Although the Rays have picked up a pair of right-handed hitters in Carlos Gomez and C.J. Cron since last weekend, they could add another outfield-capable righty-swinger, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. One free agent who might draw their attention is Jose Bautista, who’s “keenly interested in playing for the Rays, presumably knowing it would be for a low salary,” Topkin writes. The 37-year-old Tampa Bay resident has long been a rival of the Rays, having played with the Blue Jays from 2009-17. While Bautista was a terror for opposing pitchers for the majority of that run, he’s now coming off his worst year in nearly a decade, which helps explain why he remains on the market. Bautista took 686 trips to the plate in 2017 and batted a subpar .203/.308/.366, albeit with 23 home runs.
More on Tampa Bay and two of its AL East rivals:
- The Rays have recently parted with several notable veterans, including Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr., Corey Dickerson and Jake Odorizzi, but their front office insists they’re not tanking and never have, as Topkin details in a separate piece. Rather, according to general manager Erik Neander: “This is a season, as things stand now, where on paper we’re somewhere in that middle territory yet again. But what’s been building underneath is getting awfully close to colliding with what’s a middle-of-the-pack team. And when those things come together, you’ve got a chance for something special.” And even though the Rays finished under .500 in each season from 2014-17, Neander believes there was serious progress behind the scenes. “As our teams have been kind of treading water, there’s been that wave that’s really building, really coming together, probably even better than I think we expect it,” Neander said. “It’s about there.”
- In-house issues prevented the Orioles from signing free agent infielders Ryan Flaherty and Ryan Goins during the offseason, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports. Flaherty was with the Orioles from 2012-17 and wanted to re-sign with the club, even showing a willingness to take less money than he did to join the Phillies. Philadelphia made Flaherty an offer with a three-week deadline to accept it, but he wanted to hear from the Orioles before taking it. The O’s then submitted a counteroffer, though it “didn’t get club-wide approval in time to meet the Phillies’ deadline,” Encina writes. As a result, he said yes to the Phillies’ minor league proposal. Given that Flaherty has a late-March opt-out in his deal, it’s possible he’ll hit the market again and rejoin the Orioles before the season, Encina notes. Like Flaherty, Goins also settled for a minor league pact (with the Royals). However, he actually was set to sign a major league contract with the Orioles beforehand, according to Encina. Orioles ownership didn’t approve it in time, though, leading the former Toronto utilityman to head to Kansas City.
- Red Sox reliever Robby Scott has changed representation and is now a client of Meister Sports Management, Rob Bradford of WEEI tweets. The 28-year-old, who’s currently vying to open the season as Boston’s top left-handed bullpen option, tossed 35 innings of 3.79 ERA ball and notched 7.82 K/9, 3.28 BB/9 and a 42.6 percent groundball rate in 2017. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until after the 2019 campaign.
And that’s why the Orioles ownership is the very worst in MLB. Maybe all of the 4 major sports. What a joke.
Definitely not the worst in all four major sports. I don’t even think it’s the worst in baseball. However, it is what happens when you have too many people in the front office who have input on decisions and *that* is the true failing of ownership.
Both of you are wrong. Neither makes any sense. In the top one, you seem to be saying that because they didn’t get two deals done it makes them the worst run organization in all of baseball. In the second comment, You seem to be claiming that because they have “too many people in the front office” the deals somehow went bad. What is your evidence that their front office is more busy/crowded/peopled than other ones?
You only rebutted a me of their arguments, and not that well. If you want to call them out, at least present why.
*one. Not “a me”.
Maybe because the article says so?
You are talking about a non-deal falling through with Flaherty since it was a counter-offer that hadn’t been approved in time for an overpriced replacement level player. Perhaps there were people in the front office that would rather spend that 1.9 million or whatever slightly lower price Flaherty would have taken elsewhere.
Then you have Goins who is so great that he took a minor league deal. These replacement level guys are a dime a dozen. Maybe some in the front office want to give the utility role to Engelb Vielma who is a min-salary rookie who has played 2B, SS and 3B in the minors.
The perfect utility guy. Played every position except for catcher and only averaged 3 errors per season. No, not a great hitter, but how many utility guys are-they are there to fill in positions, not be a high average pinch hitter. High average utility guys are called starters.
Flaherty is way below average fielding for LF and SS for Rdrs/yr. One would have to assume he’d be just as bad in CF as LF but he has never played there in the majors. Average errors per season is pointless for a guy who is barely playing and further switching positions. Rdrs/yr career LF -42, SS -24, 1B -8, 2B +6, RF +7, 3B +9. So you are looking at an ever so slightly average utility 2B, 3B, RF at nearly 4 times league minimum. Something that is not hard to replace with a rookie.
