Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish could be on track to rejoin the team’s rotation in early September, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. Darvish’s two-inning, 33-pitch sim game on Wednesday went well, manager Joe Maddon suggested. The next step for the 31-year-old Darvish is to embark on a rehab assignment, which may happen by the end of next week, per Wittenmyer. Triceps and elbow problems have kept the big-money free-agent signing off a major league mound since May 20.
More from around the game…
- Rangers righty Bartolo Colon may be open to returning in 2019, when he’ll turn 46 years old. Colon became the winningest Latin American-born pitcher ever on Tuesday, when he racked up his 246th victory in a defeat of Seattle. After the game, Colon told Levi Weaver of The Athletic (subscription link): “There is one thing that I look for: Juan Marichal has more innings than me. For Dominicans, I want to beat him also, and I think I have about fifty innings left.” Colon actually has 62 innings left to pass Marichal’s 3,507 1/3 frames, Weaver points out. With time running out in 2018, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to overtake Marichal this year. Regardless, Colon has given this year’s Rangers more than they realistically could have expected upon signing him to a minor league deal last offseason, as he leads the team in innings (130 1/3) and walk rate (1.52 BB/9) even though he has only managed a 5.18 ERA/5.21 FIP.
- Hyped Yankees first baseman Greg Bird has been a disappointment so far in 2018, having hit .211/.301/.402 in 236 plate appearances. As a result, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post wonders how much longer the Yankees can count on Bird, whom injuries have limited to 580 PAs since his 2015 debut and who has batted a modest .222/.312/.450 along the way. Bird’s still just 25 years old, though, and seems to have Yankees brass in his corner, as Davidoff notes. Angels general manager Billy Eppler, who was with the Yankees when they used a fifth-round pick on Bird in 2011, also isn’t ready to give up on the lefty-swinger, telling Davidoff that a team doesn’t know what it has in a player until he reaches 1,250 to 1,500 PAs in the majors. Bird’s not even halfway to the low end of that estimate.
- Padres outfielders Travis Jankowski, Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes are “being intensely evaluated” by team officials as the last-place club looks toward next season, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. It’s possible only one of those players will remain with the team in 2019, per Acee, though it’s worth noting the Padres don’t necessarily have to part with any of them. All three have minor league options remaining, after all. Notably, both Renfroe and Reyes – a pair of power hitters – have offered above-average offensive production this year.
Colon’s xFIP is closer to league average
Yes, and his ERA+ is 92 (MLB average set at 100).
But please sign with a NL team. We need to see that swing! That helmet fly off one more time!
Brewers could use any pitcher.
Update: Bird is hitting .215/.304/.405 with 9 HR.
Still a disappointment,
But his numbers are going up ever so slightly.
Too bad the team didn’t send Bird to the minors where he could have worked without the pressures. With that swing, my guess is within a month if he stayed healthy and played every day, he’d have been called back up.
“But his numbers are going up ever so slightly” what in the world are you talking about? His BA went up to a peak of .231 The last 15 games he is hitting .189 with a OBP .250, and the last 7 games .080 and .115 OBP. His defense has been subpar also..should have made that scoop from the Andujar throw against the Sox. The Yankees are 27th in the production they’ve gotten from 1B.
Totally agree with the bounced throw but given all his injuries, they rushed him. A team that can wait will gladly want him. He lost so much time maybe he needs a year. I just love that swing in Yankee Stadium and I’m a Sox fan.
You’re right!
Post above says he hit .211/.301/.402
He is now hitting .215/.304/.405. comparing it to this post by Connor. Just trying to spread optimism
This has nothing to do with your post, Pope but might be time for me, to get mlbtr app 🙂
Nothing but ads.
The Padres should just keep those players, at the moment they don’t have much value. Reyes has been on a hot streak the last 79 AB with 6 HR .278/.329/.557 and Hunter Renfroe is barely on a streak in the last 26 AB with 3 HR and a .269 BA & .538 SLG. Keep them for a little longer and let them build up their trade value or just keep them as your everyday starters. Jankawski should stay, he’s a good defensive player that could start when one of the starting outfielders is resting, it’s not like they would get much for him anyways.
