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.
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.