The Reds management looks pretty bad too. They have a potent line-up, a huge need for pitching and yet they haven’t been associated with a single FA starter,
You are confusing good management, and willingness to spend. Good management is maximizing talent within the budget one is given.
Something tells me Marlins fans would beg to differ. Nobody is as bad as Jeffrey Loria was. Hopefully the new management can turn it around (fire sale aside).
As long as the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and Ottawa Senators exist, the crown for “worst ownership in big 4 sports” is getting nowhere near the Orioles.
Please go into some detail why the Mavericks have the worst ownership:
Mark Cuban is considered by fans,FO,and especially players to be one of the most admired owners in the NBA. By the way Cuban deserves an MLB franchise ownership!!!
The Cowboys: I’d love to to see your reasons for that.
Jerry Jones sucks. If he got out of his team’s way they would have won a Super Bowl with the talent they have. His constant meddling is what has kept them also rans in recent years.
Three rings under Jerry!! Brotatochip!
Flaherty was terrible for 5 seasons. Hopefully they have someone who can hit better than .200 in a utility role
But they wanted him. Just someone in the chain could not decide.
They obviously didn’t really want him. He’s popular in the clubhouse but he’s not very good. Our utility infielder typically doesn’t see much time anyway.
Someone wanted him but obviously some didn’t care or he wasn’t a priority. A replacement level guy north of 30 so likely to start diminishing.
Quote drom the article: “In-house issues prevented the Orioles from signing free agent infielders Ryan Flaherty and Ryan Goins during the offseason”. It does not say they wanted to get someone better, they screwed up internally.
Don’t forget about the Cleveland Browns!
I hope Bautista lands somewhere with a MLB level deal. Granted he is done or almost done but I enjoyed his play over the years, last years not withstanding. He would be a decent DH and a good clubhouse influence to younger players.
I doubt he would be a good clubhouse influence. He’s a pen is
The Roungers would be a good fit
Not so much…
Exactly 2 years ago today, Joey Bats stated he was seeking a 5-year, $150M contract. My have times changed…,
Joey Bats never said that and the Jays GM said that was not what he was asking for either.
Right … he wanted $140M over 4 years. Who knows, who cares. He got what he got last year as a thanks for earlier contributions to make up for the years he was underpaid. Considering what he did to earn it, he was well compensated.
As far as being good in the club house and with young players, that was hype put out by the club. He is an unlikable jerk and everyone in baseball outside of Toronto knows it. Good riddens!
Red Sox may be looking for a DH
I respect Orioles ownership.
They have history of success. Just very stubborn in their ways. My biggest pet peeve, as an unbiased NYY fan, is they never spend on $1 on IFA, but burn $161M on Chris Davis.
#2 would be getting outspent by the Mets, on Starting Pitching.
As an O’s fan, I respect the Yanks’ leadership—and have for the last 20 years.
“I respect Orioles ownership. . . . They have a history of success.”
Depends on what you mean by ‘success’, xabial. Since Angelos purchased the team prior to the ‘94 season, the O’s have played in three LCS, one LDS and one WC game, each of which they lost. Overall, Peter Angelos has been a very successful man. Just not at baseball.
Why don’t you guys get a room. Sounds like ya sucking on each other.
So 5 playoff appearances and 2 division titles since 1994. Lets compare that to other teams not named the Yankees or Red Sox in that division since 1994.
Blue Jays: 1 division title, 2 playoff appearances. No titles.
Rays: 2 division titles, 4 playoff appearances. No titles.
So what exactly are you talking about stating they have no success. When competing with 2 division foes with virtually unlimited resources winning is hard.
You can find many other teams with 5 or less playoff appearances since 1994 and no titles either. Don’t have to look very far. Nationals/Expos 4 playoff appearances and lost in the first round every time.
Other Example Teams: Appearances/Titles
Brewers:2/0, Mariners:4/0, Mets:5/0, Pirates:3/0, Padres:4/0, Reds:5/0, Rockies:4/0, Tigers:5/0
So they fit in a group of 12 teams that have 5 or less playoff appearances since 1994 with no titles, the horror. So they are in the bottom 40%.
xabial what happened to your post about banning redsox69?
I removed it. I’m not trying to get hated more on here, than I already am.
Although I really do appreciate you bringing attention to my comment. The comment said:
“Remember when MLBTR was about intelligent(ish) baseball banter. If it was up to me, I’d ban chris redsox69’s account than just removing his comment”
No way. James Dolan.
Browns anyone?
Now that’s a post everyone should get behind.
