The White Sox are primed to open the season with top starter and well-known trade candidate Jose Quintana in their rotation, notes Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter). Chicago has been shopping Quintana over the past few months, but it still hasn’t found a proposal to its liking and likely won’t by Opening Day. Few teams, if any, have drawn more connections to Quintana than the Astros since he has been on the block, though they’re “not budging” from their offer, Nightengale hears.
Several more items from the Central divisions:
- The Reds have officially tabbed Amir Garrett and Rookie Davis to start the year in their rotation, tweets C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Neither hurler has any major league experience to this point. The 24-year-old Garrett, Baseball America’s 81st-ranked prospect, ascended to Triple-A last season and put up a 3.46 ERA with 7.18 K/9 against 4.12 BB/9 in 67 2/3 innings. Davis, 23, was part of the Aroldis Chapman trade between the Reds and Yankees in 2015. Like Garrett, he reached Triple-A in 2016, though his results over a small sample weren’t ideal (7.50 ERA, 5.63 K/9, 2.63 BB/9 in 24 innings). In 134 1/3 Double-A frames, Davis owns a 3.28 ERA, 5.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
- The Pirates optioned left-hander Steven Brault to Triple-A on Tuesday, thereby cutting a contender for the final spot in their rotation. They’ll now choose among Tyler Glasnow, Drew Hutchison and Trevor Williams to slot in behind Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Ivan Nova and Chad Kuhl in what will be an all-righty rotation.
- The Reds reassigned veteran outfielder Desmond Jennings to the minors on Tuesday, which could bring about the end of his short tenure with the organization. Jennings, who joined the Reds in February on a minor league contract, can opt out of his deal before Opening Day, and Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer expects that to happen (Twitter link).
- Carlos Rodon, the second-best lefty in the White Sox’s rotation, received good news on his bicep Tuesday, relays Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Rodon got a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who confirmed that the 24-year-old doesn’t have any structural damage. El Attrache diagnosed Rodon with bursitis, and he’ll embark on a throwing program the next two weeks before the team reevaluates him. Given that timeline, Rodon will open 2017 on the disabled list.
- Yet another note on the Reds, whose manager, Bryan Price, expects reliever Raisel Iglesias to be ready for Opening Day (Twitter link via Rosecrans). The righty hurt his elbow and hips when he fell in the shower a few weeks ago, thus putting his status for the start of the season in question. Undoubtedly the Reds’ premier relief weapon, Iglesias posted a 1.98 ERA, 9.72 K/9 and 3.42 BB/9 in 50 innings out of the bullpen after transitioning from the rotation a year ago.
Hutchison has looked awful this Spring. At this point, Glasnow has to get the 5th spot
Agree about Hutch but Glasnow has been inconsistent. But hey, thankfully we’re no longer arguing whether it will be Morton or Locke 😉
Bob Nutting and Neil Huntington have several million reasons to have Glasnow start 2017 in AAA.
Holy crap , Hutch just coughed up 9 runs to Boston …. that Liriano trade just keeps getting more and more odiferous with age.
So? Pedro Martinez once got hammered for two homers and six runs in a ST game without recording an out. Hutch is just getting his pitches in.
Liriano, outside of that three year stretch when he arrived in Pittsburg, has possibly been the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball. He lost his control, which already wasn’t great, again last year. Pittsburg got rid of him before he could possibly implode like he’s prone to do.
The prospects are what makes that deal sting.
A good defensive catcher who struggles to hit and an injury riddled, bat only, OF isn’t a bad trade to clear $40MM off the books, well also acquiring a controllable pitcher, even one with Hutchinson’s track record. The trade also cleared the way for acquiring and resigning Nova, a younger and cheaper pitcher who isn’t prone to wild bouts of inaccuracy.
Where are you getting 40 million from? And liriano has only had 3 bad months in the past 4 years. That trade was awful, no matter how you look at it, and it was magnified after lirianos stretch run in Toronto
If the keep Liriano hey can’t sign Nova or Hudson or extend Freese. Liriano was feuding with his pitching coach and killing the bullpen.
The two prospects are two years away at least – if ever.
