The Marlins made the somewhat surprising decision to designate right-hander Bryan Morris for assignment earlier today, three months after the previously reliable bullpen arm underwent back surgery. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes, the Fish simply felt they needed Morris’ roster spot (presumably meaning this winter, as he was on the 60-day DL but activated in order to be designated). However, Morris’ agent, Jim Kuzmich, tells Jackson that president of baseball ops Michael Hill told him to “keep [the Marlins] in mind” if Morris goes unclaimed and hits free agency this winter. That would indicate that the Marlins are open to bringing Morris back into the fold on a minor league contract, though based on his history, many teams would figure to show interest in Morris as a free agent. While he’s not a big-time strikeout arm, the 29-year-old Morris pitched to a 2.30 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in parts of three seasons with Miami. And, on top of that, he has a hefty 58.6 percent ground-ball rate in 215 career innings between the Pirates and Marlins.
Here’s more from the NL East…
- The exploits of Mets reliever Addison Reed are increasingly notable, as James Wagner of the New York Times and August Fagerstrom of Fangraphs each explore. He has changed his mechanics and approach since coming over to New York last August, and the results have been spectacular. Wagner looks into a seeming oddity: Reed has thrived despite — if not because — he puts the ball over the middle of the plate more than other pitchers. Fagerstrom breaks down the mechanical changes in detail and points out that no pitcher in baseball has fired more first-pitch strikes than Reed while also illustrating the difference in the location of Reed’s slider since his transformation.
- Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com looks back at the Phillies’ 2016 season and highlights some positive takeaways, focusing on improvements from Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Odubel Herrera, Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez. Lawrence also writes that A.J. Ellis has been such a positive influence in terms of not only his receiving but his skills as a teacher/mentor for the youthful roster that the Phils could have interest in re-signing him. As a follow-up, he wonders if the Phillies might, then, be willing to trade from their catching depth — the team has Cameron Rupp starting with Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp on the way — to acquire help for another area on the roster. Lawrence briefly speculates on the possibility of re-signing Ellis then dealing Rupp this offseason.
- While the Braves won’t formally say that Dansby Swanson is here to stay in the Majors, the praise that GM John Coppolella and interim manager Brian Snitker offered for Swanson when talking to MLB.com’s Danny Knobler certainly implies that there’s a belief that Swanson is done with the minor leagues for good. “This is a winning player, a special player,” said Coppolella of the 2015 No. 1 overall pick. Snitker explained that Swanson was promoted this season to prepare him for the 2017 campaign. “That’s the whole idea of why we wanted him here,” said Snitker, who also likened Swanson’s demeanor to that of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine early in their careers. “Now, going to Spring Training, he’s not going to be in awe of anything. He’s getting a jump-start on guys he’ll face next year.”
I think he stays in the Majors. He has proven that he can bat at the Major League level, good defense. Great plus is that he learns to adjust when faced with difficulty.
Could totally see him as top 3 5-tool
shortstops in the next 5 years.
Especially given the fact that the current crop of young shortstops isn’t very good at all.
gotta love sarcasm… i hope
Russell, Baez, Boegarts, Seager, story, Diaz.
don’t forget Crawford and correa
And Simmons
And Lindor who’s a stud
and didi
And Chris Owings.
and Erick Aybar.
And Stephen Hawkings.
And My Axe.
My favorite of the bunch! The axe one in case my comment placement is off.
And Asdrubal
I wonder if Atlanta and Philadelphia would match up on a trade to send a young catcher to Atlanta while sending some pitching back Philadelphia’s way.
You trade from areas of strength, but being division rivals I don’t know. Your proposal makes sense though
I completely agree about Brandon Sans’ comment.
The two teams almost line up too perfectly in theory, BUT then you have the whole old-time tradition of it being taboo to trade within a division, so honestly I don’t know if they could work out a deal.
I understand the philosophy though, I mean most prospects you trade for and/or away have a chance to really prosper in a new location. Although, if you miss on the trade, or if the players you send out really begin to flourish, the trade will backfire and could inconveniently haunt you and your team twice as bad…
Even with all of that being said, I really wouldn’t mind the Braves trading for Jorge Alfaro. Some type of prospect(s) for prospect(s) swap would/could definitely get it done…
However, I think Alfaro is most likely considered the Phillies catcher of the future, so the most likely trade candidate on the Phillies is Cameron Rupp…
If it is in fact Rupp on the block, instead of Knapp or Alfaro, then I’d happily pass on Rupp as a catching option.
Flowers has definitely exceeded expectations, by quite a large margin; however, I really see Flowers as a part time catcher.
I think the Braves will ultimately go after Jason Castro or Matt Wieters. Truthfully, I think Wieters would and very well could end up being the perfect compliment!!
The Braves haven’t shied away from trading within the division in the past, having made multiple deals with the Mets and Marlins, though I think the Braves will ultimately fulfill their catching need with either McCann or Weiters.
I highly doubt it will work out for either. Wieters is already talking extension and if Ramos goes to the highest bidder, which is likely, if WSH loses out they could look at Wieters as the next best thing. NYY is still hopeful to get much of McCann’s contract paid off AND decent prospects, which doesn’t seem plausible. If he could catch 100 games for ATL it would make sense, but I’m not sure he’s able to continue to do that going forward (though he did catch 126 games in ’15). Man, I wish we claimed Sandy Leon…
lifelongchopper —
Yes, they have but those were minor trades. Kelly Johnson for prospects. Hunter Cervenka for prospects. This would be one of the Phils top prospects in Knapp for a Braves top prospect, they’ll probably ask for Sims? And I don’t think the Braves would like to trade their top prospects to a division rival.
It will all work out the way it works out, but I’ve said all along that I feel that Atlanta will end up with Castro. Definitely he isn’t the cream of the catcher crop this season, but Castro kinda seems like the most likely outcome to me.
I wish the Braves would have went after Susac before the Giants shipped him off to Milwaukee
I don’t want Rupp either
That’s okay. The Braves don’t have any pitchers other than Julio Teheran that’d interest the Phillies.
The Cubs should put in for Morris. So should half the league.
Be ashamed Dave Stewart.
So it turns out AJ Ellis is more valuable to a team than what shows in his batting line. Who’d a thunk it?
TRADE with Boston:::::::::::::::::::::::S.Leon(C), and Basabe FOR Wisler,Sims,Herbert and Markakis.