New Diamondbacks reliever Yoshihisa Hirano, who has spent his entire pro career to date with the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball, addressed the Japanese media following his completion of the contract and spoke about his jump from NPB to MLB (English link via the Kyodo News). Hirano said that the comfort he found using a Major League ball (rather than the slightly different NPB ball) during this year’s World Baseball Classic gave him confidence that he’d be able to pitch in MLB. As he became increasingly aware of MLB scouts attending his outings in Japan, he thought more and more about making the move. “Truthfully, if I hadn’t heard that I might not have been thinking of going,” said Hirano. The 33-year-old righty would relish the opportunity to square off against new Angels star Shohei Ohtani in the batter’s box, and the D-backs and Halos do have four interleague games. The Kyodo report notes that Hirano has faced Ohtani 15 times in Japan, allowing only an infield single.
A few more notes out of the West…
- Padres GM A.J. Preller tells Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Baseball America that he’d had his eye on right-hander Bryan Mitchell for quite some time before finally acquiring him from the Yankees earlier this month. “He’s a guy who our scouting group had talked about a lot the last three years,” says Preller. “He has big fastball velocity, and he’s got a really good breaking pitch in there, too.” Preller goes on to state that the upside with Mitchell was more intriguing to the Friars than most of the free-agent market. Manager Andy Green, meanwhile, notes that the Padres feel they’ll be able to give him a more consistent role (presumably in the rotation), which could help the 26-year-old tap into his potential.
- MLB.com’s Thomas Harding answers several offseason-focused questions in his latest Rockies Inbox column. In Harding’s estimation, Greg Holland “remains the favorite” to return as the Rockies’ closer in 2018, though he notes there are other options if the Rockies are ultimately outbid. A low-cost look at Adrian Gonzalez doesn’t seem likely with Ryan McMahon on the horizon, per Harding, who also notes that the Rockies remain in contact with Mark Reynolds about a potential reunion, which could further crowd the team’s list of first base options. Harding also opines that a trade of Trevor Story is unlikely, even with Brendan Rodgers looming in the minors, and he looks at the team’s pitching staff for the ’18 season as well.
Where should A-Gon A-Go? Discuss.
Retirement.
Away
Dang I should have gone with A-Way
Yes you should have.
Far, far away
San Diego might as well keep Headley and bring back A-Gon for one more season.
Maybe they can bring back Jake Peavey for a farewell season while they’re at it.
I mean, yeah why not? We need to tank at least another season, imho, and if we can honor a few ex Padres in the meantime let’s do it. I don’t mind sentimental stuff like that in a season where were just letting our youngsters see some big league pitching.
Honestly, Japan or KBO. Only places he will get regular ABs.
Still wondering why Preller is holding onto Brad Hand yet again.
Just like we all are.
Rumor was Toronto inquired on Hand. Preller was probably hung up on when he asked for Vlad Jr. in return
The best course of action at this point is probably waiting until an injury happens to a major pen piece in spring training and going from there. With guys like Holland, Davis and Reed still on the market, nobody will pay top dollar for relief help via trade when they could just acquire the aforementioned names by just paying cash, not surrendering prospects in the process.
I see Preller waiting it out.
At this point, you’re probably right. They might hold onto Hand until closer to spring training, since most of the free agents should be signed by then. Britton’s injury helped increase Hand’s trade value, so a team that missed out on signing a reliever could eventually bite.
At this point deadline deal if he’s as good as last year would get most value for Hand
Britton was already injured, tightening up the top of the reliever market. I believe that Holland and Davis were offered a QO, so they would cost a draft pick.
Yeah, now Britton is out Hand becomes the top trade option. The pace of this offseason is why SD still has Hand. Could easily see a team nab him on Opening Day, like SD did before with another closer, Kimbrel.
The thing with Holland, Davis and Reed is, they are all right handed and they are all going to cost A LOT more money than Hand will. Any team in need of a top flight left handed reliever would be crazy not to be inquiring on Hand. Look how Andrew Miller transformed the Cleveland bullpen, “Miller Lite” could do the same for any of the would be contenders. Whether it be now or at the deadline, the Padres are going to get a haul for Hand, a team would be wise to get him in the fold sooner rather than later in my opinion.
Have you not been paying attention to what the relievers have gotten so far?! Set up and mid relief has been getting $5MM to $10MM per season! The price for bullpen help has gotten higher this off season.
Preller sucks!!!!! Pads should get rid of him and Andy Green. Maybe they could get a good prospect for them.
If I were Agon, I’d go to a hitters haven like coors.
Well, Harding just said that Colorado has no interest in signing Gonzalez, so that seems off the table. I’m not sure park should matter all that much for a player deciding where to sign regardless
If he still wants to play I think his best bet would be to try for Korea or Japan.
I don’t see why the Rockies need to
trade Story just yet. Might as well wait until Rodgers is truly ready.
I think story improves this year. It all depends on his work ethic. He has a lot of talent
dont the Rockies have an impending free agent second baseman here soon in Lemahieu? why not keep rodgers and story?
I believe so. Rockies may have to slide him over to 2B if DJ walks next year or to 3B the year after when Nolan will be a FA.
seems like they should just keep them honestly. i can see them spending big to keep arenado but dj not so much
Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson can also play 2B. McMahon is actually ready now also. Hampson is fine at SS, but he’s more likely to wind up at 2B than Brendan Rodgers.
It could be a payroll savings move eventually, since Story should do well in arbitration since he hits a lot of HRs.
The Rockies should rule out trading Story now, if they got what they needed in return, a cost controlled closer.
Pat Valaika was a pleasant surprise last year at SS. Story is a superior SS, no question, but Valaika is appears to be nearly as good overall. Even if Valaika is struggling, Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t be a stretch to call up mid season. Garrett Hampson is getting awfully close also.
Here’s a good one for y’all….A-Gon to the Rangers.
Or better yet to the Marlins
I’m not missing Mitchell. Definitely not his glove, either.
“Mitchell has really good breaking stuff too”
I laughed so hard at that
Yeah just looking at his numbers, it’s not a pretty picture. Preller and co. would have to see something in him that everyone else is just not seeing. Or maybe the lack of sleep is catching up to him.
It’s obviously a wild goose chase. His numbers are garbage so he’s going to be a pet project of Preller and Balsey. Cashner 2.0
Agon to the Yankees. With Bird’s injury history and the short RF porch in Yankee Stadium, it makes too much sense not to happen.
That’s not a bad one he can DH also
it doesn’t make sense to bring in Agon. He and Bird ate both lefties and Agon is limites to 1b or dh. With 4 OFs that deserve to play in
Judge, Stanton, Hicks and Gardner i think it makes sense to leave the dh open for those guys. the Yankees could use depth at 1b but that person would need to play another position to justify their roster spot. I want them to give Andujar a shot at 3b but if not Todd Frazier maked more sense because he can play 3b and back up Bird at 1b too.
Hard to believe there isn’t one American League team that would sign Agon for the minimum. When healthy, he could help any team. He was great for the Dodgers.
Great might be pushing it
Holland huh? Bet its Wade Davis…….