White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu shed over ten pounds already this offseason, James Fegan of The Athletic writes. The weight loss comes thanks in part to a diet with a lot more fish and white meat. But aside from eating healthier, the Cuban native has another, more surprising goal: to steal more bases. Abreu said he’ll be asking for the green light from manager Rick Renteria more often. “Just because I think I can do it,” he added. “I really believe I can do it and I like the challenge. I like to challenge myself and I think that’s a good challenge for me and I’m ready for it.” Renteria laughed a bit at the idea, but he did say that if Abreu ends up being able to take a base, “that would be awesome.” However, the skipper suggested that he’s more concerned about making sure his first baseman can swing the bat and catch a ball first. A full read of the piece provides some insight not only into the plans of Abreu and Renteria headed into 2018, but into their personalities as well.
More notes about American League’s midwestern teams…
- Indians manager Terry Francona held his individual meetings with position players on Sunday morning, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. One of those meetings was with Jason Kipnis, who’s faced a lot of uncertainty this offseason as to what position he’ll play in 2018 and which team he’ll be playing it for. Kipnis apparently told Francona he’d do whatever he was told to do, but Francona felt it was better for the two to make the decision together. “Because of who he is and what he’s accomplished, and what he can accomplish, I think it’s better if we do it together.” Francona said. “Asking somebody to do something they don’t think they can do isn’t going to help us.” It was reported earlier this offseason that the Tribe planned to move Kipnis back to second base, and Francona confirmed those intentions on Sunday by telling reporters that “he’s a second baseman… the idea is for him to play second.”
- In line with reports from earlier today, it seems as though the Royals are prepared to move on from Mike Moustakas. Jeffrey Flannagan of MLB.com shares some eye opening notes from an impromptu news conference with GM Dayton Moore this afternoon, including a quote about third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert. “We like [Cuthbert] a great deal,” Moore said. “We feel it’s his time to become a consistently producing player. We also have Hunter Dozier, who can play third and corner outfield, and first base — he has some versatility.” Moore also expressed a desire to build the club’s farm system back to what it was in 2010-2011, also noting that “That period of time [of high payrolls], that phase of who we are, is over.” All of these points cast extreme doubt on any chance of Moose coming back to Kansas City.
- Twins slugger Miguel Sano appears healthy, as Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports that he’s working out in the Dominican Republic and “doing all baseball activities.” He’ll reportedly be eased into games, however, and there’s one more unresolved item that could affect Sano’s ability to take the field: he has yet to be interviewed by MLB about his alleged sexual assault of a photographer. Sano has vehemently denied the accusations, and there’s been little in the way of public updates on the situation. Still, there could yet be ramifications depending on the findings from a potential interview or investigation.
Moose signing with NYY for one year $17MM becomes more real and real by the day lol
Sucks he’s not part of MLB’s 2018-2019 free-agent bonanza.
Seems Moose has the most to lose…—
Why? Sign him for a year and give up a draft piece? Ain’t worth it
If Moose improves a playoff contending Team that 2nd round pick that’s 4 years away from maybe helping your team shouldn’t deter you.
College players drafted can advance a lot quicker then that…
Not 100% sure of the new rules but I believe if he signs for less than 50 million there is no compensation.
It just isn’t a first round pick if under 50
Is it a 2nd rounder? Or “2nd highest pick” you have?
Some team who isn’t competing will sign him lol. Almost exactly how SD overpaid for Hos
Padres were hot on Hosmer’s trail throughout as BoSox are on JD.
Who’s after Moose?
No one
Moose would have had plenty on him but in reality he shouldn’t have gotten a qo
If the Yanquis were looking to spend that kind of money on 3B they could have purchased two years of Todd Frazier for the same price. Gotta assume they expect to fill their IF vacancies from within, xabial.
Thank you majorflaw..not only that they were comfortable with the Todd Father…
No chance!
Makes no sense at all for the Yankees. Blows the CBT, gives up a draft pick,. And, he’s not all that good.,
That’s about twice as much as a player like Moustakas should make. I’m not a Yankee fan but I still don’t like seeing teams bid against themselves for very limited players.
For that to happen, the Yanks would have to clear payroll space to keep Moose under their stated goal of low to mid 180s.
They’re currently sitting $16-22M under the Luxury tax.
Without Ellsbury miracle trade, most reports have NYY sitting with $15M budget to work with this offseason.
They want that for what may happen
Yes, you’re well-informed. It means no space for deadline deals.
So assuming Moose is even is willing to accept a one-year deal. Would you throw away that flexibility to pursue another potential piece, at the deadline?
The what if for injury and bringing someone up
I read about cash talking about it
I say go for it. They say his LH power stroke translates to 40+ HR in NYY— Would be a steal —If you get that at any one-year deal.
xabial you’re the guy that went on and on about letting the kids play the last couple of days. You even brought up your faith in Andujar despite his few at bats quoting his stat line. So what’s the deal?
That article was about Machado not Moose?
Machado would cost too many resources, from trading the farm or ~$400M if signed outright.
Moose wouldn’t cost the farm (he’s an FA) and unlike Machado, would take one year deal
I brought up Miguel because I believe in using him 10/10 times if given choice to trade/sign Machado.
