Agent Scott Boras predicted earlier this winter that Matt Wieters would be a January signee, but the clock is running out even on that rather cautious timeline, FanRag’s Jon Heyman writes in his latest notes column. The Nationals and Angels remain the two likeliest landing spots, Heyman adds, though the Washington Post and other D.C. media outlets have continually downplayed the possibility. Boras is said to have recently met with the Angels, he also reports, and the Halos do indeed seem like an on-paper fit with Martin Maldonado penciled in as the presumptive starter at this time.
A few more items of interest…
- The Rangers and Rays are both still in the mix for slugger Chris Carter, though Tampa Bay is looking for a “steep bargain” in its search for a hitter, and the Rangers are still in contact with Mike Napoli’s camp. (Talks there look to have cooled as of late, though Heyman notes that Texas is still Napoli’s most logical landing spot.) Both teams are offering low base salaries, and an incentive-laden deal could be a compromise to further advance talks.
- The Mariners were talking with Jason Hammel before acquiring Yovani Gallardo and Drew Smyly in separate trades with the Orioles and Rays, respectively. Seattle doesn’t seem like a great fit for Hammel following those two additions, and what many expected to be a robust market for his services has proven to be tepid at best. Hammel switched agents late last month (after those talks took place) and is now represented by ACES.
- The Padres offered Jered Weaver more than the $1.75MM that they guaranteed to each of Jhoulys Chacin, Trevor Cahill and Clayton Richard, but whatever sum they offered didn’t get the job done. San Diego still “clearly” is looking for someone to lead an uncertain rotation, though, Heyman writes. As it stands, the starting five for manager Andy Green will be a competition between Richard, Cahill, Chacin, Luis Perdomo, Christian Friedrich, Paul Clemens, Tyrell Jenkins and Cesar Vargas. Jake Peavy would still love to land back in San Diego, per Heyman, though he “may be further down [the Padres’] list.”
- Right-hander Kyle Lohse isn’t giving up on the idea of pitching again in 2017. The 38-year-old pitched just 9 1/3 innings in two starts with Texas last season, allowing 13 earned runs in that time. He also struggled in Triple-A, recording a 5.06 ERA in 58 2/3 innings. Lohse was effective as recently as 2014 and had a quietly excellent stretch from 2011-14, but he’s struggled in consecutive seasons now. He could still fit somewhere as a non-roster invite and bring plenty of insight to some young pitchers in Spring Training, but he’s a long shot to break camp with a big league team.
- The Marlins and Braves are both talking to Jeff Francoeur about a potential reunion, Heyman tweets. “Frenchy” split the 2016 season between Atlanta and Miami, batting a combined .254/.297/.378 with seven home runs. It’s been five years since Francoeur turned in an OBP north of .300, but he’s consistently valued by big league teams for his leadership and clubhouse presence. If the Marlins believe him to be capable of playing some first base, he could pair with Justin Bour as a platoon partner. While that’s just speculation on my behalf, Francoeur is a career .279/.328/.449 hitter against lefties and batted .271/.313/.414 in 133 PAs against southpaws last season.
Surprising to me that the Rays want to add another 150 strikeout hitter to that lineup who already strikes out way too much. I understand the power is needed, but go for a guy with decent OBP and who actually can play a lick of defense
Those type of players aren’t available right now and would cost more to acquire.
thank you was going to say the same thing…
Guys with decent OBP and a good glove cost money. Rays aren’t spending. Would you rather a guy who hit closer to 50 home runs over a replacement player off waivers who might strike out just as much anyway? Probably yeah
Trouble with that thought is you gotta pay for those guys… Tampa too tight to go there
Weaver turning down around $2 mil means he’s not serious about pitching in 2017. He’s not gonna get any offers from contenders and San Diego offers the best combination of playing time and ballpark suited for his style.
I call BS on the Weaver rumor. IF he had any offers, he would have accepted by now. I think he is done as a starter
I was about to post the same thing there’s no way he was offered more than Cahill or Chacin.
You’re probably right. But he’s worth a flyer for some team that needs depth.
Maybe he realized that his 85mph fastball is not going to cut it anymore in the majors. I can’t imagine other teams giving him much higher offers.
Or teams have waited to see what they can get and then settling for Weaver.
Not surprised he’s holding out at all. Weaver would argue that purple is green – and dig his heels in further when you prove him prove him wrong.
I expect that in 2027, people will still be reading “It’s been fifteen years since Francoeur turned in an OBP north of .300, but he’s consistently valued by big league teams for his leadership and clubhouse presence”
Has Boras used the “talent of this magnitude” phrase yet with Wieters? If not, then he’s not yet desperate enough to sign for anything less than huge.
Why would the Padres favor Weaver over Peavy? Makes zero sense.
Weaver has a bulldog mentality and hopefully it rubs off on some of the younger guys
And peavy doesn’t?
Preach! Bring Peavy back! Would love to see him end his career here and mentor some kids.
I think weaver has more fire to do it
Suffice it to say, they’re both highly emotional and robbed of the talent that once made them viable. I’d prefer Peavy.
83 MPH is not a FB. It’s a changeup. Unfortunately for Weaver, it’s his reality and its why he is done at the MLB level.
Thank you! Weaver = DONE
I figured it out. Angels fan must not know who Jake Peavy is. That kind of attitude is pretty much the only thing Peavy brings to the table…
Right? Hasn’t that been his MO since…forever?
