It may take a three-year commitment to sign free-agent reliever David Robertson this offseason, but “the Red Sox are in for less,” a source tells George A. King III of the New York Post. Considering Robertson’s a Rhode Island resident who’d prefer to pitch in the Northeast, where he has spent most of his career, he looks like a logical fit for a Boston team which could lose Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly in free agency. However, if the Red Sox are only willing to hand Robertson a one- or two-year contract, a union between them and the longtime Yankee may not be in the cards.
Here’s more from the American League East:
- With both Robertson and Zach Britton on the open market, the Yankees have one of their ex-relievers, free-agent left-hander Andrew Miller, on their “radar,” per King. In 2014, the last time Miller was a free agent, he signed a four-year, $36MM deal with the Yankees. That proved to be a shrewd investment for the Yanks, who received brilliant production from Miller before trading him to Cleveland in a 2016 swap in which New York acquired Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield (the latter was just dealt to Seattle for high-end starter James Paxton). Miller stood out for most of his time with the Indians, including during their run to a World Series berth in 2016, but the 33-year-old is now fresh off an injury-shortened season in which his numbers fell off.
- The Athletics are making headway toward a new ballpark in their city, but the same isn’t true for the Rays, as Charlie Frago and Christopher O’Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times detail. While the Rays and officials in Hillsborough County, Fla., had been hoping to debut an $892MM ballpark in the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa Bay in 2023, an agreement isn’t imminent as the Dec. 31 deadline looms, Frago and O’Donnell report. Consequently, the Rays may not move to a new stadium until 2024 or later. They’ve called the much-derided Tropicana Field home since they began play in 1998.
- It appears Brady Anderson, a prominent member of the Orioles’ previous front office, will stay in the fold under rookie general manager Mike Elias, according to Dan Connolly of The Athletic (subscription required). Not only that, but it seems Anderson – currently Baltimore’s vice president of baseball operations – will continue to serve in a major role, Connolly relays. Elias spoke highly of Anderson in an interview with Buster Olney of ESPN this week, saying (via Connolly): “He’s very smart, he’s very capable, and, most of all, he has a very deep love for this franchise. So, I’m looking forward to working with him.”
I wish Robertson would change his mind and come home & close for the Braves. Wife must originally be from the Northeast and wants to stay close to her toots. Could see the Mets swooping in.
As a consolation I wouldn’t mind Britton closing in ATL. As much as I love Kimbrell I hope the Braves stay far away from him. The years & money he is going to command will be to much.
I believe Robertson lives in Arkansas, Braves would be a good fit
This post literally says he’s a RI resident, why are you arguing that without providing evidence to the contrary?
Per Baseballreference: born April 9, 1985 in Birmingham Alabama
Being born in a location does not mean you live in that location. He’s living in Rhode Island. Yanks need to resign him & Britton.
Born and raised in Alabama, do your homework
Rather have Andrew Miller
Robertson lives in Barrington, RI
He lives in RI..as in the state that shares a boarder with MA.
Step 1. Read Information.
Step 2. Comment on Information.
Damn y’all need to relax I believe he meant he is from there as in grew up there. He went to Alabama so he has some kinda ties to the south and I only recently heard he lives in Rhode Island I always believe he lived in Alabama but they would know better than me
He grew up in Tuscaloosa and went to college at Alabama. The article says he lives in RI now. None of that has anything to do with Arkansas. Arkansas and Alabama aren’t even located adjacent to each other…. The guy said “I believe he lives in Arkansas so the braves would be a good fit.” That’s just completely ridiculously wrong anyway you wanna look at it.
Kimbrel isn’t getting a true six-year deal from anyone.
Her toots must be awesome. Jk.
“Coming home” would be Alabama, not Georgia.
And he lives in RI now, anyways.
What thought when read the 1st post further up also.. Not a Lynard Skynard fan in all probability is he…
Easiest FA prediction (Contest or no contest)
Robertson back to the Yanks. Dude is his own agent lol
How’d this work out last time he was a free agent?
He got a 4/46 deal from the White Sox the same offseason Andrew Miller signed a 4/36 deal with the Yankees.
He did quite well for himself.
They both did pretty well since Miller was given closer’s money to replace Robertson. He was the top set-up reliever at the time.
