Nolan Arenado has quickly blossomed as arguably the best player on the Rockies, but there have been no talks of a long-term deal between the two sides to this point, tweets Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Soon to turn 25 years old, Arenado had a monster season in 2015, batting .287/.323/.575 and leading the NL in homers (42), RBIs (130) and total bases (354) while also earning a Gold Glove. In his first trip through arbitration this winter, the Wasserman client took home a hefty (relative to other first-time arb players) $5MM payday, and he’ll go through that process three more times due to his status as a Super Two player before hitting the open market following the 2019 season. The Rockies, then, still have plenty of time to talk extension, though the price will only escalate if Arenado keeps producing at that level.
More from the NL West…
- Padres manager Andy Green is excited by what he’s seen of Alexei Ramirez thus far in Spring Training, writes A.J. Cassavell of MLB.com. Green feels that the club could have a bargain on its hands in Ramirez, noting that Ramirez’s poor 2015 numbers were more the result of a couple of bad months to open the year than a decline in skill. “Fact of the matter is, if he hadn’t had those two months, he probably would have signed for really big dollars someplace else,” Green tells Cassavell. “The last three months of the season were classic Alexei Ramirez. We’re excited to get that guy.” Indeed, Ramirez did bat .277/.325/.432 after the All-Star break.
- San Diego general manager A.J. Preller said on Mighty 1090 AM earlier this week that he’s pleased with the direction of the Padres’ scouting and international departments since taking over as GM nearly two years ago (via Tom Krasovic of Baseball America). “You see it in the bodies of the minor league players that are here at minor league minicamp,” said Preller. “You see it in the way our system is structured, in terms of instruction. It’s something that’s going to put us in the right spot in the future. … I think on the international scouting side, we’re definitely in position to go ahead and add players if we want to.” Multiple reports peg the Padres as big spenders on the 2016-17 international free agent market, which kicks off on July 2.
- In the wake of a report from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that the Rangers are interested in Padres catcher Derek Norris, Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron attempts to construct a blockbuster swap that would send Norris and right-hander Tyson Ross to the Rangers. Cameron writes that Rangers probably need another starter more than another catcher, but notes that Grant suggested payroll was too tight to add significant dollars. As such, Cameron offers a well-reasoned case for the Rangers to move Joey Gallo — a top 10 prospect that is blocked at his possible positions in 2016 — and a solid but lesser-ranked minor leaguer for Norris, Ross and enough cash to cover their 2016 salaries. Rangers fans probably recoil a bit at the notion of dealing Gallo, but Cameron’s rationale is well thought out and worth a read.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu’s fairly modest goals of 20 starts and 150 innings this year “unrealistic,” writes Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times. The club has yet to establish any sort of timetable for Ryu’s return to a big league mound, he notes. Sticking with Dodgers injuries — outfielder Andre Ethier exited today’s Cactus League contest after fouling a ball off his shin, but the club has since announced that x-rays performed on his leg came back negative. Ethier is day to day with a contusion, but he appears to have avoided further injury. Also worth noting: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick writes that the team is still optimistic that Corey Seager will be ready for Opening Day. Seager said the pain in his sprained knee is gone “for the most part,” adding that he was cleared to resume playing catch today.
Arenado is in a tough position. One would like a long term deal, for security, but a long term deal in Colorado, I’ll be hesitant. On another note the Rockies have no (very little) pitching in their system.
I disagree. After recently graduating Jon Gray and Eddie Butler (give these young man a chance), GM Jeff Bridich has been making moves for power arms. First, it was Jeff Hoffman, Jesus Tinoco and Miguel Castro in the Tulo deal, then German Marquez in the Dickerson swap. Also, Antonio Senzatela, Mike Nikorak and Kyle Freeland all have potential to give the Rockies top 100 prospects.
