Some rumblings from around baseball in the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe…
- The Royals could have interest in Pedro Alvarez. The free agent would essentially replace Kendrys Morales in Kansas City’s lineup, providing the Royals with some left-handed hitting thump from the DH spot. The Rays and Red Sox have both shown interest in Alvarez this offseason, though he has been most heavily linked to a return to Baltimore, perhaps as a possible fallback option for the Orioles if they can’t re-sign Mark Trumbo.
- A utilityman, a reliever and a low-cost starting pitcher are the remaining items on the Royals’ shopping list. Cafardo suggests that Jason Hammel is a potential candidate for that rotation need, as the Royals “could wait out” a market that has seen around 10 teams (including the Marlins and Yankees) express some interest in the veteran hurler. Cafardo feels K.C. is probably done trading impending free agents after the Wade Davis deal, so Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas will all play one more season and then test the market next winter.
- The White Sox have received some “due diligence” calls about Todd Frazier, though Jose Abreu is receiving more attention. Abreu is controllable for three seasons while Frazier can be a free agent after 2017, so the differing levels of interest aren’t a surprise. Frazier hit a career-best 40 homers in his first season in Chicago, though his overall hitting numbers (.225/.302/.464, 102 wRC+) rated him as providing just slightly above-average offensive production. A .236 BABIP could’ve contributed to that downturn, not to mention the fact that it was Frazier’s first year in a new league, though it’s worth noting that Frazier has delivered just a .306 OBP over his last two seasons. Frazier turns 31 in February and MLBTR projects him to earn $13.5MM in 2017, his last season of arbitration eligibility. The Dodgers reportedly had interest in Frazier earlier this winter, though that was before L.A. re-signed Justin Turner as its regular third baseman.
- Cafardo doesn’t get why the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Orioles all seem to have reservations against signing Jose Bautista, arguing that Bautista can be a huge lineup upgrade for all three teams. In regards to Bautista’s injury-plagued 2016 season, Cafardo notes that the slugger still posted good numbers amidst his injuries “and has a chip on his shoulder” to re-establish himself after that down year.
Alvarez will win up in Japan.
No chance lol
He could become the worst defensive player in history on 2 continents!
Matt Kemp is still a person
Well done.
Japan isn’t a continent
No but it’s a part of a different continent
I could be wrong but I think Japan is part of a continent. Further, I think i remember hearing that continent is a totally separate continent from the one of which the US is part. Again, I might be wrong.
Ya, you are
You say that because…?
Bautista probably a 1 or 2 yr deal at best. Worth a 1st round pick for the O’s or Sox?
I think the Sox would sign him if it wasn’t for the 1st rounder. They spent slot of prospect capital this offseason.
Riiight…because Dave Dombrowski makes his decisions based around drafting and developing young prospects.
Can’t trade them if you don’t draft and develop them.
I think it’s more likely the price tag, Dombrowski seems to want to avoid future luxury tax issues.
Yes this too. They’re avoiding Bautista because no one wants to pay 18 million+ in AAV for him.
I don’t get what Carfado doesn’t get. I think Bautista would get a TON of interest on a 1 or 2 year deal if he didn’t have the lost draft pick attached to him. That’s a massive loss for a short-term signing, and he is too old and injury prone to merit 4+ seasons.
Bats isn’t worth 18 mil and a 1st rounder for the O’s. He would also be not a good addition to the clubhouse, considering past events with some of our players like Jones and Oday.
I would say he isn’t worth that for all 30 teams. As for the clubhouse issues, I’d think teams would take even greater issue knowing he can’t hold his own in a fight which becomes a problem considering how many of them he starts. Guess he missed out on that old man strength, Odor can attest to that.
Bautista with a chip on his shoulder? Now this will be something new to see.
I think the Jays aren’t interested in Bautista bc of the draft pick and understanding that a rebuild is imminent
Do they lose a draft pick for signing their own free agent?
No, but they would gain a pick if another team signed him before the draft.
Yes they would. Rules changed this year
I follow MLB every day of my life no rules from from last agreements so he can suck it up and play a one year Next contract he can get paid well.
I know cause the Cubs didn’t lose last year return for Fowler this year we swap 1 of the 2 the cardinals got from us.
Ya they lose the pick they would’ve gained if he signed elsewhere. Opportunity cost.
You can’t lose something you never owned. Standard property laws
I think he’s saying it’s Bautista competing against the comp pick they’d receive if he signed elsewhere…its not loss…sacrifice maybe.
Sorry I was joking, haha
Bautista has had a chip on his shoulder since he was born. And there’s a laundry list of reasons why any team should have reservations about signing him: age, declining performance, injury history, poor throwing arm, attitude. Are there any more?