How is that the “Easiest FA prediction (Contest or no contest)” when the Yanks need another starter, and Corbin has let it be known he’d love to be in the Bronx?
Ha
I’m my own agent and I didn’t sign with the Yankees.
If you want a true rebuild Anderson needs to go. If you want me to name the people who are the biggest problem for the Os it’s
1: angelos
2: Anderson
I agree. Anderson seems to be made of Teflon. Maybe he has some damaging info from the PED era that’s easier to employ him then fire him. I wonder if they fed him from Richie Bancells’ stash.
Well, when you hit 50 HR once in your career and never hit half that many in any other season…
Fifty…in a WALK season!!!! No question he juiced for that season.
The Rays have a decent ballpark and St Pete can build a retractable roof on the Tropicana Field for minimal cost. Tampa bay will not come up with the money and shouldn’t pay more than 1/2 as well. My issue is will Florida baseball ever have more than 15k fans per game.. The Marlins and their new stadium say no. With Cable, Media and now the MGM Gamble contract, The owners don’t need fans at a stadium anymore to make unbelievable profits though.
Tropicana field is the ugliest stadium in all of professional sports. They need a new one, even if it isn’t state-of-the-art.
Built on the low end of budget.
Previous Majority Owner Vince N. was desperate to get a stadium built & agreed to a terrible lease with St. Pete.
St. Pete actually loses money on a good chunk of games. Stadium is basically paid off & the city should be helping the Rays build the new stadium in Ybor so they can make more money redeveloping the Trop site.
The Trop is not ugly at all. and it’s an AC enclosed stadium for people who haven’t been there. I know of 12 uglier MLB stadiums off the top of my head.. This is all about making a new elite site and have the taxpayers pay most of it. Though it’s a small distance from where people are moving there is little traffic most nights. Thousands of young people socialize on Central Ave…just as much (if not more) as Ybor city! The new Miami stadium has brought less fans the last 2 years. We Floridians have lots to do down here than go to ballgames and the avid baseball fans are sadly not Rays/marlins fans yet. My suggestion is to let the Rays leave if that’s what they want for a price (500 mill? The new city would pay it) We could use that money to upgrade our beaches, parks and destinations. otherwise stay and all the trop needs is a new roof ! I love the Rays, though 10k paying fans is not support.. However The Rays make extensive profits with TV, Social media and the web with gambling in the future.
Make more money? They don’t make money on stadiums or else owners would build them their elves.
There are Spring Training facilities for MLB clubs superior to the thunderdome (still preferred name here) to that dump Where have yet to find a seat that has both decent sight lines and have been all over the place at one time or the other, from VIP club to the bleachers. It’s terrible in so many ways and then throw in those wretched cow bells the half crowd of Rays fans brings and it’s worse.
Nice ST stadiums? Try Fenway South (ft myers), even Steinbrenner Field, right next door in Tampa across the bay from St petersburg.
Both locations play outdoor baseball half summer with GCL league teams for free (day Baseball) under daytime skies with no cow bells.
So your well informed, The Trop is clearly not even in the top 5 worst MLB stadiums! 1) Oakland (sewer smells everywhere! ( possible new stadium to be paid by private investors) 2) Angels stadium (built 1966-) team won’t renew lease-fallling apart. 3) Comisky park- White sox- built 1988, not maintained and worn, team wants to move out unless offered a new stadium. 4) Rangers field 1992 -Texas. Fell apart…new stadium being built and paid by private investors and the team. There are more but I made my point. All these stadiums are much older and in complete disrepair compared to the Trop! None have a dome as well. Every year fresh paint and clean seating is offered with less than a quarter of the seats taken. by the 3rd inning you can move where you please! FYI Tampa just announced they will need another 3 months to offer a monetary plan for the ybor stadium concept-Thats after having 3 years!!! St Pete-Pinellas county has been the only reliable partner the Rays have had! and they offered a new stadium. You are spoiled to ask for a new stadium and have us taxpayers pay for most of it! Like I said before Have Stu or another city pay for the 10 odd years on the lease and move the team if he is treated so bad. Stingy Stu “won’t” cause the Rays TV Web package is so profitable and the local population is growing! The Rays owners should be thankfull St. Pete has been so generous!
