The latest news and notes from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe…
- The Astros have a lot of interest in Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland, though Cafardo doubts a trade is likely given Texas’ lack of first base depth in the wake of Prince Fielder’s retirement. (It would also be very unusual to see a trade between two division rivals in a pennant race, even if Houston has fallen well behind Texas in the AL West.) The Astros already have a left-handed hitting first baseman in rookie A.J. Reed, though Reed is still a work in progress despite some improved hitting over the last couple of weeks. While it doesn’t seem like Texas would deal Moreland, he has cleared trade waivers, so he can freely moved to any other club.
- The Nationals’ trade of Sandy Leon to the Red Sox for cash considerations in March 2015 drew little attention at the time, though it has become an unexpectedly important deal given how Leon has blossomed in Boston. Leon entered the day with a stunning 1.088 OPS over 158 plate appearances this season, completely dwarfing anything he’d done at the major or minor league levels. “I personally signed Sandy Leon when he was 16½ years old…My name is on that one,” Nats GM Mike Rizzo said. “He was a good catch-and-throw kid, and what a kid. He’s one of the greatest young men I’ve ever been around. I’m so happy he’s doing well especially offensively, but I never saw it coming.”
- The Red Sox could fill David Ortiz’s big shoes by DH at pursuing free agents Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Carlos Beltran, Mike Napoli or Mark Trumbo this winter, as Cafardo feels the team will look for an external solution. The simplest move would be to move Hanley Ramirez to DH, though that leaves both corner infield spots up in the air given the uncertainty around Pablo Sandoval’s weight, Travis Shaw’s ability to play every day and the development of prospects Yoan Moncada and Sam Travis.
- Carlos Gomez drew interest from several teams before signing with the Rangers, with Cafardo adding the Indians and Blue Jays to the list of clubs already known to have been looking at the veteran outfielder. Gomez likely would’ve served as platoon partner for Tyler Naquin in center for the Tribe, though despite Michael Brantley missing virtually the entire season, Cleveland’s outfield has actually been pretty solid thanks to unexpected contributions from Naquin, Rajai Davis and (when he hasn’t been at third) Jose Ramirez. Gomez could’ve filled in the Jays outfield while Bautista and Kevin Pillar are on the DL, though his role would’ve been rather unclear once both returned.
- Yasiel Puig “is considered toxic at the moment” and it seems unlikely that another team will take him off the Dodgers’ hands. One Dodgers official isn’t entirely closing the door on Puig remaining in L.A., saying “At some point, the talent, the maturity is going to take hold. Someone will benefit from it. We hope it’s us, but it’s hard to envision it right now.”
Boy would I love to see Nap back in Boston!! He never wanted to leave! It’s part of the game!!
Always loved Nap and his historic celebratory walk through the streets of Boston
Sox would do well to sign Encarnacion, but please stay clear of Bautista.
Yes sir.
Agreed, Bautista is old and at the point in his career where he really is only going to get worse.
A 1 year deal could be ok I guess but longer than that is bad
Sorry but there is no guarantee that the maturity does ever take hold.
I really hope it goes public when Puig goes on waivers– I am just interested to see what happens, because I can totally see a team taking a shot on him– like it’s something that AJ Preller would do any day
But hopefully not Matt Klentak
Honestly, if we didn’t have such a log jam in the outfield, I would be totally cool with it. He’s a solid hitter and McKanin prides himself on his ability to relate to spanish speaking players and I think just getting away from the Dodgers organization would help him.
I don’t think solid hitter and Puig go hand in hand at least at this point. He is an electric player. He provides defense has a HOF arm but just doesn’t get it. He’ll also provide the Puig being Puig moments which you can live with if he rediscovers his power but at this point he’s a punching Judy hitter.
Puig is by all accounts a great guy outside of baseball. But he’s been unprofessional and immature. He was given a clean slate this year but after Bravo no longer baby sat him Puig reverted back to his old ways. Not getting to prehab/rehab is something college guys do. It also explains why he is habitually injured(hamstrings). He still can’t show up on time. Doesn’t put in the work to sustain his consistency. He’s not liked by his teammates which was quite obvious by Kendrick’s statements and other incidents.
I hate seeing Puig just continually not get it. His talent/potential is undeniable and I hope he eventually gets it. That being said he’s 25 and should be given slack for his early transgressions for a majority of reasons (new culture, everything involved with his departure from Cuba, etc.) but he’s on his second FO/second head coach. It’s time the Dodgers pull the plug which will probably be this offseason. With all that said fingers crossed he figures it out and does the small things that usually dictate consistent success. That part has alluded him thus far.
@Visions…Totally agree and well said
@ Phillies2017 Aside from what Visions said I will say this…don’t look at his season #’s look at game logs, Remember Brown a few years back…his season was bolstered by a hot month. Pig’s pendulum swings even more wildly.
This year through 6/2…53 games…237/283/360….then the DL and he comes back 6/21…. for 13 games….381/447/571. After that it’s back to the old Puig… in the 15 games before being demoted….245/345/327. That one torrid tear bolstered season numbers that are barely passable.