Maybe we’ll see them package one of those guys along with some rule 5-eligible prospects in a trade this offseason.
I agree with Jankowski being the one they should keep. He’s a good 4th OF speed/defensive guy. Those can be useful players for teams to keep around, especially with contending teams.
Janikowski was/is my top 4th OF target for the offseason. Halos have needed OF depth the last few yrs and he fits the bill much better than ChrisB Young did. He’s clearly a useful, player so he won’t be free, but if the cost is minimal I think he’s a great option. If not EYJ is always around.
Franmil Reyes is the equivalent of Willy Mo Pena.
Why because they look the same? Have you ever seen Franmil play? The guy is very athletic for a big man and has been spraying balls all over the field, not just a home run hitter. No comparison to Wily Mo Pena who also played for the Padres in which I have watched every at-bat from both players in the uniform. No comparison.
Below average defender. Below Average Hit tool. Extremely high power. Sure, size too. Anything else?
Don’t let this guy fool you, he only watches every at bat of the El Paso chihuahuas.
He is batting 4th today and is 1-1 after a good night last night against the Brewers.
I don’t know what his at-bats at El Paso have to do with anything but his at-bats in San Diego have been just fine since coming back up.
Where are you at now? Are you watching him today? That ball that he hit just now still hasn’t landed. I don’t see what you don’t like about Reyes, dude is killing it in real time but you’re a hater. Kinda weird.
He swings at everything and is just running into a few…nothing more. Lol take his at bats now divide them by strikeouts. Do the same with walks now see how many people with those ratios stick in the majors long term. Just call me professor instead of hater.
In the last 29 AB Reyes has a 20.7% strikeout percentage and 13.8% walk percentage. I don’t think he’s getting lucky, if anything he’s showing he’s adjusting to the major league pitchers
Not the last 29! Oh wow that’s not sss nope not at all.
Having followed all 3 players over the years my quick assessment is this:
-Jankowski is an ideal 4th OF, can play all 3 spots, has above average defense, excellent speed.. Inability to consistently hit and get on base is what keeps him from ever being a starter.
-Hunter Renfroe probably has the highest ceiling in that he has already demonstrated he can probably be a 30+ HR guy with everyday playing time and has slowly improved his plate discipline. He probably won’t hit for high average, but .250/.325/.500 is pretty realistic slash line for him. with improved plate discipline, His arm is strong and defense is probably average..
-Franmil Reyes can flat out hit, but tends to get long on his swing. Recently he shortened it and has positive results, but the question will be consistency with him. His defense is below average, but he is more athletic than he looks. He also plays with a lot of energy for what it’s worth.
Very good synopsis. I’ve watched every game this year and your description on all 3 players is spot on.
Reyes can flat out strike out a lot… and can’t take a walk…if you have been watching the games that’s what happening…you think that short swing will stick or he won’t have to make adjustments? come on guys, this just shows general lack of baseball knowledge. Yea the past week has been OK, but early in the season he was sooooo fooled on pitches, way late, swinging at balls in the dirt.
What have you guys been watching?
.The guy is hitting .250 and the MLB pitchers haven’t even found all the holes in his swing yet, just because there is not enough tape on him.
“Flat out Hit”????
“I’ve watched every game and this is spot on”????
Juicemane,
Are you are Padre fan? A Reyes hater? or just a troll?
Why wouldn’t you be pulling for a guy like this to succeed? This is a potential middle of the order bat with a big personality and a huge impact with the young Latin core in the locker room. I’ll wait for him to develop before throwing him to the wolves which sounds like you’d be okay doing, based off how highly you speak of his game.
C.- Just a troll
Yup.
Reyes is playing very well to deserve that type of hate right now. That ball he hit a few minutes ago was crushed. Another HR and 3 hit game. It seems like the last demotion to AAA really paid off for him. He made some adjustments and they are showing.
To keep them Andy Green would need to not jerk them around. He has shown no inclination of doing so. Last night was the first time this season he used the same lineup 2 days in a row.
