10:48pm: Moreland has “emerged as a real possibility” for the Blue Jays, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reports, which could lessen the chances of Edwin Encarnacion returning to Toronto.
9:47am: The Indians remain interested in re-signing free agent first baseman/designated hitter Mike Napoli, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, who tweets that Chris Carter, Mitch Moreland and Adam Lind are also on the team’s radar.
Napoli was a key member of the American League champions’ offense in 2016, as he hit .239/.335/.465 with 34 home runs in 645 plate appearances. The 35-year-old did that on a palatable $7MM salary, but given the wide interest in him across the majors, a raise is likely. While Napoli is reportedly seeking a three-year deal, the Indians once again want to give him a one-year pact.
As a powerful, high-strikeout, right-handed hitter who provides negative defensive and baserunning value, Carter is quite similar to Napoli. Carter’s also younger (he’ll turn 30 next week) and, on the heels of the Brewers cutting him in lieu of paying him an estimated $8.1MM salary, could come at a cheaper cost than Napoli. Carter’s production last season in Milwaukee was right in line with Napoli’s, as he slashed .222/.321/.499 and amassed a National League-high 41 homers in 644 trips to the plate. He also struck out in 32 percent of PAs and walked at an 11.8 percent clip, while Napoli was at 30.1 and 12.1 in those categories.
Both Moreland and Lind are left-handed hitters, and each was decidedly less impressive than Napoli and Carter in 2016. Moreland, 31, did hit 20-plus home runs for the third straight season (22, to be exact), but the longtime Ranger posted a below-average batting line (.233/.298/.422 in 503 PAs) for the third time in the past four years. The Blue Jays are also in the mix for Moreland’s services, according to Morosi (Twitter link), even though Toronto already has multiple first base/DH types in Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak.
While Lind had typically been a capable offensive piece entering last season, that wasn’t the case in his only year with the Mariners. Like Moreland, Lind hit the 20-HR mark for the third consecutive season. The 33-year-old nonetheless underwhelmed, though, with a .239/.286/.431 output in 420 PAs.
Adding any of these players would give the Indians the opportunity to continue shifting Carlos Santana between DH and first base in 2017. The seven-year veteran saw more time at DH than first (92 games to 64) last season, which hadn’t happened since 2013.
I know they are strapped because they can’t go out and spend a lot of money, but the championship window is limited and these guys don’t exactly feel like the guys that will push them over the top. I still think they need a big splash, even if it isn’t at first. There are two outfield spots that could use improvement and upgrade. I know that he is too expensive but go get Braun, we need a power bat that isn’t a liability and scares pitchers. Off we up more prospects in order to the brewers to eat more of his salary. Do something!!!
The Indians feel like a good landing spot for Castillo. They got zero production from their catchers last season.
The Indians like the defense their catching supplies. Castillo isn’t an improvement in that area, so its very unlikely.
Gomes will be healthy and bounce back this year, plus Perez proved to be a solid catcher down the stretch. They basically got nothing from the position offensively and still came within 1 run of winning the World Series, so they’re OK here and need to fill other holes.
Two runs technically. Gomes has been atrocious for two straight seasons now. A 267 OBP followed by a 201 (!) OBP is pretty frightening, along with a 21/173 bb/k rate. Perez can’t hit at all. Doesn’t it seem reasonable that if Cleveland got any production whatsoever from their catchers they might have won the WS?
One run, one run more and they don’t go to extra innings. 😉
And while they lacked the offensive production, Perez was very solid defensively down the stretch.
Sure. He’s a glove first backup catcher. But this is a team that got below-average production from its outfield (partly because of Brantley’s injury) and nothing from behind the plate at all. A little bit of offense from those spots would help.
Can someone sign Carter so I don’t feel bad for him, I mean he did excellent at what he does, though I suppose it isn’t desired across the board.
As my editors would ask: How many first basemen fit into a hand?
living in north texas, i’ve seen Moreland all these years and it’s been very frustrating. Between injuries and inconsistency, Mitch flashed so much promise with his power and his good defense. But I think he, like Derek Holland, needs a fresh start somewhere else to perhaps reach their potential. Then again, maybe those injuries have made it physically impossible for either guy to achieve that potential.
Mets NEED to jump on bringing in Napoli. Imagine a lineup with Cespedes, Napoli, Asdrubal, Reyes and Grandy (and maybe a healthy Wright)!
So a lineup with an aging first baseman, a very average SS, a guy who’s been good for like half a year out of the past four, and an aging power bat who can’t really play CF? I’m sure the Cubs and Dodgers are shaking in their boots at the thought of that
Really .. go back and look at his last two- three RedSox years and tell me he earned his 16 mil per… goodluck with that
I’m not sure I see a fit for Moreland in Toronto. He’s an upgrade over Smoak but he’s a lefty and Smoak can’t hit righties at all. It’d be an ineffective platoon if that is the plan. Unless they give Moreland the outright starters job but it makes Smoak a very expensive bench bat who’ll see very few opportunities barring injury.
**by very expensive, I mean he’d be essentially a waste of $4.5 million because he’d barely ever see the field**
Yeah I never really understood the Smoak extension
I get why they did it but I don’t necessarily agree with it. The defensive metrics don’t really show it but he’s a solid 1B. Most notably, Donaldson, Tulo and Travis are generally a bit wild on their throws which makes Smoak’s long reach and solid catch and scoop ability valuable. I just don’t think it’s $4.5 million valuable and I’d wager most would agree.
Everyone is an upgrade over Smoak.
I’m tired of Rogers pinching pennies. Sign someone who can help you win for 1b and for an OF position.
Wouldn’t smoak be called upon to bat against lefties? I’m confused. Moreland wo
Yeah that was an error on my part lol
Smoak can’t hit lefties but then again he’s also pretty bad vs righties lol
If I were the Indians I would target Carter; I’d suspect there may be a small time bidding war for him, which I’m not sure the Indians can win
Agreed!
Every time I see the name Smoak and Blue Jays in the same sentence I throwup a little in my mouth. Smoak is the kind of player you find on a AA team that has no prospects to play 1B.
I really hope the Jays stop adding junk when there’s other side more important to improve. e.g. LF, RF and at least two good SU guys (Reed, Manship) could both be great additions to a devastated Jays bullpen that only features Biagini, Grilli and Osuna while 1B should be the last priority.
Revere would fit nicely in while Carter is my top choice out of Lind, Napolis and Moreland !!!
At least he did hit 41 HR. Nearly twice of his counterparts !!!!
Napoli had 34. how is 41 nearly double? and Carter is certainly not going to toronto. they want to improve the lineup with guys with higher OBP.
Except Moreland doesn’t seem to fit that profile… sure hope it was just a slow news day and it was a made up story!