Visions, agree with most of your points, but when your 25 years old and can’t or do not want to outgrow your immaturity issues you deserve to be treated by your team with complete disdain and leave you down in the minors with Rancho Cucamonga until you grow up and learn your lesson. Puig is controlled until the end of 2018 and every team knows he’s potentially worth more than what his contract is worth and so does he. So, the Dodgers can afford to keep him there, with the Quakes, rather than release him in order to see how he reacts when he views himself wasting his peak years just playing with younger and less gifted players rather than enjoying the big leagues. I’ll guarantee you that before 2017 he would want to change completely his approach with the Dodgers or with any other team that would trade for him.
I think if he worked with a “no crap” potential HOF manager he would flourish. I just think he’s suffered from immaturity, not wake up calls and managers that are good but not super experienced as managers who have to deal with huge egos.
Honestly, I think Puig is a tool and a half. BUT I agree there is no denying his potential and ability. I’ve played with guys JUST like Puig and they would screw around until we got a manager that was strong, commanded respect and gave them serious wake up calls. Once that happened, these players either left or they started playing better and became good teammates.
Anyway…. I’d take him on my team and hope the change of scenery and the wake up call he’s recently had will make a difference. Also that my manager could kick his butt into shape. But part of me thinks he needs quite hasn’t hit rock bottom yet, and needs to do so before he will change his ways.
Like Robin Ventura
I would actually be a fan of the Padres kicking the tires on Puig. He’s only 25, which would make him younger than two of the Padres current starting OF (Blash and Dickerson). I don’t know what his “clubhouse” issues are. I’ve been reading about this for years but never read a concrete example of what the problem is, except vague stuff about him being cocky or arrogant, which I imagine is true of like half the players in baseball.
Keith Law did point out that as Puig has bulked up – not gotten fat but certainly more musclebound – he’s lost a lot of flexibility at the plate, with an inability to turn on an inside fastball. Maybe a different approach in the weight room would help, too.
Anyway, it would be an interesting experiment. The Padres have one good outfield prospect in Margot but he’s a speed-and-defense guy and they have an all-power prospect in Renfroe with a questionable hit tool.
EE at Fenway would be scary
Yes. And EE is a better overall hitter than Napoli. Love Nap, but EE is best of that bunch. Great Fenway swing.
Not sure how old Encarnacion is, but if he’s not looking at more than a two year deal, Boston would make sense as a bridge until Travis is ready. A Napoli reunion as well could be in order on a one or two year deal.
He’ll be 34 at the start of next season.
He is also coming off his best career season, arguably. So he’d likely be looking for a 4 year deal, prob a little more than victor Martinez got
He will get more than a two year deal.
Boston needs pitching not a DH…… They have players to fill that area
Boston’s rotation has Price, Porcello, Pomeranz, Rodriguez, and Wright all secure through at least the end of 2018, to say nothing of its minor league SPs, any of whom could merit a starting spot in that period. Where is there room for a SP add in FA? An arm could be dealt to help bring back an upgrade, but that’s about it…an expensive net add isn’t really available.
I agree. But they have the resources, the need
Agreed with redsoxu571 – they do have a pretty solid rotation. Sure, Pomeranz and Rodriguez come with minor question marks, but the players that could fill the DH spot come with bigger questions. Like the article said, can Shaw play everyday? Will Sandoval be productive? Will Moncada or Travis be ready? If they slot Hanley at DH, they need at least two of those four to be regulars, assuming Hanley stays healthy and productive (another big question mark). Plus, there’s a lot more depth in the rotation. Apart from those four, Boston really has no position player depth that profiles as a solid regular. Are you going to waste Castillo or Brentz in a DH role if Hanley needs to move back to first? Both have little, if any value, without their defense. Have Vazquez/Hanigan catch and use Leon everyday? Given the duo’s health concerns and Leon’s small sample, that’s a big risk. Granted, Joe Kelly has been awful this year, but at least he’s had success in the past. Henry Owens and Brian Johnson have both struggled, but they come with high pedigrees. Aaron Wilkerson, William Cuevas, Justin Haley, and Robby Scott have all been quality starters in the high minors this year.
Plus, which starter, exactly, would they throw money at this offseason? Rich Hill is the only starter on the market that could feasibly pitch better than one of Boston’s current five, but he’s a ticking time bomb with his health. Apart from him, the only two decent starters available are Hellickson and Cashner, but both will probably be looking for multi-year, $10 million+ AAV contracts. And if all goes well with Boston’s current starting five, which is definitely possible, neither of them would even make the rotation.
Given the lack of major leage ready position player depth, and the barren free agency market for starters this offseason, it’d be much smarter for Dombrowski & Co. to use the money on a reliable hitter. Try signing someone like Mat Latos to a minor league deal or making minor trades for rotation depth. Spend the money on a DH.
If Baltimore is unable to resign Trumbo he would definitely be a good replacement, while also being a handful of years younger than EE.
Is that the 2016 Trumbo or the 2015 Trumbo?