The o’s front office is terrible , yeah they gotten hitters for cheap but they are missing out on IFA like come on, instead of trading that money for mediocre players go get a player who have a better upside. Actually bring quality pitchers.
I just don’t understand why they won’t spend international money. Is Angelos racist?
Just the opposite. Both Angelos and his son have been at the forefront of race relations in Baltimore. Their statement after the riots there was fantastic. Why they won’t sign IFA players is a mystery.
That is how there GM works. He gets players off the scrap heap n does it through the yr going they can stay ahead of the scouts.
Duke makes no decisions. He makes recommendations and then Angelos or his son makes the final decisions. Every single signing and trade.
That is what the article is saying too. Duke said let’s sign these guys but couldn’t get Angelos to sign off on even a minor signing like these two quick enough.
Would love to see Jose continue to play in the AL East.
Message to MLBTR: Please stop with the teasers. At least u expect more from the app, which I otherwise would probably rate five stars. I saw the Sox in the heading but do lost of us really care that a non superstar player changed agents?
*I
*most (sorry for the late corrections).
Flaherty is a great guy on and off the field. It’s to bad these “in house issues” prevented his resigning, but it sounds like they may have another chance.
Yea he was a good guy and one of those super utility players. Hope we find a way to get him back
Yes, and Buck Showalter seems not yet fully impressed with the Orioles utility options in spring training.
And let’s keep in mind, it is potentially reasonable for the Orioles to want to head in a different direction from Ryan Flaherty. This spring gives them a chance to do that, and they still seem to have an option to pick him up if things fall through with the current candidates.
They left out the part of the interview when Neander says he will dump all those young players when things get special…and they actually have to pay them more than the minimum. Dont insult our intelligence, dude; no one in their right mind feels you have improved this team for either the short or long term.
Orioles fan are so ungrateful it makes me sick
Acting like the Os have the worst record in baseball in the past decade or last 5 yrs or sum ishh. Like there’s the marlins and pirates and padres
Get a grip orioles fans
Im a die hard orioles fan and in no way do i think we have a bad team. For 4 years until last year we were competitive. The only thing that makes me mad is lack of spending money on players that could help us win. We aren’t mad at the team, we are mad at the front office.
I agree with your point that the O’s relative success in recent years gets overlooked because of their antiquated methods….but FWIW, Pirates have the 5th most wins in MLB over the past 5 years even with the past two down years.
https://twitter.com/BenBadler/status/905139288949628929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fangraphs.com%2Fblogs%2Fthe-disconnect-in-pittsburgh%2F
Do the O’s communicate by Passenger Pigeon? Pony Express? Smoke Signals?
“Neander believes there was serious progress behind the scenes. “As our teams have been kind of treading water, there’s been that wave that’s really building, really coming together, probably even better than I think we expect it,” Neander said. “It’s about there.”
The Pirates have done the same thing. They have some good young MLB players already in Bell, Taillon, Rivero, Kuhl, Williams, maybe Moran and Musgrove (we’ll see). They also have Meadows, Newman and Glasnow in AAA
But behind them they have a young core that won a championship at A in 2016 and won another one in AA last year. Guys like Keller, Tucker, Hayes, Kramer.
This is a very stinging example of how dysfunctional the Orioles Warehouse truly is…
Goins is a gamer, a hustler. I feel badly for Duquette…way too many pundits (Showalter, Anderson (a true poser and rat fink of the highest order) and the Angelos’ sons have to weigh in on every decision point throughout the year…this is disgraceful…
He will skip out as soon as the 2018 season ends to a better place.
Mr. Angelos is a good man who has done many things to help many people, but he is a uniquely unsuccessful MLB owner from a fan’s standpoint…
He’s pissed away a generation+ of fans….
What a shame.
Joey bats your garbage take whatever contract is offered to you dude, see if you can rebound if not don’t expect much after last year. Much better players who are younger are signing for less then expected don’t over estimate your value in this market or watch MLB on tv.
Angelos failed to keep Cruz and it’s been downhill from there.
I like Robbie Scott but I find it hard to believe we don’t have a better lefty capable of the same duties within the system
Could do worse than Joey bats. I’m not convinced that he’s as bad as last season says. He can play passable RF, 3B in a pinch and I’m sure 1b and he can likely still hit .240 with 30 bombs if he’s kept healthy for a season. Given that he’s going to be cheap there are far worse deals out there for a team with those certain needs.
the only collusion that should happen in the mlb is keeping bautista out of the league
That would be dumb
Bautista needs to be on a farm team. He’s through.
Through in comparison to what he was. I would definitely say there are worse players on MLB rosters come opening day though.
Red Sox or Mets