Sure, some team will end up with Bautista on a decent one year deal, and that’ll be good for that team. But there are several reasons why he hasn’t signed yet, and why no one should be rushing to sign him.
And the same can be said for the rest of the power bats on the market: Trumbo, Napoli, Carter, etc. They’re all flawed.
And you knew Bautista the day he was born?
What about poor right hook? Also, a weak chin.
Maybe chips IN his shoulder?
I like this. Cuz he can’t throw worth crap since his injury throwing to first 2 seasons ago
But every OF should try and throw out Delmon Young, I could here him say OWE every time he took a step
Nice
Lots of guys play with a chip on their shoulders – that is not a reason on its own to sign a player.
If Bautista’s shoulder is so bad that he can’t throw properly from RF anymore, when does that affect his swing at the plate? Or has it already? He needs to be DH’d now I would imagine.
The Red Sox need a “big” bat. Mitch Moreland, even though he came cheap, is not the bat that the Sox need. Sign Joey Batts before it’s too late
The Sox may have lost Big Papi but they still have a top offense. The pitching upgrade should offset the lose of some offense. As for Moreland, in my opinion he was more signed because of his glove at first and because it would move Hanley to DH with him occasionally relieving others in the field.
The other thing is IF the Sox signed Bautista then Betts would move to left meaning Beintendi wouldn’t get a spot or Bautista would be DH meaning Henley would go, well who knows. So part of the truth is we have no place for Bautista. I won’t say the Red Sox have the best team in the AL, but I think we can take the East and challenge for the pennant.
Where and how exactly have the Red Sox replaced 38HR and 127 RBI going in to next year… yet sox fans talk as if their offense can only be ‘better?’
The reality is (right now) the sox are no where near ‘even’ from 2016..
I have yet to hear any sane Red Sox fan declare the offense will be any better without Ortiz. Looking over my own statement I even say the Sox are losing offense.
So let me rephrase my point. Last season the Red Sox had the best run differential in the AL with +184. The next closest was the Indians with +101. In the majors as a whole the Red Sox were only topped by the WS winning Cubs with +252. While the Red Sox have lost offense they have added a top set up man and the best available starter on the market. And that doesn’t even take into account the rest of the core offense is returning minus Ortiz.
So. With the additions to the pitching staff I’m still confident that the Red Sox could make a solid go of it next year even without Ortiz’s numbers.
I think the reality of it is a little less offense and better pitching … pen also has really no where to go but up, they were aweful last year, DD deja’vu
All fair (good) points.. I totally buy into the ”more” (success) with “less” (over dependence on hitting/scoring).. I have not seen this as the General theme of Red Sox fans (nor the original post/article)
The sox signed moreland as more of a replacement for travis shaw. Sign bautista and moreland plays shaws role. Left handed bench bat that plays 1b/3b/lf in a pinch. Bautista DHs and Hanley plays 1b. If sandovals healthy then that settles the line up and bench, with holt young moreland and whatever catchers they carry. Plenty of space for bautista, if his price drops
You keep using this word “need”. I don’t think it means what you think it means.
Lol… I wish more people got this…
Touche’. To many people, ” They need…” is a false projection of “I want…”. Not the same thing at all. Thanks.
Problem with Bautista is listed right there in article… age, injuries, decline in production, AND the chip on his shoulder. Rangers told him no bc of odor incident, and oriole’s told him they weren’t interested bc fans didn’t like him
The fans would learn to love him
No, we wouldn’t. F that guy.
Sincerely – O’s fans
No we wouldn’t- agree with bbird216
And how exactly is having a chip on his shoulder a problem? Seems like potential motivator to me…
He’s known to be a cancer in the clubhouse as well.
No, he is not a cancer. Where did you get that from
nonsense.
takeyourbase: Please inform the rest of the world how you “know” this. It hasn’t been part of the other innuendos.
15 yards for Piling On.
Even if that is true (no idea either way), that has nothing to do with a “chip on his shoulder.”
Teams, including and most tellingly the Jays, are reluctant to sign Bautista because of his attitude. Though the Jays are in talks with JB, they’ve never appeared eager to retain his services – telling. The Jays would do well to avoid signing Bautista in an effort to reform the Jays’ clubhouse dynamic.
I think if you were to poll the Jays players and Jays fans they would love to have Jose back. Can’t believe Shapiro and Atkins haven’t made a real attempt to sign him yet. Had a bad year, but still lots left in the tank. Lose EE and JB..might as well trade Donaldson too.
I killed a man today
New year new you
Ummmm
Huskies got killed today.
Hammel should be a candidate for NL teams only. Doesn’t have “stuff” to pitch in AL. Teams are also worried about a potential elbow injury due to his injury record from last season.
Suggesting that a chip on his shoulder would mean anything in regards to producing more, seriously undermines the effort that ball players put in on a day to day basis. I don’t like Bautista personally, but a mythical chip means nothing – he plays hard already.