Actually, the Rox have their best pitching prospects since 2006-2007 (as part of what is generally rated one of the top 5 farm system. Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman and Kyle Freeland were all top 10 picks in the 2013 and 2014 drafts and are top 100 or just out of top 100 prospects. Jesus Tinoco and Miguel Castro who came as part of the Tulo trade are also highly regarded. Plus there is Marquez who they got in the Dickerson trade and a kid heading to AA Antonio Senzeltela who jumped his K/9 rate in hitting friendly Cal league to nearly 9/9 and has risen fast in prospect rankings. Historically have the Rox been bad at pitching development yes. But it is simply is not accurate to say the team has no or very little pitching in their system and that is to leave out Eddie Butler who went from a top 25 prospect to having a lot of trouble (still under 25) and Tyler Matzek who had a great 2014 but has been struggling with a similar mental health issue that nearly derailed Greinke. Yes the Rox need to hit on at least half of their prospects as is true of most teams, but for once they have a large enough population of real pitching prospects that they don’t have to hit on 100%. The real question is whether they can develop enough offensive prospects to make the team competitive. 2016 is a year away, but by 2nd half of 2017 Arenado should have a good data set to determine if the team has a long-term future he wants to tie himself to in an 8 or 9 year contract.
Noticed Dick Engle broadcasting a ST day earlier this week and thought he was retiring this season. Can some Padres fan let me know if he is going to be broadcasting some games during the regular season also? He’s been one of my favorites for years. Neutral calling games and very knowledgeable. great man and will be missed. Bad enough that Tommy Helms retired after all these years from the Marlins.
The good ones leave and worthless ones, like Deeeewayne Staats one the Rays hang around forever.
The Padre fans will soon make their attack on Cameron when they find out Norris won’t bring back Gallo on his own…. lol
Cashner, Norris and Quackenbush returns Gallo, Holland and prospect.
No, I don’t think it does. Turn Cashner into Ross, then maybe, but even then I’m not sure it’s worth it, depending on the unnamed prospect you have going back
Rangers can save some money getting rid of Holland, Pads could maybe add Erlin into the deal if Holland is fully healthy and the prospect coming back wouldn’t be in Texas top 10 – tell me what would work without Ross in the deal
You cant reason with people on joey gallo. Texas fans seem to think he is Kris Bryant. Norris wouldnt do it but i bet Cashner and Norris would. With Ross and Norris they would have to kick in high level prospects or mlb ready pitchers.
Texas doesn’t need another reliever. Their bullpen is loaded.
Subtracting Holland to add Cashner makes zero sense. If the Texas trades for a SP they aren’t using someone in their rotation to make the deal.
The deal would be Gallo for Cashner/Norris or Gallo and another mid tier prospect or two for Ross/Norris
That seems like an interesting trade proposal. Ross and Norris together would bring back something significant, but I personally would rather see Preller target other prospects besides Gallo.
I say the Padres go for this trade if the rangers are up for it. 3 top 25 draft picks, Margot, Gallo? The future would look bright if Peeller picks well.
Gallo strikes out way to much it’s a stupid trade, if the Padres want someone with 40 hr power that strikes out that much they could have signed Pedro Alverez. Plus they just signed an ex Rangers 3rd base prospect who had quite the reputation as a power hitter.
I killed it in fantasy last year because I drafted Arenado in all my leagues. In any event, I wish the Dodgers could steal this guy away from the Rockies. That owner doesn’t deserve the talent after they shipped off Tulo to the Jays!
The problem with getting anything done is finances. Texas has zero payroll flexibility. They already went over budget to sign Desmond.
Padres don’t seem like the type of team to send significant money along in a trade.
I could see something along the lines of Gallo/Profar and lower level prospect for Ross/Norris and cash but that’s only if the Padres are willing to pay a big chunk of Ross/Norris salary.
Norris is the worst catcher in the MLB and if u want proof look no further than Jon Lester James shields Tyson Ross and Andrew cashier
How do they have to do with anything?
Just realized Norris led all Major League catchers in doubles last season