As ever, there’s plenty of water-cooler chatter about the eventual destination of Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, who — had you not heard? — is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. Particularly for fans of a Nats organization that is just weeks away from wrapping up a brutally disappointing campaign, it’s a subject of much attention. So eyebrows were raised recently at comments from Harper and, especially, club president of baseball ops/GM Mike Rizzo that could be interpreted as hinting at a reunion. In an appearance on MLB Network (Twitter link), Harper at least acknowledged a reunion is possible, saying that “it’s going to be an exciting future for the Nationals, and we’ll see if I’m in those plans.” Innocuous enough, to be sure, but perhaps the line could be interpreted as a wink toward contract talks. As for Rizzo, Chris Lingebach of 106.7 The Fan rounded things up. Those interested in parsing the words fully should click the link, but the key phrase at issue from Rizzo is his statement that he “won’t discuss [negotiations with Harper’s camp] until there’s something to announce.” Did the tight-lipped, hard-nosed GM tip his hand? It’s at most an arguable point.
From this vantage point, there’s enough here to make you think, but hardly a clear indication as to how Harper’s fascinating free agency will turn out. Here’s the latest from the National League:
- The Diamondbacks had held a strong position in the postseason race for much of the season, but as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes, they’re now left hoping for a memorable late-season comeback to get in. “[B]reakdowns occurring in every facet of their game,” Piecoro writes, have spurred a ghastly 4-16 run that has reversed the team’s fortunes. Unfortunately, odds are that the Arizona club will head back to the drawing board at season’s end — while watching two significant players (A.J. Pollock and lefty Patrick Corbin) hit the open market. Still, it’s notable that the club has largely followed up on its successful 2017 campaign, as the thought in some quarters entering the year was that there wasn’t really enough talent to keep pace.
- As is also covered in the above-linked piece, the D-Backs suffered an unwelcome blow in advance of tonight’s loss when they were forced to scratch righty Clay Buchholz. The veteran hurler has been an immense asset for Arizona, throwing 98 1/3 innings of 2.01 ERA ball since joining the club in mid-season as a minor-league signee. He’s now headed to Phoenix for testing, though the hope still seems to be that he’ll return this year. Regardless, it’s unfortunate news for the team but even more disappointing for the 34-year-old, who has dealt with plenty of health problems of late and will be reentering the open market at season’s end.
- It has long been wondered what the Reds Baseball America points outwill do when they are ready to call up top prospect Nick Senzel, who’s blocked at his natural position of third base. We may be seeing the hints of an answer; as , Senzel is listed as an outfielder in the organization’s instructional league roster. That hardly guarantees anything, of course, but it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Senzel — who’s opportunity for a late-2018 callup was taken by a finger injury — come into camp in 2019 looking to crack the roster in the corner outfield. Just how it’ll all play out, though, remains to be seen.
- Speaking of top prospects … among his many notes today, Jon Heyman of Fancred writes that the Mets took a targeted approach to discussions with other teams regarding ace righty Jacob deGrom. As Heyman puts it, the New York organization “focused” on the handful of clubs it deemed to have assets worth haggling over. When those teams weren’t willing to give up their best young assets, talks sputtered. Heyman cites “the Blue Jays, Braves, Padres, Yankees, and perhaps to a lesser extent the Brewers” as clubs that were engaged. But the ultra-premium prospects and young MLB players in those organizations simply weren’t on offer. It’s hard to argue with the Mets’ rationale; deGrom reached a new level this season, after all, and certainly shouldn’t be parted with by a major-market club for less than a compelling return.
I’d really like to see the Dbacks make a push
For Harper? Whoever signs him, whoever signs Manny, will ultimately have a regrettable contract on their hands.
Totally agree. They’ll both inevitably sign contracts neither could live up to, and when reality sets in and their signing teams are hamstrung, the apologists will come out of the woodwork defending those contracts as “sunk cost” that just has to be accepted. If I owned a major league team (any team)I’d hold a front office meeting after the season and declare that we’re not signing either one of those guys, so don’t even ask.
Dbacks are sunk. Good season beginning, lotsa hope til mid-August, then a slippery slope to oblivion.
Look at the batting averages: Start with Avila who doesn’t belong in the major leagues. Can’t hit and a haughtier than thou attitude.