Other than having a roof to protect you from rain and A/C for people who somehow can’t handle temperatures in the 80’s, the Trop is a dump. It was purposely built on the cheap as a multipurpose stadium by the city of St. Pete in the hopes of luring an MLB team, against the recommendation of MLB baseball. It’s similar to playing baseball in a mall. Two of the stadiums you say are worse and falling apart are both baseball only stadiums and were both built after Tropicana Field.
Tampa is a city on the rise and the proposed new stadium will help to connect historic Ybor City and the Channelside/DT Tampa areas together. The new stadium will also come at the same time that DT Tampa is experiencing new-multi billiion dollar development.
St Petersburg has had their chance over the past two decades to show that they can support the Rays and have shown that they are not ready to step up as a major league city. The new stadium will be a crowning jewel for the city of Tampa and help the Rays step up as a legitimate MLB franchise. As someone who has grown up and still resides in the Tampa Bay area, I really hope the city of Tampa, Hillsborough County and the Rays can make this new stadium proposal work and the region doesn’t lose the team to another city.
I as you, am a local resident that has been a Rays fan for a long time. I want them to be here whether Tampa or St Pete!!! However not by fleecing us local citizens,or purchasing something so expensive that doesn’t work. They tried this with the Marlins -what is happening there? My research says the Trop was built in 90 which makes it newer than all above stadiums I mentioned. The City completely renovated it in 94 for the Rays. It is a clean facility and well maintained.. Friday, Hillsborough country made a statement that it will not be ready to inform where the money to build the new stadium will come from (Excluding Stu’s investment). They and the team will not inform us what local companies are committed to invest in the Rays as well when it is contractually obligated in a month? This after having 3 years to organize the process. Tampa/ Hillsborough have not been able to accomplish the most simplist tasks towards paying for this stadium.. As for your jibe at St Pete and their Rays commitment…We offered the Rays could pursue any site basically without penalty and the promise to support the Rays if they chose to move to Tampa. Also We offered to build them a new stadium if they wanted to stay! I see no merritt in you above statement.
It’s also in a horrible location.
I don’t think it’s all that ugly. It’s just a terrible, terrible location.
I’m not sure if you’ve ever been in person, but inside the stadium is terrible. Seats feel like they were an afterthought, the stadium has a dark and dreary feel and all you see is concrete everywhere. This is after Sternberg has invested $10’s of millions multiple times on improvements over the past 15 years. If folks would like to see how a very comparabe market has made a beautiful urban baseball stadium succeed, look at Target Field in Minneapolis. As someone who has spent an afternoon pregame and then watching a ball game at both stadiums, one is a dump and one is an experience. Until the Rays can make going to the game an experience, they will always be a second rate franchise.
I see 20 home game a year and season tix 2008-2010. it would be a sad day if the Rays moved but i don’t see a stadium changing things much with the local fan commitment. I recommend a new roof on the Trop as the main upgrade instead of a Billion dollar stadium that us citizens will be paying for forever. Though the Twins have a beautiful stadium they have attracted 25-30k fans per night way before the new stadium was built and paid for by the team owners!..Your optimism to build it and they will come is commendable but unrealistic in Florida.. Remember Stu makes his profits on cable TV -Internet deals and the stadium is just for the TV lens and Business Executive sky boxes with Hostess service..
Dito on the ugly… without question
From what I have heard, and it could be wrong, that the issue isn’t the stadium but more the location. Tampa could update the Trop but fans still wouldn’t go because of the difficulty of getting to the stadium.
Down here is Florida we have to drive everywhere! your food, worship, haircut, employment. Most things are 5-10 miles away! What is the difference if you are in the car 15 minutes vs 30 minutes? it’s a Blvd or highway you have to go on. I’m originally from NY and it took me over a hour DRIVING in DEAD stop traffic to go to a Yankee or Met game, I never heard anyone complain?
Ok I go to games there… and trust me getting there is not the issue… it’s just an old worn out venue… go to Atlanta, Balt, even Fenway… Trop is located in the wrong place and really needs to be on the Tampa side of the bay… end of story
And PS… it’s not the venue in Balt, it’s just very greedy ownership… and there attendance has gone to pot
All of those teams you mention above average over 25k fans a game. Very profitable for owners and the cities. Even then Atlanta just got a new stadium after 25 years at Turner. I have no problem moving the Rays over to Tampa. However you will end up with the same amount of fans per game and 1 billion more in debt! For what? So some fat cat can have a cushioned seat and a barmaid? My point is the Trop is clean-Temperature controlled, with open highways everywhere. When did you get stuck in traffic going to the Trop? Maybe you work for Stu the owner?
