The Rays’ reputation for creative thinking is somewhat making the team a victim of its own success in 2018, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. The Rays have already lost two members of their coaching staff to managerial jobs (Charlie Montoyo with the Blue Jays and Rocco Baldelli with the Twins), while senior VP Chaim Bloom was a finalist for the Mets’ GM job and has been mentioned as a possible candidate to run the Giants’ baseball operations department. For now, Tampa has two coaching vacancies to fill, though the responsibilities of Baldelli’s old infield coordinator role could be altered, as that job was specifically tailored for Baldelli’s skillset. Topkin wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one new coach from outside the organization hired, though the Rays do have a long track record of promoting from within the organization.
Some more from around the American League….
- Neither Andrew Miller or Cody Allen had a season to remember in 2018, though could those disappointing years actually make it more likely that one of the two relievers returns to the Indians bullpen in 2019? Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explores the possibility as part of a reader mailbag, with the caveat that “this is a buyer beware situation even on a one-year deal.” Miller was hampered by multiple injuries en route to a 4.24 ERA over 34 innings for the Tribe last season, while Allen simply lacked consistency, posting a career-high 4.70 ERA over 67 frames. The prevailing wisdom had been that Cleveland wouldn’t be able to afford to re-sign either pitcher in free agency, though if either Miller or Allen was willing to take a one-year pillow contract (with an eye towards pitching better and then looking for a multi-year contract in the 2019-20 offseason), it’s possible the Tribe could be open to that type of short-term expenditure. The price tag will be an issue, of course, as Cleveland already has over $135MM in projected payroll for next season and still must address other needs this winter.
- The Orioles are parting ways with several members of the organization, as The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli and Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com were among those to report the changes. Triple-A manager Ron Johnson, director of Dominican baseball operations Nelson Norman, East Coast scouting supervisor Kirk Fredriksson, special assistant Matt Haas, and area scout Dana Duquette didn’t have their contracts renewed for 2019. Senior advisor Joe McIlvaine and special assignment scout Wayne Britton also won’t be returning next season, Kubatko reports.
- In another piece from Kubatko, he speculates that left-hander Sean Gilmartin and outfielder John Andreoli could be candidates to be outrighted as the Orioles clear roster space in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. (Kubatko already reported that Jace Peterson has been told by the team that he’ll be placed on outright waivers.) Gilmartin posted a 3.00 ERA over 27 relief innings for Baltimore after signing a minor league deal last summer, and Kubatko speculates that the O’s could try re-signing Gilmartin after the Rule 5 Draft since the southpaw has potential as a multi-inning reliever. The 28-year-old Andreoli made his Major League debut last season, posting a .546 OPS over 67 PA with the Mariners and Orioles.
It would be a mistake if the orioles outrighted Sean Gilmartin. He was solid last year, and he was solid for a full season a few years ago with The Mets. He’s a cheap lefty.
He’s the exact type of guy that the Cardinals would go after if he’s let go
Yep that’s accurate
He was already in the Cardinals system and been released by them.
He’s controllable for several more years…
But they also have two really nice looking lefties in Scott and Bleier.
So then keep them or trade Bleier, he’s got the most value. And it’s not like they’re gonna win anything in a while. Get some prospects for Bleier, and keep gilmartin
Bleier is coming off injury and Gilmartin was more lucky than good. You don’t make room for a guy like that.
I don’t think Scott is going to turn out unless he makes some pretty drastic changes. He’s a guy who walks the park. All the velocity in the world doesn’t matter when nobody is going to swing at it since he’s so wild.
Scott needs to learn how to be consistent. He currently walks too many guys to be anything other than a garbage time pitcher.
Gilmartins peripherals were ugly and if one thing the orioles actually have covered it’s LH relievers. Fry and Bleier are locks to make the bullpen. Tanner Scott is there too. I’d take all 3 before Gilmartin. Now we could DFA Donnie hart instead of Gilmartin now but I don’t think there’s a spot for Gilmartin either way.
O’s seem to be going all in with a full gut rehab.
Good or bad season in 2018 will still have them lining up to sign Miller..
I can see Yankees taking another stab at Miller. The guy was solid in NY.
Any indication BAL is clearing just enough 40-man slots to protect their own best prospects, or are they paring down their roster enough to have one or more 40-man roster slots available going into the Rule 5 draft?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the O’s select as many as 4 Rule 5 guys. There’s no sense in them not being active. They can always just return them. The O’s have to leave no stone unturned at this point.
You have to burn 40 man slots at least temporarily to do that though. With the glut of prospects we have to add due to the Machado/Schoop/Britton and Gausman deals we don’t have the space we typically have. All 3 from the Britton trade need to be on the 40. We have guys who can be DFA’d off the 40 but not enough to accommodate all the guys we need to add plus multiple rule 5 guys. We may take 1 but I’d be surprised if it was more than that this year.
They have to add several guys they picked up this season(Ortiz and Tate? Not sure) plus they have some in-house guys they have to add.
Plus the ever-popular Rule 5.
after the Dodgers bullpen melt down, I assume, they’ll be heavy on a bullpen upgrade aside trying to retain Kershaw. A back end of.
Jansen
Britton
Kimbrel
would be ideal.
