The Phillies plan to use newly acquired Howie Kendrick as their left fielder, but they value his versatility, writes Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice. “[F]or a young roster, especially with us likely to add many young players to our 40-man roster, having a player on the 25-man who has the ability to play left field, first base, second base, third base, really does provide Pete [Mackanin] with a lot of flexibility from a game to game basis,” GM Matt Klentak says. Kendrick’s versatility should help the Phillies avoid blocking young players who would benefit from big-league time. Klentak adds that the Phillies are not looking to trade second baseman Cesar Hernandez. If they do, though, Lawrence notes that Kendrick could see time at second, with Freddy Galvis potentially moving to the position if and when J.P. Crawford is promoted to play shortstop. Here’s more from the East divisions.
- It doesn’t sound like the Nationals will be able to spend as freely this winter as they have in the past, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes reports. The issue is the team’s ongoing rights dispute with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. “[The MASN money] affects us,” says Nats exec Mike Rizzo. “It’s something we’ve had to manage now for four offseasons. It’s something that needs to get rectified quickly.” Last year, the Nationals attempted to lure Yoenis Cespedes with a deal that included deferred money. This year, Rizzo says the Nats have interest in Cespedes again, although the terms of that interest seem a bit non-specific. “We’re looking to improve the club any way we can,” says Rizzo. “If it makes sense for us, he improves any team he plays on.” Rizzo adds that the Nationals would have to “make some maneuvers” to clear payroll space for Cespedes or another highly expensive free agent.
- The Mets and Yankees both have interest in free agent lefty Boone Logan, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. The 32-year-old Logan is coming off a strong year in Colorado, posting a 3.69 ERA, 11.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 over 46 1/3 innings and holding lefties to a .139/.222/.255 line. As Sherman notes, the Mets stand to lose lefty Jerry Blevins to free agency, and the Yankees have traded lefties Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Justin Wilson over the past year. Logan, of course, left the Yankees via free agency in late 2013 after four solid years in New York.
That seems like a potential surplus of egos on a Nationals team including Cespedes. With Zimmermann’s consistent health woes and an already solidified outfield, seems more sensible to pursue EE. They could then trade Zimmerman to another team with an unfavorable contract. For example, to the White Sox with an okay prospect and cash for Melky Cabrera. Melky can spell Werth and Harper as needed, as both come with some injury risk. Zimmermann can DH for the Sox, hopefully allowing him to stay healthy. Perhaps this even opens the door for a White Sox OF prospect on a rebuilding team…or Davidson.
Melky doesn’t have an unfavorable contract. He is making like $14m in the last year of his deal and he was good last year.
If that’s all you got out of this comment, then wow. Maybe unfavorable wasn’t the word, but certainly offsets Zimmerman’s contract.
Zimmermann is not getting moved period and Encarnacion is not signing with WAS, it’s laughable even to suggest.
Zimmerman is a tough sell. A comparable bad contract from the Sox would be more like James Shields. I could see Albert Pujols as a possible trade match. Yeah, not much interest in Zim.
I can’t seem zim really being moved anywhere. He is way too injury prone and its the same situation with David Wright with the Mets. Just either of these players are so unlikely to get moved.
PUJOLS? He can’t run anymore, strictly a DH. He still have five years ($140 million) left on that contract and while he had a decent season with the bat, the Halos would have to pay a HUGE amount of that contract and does he have a no-trade contract?
All true, but we are talking about trading Ryan Zimmerman, who also can’t run or play the field well, and hasn’t hit much for a while. No one would trade for Pujols, and they sure wouldn’t trade for Zinmerman.
I beg to differ. When healthy, Zimmerman can still be productive offensively. He benefits by being the DH and, currently, DH is a black hole for the White Sox. I believe he offers more than when they signed LaRoche to DH. Still only 32, I think the White Sox bite on the right deal even if it means Nats pay some of his contract and add a prospect(s).
Zimmerman has negative trade value.
So, if a team was basically giving you Ryan Zimmerman and you needed a DH, you’re saying he’s so terrible that no one would even consider it? Difference between Wright and Zim is Wright is in the NL, asked to play 3rd base, and has a significant spinal issue.
Over the last three shortened seasons, Zimmerman still has averaged out to 20+ homers, 80+ RBIs and 30 doubles with roughly a .250 average. If LaRoche can get that contract and guys like Billy Butler and Ike Davis have been getting their shots, I think there is a lot worse than Zimmerman. For comparison, Matt Davidson is listed at DH for the White Sox. As well, some team is going to overpay Beltran for probably a 15 HR/ 60 RBI season
I hope you’re trolling. Zimmermann is one of the worst contracts in the game: declining below average player who has serious health issues. Even if Washington paid his entire salary no one would take him on as a starter.
I’m not trolling lol. Davidson is going to fail miserably and I believe in a bounce back season, if DHing somewhere, as overly optimistic as that is… I’m not saying teams should be chomping at the bit to trade for him, but if it comes with prospect(s) and minimal contract liability, I don’t see why not. White Sox are bad as it is and it could open the door for an EE signing on the Nats. It’s not like he has spinal stenosis; these are a mixture of small, nagging injuries and bad luck. He is still 32.
