Many in the baseball world are mourning a pair of losses this week, as MLB.com reporter Tom Singer and revered Reds clubhouse manager Bernie Stowe have, sadly, passed away. MLB.com executive vice president of content Dinn Mann spoke to Pirates ace Gerrit Cole and manager Clint Hurdle about Singer, who covered the Bucs in recent years at MLB.com, as part of a thoughtfully constructed remembrance. Several of Singer’s colleagues, including Lyle Spencer, Tracy Ringolsby, Anthony Castrovince and Adam Berry, shared fond memories of Singer in a video tribute at MLB.com. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, meanwhile, has penned a tribute to Stowe, who worked for the Reds for 67 years, ever since joining the team as a bat boy in 1947. Crasnick’s column depicts how much Stowe meant not only to the Reds organization, but to the countless friends that he accumulated in the media and throughout the league over his remarkable career. MLBTR offers its sincerest condolences to the many friends and loved ones of both Singer and Stowe and asks that our readers keep the pair in their thoughts.
A few notes pertaining to the game’s Central divisions…
- Twins general manager Terry Ryan recently joined 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson on his weekly podcast and discussed the upcoming season (audio link, with Ryan joining the show around the 13:50 mark). The two covered a number of topics, including the rough season for former top prospect Oswaldo Arcia, who is now entering Spring Training as an out-of-options player. “I was terribly disappointed in the year [Arcia] had, and he knows it,” said Ryan. “He’s got a lot to live up to here. I know he’s been in Fort Myers [home of the Twins’ Spring Training facilities] since the day his season concluded up there in Rochester. But, when you’re not a September recall, with the type of ability he has, there’s something wrong, and we need to fix him.” There doesn’t appear to be a regular role for Arcia with Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano locked into the corner outfield spots and Byung-ho Park standing as the early favorite for DH duties, but Arcia could still land a bench spot alongside John Ryan Murphy, Danny Santana and Eduardo Nunez.
- Ryan also discussed the team’s lack of moves to add left-handed relief help this offseason, noting that there are a few internal options that excite him. “I’m looking forward to seeing Taylor Rogers, for instance, a left-hander that’s been with us for quite a few years,” said Ryan. “He’s going to get every opportunity to make this team. I’d like to see [J.T.] Chargois, obviously, grow into a guy you can count on. He might have the best assortment of pitches of those young pitchers that you guys read about it.” Ryan also indicated that there’s still the possibility of adding an arm from outside the organization, calling a trade more likely than a free-agent signing.
- Although Cardinals newcomer Seung-hwan Oh had some difficulties obtaining a work visa in Korea, the right-hander now has his visa in place and is expected to report on-time, if not early, for his first big league Spring Training, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Oh, the all-time saves leader in the Korea Baseball Organization, will compete with Seth Maness, Jonathan Broxton and Kevin Siegrist to serve as Trevor Rosenthal’s primary setup man, per Goold.
- Goold also reports that Matt Holliday has begun taking grounders at first base, though the veteran left fielder insists that the work at first was his own idea and is just being done in an attempt to increase his versatility. “I wanted to challenge myself,” Holliday told Goold. Brandon Moss and Matt Adams are currently the primary first base options for manager Mike Matheny, though having Holliday as an option there would only serve to strengthen the team’s depth.
- Fangraphs’ August Fagerstrom opines that the White Sox got perhaps the biggest bargain of the offseason in the form of Mat Latos. Fagerstrom lists seven players with worse xFIP marks than Latos posted in 2015 but who averaged a total guarantee of $81MM between them. Of course, Latos comes with notable health and clubhouse concerns, but the White Sox have done well with such assets in the past. Fagerstrom points out that the Sox have an exemplary track record of keeping players healthy and haven’t shied away from adding potentially cantankerous personalities to their roster in the past. Meanwhile, J.J. Stankevitz of CSN Chicago offers a similar take, comparing the 2015 production of Latos to that of Jeff Samardzija, noting the similarities in their numbers but the enormous discrepancies in their contracts.
Cachhubguy
Samardzija will have a great year now that he’s away from Cooper and that terrible defense.
rockie44
Yupp all those homeruns were because of bad defense right ?
davidcoonce74
He’s moving from a homer-friendly park to one that supresses homers and from a bad defensive team to a better one; should help a bit. Samardzija’s always been a bit overrated but he has decent stuff.
reignaado
Giants “even year success”. Yep, I also think that he’ll have a great season this year.
bigshawn1738
Singer obviously loved what he did, was a very good writer.
cardfan2011
Seriously, how many times will fans bring up a move of Holliday to first? Lol, sure it makes sense, but it won’t happen. Mainly, he’s out there for his offense, so he’ll need to produce in his final year as a Cardinal
JCjet
agreed
stl_cards16 2
He’s the one bringing it up now, he’s doing it.
But I don’t see it as being successful. #1. I’m not sold he will have good enough footwork and #2. With a history of lower back problems, I’m not sure a move suits him well.
cardfan2011
Thats true. And thats more of the reason to not do it Besides, theyve still got Moss and Adams, and they believe they’ll produce. It waits to be seen
draushaus
Cardinals: Justin Morneau. He might be a good fit, whether taking over first base or sharing with Adams.. The Cardinals don’t need outfielders. Grab this hitter while he’s available.
Jay Bruce? Blue Jays. He’s young yet. And they may need a new bat ramping up for coming years, to slot in if one of their sluggers departs. It might be time to buy. Let him take over for Ben Revere.
What’s the price tag on Jimmy Rollins? White Sox might benefit from a veteran presence in the infield. Would he be interested in coming to Chicago as insurance at shortstop?
