The expectation is that free agent outfielder Angel Pagan will choose his next team in the coming days, reports Jim Bowden of ESPN.com. The Tigers are among the clubs that have shown interest in Pagan, according to both Bowden and Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. However, a Pagan-Tigers union “doesn’t sound like a real possibility,” per Fenech (Twitter link). While Bowden also relays that the Giants are in on Pagan, Andrew Baggarly of the Bay Area News Group tweets otherwise. Pagan, of course, spent the previous half-decade in San Francisco.
More from around the majors as Opening Day draws closer:
- It’s likely that outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. will make the Blue Jays, but it’s not a lock, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. The last spot on the team figures to go to either Upton, whom Toronto acquired last summer from San Diego, or out-of-options middle infielder Ryan Goins. While Upton will make $16.45MM in 2017, the final season of the five-year, $75.25MM contract he signed with the Braves in 2012, the Padres are on the hook for most of that money. The Blue Jays only took on $5MM of the remaining $22MM-plus Upton had coming his way when they traded for him. The 32-year-old was amid a decent season at that point, but he closed the campaign by slashing just .196/.261/.318 in 165 plate appearances as a Jay.
- The Rangers are in talks with right-hander Dillon Gee about restructuring his contract, writes Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Gee, who has an opt-out for Wednesday, is in line to make a guaranteed $2MM if he takes the last spot in the Rangers’ bullpen. That’s unpalatable to the Rangers, who might want to send Gee to the minors during the season; however, Gee would be able to refuse such an assignment because of service time and still collect the $2MM. Grant suggests the two sides should work out a minor league split, meaning Gee would earn a prorated $2MM in the majors and a lesser salary in the minors.
- First baseman Jesus Aguilar has made the Brewers’ roster, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link). Aguilar cracking Milwaukee’s roster seemed like a long shot at the outset of camp, but the February waiver wire pickup from the Indians has since recorded a video game-like, major league-best 1.395 OPS in 54 spring at-bats. The right-handed, out-of-options Aguilar could pair with fellow first baseman Eric Thames, a lefty-swinger, to give the Brewers a powerful tandem at the position.
- Red Sox infielder Marco Hernandez came up as a trade candidate last week, when it appeared he had no place on the club’s roster, though an injury to Rule 5 pick Josh Rutledge may have created room. Rutledge suffered a strained left hamstring Tuesday, and Hernandez could be the beneficiary, notes Scott Lauber of ESPN.com. The problem is that the Red Sox want a right-handed hitter to complement corner infielders Mitch Moreland and Pablo Sandoval, but Hernandez is a lefty.
Hernandez has speed, he’s useful off the bench, even if he’s lefty, he can pinch run
Boston is making a mistake if they trade him. They already moved both Maricio Dubon and Carlos Asuaje, the last 2 super utility guys whom they had groomed in the minors. It’s time they find a spot for Hernandez whom is possibly the best of that trio and better with the bat than Holt perhaps, tho less positions for now.
“he can pinch run…”
They already have Steven Wright. Had to be said.
Now that’s funny
I don’t see why the Giants wouldn’t be in on Pagan. He seems to be an upgrade over Gorkys. Hernandez might be faster and better on defense but pagan has had a clutch bat in SF. Obviously pagan is more of an injury risk but I’m just surprised there hasn’t seemed to be too much interest, even with the struggles of Hernandez plus the injury of Williamson.
I think that the Giants should resign Pagan . He’s like way better then the new guys they brought aboard. lost a lot of our Latin Brothers…. but look what they replaced them with…huh
So it’s either the no bat infielder or the guy who can’t put anything together even though he has all tools outfielder. Nice
I hated the Upton trade from the moment it happened. The last thing that they needed was another right handed bat that strikes out like crazy. Even in the thick of a playoff race, I’d have rather they brought up Ceciliani. I can’t imagine that he’d have played any worse than Upton did after the deal.
His batting avg was higher than I got my butt kicked by odors prior to the trade
That suspect isn’t in the top 30 for the padres anymore
I didn’t hate the trade. Anytime you can get a player for a nothing prospect while making the other team pay it can’t be awful
Ain’t melvins fault they were not using him correctly
Call me crazy but Upton and prospect for Bruce? Conforto needs to be in the majors!
I don’t see why their would be a need for a prospect in that trade. upton has speed and “adequate” defense (not backing up saunders on a fly ball to lose a game to Boston will never leave my mind ) for a guy who is grossly overpayed. only way I see a prospect being thrown in is if Mets eat a chunk of his salary
We’d definitely have to add a prospect Bruce has at least had recent value that we could bank in
Honestly, they should call the White Sox about making that type of move. Similar to what the Braves have done in recent years. Bruce + B-level or couple C-level prospects for cash considerations or PTBNL and Sox take on entire salary. And then dfa Bruce.