Superstar free agent Manny Machado will not meet with teams in Las Vegas, it seems, preferring instead to visit suitors at their home parks, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). That would seem to suggest that his market won’t take off over the week to come, though surely there’ll be relevant developments. If Machado is indeed plotting a course of courtship that will take place over the coming weeks, then perhaps there’s more room for earlier developments in other segments of the infield market …
- Behind the dish, the Marlins’ asking price on J.T. Realmuto may be creeping back down to more realistic levels, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. The organization has long been said to be asking for an enormous return in exchange for two seasons of the game’s best backstop, which truthfully isn’t an unreasonable starting point. Still, as Sherman notes, the club will ultimately likely be forced to take what the offer will give. For the Mets, pursuit of Realmuto is still seen “as a long shot,” Sherman adds on Twitter. And the Phillies are presently focused on other pursuits, per Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), such that they haven’t engaged with their division rivals in Miami regarding Realmuto in a few weeks’ time.
- The Athletics have reached out to second baseman DJ LeMahieu as they continue to explore the market for second basemen, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. That’s not an indication that the Oakland org is out on Jed Lowrie, so much as the latest sign that a reunion is anything but inevitable with both parties seeing other people. LeMahieu himself likely isn’t the only alternative being considered, Slusser notes; she goes on to explore some of the other opportunities that could be pondered by the A’s brass.
- In a boon to free agents and teams with potential trade chips at second base, Royals GM Dayton Moore tells MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan (Twitter link) that he is not getting as many questions of late about Whit Merrifield. That’s not because of a lack of interest, though, so much as the fact that the Royals have “pretty much made it clear” they will hold onto the late-blooming star. Merrifield will not even be eligible for arbitration until 2020, though he’ll turn thirty before the start of the 2019 season. From an outside perspective, this seems an ideal time to market a player who’d draw wide interest given his excellent recent production, defensive flexibility, and cheap price tag. But the Kansas City org seems determined to try to build around some of its preexisting roster assets.
- The Phillies are not finding initial success at generating interest in second baseman Cesar Hernandez, according to Jayson Stark of The Athletic (Twitter link). With a robust slate of free agents at the position and a seemingly increasing list of available trade candidates, there’s some imbalance between the supply and demand. Hernandez, 28, has been a fairly steady performer, but he did fall off a bit with the bat last year and is increasingly expensive at a projected $8.9MM arb salary in his second to last run through the process.
- Rockies GM Jeff Bridich discussed his team’s long-term relationship possibilities with third baseman Nolan Arenado in an inteview on MLB Network (h/t Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, Twitter links). Bridich says the club can afford to carry a $200MM+ promise to Arenado, citing a “responsible growth” plan for payroll. Of course, that number may only be scratching the surface of what Arenado could command in a hypothetical post-2019 free agency, so it’s far from clear just yet whether the club will be both willing and able to line up on a new deal to keep him from the open market. Otherwise, unsurprisingly, Bridich acknowledged that the Rox are interested in improving not only in the outfield but also at first base to boost a sagging offense.
I would love to see the Phillies go after LeMahieu for 2B, honestly. Solid player, I’ve always liked him.
Agreed
They can’t move Cesar ….they’ve got Kingery…no room….unless he’s playing the OF…
That’s a good point actually — I had forgotten that Cesar played CF when he first came up.
This means no Harper this week. lol
Exactly. Machado and Harper reps both playing a game of chicken.
I don’t know. Harper signing the biggest deal in baseball history in his hometown might be hard for him to pass up.
He will wait to see how huge the contract for Machado is, then go bigger. If Machado goes for 350, Harper gets 400.
Those two dislikes on my previous post are mean.
I mean at this point Machado’s biggest obstacle to $300MM+ is his own mouth. Honestly this guy took a shot of stupid this last year or something because he has done nothing but shoot himself in the foot.
Harper on a minor-league contract to the Las Vegas Aviators confirmed.
(/s for the sarcasm impaired)
Love Whit but…
Two-hit Whit is one of the coolest baseball nicknames in recent memory.