Twins: Could use some competition yet in the rotation. How about Ross Ohlendorf? He’s like Chris Young and could turn it on at any time.
rickcwik
I like your Rollins to White Sox if, and only if, they are unable to sign Desmond.
timyanks
have been saying they should sign morneau for a while now. couldn’t hurt. he fits like the will clark and larry walker signings of past years.
twins33
The Twins have enough “competition” in their rotation. Santana, Hughes, Gibson, Duffey, Milone, Nolasco, May is an option, Berrios is an option but will probably start in AAA., That’s 8 for five spots, a few will go to the bullpen…likely Nolasco and May.
They don’t need another older guy who doesn’t strike anyone out. They need an ace, they may have that in Berrios eventually or at least close to it (hopefully)
dsteig
The only way the Twins will get better if they fire Terry Ryan. He pulls the moral of the team down and doesn’t know baseball
TwinsVet
He knew baseball in the late 90’s. And he’s still a keen talent evaluator as a scout.
But I agree with your sentiment. Twins front office has proven itself to be criminally negligent when it comes to applying analytics, woefully inept at negotiating for equitable value in trades, and completely incompetent at developing existing talent. The front office needs to be torn down and rebuilt – unfortunately the Pohlad’s have too much loyalty to in-house “good ole boys” to acknowledge, let alone fix, the glaring problems.
thecoffinnail
Samardzija and Latos put up similar numbers last year but Latos yet again hit the DL. Also Latos was awful when he went to the Dodgers. He is a solid bounceback candidate, but he has had several issues with his shoulder. I do think his club house cancer reputation might be a little overblown though. It’s not like he is Milton Bradley. He was in a contract year last year and expected to be a top performer in Miami. The pressure might have gotten to him like Samardzija and Desmond. The White Sox only need him to be a solid #4 innings eater. IMHO I think he is gonna have a monster year if he can stay off the dl.
Strauss
Nice job Hahn and Williams. The Chicago Browns , I mean sox, will certainly make the playoffs now with the off season signings of Ishikawa, Fields, Sands, Cleto, Hairston, and Turner. Add in that great last season signing of Olt and it’s a championship caliber team.now there’s the signing of that jackass Latos and it makes me real excited. And let’s not forget the intelligent and exciting manager Ventura.
Aaron Sapoznik
Sure, go ahead and emphasize the fringe acquisitions that all teams make to provide system depth while overlooking the key additions like Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie, Dioner Navarro, Alex Avila and, yes…Mat Latos. In all probability, the White Sox are not yet done this offseason either. Btw, White Sox broadcaster “Hawk” Harrelson has “reportedly” chimed in and offered his assessment of the clubs comings and goings thus far…
“He gone!” (Jeff Samardzija, Gordon Beckham,Tyler Flowers, Alexei Ramirez, Trayce Thompson)
“You can put it on the board! Yes!” (Todd Frazier)
“Stretch!” (Brett Lawrie, Dioner Navarro, Alex Avila)
“Big hack, no contact.” (Alex Gordon, Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton)
“Duck snorts.” (Jacob Turner, Hector Sanchez, Jerry Sands)
“Don’t stop now boys.” (Ian Desmond, Javier Baez, Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Ryan Braun, Jorge Soler)
“Grab some bench!” (Tyler Saladino, Avisail Garcia)
“Right size, wrong shape.” (Matt Albers, Mat Latos)
“You gotta be…bleeping me!” (Scott Hairston, Travis Ishikawa)
“Dadgummit” (Adam LaRoche, John Danks)
New nickname: Mat Hatter Latos
ronnsnow
+20
Jonas Salk
Dude, all teams pick up fringe players who won’t make the big league roster just as the Sox did this offseason. They did get Lawrie and Frazier who you didn’t mention. The Latos signing is a very smart move on their part. 3 million dollars for a guy who not long ago put up #2/#3 numbers is pretty good considering he is only 28.
PhilliesFan012
I have a strong feeling that at the trade deadline this year he white sox are going to have a total fire sale if they can get teams to take their guys. I don’t think getting a team to take Melkly will be as hard as Laroche or Danks but the sox need to do something productive and I don’t see anything they have done as productive
Aaron Sapoznik
Really? I’d be surprised to see the White Sox ‘clean house” with 80 year-old owner Jerry Reinsdorf likely selling the team in the not too distant future, along with the cheap, long term deals still in place with core assets like Chris Sale, Jose Abreu, Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton that, with renewed team options, will not expire until 2019 to 2021. In addition, they have two other potential ace pitchers in Carlos Rodon and Carson Fulmer who are years away from arbitration eligibility, let alone free agency. This is a solid foundation in which to continue building on for at least a few more years.
If things go south again this season as they did last year, I can see the White Sox flipping some of their shorter term veteran assets by the summer trade deadline(s) like John Danks, Adam LaRoche, Dioner Navarro or Alex Avila. Manager Robin Ventura would also likely be replaced by newly hired bench coach Rick Renteria. Imo, the front office would hold off on potential deals for 2 year assets like Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera until next off-season at the earliest, along with 3 year commitment, David Robertson. Even in that event, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them pursue extensions or deal those players for other MLB ready assets rather than just restock their farm system.
retirement13
Latos and Lawrie, it will be interesting to see how Ventura can handle those guys. Hopefully, Robin will be gone by June.
Aaron Sapoznik
Say what you will about Robin Ventura’s game management. The thing he does appear to excel at is communicating and maintaining a solid clubhouse, not always an easy task with a considerable veteran presence on the losing teams he has had the past three seasons.