The Orioles figure to give top prospect Chance Sisco the opportunity to prove himself ready for regular MLB work next season, but Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that they’re still likely to add at least one veteran alternative on a minor league pact this winter. Caleb Joseph is in line to share the catching duties following a bounceback season, and the O’s also added 27-year-old Austin Wynns to the 40-man roster last week, though he’s yet to suit up for a big league game. Speculatively speaking, names like Jose Lobaton, Hector Sanchez and Chris Stewart could all be available on minor league deals this winter after lackluster showings in limited big league time in 2017.
Some more notes from around the AL East…
- With Logan Morrison hitting the open market, the Rays are likely to sign a first baseman this offseason, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. However, they’ll likely do so “when the music stops,” suggesting that Tampa Bay will wait out the first-base market and see which of the numerous sluggers is left without a contract later in the offseason. That’d present the Rays with numerous bargain options — a strategy that worked well last offseason when they held out and waited until Feb. 7 to re-sign Morrison on a one-year, $2.5MM deal. Eric Hosmer and Carlos Santana are the top names on the free agent market and will be considerably too expensive for the Rays’ tastes. They’re followed up by Morrison, Yonder Alonso, Lucas Duda, Mitch Moreland as well as slightly older options in Danny Valencia, Adam Lind, Mark Reynolds and Mike Napoli.
- Topkin also notes that the Rays plan to make a “serious bid” for Shohei Ohtani, hoping that their willingness to let this year’s top pick, Brendan McKay, develop as both a pitcher and a hitter in the minor leagues will show Ohtani that they’re willing to let him try his hand as a genuine two-way player. Even the $20MM posting fee would seem to be a steep price for the Rays, though most clubs seem to be approaching Ohtani as a rare acquisition opportunity, so ownership could be willing to green light that expenditure. Signing with the Rays would require Ohtani to truly be prioritizing elements other than money, as the Rays can only offer $440,500 at present (though there’s still time for them to acquire more international dollars). Beyond that, of course, the Rays obviously aren’t a team that is well-positioned to sign him to an extension down the line.
- Max Pentecost’s omission from the Blue Jays’ slate of 40-man roster additions surprised some, but Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports that troubles with the former No. 11 overall pick’s shoulder caused the Jays to leave him unprotected. Pentecost was shut down near the end of the AFL, which could make it difficult for a team to select him or to carry him for the bulk of the 2018 season. Pentecost has undergone multiple surgeries since being drafted in ’14 and has managed to play just 30 of his 171 games at catcher, spending the bulk of his time as a DH in addition to some work at first base. “We’re continuing to work hard to help Max be in the best possible physical shape and baseball shape he can be in,” said GM Ross Atkins of Pentecost.
It looks like Max Pentacost of the Blue Jays farm system needs to find another position on the field. Note that Atkins quote doesn’t really tell us anything, so why include it in the article? It seems classic of the Atkins Kool_aid of making a sound but not saying anything.
Reds should take a shot on Pentecost in the Rule 5 draft. Very intriguing upside if he can stay healthy and stick at catcher, and worst case, they just have to return him to Toronto
About to be 25 year old who hasn’t gotten past high A. If he doesn’t stick behind the plate he’s probably not much of a prospect.
Why would Otani want to play in Tampa? Team isn’t going anywhere, lack of fan support, and arguably the worst stadium in baseball. Sure they can let him play both ways but I’m sure other teams will as well.
I concur. He’s not coming to MLB and sacrificing hundreds of millions of dollars to play for a last place team. I have to imagine that he wants to play with and against the best, which means he will want to be on a team expected to contend in 2018.
I agree he won’t sign the but they aren’t a deffinit last place team if they got him
Have you been to all the stadiums?
Trop is just in a bad location off I275 in south St Pete requiring anyone 45 minutes east or North of Tampa to have to fight numerous traffic congestions. Have you ever tried driving I4 after 400pm east of mile marker 55? Congestion on I4, I75 & I4, I4 & I275 & then I275 itself going to the Trop you are looking at a 2.5 hour + drive one way (at rush hour).