Good field, no hit guys are a dime a dozen. We have too many (the whole catching corp, for example). Shortstop, third base, as well. Lamb turned into a pineapple..Amed never could hit. Those positions need to deliver runs. Goldschmidt and Peralta are the only producers.
Timely hitting has been totally absent for weeks. Runners in scoring position are stranded multiple times a game. That can’t be.
Look at the relief corp: The closer Boxburger is a dial tone. They need a closer who comes into a game with an iron fist. Not a wimp who sucks wind before every pitch.
The bullpen is worn out..And figured out through metrics.
Starters go six or seven innings of beautifully pitched ball. Then the bullpen blows the lead and the game. Morale and trust are bottomed out.. Geez, let the starters go further into the game.
Base running blunders: .Running through a stop sign out of sheer frustration can’t be condoned. That’s sandlot stuff.
Hope Buchholtz’s latest injury isn’t serious. Possible comeback player of the year? I realize it’s more like a half a year but an era of 2!
I would think that kemp wins comeback player of the year
Venters could be another candidate
They really need to define what this award is. Is it for the best player that made a comeback of some sort OR is the player that made the best comeback? If it is the former then Kemp is a clear winner, but if it is the latter I don’t see how you not pick Venters. His comeback is one of the all time greats.
Miles Mikolas will get votes as well
Sincere question from a guy with no horse in the race, does Mikolas have a big enough profile/track record to argue that he has “come back” ?
Matt Kemp had 438 AB’s last year and hit 19 homeruns I don’t think he should be considered just because he had a slightly better season
Agreed. Comeback POTY should be from illness or injury.
Renfroe
Zobrist
Saw a stat the other day that Zo had the highest upswing in batting average from one year to the next in modern history. BA isn’t everything but it’s certainly a consideration.
Renfroe is in his sophomore season. A little soon for Comeback Player?
Besides, the Padres are being managed like it’s Spring Training, so nobody’s paying attention. Even hardcore fans are getting disgusted.
Or Trevor Story
Venters easily. dude has had like 13 Tommy John’s the past 3 years and can still pitch effectively
I feel like it has to be Buch or Mikolas. Kemp had value before this year and isn’t exactly an MVP candidate and while Venters is a great story, he’s only pitched 30 innings
-0.6 fWAR in 2017.
Ok well he has 1.4 this year and he had 0.9 w years ago.. Not exactly tearing it up. His offensive stats seem pretty similar to last year, maybe taking a few more walks and getting a few more hits. Clay had 0.1 fWAR last year and 0.5 the year before that and has 2.0 in 16 starts this year
Agree. What a wonderful surprise Buchholz has been.
Mets should have traded him regardless because you never know if he becomes the next clay b.
Nothing about this comment makes sense.
That’s why you are just a commenter like me.
Unless he is a fan of one of the teams the Mets approached.
Well sure, the Dodgers should have traded Clayton Kershaw when he should have hit the open agency, but he ended up becoming the next Dan Uggla rather than his true destiny to becoming the next Tom Niedenfuer. Because you never know when you trade a Placido Polanco if he’ll be the next Yunel Escobar. You have to wonder what goes through these GMs’ minds, really.
I dont think…. I thought….you dont…..wait what?
^^ couldn’t have put it better myself lol
lolol
Attention everyone we have a Dan Uggla reference!
This is… exactly what I was thinking. I think.
Lol what? What indication has deGrom given you that he would turn into Buchholz? Hahahahaha wow I feel dumber for reading that
Wait, stop the presses. Clay Suckholtz is hurt again. Biggest waste of talent.
Tsk tsk tsk
I have a feeling that bostonbob over here would have posted this on any article about Clay, regardless of the season he’s having. Some “fans” get an impression of a player on their team and stick with it
I don’t understand why he pulled Montgomery so early. A man got on, but he was pitching well. I would have pinch hit for Stroup to try to increase the lead. Despite this, I’ll still take Joe as my manager. He’s been successful more often than not, and I have a World Series cap to wear.
Mets have the BEST STARTING PITCHING in Baseball…… if they get a catcher who can actually catch/hit, Closer, and a power hitting centerfielder who doesn’t have heel problems they’re Good; SPEND HE MONEY!
Just off the top of my head the Mets have plenty of power. Frazier, Bruce, Cespedes when healthy, Conforto has pop. It seems like they need a couple guys to get on base or have their power guys drive people in.
