The Diamondbacks’ whirlwind courtship of Zack Greinke is chronicled by FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Owner Ken Kendrick and team president Derrick Hall had lightly discussed pursuing Greinke but only gave the front office the go-ahead to start talks on the very day that Greinke was allegedly going to choose between the Giants and Dodgers. D’Backs management was emboldened by a forthcoming TV contract that allowed them to make a big initial offer (to get the attention of agent Casey Close) and also afford the deferral payments that went into the record-setting contract. All told, the entire process took 5.5 hours from Kendrick’s okay to Greinke’s final agreement.
Here’s more from around the senior circuit…
- Michael Cuddyer’s decision to retire caught many in the game by surprise, though as the veteran outfielder explains himself in a piece for The Players’ Tribune, “after 15 years, the toll on my body has finally caught up to me.” Cuddyer recaps his career in the piece and he gives credit to the many people who helped inspire and shape how he played the game over his impressive run in the sport.
- The Mets would like to sign two relievers, Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets, and Jerry Blevins could be one of them. The club met with Blevins’ agent during the Winter Meetings and were known to be interested in bringing the lefty back for another year in Queens.
- With four catchers on the 40-man roster, the Padres have a clear area of surplus that is likely to be used for a future trade, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes. The newly-acquired Christian Bethancourt joins Derek Norris, Austin Hedges and Josmil Pinto on the roster.
- Though Jameson Taillon hasn’t known a professional pitch since 2013, the Pirates prospect tells Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he’s still been developing as a professional while rehabbing from injury. “It really bugged me when I heard people say I had two lost years,” Taillon said. “Because those two lost years, I was working with the best pitching coaches, away from the drawing board, getting to refine what I was weak at. I got to work out more and get on a better eating schedule. I think that ’two lost years’ is kind of bogus, because I definitely got a lot better. I didn’t stall out by any means.” Taillon was sidelined first by Tommy John surgery and then a hernia operation but he’s aiming to be ready for his big league debut by midseason. An innings limit hasn’t yet been discussed, as GM Neal Huntington said the Bucs may need Taillon down the stretch but the club also doesn’t want to overly restrict his workload and set him back for 2017.
Prediction:
Norris traded
Bethancourt and Pinto start in Padres 25-man roster.
When Hedges ready from AAA, Padres DFA Pinto?
What’s do you guys predict?
Think your answer’s on the dot.
Hedges needs to work on his swing and will likely be sent down.
Norris seems like the odd man out.
Pinto seems like the most rounded guy of the bunch.
Bethancourt can’t hit either but is better than Hedges defensively now.
“Bethancourt … is better than Hedges defensively now.”
Uh, no. Completely, totally, absolutely no.
Hedges is major league ready defensively “right now”.
Gold Glove ready.
I can just imagine how good he will be after working with a staff full time for a few seasons.
Offense would be nice…. But a luxury at the same time where his defense is concerned!
Hedges is the best defensive C in mlb beside molina while bethancourt had trouble blocking balls so no hes not better
Russel Martin, Salvader perez..
I’m not saying he’s not, I haven’t seen him play nor do I know of his defensive metrics, but I know Zunino and at least Posey have to be up there too.
Honestly, Hedges is a generationally great defensive talent. While the guys you mentioned are fantastic, all you need to know is that Austin Hedges was considered a prospect as a 13-year-old even while hitting 8TH on his travel ball teams. He’s never ever been much with the stick, but has been looked at as a premier player at C at every level he’s played because of his preternatural ability with the glove. He is smooth, quiet, and uncannily aware out there.
Mike Zunino has the best pitch frame % and an absolute gun. Yes, he hit .174 and will start the year in Triple-A Tacoma, but he deserves to be brought into the conversation for best defensive catcher
No one is better than Hedges defensively now
Something is going to happen. Preller has to make another move, or have something else coming up unless he really does intend on having 4 catchers on the roster.
As for Hedges, he’s nice defensively, but it’s clear his bat still needs work, so I think it would be a good idea if they let him develop more in the minors.
the Padres, are the ones who keep going on and on about, contending in 2016, because “they dont have to fire sale”, and they dont have to “do a complete rebuild”….they’re the ones who say that.
So, if thats the case, you dont trade Norris. You send Hedges back to AAA, because, bottom line, he cannot hit. And if they dont allow Hedges to learn how to hit, he’ll always be a “Tyler Flowers” or “Brad Ausmus”..
Just the other day, Preller was on local Padres radio talking about how they’ll have to watch the amount of games that Norris plays in 2016. They certainly werent sounding like he was outta here.. And that may not mean much…but like I said, you can only trade so many key guys, before its clear you’re not contending next season.
