The Yankees have kept an eye on free-agent third baseman Mike Moustakas, writes Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, though he also cites people close to the team in characterizing an ultimate match between the two sides as a long shot. The Yankees would only have interest on a short-term deal and are concerned both with the financial implications and the draft forfeitures that would come with signing Moustakas. It’s not at all clear what type of market exists for Moustakas at present, as few contending clubs are looking for upgrades at third base, and rebuilding clubs generally figure to be strongly against surrendering draft picks to plug Moustakas into a lineup that doesn’t expect to contend anyhow.
Some more notes on the open market…
- More than 10 teams are set to attend Tim Lincecum’s showcase on Thursday, it seems. Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com and Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com respectively report that the Tigers, Twins and Orioles will have scouts in attendance (all Twitter links). Heyman adds another handful of clubs, listing the Rangers, Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Padres and Braves as attendees (links to Twitter for the last three), in addition to the previously reported Giants. If anything, it’s perhaps more notable which clubs have elected not to attend the showcase, as there’s no real downside to at least taking a look and the showcase is shaping up to be reasonably well-attended. To that end, the New York Post’s Kevin Kernan wrote over the weekend that the Mets aren’t planning to have a scout in attendance.
- There was evidently some chatter in Japan that the Rockies have interest in Ichiro Suzuki, but it seems to have been misplaced, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was among those to report on Twitter. Ichiro is hoping to latch on with a big league club for a 17th Major League season, but interest has been scarce this offseason. He’s reported to have interest from teams back in Nippon Professional Baseball, so it’s possible that he’ll continue his legendary career even if he doesn’t land with a Major League organization.
- The Marlins have spoken to both Melky Cabrera and Jon Jay as they look for some additional outfield certainty, tweets Craig Mish of SiriusXM. Cabrera, though, has told teams that he’s seeking a two-year contract, according to Mish, whereas the Marlins would only have interest in him at one year. It’s not the first time the Fish have been connected to either outfielder, though there’s been little to suggest to this point that Cabrera has been seeking multiple years. The 33-year-old switch-hitter logged a solid, if unspectacular .285/.324/.423 slash with 17 homers in 666 plate appearances last season, but he’s received dismal grades from defensive metrics in recent years and is no longer much of a threat on the basepaths.
Marlins looking for additional outfield certainty? Ichiro wanting a 17th major league season? Derek Jeter, please resign Ichiro! Give the fans something after trading away Stanton, Yelich, Ozuna, and possibly Realmuto later.
“Sorry we traded all/most of our best players. But hey, here’s Ichiro.” No sale.
“Here’s Ichiro for about 10 at bats per week” There is no chance Ichiro would start more than twice a week and maybe 2 pinch hitting appearances … I’m sure the fans would pay their hard earned money and flock out for that! And mind you I’m a big Ichiro fan … he’s a legend … but at his age he’s hardly a substitute for what they lost
Thankfully major league teams don’t see Ichiro as a player worthy of a roster spot anymore. There are so many other players more deserving.
It isn’t that Ichiro hasn’t been a fantastic player. But sadly he has been in in decline for several seasons and is no longer capable of what he once was. Please quit living in the past.
If he is willing though Ichiro could be an excellent coach.
That’s an unfounded, if not ignorant statement. He still provides worthy backup at all three outfield positions, and if I’m not mistaken, set a record for pinch hits last year.
Almost, one shy to tie and two for the record
He also totally blew away the record for most pinch hit atbats too (which was 28 atbats more than the AL record). In other words he was put into very specific type situations more than any other player ever had been before in history. Of course he got a decent amount of hits, but it is highly unlikely that any other team would use him specifically that way. It is even more unlikely that in the current landscape of few position players available on the bench that a team will waste a roster spot on a declining late inning situational hitter that just hits singles.
I wish him luck, I really do, but I don’t think that major league teams see him as someone to spend a roster spot on. Look at the major league rosters now and tell me which team looks likely to use a player with Ichiro’s very limited current skillset. I just can’t envision one. Time may prove me wrong.
Ichiro batted .291 in 2016. In 2017 he hit .340 against LHP, .324 as a pinch hitter, .347 with RISP, and still plays good D. Yes, he’s absolutely worthless…especially when you consider he can probably be signed for around $1-2M.
