Free-agent righty Chris Tillman is weighing offers and preparing to make a decision in short order, according to Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun. The Orioles are joined by the Twins and two other organizations in the picture for Tillman’s services, per the report, which also suggests that Tillman is willing to take an incentive-laden contract as he looks to return to form after a miserable 2017 season. With the Minnesota organization also said to be involved on some other hurlers, its ongoing involvement is especially interesting to note — though it’s also fair to wonder whether the team’s reported agreement with another bounceback candidate (Anibal Sanchez) will dampen its interest. We’ve seen real movement on the starting pitching market of late; with Tillman also seemingly nearing a deal, it’ll be interesting to see whether the same holds for some other free agents.
Here’s more from the AL East:
- The Blue Jays are still in the market for pitching after signing Jaime Garcia, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports (Twitter links). With the rotation set, though, the club is now looking at the bullpen, with GM Ross Atkins saying there are still some funds available to work with. Interestingly, per Atkins, the team does not seemingly intend to use Joe Biagini in a relief role. Instead, the provisional plan seems to be for him to work as a starter through camp and remain stretched out when the season opens, even if that means working at Triple-A.
- Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman may not have enjoyed his arbitration experience, but that doesn’t mean he’s unhappy with the organization. As Nicholson-Smith writes, Stroman expressed today a keen interest in pursuing a long-term deal. Saying he loves everything about playing for Canada’s team, Stroman indicated that he’s “hoping to have talks soon” with the front office. It’s not immediately clear how likely it is that the 26-year-old will find common ground with the organization, but clearly he’s open to the idea. As a 3+ service-class pitcher who turned in a top-quality 2017 effort, Stroman could conceivably look to last winter’s Carlos Martinez contract as a comp.
- The feeling is a bit different for Red Sox star Mookie Betts. Per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, via Twitter, Betts says he does not intend to discuss a contract between now and the end of the season. There’s no lingering discord over his own arbitration hearing, in which he came away with $3MM more than the team wanted to pay him. Still, Betts says he won’t consider a lengthier deal until 2018 is in the books — though indications are he might be willing to talk at that time. Of course, a big season could leave the 25-year-old with ample leverage. He’s already slated to earn $10.5MM for the coming season, setting him up for massive potential total arbitration earnings.
I really don’t get the Blue Jays insistence on using Biagini as a starter. He is awful as a starter & will never be more than a #5 starter. He is a very good reliever and would be a valuable part of the bullpen. He’s far more valuable to the Jays as a setup man. Yet, management insists on using him as a starter.
Both Gibby and the Jays pitching coach feel that Biagini belongs in the pen but Hewy, Dewy and Lewy in the front office feel he is a starter. yah right.
Gibby and the Jays pitching coach feel that Biagini belongs in the pen
Source?
#scoutseyes
Source: Fan 590. Yesterday talked about it during round table with Bob McKowan.
Ya I don’t think he’ll ever be a good starter either. His stuff plays great out of the bullpen, and he was dominant there in 2016. I wish they wouldn’t have messed with a good thing, because who knows, he could end up as the next and frail Felix or Daniel Bard.
Neftali Feliz*
Biagini could function as a Chris Devenski type guy for the jays. Having a pen guy able to pitch multiple innings in today’s game is something a lot of teams don’t spend much time trying to develop guys like that.
I think I heard he pushed to go back to the starting role after trying relief.
Biagini has 18 career starts. That’s a pretty small sample to just write him off as awful.
Hes still young, and has the stuff to be a starter. Hence the reason why he’s trying to be one. But if it was my decision, I’d stick him in the pen this season but I understand why they want him as a sixth starter for depth.
I’m not saying Biagini has this enormous ceiling but its a bit drastic to make a decision with only 18 starts under his belt!
Puuuulease, the Jays still need a #1 starter and Biagini is not a rotation starter and probably never will be. Jaime Garcia was a great add by the Jays but vastly overpriced.
I say move Sanchez and his wonky finger to the pen, because it can’t last more that a few innings each time out without going bad. Add Biagini for the pen too.
Trade half the farm for a #1 or near ready top of the rotation guy.
Fill the pitching roster with maturing minor league guys and the Jays have a shot at the playoffs. #Scoutseyes
Vastly overpriced at 1/$8M? Did you think they’d get him at league minimum?
I’d really like to know who this #1 you constantly speak of is, and who exactly the Jays trade to get him. You constantly talk about “scoutseyes”, but you never go into specifics. Pretty bad scout if you ask me
Guerrero, Bichette, Donaldson, Sanchez, 53% of Martin, Ace, and Shapiro’s first born son for Kershaw and a 40% catcher
nah, the jays could pry them away for only 46% of martin
Trading the farm for who? Who is available for what we can offer? I have never seen you post who this #1 is
Is this jimmerbob guy pretending to be a scout again?