The way things are going, they might just be better off rebuilding. As it looks right now, the team is not significantly better than it was last year.
They probably just want to try to get as many of their own players in the All Star Game next year to show “”Hometown Pride. “”
Diamondbacks were given the go ahead on spending quite a bit of money due to their forthcoming TV contract?
Too bad the Cardinals were not given a similar go ahead on Price/Heyward… Even though they already have the TV contract in place…
They were never signing both. Price was #1 priority. They were never all-in on Heyward like everyone seems to think.
I disagree. I think they were all in on Heyward after Price signed with Boston. They just lost out on him. I think that Heyward ultimatley picked the Cubs because of the 2 potential opt outs in his contract, not because of the money.
With that said the Cardinals have never been “big” spenders in FA. The Holiday signing was because he finally came down to what they felt comfortable spending. The Cardinals identity has always been that they hope FA take less money to come play in STL. They develop their own players and have great coaches throughout their levels to develop these players. For the Cardinals sake they may want to consider getting Grichuk signed at a reasonable price as soon as possible. I feel that kid is going to be very special and if they want I’m sure Atl can find a place for him in their OF 🙂
The idea of players taking less to play in “baseball heaven” is BFIB trash and won’t get the front office anywhere. You have to be willing to pay market value and they are not.
Really excited to hopefully see Taillon and Glasnow join the Pirates rotation next season. If fully healthy, the Pirates may be the only NL team with a rotation that can rival with the Mets.
Pretty balsy of Tailon to say he has’t lost time. Yeah I’m sure he didn’t sit around 2 years doing nothing, He must be doing something right cause he is still a top prospect. But I’m sure he doesn’t expect to be thrown out there with out having thrown any pitches in a couple years.. If everything goes great i’d say july at the earliest. baring injuries of course.
Taillion has thrown pitches in Florida in spring training and in extended spring training in the last year. In a true minor league game, no. One thing is that he got an extra year after TJ surgery to gain more strength in the rebuilt arm. You are right that he will not be in Pgh till mid season at the earliest. If he is finally healthy hopefully he will finally start to realize some of the potential.
What about trading Taillion to Atl?
Pittsburgh gets
Freeman
Banuelos
Atl gets
Austin Meadows
Josh Bell
Taillion
competitive balance pick
This gives The Pirates a 1st baseman in Freeman that they are looking for and a LH SP to fill out their rotation. Banuelos showed glimpses of greatness last season and was once a top 100 prospect for the Yankees, he could soften the blow of losing Taillion plus make it so they don’t have to rush Glasnow if he isn’t ready during spring. Meadows is blocked by the Pirates current OF so he wouldn’t be a big loss. Freeman would obviously remove the sting of losing Bell.
Pirates have 3 LH SP as it stands now 4th will not round it out. You really think the Pirates would trade 3 of their top 4 prospects and a draft pick? Meadows is going to be needed in 2 years if they can not sign McCutchen. Bell and Taillion both will be in Pittsburgh this summer anyway.. Dream on Braves fan as Huntington will never trade that many top prospects in one deal.
They probably wouldn’t trade that much, but it could make sense. Maybe not Banuelos, but they Braves have several pieces. Maybe Teheran is a part of that deal. I think Pittsburgh needs to make a big move and a trade for Freeman could be that move.
The pirates arent trading Meadows. Hes in line to replace Cutch after hes dealt in the winter of 2017.
Pirates wouldn’t be able to afford Freeman. Or at least if they have the choice of taking on Freeman’s contract and possibly resigning McCutchen or Cole, I think they would go with the latter.
You are probably correct. I didn’t think about resigning Cole. He still has 4 years left correct? Maybe 5 actually. I think he came up late enough in 2014 that it didn’t affect his time really.
Odds are that they aren’t able to resign Cole (especially since Boras is his agent) and that if he keeps putting up big numbers, a $200 million dollar contract isn’t out of the question, which might price him out of their range.
yeah cole out of reach sadly.
Not even close.
Freeman is good but not that good 3 top prospects, who of whom will be in the MLB next year? Plus another pick? na not happening..
If the pirates didn’t need starters so bad right now i’d say Jameson and Bell for freeman straight up… but thats about as far as i’d go prospect wise.
Meadows is all but untouchable unless Cutch extends somehow.
I’d like to have freeman but I doubt there is a match of what the pirates would give up to get him.. especially if the braves are not eating a good amount of salary.
Pirates might take the Freeman contract if $750 were included with it…
As mentioned by others, Meadows is untouchable. Substitute someone like Luis Heredia in for him, along with Bell and Tallion and they just might do that.
n/a
Allegedly? Hmm. Good thing they kept that crime from occurring.