I don’t go for sluggers that seem to close their eyes
Classic Nick Cafardo. Make a stupid statement then explain why that statement is stupid.
Just retire Nick you’ve beat the dead horse long enough. I can’t believe anyone would buy a thing you say. Now Panda will play 3rd next season, (big gut , bad shoulder and all) and drop another $20+m on a bat when all they need is pitching.
OK Pops.You’re sounding more and more like Grandpa Simpson everyday.
Please don’t waste any time discussing a big bat signing with Boston. It doesn’t add up. Moncada WILL have a spot readied for him entering spring training (with Shaw and perhaps Sandoval acting as the backup plan if Moncada REALLY shows he isn’t ready at that point), and Ramirez will lock down one of 1B or DH, which means Boston only has a single lineup spot even open for consideration entering 2017. But these big names would require a multi-year commitment, and BOSTON CAN’T AFFORD TO COMMIT MULTIPLE YEARS TO A GUY given that it has another top hitting prospect surging up the pipe in Devers (whose ETA is 2018 and who could show up before 2017 is out).
Simply put, in the not-unlikely event that Moncada and Devers hold a starting role by 2018, if Boston were to sign a big FA bat this offseason that would mean ALL THREE of Ramirez, Sandoval, and Shaw wouldn’t have a role. Shaw would go to the bench, and both expensive vets would go to complete waste, and there would be no reason to do that.
Boston can rotate options at DH and 1B or perhaps seek a trade for a player with one year on his contract, sure….but absolutely forget a big FA signing. It simply isn’t happening.
: The one FA player I like is Martin Prado maybe 3 yrs 39MM.
BOSOX 2017 signed or Arb elig. includes:
C Leon and one of Vasquez ,Swihart, or Holladay.
1B/3B/DH Hanley, Panda, Shaw and one of Moncada, or Sam Travis with Devers in 2018/19.
2B/SS Pedroia, Boegarts, Holt with Hernandez at AAA
OF Betts, JBJ, Benintendi and Young. with Brentz at AAA
P Price, Porcello, Wright, Pomerantz, E Rod,. Kimbrel, Carson Smith, Barnes, Ross, Abad. Joe Kelly, Brandon Workman, Hembree
I admit they can afford to add with the 44MM they save without Papi, Bucholtz, Uhehara, Hanigan, Tazawa and stay under the cap. but will they.?
True, but Dombrowski can also use some of those up
I hope Puig turns it around because he is a fun guy to watch play…when he plays to his potential. He needs a guy like Uribe (who helped him during his stint in LAD), a management that is willing to deal with a couple minor mis-steps if he can pull it together for awhile, and a coach that is firm but fair. In some respects he reminds me of Manny early on in Cleveland (emotional, talented but inconsistent, and reactive to seemingly small things), though Manny was a big kid and his teammates rallied around him and at times protected him from some of the media scrutiny. He had Hargrove who treated him like a son and still to this day thinks of him that way. He also had some of the veterans who pulled him aside and helped him grow up..
Puig…he has the same level of talent as Manny did, but his petulance festered and one by one bridges were burned and at some point he lost the club house. Guys don’t comment like his teammates have about him without a lot more backstory. Being demoted probably won’t change a thing if he doesn’t have a guy like Hargrove and some guys who look past his attitude and try and find the player.
seems what really kept him out of trouble was a 27/7 sitter…Google “Tony Bravo Puig”. The question then becomes do you want a guy who needs someone to tell him when to go to bed and when to wake?
Why Cleveland makes sense short term. Tito Francona can get something out of him while he rehabs his image and then move him.
Yeah I wish Puig would get his $#!t together such a talent what a waste
Moreland to Houston is a joke.
Not sure about the $$$ lining up but I wonder if a Puig for Rusney Castillo swap would work? Castillo is playing better of late but still projects to a NL starter/4th OF. Both have way too much money invested in them. Sox don’t really need the type of player Castillo is looking like but a young power hitter (potentially) in Puig…maybe. I’m not seeing another trade that makes sense, though if Puig gets released outright someone will sign him.
I’m a Red Sox fan, but you’re insane if you think the Dodgers would make a Castillo-Puig straight-up swap, for a variety of reasons.
1) Puig is 25. Castillo is 29.
2) Castillo is owed far more money ($46 million over 4 years – $11.5 million a year) than Puig is ($14 million over 2 years- $7.0 million a year).
3) Puig has a much higher ceiling. In Cuba, Puig slashed .330/.430/.581 in 89 games as a 19 year old. In Castillo’s last season, he slashed .274/.377/.393 as a 24 year old.
4) Puig actually has MLB success. He posted a .305/.386/.502 line as a regular in 2013 and 2014. Castillo only consistently played in one season – 2015, and he posted a .253/.288/.359 line. Granted, Castillo is a better defender – but he hasn’t hit enough to play everyday.
5) Sure, Castillo has been hot lately – .350/.404/.488 in 21 AAA games in August. But Puig’s been hotter – .386/.435/.667 in 15 games since being demoted.