A few notes from around the game:
- Soon-to-be free agent ace/outfielder Shohei Ohtani spoke with the Associated Press and other media on Saturday about his desire to leave Japan for the major leagues this winter. “The other day I met with team officials and stated my intentions,” Ohtani said, referring to the Nippon Ham Fighters. “My request was met with warm words of support, so I hope to do my best in America from next year on.” The 23-year-old is renowned for both his pitching and hitting skills, but he noted that he’s “not a complete player yet,” which is his “strongest reason for wanting to go now.” While Ohtani does have “a strong desire” to continue as a two-way player in the majors, he admitted that he’s unsure if it’ll be possible.
- Astros catcher Brian McCann told Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday that he’d like to end his career as a member of the Braves, with whom he thrived from 2005-13. “One hundred percent,” said the 33-year-old McCann. “One hundred percent. This is my home. I played close to 10 years here. This organization is really, really, really close to my heart. I love this organization.” McCann, a Georgia native who still lives there, will be a free agent next offseason if the Astros decline his $15MM option. Braves backstops Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki are also slated to hit the open market, which could pave the way for a McCann-Atlanta reunion in 2019 if the club’s interested in making it happen.
- The team that makes a surprise splash in free agency is most likely to be the Phillies, according to a group of executives and agents who spoke with Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. “They say they aren’t doing anything, but I have a feeling they will go after someone big,” an exec told Feinsand, who points to right-handers Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb as potential targets for the team. On paper, either would improve a Phillies rotation that ranked 19th in fWAR and 21st in ERA in 2017, when Aaron Nola was their only starter who turned in a particularly strong performance.
Im just wondering, does Otani spell his name with an h. I know its common in foreign players to have multiple spellings Raciel vs Rasiel (Iglesias) Yasmani vs Yasmany (Tomas). Im just wondering.
I think it’s always been with the H on his jerseys.
The “h” comes from translation
Based on his Japanese name (大谷 翔平), it should be Ōtani.
This. Its basically Ootani.
Common spelling
Translating from kanji to english characters is a phonetic exercise without any rules that I’ve ever heard about, so the results are bound to be somewhat arbitrary. Most Japanese-Americans with that family name seem to drop the silent letter but it’s entirely a matter of personal preference.
The link to baseball-reference shows Otani, why does MLBTR insist on adding that extra h? Stop it.
Because baseball-reference is wrong. He spells his name Ohtani.
cdn.riveraveblues.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/S…
@Justin…Should the Ham Fighters stop it too…it’s spelled Ohtani on his uniform right above the #11
Correct, but the photo I linked above shows him wearing #16. That was his Team Japan number anyway.
Sorry…I didn’t look…my bad. I was going by pictures in the Japan Times. He wears #11 with the Ham fighters because that was Yu’s number.
I envision McCann having the same roll with the Braves that David Ross had when he signed a couple of two year deals with us.
Someone “has a feeling” about the Phils?. Sounds like a news flash to me.
The Astros will trade McCann for Matt Kemp., and may a few bucks.
?
The Braves don’t need three catchers under contract. The article was referring to sometime after 2018 (if the Astros don’t pick up McCann’s option) when he becomes a free agent. There wouldn’t be the need for a trade.
Matt Kemp sure would fill the Astros opening at 1B/DH. Replacing Carlos Beltran.
Does Matt Kemp play 1B? Did Carlos Beltran?
Matt Kemp didn’t play LF until last year. How hard could 1B be? All you have to do is catch a ball.
Not sure what that was a reference to, so just believe I️ was referencing a quote and understand this post was a lame joke. Thank you
After this year sign McCann to mentor Alex Jackson.
Looking over the teams and there should def be a market for Kemp if the Braves are willing to eat some of the contract and there should be a market for Matt Adams as well. I think Markakis back to Orioles is a perfect fit. Gonna be an interesting couple months. Wonder who the GM will be.
Hope they sign Addison Reed & bring back Brandon Phillips to bridge 3rd until Riley is ready.
I agree with signing MAC to mentor the next generation of catchers and with sending Markakis the O’s. Not sure if the second one would ever happen but it does fit. No way they ditch Kemp’s contract this offseason IMO. I also think they hang on to Adams. He would get a low return and has value for them this season. Phillips would never re-sign just to play third. I hope they can bolster the bullpen but I’d prefer Tommy Hunter on a cheaper contract.
