Speaking with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports on Saturday, newly minted Angels left fielder Justin Upton noted that the free agent market has changed since January 2016, when he signed a six-year, $132.75MM contract with the Tigers, adding that “teams are looking for different things” (Twitter link). While the market shift could impact whether the 29-year-old opts out of the remaining $88.5MM on his contract after the season, it seems he’s considering vacating what’s left of the pact. “If you play well enough, there’s a job for you,” said Upton, who has slashed .279/.362/.541 with 28 home runs in 528 plate appearances in 2017. Thanks to his outstanding performance this year, the majority of those who voted in MLBTR’s latest poll on Friday expect Upton to test free agency again in the offseason.
More on the Halos and two other AL clubs:
- Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will serve a six-game suspension stemming from his role in a brawl with the Yankees on Aug. 24, while reliever Alex Wilson will sit three games and manager Brad Ausmus will be barred from one, per an announcement from Detroit. Major League Baseball originally handed down seven-, four- and one-game bans to Cabrera, Wilson and Ausmus, respectively, before the appeals process. Their suspensions began Saturday against Cleveland, with bench coach Gene Lamont stepping in for Ausmus.
- As of Friday, settlement discussions between MLB and the players’ union regarding suspensions for Yankees catchers Gary Sanchez and Austin Romine were still ongoing, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. A decision is unlikely to come before Monday, per Rosenthal, who adds that the two backstops won’t serve their penalties simultaneously. Before Sanchez and Romine appealed, the former received the larger ban (four games to two).
- Angels right-hander J.C. Ramirez will miss the rest of the season because of an elbow strain, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports (Twitter link). The Halos placed Ramirez on the 60-day disabled list on Friday, which didn’t come as a surprise given that he received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier this week and looked unlikely to return at the time. Fortunately for both team and player, general manager Billy Eppler announced that the Angels haven’t found any new structural damage in Ramirez’s elbow. The 29-year-old turned in a respectable season before the injury, tossing 147 1/3 innings of 4.15 ERA ball and recording 6.41 K/9 against 2.99 BB/9, to go with a 51.4 percent groundball rate.
Jc is a righty
Torre doing right by the Yankees in their biggest series of the year.
The Alex Wilson suspension is absurd. He his honesty cost him 4 games and Ausmus 1. It paid to be dishonest apparently.
Meanwhile Betances hit McCann in the head at 97MPH, but no suspension. He hit only one other Righty in his career…. so spare me the “he didn’t mean it” line.
didn’t he punch 2 guys straight in the head when they were on the ground defenseless too?
That was Yankees golden boy catcher, Sanchez.
Don’t be jealous
Think he’s just pointing out the pedestal he seems to be on, probably unrightfully based on the unwarranted punching of others who can’t defend themselves.
Didn’t the happen betence HBP happen on an 0-2 or 1-2 count? That’s usually a pretty good indication it wasn’t intentional
I believe it means he intentionally threw at his head but expected him to duck out of the way, the way Cabrera did, twice, in his last at bat in the July series.
There is ZERO doubt that it was intentional. This is not a wild pitcher. ONE hit RH batter in his entire career.
Maybe Fulmer shouldn’t have hit him then…
Cut the crap- Betances didn’t intentionally hit loser McCann.
Of course he did it on purpose.
You expect me to believe he hit one RH batter HIS ENTIRE CAREER… then by completely co-incidence, hit McCann on the head at 97MPH?
He’s hit 9 batters this year and 18 in his career. I sincerely doubt all of them but McCann are left handed.
McCann is not a loser, I respect him. He also did the best thing you can do after getting plunked, he homered…
I notice you leave out fulmer who started the whole thing…noob
How on earth Senor Sucker Punch only got 4 games to begin with is beyond me. And he appealed it? He should be kissing MLB’s a$$, and keeping his mouth shut. But he’s an entitled Yankee, so no amount of preferential treatment is enough. They should say “You’re right, we totally blew it the first time. You’re suspended 10 games!” But they won’t, for the same reason they didn’t in the first place. And they’ll probably cave & lower it some more. MLBPA has to zealously advocate for it’s guys, even when guys like Sanchez deserve all they got & more, but what is MLB’s excuse?
