Anthony DeSclafani’s first appearance of the spring will be delayed due to the fact that the Reds right-hander is experiencing some “tenderness” in his elbow, manager Bryan Price told reporters, including C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Price stressed that the team is merely being cautious and said there’s “no red alert” surrounding the team’s presumptive Opening Day starter.Ā “At this point in time, we don’t have any great or grave concernsĀ or any concerns that he won’t be ready for Opening Day roster,”Ā said Price. That’s certainly encouraging, though the situation at least merits monitoring until DeSclafani is healthy enough to take the hill. The 26-year-old missed the first two months of the 2016 season with an oblique injury but was the team’s best starter upon returning. In 123 1/3 innings, DeSclafani pitched to a 3.28 ERA with 7.7 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 and a 41.9 percent ground-ball rate.
- Sticking with the Reds, Price isn’t planning on utilizing a traditional closer this season, writes MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. The manager instead hopes to have as many as four relievers that can work in various scenarios and be available for multiple innings. Offseason acquisition Drew Storen voiced a willingness to pitch in any role and spoke to Sheldon about the evolution of bullpen management in recent seasons and added that picking up high-leverage outs in other innings can be equally satisfying. Presumably, Storen is one of those arms that Price hopes to be able to lean upon in later innings. Other candidates, from my vantage point, include Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen and Tony Cingrani
- The Cardinals and Yadier Molina face a more complicated negotiation process than the majority of extension scenarios, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports observes. Molina is a franchise icon in St. Louis, and the team hopes to have him spend the entirety of his career in a Cardinals uniform. However, he’ll also turn 35 this summer, and even an additional three years would carry Molina through the age of 38. For a catcher with his type of workload, that’s a potentially troubling commitment for the team to make, especially when it’s top position prospect is young catcher Carson Kelly.Ā “Both sides are trying to work hard and see if we can make it happen,”Ā agent Melvin Roman told Rosenthal. The three-year, $50MM sum suggested by Rosenthal feels quite steep for a 35-year-old catcher whose power has diminished in recent years, though. Molina also had some uncharacteristic struggles in slowing the running game last year, as he caught just 21 percent of attempted thieves. Then again, as Rosenthal suggests, Molina’s case is fairly unique, and he remained quite productive at the dish last season (.307/.360/.427).
- Also from Rosenthal’s piece, Cubs manager Joe Maddon has been impressed by a number of the team’s young prospects in camp. While few would be surprised to hear that top-regarded names like Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ have caught Maddon’s eye, Rosenthal notes that the skipper is also impressed by minor league outfielder Mark Zagunis and infielder Chesny Young. Chicago’s deep stock of prospects will serve them well not only by offering depth pieces in the event of injury but also when addressing needs that may arise prior to the non-waiver trade deadline this summer.
thebare
Get ready Chi- town North Happ will be you super ultimatum
thebare
My bad I meant utility guy after Zoberst leave in 2018-19 look to Happ to fill those great shoes
Mikel Grady
Hope so. Happ looks like real deal
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
unfortunately for him he has no spot in the lineup. If heyward opts out in 2018 or 19 there’s a spot for him. I just doubt he wants to wait and see if that happens. With schwarber/contreas and zobrist in left almora in center. I guess happ can platoon with heyward but its a tough decision for Jimenez as well. Unless you get a guy like Archer and a prospect with a comparison to Corey kluber. Don’t pull the trigger. And I know the rays don’t have many pitching prospects. Happ alone can get the cubs Archer though.
tim815
Whether he wants to wait or not has nothing to do with it.
Happ isn’t Rule 5-eligible until December of 2018. He should split this season between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. 2018 should see him in Iowa until August or so.
The Cubs are greatly benefited by leaving Happ in the minors until late 2018, as he won’t take up a 40 Man roster spot until called up.
With the extra roster spot, they can continue to churn through players like Eddie Butler and Alec Mills, trying to find cost-controlled pitching on the cheap.
