Here’s the latest from around baseball as we head into the new week…
- The Giants may carry five outfielders on the 25-man roster in an effort to keep Hunter Pence and Denard Span fresh, MLB.com’s Chris Haft writes. Giants skipper Bruce Bochy said the club may also carry four outfielders plus one bench player capable of backing up at both an infield position and an outfield spot. Pence, Span, Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson are expected to be regulars in the San Francisco outfield this year, with Parker and Williamson platooning in left field (unless one wins the job outright). Gorkys Hernandez, Mike Morse, Kyle Blanks, Kelby Tomlinson, Justin Ruggiano and Slade Heathcott are a few of the well-known names fighting for jobs in the Giants’ camp.
- Lucas Giolito sees his trade to the White Sox as “an immediate breath of fresh air,” the young righty tells USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The highly-touted Giolito struggled in his MLB debut last season, posting a 6.75 ERA and walking 12 batters (against just 11 strikeouts) over 21 1/3 innings with the Nationals while being promoted and demoted multiple times. “Every start was like I have to do well or I’m going to get sent down to Triple-A. The team wanted to win, and if I wasn’t going to give them an opportunity to win, then they wouldn’t want me there. It made sense,” Giolito said. With the Sox in more of a rebuilding phase, Giolito is looking forward to getting more for an opportunity to properly acclimate himself to the majors.
- Jhonny Peralta is fully healthy and fully prepared for a move to third base, the veteran Cardinals infielder tells MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. Bothered by a thumb injury for much of 2016, Peralta batted only .260/.307/.408 over 313 PA as he lost his starting shortstop job to Aledmys Diaz. Peralta will now battle Jedd Gyorko for regular playing time at the hot corner while looking to re-establish himself before hitting free agency next winter. Peralta, who turns 35 in May, is hopeful of continuing to play “for a couple more years.”
- Offseason trade rumors ended up being “just talk” and thus of no concern to Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, the Associated Press reports. Kinsler and several other Tigers veterans were mentioned as potential trade candidates this winter, and Kinsler praised GM Al Avila for being straight-forward about what was happening. “To be up front and honest is always the best way to act in my opinion. That’s the way that I like to approach people, and that’s the way he approached us as a whole, as a team. Was it different? Absolutely, it was different. Most GMs would not do that,” Kinsler said.
Kindler just likes that nobody is asking him to do anything except play 2B. He’d be acting the fool if the Tigers asked him to switch positions or mentor a kid who might be his eventual replacement.
Yeah, Profar is soooo much better than Kinsler. How’s that working out for you?
“Might be”
I would be mad too if I were moved off my position for a worse player
People can change, you know.
You really can’t blame Kinsler for how the Rangers handled that situation
Giolito’s stock seemed to slide a lot based off of that small sample size. Was there any other reason or was that all?
His stuff took a bit of a step backwards. Keith Law (and other prospect analysts as well) are adamant that the Nats tinkered with his mechanics, which caused the step back, and that time with the Chisox pitching guru Don Cooper will cure all of that. I guess time will tell.
Pretty much this. His stuff didn’t look very good in his limited time in the majors. I know his spin rate (and I believe velocity?) was down on his fastball, and that was a cause for some concern. To me, the spin rate part seems like a pretty easy fix… Personally, I’m not very concerned. If he looks lost this year when he eventually gets called up, then I’ll start to become more concerned. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Coop trying to get some cut on that fastball during Spring Training. We’ll see.
He’s also already had Tommy John surgery. Personally, I think they pushed him a bit last year to get to the majors, but I also think the Nats more than anything don’t want to have to groom a rookie.. You look at their roster and basically everyone is at peak performance at this moment. Turner is the one outlier, but he seems to have arrived already based on last year.
Ian should have waived no trade clause to dodgers. they were his best chance to win a chip the next two years. also, tigers are losing trade value for him as he gets older. same as Brian dozier. sell high off career year
I don’t blame Kinsler for putting a monetary value on things like his no trade clause. They typically have to surrender some dollars on the front end for that kind of protection, may as well flex it.