But if Moose’s price depreciates far enough, how could you not consider it?
Seems the biggest deterrence here, is the new draft pick rules have Yankees losing their 2nd highest and fifth highest draft pick for signing FA rejected QO.
Moose was nowhere mentioned in this article. Just Machado. I’m a big believer in Miguel, but If the price is right— Go get Moose.
mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/al-notes-machado-yanks-…
15mil under
Cots has them at $20,777,900 under
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRghSG2xRO…
Seems like there’s some kind of diet trend sweeping the major leagues this off season. The most popular ones I’ve heard about seem to be vegan inspired. Interestingly enough, it appears that when players in past years have altered to more healthier diets in the off season they come back the following year and a lot of times put up career numbers. Before we know it the vegan style diets will be clauses in these big multi million dollar contracts.
His diet isn’t vegan-style, the post actually says he is consuming *more* meat (white meat.)
Which is a problem because we have no way of knowing what that means here as it’s a nebulous phrase. Is he eating more white meat chicken, more fish, pork, or what? The post doesn’t say and the link leads to a paragraph instead of an article.
And when it says besides eating healthier his goal is to steal more bases, can someone confirm that’s what he actually says in the article. Like goal one is to eat healthier, goal two is to steal more. The eating healthy generally would be a means to accomplish goals, like maybe goal one is to be healthier, goal two is to steal more bases, the way I plan to achieve these goals is by having a better diet eating healthier.
The writing on here has been nosediving.
It does say that he’s eating more fish
Also pork isn’t white meat
Pork. The other white meat.
Did you even read the article? Cause it sure doesn’t look like it.
kudos to Jose though for being inspired by his 13 million dollar a year salary to lose an entire 10 pounds to help him perform this year.
at least he didnt say he was in the best shape of his life.
Except he’s already produced every year he’s been in the league.
Vegan style diet helped Prince Fielder Jr. And I had no idea fish and white meat were vegan. Sell your no meat agenda somewhere else.
I didn’t say his diet is vegan…..I said the vegan style diet is the most popular one I’ve heard of this year…..good job guys.
FriendOfBoras…..Is that the same vegan diet you cited all of the times you trolled that Lincecum was throwing at 98…even after the reports were 90-92? I must admit you aren’t the average troll.
But nobody has taken the “vegan-inspired” diet though.
Nope the Vegan Diet is another unemployed borass client looking for a job
No way royals resign moose, and they shouldn’t. The market for him is insanely thin and i would guess a one year deal with the braves but boras always surprises us.
“However, the skipper suggested that he’s more concerned about making sure his first baseman can swing the bat and catch a ball first.”
This makes it sound like Renteria thinks Jose Abreu is either severely injured or absolutely horrible at baseball.
or he’d like him not to get injured trying to steal bases.
He’s referring to him getting back in the swing of things, it’s spring training
If DM was smart, he would have at least traded Moose, Cain and Vargas at the deadline to replenish the farm. They were hovering around .500 and had no shot of reaching the World Series, let alone winning it. His negligence in wanting to give the fans one more ride with that group set them back even further.
If someone gives Moose a 50 million+ contract Royols will have 5 of the first 40 picks this year.
Not sure they could of got better talent by trading them before deadine.
Moose isn’t getting a 50 mil contract though.
On July 31, the Royals had the second WC spot with a 55% chance of making the postseason according to Fangraphs’ odds. They wouldn’t have been the favorite to win the World Series, of course, but if you get into the baseball postseason, you can win without being the most talented team (see 2014-15 Royals). Toss in that rentals weren’t getting any return last July, and there’s no way they would’ve considered tearing it down (nor should they have). It’s only in hindsight that it looks like a mistake
They had zero shot. I don’t care how many games back they were or what wildcard they had. They weren’t beating the Astros or the Yankees/Red Sox. It’s not hindsight, it’s common sense. Stop making excuses for a poor decision to let pride get in the way of good business.
Well, if it means Kipnis avoids the outfield……..good! Now, make Yandy Diaz the utility guy. He can cover 3B, 2B, and corner OF, while occasionally DHing.
Detroit is in the Central.
Moose 1/12m to the Yanks
JD 5/110m to the Sox
Yankees should pass on Moustinkas and keep their powder dry. They should save the draft pick and go into the season w/ a little payroll flexibility in case of injury or a needed deadline move.
I’m not sure why anybody would want Moustakas at more than a 2 year deal or over $25M total. Moustakas has 12 career fWAR in 7 years. He’s probably a 2 WAR guy in any given season, at best, with an equal chance at being AAA replacement level.
His BABIP is super low because he makes a ton of awful to mediocre contact, popping the ball up more than 15% of the time and he doesn’t take walks so his OBP is very poor.
Moustakas is basically a serviceable 3B option with limited upside for a team who really needs to plug a short term hole at the hot corner. With ANY decline, Moustakas becomes an unwanted player taking up space on the 40 man.
Seeing how he has already had 3 seasons over 2 fWAR (2 of them in the mid to upper 3’s), I think he’s pretty clearly better than 2 WAR “at best.” That being said, as a Sox fan, I really hope he goes back to KC on a massive contract.