The Eric Hosmer era is over in Kansas City, and free agent third baseman Mike Moustakas could become the next Royals cornerstone to head elsewhere. Although general manager Dayton Moore said earlier this month that Moustakas hasn’t prioritized re-signing with the Royals this offseason, it’s still possible he’ll re-up with KC, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag (Twitter link). Now that the Royals are out of the running for Hosmer, they have the funds to bring back Moustakas, Heyman notes. There hasn’t been a strong market for the 29-year-old Moustakas’ services this offseason, but if the qualifying offer recipient does leave the Royals, they would net a compensatory pick in this year’s draft. They’re already in line to receive two, thanks to the departures of Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain.
More out of the American League:
- The Rays would’ve been the biggest story in baseball last night if not for the Hosmer news, having designated outfielder Corey Dickerson for assignment in an eye-opening move, acquired first baseman C.J. Cron from the Angels and traded righty Jake Odorizzi to the Twins. It wasn’t at all surprising that the Rays dealt Odorizzi, who had been in trade rumors for months, but it was unexpected that they only received a borderline top 30 Twins prospect (Single-A shortstop Jermaine Palacios) in return. General manager Erik Neander addressed that, telling Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and other reporters that the Rays “probably have him valued quite a bit higher than some of the public publications.” Ultimately, with the Rays set to begin full-squad workouts on Monday, parting with Odorizzi and Dickerson was something they had to do, according to Neander. “You just don’t want a cloud of uncertainty hanging over our group,” he said. “It was time to move forward.” Even if the Rays end up cutting Dickerson and getting nothing back, they’ll justify it as essentially trading two years of control over him for three of Cron and saving money in the process, per Topkin. After parting with Odorizzi and Dickerson, the club could use its added “financial flexibility” to “reinvest” in free agency, Neander said Sunday (Twitter link via Topkin).
- A Dickerson trade was not imminent as of last night, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported (Twitter link), but a deal could come together with the AL East rival Orioles, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun suggests. The Orioles, who have been on the lookout for a lefty-hitting outfielder for months, “will undoubtedly inquire about Dickerson,” Encina writes. Dickerson has impressed Orioles manager Buck Showalter in the past, relays Encina, who adds that being in the same division hasn’t stopped the Rays and O’s from swinging deals at previous points (Baltimore acquired infielder Tim Beckham from Tampa Bay last season, for instance).
- Set to wrap up his eight-year, $184MM contract this season, Twins icon Joe Mauer tells Phil Miller of the Star Tribune he and the team haven’t engaged in any extension talks. But Mauer plans to continue his career in 2019 “if I can still contribute,” and the first baseman is hopeful he’ll still be in a Twins uniform then. “This is where I want to be. This is where my family is, where my daughters are growing up,” said the St. Paul native. “I have no intention of going anywhere else. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.” The former superstar catcher enjoyed a strong year at the plate in 2017 with a .305/.384/.417 line in 597 PAs.
- Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was somewhat popular in the rumor mill during the winter, but he informed Jack Curry of the YES Network and other reporters Sunday that the team never approached him about waiving his no-trade clause (Twitter link). It would’ve been (and would still be) a tall order for the Yankees to move Ellsbury, who hasn’t delivered as hoped during his four-year Bronx tenure and still has another $68MM left on his contract. He’ll spend the spring trying to reclaim his old job as New York’s starting center fielder, a role Aaron Hicks usurped in 2017.
I think the Redsox get in on Dickerson. The Cubs would not be a bad spot as they can use some power from what was at times a very unproductive outfield in 2017. A Scwarber for Dickerson trade would make sense for both teams and would eliminate Joe Maddon’s plan to have the pitcher hit 4th.
At this point the Yankees just need to come to the realization that we can’t get rid of Ellsbury and just move on. Need to focus on either adding another infielder to take pressure off Torres, Torreyes, Wade, and Andujar or go make a run at another SP or swing a Machado Trade. Ellsbury is here to stay whether we like it or not.
If Arizona bows out of the J.D. Martinez sweepstakes the Diamondbacks should trade three years of misfielder Yasmany Tomas at $45.5 million to the Yankees for three years of Jacoby Ellsbury at $68.5 million plus $11.5 million in cash if the Ellsbury will waive his no-trade clause to play near his offseason home.