The player has no say about his assignment until his free agency. Which sucks for the player, but the executive’s job is winning.,
Priggs89
Lol no, he can’t get the Cubs Archer. He can be a nice piece in trying to get him, but it’ll take at least 2 more good prospects most likely.
EndinStealth
Wow. You really think Happy could get you Archer? Please tell me there was sarcasm in there.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
The cubs won’t let him go through the rule 5 draft. He’ll be added to the 40 man roster before the deadline. If he doesn’t make his ML with the cubs. He’ll no doubt be traded for a guy like Chris Archer. I don’t see the cubs getting Archer back. Cubs fans can and do fully blame jim hendry for that. 5 for 1 trade. And Garza was never better than a #3 pitcher.
Hendry will always be known for his obsession with Brian Roberts and many other 2nd baseman. For some reason he gave Milton Bradley a 3 year contract lol. The guy never played for a team longer than a season and a half. 13 teams in 13 years.
tim815
Jim Hendry needed to get 3 million fans in Wrigley, or he’d lose his job. He lost his job.
Hendry was an old-school executive.
Oddly, the same ones who fricassee JH over the Garza trade don’t credit him on the DeRosa trade.
The new guys won’t rush Happ. No need to, or reason to. He’ll stay in the minors until he’s ready. Or late 2018.
Not a fan of trading Eloy, Happ, Clifton, or Cease. Might have to, but not a fan of it.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
He should’ve never traded away DeRosa. Who had his best year with the cubs. They got only Archer for him the other two Never made it to the big leagues. An even worse trade was getting Kevin Gregg. He was by far the worst closer the cubs ever had. Marmol was bad but he was electric at times. Jim Hendry was by far the worst gm of his tentures era.
IACub
Okay, but…Super ultimatum sounds, idk, more intimidating.
statmaster96
It does. I was scared just reading that.
chesteraarthur
young pitcher and elbow issue – it seems like panic until proven otherwise
Mikel Grady
Cubs fan and I really like desclafini. Would love to see him in Cubbie blue. Hope nothing serious.
pjmcnu
TJ, for sure.
joew
If i where the cards i’d extend Molina for as long as I think he can stand.. and then give him a couple team options.. just in case. As a Pirate fan, i’ve seen him quite a bit over the years.. the guy is just good and seems like he is also great for the team in general. I duno what that would cost.. but even if he goes to back up roll in 2 years.. i’d still want him around.
CompanyAssassin
Yeah I’d think a 3 year would do fine at pretty much any reasonable cost seeing how profitable he alone is. After that I’d like to see him roll into some kind of advisory/management role with the Cards, losing his clubhouse presence would be a large loss in itself.
slider32
I can see the Cubs trading either a few of their top prospcects or a player like Baez or Almora to get a young controllable pitcher down the line!
biasisrelitive
yup they will have to eventually rotation is ageing
tim815
It’s going to come down to how well the minor league pitchers develop.
If a few of them develop into quality MLB options, then need to overpay in the trade marker reduces.
If some of the rehab projects (Butler, Mills, Floro, Buchanan, etc…) appear to be 4th or 5th starter good, some them can be used as cost-controlled pieces at the 5/6 range. Or as trade chips.
Team Theo will keep tinkering until it’s no longer a concern.
Mikel Grady
Odorizzi , gray or Tehran ? More I watch Baez in the field , wow hard to give up.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
You’re Insane if you think the cubs are trading anyone from the 25 man roster unless its Jon Jay. Javy isn’t going anywhere. He’s their 2nd anyway. Zo and Schwarber will play left most games and contreas will catch most games. Ian Happ could get a top of the rotation pitcher straight up. Hopefully they re-sign arrieta and just replace lackey with Archer and maybe alex cobb or a bullpen arm for Jimenez and happ.
