Some items from around the NL Central…
- Joe Maddon is hardly the first manager to embrace his players’ versatility, though Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes that though few have done it to the sheer extent of the Cubs’ skipper. Chicago’s dominant lead in the standings has given Maddon some leeway to experiment, though it could also be argued that the Cubs are enjoying such a great season because Maddon has been so canny about pursuing every possible advantage to help his team win. Sherman feels that other teams could use the Cubs as a blueprint for future roster construction, as having multi-positional players around can solve many issues.
- Joe Nathan was understandably let down about being released by the Cubs last month, the veteran reliever tells ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers. Nathan signed with Chicago in May and eventually pitched in three games for the Cubs after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. “In their defense I don’t think they foresaw picking up [Aroldis] Chapman, picking up Joe Smith, and their bullpen shaping up the way it was,” Nathan said. “On that side of it I completely understand. Still, it was a disappointing turn of events. Things went from ’this is the plan’ to ’now what?’ ” Nathan said that Cubs president Theo Epstein personally informed him about the release, and the veteran reliever didn’t have any hard feelings towards his former club. Of course, Nathan’s disappointment has been mitigated by the fact that he signed on with another contender in the Giants.
- When Jay Bruce learned he was going to be dealt, the outfielder asked the Reds to trade him “anywhere but New York,” Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News writes. No specific reason was given for Bruce’s reported misgivings about joining the Mets. Bruce has, in fact, badly struggled since joining the Mets in a deadline deal, entering today with only a .198/.270/.327 slash line and three homers over 111 plate appearances.
- With Ivan Nova pitching well since joining the Pirates in July, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review thinks the Bucs could “consider being aggressive in approaching Nova with an extension” before the righty hits free agency in the offseason. As MLBTR’s Charlie Wilmoth recently noted in a Free Agent Stock Watch piece, a strong finish from Nova could line him up for as much as a three-year deal this winter; he’ll stand out in a very thin pitching market and teams could see him as a new J.A. Happ, who blossomed after going to Pittsburgh last season and has continued to pitch well in Toronto. Extending Nova now would save the Bucs some money, since it’s possible his market could grow to the point that he is priced out of the Pirates’ comfort zone. That said, my guess would be that Nova will forego an extension to at least test the open market, given that he’s so close to free agency.
Being a lifelong Reds fan, that’s very disappointing to hear. I know it’s a business and all but if you’re going to trade a guy that have you some of the best seasons of his career you can at least honor his wishes considering there were plenty of other teams who would have jumped at the opportunity to give them just as terrible a haul as the Mets have them. It also doesn’t bode well that now three players have smeared the franchise recently after their time was up with them.
As a Mets fan I hope this means he won’t be sticking around after this year!
Really don’t feel bad for Jay. 1st off, when you’re in the position that The Reds are now, you have to take the best return, and if that was the Mets, they couldn’t afford to say sorry, Jay doesn’t want to spend the next 2-3 months playing for you. Which brings me to the other point- Jay Bruce is a free agent at the end of this season, so he can suck it up for a few months. Keep in mind, while he has a nice bat, his defense is brutal enough that it cancels out his oWAR. I think he’ll survive the ordeal.
The Mets have an option on him for next season, which they’ll likely exercise, even as bad as he’s been.
Just my opinion but offering Nova an extension could be a big mistake. He’s gone through small periods of decent pitching only to struggle when all is said and done. He’s been bad far more often than he’s been good. A 3 year deal could wind up biting the Pirates on the you know what. Exactly like the extension of Phil Hughes is doing to the Twins.
One feels that the whole “anywhere but New York” thing is potentially a seed planted by his agent, in the hope that it exaggerates any chance of NY not picking up his option.
Worth a go.
Exactly how I read it
First of all who’s the source?? You don’t want to come to the national champion team in the greatest city in the world. Doubt it.
But they look like they might not make the playoffs this year, and some people can’t play in places like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago
Maddon is a great manager but I think a squirrel could manage the Cubs and win with that roster.
Well think again JD ….
Not true. He has completely maxed them out. He may not BE THE REASON. But he has made the guys better. He has a calm, patient approach and believes in his players. And they have fun playing for him. He is a HUGE reason guys are coming over for less money.
I never understood gms who trade for players like that. We need an upgrade to our roster. Let’s try to get lucroy. Oh he’s going somewhere else? Let’s trade for a mediocre outfielder having his first decent year in 3 years cause we don’t already have a bunch of mediocre outfielders lol. Happens in all sports. I saw some stat that said something like in the last 5 seasons only 6 players traded for game their team over a 1.5 war.
And we gave up the young 2B we were looking forward to seeing in a Mets uniform for years to come. The Reds fan who considers Herrera a “terrible haul” is ignorant, to say the least. No Mets fan liked that trade, and now we have another full season of Bruce