Headlines

  • Marlins To Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Sprain
  • White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor
  • Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony
  • Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence
  • Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.
  • Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

NL East Notes: Tebow, Mets, Kelley, Ramos, Washington

By Jeff Todd | October 14, 2016 at 5:24pm CDT

The Mets not only gave former quarterback Tim Tebow a $100K bonus, but handed him a cherished spot in the Arizona Fall League, and ESPN.com’s Keith Law argues (Insider link) that both were mistakes. Tebow, 29, lacks the baseline skill of his fellow entrants in the prospect-heavy offseason competition, Law opines after taking an in-person look. The prospect guru panned Tebow’s contact ability at the plate and his instincts in the field, and took no prisoners in assessing the totality of the situation: it was, in Law’s words, “a craven, mercenary move befitting an independent-league team desperate for the added revenue from ticket sales, not something a major league team with postseason aspirations should be doing.”

Here’s more from the NL East:

  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins sat down with Ken Davidoff of the New York Post this spring, talking through the season to come with the understanding that their comments wouldn’t be published until year end. At the time, none of the challenges that sprung up during the 2016 campaign were really evident, but both leaders noted the variability inherent in the game and acknowledged that the health of the rotation and lineup could never really be assured.
  • Outgoing Nationals free agent Wilson Ramos had successful surgery today to repair ACL and meniscus tears in his right knee, as the team announced and Jon Heyman of Fan Rag first reported. Estimates of his recovery timeline are ranging between six and eight months — which would obviously push into the early or middle portion of the 2017 season. Given that uncertainty, but also Ramos’s young age (he just turned 29) and top-level production (.307/.354/.496 batting line, 22 home runs in 2016), his free agent case will be among the more interesting in recent memory.
  • The Nationals not only suffered yet another heartbreaking NLDS exit last night, but also watched key reliever Shawn Kelley leave with what looked to be a potentially significant arm injury. He said after the game that he lost feeling in his hand after throwing his final pitch, but there seems to be hope that a major problem has been averted, as MLB.com’s Bill Ladson reports. Kelley suggested that he hopes “it’s just a nerve thing,” explaining that he experienced worsening numbness rather than suffering an acute injury. Kelley is owed $11MM over the next two years and just wrapped up an excellent 2.64 ERA showing in 2016, with 12.4 K/9 against 1.7 BB/9 over 58 frames. Needless to say, he’s an important part of the Nats’ relief corps, and the organization already will likely be hunting for a big pen arm with mid-season closer acquisition Mark Melancon hitting free agency.
  • Newly-inked Braves third base coach Ron Washington thought at one point he’d land the team’s managerial job, as John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports. “I thought my interview was good to the point I got that I had the [managerial] job, no doubt in my mind,” Washington said. “But you never know what the other side is thinking and how it will go. They offered me a different job in the organization.” Though he missed on the top post, and could’ve earned the same money on a two-year deal to stay with the Athletics in a coaching capacity, Washington chose to take a position that would put him closer to home.
Share 0 Retweet 16 Send via email0

Atlanta Braves New York Mets Oakland Athletics Washington Nationals Ron Washington Shawn Kelley Tim Tebow Wilson Ramos

Zach Duke Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
Main
Garrett Richards Expects To Be Ready For 2017 Season
View Comments (43)
Post a Comment

43 Comments

  1. metseventually 2

    9 years ago

    Oh look, Keith Law ripping on the Mets…again.

    What if…just what IF the Mets wanted to give him a chance? And what IF they signed him because he has the same agent as Cespedes?

    Reply
    • Jeff Todd

      9 years ago

      When has Law been particularly harsh to Mets? I’ve heard complaints logged against just about every writer relating to their bias for/against lots and lots of different teams — especially those as opinionated and not shy as he is — so I’m naturally skeptical of such claims.

      I do think there could be other organizational considerations at play here beyond boosting AFL ticket sales, or whatever, but I’ve not really seen anything to discredit his take from a scouting perspective.

      Reply
      • mrnatewalter

        9 years ago

        The problem with Law’s article I have is less about an organizational bias and about him saying Tebow doesn’t belong in baseball.

        You can make an argument about the AFL, fine. But to act as gatekeeper of who is arbitrarily deserving of playing baseball is asinine.

        Law is not Skip Bayless, he should quit acting like him.

        Reply
        • Jeff Todd

          9 years ago

          It does seem he’s offended at the concept given that he doesn’t see Tebow as a real prospect.

          I don’t have a strong opinion on all of this myself. Definitely do not see reason to believe in Tebow the ballplayer, but he does seem to have handled it well on the whole … though I’ll admit to being turned off by the hawking of baseball autographs online. His actions the other day — hanging with the fan and talking with him after the seizure — were legitimately awesome.

          Reply
      • Salionski

        9 years ago

        Reminds me when Greg Street was still the head honcho over at Blizzard. Every time a class got a buff in World of Warcraft the extremely vocal minority would scream that he buffed them because he plays that class. That class that he played changed every time there was a new buff/nerf wave.

        Reply
        • ffjsisk

          9 years ago

          LEEROY JANKINS!!!!!