I have an idea…move the people to near the Trop.
The Polar icecaps!!!
Rumor has it The city if Tampa is coming way short of the money the team expected them to come up with along with local corporate contributions/commitments.. Seems this deal was all put together with duct tape. All when St Pete Pinellas county offered them a news stadium years ago in good faith! sad. Now St Pete should sell the rights to the Rays for a windfall to our county.. let another State build them a 1 billion stadium! and try to acquire another TV deal -Thats what pays the bill Stu-not the fans in the seats.
Robertson was the Yankees players rep leader who denied playoff shares to coaches, trainers and clubhouse attendants. Yankees had fewest playoffs share shares.
And he is representing himself. If you don’t think he is going for every single dollar possible, you’re going to have a bad time.
Also when he was coming up in the minors he was known for his generousity to the ppl who worked for the Trenton Thunder. That playoff share stuff is a team vote thing and the Yankees have been notoriously known to be cheap in those aspects.
French fry instead of pizza and your going to have a bad time
I’m glad I’m not the only one who immediately thought of this…
He was in charge, but the players, all of them, do the voting
Roberston did not deny anything. The players did. As the Rep he was the one in charge of getting the shares paid that the team voted on
St. Pete fans do not support the Rays as much as they should. All the Rays need is to average about 5k more fans/game to eclipse 2+million tickets sold.
Financing might take longer but the Rays could ask for a needed extension to sort it out.
It’s definitely an interesting situation to watch. I’m personally on the side of them eventual relocating, even at their best there isn’t enough of a fan base in Florida for 2 small market teams.
St Pete supports the Rays 100%, They allowed them to search for a site out of our area! but close by for almost free. Your ignorant to the way Florida lives and works. Answer me this…Why has Miami with 3.5 million residents within 10 miles of their stadium only averaging 12k fans a night with a brand new stadium? Answer: Most Baseball fans in Florida root for their childhood baseball teams down here. Yankees, red Sox, Mets, Phillies, Nats, etc. Lots of teams have thier Spring training here as well!
If 2019 doesn’t work out, you can have the Mets
The Angelos family is even worse then the Wilpon family.
If Brady Anderson is such a baseball genius – and he may be – then why didn’t they hire him to run the operation?
If the owners wanted to redo the organization, they would have made Mike Elias or someone else head of baseball ops and let them hire the GM and other upper level people that would report to him/her.
Sorry, but Mr. Anderson comes off as an owners plant. The PR narrative may be that a synergy will begin to materialize in the near future, but head-butting is inevitable.
Mr. Elias is truly the hired help, not a partner. When he and his right hand man, Sig Mejdal, get the operation up to speed and in place, rest assured that the owners will then reassert themselves and micromanage that.
Hoping for Robertson and Miller resigning in New York but to be honest I don’t expect either. I think Robertson will end up in Boston. Miller will go elsewhere
Yanks will get both Robertson and Miller.
How do figure this?
Robertson because they need another reliable reliever…especially with Betances leaving after this season. Miller is a good buy low type for them.
If Betances pitches lights out again like he did this past season, I’d love to have him back, homegrown guy,.
Why would Betances leave after this season
They can’t fit both in the payroll. Especially when they’ve let it be known they need another starter.
They’ll be money for him next year.
Because Levine pissed him off.
The Yankees could fit Robertson and miller into their plans if they want to. It’s about how much they want to spend. They certainly don’t have to get shy around the luxury tax number. Particularly if it’s for a guy like miller who’ll probably be looking at a 2 year deal.
I know someone with access to the Yankee bench. I could ask.
My guess is Ottavino and/or Robertson to the Yankees. Those are definitely good fits, although of course you can’t predict baseball. I feel Britton wants to be a closer once more, so it would not surprise me at all to see him sign with the Red Sox or anyone else who can guarantee him a closer role.
Britton has said he would like to come back but I think it’s more that someone will pay him as a closer. Hard to give the seventh inning guy closer money.