Cespedes won’t even be playing next year due to the heel operations & he missed All of this year except for about 6 weeks; Bruce was hurt from spring training, and just came back the end of August and is healthy now:Frazier is also Healthy now after 2 long DL Stints.
Rosario, McNeil, and Nimmo all get on base so they’re okay there.
Rosario is hitting .257 with a .298 obp. He’s still young and an ex-top prospect, but that’s not getting on base. Nimmo yes, mcneil in his short time also.
Jays will trade you Russell Martin and Kevin Pillar for a bag of balls
What brand and are they autographed?
@Mets1536
You make valid points. The Mets are in disarray but in reality they have the money and resources to turn that around quickly and I agree that though it looks bad, if you look closer, 2-3 solid acquisitions fixes that pretty quick. Easier said than done but you are right that they CAN do it and they have the resources to do it.
Biggest problem has been the WILPON’s ownership after the late Nelson Doubleday had to sell his half of the franchise to them because they had the right of first refusal; Doubleday had a deal with the Dolans in place for twice the money but Fred Wilpon refused to sell because he was planning to make Doubleday sell to him only.
Verlander, Cole, and Morton make up a good starting rotation.
Indians and Astros have the best starting pitching in baseball. I think you’re confusing potential with reality
Well, Nuke’s scared because his eyelids are jammed and his old man’s here. We need a live roo– is it a live rooster? We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose’s glove. And nobody seems to know what to get Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present. Is that about right? … We’re dealing with a lot of sh*t!
And don’t forget about making a rum sacrifice to Jobu.
Then the Mets will be good
I get both refs above, from both movies, but did you mean to cross them? Haha jk.
If they were smart they would non-tender d’Arnaud and use his money to go after a free agent catcher. Either that or try to trade Wheeler for Sanchez. Catcher has been their biggest weakness for years.
I’ll take Cleveland’s rotation. I’ll take Houston’s rotation. Mets are comfortable in that big ballpark with that weak division with weaker hitting, no DH and other ballparks in that division catering to pitchers.
Dbacks headed for a rebuild this offseason. Any offers for a year of Goldy?
AZ really should trade him while his stock is high. They can wait until next July, but that’s a gamble. They can get considerable value for him this winter.
It makes you wonder what exactly the Mets asked those teams for? Called Atlanta and asked for Acuna…click? Called the Yankees and asked for Torres….click? Called the BLue Jays and asked for Vlad Jr….clck? You get the idea HAHA!!
It would take any team a haul to acquire deGrom, but will any team realistically give that much up? The Jays and Padres are not 1 pitcher away from being contenders. Not IMO anyway..The Braves and Yankees are both trying to build around a young core like they both did in the 90’s, so it is not likely they will trade from their core group….both of them do have young pieces to pull it off if the Mets didn’t ask for their top guys! They Mets likely want both quality and quantity, were both the Braves and Yankees are willing to give up quantity, which still beats most teams quality.
Why would you trade a guy with an ERA in the 1.70 range for any less than the “their top guy”? Getting 4 guys with bench warming or 4th starter ceilings is really not going to help a club that wants to rebuild. You either pony up or you go find your ace via the draft or buy him on the open market if you don’t want to part with equal talent. Even a Torres (the highest potential guy in my opinion, as I doubt Acuna was ever even discussed) comes with questions on sustainability of the early success. deGrom has a career ERA in line with Sale – he just play on a lousy team so his W/L doesn’t comp well.
I still vividly remember all the fools that thought “Wheeler is trash” or “you aren’t looking at the big picture on Wheeler” – dude has a sub 1.50 ERA post All Star break, and folks thought you could get him for a marginal prospect outside the top 10 of their club.
I agree as above – Wheeler, deGrom, Syndergaard, and, despite being up and down, Matz make it far smarter to have to be blown away to break it up. If ownership had a clue this team could have been positioned for a long run
As a Braves fan, what do you think a real, viable offer would be for one of the elite pitchers in the league from a division rival? I reviewed the top 30 on MLB and see little that peaks my interest, but maybe you have some inside knowledge I am missing. Potential means little when discussing trading elite players.
