The market for left-hander Antonio Bastardo — arguably the top remaining free agent reliever on the market — has begun to pick up this week, per Baseball Essential’s Robert Murray. The Dodgers, Orioles, Mets and Blue Jays are all interested in Bastardo’s services, according to the report, which also notes that the Cubs met with Bastardo’s reps from the Legacy Agency at last month’s Winter Meetings.
Bastardo has reportedly been seeking a contract similar to the one secured by fellow free-agent lefty Tony Sipp this offseason. The 32-year-old Sipp landed a three-year, $18MM contract to return to Houston back in December, but the market for Bastardo’s services hasn’t been as aggressive despite the fact that he’s two years younger. While Murray notes that the intensifying market could potentially lead to a three-year pact, it’s difficult to see either the Mets or Blue Jays doling out that type of contract. The Mets are reportedly only interested in one-year deals with the remaining free agent relievers on the market, and the Blue Jays are said to be working with budgetary restrictions as their payroll is set to exceed last year’s mark as it is. The Orioles have been aggressive of late, but the $161MM they recently spent on Chris Davis (plus the $31MM given to Darren O’Day, the $7MM allotted to Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and the $16.1MM going to Matt Wieters via the qualifying offer) calls into question how much more they’ll spend. (It’s also worth noting that with Brian Matusz, T.J. McFarland and closer Zach Britton, the team already has three lefties in the ’pen.)
The Dodgers, to be sure, have virtually unlimited spending capacity, but they’ve taken a surprisingly measured approach to their bullpen shopping this winter. The Cubs, theoretically, could issue that kind of deal, though Murray notes that it’s not clear when the last contact between the two sides even was, and they, too, have three lefties in the ’pen (Travis Wood, Clayton Richard, Rex Brothers).
Bastardo, 30, has been a somewhat quietly excellent performer across the past three seasons with the Phillies and Pirates. In that time, Bastardo has logged a 3.18 ERA with 10.5 K/9, 4.4 BB/9 and a 30.8 percent ground-ball rate. He’s also been effective against both left- and right-handed batters, holding same-handed opponents to a .167/.273/.295 batting line while surrendering just a .204/.310/.314 batting line even when his opponents hold the platoon advantage. Of course, control has been a persistent problem for Bastardo, too, as he’s only averaged less than four walks per nine innings in one season of his career — his debut campaign in 2009, when he tossed just 23 2/3 innings.
Macfarland could end up starting for the O’s
I haven’t watched him pitch, but going off of his numbers last year, that speaks volumes about how terrible the O’s rotation is.
that’s incredibly sad if he does.
Not a chance
Sorry I meant starting at AAA level
Macfarland has no chance at starting their rotation is gausman Jimenez Tillman Gonzalez and one of wright or Wilson and maybe bundy and Harvey
I’m tired of these supposive “budget restrictions” with the the Blue Jays. It isn’t budget restrictions. It’s the owners being cheap. They had 6 home games in the playoffs last season, all of which we were sell-outs. That’s additional revenue for the club. Put that money back into the team Rogers
While you’re right about the fact that if you make the playoffs, a team will most likely generate more revenue, but its not like 100% of the money made from the game goes into revenue for extra money to spend towards the cap. While I don’t know the exact percentage, I’m sure some, if not most, of gameday revenue goes into stadium upkeep, concessions and employee (stadium workers) wages. I think that the number each team sets for their cap is more dependent on how much the owners are willing to spend and revenues generated from TV deals and sponsorships.
Couldn’t agree more with you but apparently the Jays/Rogers take home was 50million for just their playoff games. All of Canada got behind them and they sold a ton of merchandise. I can understand why lots of fans are upset.
When writing about the potential lineup in the O’s bullpen don’t forget that Matusz is one year away from free agency. It’ just as likely that the O’s look to Bastardo as a more cost-controlled lefty specialist that would allow them to flip Matusz so they don’t lose him for nothing after 2016.
They could just extend Matusz for the same term that Bastardo will command, for less money.
Matusz was shipped last offseason pretty heavily without finding any takers. If he is actually flipped this year don’t expect much back.
Why would he want to go to Toronto they r a joke!
They made the playoffs last year? Trollol
The east is going to be a tight race! I think Boston has to be fav this year . With the other teams fighting right behind them
Wow not bad make the playoffs every ten years. The sad thing about the jays tho is not the players or the management but their fans as they r so idiotic!
They won’t be going there this year, not with their pitching.
How about the moves by the Blue Jays.
Shapiro and mini Shapiro have
fashioned a juggernaut!!