LOL. Even a large market team like the Dodgers will not spend the resources needed to have a three headed costly monster like that. What is that going to cost, 45m per year minimum? Could see a less costly reliever like Joe Kelly who found himself at the right time. Still not sure I trust him long term but as a Sox fan I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want him back in Boston. No real history of arm injuries, can throw 100 mph and is not walking the ball park.
I don’t think Britton will cost too much. And if he’s alright pitching in the same role as he did in New York, I don’t see why they won’t be in on him. They definitely need help bridging to Jansen. Baez along with at least one of Kelly, Ottavino or Britton is almost a must.
JD. I fully agree. I just don’t think the Dodgers will sign Britton AND Kimbrel given the cost to add to Jansen. How much have Kelly and Eovaldi added to their bank accounts? My past arguments on Kelly and high leveraged situations are biting me. Every WS appearance so far has been important. I was worried about playoff walks and so far, they haven’t been deadly.
Britton shouldn’t be all that expensive and they already got Baez and Jansen. meaning, they’ll only spend big on Kimbrel who trive for most of his career as a CL for the Braves and Padres. I think he will definitely be of interest.
I predicted Sox in 5 and sticking to it. Tonight the Sox expose Dave Roberts expiration date to be this year.
@to4
Who is the closer in this fictional bullpen you are creating? I’m sure Kimbrel only signs if he is guaranteed the closer role!
So do the Dodgers make Jansen the 8th inning guy? Not likely! So Kimbrel signs elsewhere!
All I know is, that after I what i saw from Jansen this WS against the Red Sox! He’s no longer my closer. 7th-8th SU man at best !!! So ye, Kimbrel signs with the familiar west coast team of LA after being a Padres, they also go str Britton, re-sign Machado or even better, go after Harper for a true OF.
But Many at 3B, Seager at SS, Taylor st 2B and Turner st 1B works fine for me.
Britton will command more than you expect, even a pillow type one year deal might be in order if he decides to bet on himself if big offers aren’t made. Also don’t discount Kimbrel staying in Boston. Everyone assumes he’s gone but I’ve said it before. Family issues could override everything else. It’s my understanding his daughter still has medical needs and while signing elsewhere wouldn’t necessarily mean it can’t be coordinated in Boston if he pitches elsewhere or other talented medical teams aren’t available in other cities, it just might be easier for his family if everyone stays put. Time will tell and simply put Kimbrel deserves to do what’s best for hinself and family.
they already got Jansen
As for the Indians, bringing Miller back and a guy like Brach, would make a lot of sense.
Brach
Miller
Salazar
Hand (CL)
could be a much stronger bullpen.
Given Miller’s injury issues the past 2 years I’m not sure CLE would see him as a viable option especially since Salazar spent most of 2017 and all of 2018 on the DL.
I disagree with Salazar. He pitched out of the pen while nursing his shoulder issue and proved successful while his starts we’re horrendous. Due to being out with the shoulder surgery, the depth at SP, and the pen as a need I see the pen as the best option for him and the Indians in ’19. I don’t rule him out as a SP in the future though.
The O’s should be cleaning house in all departments. It makes no sense to keep the same guys that got you to this horrible point.
Getting Andreoli is another of Dan’s head-scratching moves. He’s bad and has been bad in the minors for what, 8 years? Why was there any reason to think he would suddenly be worthwhile?
I think Dan knew he was on the way out so he made a bunch of bad moves and will now sit back and say “good luck fixing this mess”
Even though that’s very far-fetched, it is actually a logical conclusion, considering so many of the moves were so inexplicable, and so bad.
A waiver claim of John Andreoli is hardly a tough fix. You DFA him and move on. We had the 40 man space for a waiver claim. He didn’t pan out like 99% of them.
Correct, but why waste the time with him in the first place? He spent a lifetime in the minors and showed speed and nothing else. And speed is the first thing to go, and he’s older(though not by much) than Rickard. Why bother?
It’s terrible that the decision-makers thought he was worth the time.
And don’t even mention Zoellner, sheesh.
Speed and he drew walks. The bar for a fourth outfielder isn’t that high. You’re taking shots in the dark with any of these guys. He was essentially another rickard but he wasn’t given opportunities like rickard already has. I don’t have a huge problem with it we were playing guys like Jace Peterson too. Time to DFA and move onthough.
Jettison both andreoli and gilmartin, two older quad a guys that aren’t part of the future. Gilmartin could hold trade value but if not outright him.
I think getting rid of Johnson as the AAA manager is a mistake. My thought is he probably was unhappy that he was not given a chance to manage the major league club and the parting is mutual.
1.Taylor 2B
2.Seager SS
3.Machado 3B
4.Turner 1B
5.Bellinger CF
6 Puig RF
7.Muncy LF
8.Barnes C
9.Kershaw SP
=============
1.Kershaw
2.Buehler
3.Wood
4.Maeda
5.Urias
=============
Alexander LR
Fields MR
Ferguson MR
Stripling MR
Baez SU
Britton SU
Jansen SU
Kimbrel (SU)
=============
A 4 man bench, Farmer C, Kemp OF, Pederson OF, Hernandez UT. If Hill still under contract, then ever better. More SP depth.