Or, put Murphy at 1st and trade for a guy like Profar for 2nd base and let him fight for at-bats at DH with Gallo. Obviously, a trade like that would take some good prospects, though.
I’m just saying… teams are overpaying for poor production and I believe Zimmerman can still produce. I’d even be willing to bet you that he equals or outproduces the likes of Beltran next season.
Zimmerman has averaged 90 games played and an OPS+ 92 in the last three years. His healthiest season of the three, 2016, he had a miserable OPS+ 69. No one would take his contract unless unloading an equally bad one, like James Shields’. Zim is young enough to bounce back, but only a dreamer would take a chance on him.
Your original idea was a Zim-Melky trade, which would be preposterous for Chicago. If you are now saying the Nats should pay Zim’s salary and add a prospect, then yeah, I think Zimmerman is tradable. But at that point, why not just keep him and hope he bounces back? That’s a lot of salary to eat, plus the prospect loss. Seems steep.
I said some salary and prospect from the start. The big benefit is opening the door for EE while Melky makes for a handcuff for Harper/Werth. Okay, so say it’s Shields and Melky for Zim, cash, Heisey and two average prospects
Whatever the case, I just think it’s stupid some of the signings we’ve seen over the past few years and teams are banking more on averageness than looking at injured comeback players. That or postbust prospects. Justin Smoak, Alonso, Billy Butler, Chase Headley
If say keep Heisey. Honestly though, if you’re so sure Zim will rebound, why trade him for Cabrera and Shields? Essentially, you are getting Melky (OK player with somewhat expensive final year) and Shields (terrible and horribly overpaid at this point), while losing another bad contract in Zimmerman (though cheaper than the others), even more money, AND prospects? Nats don’t need to get rid of Zimmerman that badly and they don’t need Melky that badly.
I swear you guys can’t read. This is all about EE, as moving on from Zim allows them to focus on EE and look forward. I’m not saying Zim will return to 30/100 career year zimmerman, but I don’t think 18/70, 30 doubles, and a .260 average is unreasonable, with that outside shot of better numbers with only having to focus on hitting as a DH. Numbers that are playable in White Sox’ DH black hole, while the Nats sign a guy who can double those home runs and hit 40-50 more RBIs. Meanwhile, White Sox move on from the deplorable James Shields. No, it’s not a sexy move from any view, but could be a reasonable business move if executed properly.
Don’t get me wrong, I see the advantage for the Sox here. Just don’t get it for Nats.
The relief of moving on from Zim. Fans and mgmt have to be tired of the injuries, even if that contradicts my belief of a bounceback campaign. Bryce and Werth have been susceptible to injuries, which makes Melky valuable. I’m sure the White Sox could add something the Nats need. I don’t know, I’m tired of talking about this lol
On another note, do you get notifications of comments? If so, how?
When you write a comment or reply, check the box that says, “Notify me of follow up comments via email.”
ah, alright. thanks, must be an iPhone thing
Trump boutta make America Great Again
From RI?
Yup
Cespedes could fit in Washington if they can move Jayson Werth. Moving Trea wouldn’t solve it because Cespedes doesn’t want to play center so they would have to do something about Werth.
Now I still don’t think he is the best fit because they have Victor Robles coming up next year and he is a beast. Turner(CF) Robles(LF) Harper(RF) should be the best OF in MLB. Honestly I think he fits best with the Giants,Mets,Dodgers,Astros Braves, or Indians. The Yankees resemble a fit too but seem in a rebuilding stage and ready to contend in 2018. Maybe this comes off a bit biased, even though I’m trying to not be I think he stays with the Mets next year because I believe he fits the best there and the chemistry works.
However the Dodgers could sneak in a ton of money available, and maybe even the Braves with Sun Trust opening they maybe opening to spend more money and possibly deal Markakis to a contender or one of their other OF”s
in what world are the Yankees a fit for jayson werth
Agree, no Werth for the Yankees.
Robles is at least 2 years away he’s only 19 and has only played A ball
They wouldn’t play Cespedes in CF, they’d move Harper to center and put Trea at ss. Werth is gone next year, so that opens a spot for Robles, but I’m not quite sure that Robles will be ready next year.
Forever hoping the Oriole’s win the MASN dispute with the Gnats.
So over the last few offseasons the Nationals sign Scherzer to a $210m deal and extend Strasburg for $175m and we’re supposed to believe they have cash flow problems because of the MASN deal that’s been in place since the team arrived in DC ten years ago before the team was a contender? Nice try.
I don’t remember all the parameters of the Strasburg deal, but the Scherzee deal came loaded with deferrals. They have money, they just can’t commit multiple $100 million contracts to multiple guys until the MASN deal. Also, you know, there is someone named Bryce Harper who the team should probably be trying to save money for.
Hmmm…both deals are deferred payment plans…Strasburg until 2025 with Werth renegotiating his contract for a $10M deferred payment in 2018 and Scherzer deal has payments until 2028. The ownership who are billionaire are not pumping money into the salary pool. The Orioles ownership is playing hardball on the TV rights revenue to ensure the Nats are cash strapped. MLB misread the prospects of Nats ownership willingness to cash flow their salary pool.