Boo freakin hoo
If Sanchez, Judge (who threw some punches), and Betances were playing for ANY of the other MLB teams for that fight you better believe that they would all be suspended and fined. Yankees getting preferred treatment at the time they are fighting for a playoffs spot. Had they been sub .500 and out of contention maybe the outcome would be different.
Become a yankee lol
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts
You forgot the Red Sox also get preferred treatment.
That would be mentioned if this article had to do with the Sox.
Angry tigers fan, huh?
Not angry. I would be angry if it didn’t make sense but it does make sense. It’s ok because Yanks aren’t going to the World Series this year.
As a Yankees fan they should just give Romine’s two games to Sanchez and make it 6 for Sanchez and 0 for Romine. I’m not exactly sure why Romine got suspended or what he’s supposed to do differently? Not fight back? It’s silly.
Romine hit Cabrera 7 times when he was on the ground, can’t call that self defense. Romine should have 4 games and Sanchez should have 12. Cheap shots are cowardly fighting. But that’s the Yankees fight how ya play.
These suspension lengths are actually pretty consistent with past suspensions for other players on other teams. In the past 5 years, brawls usually resulted in suspensions between 1 and 4 games.
Only 2 position players* since 2012 have received longer suspensions for fighting: Rougned Odor (8, reduced to 7) and Carlos Quentin (8). Both were for being the INSTIGATOR, and throwing a solid punch to *incite* a brawl– which is treated differently than fighting *during* a brawl.
Odor punched Bautista in the face after sliding into a base. Quentin charged the mound in the brawl that broke Grienke’s collar bone. Basically, longer suspensions are to hopefully make a player think twice before throwing a first punch.
With this in mind, the instigator of this brawl, Miguel Cabrera, received 6 game (he did not throw a punch, but shoved Romine, so received less than the 8 handed out to the aforementioned players).
Romine, for his part in excessive punching AFTER the brawl began, received 2 games. Sanchez, for throwing punches unprovoked, but not an instigator, received 4. I don’t see much pro-Yankee bias, though I understand the complaints about Betances not being suspended.**
On the contrary, you asking for 12 games for Sanchez shows your anti-Yankee bias (if your subsequent comment about them didn’t show you to be). In fact, the Yankees were handed out more fines and suspensions than any other team this season.
*pitchers tend to receive longer suspensions because they are not every day players.
**Given his typical wildness (he’s walked 37 in 51 innings and hit 8 other batters) it’s VERY hard to PROVE intent. Remember, this is more like a court of law, the case can’t be based on a hunch or a “feeling.”
You must be smoking some crazy type of weed, Go Rockies.
If Romine never takes off the mask while in Cabrera’s face, maybe the fight doesn’t occur.
So taking off your mask means, “let’s brawl”? Clearly not because Cabrera was the only one who squared up and started swinging (while missing).
Cabrera started it and got the worst of it. Suspensions were fair for each player.
All these angry tigers fans and Yankee haters–get with the program. Had Miggy not provoked anything nothing would have happened. Given that he has slowed down so much in the field and the plate it makes sense that he was trying to anticipate more.
However let’s put your pride aside.
Your team has been broken up–two seasons later than it should have. So look patiently towards 2020 for a decent team if they do the right things. I empathize with you as your owners let Trader Dave empty the farm system.
Angry Yanks fan, huh?
Taking off your mask may be perceived as an aggressive action, but it is not a physical contact action. Let’s not forget that Sanchez was the first one hit in the game (possibly intentionally considering he had just hit a home run off Fulmer).
