Eugenio Suarez is “open for everything” in terms of discussing an extension with the Reds, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. Suarez will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, though he’s still focused on the season and not on the numbers. “I don’t think about how much I want. I just want to sign with this team. I don’t want hesitation or arbitration,” Suarez said. The third baseman is in line for a very nice payday in the wake of a breakout season that saw him hit .265/.374/.476 with a career-best 26 home runs. As Sheldon notes, the Reds just signed Tucker Barnhart (another player about to enter arbitration eligibility) to a long-term deal, and Suarez certainly makes sense as an extension candidate this winter. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd recently opined that Suarez’s future with the team could be at shortstop, should Zack Cozart leave in free agency and third base prospect Nick Senzel forces his way into the big league lineup in 2018.
Here are some notes from around the big leagues…
- Welington Castillo is concentrating on playing and tells Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun that he has yet to consider the player option decision facing him after the season. The catcher did say, however, that he enjoys playing in Baltimore and wants to remain with the Orioles. Castillo controls his own fate in the form of his $7MM option for 2018, though given his impressive numbers this year, he is likely to find a much richer long-term deal by testing the free agent market. From the perspective of Orioles executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette, the team would be happy to have Castillo back but the O’s also have catching depth in the form of Caleb Joseph and top prospect Chance Sisco. “Either way is helpful to the club,” Duquette said.
- Steve Pearce has been shut down for the season due to a bad back, Sportsnet.ca’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reports. Pearce will receive epidural injections next week in order to hopefully solve the back soreness that has bothered him for much of the season. Pearce will conclude his first season with the Blue Jays with a .252/.319/.438 slash line and 13 homers in 348 PA, as he was limited to 92 games due to the back problem and a month-long DL stint due to a calf strain.
- Left-hander Shawn Morimando has been sent home by the Indians due to a rather unusual reason — the team simply can’t find any innings for him, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Morimando was promoted on September 1 since the Tribe wanted extra pitching on hand for a double-header, but Morimando had yet to make an appearance over three weeks into his call-up. Morimando will still receive service time and pay for the remainder of the year. The 24-year-old does have some MLB experience on his resume, appearing in two games (4 2/3 IP) for Cleveland in 2016.
Always a great idea to give a player a contract based on his age 26 career year.
Suarez is a young, improving player who hits for power and a decent average, has shown improving on-base skills, is a solid defender at third base or shortstop and is a good presence in the clubhouse. Why wouldn’t the Reds want to extend him?
This is the gamble with extensions. If he has another year next season like he did this year then there is zero reason for him to sign an extension with the Reds as he’ll be 1 year closer to free agency. Gamble now and hope he’s that hitter or don’t gamble and likely have to trade him because he’s going to end up signing for big money with a huge market team.
You’re right. Cincinnati is in a good position with Nick Senzel coming up. If Suarez stays at third, Senzel can play second. If Suarez moves to shortstop or is traded, Senzel plays third. Scooter Gennett still can get plenty of bats as a utility player capable of playing second, third or left field if he’s not the starting second baseman. That possibly leaves Jose Peraza at shortstop and we’ll have to see about that.
Since for most players their age 26 season is not their best season, it is a great idea for the Reds to bank on continued improvement (or at least consistent performance with no significant regression over the next several years).
How could there not be one blowout that you could put a guy in for one inning?
They did win 22 straight games dude
Ya but they might still be up 7 runs in one of those games. I’m sure they could trust him with that big of a lead
They were trying to find a way to get Danny Salazar into those games. They are trying to get him right before the playoffs. Shawn did not have a chance because Salazar is a higher priority.
So, they are still going to pay him his MLB salary and he will get MLB service time…and unless there is a corresponding move not mentioned, they don’t need the roster spot.
Which means that they literally decided he wasn’t worth meal money and the cost of a hotel room on the road.
Or it wasn’t worth having him in the way of the players that contributed all season and will continue to do so in the playoffs. While every team can call up players when the rosters go to 40, not everybody calls up a lot of players . They recalled him and then decided he wasn’t needed; no different than if they never called him up to begin with, so this is really a non-story.
PS: the road trip is over when they check out of the hotel in the AM, so they aren’t really saving the cost of a room.
So really what was the point of sending him home? The guy could at least live his dream and be along for the ride. One seat in the bullpen or clubhouse isn’t getting in the way of others
Even if he never comes close to pitching in a game, it seems they see ZERO benefit to him working with the pitching coaches or watching the other pitchers…?
Not a good sign for him.
Something tells me that there’s more to this story. On the surface, we all agree that it makes no sense. So there’s a sensical explanation that we are not getting. That’s fine, I’m not waiting on the backstory of the last guy on the Indians roster – they’ve got much more interesting stories right now.
I can’t read minds but he could prefer to stay home with his wife and kids and work towards next year rather than just sit around with the Indians
There was actually no point in keeping Morimando around. To prove it, here’s a list of every pitcher who’s above him.
Starters: Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger, Tomlin, Merritt.
Relievers: Miller, Allen, Shaw, Goody, Olson, Smith, Otero, McAllister, Salazar, Breslow, Armstrong, Crockett, AND THEN Morimando.
Just out of curiosity which 12 or 13 should make the cut for the postseason? Should one of the starters be kept as a long reliever?
Experience. There’s one point to keep him around. Experience with a good chance of success. Something he can learn and pass on to minor league teammates if he sticks with the organization.