“There’s been some trade talk of late involving Mets reliever Jerry Blevins,” Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman reports in his weekly roundup of baseball notes. Blevins has posted a 2.65 ERA and 38 strikeouts (against 13 walks) over 34 innings since May 1, and even his inflated April ERA was largely due to one disastrous outing against the Braves. He is eligible to be dealt since he cleared revocable trade waivers in August, and the veteran southpaw could provide a boost to a team looking for left-handed relief help (though Blevins is actually in the midst of a reverse-splits season, dominating right-handed batters and getting hit hard by lefty batters). While Blevins could help get a team into the playoffs, however, he wouldn’t be eligible for postseason play himself due to being dealt after the August 31st deadline. Blevins is a free agent after the year and is owed roughly $583K in remaining salary.
Here’s more from Heyman’s notes…
- In more Mets news, the team has over 30 names on its list of general manager candidates, though the interview process has yet to begin. As Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported earlier this week, the Mets plan to have their new hire in place before the GM Meetings begin on November 4.
- Even with the Dodgers in jeopardy of missing the postseason, it doesn’t appear that manager Dave Roberts, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, or GM Farhan Zaidi are in any danger of losing their jobs. It seems as if this season could be seen as an aberration, given that L.A. has been beset by injuries yet still leads the National League in run-differential. (The Baseball Reference standings page notes that the Dodgers are eight wins behind their expected Pythagorean win-loss record.) While management changes don’t seem to be afoot, there will likely be some type of contract talks among Dodgers brass this offseason since Friedman is only under contract through the 2019 season. Roberts is already in the last guaranteed year of his deal, though the Dodgers have a club option on his services for 2019.
- The Red Sox didn’t put much focus on relief pitching at the trade deadline, with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski noting that “If we addressed the bullpen, then there’d be other needs we’d have. It wasn’t that we weren’t open to some moves. But we addressed some of our other priorities.” Boston was linked to multiple relievers in trade rumors but didn’t find a fit anywhere. In regards to one name in particular, Dombrowski said that “we couldn’t touch” Roberto Osuna, who the Astros acquired from the Blue Jays in a deal that generated quite a bit of controversy, given the domestic assault charges still pending against him. The bullpen has been seen as a possible Achilles’ heel for an otherwise dominant Red Sox team, though as Dombrowski observed, Boston’s relief corps still ranks within the top ten in most major categories.
- Heyman expects the Yankees to try and re-sign J.A. Happ in free agency. The southpaw has done nothing but impress since coming to New York from the Blue Jays in a midseason trade; Happ has a 2.70 ERA, 8.3 K/9, and 4.78 K/BB rate over 46 2/3 innings in the pinstripes. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd recently projected that Happ’s next contract could exceed $40MM over three years, as the veteran is still posting strong numbers even as he approaches his age-36 season. Retaining Happ would go a long ways towards solidifying a Yankees rotation that has only Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka as certainties for 2019.
- With the Marlins still years away from contending, they could consider trading Dan Straily or Jose Urena this offseason even though the two starters still have two and three years, respectively, of arbitration control remaining. This added control, of course, could also entice suitors to give up more in a potential deal. Straily has been mentioned in trade rumors ever since Miami began its fire sale last year, though the team held onto him through the deadline and pulled him back from revocable waivers in August after an unknown club submitted a claim.
Dodgers may score lots of runs but they need to do it with runners in scoring position, and learn to move runners over when necessary.
They just need to do it consistantly.. .score 5 every night, not 11-2-2-11-2-2 ugh.
They’ve been underperforming their run differential (Pythagorean score) by playing boom or bust baseball all season long. Lots of power-driven blowout wins and even more close loses blown by the bullpen, especially when the power isn’t happening. This season feels like a good argument against playing only large ball and treating the pen like a red-headed stepchild.
I don’t think Roberts should kept twisting in the wind, if only because managers in this day and age, especially with a FO like the Dodgers have now, is really just an extension of the FO. So many of the decisions managers used to make in-game based on instinct are now driven by data, and that data comes from the FO.