Theo and Jed aren’t dumb they have zero reasons to ever trade one of their core players.
mvottop
Hopefully disco is okay.
vinscully16
Hope DeSclafani is just dealing with spring soreness, that guy knows how to pitch.
pjmcnu
TJ
timyanks
molina had no power to diminish. he isn’t an icon for his home runs.
stl_cards16 2
There’s more to power than HR’s.
timyanks
i’m sure they were talking about his lack of triples
vinscully16
… love Yadi.
timyanks
his home run against the mets in the NLCS was, iconic.
ilikebaseball 2
Molilna’s situation reminds me of Jeters after the 2010 season. Give him the 50 million he’s well worth it for a future HoF.
RiseAgainst3598
I love Molina but I’m not sure about HOFer
EndinStealth
First ballot HOFer.
SamFuldsFive
Get real lol
jdgoat
Lol good one
EndinStealth
Hide and watch.
petrie000
giving Jeter far more money than he was actually worth as a player is part of the reason the Yankees are rebuilding right now, though
Cardinals can’t afford to pay through the nose for sentimentality in that division right now
tim815
They _can_ afford to.
They won’t.
Probably, they shouldn’t.
stl_cards16 2
Guarantee him $45 for 2018-2019. Then a vesting option of~$20MM for 2020.
The biggest thing I’m worried about is I don’t think he will take well to slowly losing playing time to Kelly. Even though it would best for everyone involved, I could see Molina having a hard time buying in.
spudchukar
Molina slashed an amazing .365/.529/.926 in the second half of 2016, after his thumb injury healed. He also caught a league high, and career high games. He showed no signs of slowing down in 2016.
He lead MLB in pitches outside of the zone for strikes, due to his selective framing. His arm is as powerful and accurate as always, just playes in a tough base-stealing division, and poor assistance from his pitcher’s in 2016.
Kelly will just have to wait. Should spend most of 2017 in AAA, and only called up if needed. By 2018 he should start to spell Molina more frequently, increasing each year until Molina retires, which may go past 2020, depending on his performance. Kelly shows a lot of promise, but there is only one first ballot HOFer, and until Molina shows signs of slowing down, he will just have to watch and learn.
chadarrieta
I want to see Charcer Burks play more.
tim815
MiLB TV package. He’ll start the season in Double-A in LF, getting in CF on occasion, as well.
lesterdnightfly
The Molina situation is a tough one for the Cards. Although his defensive skills are in decline, he can still hit. However, he clogs the base paths when he reaches, in true Molina-family style. But their fans love him no matter what.
He is also showing the effects of catching 140-150 games per year for the past several years. Two reasons I see for this excessive workload: The Cards have failed to find a decent backup (that’s on Mozeliak), and Matheny sticks too much with his favorite vets, one of his trademarks (that’s on Matheny.).
So Molina’s worn down, 35, playing the toughest position on the diamond, and is up for FA or extension. He’s also revered by the “BFIB”, so getting rid of him would hurt in the PR department and maybe the turnstiles, and Bill DeWitt wouldn’t like that at all.
Why don’t they start to use him at 1B half the time if the rookie is okay behind the plate? Share it with Carpenter and move Carp around; it’s Carp’s bat, not his glove, that’s any good.
I see Molina signing a hefty contract to stay, but it may soon become a burden.
themed
Numbers last year doesn’t seem to indicate that he slowed down especially the second half. Not sure what numbers your referring to.
lesterdnightfly
Look at his defensive numbers– passed balls, caught stealing percentage…. Worst season for him in many years.
Cardinals17
Molina deserves the 3 year $50 million dollar extension! He still hit .307 last season. His throw out percentage was deceiving because many bases were stolen off the pitchers last season. Even if he is a declined player in his last 2 seasons, he is tremendously valuable in working and communicating with the young athletes!!! With all of the international players just acquired, what better person could the Cardinals have in bringing them up the correct way, with values!!! I hope after his career, he stays on with the Cards as a coach as long as he would like.
lesterdnightfly
Who controls the pitching game? Who calls for pitchouts and tries pickoffs ? The catcher. It’s not all on the pitchers and their faults. Teams no longer fear using the running game against the Redbirds.
Cachhubguy
It’s a two way street. Yadi wants to spend his whole career in St Louis too. So just offer him a fair contract. No need to over pay him.