I am not saying the Mets were wrong in what they did!! They should ask for the top players in each organization! Very similar to what the White Sox asked for Sale. The only difference is age! deGrom is a couple years older, which for pitchers could be an issue!
As for the Braves top 30 prospects not peaking your interest??? If that doesn’t peak your interest nothing will! They are still ranked as the #2 farm system in all of baseball.
As for what the Braves have to offer outside of Acuna? It depends on what the Mets are looking for? Are they retooling or rebuilding? If retooling, then Inciarte and Swanson could be possible starting options, with more going to the Mets obviously. If the Mets are rebuilding, then Riley, Pache, and Alex Jackson could be fielders that start conversations. On the pitching side Wright, Anderson, Wilson, Allard, or Touki could be offered.
I personally hope the Braves are able to hold onto Wright, Touki, and Anderson! However, I know you have to give players up to get players!!
Trading with either the. Raves or Yankees will be so expensive that it will be prohibitive. The cost from Atalanta would be Wright, Anderson, Pache, Wilson and maybe more just not worth it.
I agree with you! That is the only mistake I feel the Mets made. They called the Braves, Yankees, Padres, and Blue Jays. The Padres and Blue Jays would be dumb to tear apart their far, systems for 1 pitcher before they are ready. The cost for the Braves and Yankees would be too much, like you said. The Brewers make some sense, but they seem afraid to trade top prospects for anybody, except Mouse LOL
When the Sox got Sale, they traded two “can’t miss” minor leaguers out of the four sent yo Chicago. One, Moncada so far is a miss and the other, Kopech is seriously hurt. Enough said about why the Mets sought what we all believe was requested.
Jays were a throw-in team. I don’t believe Heyman when he mentioned the Blue Jays. Makes no sense for the Jays to grab DeGrom while on a downswing.
Harper will be Milwaukee’s starting SS next year. Can never have enough infield help.
Hows that “Brewers are the 4the best team in NL” statement working for you? Looks like the “delusional” David Stearns has done a pretty good job for the circumstances at hand.
Central*
Andujar for degrom who says no?
Straight up…The Mets!! Anything more then the Yankees haha
If the Yankees get Machado, Andujar becomes the centerpiece of a big trade. For a pitcher? Or for Realmuto?
I doubt Realmuto as they have Sanchez in place as catcher. unless you think that he is destined to DH or a move to first
“If the Yankees get Machado” they sign Machado (if their smart) and yes trade Andujar for a TOR pitcher, not saying deGrom ( though that would be preferred), but someone of substance. Sanchez should be dealt in a three-way trade somehow to acquire Realmuto. God now there’s the gaping hole at first to fill.
I was actually thinking a large trade (not sure of who else on each side) but include both Andujar and Sanchez going to Florida.
That’s where bringing in a third team could certainly satisfy all parties, the Padres certainly have needs and the prospects to satisfy the Marlins. Just wishful thinking on my part, but I’m hoping they convince Stanton that it’s best for him to move on, through a trade of course (got I hated that trade)
*God I hated that trade*
Why trade the only consistent hitter on the team? The Andujar hate on these threads is just absurd to me.
Throw in Sheffield, Adams and Frazier and it’s a deal!
Sure, as long as you’re throwing in Thor. Andujar, Frazier, Sheffield, and Adams is ridiculously steep for deGrom. Tell me how much Sale fetched.
Two prospects who rated way higher than anything in the Yankees system.
Err, wrong! Andujar has more value than Moncada did then. Andujar has proven himself in MLB – Moncada hadn’t done that. Let’s also not forget that Sale had more value than deGrom.. Better, younger, a lefty, more control. deGrom is 30 for crying out loud. Sorry, try again, kid.
I’ll give you younger, lefty and more control. But no pitcher in baseball is better than Jacob deGrom right now.
I am curious what the Mets asked for exactly.. Take a team like the Padres, they have quite a few good prospects, but the Padres need a few to become MLB pieces first before they can even think about getting a Degrom.
Tatis Jr and Gore are probably untouchable from the Padres, but they still have 6-7 top 100 prospects to choose from.
There was no way on earth Strasburg was going to forgo FA. Maybe the Nats will do it again with Harper.
AA should trade for Arenado. Send Fried, I.Anderson,Riley, and Inciarte. FOR Arenado and R.Tyler. Sign FA Grandal and C.Allen. Switch Camargo to LF.