          Reply
      • jd396

        9 years ago

        I once thought of someone writing scouting reports on Twins prospects had an anti-Twins bias. I could have sworn Michael Restovich was the real deal. He wasn’t. I got over it.

        Reply
      • cgeorge321

        9 years ago

        Law has been particularly harsh towards Mets fans ever since they signed Jose Reyes:

        espn.com/espnw/video/16518223/law-disappointed-met…

        Ever since this happened he has been overly critical of Sandy Alderson, (ex. Tebow signing) does anyone else agree?

        Reply
      • GloryDays

        9 years ago

        Law’s animosity towards the Mets likely stems from their hiring of J. P. Ricciardi for a front office job. Ricciardi was the GM in Toronto who hired Law, but it didn’t last long, and since he left the Blue Jays, Law has used his ESPN position to take potshots at Ricciardi.

        Reply
        • Jeff Todd

          9 years ago

          Okay but what evidence is there of this bias?

          Reply
        • cgeorge321

          9 years ago

          There is no concrete evidence of bias at work but I guess my point is I’m not surprised to read another article written by Keith Law harshly criticizing Met’s roster additions to improve their baseball team (and questionably compromising their morality on some level).

          Not sure about the Ricciardi reference but there is a video of him condemning the Met’s core decision makers over the Jose Reyes addition.

          To see a similar article denigrating GM Sandy Alderson over the Tebow signing (calling it a “farce”) and automatically jumping to the conclusion it was purely for publicity/$ is what I’d expect to read from Mr. Law. To further add to this reoccurring theme, his other article published about the Met’s this year in August was labeled: “Jay Bruce trade does not help struggling Mets”.

          Do you see a pattern? I’d actually be much more shocked if his future articles do not sleight the Mets roster moves in some way.

          Reply
    • slider32

      9 years ago

      Mets have bigger fish to fry this winter, they are going nowhere without Cespedes.

      Reply
      • theruns

        9 years ago

        The Mets fate has more to do with their pitching health than anything. If their pitching is healthy they could put Tim Tebow in LF and make a playoff run.

        Reply
  2. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    9 years ago

    There is nothing wrong with giving Tebow a chance.
    Law is just jealous because he looks like a gargoyle next to Tebow! =)

    Reply
    • tsolid 2

      9 years ago

      You’re prob one the same one on twitter that says Law hates the Orioles. Tebow Has a LONG, barred out swing, plus he caught fly balls like a little leaguer during his workout. PLEASE tell me how deserved a chance at the AFL.

      Reply
      • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

        9 years ago

        First, I don’t have Twitter. I can’t imagine how much of a nightmare it would be to have twitter. Twitter and me…. NO
        Second, I said there is nothing wrong with giving him a chance, I did not say he deserved a chance.

        Reply
        • chesteraarthur

          9 years ago

          If Tebow doesn’t deserve a chance and he ends up taking reps from anyone who does, then there is something wrong.

          Reply
        • tsolid 2

          9 years ago

          Excuse my accusation. There are PLENTY of people that have accused Law of hating the O’s. He deserves a chance, but not in the AFL

          Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          9 years ago

          That’s the problem, right? Teams are allowed to send 3 or 4 prospects maximum to the AFL. Tebow is not only not a prospect, he’s not even committed enough to the game to be a full-time player. (Tebow is taking Fridays and Saturdays off to do commentary on college football). The AFL doesn’t play games on Sundays.

          So Tebow can spout all the hogwash he wants about being really committed to the sport and really working hard to make it and sacrificing and blah blah blah but in the end he’s a part-time player. In a fall league where the real prospects are putting in major overtime to improve. Tebow isn’t going to get better playing four days a week.

          Reply
        • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

          9 years ago

          Honestly, who pays attention to AFL games?
          I mean even when prospects get the chance like Oriole pitchers (Bundy and Harvey) they were shut down only after a few innings. So even when legit prospects are given a shot, they might not last very long because of injury or worry of injury. Also, from what I understands it’s not like 1000’s of fans attend these games, it’s just the few baseball diehards jonesing for baseball. So again, I don’t see the big deal here.

          Reply
        • Zach725

          9 years ago

          it’s a huge deal. It determines what kind of playing time you will see in spring training. It can show that you are ready for MLB.

          Reply
        • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

          9 years ago

          How many pitches did Bundy throw in the AFL last year before getting shut down? This whole paying time is a crock. Plus, how many hits did Kim have in Spring Training for the O’s this year? Hardly any and then his bat bloomed and this was after refusing to go to AAA.
          So, Tebow taking some time here, is NOT a Big Deal.
          His teammates seem to like him.

          Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          9 years ago

          Teams generally take the AFL very seriously, as it’s a chance for scouts to see other teams prospects, etc. Tebow is wasting everybody’s time basically.

          Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          9 years ago

          Also, pitchers and position players are a different breed

          Reply
    • Lance

      9 years ago

      Players failing at one sport and trying another is nothing new. I think of Drew Henson and Chad Hutchinson, who couldn’t make it in MLB and went to the NFL…both played for Dallas with no success. Cowboys were bad at the time and desperate. Same with Donald Harris who didn’t make it as a Texas Ranger and tried the Cowboys. But at least Harris, Hutch and Drew were good at football in college. Tebow didn’t play college baseball. So far, he’s 0-9 in the AFL and has yet to hit a ball out of the infield. Big difference between batting practice and actual game experience against good prospects.