Not everyone thought the trade was bad at the time and even if Liriano has a decent year Nova is younger and better
Liriano is way better. He was Pittsburghs either best or second best pitcher over the past 4 years. Besides the 7 games Nova threw in Pittsburgh, he’s been trash the rest except for a little stretch in 2013. I’d be willing to bet lirianos 2017, especially after the spring he’s had, is better than every pirate pitcher except gerrit cole.
But he wouldn’t have the same result in Pittsburgh- he burned that bridge…
A valiant effort trying to talk sense to a Yinzer parrot there, LL.
They just want to whine.
right but those 90 sum pitches in less than 4 innings.. most of them looked like garbage.. a few good ones here and there. I’ve only seen him pitch twice this spring.. both times he looked like trash. Outside of one decent part of a season Hutch really hasn’t done much of anything. Sure that can change, but haven’t seen it yet.
They traded Liriano when he was down, knowing he’d probably bounce back like he has before.. and did do. It was a bad trade no matter how you look at it.. they only way it wasn’t is if Rameriez and/or McGuire sustain career ending injuries.
and its Pittsburgh… with a h.
first.. it isn’t $40M off the books not even close. AT MOST 20Million minus Hutch’s salary. so closer to 17M or so.
and Nova hasent been all that great either.. You talk about Liriano’s inconsistancy but ignore Nova’s lol. When he is doing well, at most a mid-rotation starter but probably more of a bottom of the rotation starter who may not even be in the rotation by the end of the year if the pirate prospects have their way. Hopefully he keeps pace to what he did last year for the pirates.. But it isn’t likely..
Actually they probably wouldn’t have gotten Nova at all.. but they could’ve signed Hudson and freese both. and probably still be under the budget they where looking at. They freed up money in other areas during the season as well.
Liriano over nova is about 5-6M more for this single season, Nova over Liriano is 12M more over three seasons. at base salary.
The $40MM was my mistake, I forgot he was already a year into his deal, its about $20MM after prorating it. Magnified how? It netted the team nothing and was fueled by an unsustainable BABIP, if you think you’re getting the Liriano you got for those 50 innings last year this year, you’re in for a long season.
Or they’ll go with a 4 man rotation the first month or so and use LeBlanc or Nicasio to spot start if they don’t want to call someone up for a day.
Bursitis in a pitcher’s arm (Rodon’s) isn’t the worst thing compared to other arm/elbow/shoulder injuries, but it sounds like a potential long-term or recurring problem in one so young.
Correct me if I’m mistaken; to paraphrase Bones McCoy, I’m a fan, not a doctor.
… ageeed. It’s time to get Glasnow under Ray Searage’s daily command.
I think Glasnow should start the season in AAA. He needs a touch more development before he becomes a great pitcher
There is more than a touch of development between Tyler Glasnow and being a great pitcher. He needs better control, command, and a more consistent change up. Unless you mean potentially great in the bullpen.
Update on Q, everything is still exactly the same. gotcha.
Yes, and the Astro’s are still leading the nothing happening pack.
Rookie Davis reminds me a little of Mike Leake. Could be a very solid, middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.
I agree I think people are going to be surprised how he turns out. Can’t wait to see he and Amir!
The Reds are a mess of an organization, how can you relegate Reed and Stephenson to the pen already?
Price is a moron! Reed and Stephenson need to be starters this season. There is no need to start Arroyo! Unbelievable, they keep finding ways to screw up.
I’m assuming at least some of the young pitchers (Reed, Stephenson, Garrett, Davis), and perhaps all of them, will be on an innings limit for the season. By having Reed and Stephenson start in the ‘pen, that could limit their innings, and at some point down the road, Garrett and Davis may end up there for a while as well. Also guessing if Feldman performs, he will be flipped at the deadline and Arroyo can be moved to the ‘pen later, or if he struggles, could retire. Reed and Stephenson will get their chance at starting one way or another. Plus, Price already has said that Reed specifically is expected to get some starts.
Got the Show 17 last night and actually got Q with Cutch and Watson…..yes sirrr
Me too. I traded Votto for Greg Bird and Masahiro Tanaka.
Well it beats the I just got hosed on the Quintana deal!
Honestly the pirates are in the worst possible position ever with the 5th spot and I love every second about it.
Hutchinson – so far a complete bust that without a doubt should be stuck into minors and massively should work on his pitching. Yet will most likely be the 5th starter for a simple BS reason.