With Tomas’ reduced AAV of only $11.4 million the Yankees would create space under the luxury tax threshold while the Diamondbacks gain a modest upgrade in left field for a net annual cost of less than $4 million.
Tomas would not take up a slot on the 40-man roster if the Yankees designate the 27-year-old for assignment. With his contract, Tomas almost certainly would clear waivers.
Dbacks wouldn’t do that as they’re trying to save as much as possible for Pollock and Goldscmidt extensions. Id imagine they try to trade Tomas before Greinke in that case. Though obviously, they’d save more trading Greinke, I can’t imagine them trading their ace when they made the playoffs last season and in the hunt this season
I suspect Yasmany Tomas, with three years and $45.5 million remaining on his contract, has negative trade value after posting a negative 1.4 fWAR in 305 games at the MLB level.
The Diamondbacks may be stuck with the Tomas contract for the next three seasons.
That contract is most definitely underwater. In fact, he would be overpaid if he were getting the league minimum.
I’m confused. Why would the diamondbacks have any interest in doing that?
To get rid of Yasmany Tomas, who has three years and $45.5 million remaining on his contract after posting a negative 1.4 fWAR in 305 games at the MLB level.
Jacoby Ellsbury has underperformed but certainly not to the level that Tomas has underperformed.
Tomas’ glove has no place in the field and Ellsbury would represent a modest upgrade for less than a net $4 million annually. That approximates Ellsbury’s worth in a market that gave Austin Jackson $3 million plus incentives annually for two years.
Agreed. I think a trade with SF, Gardner for Panik works for both teams. Gives Giants the CF/lefthanded lead-off they need and Yanks get a solid 2nd baseman with control. I’d hate to see Gardy go but it’s his last year of contract (won’t pick up option with so many OFs and prospects in wings) and frees up another 6-7 million. Jacoby not going anywhere so may as well use him if can’t trade him. When healthy, not that much drop off from Gardy if any. Giants likely to pick up option and have good deal with Brett.
I doubt the San Francisco Giants will trade three years of Joe Panik, their 27-year-old All Star, Gold Glove-winning second baseman who is owed only $3.45 million this year, for one year (with a team option for a second year) of 34-year-old outfielder Brett Gardner, who has at least $14 million remaining on his contract if he’s traded. The Giants face luxury tax issues.
The proposed trade would leave the Giants with a gaping hole at second base while Gardner would provide an insufficient upgrade in an outfield that has Andrew McCutchen, Hunter Pence, Austin Jackson and Steven Duggar.
I can’t believe no one could top that offer from the twins. Seems like the Orioles could’ve killed two birds with one stone there, getting Dickerson and odorizzi without giving up much of anything.
What team would allow a pitcher who knows every hiccup at the plate of the same division rival go to that said rival and teach them how to strike out every player all year.
The Orioles certainly could have beat the Twins prospect plus the Rays could have included both players to the O’s and probably got back a top five prospect like Mullins or Mountcastle.
Still odorizzi isn’t a front line pitcher. In a decent rotation he’d be the 5 spot.
Still he’s a SP and every team needs a #5 to make out the lineup card every fifth game
I don’t think the O’s are looking to trade for known/established talent. While they have some seemingly strong talent in their farm system right now, I would say they don’t have enough of it and therefore are reluctant to part with it. They will try to fill their current roster needs through free agency, and the trades they will be making will be trading away their own veteran talent for prospects.
Tough to think Tampa would have been willingly to strengthen a division rival like that, unless they intend to completely tank 2018.
Can almost guarantee you that if either of them sign with KC, LoMo or Duda will have a higher OPS and probably WAR than Hosmer will in 2018, while getting paid peanuts.
Tampa got fleeced. Yanks would’ve given a better package for Odorizzi. Too bad they weren’t willing to trade within the division.
Got fleeced, or Odorizzi isn’t that valuable? We all forgot how awful he was last season and doesn’t have that high of a ceiling, while making $6M. Not that big a market for that.
Odorizzi got some skills. Players can rejuvenate their career on a contending team. The way Tampa operates, MLB should just force them to relocate. Why would anyone want to pay money to see the Rays play?
so, you want a team to offer value based on what a guy might do on a contending yeam?