      Reply
  3. slider32

    9 years ago

    Teams that need a catcher, Braves, Mets, Nats, Rays, Twins,, R,ockies, Reds Tigers, and Angels. Of these teams only the Nats, Mets, and Tigers, are contenders. Available catchers in free agency Wieters, Ramos, and Lucroy possibly. Ramos signs with the the Tigers, McCann and Lucroy sign with the Nats, and Braves and Wieters signs with the Angels.

    Reply
    • RockHard

      9 years ago

      Lucroy got his contract for next year picked up by Texas.. did you actually think they would trade that package for him and then decline their team option?Smh lol

      Reply
    • takeyourbase

      9 years ago

      Lucroy has a cheap option and Mc Cann is under contract.

      Reply
    • halos101

      9 years ago

      angels aren’t spending money on a catcher with the season bandy just had. And there’s no way imaginable that texas declines lucroys cheap option

      Reply
    • cheese

      9 years ago

      McCann somehow becomes a free agent and lucroy gets his option declined also just in Dee Gordon will hit 50 home runs next year

      Reply
    • MatthewBaltimore23

      9 years ago

      Why would Texas not pick up Lucroy’s option? And also McCann is not a free agent.

      Reply
    • theruns

      9 years ago

      Ramos isn’t catching next year and there is zero chance Lucroy isn’t in Texas.

      McCann will go somewhere before he turns into a pumpkin but they won’t get much for him.

      Reply
  4. BlueSkyLA

    9 years ago

    Somebody was going to suffer another heartbreaking NLDS exit last night….

    Reply
  5. jd396

    9 years ago

    Don’t sugar coat the Tebow scouting report for us now.

    Reply
  6. DelUnser4ever

    9 years ago

    You are all wrong…Law hates the Phillies organization. But really all of the vitriol directed at Tebow and the Metz suggests a lack of journalistic integrity…that is of course, you consider Law to be a journalist

    Reply
    • DelUnser4ever

      9 years ago

      Mets sorry

      Reply
    • DelUnser4ever

      9 years ago

      If you consider Law to be a journalist.

      Reply
  7. TDKnies 2

    9 years ago

    Probably shouldn’t comment on something I haven’t read (Insider Only) so I can really only say I hope Law didn’t make it personal. If you’re gonna be perfectly blunt with criticisms, it doesn’t hurt to make it explicitly clear that it’s strictly about performance. Some of the comments I did see (Tebow looks like an actor playing pretend) are damn harsh even if they’re accurate statements, and it’s not hard to see people reading them as “Wow he hates this guy” instead of “Wow he really thinks this guy is terrible at baseball.”

    Not that he needs me or anyone else here to tell him how to write, but that’s the concern that came to my mind when I saw some of the reactions to his article.

    Reply
    • davidcoonce74

      9 years ago

      If you didn’t read it then why are you writing about it? I read it – insider is like 3$ a month, btw – and it strictly talked about his on-field performance. Basically, tebow’s complete inability to get around on even below-average fastballs and inability to run routes in the outfield. He specifically mentioned that Tebow rolled over two 90-mph fastballs, and that an actual hitter never rolls over on fastballs, just on breaking pitches. That’s worrisome on many levels. Any legit prospect at any level should be able to square up a fastball.

      The Mets criticism is harsh but deserved. This is a publicity stunt. They’re selling lots of jerseys. Tebow is selling his autograph. There is plenty to be critical of here, especially since he’s taking a roster spot from a more deserving player.

      Reply
      • TDKnies 2

        9 years ago

        I mean, I agree with all of that. But what does it have to do with me saying I hoped Law made it clear in his writing that it wasn’t a personal shot at Tebow as opposed to his scouting opinion?

        Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          9 years ago

          He didn’t say anything personal whatsoever about Tebow besides his scouting evaluation of him. He was only critical of the Mets whom put him in position to fail.

          Reply
  8. grandbigb

    9 years ago

    The criticism in the article (of what was available) made law to be a guy who just really hates the mets. He rags on tebow and really doesn’t need to. I know he was trying to sugar coat it but it seemed he was really trying to express the grief of tebow getting a chance; giving him a shot is fine, I know the AFL is big but you don’t have to rag on everything about the guy going, at least look positive

    Reply
    • davidcoonce74

      9 years ago

      Tebow isn’t even giving it his best shot though – he’s only playing four games a week, taking weekends off to do college football tv stuff. If he’s not taking it seriously I don’t know why other people should.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Marlins To Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Sprain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Recent

    Nats Notes: Nuñez, Chapparo, Williams

    The Orioles’ Long-Term Catching Situation

    Marlins To Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Sprain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Angels Select Shaun Anderson, Designate Garrett McDaniels For Assignment

    Fantasy Baseball: The New CSW Darlings

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Red Sox Designate Robert Stock For Assignment, Select Brian Van Belle

    Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version