Yea, it’s BS! Once it was with the Braves
and the next it was with the Twins! He also claims to have been a AAA manager as well ! Lmfao!
Yeah trading half the farm for a number 1 and the jays might have a chance at the wildcard. Even by your own admission you say the jays aren’t serious playoff contenders so why mortgage the future for only a chance at a wildcard lol. Doesn’t make any sense. These kinda moves were made by the leafs for years and they haven’t won for like 50 years.
Also why on earth do you think moving Sanchez to the pen helps his wonky finger? Sanchez blister problems were popping up in the first inning of most of his starts I fail to see how moving him to the pen will prevent his blister issues.
It is my understanding that Sanchez finger issues only come after it has been injured once after many many innings of repeated use. Then it repeats in the first inning of each subsequent outing. So what needs to happen is a pitch limit as a releiver from day one to prevent the first occureance. The first occurence happened in the past only after multiple starts of many inning outings.
It is my understanding from one or two with experience in this that if Sanchez is held to a 20 pitch count per outingand/or one inning max whichever is less, the likelihood of this injury reoccuring is remote. In other words the Jays cannot allow it to occur even once or he’ll have a repeat of last year.
Well there’s your problem right there – “to my understanding”.
You’ve repeatedly shown your understanding to be lacking at best. #scoutseyes
Well there’s your problem right there – “to my understandingv.
You’ve repeatedly shown your understanding to be lacking at best. #scoutseyes
Perhaps if I added “to my understandinf, from a soruce in the Blue Jays room”, that is not a media type.
May I ask that we keep this professional and not personal with insults. There is never an valid reason to insult someone on these forums. Thank you for keeping it professional.
#scoutseyes
Well, if the Leafs were dealing for pitchers and batters from baseball that would explain a lot.
> Puuuulease, the Jays still need a #1 starter
Every team would be better if they added a #1 starter. Congrats, you are right in the most trivial way possible!
Now go to bed.
Teams cannot win anything without a true #1. That enough should be evidence that the Jays are going nowhere this year.
May I ask that we keep this professional and not personal with insults. There is never an valid reason to insult someone on these forums. Thank you for keeping it professional.
Then quit being a major douche nozzle ! Your not a scout
You guys have a pretty good number one in Stroman him happ Estrada Sanchez and Garcia I’ll take that and this is coming from a orioles fan lol be glad who you have lol
Plus, Sanchez could pass Stroman as the number 1 this season with the ceiling he has.
This is the dumbest post I’ve read today. #scoutseyes
#BULLSHITEYES
That would lead you to believe that Mookie expects to have a great year. Must be feeling really good. I think the players are feeling good about Alex Cora as their Manager as well. Let’s see how they perform.
i see .320/30/110 from him
Sounds good to Sox fans. Mollie with all those perfect bowling games seems like a perfectionist and hopefully he’s looking to rebound from his less than stellar 2017 offensive numbers. If he truly becomes Papi’s replacement, the team would likely be happy to negotiate. Remember, it’s been Mookie that to date hasn’t wanted to. Moreover it was him or his agent that forced the arb hearing as most pre-hearing articles had the team prevailing based on the numbers and past decisions.
I got that impression as well. And wish the same.
If Sox want Mookie they have the deep pockets and I honestly believe he likes Boston and Cora will help in the process.
The jays are not talented enough to play with the likes of Houston,New York , Cleveland,Boston and are middle of the pack right now. Trading the farm for a #1 pitcher makes zero sense right now with the holes on other parts of their roster.
No the Jays are not good enough to play with the likes of New York, the Cubs, Cleveland or Boston. Time will bare this out. I believe that the Jays will start well but age, injuries, lack of talent and lack of quality pitching depth will cause them to slide out of contention by the trade deadline. It will happen.
If they are smart, they will be sellers at the deadline.#scoutseyes
#BULLSHITEYES
Gabby Jay! Yay!
It’s understandable why Betts would want to wait until 2019 or 2020 to discuss a long term deal with BOS.
The only advantage to doing a long term deal now, for Betts, would be if he knew he was going to have a long term injury like Fielder had.
I see Jimmertree is still spewing is bs lol. Seriously man do you live in your parents basement? Fact is if the Jays rotation stays relatively healthy they will have one of the better rotations in the AL.
Let’s keep it professional without the personal insults please. Like last year, I am calling the Jays rotation to take a step back and not be healthy.
please see my previous posts on other articles outlining my review of the Jays rotation.
Blah blah blah…jimmertree you are the most cynical Jays fan ever! We’ve been thru this already ffs! Maybe you should try a different approach or tone and everyone wouldn’t feel the need to attack you.