Many viewed the HBP as “bush league” Ala the Armando Benitez/Tino Martinez incident (though it’s impossible to prove intent). But Sanchez (the Yanks best hitter) did not charge the mound, he took his base and the Yankees retaliated as the unwritten rules state, by throwing inside/hitting the Tigers’ best hitter, Miguel Cabrera.
If he had been a man about it, Miggy should have known it was coming, shrugged it off, and it could have all ended there.
Fight anywhere else but a sports field and you go to jail. These overgrown children should be glad that they only have to miss a few days of work.
But, it’s not “anywhere else,” I was a heated exchange on a baseball field that got carried away. It happens.
I think his point is, if this happened with two groups of regular folk, in a public park, even in a baseball game, there’d be charges filed and arrests made.
I think, to be honest, I sometimes wonder if they should institute such provisions in the next CBA– that any punches thrown or aggressive physical contact made will be treated as assault, and misdemeanor charges filed.
I’m sure it’s not that simple, but I often ask myself if that would put an end brawls.
I definitely thought Sanchez would get the biggest suspension–seems peculiar to me that he doesn’t.
Miggy got more days because his waist is above the MLB limit for old and over the hill players. Plus it was his anger due to such a poor season that triggered the whole thing.
Very VERY rarely does the highest suspension NOT go to the person who incited the brawl.
Might not be the worst thing for Upton to just stay and ride out the rest of the contract with the Angels. He could put up some gaudy numbers in a full season batting behind the best player in the universe.
The Angels should be hoping and praying for that as well, that turns into arguably one of the best outfields in the game offensively with Trout, Upton and Calhoun going into 18′
Idk if I’d go as far as one of the best. It makes them better. But I wouldn’t put that group infront of the Sox, Dodgers, Yanks, Astros, Cubs, (when healthy) Mets, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Nationals. I think other then Trout, I’d take those outfield groups over the Angels. I mean Trout is the best player in baseball. Even with him that’s still not top 10
Bull. Angels outfield is upper top five, and when you consider defense, they’re way above the Dodgers.
10.5 WAR from their starting three if Upton were there from the beginning. 9 WAR from current Dodgers OF. Nationals… 6.8 WAR from Harper, Werth, Taylor, Kendrick, and De Aza. Need I go on? Angels got their next Torii Hunter but with added big time power…
If I didn’t already watch an inordinate amount of MLB Network and see him all day, Ken Rosenthal is the one guy who’d get me to consider paying for a subscription site.
1. I think if Upton can beat his $88.5 remaining, even if there’s a lower AAV, then he should. This is his last guaranteed shot at receiving a nine-figure deal. If push comes to shove, I think he could find a Cespedes-like deal (3 years with an opt out after one).
2. It’s comical that the Tigers players/coach have already received, appealed, and gotten reduced suspensions, while appeals to Yankee players are still ongoing with the Yankees in the middle of a playoff race. Whether you agree or disagree with that, it’s blatantly obvious the MLB would benefit finically from having the Bronx Bombers in the playoffs.
I’m puzzled by the inference that Yankee suspensions later are somehow better for them than Yankee suspensions now. Lost games in a playoff race are still lost games.
When you lose to a team you’re chasing it affects two teams. You fall one game behind. If you lose to a non contender it only affects your team. You fall a half game behind.the team you’re chasing.
A lose is a loss, but who wins matters.
Ok, but the Yankees play 7 against the Orioles, 3 against Tampa over the next two weeks..
True
It probably has to do with both of their catchers getting suspensions
Well, this article was catnip for the family of non-Yankee fans. I’m not going to defend the Yankees or the penalties handed out. But I will say that the problem comes from baseball’s so called unwritten rules. None of this would have happened if Fulmer hadn’t hit Sanchez after Sanchez went deep against him (and had spent the previous couple of days strafing Tiger pitching. .Those people who complained about Betances’ pitch—I get it, but 3 Yankees were hit. This is where the umpires absolutely have to take firmer control. Betances and Wilson were ejected, but Fulmer and Robertson weren’t. Too many hotheads, too few competent umpires.
