To no one’s surprise, the rebuilding Orioles have been extremely quiet this offseason, focusing more on front office, player development and analytics hires while also piecing together a coaching staff under new GM Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde. However, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweets that Baltimore does have some interest in free-agent corner infielder/designated hitter Matt Davidson, who was non-tendered by the White Sox earlier this winter. Davidson, 28 in March, more than doubled his career walk rate last season, drawing a free pass at a 10.5 percent clip after walking in just 4.3 percent of his plate appearances in 2017. However, the increase in patience came with a bit of a dip in power, and strikeouts remained a severe issue (33.3 percent). In all, the slugger hit .228/.319/.419 with 20 big flies in 496 plate appearances. Davidson has 46 home runs in his past 939 PAs but is still a work in progress at the plate. He could potentially give Baltimore some pop off the bench, and his right-handed bat could help to shield Chris Davis from opposing lefties as the veteran attempts to rebound from a catastrophic 2018 season.
More from the American League…
- Right-hander Shawn Kelley has been connected to a few teams in recent weeks, but it doesn’t sound as if he’ll be back with the Athletics in 2019. Agent Mike McCann tells Ben Ross of NBC Sports California that while his client has had contact with several teams this winter, Oakland isn’t one of them. Fancred’s Jon Heyman recently tweeted that Kelley has heard from 10 clubs this winter, so the righty should find his way onto a roster in the coming weeks. Kelley, who’ll turn 35 in April, posted a 2.94 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 1.29 HR/9 and a 30.2 percent grounder rate in 49 innings between the A’s and the Nats in ’18 — his third sub-3.00 ERA in the past four seasons.
- Adrian Gonzalez worked out for the Tigers, Royals and Diamondbacks this past week, tweets J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group. The five-time All-Star, who is hoping to continue his career in 2019, batted .237/.299/.373 with six homers in 187 plate appearances with the Mets last season before being cut loose. Detroit would seem to have the most playing time available for the soon-to-be 37-year-old Gonzalez, though he could certainly serve as a veteran bat off the bench in either Kansas City or Arizona. The two American League teams are, of course, a better on-paper fit given that Gonzalez could spend some time at DH in either spot.
- Yandy Diaz projects as the likely starter for the Rays at first base following the DFA of C.J. Cron and the trade of Jake Bauers (which brought Diaz to Tampa Bay), writes Juan Toribio of MLB.com. Many fans and pundits alike raised an eyebrow when the Rays shipped out Bauers, long one of the organization’s top prospects, to acquire the 27-year-old Diaz, who has yet to prove himself at the game’s top level. Vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom spoke of Diaz’s upside with the bat, however, specifically touting Diaz’s ability to hit the ball with authority — a point that has long been written about as Diaz has recorded highly intriguing exit velocity numbers. Toribio notes that the Rays feel that, given Diaz’s penchant for hitting the ball hard, they can coax more power production out of him. Ji-Man Choi figures to serve as the primary designated hitter for the Rays and the top alternative to Diaz at first base, Toribio adds.
This thread has the appropriate amount of comments so far for a thread about the Orioles, Rays and Adrian Gonzalez.
Lol
Haha, that’s great
The Tigers? Adrian Gonzalez? Man, we just got rid of an incredibly slow, past-his-prime, dh type in Victor Martinez. We don’t need another one, do we?
No more than we need a wall to keep the Canadians out.
Look at the bright side.
Should be a good year for the Mud Hens.
Mud Hens will be fun to watch this year. The Erie Seawolves starting rotation should be one of the best in all minor league ball too
I am a Tigers fan, I understand how rebuilds work, however in this sense there is less than a 5% chance he is any where near wanted or tradeable to another team at mid season for even a disgarded peanut vendor.
I hear they have Adrian lined up to race a Glacier later this winter
With global warming, no-one gonna back Adrian.
Given what the Rays have been able to do I believe they have earned the benifit of the doubt. If Bauers were as good as he had been hyped I doubt they woukd have traded him.
I agree….when its not money…trust their moves to compete. they done well this long
Oakland’s bullpen is full on right handed relievers. Its 7 men deep on the right side. They do need another lefty.
They have butcher, but yes they need another lefty.
The Rays professional scouts are among the best in the business. Their amateur scouts, not so much.
The Rays FO has been so accurate finding professional talent other teams miss for less money that you have to side with their insight. However,I was looking forward to a guaranteed big bat from the top free agents! You can go to that 3rd shelf Free agents success streak they have going to often. I hope they haven’t with their choice of Y Diaz, Ji Man, A Garcia , D Robertson and N Lowe as the 1b-DH options.
I’ll take the cheaper Garcia now to have real money to spend on multiple relievers
The Rays don’t spend on relievers or anything else for that matter.
What multiple relievers are left? 95% of the good ones are gone. Right now your banking on a rebounding Greg Holland or your bringing romo back. Avi Garcia stinks.
After last years success with the opener and follower, We are stacked with Young 95-100 mph pitchers with at least a 1/2 year of MLB experience and some 10 in the minors!! Pitch by committee is what Cash will do till at least the allstar break. Seems to work…
ummmm….Sipp, Tony Barnette, Madson, Shawn Kelley, Adam Warren, Alex Wilson, Boxberger (take away 2 of his roughest outings from last year and his era drops to 3.22, not to mention he closed – and quite well – for most of the year),
Tyler Clippard, Xavier Cedeño, Dan Jennings, Santiago Casilla, Carson Smith….you get the idea. while I know none of these guys are ‘ elite’, but a decent amount of them have been, or are, quite good. Greg Holland is who I would try to snag as he has been dominant for a while. his last two months last year looked like vintage Holland…we shall see.
this list doesn’t even include any of the home grown talent coming down the pipe for the rays – Poche, Gibaut, etc…. a few solid arms from outside the org would make me feel a lot better. I would love a trade for leclerc
Pretty sure Avasail Garcia will be DHin for the Rays?