If the Rays acquired more international spending more (Orioles like to trade that away), they have no state income tax, already have a 2 way prospect in the system, beaches, nice weather, amusement parks & as a initial stop to develop without much pressure those are some good pluses. The odds are not high but the Rays are not a bad option when you also consider their farm system is near the top in regards to top talent.
Mike Napoli to Tampa. Calling it now. He won’t cost much, offers solid defense at first, and still has power. He’ll be available on a one year deal, and if he negotiates an option, the buyout won’t be too expensive.
He’ll want too much from Tampa so that they won’t sign him. See it played out every year.
He is really bad though and there’s sooo many better other options for cheap out there. I’d rather just use Jake Bauers for the league minimum than a washed up Napoli who had trouble getting a job last year and then stunk all year.
If Pentecost is hurt, that might actually make him more desirable for Rule V purposes for teams that still see him as a catcher long-term. They could snag him and DL him to exhaust most, but not all, of his roster requirement time with plans of sending him to the minors in 2019
As a Jays fan, I wouldn’t be all that upset if he is chosen. He’s been passed on the depth chart by both Jansen and McGuire, and hasn’t really done a whole lot due to injuries and lack of performance. I’m a lot more concerned about somebody picking Jordan Romano from the farm.
Given the quality of catching prospects selected in recent drafts (Turner, Torrens, etc.), I’d expect somebody to take a shot on Pentecost, but yeah, it looks at this point that he probably can’t stay behind the plate, so this might be his best crcrasck at ever reaching the MLB
I’d say Danner is the Jays #1 C prospect behind Pentecost, but sure, talk him down because you’re losing him, sigh.
What has Pentecost done to be talked up ? I don’t think anyone is talking him down. Just facts pal.
Guess he didn’t need to be talked down since he wasn’t picked
Unfortunately dl time doesn’t count towards the time requirement for rule v picks. If he’s picked and dled then he would have to make up that time the following year.
Once again the Rays are delusional. Of course he can easily hit a few into the catwalks. Would’n that be worth it? That and a few thousand fans to watch it after the hysteria wears off. Wait, I forgot about those cowbells. That will cinch it.
Your FO can’t even fire the right guy so why are you baggin on the rays?
What is an FO, who is is getting fired? When was the last time Rays signed a substantial FA? Never because they have no payroll, no stadium, no fan base. Just facts.
I don’t agree with the Rays perusing Otani, but wouldn’t complain if they did and added some other needed pieces. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath as theyre trying to cut payroll. As for Napoli to the Rays, I’d like that. He’s not the top player in the market but he is solid.
Pentocost is probably a better catching prospect than Torrens and Torrens stuck in the Majors for a full season (even tho he mostly rode the pine). I don’t see Pentecost making it through the Rule 5 draft.
Pretty much every team in the Junior Circuit is out of the Ohtani race. The kid wants to hit and that ain’t gonna happen in the AL.
“The kid wants to hit and that ain’t gonna happen in the AL.”
He hits in Japan as a SP and DH, hasn’t the of since 2013 and that was only 8 games. His best chance is in the AL and I’m an NL fan who hates the DH
Funny that ya think any opposing AL team is gonna give up their DH spot that easy; read the rule book and get back to me.
Lol what? How would that not happen in the AL?
1) It’d have to be agreed upon by both teams prior to start of the game
2) It’d be for the entire game; substitutions etc…
3) It’d also limit any chance of a double switch as the DH is a “locked” position
As stated in my previous reply to yet another wannabe know it all – read the rules.
I think you read it wrong.
Read what wrong?
Now Rays stud AAA 1b is a lefty who should be up after after they gain an extra year of control so like mid May. So yes the cheapest veteran right handed bat will work. As long as my lower level 25 game package does not go up from $500 and I love it, thank you! When I lived up north I would be lucky to get 4 games for that price then have to pay for parking too!!! Baseball is fun to watch in person so I appreciate all you do to keep cost down!!!
Pentecost is the Jays 8th best prospect according to mlb.com. The Jays are so badly run it’s ridiculous, leaving your top 10 prospects open on the rule 5 draft? I’d be furious if I was a fan.