Doesn’t he make perfect sense for the O’s (in search of LH OF help)?
For most of the last nine seasons Ichiro has struggled to be even a league average hitter (based on OPS+). If he was so great and such a valuable asset now why aren’t teams lining up to sign him to a major league contract.
I’m NOT saying that in EXTREMELY limited situations he couldn’t be effective, but what I’m saying is that his overall value is so limited that no team wants to waste a roster spot on him.
I’m not saying he hasn’t been a great player, just that he isn’t a great player anymore.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. The Marlins turned down their part of a $2M option to bring him back…do they think it would cost less to sign a veteran OF’er like Melky or Jay? Doubtful. And Ichiro would at least give the fans some link to the team they’ve been rooting for in years past since there won’t be a recognizable name on that roster. Plus, one piece of advertising on the OF wall or scoreboard by a Japanese vendor would likely pay his salary. These Marlins make no sense to me…
Agree that having Ichiro on Marlins is a good option for $ from Japanese’s ads, TV & fans, pays a % of a $1.5 M salary and a player who still has .300 avg for HITS = get on base!
A HOF player !
Why do people constantly talk about jeter as if he’s the GM? He’s the owner….
Trade Bauer and JT then get Jay, Soto, a 1b perhaps someone like Mark Reynolds and CarGo.
1 Jay If
2 Castro 2b
3 Cargo RF
4 Reynolds 1b
5 Soto C
6 Prado 3b
7 Sierra CF
8 Riddle SS
9 pitcher
Why bother signing those guys?
They’re trying to get some youngsters some playing time, your proposal seems kind of counterproductive to what they’re allegedly trying to accomplish
Why trade Bout?
He has 50 HR power…
plus he wants to be here still..
I wouldn’t want to trade JT…
Great catchers are hard to come by.. but if we do trade him.. I want a Phenom In return
*Bour
50 HR power? Don’t be ridiculous. He isn’t going to sniff 40 until he learns how to hit lefties – career. 677 OPS against them. He’s a platoon bat.
He improved in 2017 and could have a breakout year. Definitely not a platoon bat.
He could reach 50
Not in that eye sore stadium
Maybe just maybe if he went to Denver
Yes career ABs look bad against lefties because of his first 2years in the league…he’s been good against lefties last 2 years…
If you watch Bour play and not just his highlights then you would see he’s not someone you want to platoon…
I don’t recall the last 30 year old to double his career high in HRs, but I bet it happened in the 90s. Without some chemical enhancement, I don’t think he’s gonna sniff 50.
I remember Brady Anderson as one of the more obvious PED users putting up 10-20 HR per year with the exception of 1 year he hit 50 out of nowhere. Pretty sure it came after he was 30. I remember thinking something is not right with this.
Jose Bautista more than tripled his career high at age 29, hitting 54 home runs. Call something improbable, sure, but never rule anything out.
Bour Does not have 50 home run potential
He’ll be 30 in May, aka not around for the end of what will be a long rebuild
No one is giving you a “phenom” for Realmuto, his market is relatively slim when you realize rebuilding teams are not gutting a farm system for him and most of the contenders are set at the position or don’t have a ton of prospect capital left.
What stopped Bour from reaching 40HR last year was being injured…50 is reachable in a healthy year..
anyone who say him play last year knows it’s true..
50 HR power is absurd. You know who has 50 HR power Stanton and Judge that’s it. The highest he’s hit is 25 and he’s going to double that? With no protection now. And besides 50 HR power is so rare that it’s worth never saying that again especially in public.
Just curious but why would they sign either Cargo or Jay and block Brinson? Brinson is one of the few prospects Miami got back (Diaz being another) that the fans have to get at all excited about … and you want to block him?
Brinson will be in CF. Bryan Anderson will be at 3b.
How many believe that the Yankees would bust the cap and give up a draft pick for Moose, for one year, or give him a long term contract when, for a heathy fraction of Moose-money they could have had Darvish? Raise you hands.
Jon Heyman is going to get blisters from all the water he carries for Boras.
They will
They won’t. Unless he’s willing to sign like 1/$15 M
Moose will 100% make less then Darvish and darkish is never healthy either.