A full season of underperforming should be putting Freedman and Zaidi’s philosophy of running a ball club under a microscope, or at the very, least holding it up to the light to see where it does and does not work. At some point they have to take ownership of a team that really hasn’t had so many injuries that they could not compensate or address them in trades. I haven’t heard either one of them do it yet.
Very well-stated
I’m sorry but Dave Roberts needs to go. With him insisting every guy on the team needs playing time it has shown guys cannot get into rhythm at the plate. Turner & Machado must be his favorites as they play no matter LH or RH pitching. Do you ever watch the dumb look on his face when stuff goes wrong. He’s never stopping the problem til it’s too late. i.e. Darvish in game #7 of WS.
Turner and Machado play because they are good. They don’t belong platooned… they need to give him actual quality bullpen arms and dead weight like Utley, Baez and Barnes need to be cut. I don’t think Roberts is the issue. But yes I agree he leaves pitchers out too long when they are in trouble.
He does that because his bullpen stinks. He can’t give himself better options, only the FO can do that.
I suppose that’s part of it, but you still gotta try… even Baez has had a good game before… so could they.
Players need a day of rest here and there.
agree with you but he has a different lineup every night two or three players. When he plays Barnes is like having two pitchers batting in the lineup . when players get hot he doesn’t care he pulls them when he feels like it. Kemp guide hot and started hitting lately and won two games against Arizona with his hitting how much of him have you seen since? He has played twice and twice he has hit but it’s still a pinch hitter I can’t blame that on the front office
If he wouldn’t mess with other guys heads he would have a team. They brought Dozier to play 2b and where is he now. Splitting time. The guy is a proven player and now it shows how Roberts messes with guys playing and they start to struggle. He’s proven he cannot run a team. If they pick up his 2019 option it will be 31 yrs and counting.
I meant Roberts 2019 option.
Doziers kneee is messed up and he is 1-25 or soemthing like that in his last ab of that sample size. He is not going to get everyday ABs with that going on
Dozier was starting a ton… but he doesn’t deserve it if he can’t contribute anything offensively… so that’s what the issue there is. If you want to start you have to play good.
Thats what depth does. You basically have 2 diffrent lineups vs LH and RH starters and thats ok. In case you didnt notice Turner and Machado are elite hitters so of course they play everyday. Pretty much every other player on the team leans 1 way or another for splits.
It’s a game !!! What happened to your “Starters” playing than you have your “Bench Player”. Two words – Cal Ripken. I’m sorry I’m Old School but analytics has ruined the game.
That mentality is why the old school is being left behind. Teams are much deeper now than they were even 20 years ago. Maybe Muncy deserves more ABs vs lefties but thats about it. Their platoons are accurate with the splits
Teams are only deeper in the BP’s. Benches are not even close to the quality they were 20 years ago..example the 98 Yankees.
The ’98 Yankees were the best modern team so your really going to use them as the template.
Exactly. I’ve said it before. for the betterment of the game, limit non-doubleheader days to eleven pitchers on the 25 man roster. Pitchers will not exhaust themselves out by overthrowing and by necessity, will again learn how to pitch. This will eliminate so many pitching changes and shorten the game. Go back to basics. Hitters need to learn how to control their bat and bunt or go opposite field when its given to you.
OK, but the fact is benches are so watered down because of the overuse of relievers over the last decade it’s become foreign to many. Teams have to juggle bench players with the DL to keep the few allotted ones fresh, and the transfers of players between the minors is at an all time high. The product has become so swing-and-miss ( pun intended) fans are bored, and people wonder why baseball is bleeding fans.
Cheers to that dewey.
This is a joke. You want to massively change the game because you dont like it. This is why all the old school people are being left behind
I couldn’t find the roster but only none pitchers appeared for NY (10 for SD) in the four games. I believe each had 10 member staffs. Today teams use 12 and 13. IMHO that’s a major reason why the game is taking too long. Also lomit replays to one minute. If it can’t be overturned within that time, leave it alone. Umps behind the plate miss so. many pitches that it seems ridiculous to overturn only some calls. Also give teams thirty seconds to challenge without looking at replays.