Whatever Machado gets this winter, I can see arenado asking for the same if not more next year
I think he will be 3 years older, and coming out of the rockies, so no I don’t see him getting that money maybe 220.
I love Arenado but he’s not getting as much as Machado. He’s a better player (slightly, I think) but those 3 years Machado has on him are incredibly important value-wise.
I think Nolan gets more per year than Machado (especially considering his off field influence is viewed much more favorably) but the shorter term will kill his overall value. He’ll be going into the year after free agency at 29, he’ll be hard pressed to get more than 7-8 years
Talking aav however arenado can get an 8 year deal
So based on past reports from Nightengale, Machado will sign tonight in Vegas.
Boring first day
*Yawn*
No more witty banter from the peanut gallery. The wayward sister shrieked!!
I think teams are just starting to sit back.. They know the Marlins have to get rid of Realmuto so why jump the gun and give up too much? Eventually they’re going to get more desperate to get rid of him.
If there were only one team after JT, you’d be right! But unfortunately for them and fortunately for the Marlins, there are 10 or so. And none of them know how far the others are willing to go. Marlins will get a decent haul here.
It’s not as simple as counting teams that are interested in JTR. Teams are responding to those high demands Miami is asking for. The three teams that could offer some of the best prospect packages already have two catchers on their roster now; Atlanta, Houston and Washington.
This isn’t everyone but considering the packages they could have put together it’s a good dent in the market. It’s also a statement that these teams are prepared to move on from JTR.
Colorado could have had the deal already from what I’ve read but they don’t want to part ways with Rodgers. Though a deal involving grey, Hoffman and a few other prospects might put Colorado in a good position to land JTR
What’s the possibility the A’s work out a trade for Kluber or Bauer and Kipnis? A’s need both SP’s and 2B.
The same as the Reds signing Harper.
I heard from a “reliable” source Harper goes to SF!
stay away from Harper.
A’s don’t want Kipnis. No one does. Way over paid and really can only play 2nd base and not that great there. One of the few chances the Indians took on signing young guys to long terms deals that was a bust.
They are trading one or the other not both. Also that’s a lot of $$$ for the As
Marlins lowering asking price NY post journalist? We’ll see if true of just a bunch of bs.
Regardless, Fish should stay firm in their demands. Too may teams after JTR…leverage is in their favor
Also a lot of other C’s on the market.
None are a 5 tool C as Realmuto is. Grandal would be the only C I’d settle for and he will not come cheap.
Yep. Other options if teams feel Miami is being unrealistic in their demands. And teams are starting to turn to them. Washington got Suzuki, Braves picked up McCann who can platoon with Flowers and Houston went and got Chirinos. Any of these three teams could hypothetically get JTR but are also willing an able to move on.
Three big suiters for Realmuto have picked up a catcher having two each on their rosters; Atlanta, Houston and Washington. I think this is a statement that if Miami inists on it’s asking price then they are prepared to move on. Those three teams are a big part of what’s driving the market up on JTR so them bowing it IS a blow to the Marlins market.
“The Phillies are not finding initial success at generating interest in second baseman Cesar Hernandez, according to Jayson Stark of The Athletic (Twitter link). With a robust slate of free agents at the position and a seemingly increasing list of available trade candidates, there’s some imbalance between the supply and demand. Hernandez, 28, has been a fairly steady performer, but he did fall off a bit with the bat last year and is increasingly expensive at a projected $8.9MM arb salary in his second to last run through the process.”
Just like last year…sooooo frustrating….
The Philles FO and their fans think the team has a bunch of marketable players.
Reality is hitting them in the face.
Unless they take on a larger salary dump then they’re trying to do, they aren’t going to find a trading partner for anyone other then Nola, Hoskins, and maybe one other player. They did not develop much in their rebuild, and most of their players are overpaid in regards to their potential production. Their OF’s are 4th OF’s, and their inf’s are utility / platoon players at best.
