth starter up for Lobstein, Fulmer, Boyd
Look at MLIVE for a full analysis. They give 3 numbers: $142MM (minimum payroll in 2016, if they don’t trade anybody, $173MM (last years payroll), $189MM (Luxury Tax threshold).
Match last year: $31MM left.
Go all the way to luxury tax: $47MM left.
I think $40MM is a reasonable remaining budget.
I think you’re being generous. They started with 40-45 mil.
Maybin runs 5.5 and krod(after figuring in his deferred and buyout) runs 8.5. Sounds like they have 25M to fill in the rest
No way we are picking up Colon, but I think Fulmer will take the 5 spot so it will be
Verlander
Free agent pick up
Sanchez
Norris
Fulmer/ maybe Boyd
If Avila somehow doesn’t pick up someone then I would move everyone up one and give at SP 5 be Boyd/Lobstien
It’s mostly dependent if Fulmer can hold a 5 spot
While they can’t count on it, Shawn Greene should be healthy. Fulmer will probably start at AAA for experience and to avoid super two. Boyd did not look ready, nor did Farmer. Here’s hoping Fister would like to return on a make good contract.
I disagree with your assessment of needs. He has a need for 2 starters in the rotation, but Sanchez is the #2, no matter how much we might wish for better. They need 2 back end starters, or maybe a number 3. Maybin should be the 4th OF (replacing Raja) and they should be looking for a LF (Span/Bruce?), still. Plus they can still use two more bullpen arms, one being lefty. With all the problems in past years with the bullpen, they need to spend more than Tom Gorzelany money to fix it. They need depth and Al Al is not the answer. lt’s also unknown if they are satisfied with Holaday backing up McCann, so they may need a 2nd catcher. Can’t afford a $25MM pitcher with all those needs. Better to find two $10MM pitchers and put the $5MM somewhere else.
Cano did look kind of big last year and maybe not as smooth turning the DP as previously. The boots I saw weren’t the ones he is known for and mainly ignored, like from his NY days from that lightning quick transfer, where he transfers the ball so fast, it’s nearly a blur. No.. The ones I saw were legit boots. Errant throws to 1b, ball under the glove, errors he just didn’t previously make.
Combine with what would guess from looking at maybe 20lbs he tacked on from sight. Was he sitting back a little during the 2015 season? Is Van Slyke calling him out to try and get him to shape up?
Maybin is a platoon cf so they still need a Lf!
Somehow I think we’re getting Collins and Maybin platoon
Papelbon to the Padres for a B prospect while Nationals eat half his salary? Pap will have a strong year while making himself more attractive as a free agent