The Mets would like to re-sign left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins, who was terrific in 2016, and perhaps add another southpaw to their bullpen, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com. However, they’re unlikely to make any commitments without having answers from their top two free agents – outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and second baseman Neil Walker. General manager Sandy Alderson said earlier this week that he wants clarity on Cespedes’ intentions by Dec. 8, the end of the winter meetings. Cespedes will surely reject the Mets’ qualifying offer by Monday’s deadline, but Walker “could go either way,” per Rubin (click for Twitter links).
Now for a few AL East notes:
- The Red Sox sent a Manuel Margot-headlined haul to San Diego for closer Craig Kimbrel last Nov. 13, but the deal looks good for Dave Dombrowski & Co. exactly one year later, opines Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. Although Kimbrel wasn’t elite this past season, having delivered a 3.40 ERA to go with a bloated 5.6 BB/9 in 53 innings, Mastrodonato argues that the Sox struck at the right time to acquire him. The price to land high-end relievers either through trades or free agency has skyrocketed since then, as evidenced by the midseason deals involving Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller and the record contracts Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon will soon receive on the open market. “We have a closer now, we had to pay a heavy price for it but we felt it was worth it,” Dombrowski told Mastrodonato. Barring a sharp decline, Kimbrel should serve as the Red Sox’s closer at least until his current contract runs out after the 2018 season.
- The Orioles could tab Roger McDowell or Frank Viola to replace the departed Dave Wallace as their next pitching coach, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. Kubatko cautions that the Orioles will have to act quickly if they want to hire McDowell, who is also drawing interest from other clubs. McDowell served as the Braves’ pitching coach over the previous 11 seasons, while Viola has held that role for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate – Las Vegas – since 2014.
- The Red Sox need to start considering long-term contract extensions for their young standouts, writes Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. Teams like the Cubs, Astros and Pirates have benefited from locking up core talent to club-friendly deals in recent years, and the Red Sox could do the same with shortstop Xander Bogaerts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and right fielder Mookie Betts, Britton contends. Boston hasn’t yet initiated extension talks with any of them, and Britton notes that one potential holdup is the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement. It’s worth noting, too, that all three players are already under control for the next few years. Their days of playing for minimal salaries are about to end, though, as Bogaerts and Bradley are now eligible for arbitration and Betts will join them next year.
Does anyone know why Wallace left in the first place?
Where’s Wallace?
Straaaaaaaang!?!?
“D’Angelo, shut your mouth.”
Dave Wallace retired from being pitching coach in October 2016. He then accepted the position of being the assistant to Dom Chiti, director of pitching for the Braves. Both worked together in BAL in 2013.
Wallace still will have the availability to work with pitchers, the game and pitching, but won’t have to at the ballpark on a daily variety like he used to as pitching coach.
Family matters is what I heard. He said he still wanted to help with a team but not be a full time coach.
Probably gave up on our rotation
I kind of agree with the outlook on the Kimbrel trade. Boston gave up a lot to get him, but if they tried to trade for an elite closer now (Miller, Kimbrel if he pitched well, etc) they would’ve had to part with probably one of JBJ/Moncada/Benitendi plus other top prospects.
lol no. Miller didnt cost anything like moncada, benitendi or Jbj.
You really need to stop. Cleveland paid a heavy price equal to Benintindi.
spreading value doesn’t equal benitendi. I’m also not high on the indians prospects because ya know I’ve actually seen them in person and don’t just go off lists.
Because some random “baseball expert” who’s seen players in person that’s commenting on a trade rumor site, knows more than the gms, scouts, etc. that have the qualifications to give prospects high praise until proven otherwise, is the person we should all listen to…. dude, seriously stop! You’re getting as bad as bigpapi4ever, starting to think you’re him under a different username!
they can’t trade Baez he’s a star! the fanboy attitude is much worse than me.
It’s not fanboy attitude moron. It’s the fact that Theo and company view him as a valuable asset. If they wanted to trade him, they would’ve one of the past two seasons. You are so full of yourself it’s disgusting, you’re a joke
Oh and by the way, good job addressing anything I said in the comment you responded to. Not one time in that comment, did I mention Baez. You’re a winner though bro, seriously. Keep doing what you’re doing. And good luck on finals, isn’t high school semesters coming to a close? Hope you can focus with all your time on mlbtr!
None of those players mentioned would have been dealt for a 1 inning guy. No way, no how.
Those are all above average starters on the major league club, aside from Moncanda. The market and circumstance dictated the players traded for miller and chapman. Yes Miller is an excellent piece but there are several on the market now and dont cost prospects as theyre FA. Huge risk by cleveland mortaging a good chunk of potential for miller and had they not been in the race no way they make that deal.
I dunno, it can be debated that Boston started the trend for paying a lot for a closer. It remains to be seen if the players they give up will become stars, but 2 of the players made their MLB debut already.
Dave Wallace retired from BAL on 10/6, ATL fired Roger McDowell on 10/9. McDowell has been linked to BAL’s opening since the dismissal because he was a mentor of Wallace, yet he hasn’t filled the opening yet. Is this not an obvious match for BAL and are they looking somewhere else?
It’s possible that there might be a bit of a bidding war for McDowell’s services. He’s very well regarded around the league, as he should be.
So wait, the Red Sox made a good move by paying a high price for a reliever who has produced below expectations because other teams payed a high price for relievers who have performed better?
For what they gave up, Kimbrel’s stat line isn’t that impressive and he’s been trending the wrong direction for the past three years so I’m not sure why they expect him to improve next year.
Jays reliever Joe Biagini was worth 0.8 WAR to Kimbrel’s 0.9 and cost nothing but a 25 man roster spot because he was acquired in the Rule 5 draft. That was a good move. Kimbrel was a horrible overpay.
Since you never know what trading for prospects whether they will pan out, or at what level, I would say the jury is out on this one. But I do get your point.
Wallace and Dom Chiti both held positions with the Braves but got chased away by Bruce Manno. They just came back to basically the same spots they had when they left. Mentoring the young guys.
I forgot about that – I wish Zach Britton would follow Wallace down….
A