Wow, with insightful analysis like that I’m surprised you’re not on MLB Network instead of commenting on this sight.
Phils may not of made the leap Atlanta did (although they matched them stride for stride until their late season collapse), but I’ll take that improvement with a 1st yr mgr that is obviously still finding his way coaching a team that, minus two players, is made up of guys that are fringe major leaguers. Keep dogging out delusional Philly fans all you want, but I for one am excited to see what might happen if they can bring in a few of the guys they’re being linked to.
I’m a big phillies fan I completely agree with everything Samuel said. I’m not excited at all with the current team they have. And the delusional 1st year coach scares me. It was no surprise his team stoped playing for him last year with all the crazy moves he made. If you watched any of the games last year you would have seen that.
Hernandez is a hell of a player imo, the second base market is simply saturated. Let’s put it this way, you try putting up a 1.4 WAR playing almost half of the season with a broken foot.
It’s just unfortunate timing to have a second bagger you want to move. He’s a serviceable player but there’s just too many options this year.
Realmuto might be the best catcher in MLB for the past 2 years, but is that really saying much? The catcher position, in general, is at its weakest in the past 25+ years. The difference between the #1 catcher and the #10 catcher is not really that much currently. Not as much as Buster Posey was 5 years ago or Joe Mauer was 10 years ago or Ivan Rodriguez was 15 years ago or Mike Piazza was 20 years ago. He is not those guys. He is basically Jonathan Lucroy or a younger Russell Martin. Top tier, but not elite.
I have to agree. Hes a really good player but the Marlins have the attitude that hes Mickey Mantle lol. I think its because they struck out so bad on their other big trades. Thanks again Jeter. Yelich is amazing!!!!
5 tool player at the C position? Yeah that’s overrated.
Yes……
And in addition to the 5 tools, he does the most important functions a catcher is responsible for extremely well – call a game, manage a pitching staff, and set the tempo of a game when his team is on the field. Believe he’s also bilingual.
Sure – overrated.
I don’t think that’s true at all. Realmuto was the clear cut best catcher last year and I don’t think you can make an argument that anyone was very close, much less 10 that are within proximity. Add in the fact that he’s only 27 and theoretically just entering his prime which only adds to his status.
Saying that though, you are correct that though, you are correct that the position is watered down. I just don’t think you’re giving Realmuto enough credit. I’d argue he’s closer to the Posey/Mauer group than the Hedges/Zunino group.
Yikes sorry about that attempt at a sentence.
Realamuto had a 276 ave 340 obp and 21 hrs last year the number 10 catcher might have had a 220 average and 10 hrs. Realmuto is far and away best hitting c last year.Only catcher at that level is Sanchez if he bounces back and thats no certainty. Realmuto also good defensive catcher. When Piazza was great you had Posada and Pudge Rodriguez playing.Now Realmutos numbers really stand out
Didn’t Grandal have comparable stats (except for BA)?
Mets!!
I mean I’m there are 5 catchers all within 100 points of JTR in OPS that all have great fielding metrics as well (Grandal, Molina, Perez, Contreras) and over the last 3 years even more have come in ahead or near JTR in these stats as well (both Posey and Sanchez had off years last year). Grandal has an OPS of .815 compared to JTRs .825 as a switch hitter….but your right Miami isn’t overvaluing their position at all, that’s why he’s moved so quickly right?
Arenado. One Billion.
I think Cashman offers Machado 8/280 with opt outs after 4 and 6 years. That’s 35 million a year, but I don’t think he takes it.
I think that’s the most money he gets offered by a sane front office *cough* Philadelphia *cough*
Would love to see Whit in a Dodger uniform – Tolles, Stripling and a prospect sounds about right
Haha y’all can’t afford to sneeze unless you move Pig and Kemp. Especially after signing Kelly. Y’all are going to be stuck with those two because NO ONE wants either and have to move players like Verdugo and Pederson. It’s glorious to watch haha.
Just to get this on the record: A’s to offer 2 years 100 million to Harper when no one offers him 400 million.