I’m not saying peavy doesn’t have the fire but he asked why weaver over peavy. I think weaver as more of it
And was once a hometown hero in San Diego who really should have been a Padre his whole career
I agree, it would be cool to see Peavy in a Padres uniform one last time before he retires. Plus, I feel like he would be a little better than weaver.
Exactly Priggs, without a doubt Angels Fan has zero idea who Peavy is. Proof is in his or her post.
Weaver is my pitcher, but he hasen’t shown that bulldog mentality since 2014
he had a permanent bulldog mentality
Just because he hasn’t pitched good every game doesn’t mean that it’s gone
*Hasn’t
His bulldog mentality doesn’t change the fact that he pitches about as well as a bulldog who’s given a baseball.
Yeah Weaver and Peavy.. aka Cooked and Cooked…lol
Wieters–>Angels for a 2 year 24 million dollar contract. We need him.
with the way his market looks right now, that seems like a pretty fair offer. Toss in some performance bonuses to bring it up to a max of 2/30 if he can hit all the bonuses.
doesn’t he have a qualifying offer attached?,,,the angels need to build up their farm system..
No qualifying offer is attached. They made him 1 last yr. & he accepted, so BAL didn’t offer him 1 this yr. b/c they didn’t want to be on the hook for paying him $17M this season…
But yeah, Wieters to LAA makes way too much sense…
Probably not likely but what if Weiters and Holland sign in Milwaukee trying to resurrect their careers and could end up serving as potential trades pieces with strong seasons
I don’t think the Brewers have an appetite for Weiters at the salary he’d demand, especially since they’d like to see what they’ve got with Susac.
Two weeks ago I’d have thought Holland was possible. I think the Feliz signing negates any chance though. Holland isn’t coming to Milwaukee unless he’s guaranteed to close, and I don’t think Feliz would have signed unless they at least said he’d have a shot to win the closer role in ST.
Weaver turned down $1.75M. LOL. No. His only guarantee should be for a spot as a BP pitcher. Hitters are praying some clown of a GM signs him and he makes a roster.
lol
I could go lay change ups down the middle of the plate for half that salary. And I look pretty good in a uniform if I do say so myself.
I’m not sure why the Padres would be looking at Weaver over Peavy. Peavy was still touching 90 last year. Also, I think SD is also looking at Jarred Cosart as a possible starter, although the stuff plays better in relief. Looking at that list of startup pitching options is just a big pile of sadness.
Padres rotation is going to be one sad state of affairs
It’s going to bring back echoes of those depressing rotations from like 5-6 years ago that featured guys like Kip Wells and Jason Marquis.
Remember when they signed that guy out of the Mexican league because AGon vouched that he was a good starter? Walter Silva. My god, he was so bad.
Come on Angels sign Wieters already. Then trade Escobar for some bullpen help.
^ I agree! except Id rather see Escobar be traded for another number 4 starter and move Chavez to the bullpen
I think Cron is the likely trade candidate. They can get a young starter for him. Not an ace but someone who can give them innings. Plenty of relievers on the FA market they can still grab. I wouldn’t trade infield depth just for a reliever.
I don’t think they will trade Cron he has improved on both hitting and defense
Cron is what, a slightly above average hitter/below average runner/solid average fielder? Projections see him as something like a ~1.5 win player/600 PA, and that’s not entirely valuable. Why trade for him when you can sign Napoli, Moss or Chris Carter? He’s both not that terribly valuable and the market is flush with 1B options still.
That’s funny, calling Napoli, Carter and Moss “1B options”. That’s the best line since someone stated Trumbo was a legitimate option to play OF.
These guys are all pro athletes, and you can hand them a glove and tell them to play 1B. But that doesn’t make them viable, desirable choices for your team’s infield defense.
What Cron has going for him is he’s still young, he’s under team control, but most importantly he’s improving. Napoli’s defense is clearly regressing, Carter never had any skills. Pujols will certainly start the year on the DL, and will DH for weeks upon his return. Of the players listed, Cron is the most-skilled 1B option to play daily.
Besides, as long as Napoli, Carter and the rest are still FA, there is no strong trade market for Cron now. Trading now would be selling low. Best to keep him.
Doesn’t seem like anybody wants Escobar
The Giants would be the best trade fit for Escobar. The problem with Cron, he has yet to prove that he can remotely be consistent. So it would be only be a pipe dream to get a major league ready starting pitcher for him. Unless it is someone like Ubaldo Jimenez. Who has a horrible contract.
Sweet mother of Pearl! I can’t believe Frenchy is only 33! I feel like he should at LEAST be pushing 40…
WIETERS will be coming to LA soon! I’m sure we are almost there. Scott boras loves the angels and goes to most of their games. Thats a pretty big advantage.
Boras goes to Angels games because his office is in NB. But he and Arte haven’t done a deal since the Teixiera debacle, and Arte can hold a grudge. Weaver was the last (and only) Angels player/Boras client under contract for the last few years. Boras has placed his players with the Nationals, Tigers and Rangers for the most part.
Not to say it couldn’t happen, especially after so many years, but history doesn’t support an easy deal for Weiters with the Angels.