EXACTLY. That’s why guys never succeed in San Diego, because they are either platooned or given up on when they struggle early. Rizzo is the best example of that unfortunately.
All 3 of those OF might be gone. Myers,Margot,Cordero?
You need MLB backups, you need minor league depth. Myers, Margot, Cordero/Renfroe would be a really nice OF core, and I like Jankowski as a 4th OF one way or another. Franmil has two option seasons beyond this year and he’s raw enough in the field that he’s a great candidate to go to El Paso. Cordero and Jankowski both have options so there’s room for all of them on the MLB/AAA rosters.
All that said, if another team made a good offer for one or more of these players we all know that the Padres would be happy to make a move.
Yankees brass has always been in Bird’s corner, or cage, even when Austin was tearing up while filling in for him. It will be interesting to see which of the two winds up having the more productive career.
Bird was batting clean up today??!
Hell yeah, Yankees brass believes in Bird Lol
Tyler Austin .290 with 5 homers in April, but faded down the stretch.
Even Had a Two-HR game in May Lol
He’s streaky, but Power is legitimate, and he filled in for Bird, and produced when was needed most.
Tyler Austin K’d in 40% of his ABS. Bird’s profile suggests he could/should improve at the plate. I can fully understand why he was given every opportunity to play over Tyler Austin.
If Bird has been disappointing, Hanley is available.
I wouldn’t mind Hanley just to DH while Judge is out
Maybe the Angels can give Colon a minor league deal. Angels will probably have another 5 players go down with TJ or some long term injury, we just need innings at this point. Although giving prospects a look would be better for the organization, a colon reunion would be entertaining
If/when Mike is gone, 2019 will be a new beginning.
Fresh start. No injuries. I’m superstitious.
Very true. Although a few guys will be out for the 2019 season as well. But you’re right. Colon could be backup/minor league signing just in case
I think most of us (mets fans) would love Colon back because it’s not like he’d be worse than Vargas. If you remove Jose Reyes’ 1IP 6ER performance against the Nats…the remaining position players who have pitching this season have better number than Vargas. Let that sink in for a second… @MLBRandomStats first came up with the data, though it included Reyes:
Vargas: 47.2IP, 46ER, 20BB
Position players: 48.1, 54ER, 28BB
Position players minus Reyes: 47.1IP, 48ER, 26BB
AND he has $8m and another season for the Mets…who will likely keep him because no team would take him at the current rate AND the Mets are too cheap to take pennies on the $ AND have to pay another guy to replace him.
It was stupid trading Tyler Austin. He’s a better ballplayer than Bird.
Birds minor league numbers shows he has elite potential. I would say his overall mlb numbers are better than a Austin’s too.
Not even close… Austin stinks!
What has Bird done to justify “not even close”?
No he isn’t…
Bird has been hurt by the shift. His ops when he pulls the ball on the ground is around .200 but when he pulls it over the infield (infielders) is around 1.200. It’s amazing. Everything is pulled. He is literally losing a battle vs the shift.
Fighting a battle he may never win…
Calling… Mike Ford… Jk!
I’ve seen you call for this guy in the past. Frankly it’s embarrassing.
Ford is hitting .288 in July, and .313 August, after an anemic May (.184) and June (.217)
Embarrassing, ur calling me embarrassing, for openly rooting for a Yankees AAA player. Lighten up, Francis, know Bird has the throne.
And even said it was a joke (sarcasm is hard to get on the internet, but especially on here)
Lol Chinwood, Cmon, man.
It might be wrong of me but I love when teams other than the one I pull for sign a guy to a big long term deal and it immediately blows up in their face. Like the guy is completely useless from day one. He’s got a ways to turn it around but so far so good Darvish looking good
It is funny
Most albatross contracts take about a year to manifest, but you’re right – Darvish literally tripped and fell across the starting line and still hasn’t gotten up by mid August.
Yu know it.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler, who was with the Yankees when they used a fifth-round pick on Bird in 2011, also isn’t ready to give up on the lefty-swinger, telling Davidoff that a team doesn’t know what it has in a player until he reaches 1,250 to 1,500 PAs in the majors.