100% less means….either slavery or unemployed. I’m pretty sure the 13th Amendment hasn’t (yet) been repealed. So Moose sits out for the year?
Yanks was correct in their wording. If 100% was after the work “make” it would mean how you interpreted it. His way means with 100% certainty.
He said the chances are 100%, not that he would earn 100% less. Read carefully before you jump on something/someone.
Lol. Good pickup. Honestly I misread it too. Commas are important. I saw a T-shirt once that stated as such using the example:
Let’s eat grandma
or
Let’s eat, grandma
Yanks, you were right and I was wrong. Moose will make less than Darvish. My misreading, my bad.
I agree with the blisters. Didn’t the compensation guys have to sign a 50 million plus contract for the comp to kick in? I thought I read that somewhere…
For the high comp pick, there are two levels I believe (along with other random rules), if they sign for over 50 or if they sign for less than 50.
Nope because they have stated numerous times they do not want to pay the penalty, and most likely that would stop them from having any hope of signing Harper or Machado next year.
Please tell me you dont actually think Moose would cost more than Darvish. Every team can use Pitching. Few teams need Moose. Fewer need him long term.
Moose cannot be found in NY… especially the Bronx. No need to go looking for what’s not needed. Seriously… let’s let the next wave of baby bombers mature. Hopefully Torres, Anjuar and Wade develop and tap into all the potential.
Yeah cause all prospects turn out well. Judge will be eat up this year. It’s called research. Everyone is on Tv being analyzed by some nerd. Judge will experience a hard sophomore slump, but of course Yankees fans will say they hardly know the guy. Let’s look up Ellsbury posts. I didn’t think he was HOF, but on dem yanks… oh yeah he’s still a loser despite you fair-weather fans picking your flavor of the week.
Go back to bed the short bus will be here in a few hours to pick you up. Wear your boots and hat chance of rain today skippy.
put the bong down, Pablo
Tell your mom to pack your blankey Pablo. Say Ahhhhh and Once she puts your meds under your tongue you can put your pacifier in your mouth and take a nap. Tomorrow you may become a nice person.
Pablo if there’s one thing you know it’s nothing…
Why do the Redsox lie to the press leaks about what they offered JD? DD has done almost nothing, from last yr to now when he knows the sox need power n more pitching. And the NYY are chasing Moose. Why even play the season?
Can’t make sense of any of this. What are you trying to say?
Yeah this comment is something special. First of all the Red Sox are not lying about the contract they have nothing to gain by opening talking about an ongoing contract negotiation. It’s beat reporters who need a story picking numbers from sources without knowledge which is the reason why we have seen 200+ Mill to less than 100 Mill and everything in between.
Just because the NYY are making moves doesn’t necessitate the Red Sox to make moves either. Yes a power bat would really help that lineup but not JD for 5+ years at 100+. He’s coming off a career year, haven’t we learned with the whole Crawford/Gonzalez mistake that we were bailed out of by the dodgers. Then again with the Ramirez/Sandoval mistake.
You don’t spend money to spend money because the NYY are. The prior 2 off-seasons the Yankees didn’t sign a single free agent which is why they can make these moves now.
Sit back pasha2k take a deep breath and gain some knowledge of the game before you post.
Dave you make something out of that post because dude is all over the place.
Hey Dave-was that you on line to buy a season ticket package at Fenway yesterday or have you decided to watch the impotent Sox on Nessen this year?
Yankees fans are back to being cocky and arrogant, all is right with the world. I look forward to watching Judge and Stanton swing at thin air against Pomeranz’ curveball.
Totally. They came out from under the rock, and it’s so nice to see. I can finally loathe the Yankees again. It’s been a while! Can’t wait for the season to start.
Hey 90 I will give you a tip. If you sit on top of the green monster with Pomerantz pitching against the Yankees you should wear a batting helmet.
I wouldn’t want you to get hurt by judge, Sanchez and Stanton because the balls will be hit hard. Need you to stick around so you can admit at end of season that your team was offensively impotent and that Trader Dave has come up empty.
Melky Cabrera is basically a slightly less powerful version of Matt Kemp at this point. He’s barely worth a roster spot, much less a multi-year contract
Melky will likely go to a team in rebuild mode. He’s still young and has shows bits of power in the past, I think he rebounds his year.