Well…here’s where I am forced to trust in Mike Elias’ assessment of talent. To me, Brady seems like a mole for ownership in the locker room, where Brady actually has a locker. I’ve always thought his presence there only added to the dysfunction of the team. Imo FO management shouldn’t be hanging out in the locker room. But Mancini credits Brady with giving him good hitting advice when he was in AA ball, and Brady was instrumental in bringing Cashner and Cobb to Baltimore, so maybe its possible that Elias is correct here. My gut says its a mistake to keep Brady.
Brady is much more than a mole. He is someone who, if given a role and used the right way, could help more seamlessly bridge info from the executive suite to the dugout.
I would love to see another city steal the Rays away from Tampa I think Vancouver Portland Charlotte Raleigh-Durham Memphis Nashville Little Rock San Antonio just to name a few. If they bring a team to North Carolina I would love for them to make Wilmington NC a minor league affiliate
Before you dream big, make sure you’re city is willing to pay for the 9 more years of lease St Pete has let with the Rays along with the population to support a team. Montreal thought it had it with it’s 1 mill pop but only 5k came to the ballpark. lastly you’ll have to deal with Stu (the stock market oracle) Sternberg.
Yeah well Angelos and Sternberg are cut from the same cloth… in it for the money greed
The difference is Angelos is at least willing to spend money on players….
Vancouver can’t support a MLB team. Portland is soccer country. Vegas, Raleigh, Nashville, Indianapolis, and perhaps Oklahoma City. Thanks for not saying Montreal.
Why Raleigh over Charlotte? Charlotte is a growing market and has a lot of cash being brought into the area. They’re a much more logical fit over Raleigh.
Are you saying none can? Is it Vancouver and Portland can’t and the rest are options?
Destination Bangor Maine!
Fairbanks has those cooler evenings.
Charlotte or Nashville should really have a baseball team. Southern VA and down the coast has nothing but the braves. I can’t believe the MLB wouldnt take a hard look at those locations considering the joke of a market they have in tampa. I know the location of the stadium is poor but cmon? How long can you let a team who won’t spend or draw any fans stay there? I surely wouldn’t be handing out public funds to build them a new stadium for sure.
Well at least us St Pete Florida residents put our money up where our mouth is. Raleigh, Nashville and South Virginia won’t spend. There afraid of taxing their residents for food let alone a ball park. .Tampa wants 500 mill up front for the lease and Stu wants a stadium (i Bill +) for free! Start with a billion 500k before you begin dreaming seriously of a baseball team..
As I mentioned, Las Vegas has the local population, will spend money and it’s inevitable gambling is in the future for baseball as it is with the Oakland raiders.
Let’s also not forget that MLB pays a pretty good amount of money to the Rays as part of being a so called low revenue market
I still have hope the Yankees will sign Robertson again. Always have been a fan of his and I would dislike seeing him as a reliever on Boston shutting them down.
He is worth the 3 years – possibly with 2 guaranteed and a third as a team option (as he will be 37). With a career ERA+ of 150 and FIP 2.81 and a career 1.15 whip he would be worth it.
His curve ball is his out pitch. His spin rate was down this year and it showed up in his era with hanging breaking balls. His arm is tired and Yanks should look elsewhere.
Does a pitchers velocity generally go up when their arm is “tired”?
A realignment and a new AL West team seems to be a coming….
Ray’s are going to relocate to PDX, it’s not a matter of if but when. If this happens they need to move Houston or Texas to AL Central and move the Tigers back to the AL East where they belong.
Isn’t Portland the mecca for 60 Hippy busses? I estimate start up costs at a billion 500k to secure the Rays. How many fans can oregon they guarantee a night? TV and cable money deal? If the city can offer them call Stu the Stock Algorythem expert. .Oh! check your fingers after you shake hands,.
I think this year the rays should spend some money, a big bat like nelson cruz , they will have brent honeywell coming back from injury, and jose de leon.
Pdx?
Portland International Airport, I am assuming.
Stumptown.
I love how the Orioles honor cheaters/roiders.
One in the FO.
Another got elected to their hall of shame..aI mean “fame.”
Great example they are setting.
Who are you talking about
Brian Robert’s and Brady Anderson.
But the Os like signing former or current roiders.
Tejada, Cruz, Patton, Palmeiro..
Even Davis.
what happened to lights-out dominate closer?