—————-
If this was a 21 year old five tool prospect, with 6+ years of team control left, playing somewhere up the middle, then absolutely: you might suffer through 1,000+ unproductive ABs, because he makes up for some of it defensively, and, indeed, you don’t know that the guy isn’t on the verge of turning into a 7+ WAR/year player for you.
But it’s a silly thing to say about Greg Bird, for all kinds of reasons. Here’s some:
1. we know he’s a slow runner….so we know he’s never going to be a good base runner
2. we know his glove is average at best…so he’s never going to help out Andujar, by digging throws out of the dirt
3. we know he has limited range…that’s never going to change
4. we know his hitting is limited too, he will never hit for a high average
5. he only has three more years of team control left
Which means that the only real tool he has is power, and, if you give him 1,250 unproductive ABs before he finds it, you’re gonna get rewarded with exactly one year of a one dimensional power hitter, before he’s a free agent.
Clearly, not a good cost/benefit ratio. It would take a very impressive seven weeks, followed up by a great post season, for Bird to keep the Yankees from looking to upgrade first base in the winter.
Why wait for the winter? the padres will GIFT you Wil Myers right now. All for the low low price of his 65 million $ guarantee. If that’s not enough money, im sure they’ll throw Hosmer your way.
Wil Myers for Sonny Gray straight up day one of the offseason lol
Give Bird some time
“Give Bird some time” Contending teams don’t have that luxury.
I thought back in spring training the Yankees should have given Judge some reps at 1st to spell Bird from time to time against lefties. Judge was a 1B in high school. Won’t help now but definitely something the Yankees should consider with Birds production and injury concerns.
Judge is a great RF and that would be a humongous mistake, not that it would ever happen.
Yeah a gold glove finalist in his rookie year should definitely switch to a completely different position.
What about Stanton at 1B and Harper in LF?
There’s your lefty bat and Stanton could do it. Trade a controllable Bird for Haney.
I would give Bird one more season to see if he can stay healthy.
Would rather take my chances with Frazier in left than throw away more than 300 million on an overrated player like Harper.
Bring big sexy back
Would a Greg Bird/José Martinez swap of some sort work out? I’ve heard Martinez is destined for DH, but he out produces Bird. Yet, Bird also probably has a higher potential ceiling?
If not, Royals should make a play for Bird. They could use a controllable LH- Power Bat.
If the Yankees to sign Bryce Harper (which I hope they don’t) that open up the opportunity for Judge or Stanton to learn 1B. Both have a lot of reach and could be pretty good at the position. I still think it would be shame if they gave up on Bird and he’s goes to a garbage organization like the A’s, Rangers, Rays, etc and becomes an all star all while staying healthy.
@east33
Very interesting. Both are athletic enough for sure and if committed to learning 1b I think either could. As you mentioned if that occurred either would be a huge target at 1B with large wingspan and plenty of reach. I would like to see Judge give it a shot.
Dude that’s a waste first of all, and second he’s way to big. Judge is the lock RF for the Yankees for now and for years to come. Some of these Ideas are just out there…
Harsh to throw the A’s in that garbage team bin. Garbage playoff team like the A’s maybe but that’s a pretty good org considering their limited resources.
Yankees sign machado to play 3B. Move andujar to 1st.
Andujar would be even worse at first than he is at third.
They could sign Machado for third and simply trade Andujar as well
That makes total sense. Wait though for some to say how they would rather have Andujar than Machado. Three positions they should definitely upgrade this off-season, Third, First, and Catcher. Oh and for those who are gonna complain about having to pay Judge soon, by the time his arbitration or contact comes up, Ellbury will be off the books…
Justin Smoak seems like a perfect fit in NY. He’s become a quality power bat that walks a tonne. He is also very good defensively. He’s on a team friendly deal this year with a cheap option next year. Doesn’t fit with the Jays building for 2020.
Please Rangers bring Big Sexy back for another year. If only so my Rangers Bartolo jersey I bought this year is relevant for a little longer lol