Exactly. People think of Jake Odorizzi as good, but he’s never been more than average, and he was dreadful last year. He’s worth rostering obviously, but the idea that he’d bring back a top prospect was always far-fetched.
Packaged with Dickerson I just don’t believe the Rays couldn’t have got a better prospect
Better prospect than a borderline top 30 in the twins organization? Rays could have gotten a top 10 each from most teams for both guys.
Odorizzi was 23rd/31sr in ERA and 39th/42nd in SIERA in 2015 and 2016, that’s more than just average that would put him as a high #2 pitcher. I understand that he’s not a high number 2 but he’s a solid #3 with the potential for more. Obviously last year hurt him but he was also hurt so you never know how much that played into things. He obviously isn’t worth a top 5 prospect but being as he hasn’t even hit 28 he was worth more than a low 20’s lotto pick, at least a couple of them.
no
I was thinking the same thing
1. It says right in the article that the rays don’t care about trading in the division, as they did with Beckham just last year.
2. I’ve spent all winter defending the pirates’ trades, and will say the same here: the rays obviously aren’t high on odorizzi, and like the guy they got. Let this play out first, and then you can say they got fleeced.
That’s fine they liked the guy. But they should have gotten more in addition to him.
If the Yanks were willing to give a better package why didn’t they?
Good question. Unless the Rays didn’t want to deal Odorizzi to the yanks. Or maybe they are trying harder to land Archer?
Unless the yanks didn’t make an offer.
I’d love to see Dickerson return to Colorado. They’ve been in the market for a corner outfield bat all winter, and it pained me as a fan to see him leave in the McGee trade.
Would love to see LoMo or Duda in the 1B mix in Denver too. Good veteran presence to bring along McMahon.
Isn’t it going to be Judge, Gardner, and Stanton in the Yankees outfield?
I think one of Judge or Giancarlo is always going to DH too.
Definitely not always. They are working Stanton out in LF this spring
Why do people post this DH stuff about Judge and Stanton when they’re considered above average to elite corner outfielders? The CF job is Hicks to lose at this point,as for LF and RF it’s a great problem to have with those three competing-Judge,Gardner,and Stanton.
Because Stanton literally said he had no problem DHing, and your management said he was going to DH a lot? Do you even follow your own team??
Reading skills, my dude. I said “one of them will at all times” so, yes, Stanton will often be playing COF spots when not DHing, as will Judge.
Why is there a dumb stigma about the DH still? It’s almost 50 years old, get over it, its a position and a good one. No shame in it.
I believe the guy was talking about defensive positioning – and neither Judge nor Stanton are above average defensively.
Both average, which is fine.
Just a reminder guys that Yankee Stadium has one of the largest left fields in baseball… interesting to see how many of the 81 games there that Gardner is not starting!
Easy to see their entire outfield rotating as the DH to simply give them extra rest.
Tough to be a state of Florida baseball fan these days.
Florida should not even have MLB baseball. People are more interested in going to the beach and sitting outside at restaurants in flip flops than sitting in those ugly dome stadiums.
I feel really bad for all eight of the fans you’re talking about.
Me too.. Lol
Keep Ellsbury for now and hope he rebounds. That’s the Yankees nest hopes in unloading Ellsbury.
Yea if he has a hot first half I say flip him if anyone is interested. His history says he won’t keep it up
No one is interesting in making Yankees lives easier though. There’s no upside in trading for Ellsbury unless Torres is coming with, and that’s never happening, so lets all wait until the Yankees just eat the money, because that’s whats going to happen.
Like everyone else you have no idea what is gonna happen.
I do have an idea, it’s the thing you replied to.
Newsflash even if he has hot start NO ONE WANTS THAT CONTRACT
I can see the Rays making a lot more moves before opening day, and their opening day INF might be: Arroyo-Adames-Duffy-Cron. Hechavarria and/or Miller to bench/dfa/trade. Honeywell is probably making that rotation too, so Archer or Andriese might be on the trading block too.
The Rays just said they wanted to make those moves before camp opens tomorrow. I doubt they make another move.
All Chris Archer talks are totally off, huh?
Teams should jump on Archer now with these terrible moves the Rays made. Strike while it’s hot and buy low.
The Rays are not selling low on Archer.
You never know. They just got rid of 2 decent players in separate transactions for nothing.
