Continuing to cast a wide net in their search for upgrades, the White Sox “have checked in on” outfielder Michael Brantley, Jayson Stark of The Athletic writes. To this point, the 31-year-old Brantley has spent his entire career as a member of the AL Central rival Indians, though he figures to be too pricey for the Tribe this offseason. Based on his career to date, Brantley would be a substantial upgrade for a Chicago team that received horrid production from its cast of outfielders in 2018.
- Speaking of the White Sox, they’re among the teams that will meet with superstar Manny Machado, per Jon Heyman of Fancred. The Yankees and Phillies, two other unsurprising suitors, will also sit down with the 26-year-old infielder, Heyman adds. In total, Machado will visit four clubs in the coming days, Buster Olney of ESPN hears.
- The Brewers met yesterday with free agent backstop Wilson Ramos and his representatives, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports. Positive vibes seem to have emerged from the sit-down on both sides, which could perhaps spur some momentum toward a match. The Mets met with Ramos today, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post was among those to tweet, though the New York club is seemingly pushing on other fronts first.
- Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who surprisingly hit the open market Tuesday when the Blue Jays released him, may be a fit for the Athletics as a second baseman, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle observes. While Tulowitzki would like to remain at short, he “would be willing to change positions,” his agent, Paul Cohen, told Slusser on Tuesday. He’s also a Bay Area native who, according to Cohen, “would have a lot of interest” in returning there.
- Meantime, the shortstop-needy Tigers will consider Tulo, but signing him is “a low probability,” GM Al Avila said (via Jason Beck of MLB.com). Regardless, the Tigers will add a shortstop prior to next season, Avila declared (via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com).
- The Nationals want an everyday second baseman, and free agent DJ LeMahieu tops their list, Bob Nightengale of USA Today relays. General manager Mike Rizzo revealed last week that the Nationals had contacted LeMahieu’s camp.
- Eight teams are interested in infielder Wilmer Flores, Heyman tweets. The 27-year-old Flores was an above-average offensive player with the Mets in each of the past three seasons, though he did most of his damage against lefties and dealt with injury issues. The Mets non-tendered Flores last month.
- Infielder Carlos Asuaje, whom the Rangers claimed off waivers from the Padres on Monday, is drawing interest from Japan, Heyman reports. It’s unclear, however, whether Texas would enable Asuaje to leave. The Rangers would probably need financial compensation for that to happen, Heyman posits.
First!
Second
Wilmer would be a good fit for the Yankees.
Negative good buddy.
You using a CB to communicate here?
Bungee
10-4
Over and out
Tulo at $600K at 2B is a no-brainer for Oakland. Pinder and Barreto right there when he gets hurt again. Can’t hurt at all. LeMahieu is nice but he’s an everyday guy so that blocks Barreto, Tulo has less chance of blocking him and wants min wage.
Tulo isn’t going to play for 600K. He’d probably rather retire than play 2B for 600K.
If he retires, he loses $38mil.
With his mentality he’d just opt for more surgery. No way someone with an ego like him would accept a meager paycheck for a position that he doesn’t want to play.
“Meager paycheck”?
What part of “$38mil” do you not understand?
Would you shut up and read the damn article, troll
baseball1600 needs that ban hammer
His 38 million is guaranteed. The 600k is all that Oakland would be paying per season of the 38 million. It doesn’t matter who signs him, they are relieving the Blue Jays of 600k and Tulo is getting all 38 million.
Feel free to go with him.
He does not have to officially retire, just demand more than what teams are offering. But would agree, he is not going to just play for league minimum just because he is owed $38M from the Jays.
Baseball1600 takes a break from hammering Xabial to post a clueless post about how major league salaries work. Thanks for your contribution.
Someone please explain how it’s decided where Tulo winds up in this situation. Is it Tulo’s choice? Jays’ choice? Highest bidder willing to pay a portion of Jays’ liability? Or is it something akin to waivers? (Assuming— of course — that two or more teams want him.)
He still gets paid his full contract from the blue jays, minus whatever his new team pays him. He would definitely play on 600k
I could be wrong but I think the way it works is, he gets all of his money but if signed by another team he can only sign for league minimum. So if he wants to play he has no alternative but play for the minimum for whatever team he signs with. The Jays will still pay his full salary the next two seasons.
You are correct sir!