.
Fulmer has known nerve issues that affect the feelings in his hand. He is even missing two starts and getting a check up.
I think the Yankees were expecting retaliation after the last series. .A hot Mahtook got hit twice, the second time in the head. Fulmer “accidentally” hit Ellsbury in the butt. Betances then threw two at Cabrera’s head in his last at bat.
The Yankees feared the worst and overreacted to a situation that looked suspicious.
Not sure why the two catchers for the Yanks won’t serve their suspensions concurrently. Doesn’t matter if they play the same position, that should be part of the punishment.
Yeah this is pretty blatant preferential treatment. The punishment should not be tailor made to suit a teams needs.
Another starter gone for the Angels!?!?!?
Heaney and Skaggs (back last week), Richards (only up to 30 pitches in rehab). Tropeano, Shoemaker, Meyers and now Ramirez gone for season.
Bullpen not much better losing 3 closers ( Bedrosian back now but not in sync yet)
Trout, Escobar and Maybin (now with Houston) gone for months with Escobar probably for year.
No team comes close to this devastation and yet they’re in the race for WC.
EPPLER…gm of the year.
Scioscia….manager of the year.
Hope Upton stays with Angels! Isn’t he tired of moving around! How much money do you really need? If the Angels can get some decent pitching next year, they can be a really good team!
Upton would be dumb to opt out of his contract, He’s having a great year but imagine him hitting behind trout for a full season. If they add another pitcher , they will be dangerous.
Unfortunately, the Angels lack pitching, healthy pitching. It’s not just been one uncommon year. They now have a history.
since 2014 , the angels have not had a healthy rotation. The rotation has the potential to be good but injuries. the depth is there but the health. If Upton enjoys hitting in front of trout, then I think he will stay, Also if they add another pitcher or bullpen help , That is a dangerous team.
5th in the AL ERA. 4th in bullpen ERA. The AL, especially the west, is lucky the Angels have had so many starting pitching injuries. Because imagine if they were healthy; they could allocate the money they’re paying Nolasco towards a bat that can help them, AND THEN pile the acquisitions Upton and Phillips on top of that. Astros have done an excellent job rebuilding, but their wide open window in their division has a lot of luck attached to it. The Angels are the team in the AL West that everyone has to look out for because they have the most money to spend in that division.
So Sanchez gets drilled for hitting home runs and he’s not allowed to join in and get a few licks in when his fellow catcher is then attacked? Not his fault that Cabrera was on the ground. When you’re angry, you’re not going to wait for him to stand up. Btw, I wonder if Cabrera got into the same fighter’s stance when he fought his wife…
I don’t have a problem with the Miggy suspension.
I have a big problem with Betances getting ZERO games for being dishonest and throwing at McCann’s head at 97MPH. Meanwhile Alex Wilson gets 5 games (reduced to 4) for throwing at the thigh and being honest about it.
Perez’s actions are very clear. He took multiple cheap shots. Likely Judge did too.
But they are Golden Boys on the Yankees and so they got special treatment.
Sorry.. I meant Sanchez, not Perez.
Because Betances’ was not intentional and you truly are an idiot if you think
otherwise. His BB/9 this year is over 6 and he has hit 9 batters this year in just 52 innings.
Gary Sanchez deserves the same suspension as Cabrera.
Upton “may” opt out, but at 29, I don’t believe he will find “greener pastures”. His age and other issues may not be in his best interest. I think Upton would do himself a great favor and stay with the Angels and keep the guaranteed money.
All this “cheap shot” talk is obnoxious. Of course Sanchez was going to attack the guy who started throwing punches at his fellow catcher – on the ground or not.. For all the MLB fans out there who saw it and thought his actions were disgraceful – let me ask you – if you saw your friend get into a fight at the bar and a brawl breaks out – do you look for that guys friends to fight – or do you run up to the guy who hit your friend first?