Later today, the Yankees will announce the hire of Phil Nevin as their third base coach, Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reports. Nightengale also mentioned an additional fun fact: Nevin and new Yankees manager Aaron Boone were high school teammates. Nevin was a lifetime .270/.343/.472 hitter across 4,703 plate appearances spanning twelve major league seasons. The former number one overall draft pick played with seven different major league teams during his career, but spent most of his time with the Tigers and Padres. Nevin was considered to be a strong candidate for the Tigers’ managerial opening before the club selected Ron Gardenhire to be their next skipper. Instead, he’ll become the latest member of rookie manager Boone’s coaching staff.
Other items from around the American League’s Eastern division…
- Any path back to contention for the Orioles in 2018 must begin with a retooling of a rotation that posted baseball’s highest ERA, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun opines. At present, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy are the only locks in the rotation, and although the Orioles have been in the mix for some pitchers so far, they haven’t signed anyone yet. While it has already been mentioned that the Orioles were in on Tyler Chatwood before he signed with the Cubs, Encina reports that Baltimore was also in on Miles Mikolas, who ultimately ended up choosing the Cardinals. He quotes Dan Duquette saying that retooling the rotation this offseason will be a “bigger challenge” than in previous years, in part due to “significant demand” for pitchers in the free agent class. The Orioles’ rotation posted a 5.70 ERA in 2017.
- Despite the aforementioned need for rotation improvements, the Orioles did not make a presentation to Shohei Ohtani. Duquette’s reasoning (explained in a segment on MLB Network Radio) was that the Orioles “philosophically don’t participate on the posting part of it.” While the Orioles are known for not utilizing their international bonus pool money, one would think that Ohtani would have presented somewhat of an exception to Baltimore’s “philosophy,” particularly considering his upside and the fact that he’s now ranked as the number one prospect in all of baseball. Of course, Ohtani eliminated all east coast teams before he even scheduled any in-person meetings, so this is largely a moot point.
- Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald lists five ways the Red Sox can “get down to business” now that the offseason’s two biggest holdups (Giancarlo Stanton and Ohtani) have found their new destinations. While he details Boston’s obvious need for a power bat his more interesting suggestion is that the Sox ought to pony up for a utility man who can be a legitimate hitter. If the team can’t re-sign Eduardo Nunez, Mastrodonato postulates, they ought to turn to the trade market for such an asset.
Orioles fans,
Im sorry your team’s front office is so incompetent. How any team, let alone one with rotation questions, doesn’t even make a presentation for Ohtani.
The O’s seem like they’re gonna need to bolster the rotation via trade or wait until March when players are scrambling for a team. It was also reported Fiers declined their offer.
If they really insist on not rebuilding, they should target Miami as a means to acquire rotation depth. Conley, Nicolino, Despaigne and O’Grady would be cheap, Chen is at least familiar with the environment, and if they really busted out the wallets and got straily itd be an obvious upgrade.
Btw- MLBTR- loving this around the clock posting thing. As a horrible insomniac this makes my nights considerably more interesting.
I also am enjoying the late posts, I really hope it continues past the offseason. Although there probably just isn’t enough to post at night during the season.
I think it’s specific to the Winter Meetings. There’s really nothing happening at like 3:00 a.m. on most days of the year, so paying a writer to work overnight all the time is probably not in the future plans
I read that 3 teams did not make a presentation. I wonder who the other 2 are.
Miami and Atlanta
Thanks. Atlanta makes sense, what with their recent issues.
Where did you see the Braves didn’t?
I just want to clarify. When I say Front Office I mean Angelos. The buck always stops with him.
It isn’t the front office. Duke is competent and he has tried to leave but the source of the problem blocked him from taking a better job.
If you haven’t guessed, that problem is the owner.
Trader Dave has taken Jason’s commentary to Geary and will have his new 1B, heavy duty hitter Lucas Duda ride into the Winter Meetings in a pony. David Ortiz will assist dressed in Cowboy gear. Dave will then announce that he has traded AB for Miggy straight up.
