The reliever market is picking up steam, here are the latest updates…
- The Nationals are one of the suitors for Wade Davis, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (via Twitter), though the team isn’t close to signing any relievers. D.C. hadn’t thought to have been looking for any major bullpen upgrades this winter after the team landed Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson last summer, though the combination of Davis with those two relievers would make for a formidable end-game trio. Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post hears that the Nats haven’t yet officially started to go afte Davis, though several representatives for free agent relievers feel Davis is one of Washington’s top offseason targets.
- In another tweet from Janes, she reports that the Nationals weren’t in on Bryan Shaw, who agreed to a three-deal with the Rockies tonight.
- Fernando Rodney’s name has been increasingly mentioned in recent days, with the Mets and Tigers the latest teams to express interest in the veteran reliever, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets. New York and Detroit join the previously-reported Twins, Diamondbacks and Rangers as candidates for Rodney’s services. Rodney posted solid numbers as Arizona’s closer last season, and likely wouldn’t require a multi-year commitment given that he turns 41 in March. Detroit could install him at closer with Shane Greene moving back to a setup role, and Rodney could also become a trade chip for the rebuilding Tigers at the deadline. Rodney might not close with the Mets, but he would further augment a back-of-the-pen mix that includes Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos and Jerry Blevins.
- Speaking of Mets relief targets, the team is still in on Addison Reed, Newsday’s Marc Carig tweets.
- The Orioles are receiving lots of calls on Mychal Givens, Dan Duquette tells Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun and other reporters. The hard-throwing Givens has posted strong numbers in his first three big league seasons and is still a year away from arbitration eligibility, so it isn’t any surprise that he is a popular target. Of course, he also has great value to an O’s team that likely prefers to unload costlier relievers like Zach Britton or Brad Brach if they do choose to make a bullpen trade.
- Francisco Rodriguez is hoping to keep pitching for his 17th big league season, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman writes. After years as an effective closer, K-Rod suffered through a disastrous 2017 campaign that saw him post a 7.82 ERA over 25 1/3 IP for the Tigers. He pitched in the Nationals’ farm system on a minor league deal before being released last July.
The Nats are suitors for Wade Davis but they haven’t even talked to him? Seems like an odd way to go about it..
It’s like when you have a huge crush on a girl but you can’t bring yourself to talk to her because you’re hoping she picks up on it herself
Maybe he reads about it here
Please don’t bring Rodney back to Detroit. He’ll implode as bad as Papa Grande, Nathan, FRod and all the rest of the washed out closers we’ve had in the past 10 years
Really, … we are talking the Rodzilla. 41 years old. Dilly, dilly.
Easy, it’s just a rumor, and makes no sense.
Tigers aren’t going to compete. no risk in bringing him in, and if he’s good. he’s a trade chip
I think at least some consideration for the people who ultimately finance the operation is more important than than the unlikely event that Rodney will bring a significant return next July.
Well Jay, using the hackneyed logic of “if their good, flip them for prospects next July”, there’s your 6-7-8 and closer for 2018. Get your season tickets now!
Hang it up Fernando, you’ve had a great career. Man that 2012 season was awesome. Hopefully you still have most of that 40 mil you made in your career.
Why do they keep linking the Orioles to trading the only guys they will keep? Givens isn’t being traded, He has 4 years of team control. Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and DJ Stewart are not being traded. Those guys are the future of the team.
Britton, Brach, Jones, and Machado should all be traded. Trumbo too if Duke can get it done. Nobody will take Davis so that is a sunk cost.
Time to get started on a rebuild.
I doubt hays Mullins and Stewart are all going to be in our outfield. I could easily see one of them Stewart or Mullins getting dealt. Davis has first locked up long term so you’d imagine Trey Mancini is going to stick in left. Doesn’t make sense to deal stew or Mullins unless we go after a pitcher with some control and I don’t think either one of them is bringing that back.