“This is why all old school people are being left behind” That is the majority of MLB fans (who’s average age is 55) by the way. The game has been massively changed over the last 10 years anyway, and has not gained any younger fans for it.
Old school people need to understand that the youth aren’t interested in baseball and some changes are needed. What’s wrong with wanting more arms and a slightly faster pace? Is it really that radical?
It’s the truth. Old days teams could bring in a Bill Robinson, or Tommy Hutton type and chug right along. late in 2000’s even boston had CoCo Crisp who was as good as Ells was then on the bench as a super sub.
Very scary fiberman. My note above was in reference to a 1998 WS comment. Game has gotten unwatchable for those that work. I tend to now watch key plays and innings after the game ends. Also, it used to be a besutiful thing to listen in a car or at the beach. Now there’s just too many commercials. Every play now has a sponsor. Does anyone remember Fenway without the ads on the monster? Citgo sign in left center stuck out. Also the Prudential Building sign was noticed. Now there are just too many to count.
Everyone and everything is “bleeding fans”. Change is part of life.
But, in this case, baseball is more than replacing the fans it loses, as evidenced by record revenues.
The most important stolen base in Sox franchise history by a bench player..Dave Roberts 2004 ALCS game-4 against my Yanks….
Most revenues are from advertisers, Cable Contracts, and streaming. Google the popularity of sports in this country or for that matter athletes media presence, and you’ll see where MLB ranks. Right now on this day September 15 baseball news lags behind NFL, College Football, Tigers Comeback, and even NBA news.
The issues with attracting youth does not have to do with moving runners over , playing small ball and how guys pitch. Thats what some om here have been complaining about
It also lags behind in “distraction” issues, so maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
I’ve got no problem here with slow paced games. 4 hour 9 inning Boston-NYY games? i love them. Agree with the poster above who mentioned the game needs to get back to more contact oriented. i also don’t care for this all or nothing garbage that seems to be prevailing last cpl of year mentality.
I don’t think the majority of fans are “old school”
Not “old school”, just older.
Much of the youth want 500 feet homers, 3 pitch dominant strikeouts and amazing defensive wizardry all in a 2 hour window. Wait until fantasy comes up with a way to measure great plays and not just overall defense. Another words a video game with replays.
Good thing he let Machado play again today huh? Manny driving in himself and Turner for an early 2-0 lead!
Agree!
Fire Fraudman,
Dodgers fail to move runners, steal bases (better lately) or sacrifice runners into scoring position. They depend on the long ball and consequently strike out far too often to be championship contenders. Lineup wise, Roberts wildly over manages his club and I’d send him packing at the end of the season.
They dont give away free outs? How terrible of them
You DO realize the Top 3 teams in stolen bases are Cleveland, Boston and Milwaukee … right? It’s not just about getting runners into scoring position, it’s also about the effect speed on the basepaths has on the opposing pitcher and the basehit opportunities it creates when middle infielders have to leave their position to cover 2B on a steal. But those are some of the things that aren’t included in advanced metrics, which is why some people don’t understand the value of stolen bases.
And the Dodgers have been stealing based a ton since July. Wont show up in overall rankings but it is something they do well
Dodgers have already set a franchise record for solo home runs. Their offense is limited to either a strike out or home run. Once they face the Verlander of the world in post season they’ll be whiffing like looney toon characters.
This team has one of the largest and most expensive analytics departments in baseball and a manager who is basically an analytics implementer. Yet, the stuff that doesn’t work is all his responsibility. Amazing.
Roberts is a F O puppet
I’m realistic about the role of analytics in baseball, it’s a permanent change until the next one comes along. What bugs me is when a manager does the business of his FO right down the line, but when the plan doesn’t work, he’s the one who has to wear the uniform and sit in front of the cameras and explain why his bullpen melted down for the sixth game in a row. This is my biggest gripe with Friedman. He has a manager who he hired and who runs the game the way he wants it to be run, but when it doesn’t work, he doesn’t take any of the blame. Instead, Roberts is allowed to twist in the wind. I think that stinks.
How do you know every move Roberts makes comes from the FO?
How do I know what I haven’t actually said?
So, when did you stop beating your wife?