What?
Don’t even listen to this idiot he is the biggest clown in this site and brings absolutely zero to the conversation. Best to just to ignore the clown and let him post his ridiculous nonsense.
This is correct
But ohtani isn’t a rookie though… he’s still a professional
Technically, he is to The MLB. It’s like Hideo Nomo.
Philosophically, we don’t believe in trying to get the best player from another country to add to our baseball team.
Bold strategy Cotton, let’s see how it plays out
I think the Red Sox would find more value in Harrison. When Dustin is out the first 2-months of the year due to the rehab, Harrison could slip in at second and then shift into a super utility role for the rest of the season.
That’s an interesting proposal, I still think Nunez might be the better option long-term
I don’t think the O’s front office is completely at fault. Follow the money and you’ll find the worst owner in sports. He is the reason they don’t spend on international players.
I think this has to be on Duquette. It would be really brutal if Angelos refused to lay out $4M or so per year for international signees. That’s negligible to MLB teams. Obviously, Ohtani was different with the posting fee, so that may have been an ownership thing, but I’d be surprised if he really refused to offer $400K bonuses for Venezuelan teenagers that his scouts liked. I think the FO just hates that market, as evidenced by the fact that they actually don’t really have international scouts. It’s very odd
It’s gonna be a long wait for Orioles fans. Due to “significant demand” this year, Dan D is finding it difficult to sign FA pitchers. As opposed to when? The good old days, when there was no demand for Pitching in MLB? Quit with the excuses and do your job, Dan. If you pay them, they will come.
I’m kinda curious now how many teams didn’t submit some kind of presentation for Ohtani.
marlins,rays, orioles, that’s my guess
Atlanta not the rays
Source?
The problem with The Orioles is that they have no ace. Sure Dylan Bundy has been solid, and so has Gausman at times, but they don’t have anyone that you can say is very good.
You need more than just an ace when you have the worst starters ERA in the league…
I think The Red Sox should look into Howie Kendrick. He’d be a solid hold-over until Pedroia is healthy. After Pedroia returns, they could use him as a utility guy, like he was used last year.
I could not agree more, Kendrick is a perfect fit. I’m genuinely concerned the Sox are putting far too much stock in Eduardo Nunez. Kendrick can win a batting title in the right spot, not unlike Bill Mueller. Would love to see Austin Jackson in a Sox uniform next year, too.
Is this sarcasm?
You prefer Kendrick to Nunez? That’s gross
Do you like Eduardo Nunez because you appreciate the way he plays or because you’re being told Nunez is the best option? I take Kendrick-Jackson, easy, over Nunez. Nunez had 165 ABs with the Sox last year, that’s nothing. He’s 30 years old and has 500 ABs in a season once – once. I don’t buy the public relations push for Nunez.
If this was the real vin scully you’d tell us a time when you were out on Howie’s ranch eating bbq and you couldn’t believe how good he was on the grill which makes him the perfect utility man in Boston because he was able to grill steaks corn on the cob and not burn the baked beans.
So true. Ever hear Vin tell the Madison Bumgarner story? Enjoy … youtube.com/watch?v=rJZtO_ZVM9s . I miss Vin.
The biggest thing the Sox need is for Chris Sale playoffs version to do his best imitation of Chris Sale regular season version next year.
Orioles simply need new ownership, a new front office, and a total 3 rebuild. About 3 high end prospect types to build around in the rotation and the same on offense..they’re not going anywhere til they free themselves of bad contracts and get younger.
Orioles will not spend money looking for third rated pitchers cheap ones
Anyone know anything about Phil Nevin? Will he be an asset to NY?
I know his favorite Star Trek Character is Neelix. Yuck
I know he’s a coach for the Yankees and his name is Phil nevin
“Philosophically” means the owner of the team is a raving nationalist and will only allow us to sign US players. The Orioles will continue to stink as long as Angelos is involved in the team and that includes his son.