Glasgow – should be the 5th starter, yet the pirates and their fear of the super 2’s will stick him in the minors to keep control of his years. Yet I don’t fully disagree with that move just to keep his trade value up.
Williams – hands down my pick for the 5th spot yet, once again want to control years so once again a starter that’s good enough yet, do to the”we got to be smart with our options ” game plan will be victim to the minors.
Now the real question and option the pirates should take.
There is no reason why Huntington should not be on the phones looking for a trade for a fifth starter. Honestly I fail to see why he didn’t sign Lohse or Masterson for a major league tryout or a “show me” contract. I would have loved to see Lincecum in a pirate uniform if he wasn’t stuck staying in CA.
Truthfully the pirates tried something stupid and didn’t have a plan B. They tried to motivate Hutchinson with two young players and yet failed to see he just plain stinks. Now they have to sacrifice controlled time with one of their young players or come North with a pathetic 5th starter in Hutchinson and use some BS excuse to say why he won the 5th spot.
Honestly if I was you fans, unless Huntington gives up controlled time of one of his young arms (hahaha yeah right) or makes a trade to get a 5th starter, I would expect Hutchison as your 5th starter, and boy I would be RAGGING mad about it.
Of course…being angry and miserable and whining (with words other people have put into their mouth) is the only thing brings joy to a Yinzer Parrot.
“Honestly the pirates are in the worst possible position ever with the 5th spot and I love every second about it.”
FYI for the White Sox fans, THESE are the ONLY Pirate “fans” who are talking about a Quintana trade. The “fans” who just want to see them lose and then whine about how they are cheap, etc.
rc21pa:
I share your deep discontent and despair.
The state of the Pirates’ least important starting pitcher keeps me up all night as well….
O tempora! O mores!
Huchison has been optioned.. won’t be the 5th starter to start the season.
Glasnow has issues yet that need to be worked out.. you don’t want that happening at the MLB level.. Super 2 has nothing to do with his inability to pitch effectively at the MLB level.
Williams could be the guy at least for a while.. but really as they’ve been talking.. they could just go with the 4man and use someone like williams, leblanc or nicasio to spot start for the first month
And for whom the josh bell trolls is all about giving away money for a inferior product. I guess fools are always and only fools.
Verbatim Madden. Good job, Parrot.
Just start yelling “Nutting’s Wallet” out your window as loud as you can. That’ll fix things.
And rather than respond below….
LOL. Masterson? You want the Pirates to sign him? They DID. He sucked.
Lincecum? Weaver? Lohse?
Why Huntingdon doesn’t have you on speed dial…clearly, you have the answers.
And for whom the josh bell trolls is all about giving away money for a inferior product. I guess fools are always and only fools.
I can care less if the pirates trade for Q anyway. I question why they didn’t sign someone to complete for a fourth -fifth starter position. Lohse, Weaver, and Masterson sat there and could have been brought cheap. Every other year they signed a project pitcher except this year when they could have used one. Instead they set it up for Hutchinson to be a fifth starter and put on this false show for the fifth spot.
It’s like the pirates can’t afford a 2-3 million dollar pitcher and Huntington has some head case problem to show Hutchinson to be a pitcher he simply is not. Only a blind fan can’t see this only forces the pirates to give away games they can’t afford to if they truly want to be competitive.
Truth is everyone knows the Hutchinson trade was a salary dump, now bury him in the minors where he belongs and put the best players you can afford on the field. And for the love of god, damn the super twos and controlling year crap, win what you can because when you don’t spend money to win games, then every game you play and win is important. Even in April.
If “everyone knows the Hutchinson trade was a salary dump”….WHY are you whining about it being a bad baseball trade?
….?
Yet, all four are better options then Hutchinson
Because he used prospects to dump salary yet won’t to bring in actual talent to win.
Seek help for your obsession with “Bad Pirates decisions and how I’d fix them all.”
How so? Please enlighten me on how you would fix the inferior product called the Pittsburgh pirates.
Bursitis is no big deal. Worst case is that the area of inflamation is infected & the bursae need to be removed. They grow back in about 3 weeks. Otherwise, there are various treatments including rest that can bring an end to the inflamation in much less time.