Khris Davis has only been with the Athletics since a trade in the 2015-16 offseason, but the outfielder has fully embraced the organization and tells Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports that he’d love to stay there long term. “It’s been something I could make my own, and I saw it as an opportunity to build something,” says Davis. “There’s a lot to do there, and I feel like I can be a piece of this organization for a long time. … The Coliseum isn’t pretty. But I love going there. I love playing there. I love Oakland.” Passan’s profile of Davis kicks off his latest 10 Degrees column an provides an intriguing look inside a player that describes himself as “a little weird” and “a little quirky.” A’s fans will definitely want to check it out, and the full column, which examines the increasing power numbers throughout the league, holds more widespread appeal and is well worth a look.
- The Rangers have no choice but to remove Sam Dyson from the closer’s role after yet another blown save on Sunday, writes Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. However, while that decision seems like an easy one — Dyson has a ghastly 27.00 ERA with five walks against two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings — replacing him isn’t as easy as one would think. Matt Bush is the favorite to step into the ninth inning but received an injection to address pain in his right shoulder (the AC joint, specifically) last week. Jeremy Jeffress represents another option, but he’s already pitched in eight of the first 12 games and will need to see that workload lightened as the season wears on. Demoting Dyson for either Bush or Jeffress also opens a hole in the setup roles they’re currently occupying, and Grant notes that promoting Keone Kela to claim that spot just two weeks after his demotion that appears to have been for disciplinary purposes may send a conflicting message. Carrying a Rule 5 long reliever, Mike Hauschild, only further complicates the matter
- In a second column on the matter, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that there’s no chance the Rangers will part ways with Dyson after his rocky start to the season. Wilson also adds that it “doesn’t sound like” Kela will be joining the Rangers as part of a solution to the team’s bullpen woes, as there’s no room for him without running the risk of losing Hauschild, who would have to be placed on waivers and offered back to the Astros even if he clears.
- Mariners manager Scott Servais heaped praise onto offseason trade acquisition Mitch Haniger following yesterday’s huge performance (both in the field and at the plate), as MLB.com’s Greg Johns writes. “We’ve liked everything we’ve seen from Mitch since the first day we got him to Spring Training,” said Servais of Haniger, who hit his fourth home run, robbed a homer from Joey Gallo and drew a bases-loaded walk to score the game-tying run in the ninth in yesterday’s game. “How he’s gone about his business, and obviously he’s been very productive for us. He does his homework, he’s as prepared as anybody we have, and he’s got a lot of confidence.” While Jean Segura grabbed the most attention as the headliner going to Seattle in the trade that sent Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte to Arizona, Haniger’s early play has solidified him as the everyday right fielder in Seattle. He’s currently hitting .294/.410/.588 through his first 61 plate appearances.
If the Rangers have not given up on this season due to their poor off-season effort, the Braves could do a deal for a Closer and Starter. Braves would send Jim Johnson, Mike Foltynewicz and R A Dickey to Texas for Joey Gallo, Brett Nicholas and Nomar Mazara.
Unless o ‘Flaherty is in the deal too than no trade. LOL PS the rangers would need to send $10 million with that trade to off set the cost.
…that would be a dumb trade. Beyond dumb, really, as Dickey would get annihilated in Arlington, Folty has no command, and Mazara is the best option the Rangers have for Right Field.
That’s one of the worst deals ever. 2 young possible stars for a couple old guys? I’m sorry man but that’s a joke
That’s a terrible trade trade for Texas. I realize your probably a Braves fan. But honestly think about it. Why would giving up 2 old pitchers and a decent pitcher who has control problems for a very good young outfielder and a fading prospect who has crazy power be anywhere fair?!
He is obviously just trolling. Everyone knows there isn’t a snowballs chance in hell of that happening lol.
Do you watch baseball? Mazara is one of the better young players in the game. Y would JD trade his best hitter for a washed up RA dickey and Jim Johnson who by the way are on 1 yr contract for his best hitter who is making league min and has 5 or more years left on his minor league deal. Are you dumb?
That deal could work, but the Rangers probably would need to add Odor.
Steep ask for a bunch of spare parts
Atlanta throws in their new ballpark too
Not trading Folty and I like Mazara, but the Braves don’t need an outfielder. No point in worrying about it though cause these talks will never happen. I don’t think either team would consider that deal
That trade proposal is ridiculous. From a Rangers perspective, I don’t even know if they’d do it even if they got Julio Teheran instead of Folty. I like Folty but him plus 2 over-the-hill veterans certainly isn’t worth both Mazara and Gallo.
F U!!! Lmao
Why does nobody recognize Tony Barnette as a closer option? Sure, he doesn’t have the typical closer’s stuff, but he has the experience as a top closer in Japan, and he was quite solid last season. He had a rough outing last time out, but before that he had only given up one run, iirc. At least as a short-term stopgap, he’d be way better than Dyson while not leaving a hole in the setup men.
Barnette is better as a setup man. He’s too much of a contact pitcher. We’ve seen with dyson, a ground ball pitcher, that even ground balls can become hits. It has to be Bush, a strikeout pitcher.
I’m overjoyed to have all the other AL West teams having negative records. It might be the Astros year.
It’s definitely the Astros year.
Astros have a great lineup. Their starting pitching is a little weak but around trade deadline they should be able to pick up a top starter.
Not unless they make a trade for an ace-level SP, and one or two upgrades in the bullpen. Great offense and good OF defense, but the pitching is not great – especially if there’s injuries.
Eh, I’m not sold on the Rangers at all. Rotation is really bad after Hamels and Darvish, and the bullpen just isn’t good.
The Astros are gonna need McCullers and Keuchal to be TOR kinda guys, not exactly aces, but they need to be good. They can probably piece together the rest with McHugh when he comes back, Morton, Fiers, Musgrove, Paulino and Marte.
they really don’t need an ace, Keuchel and Mccullers are off the great starts, they could use a #3 or 4 in the rotation tho besides mike fires
Said in April before they collapse in May
Seattle is missing Smyly Cisheck and just got Zych back. Their failures have mostly been in the BP. Houston is good and Seattle has to play better but you caught us with some major injuries. I wouldn’t count the division yours yet. Seattle will start playing better Smyly will be back which will also put Miranda back in the BP. It is going to be fun to watch.
You make us Braves fans look bad. This is the dumbest trade proposal I’ve ever seen
Khris Davis is gonna end up something like a 50M dollar FA once the time comes, so hes prob not gonna stay with Oakland unless he accepts a discount.
The Rangers need outside help for pitching. Whether it a braves starter and Jim johnson, Jeremy Hellickson and one of Benoit/Neshek, or maybe a combo of Marlins pitchers. They need something.
Mitch Haniger is gonna be an above average regular one day
Haniger is a borderline star right now. He’s been really, really good for a while and flew under the radar in AZ. Legit 5 tooler.
Not gonna call him a star just yet, but yeah, he could very well end up the best player in that deal, better than Walker and Segura
Segura was really good the short time he was healthy, but Haniger could still be better.
Haniger could be in the discussion for ROY. I know it’s early but he looks like the real deal so far. If he continues on this pace will be fun to watch. I was not a fan of the trade but looks good so far.
Texas needs to find a way to get Kela up soon. Plain and simple. He’s the glaring internal option to both help out the bullpen struggles as a whole, and potentially slide in as the closer in time, if it’s not Bush.
Texas will heat up in May as they always do. I enjoy Astros fans being all puffed up right now and then crying when the Rangers own them head to head.
How times have the rangers gone through a closer?
Haven’t had a reliable one since Joe Nathan.
You read it here first… Mitch Haniger will be the AL Rookie of the year.