You are a very weird person
I figured you’d be smart enough to figure out what that meant, but I figured wrong. So go look up reductio ad absurdum, then you might understand why exaggerating an argument does not refute it. How very weird it is to know that logical fallacy stuff. Bizarre, practically.
So what is Freidman supposed to do? The managers job is to do the post game interview. Period. Its not twisting in the wind. It’s his job and it does not stink
Talk about exaggerating an argument. Boy Blue Sky. You affirmatively stated Roberts is “doing the business if his front office down the line” and said he is left twisting in the wind which is absurd.
So Fred calls you on it and since he non-intentionally made you look foolish you lash out hard and call him a wife beater then try to lecture him about exaggerating an argument.
Get a clue about baseball and Life. If you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen. If you cannot take critical questions about points you affirmatively stated, and obviously cannot support, then cease commenting
He didn’t call him a wife beater. Have you seriously never heard that expression before?
Still rather full of yourself I see.
Yes!
Maddon wildly over manages as well, but hope Joe sticks around for a while yet
He will retire first. Unless things just really go sour next year
I don’t think Roberts gets enough credit. He has to deal with Puig, a meddlesome front office, Puig, a GM who loves to play with the roster, Puig, a veteran team that’s rather fragile, and Puig.
Its little wonder he “floats” to the Kike and Dozier types and guys like them. Like with Francona and Pedroia, it’s got to be refreshing for Roberts to deal at least with SOME players who like the game for more than the huge payday it provides.
In his case. managing the clubhouse is more work than figuring out what reliever to use. And I’m sure he eschews “smallball” because the data-driven are convinced it doesn’t work, even if a PROPER interpretation of the data shows that it can be very helpful.
Don’t forget having to deal with Puig.
Let’s not forget that he also has to deal with Puig.
Yeah, and he also has to deal with Puig!
Why doesn’t anyone mention poor Dave Roberts has to deal with Puig?
I’m sure Doc didn’t mind dealing with Puig’s clutch hr’s this weekend.
Cubs Cubs please. Blevins could be big help until October
Blevins would not be eligible to pitch in October for the Cubs
That’s why I said until October. I’m aware
Roberts is easily already the best Dodgers manager since Lasorda and people want to get rid of him after not even 3 full seasons
It’s like every fan base now. We have been accustomed to just hire a new manager cause our team under performs. Easier than a rebuild. I hear it all the time about Joe Maddon. Both men have won manager of the year in their current stints with the team. But the armchair managers can do better
He’s not really underperforming. He got the team to their 1st WS in 29 years and came close in ‘16 despite having a banged up roster. They aren’t hitting with RISP this year, which really isn’t his fault. The haters should at least wait and see what happens this year
But we all want our team to go 162-0. At least the idiot ones
Did you see Game Seven of the 2017 World Series? And no Blue Sky, I have not stopped beating my wife.
There are at least four bigger arms on the free agent market than JA Happ (Corbin, Morton, Keuchel and that Japanese guy who’s very likely to be posted). And then there’s next year, when Bumgardner, Verlander and Sale are free agents.
And this doesn’t even consider the trade market, also likely to have several better options on it than Happ.
So why would the Yankees, the team with the most money to spend in all of baseball, and without any holes to fill in the hitting lineup, go with a three year contract to what’s maybe their 10th best option at starting pitcher?
The Yankees are going to sign Corbin, and then go out on the trade market and try to land another top of the rotation arm. If they can’t, they’ll look to Morton or the Japanese dude as a fallback. They’re not locking a slightly above average 36 year old into the rotation for three years.
Yankees have plenty of holes right now, and with even more coming at the end of the season. Oh and they don’t have the most money to spend, this isn’t 2009…
*the most money to spend
Those guys might also not be able to pitch in that ballpark and division. Happ has proven for years that he can.
While I agree happ has been solid for the Yankees, I doubt he’ll 3back. He’s old, not that good overall, and he’s going to be overpaid. By a lot. I think this is probably his last good season at his age. I do NOT want him here next season. Hell. I’d be happy if he was dfaed now
They don’t have the most money to spend I would say that would be Philadelphia.