“I have a feeling they will go after someone big”
Then they name: Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb
ROFLOL!
I want the FIRST pick in the 2019 MLB draft not that garbage. Sign Sean O’Sullivan, give him $5 million and he agrees to give the Phillies 30+ starts and 20+ losses carrying an ERA above ten.
Sign a couple more like him.
Aaron Nola pitches around 100 innings and behind him are relievers paid to give up the game. Nola goes on the DL frequently or on to the 60 day DL.
13 months from today the Phillies sign Bryce Harper __and__ Manny Machado.
Sure McCann loves the Braves organization. That’s why he left for the $$$.
He loved giving money to the less fortunate and the Braves weren’t going to give enough. Am completely fine with this path and wish more players would do it instead of being drawn out and then leaving after their usefulness like Smoltz or Glavine
I think the Phils will and should go hard after Arrieta. If 4/100m is his market, I think they put together their best sales pitch to bring him to Philly. A year too early to make a $100 million splash? I don’t think so. Lock him up now and give him a chance to gel with a very young team, and go after a slugger next year when Philly will be a more attractive destination for FA hitters. Arrieta would significantly improve a rotation that relied on inexperienced pitchers all year, with Nola being the only bright spot. Lance Lynn won’t have this kind of impact.
@ raltongo….I see your point and line of thinking and can’t fault it. I also agree with certain players making Philly attractive as it has worked before. I’m just skeptical that Arrieta will be a TOR guy in 2019-21.
yes, I agree…I think the general feeling of Arietta as a TOR guy might be fading a bit, which is why it might be difficult for him to get that 5th year. Will be interesting to see how many teams are in on him for around 4 years/100mil. On many teams he woulnd’t be TOR but on the Phillies, yea, he would be right there with Nola and would add a veteran presence to the young group of arms. I’m not super excited about signing him or anything, but I do think the Phillies pursue him if his market is around 4/100.
Who was the “veteran presence”that propelled the Royals, Cubs and Astros to win the World Series?
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are veterans. You do understand that right?
@Casey………….”Who was the “veteran presence”that propelled the Royals, Cubs and Astros to win the World Series”…
for people that subscribe to the “veteran presence” theory one could argue that Ben Zobrist was that for both the Royals and the Cubs in their recent respective world series wins, and one could argue that Brian McCann/Carlos Beltran were just that for this years winners, the Houston Astros…….
Alex Bregman was far more impressive than those non-entities you named.
How old is Bregman?
Too bad for Red Sox fans they didn’t get Bregman signed when they drafted him out of high school.
If the Braves spoke openly about wanting McCann to finish his career in Atlanta, they would be penalized for tampering. So why is it that the player who is under contract to Houston can make a comment about wanting to finish his career in Atlanta and not be subject to some form of league discipline?
It’s possible he may receive a warning just as Ortiz did. The rules states “there shall be no negotiations or dealings respecting employment, either present or prospective, between any player, coach or manager and any major or minor league club other than the club with which the player is under contract, or acceptance of terms, or by which the player is reserved or which has the player on its negotiation list.”
I think the Phillies could make a splash or 2,because of Wentz and the Eagles success,and the excitement surrounding Embiid and Simmons with the 6ers.
Gotta keep up with the competition inside the market.
AA SHOULD TRADE WITH ASTROS Kemp,Wisler,Wentz AND Cumberland FOR McCann,Gustave, and M.Fiers. Then trade with Jays—-Markakis,Swanson, Ruiz,Sims, and Muller FOR Tulo,A.Sanchez,Osuna and C.Greene. Camargo is a better SS and Tulo could hold 3B forRiley 1 yr. Sign FA K.Makita(Japan) and FA J.Pablo Martinez(Cuba).
Trade Suzuki and Tarnok to Rox for M.Dunn andY.Almonte.
Braves could trade with Rays. Adams,Wisler and Teheran for Archer and Stanek. Trade with Astros. Kemp,Sims and Muller for McCann and Gustave.
Trade with Astros. Kemp for McCann. Trade with Rox. Suzuki and Muller for M.Dunn and Y.Almonte