The Tigers, just like the Dodgers, are contenders. It never got to the point of asking him to waive his no trade. LAD never offered enough.
I’m pretty sure both Blanks and Heathcott are not in major league camp, and neither have very much of a chance to make the roster out of spring.
Giants don’t have anyone to cover in CF… Gorkys may be the only one who could pass
Brett Gardner is available some say?
I’ve been pointing this out all off season. That means Gorkys is a lock for 4th outfielder and therefore you don’t been both Williamson AND Parker. Whichever one has options (I forget one does and the other doesn’t) should end up in Sacramento. Then if they. Need another OFer I think they are more likely to grab someone (probably a veteran) able to hit one out of the park. They are looking for another 20 HRs as a team this year according to Evans.
Just the way I see it playing out. Honestly neither Parker nor Williamson at LF excites me all that much. But I’ve been proven wrong.
Peralta is a sorry excuse for an infielder.
Because…. he hits with power and has sure hands and an accurate arm?
I loved Peralta when he was on the Tigers. Iglesias can outfield Peralta but the offense is nowhere close to what Peralta has….Johnny may not be flashy but he makes plays. I’d take him back assuming he’s healthy in a heartbeat
Explain how? Peralta is very solid when healthy.
I think I pretty well summed it up. He’s not going to amaze with flashy play on defense but he makes plays all the same. His bat, when healthy is strong. I haven’t kept as close an eye on him since he left Detroit but I know he’s not been healthy in STL. He was a power bat while in Detroit and came up big all the time….while making plays on defense. Again nothing flashy, but his offense made him worth his spot on the field and for the most part he was solid anyways….
A guy commented that when healthy, Peralta is a .280 hitter and 20 home run guy. Also, check his fielding war for ’14
San Fran shouted trade two of their lefty prospects (Suarez #8 looks like a decent prospect and Krook #20 w/nice upside after total elbow reconstructive surgery) for Gardner who in actuality has a very reasonable contract. In fact I don’t know if Yanks make that deal with recent injuries and unknown who will replace him?
I think the Yankees would try to pry Tyler Beede or Heath Quinn away if they were to trade a veteran presence and clubhouse leader like Gardner away at this juncture.
It dumb for SF to trade any of their VERY limited talent pool for someone to play LF when they could easily have just spent the money on a FA this offseason. SF didn’t want to spend the money and they don’t have the prospects to spare (or maybe even HAVE the prospects) to do a trade. They spent the off seasons loading their minors with veterans because their minor league system (save for a couple of guys) is really bare. The thing is that they can afford it, they just don’t WANT to go over the luxury tax limit.
Wrong, they are looking for versatility in the outfield. A guy that can play cf/LF and only one free agent fit that mold in Dexter Fowler but he would have cost too much and a first round pick which San Fran can’t afford to lose. The only true option is through a trade if they want to address the outfield during the season unless one of these unknowns step up and break out.
Oh boy. Look the issue with Gardner is his value will come from his ability to play cf which I would not trust him to do in the NL West. The Giants also are going to run into the LH pitching issue. They have a lineup and a team that could comfortably run Span/Gorkeys out there everyday if LF is offensive. No team in the NL West is in need of Gardner. Gardner just doesn’t have much value.
If Peralta is completely healthy, put him down for .280 and 20hr
To the guy comparing Profar to Kinsler : Not sure what planet you’re living on, but Odor is Rangers 2nd baseman!!
At the Time referred to, Kinsler was not happy that the Rangers wanted him to move to 3B or LF to allow Profar to play 2B. Odor only got the shot after Kinsler was traded and Profar made a home on the disabled list. If Kinsler was still there, Odor would not have had an opportunity as Kinsler is better defensively, and Beltre was brought in for 3B. Maybe he would have been moved to 1B or OF. ( he’s not a very good defensive 2B).
We all knew it was ” Just Talk”