Joey Wendle is projected to start at second
To be a fly on the wall when the Rays were discussing their options…”Who should we target for Odorizzi?” Neander: Let’s aim low. “What about Dickerson? He was an all-star you know.” Neander: Wouldn’t it be hilarious if we designated him?
Twins would be a good landing spot for Dickerson
They already have a 4th and 5th outfielder
Dickerson is a perfect fit for the O’s. So, of course it won’t happen.
They have Davis, Trumbo, Hays and Mancini locked in. Not a perfect fit, if he’s hoping to land an everyday job.
The White Sox have an opening in LF/DH. Royals, Twins and Marlins could make room for him too. Those would be my top 4 prefered landing places for Dickerson.
I feel pretty confident DD is going to put in a claim for him. Just a matter if they can work out a trade.
If Mauer can handle a $20M drop in salary, he should have no problem finding work.
With the horrendous moves made by the Rays organization this weekend, maybe people will pump the brakes on all the Jeter criticism for a day or two.
Been really bad, which is pretty unusual for Tampa.
I think the Royals are going to be the winner in this Hosmer signing. If they resign Moose for third, sign LoMo for first and let’s say make a trade with the Brewers ( Duffy for Santana) . They would have a line up that could still compete for a wild card. Maybe even bring in Dickerson to help DH and play outfield
Why would the Royals trade for Santana? They already have essentially his clone in Soler (with higher upside) and already have a glut of corner OF types.
If there is a trade with the Brewers it would be Hammel for Broxton (which I don’t think the Brewers would do).
Santana hit .280/.370/.500 and stole 15 bases last year. He’s a proven commodity. Soler hasn’t done anything since his september callup in 2014; since then he has a -1.3 bWAR in not even 2 full seasons. Soler is a washed-up bust who’s a year older than Santana and his current “upside” is probably just “hitting almost as well as Santana”
That is your opinion, his upside was a top15 prospect before he lost eligibility. Soler has upside to be dominate force in a lineup. Santana is a good player, but nothing the Royals will be trading for, especially straight up for Duffy.
Oh, and you might want to figure out how to calculate ages before coming back.
and that is your opinion…see how that works?
oh I don’t know Soler did a nice job in the minors last year huh. If you want we can give you Santana, Broxton and Wilkerson for Duffy and Merrifield. You honestly can’t say that this wouldn’t be a very competitive line up;
catcher : Perez
first : LoMo
second: Dozier
short: Escobar or Mondesi
third : Moose
left : Gordon
Center : Broxton or Bonofacio
right : Soler or Santana
DH : Santana or Dickerson.
sure, competitive lineup but they still have to pitch. beyond Duffy, there is…ugh. don’t look.
True but I didn’t say it was perfect lol
Terrible moves by the Rays. That’s why they are a horrible organization. They should be contracted. I’d take 2 years of Dickerson or 3 from Cron any day. And Dickerson could have gotten value back in return. And one low level prospect for Odorizzi is a disgrace.
Really bad moves all the Rays trades are bad. Their ownership should get out of the baseball business. UNBELIEVABLE, They are really tearing this team up
Rays, Marlins, Padres, and a couple of other teams should be contracted. They are a waste. Make baseball simpler again, and strengthen the league as a whole.
Mauer is just one of those players that you can’t imagine him being in another jersey. If he does continue to play after this year (which he plans to), I feel he’ll stay with The Twins.
I always figured moose would be the one they resigned in Kansas City
He appeared more affordable and has power
I would love for the Orioles to go get Dickerson.
2011 Pat Reusse called, he wants his whiny garbage back
The Yankees never approached Ellsbury about waiving his NTC, because unlike many of their fans, the team knows Ellsbury is about as untradeable as a player can get.
Yep, and the same thing will happen with Stanton in a few years. They never learn. And this coming from a Yankee fan.
I hope it’s Detroit honestly that comes in to claim him. He isn’t a long term piece but holds some deadline value. It would give them 3-4 potential pieces to move to stock the minor league pond some more.
What are the DFA claiming criteria? Does the team who picks him up retain him at his current arb deal with another year of control?
Detroit should have priority and their OF is a bit of a mess right now with both Gerber/Stewart not quite ready and Cameron at least a mid 2019 candidate at the earliest.