Melky will be 34 this year. He has very little power and defensive ability.
Anybody willing to take a shot on Hanley? Of course not but the Sox could do worse than sign both Melky and LoMo and let them share the DH slot. Just hoping Hanley is healthy and realizes he needs ABs as otherwise his 5th year won’t kick in and his career could suddenly be over.
Dewey!!
Hanley is in a good frame of mind. He’s been hanging out on the Cape with Manny this winter and been productive doing commercials together for Hair Club for Men.
I wonder if AA of the Braves is able to pry Stroman from the Bluejays? Stroman really needs room to spread his wings, and maybe, the Jays would be in, if several of Atlanta’s best lhp prospects were offered? Thoughts on this proposal?
What are you proposing?
Stroman would take an absolute haul, especially after what he did in 2017.
Yah, it’s pretty hard to find pitchers that output has their FIP by nearly a full run…
You wouldn’t get more than 2 of those guys. You could possibly have another prospect but the Braves are building something special with their young pitchers.
I don’t know what you mean by ‘room to spread his wings’
That’s not a thing.
Is no. 1 starter not that? What do you even mean?
Blue Jays are trying to at least field a competitive team this season. I’m not sure how trading away their best pitcher fits in with their goals right now.
A trade for Stroman would definitely cost Atlanta a sizeable part of it’s upper echelon talent. It would make the Teixeira trade look tame.
Thanks for the thoughts on this. I had to review that trade. You are right.
Yes, I understand that the Jays are trying to be competitive, but in the Ame, this year?
The Yankees are powerful and Boston is as powerful.. If the Jays falter, as they did last year, I don’t see the team trading away Donaldson, even at the trade deadline: he is all they really have in terms of offence. Who else is there for the team to trade, use!, in order to obtain prospects in preparation for the next year(s)?
Hey 7-Eleven-what are they putting in your slurpies.
It would be hard to come up with one player on offense that you could describe as powerful.
I personally would give Moose much at all with the draft pick attached. Even without it, most I would do is 3/$33m. Just too many red flags
More like orange blaze
Yes, if Moose takes a one year contract, it will be with the Yankees. But he won’t.
So why bother? To create Non-existent leverage, when it’s known NYY only has $15M budget to work with under Luxury tax?
“The Yankees are said to be between $16 million and $22 million under the luxury-tax threshold of $197 million at present…”
How much tax room do the Yankees have left? It can’t be much, but if they can stay under and fit him in there, holy cow Yankee home fun records (team)
Lincecum will be going to the Cubs, 1 year 7 million, 1 million dollar buyout.
Cubs have no room on the roster, and no scout at the showcase…
None that your aware of, I have insider information! Do you think I’m just making this crap up!?!
Yes.
Neggative, ghost rider!
I highly doubt The Cubs would have any interest in Lincecum. If they wanted to go after a cheap, swingman type guy, they could go out and get a a more reliable option.
Lincecum would be a much needed and also affordable ace in a struggling Cubs rotation.
Why would the Cubs want Lincecum?
And can you explain how one year contract has a buyout? There is nothing to buyout on a one year contract.
Nice try though
Was wondering if anyone else picked up on that.
Surprised the Pirates don’t have a scout at the showcase
Their pitching staff is solid and they already have 2 Aces in their rotation….no real need for a 3rd ace at this point.
“2 aces”? Who are these 2 aces you speak of? And how is Lincecum still an ace?
He’s just trolling. I think that he’s got multiple accounts.
Pretty sure he’s got multiple accounts to dislike comments twice.
No….and no. I’ll just keep my opinions to myself since you want to be a troll.
Pirates pitching is pretty set…
Taillon – Nova – Kuhl – Williams – Musgrove as the rotation with Rivero, Hudson, Kontos, Feliz, Crick, Glasnow, Brault, Neverauskaus, Sanchez, etc. as bullpen options.
I’d love to dump Hudson for a PTBNL, too. The whole point of next season is to develop the young guys.
I don’t care what they get back for Hudson, just get rid of him.
How could a weak team not give a weak team a chance to cash in on Ichiro milestones. He deserves the HOF. I’ll argue that some other time.
Still he can put up league avg or more. I think Seattle owes him a goodbye tour.