He can sign for whatever amount another team wants to pay him. But no team will pay him over league minimum with the Jays on the hook for the rest.
baseball1600 is by far the dumbest poster on this site, doesnt read the article, just makes up crap and writes and posts it – absolute worst time-waster here.
either make good posts or get lost loser, dont be a lying reply-guy who shoots down everyone coming in here with actual content
Yes because when someone disagrees with you let’s insult them and report their comments. And just because Tulo doesn’t play in 2019 doesn’t mean his money goes away, the 38M is guaranteed. He can do what he wants as the Jays are on the hook for his contract.
I’m forced to make good posts in order to keep my right as a poster? So how many “bad posts” until I “get lost?” 3? 5? Or have I already exceeded this barrier? Is there any way to reverse these “bad posts” o mighty one?
“Yes because when someone disagrees with you let’s insult them.”
Woah, Woah Woah. You should be the last to talk about insulting. Maybe he did it to get a “rise out of you”
See how it feels when the shoe’s in other foot?
Bong!
Stank nuggets !!!
Hey X, that quote is incorrect. There is no period after “insult them” it goes on to “insult them and report their comments.” Think you may have left it out due to personal experience, but thought I’d correct your error.
“One of the best resources on this site.” Of BS? Most definitely. (To JTO btw)
Binga-Bonga!!!
moron, he literally said he would – IM QUOTING THE MAN HIMSELF.
you trolls are soooo annoying, like massively dumb-level annoying. go back to school or something, sheesh.
the worst thing about baseball1600 is that he doesnt even know that its illegal for Tulo to make anything but min wage this year while getting paid by another team, like you dont even know the rules of the game, yet you felt the need to make some BS reply to my well-thought out post, somehow trying to make me look like i dont know what im talking about, when my pinkie nail has more baseball knowledge than you – log off moron
Yes let’s continue to praise your “well thought-out post” you should get a cookie for a post with that level of insight and knowledge. Heck, just become the A’s GM while you’re at it. I’m sure your post is a good enough resume.
I’m reasonably certain, not 100%, but high 90s, that a team can pay more than league minimum for a player with Tulo’s situation, but no one ever does because it would be stupid and unnecessary. Also, illegal? So the GM and President of Baseball Ops are going to be thrown in jail?
Exactly what I was going to say. I’m fairly sure the new team could offer him more than minimum but there’s no reason for them to do so..
I don’t think that Tulo has to accept an offer to play elsewhere, does he? He could decide to just stay home and still collect the $38m.
Can Tulo play? And at what level?
White Sox had 1 player produce more than 2 fWAR last season. And they traded him 10 days ago.
Really hope all these rumors of them persuing FA’s over the age of 30 who are looking for multi-year deals is just agents trying to get other clubs to open their wallets.
Too soon, Rick!
*pursuing
I wish all you idiots would talk baseball, not your online fascination with X. You’re ruining the chats. Soon it’ll end up like ESPN, gone.
Go Yankees
No joke. I just joined this chat and have to sift through all the garbage to get to actual baseball discussion. Anyway I agree with above poster. Tulo in Oakland does seem like a good fit. Maybe he just needs that type of change in scenery to get things going again. I know injuries have plagued him but he was so elite for so long.
I agree, I’m considering not reading comments anymore, which sucks because I like to read other opinions, and I personally couldn’t care less if Xabial has notifications or something and comments a lot. At least X is trying to contribute something of value to the conversation.
It is truly staggering to see the abundance of trolls on this chat.
Tulo for 1m+ incentives coming off the bench as a 2b/3b with his home state angels might make sense.
I feel sorry for the fans of whichever team signs Tulo, if that team even exists.
At that price, $1.1 mil over two years, he’s a low risk fit for half the league.
No he’s not. Honestly, he’ll probably retire.
“Based on his career to date, Brantley would be a substantial upgrade…”
It’s impossible to envision a bum who misses 60-80 games annually (except for his walk year, of course — then miraculously he’s all of a sudden healthy) being a substantial upgrade for any team. While he has the right to chase a contract, baseball would be better off if he retired.
This site would be better off if you retired.
596+ plate appearances in 5 out of the last 7 years.
And you must not have watched the garbage the White Sox threw out there last year. Outside of Eloy, they won’t have any of their legit OF prospects ready for the bigs until 2020 at the earliest. He’d be a substantial upgrade.
LOL @ Priggs, and what about those other two seasons?