I said on an earlier post I don’t think there are very many teams that Pedro Alvarez could help, but the Rays are one of them.
Just let him DH. Don’t even give him a glove.
He could (could) hit .250 and should hit 40-45 HR’s being a DH in the AL East.
I think he would hurt the Royals and the station to station game they like to play.
Unfortunately Pedro has most recently been a part-time DH. In other words, half of a half of a player.
Guys Rays are bottom feeders, worst att. In baseball and are really forced to be tight with a small market TV package. That being said they will grab a player in feb after they get desperate for a job and smaller money.. Tight wad in Baltimore plays in the same sandbox also, and there att. Is starting to look like Tampas also. Nothing like killing a proud organization
Im not sure he hits that many with that hole in the swing and a platoon partner.
Exactly. He has never hit .250 or 40 HRs. And he’s already been in that division.
Todd Frazier will almost certainly be dealt no later than the summer trade deadline as an impending free agent on a rebuilding White Sox club. Jose Abreu, with 3 years of arbitration eligible control remaining, may be dealt sooner rather than later but only for a return that meets the White Sox asking price. They have all the leverage with Abreu in any short term trade discussions, similar to the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton scenarios.
As I see it, there are a handful of contending teams right now that may have an interest in Frazier as an upgrade over their current third base options. Those clubs might include the Mets and Giants in the N.L., along with perhaps the Cardinals. I also see a potential fit with the Yankees and Red Sox in the A.L., along with the rival Indians and Tigers although the latter two would be less likely as divisional foes.
Most all of the teams mentioned for Frazier would likely have to move some salary in order to accommodate his projected $13.5MM salary in 2017. This could make a trade for him more likely in the summer than the current offseason.
Red Sox can play Betts at 3B intill Devers is ready if get another OF. Frazier would cost other Red Sox Top Prospects same with Yankees. Marlins,Royals,Rangers could also use Frazier.
Right you move the best defensive runs saved from RF to 3b (where Betts has never played) to make room for a negative defensive OF, give up a 1st rd draft pick and spend 20MM to go over the Lux Tax.
Guys he k’s way too much, and is a right handed stick which they have enough… JB in same boat
Frazier is not an upgrade for the Mets,
But Abreu certainly would be.
The current depth chart for the Mets has broken down 34-year-old David Wright as their starting third baseman with 33-year old SS Jose Reyes as his primary back up. Todd Frazier would most certainly be an upgrade over either by any metric used, advanced or otherwise. He’d also provide any contender with a positive presence in their clubhouse.
Jose Abreu would be an instant upgrade for the Mets at 1B and in their lineup but would cost them a small fortune in prospects. Frazier’s price in assets would be considerably cheaper as a one-year rental. Wright would be better served in a platoon role with Lucas Duda at 1B rather than being counted on at the hot corner in 2017.
What? I seriously hope you are not counting on Wright for a full season. Frazier would be a power hitting RH bat the Mets need AND is still eligible for a QO if he produces strongly this season. Add Robertson or Jones in a package and these teams make sense to get a deal done. Abreu has been linked to mentoring Moncada and no one on the southside sees him moving before spring training.
Lol @ both of you commenting on Todd Frazier being such a difference maker for the Mets. Clearly neither of you are familiar with their team, or know what you’re talking about in general. P.S. no knock on Frazier, I’m a very big fan of his
Don’t forget the Red Sox coveted Abreau. That’s why they blew away the field on the other pair of Cubans which to this date haven’t paid off. Maybe picking up Sale will balance one out but Castillo was just a stopgap because the Yankees wanted him so bad.
Tigers don’t need Frazier, they got Castellanos who is going into his prime
Todd Frazier would only be a potential fit in Detroit if they elected to go for the postseason one more time before selling off their veteran assets, something that appears more likely as the offseason progresses.
Fact is, Nick Castellanos has been a disappointment with the Tigers, especially defensively. It’s not at all likely that Frazier would be traded to the Tigers for a host of reasons but his 3.4 WAR, 3.6 oWAR and 0.1 dWAR in 2016 trumps Castellanos’ respective 1.6 WAR, 2.8 oWAR and -0.9 dWAR metrics. Frazier might also provide some needed athleticism and a positive clubhouse influence to an old Tigers ball club that might have one last run in them before a total tear-down commences next off-season.
Jays should trade for Abreu and re-sign Bautista !!!!
lol you gotta have trade chips to trade!!!
It’s true
Ed should have settle for the $80 M and 4 yrs guaranteed. At the end he ended up taking $20 less guaranteed because of his agent !!!!
That’s why you should always make your own decisions and not let anyone do it for you !!!
Have fun in Cleveland Ed !!!