I’d like to see ichiro in Seattle one more year as well
Hey Pablo. The M’s need to do something. Ever since they overstepped their boundaries to overpay Cano it’s been down hill. With the best years behind Robbie they will need something to distract attention for what will go down I. History as one of the 5 worst contracts ever.
And he’s not a fan favorite so bringing back an M’s legend (which Cano will never be) makes sense.
This is a joke. One of the 5 worst contracts in history?
Yes when you see the next five years. It’s a big slide with no stopping. Robby has already lost a step at second. 2nd basemen don’t play until 40.
Hear me out. Then laugh. How about Moustakas to Brewers to play 2B? He tried it in spring training a few years ago. Also Braun split time at 1B/OF and DL (the latter as usual). Thames plays 2/3 time, including some in LF. BIG bopper Aguilar traded. Also sign LuCroy back. One of my all-time favorites available at bargain price. Then lineup of Cain, Yelich, Braun, Shaw, Santana, Moustakas, LuCroy, Arcia. Throw in Thames a lot in place of Santana and Braun. Use Sogard/Perez as defensive replacements for Moustakas. Who needs infield defense on the right side? Also, who needs pitching. Well, it would work well in RBI Baseball at least.
Players like Lynn and Moustakas should consider the QO more I believe. The new CBA makes it tough for players projected to earn around the 50M mark to sign with draft picks being so important. It effectively adds another year to those players cost controlled year though. Now players are considering less AAV deals to have a less restricted market next year.
The Mets are not sending a scout because their front office expenses are up and the mutt/Jeff team taking a knife out. With the new geniuses assisting Sandy, Fred told them to come up with the best guess for how Tim will pitch because there’s no money to sign him anyway.
Thor and Ces have been asked to ride to camp on their horses this spring to save money as well. “TC” is tasked with meeting Ces in the parking lot each day to show him how the thirsty horses drink water to avoid leg cramps and muscle pulls. They are hoping that the daily show and tell will rub off on Ces.
It’s gonna be sad when ichiro has a job before moose,hosmer,Cobb and arrieta
I like Moose at 2 yrs $33mill w buyout option on 2nd
Ichiro to the Tigers!!!
Why would he do that. They are worse than the Marlins
To the Cubs.. They need outfield defense…
They have two many outfielders. They have like 5 outfielders and about 3 others that can play. Happ/Schwarber,Almora, Happ, Heyward
Heyward left to right. Is pretty solid. People still judge Schwarber for being a bad left fielder. Well guess what. He had less errors and 2.times the outfield assists than marcell Ozuna. He’s not even that bad. They are basing it off 2015 NLCS game 3. Misplayed 2 balls. That’s it. And suddenly he’s Adam Dunn. And Ben Zobrist plays left, right 3rd,2nd and SS and 1st. What other team has an entire lineup that can play at least 2 positions.
Schwarber is no Adam Dunn for sure cause Dunn played a major league caliber outfield. As for the other stuff in your post..whatever gets you through the season..lol
No moose !!!! Just play andujar !
Please sign ichiro marlins
Ichiro to the Astros, he would be a great Veteran presence as they begin their rebuild.
This tanking going on by 90% of the league should make for a very impressive season.
I know that this occurs in sports but this is just so ridiculously obvious that it’s bad for baseball period.
There’s gonna be like 20 teams fighting for the top losing record. It’s gonna make for a beautiful season.
Fans of teams who are doing this deserve to have no one in the stands for the entire season. I understand that it’s for the better of the team in the long run. But what fans want to pay MLB prices to watch AAA players??? Not very enjoyable to say the least.
Ichiro and the Astros makes sense. He would be a great veteran presence in their clubhouse as they begin their rebuild.
Hey Timmy, Johnny Football called and said that he has a big giant bag of chronic waiting for you.
I wonder what Ichiro could do on the Boston Red Sox. Frankly I like him better than MM so giving Hanley the opportunity to be engaged as the everyday 1B and letting Ichiro get time around the outfield and DH with Brentz and Blake could be an interesting way to add to the Sox team. Especially since Ichiro can still easily place a ball into the leftfield crevices with his amazing control. I also start him vs CC and bunt bunt bunt until CC tires come off.