Frank Thomas is rejoining the White Sox as a special consultant of business operations, the Hall-of-Famer told reporters (including CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes). Thomas had been working in an ambassador role with the Sox but took some time off to join Fox’s baseball broadcasts as an analyst; the Big Hurt will still continue his TV work in addition to working for the team. Here’s some more from around the AL Central…
- The Indians may not be done making lineup additions, GM Mike Chernoff said in an interview today with Jim Duquette and Jeff Joyce of MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM (Twitter links). Giving up a draft pick for a signing wouldn’t be out of the question, Chernoff said, if the value balances out with the team’s long-term goals. Ian Desmond and Dexter Fowler are the only two everyday players remaining with draft pick compensation attached via the qualifying offer, and Cleveland would have to surrender their first-rounder (the 15th overall selection) to sign either, a substantial loss for a smaller-market club. I would guess that the Tribe would only sign Desmond or Fowler if either agreed to a low-cost one-year contract, so they could rebuild their free agent stock for the 2016-17 offseason and the Indians could then try to recoup a draft pick via their own qualifying offer.
- With James McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia ahead of him on the Tigers’ catching depth chart, Bryan Holaday could be a spring trade candidate, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News writes. Holaday has seen limited action over his four Major League seasons, with 108 games and 282 plate appearances to his name since debuting in 2012. While the Tigers would undoubtedly like to keep Holaday as depth, he’s also out of options and likely couldn’t be kept at Triple-A without another team taking him on waivers.
- During the TwinsFest fan event this weekend, Twins GM Terry Ryan answered questions about Joe Mauer, the team’s young players and the team’s ability to sign major long-term contracts, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
- John Danks is approaching the 2016 season with an eye towards extending his career, MLB.com’s Scott Merkin writes. “I would say I’m more focused on this year, and my feeling is if I can put up a good year, then it won’t be my last year,” Danks said. “So I don’t want it to be my last year. I don’t want to plant that seed or anything. I’m a realist and understand that teams have to want me and for a team to want me, I’ve got to be good.” Since signing a five-year, $65MM extension with the White Sox following the 2011 season, Danks has battled injuries and struggled to the tune of a 4.82 ERA and 5.9 K/9 over 563 1/3 innings. The southpaw has at least been a durable innings-eater over the last two years, recording 371 1/3 IP since the start of the 2014 campaign. Even if Danks struggles in 2016, he’s only 30 years old, so I suspect he’d find a minor league deal next winter to continue his career.
- The Royals internally project to lose money in 2016 unless they manage another deep playoff run, Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star writes. The team is willing to spend outside its comfort zone in order to take another shot at a World Series, with Mellinger noting that baseball’s shared TV contracts and revenue-sharing policies have allowed the small-market Royals to get into a position to contend in the first place.
Sounds like a good spot for Big Hurt because he doesn’t know a lot about baseball nowadays.
I remember watching a broadcast earlier this year where he said Votto wasn’t one of the top 10 hitters in the game because he doesn’t hit enough home runs. Pete Rose looked like he wanted to punch him.
The Big Hurt was not wrong…just to name a few that are better
Cruz
C. Davis
Cutch
Cruz
Abreu
Gordon
Tulo
Harper
Goldy
Donaldson
Trout
Miggy
Cargo
Lol.
Dear lord please tell me that was a troll post. Cargo, Abreu, Davis, Cruz, Gordon???
2015 fWar leaders:
1. Bryce Harper
2. Mike Trout
3. Josh Donaldson
4. Goldy / Votto (Tied)
bWar leaders:
1. Trout (LAA) 8.9
2. Harper (WSN) 8.9
3. Donaldson (TOR) 7.7
4. Votto (CIN) 7.0
Wow. I want believe you even decided to make this list let alone put Chris Davis’ name anywhere near it.
Doesn’t really matter if he’s a great hitter , his team won’t win anything soon and one of his most valuable assets is his OBP , he hasn’t had 100 rbi or more since 2011
Lol ! Right
Must be a Baltimore fan
Sometimes free speech doesn’t pan out so well.
Who are the (2) Cruz’s listed?
Davis isn’t a top 10 sorry
Ask any Reds and they will agree with the Big Hurt. Unfortunately for the Reds, Votto would need to hit about 85 h0me runs to give the Reds a chance.
I really hope I see the day where baseball realizes competitive balance is a key is driving up attendance with baseball. I’d love to see every team REQUIRED to spend at a minimum of $90.000.000 on players – with the draft encompassing every player including international.
I know, I know I’ll put my straight jacket back on.
Danks has been nothing but a failure doubt he has anything to contribute besides eat up innings.
Why would the Tribe only sign Fowler or Desmond if it was on a one-year deal? For it to be worth it for them to give up the pick, they should only do it if they can get one of them on a cheap two-year deal.
Because they want their Draft Pick back sooner.
If they sign him for 2 years, then make a QO to him…….He just might accept the QO. I actually think that Desmond could spend the rest of his career accepting QO’s (and making $16 mil/year). That’s not any different than signing a 5/$80 deal (that he could not get now, and may never have offered to him again!)
Right you are but it provides no protection for the player. Chances that he excels every year in that scenario are very small.
He could just as easily accept a QO after one year especially now since he sees what can happen to him after a QO.
McCann is natural leader and should get the starting job. McCann is the only real leader on the team, and it was evident last season.
For as often as Saltalamacchia has been passed around, it’s somewhat difficult to believe that he’s actually blocking someone on a catching depth chart.
He was brutal in the short time with Miami, but he got a job by hitting well in Arizona. Looking back, he has produced well as a starter over the course of a full season. Most backups can’t step in for a long stretch of time without a big drop off. He’s a decent left-handed bat in addition to being a serviceable level catcher.
I don’t think there are any guarantees that Salty will be on the opening day roster. He is a nice fit because he can swing the bat from the left side and has some pop, but Holaday is better defensively. It will be interesting to see which way Ausmus thinks is more valuable.
Bryan Holaday is the best catcher I have seen play. He comes through in the clutch unlike the old Jarod salttilamicha, ot what ever his last name is
A lot of former managers and players latch on to teams in “advisement” or “consultant” positions. I wonder how much the pay and the overall involvement they have. Even what the exact requirements of their positions are. Being a Braves fan I know of Bobby Cox and recently Chipper Jones being hired to serve in these type of roles.