You do realize that he’s getting exactly the same amount per year as he would have gotten in Toronto, which is worth a lot more because of taxes, and will have the opportunity (barring career ending injury) to play in 2020 with a new contract. Meaning he will likely make as much or more than he would have had he signed with the Jays.
Enjoy finishing 4th.
Lol
Carfado wanted the Sox to dump Hanley last year no matter the cost and sign every 1B/DH FA. He also doesn’t listen when executives speak claiming his inside sources are more accurate. All he had to do was pay attention: DD stated that if the Sox need help they have the flexibility to add a player for 1/2 a season and stay under the Lux tax. That plan also avoids losing the draft pick. If Panda, Moreland & Benitendi all work out they may not need anything more to be a top offense.
Cafardo isn’t giving things a lot of thought if he doesn’t understand why Bautista doesn’t make a lot of sense for most teams. First, he has that draft pick attachment. Unless your team has already given up a top pick or you have top-10 protected status giving up a top pick for a short-term signing isn’t that wise. Second, you can’t ignore an injury-shortened season for a player who will start the next season at age 36. Factor in Bautista only playing two full seasons in his last five and his health becomes an even bigger point of attention. Finally you can’t just dismiss 2016 being one of Bautista’s worst offensive seasons from just a cumulative stats perspective. His BA, Slg and ISO were the lowest of any complete season in Toronto while his HR/FB, K%, AB/SO and IP% all showed considerable downturns. There’s a lot not to like about signing Bautista.
The Todd father seems like a good fit for the Mets. Except Wright is going to stay healthy this year… Might be worth more to trade in season.
“Except Wright is going to stay healthy this year…”
I highly, highly doubt that. His last 6 seasons have been 37 games, 38, 134, 112, 156, and 102. So basically 1 healthy season and 1 semi-healthy season mixed in with a BUNCH of time off.
Yes, with the last two seasons being the 38 (2015) and 37 (2016) games played.
Meanwhile, Todd Frazier has played in 150, 157, 157 and 158 games from 2013 to 2016 and has accumulated between 600-678 PA’s in each.
David Wright is an icon in Queens. He has played his entire career with the Mets and as I said before would be better served as a platoon partner with Lucas Duda at 1B in 2017.
Can you please stop posting about the Mets as if you actually know what you’re talking about.
Haha so since he’s not a fan, he can’t know about the Mets??
Did I say anything suggesting that whatsoever? I’m referring to his couple posts in this thread regarding the Mets & what they supposedly need. Also, why are you assuming that I’m a Mets fan? Since I’m not, by that logic I would also not know anything about the Mets.
My bad I don’t mean to argue or come off like a jerk which I realized I was immediately after.
Cafardo doesn’t get alot of things. Like scoops or any insight in the sport. He’s a joke. No idea why this site lends him any cred, it’s pathetic how bad his predictions are. Never forget he was Bobby V’s chief apologist with the Red Sox.
Never understood why MLBTR uses Cafardo as a springboard for commentary. There are dozens of better baseball columnists available. Is it to collect more hits from Boston fans, and by extension, AL East fans?
I think he would be a good fit for Baltimore…..put aside the drama and worry about what’s best for the team.
But the drama is important. If there are going to be clubhouse arguments and players not meshing together, the whole team chemistry will be thrown off and the team won’t be able to be as good as it can be. Also, as Dan Duquette stated, they won’t sign him because the fans don’t like him. Some commenters here thought that was ridiculous and that the fans’ opinion doesn’t matter, but the fans come to the games and watch baseball on TV and provide the league’s revenue. Bautista may be a good fit, but he isn’t what’s best for the team.
Plus he’s known for starting fights he can’t finish, & playing dirty on a consistent basis.
Based on the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trades, the ChiSox asking price for Todd Frazier is likely a trade deterrent. The ChiSox may be counting on the July market to be stronger with teams making a push for post season.
If it wasn’t for injury, Nick Castellanos was having his “break out” year in 2016. Although it goes against recent Tiger philosophy, the Tigers will continue to develop him and not trade him… for now. The Tigers want to get younger, faster, less expensive. Frazier is 31 and does not improve the big picture.
David Wright is signed until 2022. At $20M, he’s not going to PH. Coupled with the asking price, I doubt Frazier is the type of player that makes the Mets disregard the obligation to David Wright. 3B Wright’s to lose many times over.
I think that the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees, Brewers and Braves will prefer to stay the course and build from within and not deplete their systems,
IMO: The Angels may be the only team that makes sense acquiring Frazier now.
The rSox could use a power bat, I hope to god they don’t sign joey batts he seems like a punk. I am hoping they go after Abreu, But they can’t afford to trade anymore prospects.I bet they are hoping that Panda pans out then maybe they can move him or Hanley 4 what they need.