He was hurt after 11 games in 1 year, and he had 375 All-Star worthy plate appearances in the other. He has also put up an .800+ OPS in 4 of the last 5 years (the only one he didn’t was the year with 11 games). He’s far from “a bum who misses 60-80 games annually.”
Put it this way: whatever team you’re a fan of, I hope he signs with that team — as long as it’s not the Braves.
Works for me
Grandal —> Brewers
No thanks.
Gimme Tulo on that league min contract for 2 yrs push him to 3B. Trade Franco and Hernandez in package(s) for pitching. Sign Machado. Push Segura ti 2B. Kingery to the OF.
The Mets should sign Wilson Ramos and AJ Pollack to replace Plawecki/Lagares. Keep Thor, Nimmo & Conforto. Realmuto isn’t that much of an upgrade of Ramos to deal those guys.
I’d say Grandal would be best for the Mets of those choices, then they should trade d’Arnaud to the team he grew up rooting – the Dodgers – for Puig. Puig wore out his welcome in LA.
I see that Dan Federico has tweeted that the three-way Marlins-Yankees-Mets deal is still very possible. He says he’s talked to “someone close to the situation” and a potential deal could be as follows:
Yankees get: Syndergaard
Mets get: Realmuto
Marlins get: Andujar, Rosario, and Nido?
I have no interest in any of the three teams whatsoever…..but that’s a terrible deal for the Mets.
Agreed. As a Mets fan, I say we riot if that happens, well, not quite, but we demand Wilpons sell the team like Jet fans used flyovers to demand Idzik be fired.
I would guess there would be a couple additional prospects going to Marlins and Mets. Realistically there’d be no way that this is the final framework
Agreed. I was thinking something more along the lines of:
Yankees: Syndergaard, Castro
Mets: Realmuto, Andujar
Marlins: Rosario (or Gimenez if they prefer), Florial
Plus some lesser pieces thrown in.
Adding Ramos and Tulo to the Brewers would create a heck of a lineup. Then maybe trade Woodruff/Burnes, Ray, Santana and another lower prospect or two for Bumgarner to shore up the rotation
C Ramos (5)—- SP Bumgarner
1B Aguilar (6)— SP Chacin
2B Tulo (7)—— SP Burnes/Woodruff
3B Shaw (4)—- SP Davies/Anderson
SS Arcia (8)—– SP Nelson/Peralta
LF Braun (3)
CF Cain (1)
RF Yelich (2)
Bumgarner will require better than a “lower prospect or two.”
But yes, that’s a solid looking lineup.
The Brewers shouldn’t give up that much for Bumgarner. Burnes may not be considered to be a “prospect” anymore based on the amount of Major League time logged, but he and Woodruff are controllable for years to come. I’d just as soon see what they can do.
The bulk of that trade was Woodruff or Burnes, Ray and Santana…. not the “lower prospect or two”
The MLBTR comment section DESPERATELY needs moderation.
LeMahieu was the name I was expecting for the Nats 2B need. I am not surprised to see they are also looking at Kinsler, but LeMahieu is definitely the better fit….
On the wish list… A J Pollock- That would renew the log jam at OF but the top four OF of
Pollock Eaton Soto Robles makes for a very deep OF. It probably wont happen but I would be all over that….
I have a feeling that they’ll go with a less expensive, shorter term, option at 2B. Probably someone that can also be the backup for Zimmerman at 1B. That way they can give Carter Kieboom another year to develop and gain some minor league playing time at the keystone.
With all the money tied up in the rotation, and the funds that will be needed to extend Rendon, it’s hard to picture them spending more at 2B for someone like LeMahieu.
MLBN was just talking about how the lack of potential suitors could bring Bryce back to DC. In the unlikely event that this passes that would mean a lot less spending elsewhere and prospects making debuts.Even if the Phillies want him, going ten years is a hard pill to swallow. I think it will be whole lotta bucks over 8 years
Kinsler or LeMahieu would be a plus. But the bench does still need a lefty power bat and corner IF. Those signings can come late though…
Interesting. Both Lerner and Rizzo have said that the 10/$300M offer they made in Sept is no longer on the table. To be honest, I think even 8 years and $240M is too much. Harper is just too inconsistent to justify $30M per.
Sounds like Boras isn’t getting the kind of interest he banked on when they turned down the Nats offer. That’s good. I like the thought of Boras getting his nose bloody for once!
There goes Tanner to the Reds
Here comes Tanner (Rainey) to the Nats
Sure hope Rizzo has something in the works. Need at least one SP still, probably two.