Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre spoke about his future Saturday, telling Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News and other reporters that he’s unsure if he’ll return in 2019. But if Beltre does come back for what would be his age-40 season, the impending free agent only wants to play for the Rangers. “If I’m going to play next year, I want it to be here,” Beltre said. “Right now, that’s a big if. But, if I play, I think I owe it to these fans. And I want to retire as a Ranger.” The Rangers seem open to welcoming back Beltre if he continues playing, as general manager Jon Daniels said that “having him finish his career here would be an honor.” In the meantime, it’s possible Beltre will finish this season on a playoff contender if Daniels trades him. However, given that Beltre has 10-and-5 rights, he could stand in the way of a deal.
- Angels star Shohei Ohtani took part in a simulated game consisting of 10 at-bats on Saturday, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. “It all went well. It’s definitely a positive step for him,” said manager Mike Scioscia, leading Fletcher to posit that Ohtani could be within a week of returning if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks. Damage in Ohtani’s ulnar collateral ligament has kept the two-way standout off the field since early June, and he might not pitch again this season as a result. It appears the 23-year-old rookie will factor into the Angels’ offense again in 2018, though, and that would be a boon for the club. Before going on the DL on June 8, Ohtani slashed an excellent .289/.372/.535 with six home runs in 129 plate appearances.
- As the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches, staying under the $197MM competitive-balance tax figure is “a target, not a mandate” for the Giants, according to general manager Bobby Evans (via John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle). At the moment, the Giants are under the threshold, per Evans. If they stay under it through the end of the season, the Giants would lower their tax rate from 50 percent to 20 percent in time for the offseason, when rumored target Bryce Harper is scheduled to be among the majors’ available free agents. Indeed, “there are a lot of incentives to stay below it,” Evans added. But it could be difficult, Shea explains, especially if the Giants remain in playoff contention around the deadline. They entered Saturday at 43-40, putting them just 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot.
- Dodgers rookie righty Walker Buehler had worked exclusively as a starter this year until Thursday, when he came out of the bullpen in his return from the disabled list. That outing – Buehler’s first with the Dodgers since June 8 – didn’t go well, and after yielding five earned runs over an inning against the Cubs, LA optioned him to the Single-A level on Friday. Now, Buehler will have to make a minimum of two minor league rehab starts before returning to the Dodgers’ rotation, manager Dave Roberts told reporters, including Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers’ plan was for Buehler to work three innings Thursday in lieu of a rehab assignment, but that blew up in their faces.
Lol the dbacks traded Swanson and Inciarte for Miller
What does that have to do with this article?
He just arrived from 2015 in a stolen DeLorean
He is a Yankees fan leave him be
Or a cleverly designed troll.
Brew crew is a troll stay on a brewer board ya troll
I still laugh
What no love for Aaron Blair?
This doesn’t follow the article, but I couldn’t just scroll past.
There’s been plenty of lopsided deals in baseball……Here’s a few that stand out as “Bad” for somebody…..
And the A’s traded Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street, and Greg Smith……
….. to the Rockies for Matt Holliday……who hated playing in Oakland so much that he was flipped for……..Brett Wallace at the trade deadline.
Mets traded Nolan Ryan (+ 3 players) for Jim Fergosi.
Tigers traded Smoltz for Doyle Alenander
Cubs traded Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio…???
Alexander went 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA and helped get Detroit into the playoffs. It was a fantastic trade at the time for Detroit. That sucks they lost a future Hall-of-Famer but sometimes you gotta go for it. I wouldn’t put that in Nolan Ryan/Jim Fergosi territory.
I’m still amazed no team was willing to give up a better pitcher than Shelby Miller in order to get Swanson and Inciarte. That’s the real surprise IMO.
I’d be willing to bet it was more along the lines that Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa targeted Miller and his shiny ERA as the prize, even though his peripherals told us he wasn’t this good. Stewart seemed to take pride in his disdain for analytics and I’m sure had no problem dismissing Miller’s higher FIP and xFIP as nothing more than nerd stats that mean nothing.
Probably not…but nice little random narrative you just created there…its ok makes you feel good…pitching in az is hard ask Greinke or just look at his first year…Miller is like 26, he will figure it out
Maybe that would be believeable but miller has 3.77 career ERA and 3.99 FIP. When AZ picked him up he came off of a 3.02 ERA and 3.45 FIP season. Not buying that one
That dry heat is no joke. Climate is huge and not represented by stats. Stats simply don’t take into account enough variables.
Jeeze all the hate, he obviously meant to reply to the thread below which was talking about terrible trades.
Having buehler rehab out of the bullpen against a big league team made no sense. Shouldve started at single-a in the first place
Off topic but is there a list of July 1 opt outs? The Yankees literally need two catchers. Thanks.
This Giants piece above can someone help me with this? The team lowering its tax rate and Bryce Harper possibly be coming a FA purely coincidence. This can’t be an insinuation can it? The Giants have about as much of a chance to sign Harper as Sammy Sosa has of making the HOF.
Actually, the giants have been linked to Harper for the past year. They have a history of signing expensive outfielders from other teams. I’m not personally for signing Harper as I’m not a fan, but it’s not very far fetched. Staying below the tax line was more about resetting the tax before what was being billed as an amazing free agent class even years ago, more so than any 1 player.
Dodgethis, your comment is partially correct except for the “signing expensive outfielders from other teams” they signed Bonds back before the 03 season, but most of the other OF’s they have signed to bigger contracts were already with the team usually through trades (Pence, Rowand)
I hope the Giants stay under the tax because it doesn’t only huet their bottom line which most fans think, it also takes away draft picks and international signing money which hurts the team. I’d rather see them do what they can with the current team, as a fan I obviously want to see them win, but not at the cost of the future trading away prospects and losing future picks.
I really hope he comes back for the new ballpark! Also increases his chances of getting to 500 home runs!
Dodgethis, your comment is partially correct except for the “signing expensive outfielders from other teams” they signed Bonds back before the 03 season, but most of the other OF’s they have signed to bigger contracts were already with the team usually through trades (Pence, Rowand)