A few notes from the National League…
- The Diamondbacks announced that they’ve optioned outfielder Yasmany Tomas to Triple-A Reno. With a $10MM salary, Tomas ranks among the D-backs’ highest-paid players, which makes this an especially notable move. Despite both Tomas’ price tag and starting oufielder Steven Souza Jr.’s injury, the former still wasn’t able to win a roster spot this spring. It’s the latest negative development in what has been a disappointing major league career for Tomas, who parlayed stardom in Cuba into a six-year, $68.5MM guarantee with Arizona heading into 2015. Still just 27, Tomas has been worth minus-1.4 fWAR in the majors, where he has batted a mediocre .268/.307/.462 in 1,169 plate appearances and been borderline unplayable in the outfield (minus-30 Defensive Runs Saved, minus-23.3 Ultimate Zone Rating).
- The Cardinals scratched Adam Wainwright from his start Sunday, and president John Mozeliak told reporters (including Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) that the right-hander is dealing with a hamstring injury. Consequently, Wainwright will start the season on the disabled list, and righty Jack Flaherty will replace him, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports. The 36-year-old Wainwright was on the shelf for a large portion of last season because of elbow problems, and he managed some of the worst run prevention numbers of his stellar career during the abbreviated campaign. Across 123 1/3 innings, the former ace pitched to a personal-high 5.11 ERA, though he did post a 4.29 FIP with 7.01 K/9, 3.28 BB/9 and a 47.2 percent groundball rate.
- Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero will begin the season on the disabled list because of a groin injury, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Cordero, 23, had been in the running for a big league roster spot, but that bid’s now on hold. As a result, it’s likely Hunter Renfroe and one of Matt Szczur or Travis Jankowski will open 2018 as the Padres’ reserves behind starting outfielders Wil Myers, Manny Margot and Jose Pirela, Cassavell suggests.
Man, I remember when all the online Mets fans got pissed at Sandy Alderson for passing up on Tomas.
Reaaaaaaaally telling about how the Diamondbacks see Tomas. This contract and the Greinke deal could handcuff the Dbacks for about $40MM per year’s worth of sunk costs from 2020-2021
The writing has been on the wall for Tomas since the Dyson and Souza moves in February. Injuries or not, I think most observers would have been shocked if Tomas made the roster and rational people probably would question the organization’s commitment to winning if he did. If not for his salary commitment, Tomas wouldn’t be in the 25 man roster discussion at all.
The writing has been on the wall since he hit .241 last year
I don’t think his hitting is the problem. If he could hit like that and play halfway passable defense he’d be on the roster. He’s one of the worst defenders in baseball. Combo that withbad plate discipline and you have A worthless player.
I’d generally recommend against signing guys from Cuba who have poor plate discipline and suck at defense to long contracts.
See also Dayan Viciedo.
I’d generally recommend against anyone who sucks at plate discipline and defense, country of origin notwithstanding.
The reason I singled them out is because there’s an abundance of guys with this type of hitter profile in Cuba, and often they are set in their ways, unlike drafted players who are often refined in the minor leagues. Relatedly, the drafted players are often younger than international signees from Cuba (not always, but usually).
No discrimination meant as I certainly have nothing against Cuban players, they have contributed much to making MLB great.
The funny thing is that Yasmany Tomas really is the poor man’s Dayan Viciedo. Viciedo defended better, was younger, and hit better at a younger age than Tomas did.
There’s no problem to signing these guys to 10 million dollar contracts (what Viciedo got). The problem is that the D-Backs decided to pay Tomas ~70 million. Ludicrous. That’s more than Jose Abreu got!
If you’re signing guys from Cuba, get the best hitters or the best athletes. Or both, like Yasiel Puig. But don’t sign sluggish non-hitters.
Heck, Alexei Ramirez outhit Yasmany Tomas in Cuba.
Man, the Padres need to see if anybody has any interest in Renfroe. That skill set doesn’t work for a bench player, and he needs some reps to see if he’s not just a bust. I feel bad for him but he was so terrible last year on both sides of the ball that I suppose this was going to be the outcome.
I believe there was another recent article on this site that mentioned the Rays might be interested in Renfroe.
Then they should see if anyone has any interest in you.
Tomas is Delmon Young 2.0
Tomas and Castillo should consider buying their minor league teams. I think Pawtucket is now owned by the Red Sox. Castillo though is clearly worth more…Seriously, MLB needs to fix a wrong. Castillo’s contract is the only reason he’s not in the big leagues playing somewhere and while it’s hard to feel sorry for him given his paycheck, he deserves the shot.
I completely agree with you on Rusney Castillo. Of course there is no reason to feel bad for him. He’s guaranteed $75 mil. And more importantly I’m sure if you were to ask him he’d tell you he’s just grateful he and his family are living comfortably and safe in Florida. But that being said Castillo has turned things around in the minors and he could definitely be in the outfield for a mlb team. Possibly even a starter. Unfortunately for him when he was removed from the roster the cba has yet to be changed. And it allows Boston to lock him in the minor league closet most likely until his contract is up. Of course they still pay him but his salary doesn’t count against the luxury tax calculations. As it stands now if he is added back to the 40 man roster the Redsox would be well over the highest tax tier and would most likely result in a draft pick penalty for next year. Even if a team was willing to trade for him they would no doubt want us to eat some salary wich again would put us into the tax penalties. So from my understanding unless he suddenly becomes a better option than either Bradley jr. , Betts , Benintendi or JD Martinez he’s simply stuck at AAA Pawtucket for another 3 years.
I think Tomas has potential still. He had a good 2016 with fairly even splits. Maybe on an AL team as a DH he makes sense with the DBacks eating at least half the contract or attaching good prospects. Regardless I think he’s got some value
Trade Tomas to Red Sox for his friend Rusney. Two Cubans who need to go to Eye World and then they will get a call their glasses are ready.
Sleep it off bud.
arizonia in bottom 10 in power ranking, bad pitching not good defense. will they be last in division in 2018