That would be correct. But while Gonzalez is strictly a 1B/DH, it could add flexibility and insurance to the roster as Garcia could move to the outfield if Meadows isn’t ready or someone gets hurt,
Gonzalez is not linked to the Rays in the above article.
My read on their plans are that Garcia will likely spend time at DH and the outfield. I’m betting Cash will find ways to get guys in the lineup based on matchups; resting others if said matchup isn’t favorable.
I find it hard to believe avi Garcia and Yandy Diaz at 1B and DH is an upgrade over Bauer’s and Cron. They spent over half of Cron’s would be salary on absolute scrub.
I agree absolutely!!! Cron was a mistake by the FO. They thought Cruz would sign for 10 mill or less…just stupid and I hope he does well with the twins.. However They make the best decisions 90% of the times, We have probably the best VP and GMs in baseball. Anyhow, in their defense they put together a strong (1b-DH) Righty-lefty combo in Ji Man, Garcia and Diaz with an excellent minors Nathen Lowe (325-27 bombs) to promote(all hitters with less SOs). D Robertson, Duffy and Brandon Lowe play 1b as well. Rays are stacked in the minorsl. We could use Realmuto’s (C and 1base) bat and have the extra prospects to get him hopefully.
Normally my policy is there’s no such thing as a bad minor league contract, and it’s still actually true, but Adrian Gonzalez to the Royals makes less than zero sense.
why? as long as he’s not blocking anyone then there’s little to no risk. if he hits, gets back into mlb form as a solid off the bench bat then they can trade him for an ok prospect from a contender.
no was going to take a 37 year old who can’t field for an ok prospect. Even if he hits ok
Please name me a team that AG would be a good fit for. Logan Morrison is younger, and would have more trade value with a rebound season. Both should sign for next to nothing with incentives. I’m betting Gonzalez wants a Major League deal.
I just wonder what other friend or family of Machado are the White Sox signing next. Headlines tomorrow! Machado’s childhood friend that lived down the block is a White Sox!
Think that’s yonder and he’s already on there
He’s got more friends they could round up
I keep thinking one of these days, one of these nights, that I’m going to click on this app and one of the two questions we’ve all been wondering will have an answer. It’s taken so long though, I’m beginning to question my faith.
Sounds like the musings of a married man.
Been there. But don’t lose faith bro. Even a blind squirrel gets his nuts off once in a while.
Yes, your chewing gum does lose its flavor on the bedpost over night….go in peace, my son……
I wonder if Davis even cares anymore…..
Gonzalez to the tigers would mean he could DH and spell Cabrera at first. His DHing would mean Stewart would be able to platoon/provide insurance for/compete for at bats with Mikie Mahtook and/or Jacoby Jones. (Mahtook is capable of playing center, should Jones not handle the bat well enough to be in the lineup everyday) (Mahtook and Jones are both right handed hitters while Stewart and Gonzalez are both left handed) (while candelario and goodrum are both switch hitters, Stewart is currently the only lefty bat projected to be on the tigers opening day roster.)
There are other options then Gonzalez. Your argument would apply to any LH first baseman.
The Royals currently have a Ryan O’Hearn (left handed hitter)/ Chris Owings (right handed hitter that would play third with dozier moving to first vs LHP) as their first base platoon. They also have a projected platoon of lefty swinger Brian Goodwin and righty hitter Jorge Bonifacio in right field. With injury prone Jorge Solar DHing everyday,,, bringing in Gonzalez would add a platoon partner for Soler as well as give O’Hearn competition/insurance at first. The move could also allow O’Hearn to move to the outfield as the lefty part of the right field platoon, should Goodwin underperform.
The Diamondbacks currently are projected to have Eduardo Escobar at third, Nick Ahmed at short, Wilmer Flores at second and a Jake Lamb/Christian Walker platoon at first. (Lamb had been their third baseman in recent years and hits left handed). Flores is best suited as a platoon player and bringing in Gonzalez would allow Gonzalez to play first vs RHP with Lamb sliding to third and Escobar moving to second and vs LHP, the infield being Lamb or Walker at first, Escobar at third and Flores at second.
couldn’t have said it better myself ^^ great analysis on both teams
really all 3 with tigers lacking lefties in the lineup
If you like him, take him for your team. The Tiger’s dont need any 37 yr old at any position, nor does KC. His type only makes sense as a veteran bat off the bench for a contender, like BOSTON.
Adrian Gonzalez makes no sense for Boston. You can’t keep 3 first baseman on your squad. They have Moreland and Pearce. He doesn’t fit there at all. Gonzalez is finished. The only real hope he has is on a team like the royals who may value him in the clubhouse and quite frankly don’t have that many great internal options. A-Gonz doesn’t even make sense on the orioles given our presence of 3 guys who should be 1B on the roster. Miami or KC is the only shot he has left.
Gonzalez was awful with the Mets last year who waited too long to cut him. I cannot imagine any team wanting to sign him.
tiges list leadership and direction with vmarts retirement. maybe there are intangibles with adrian gonzalez that we really don’t know.
Didn’t he go on vacation while his team was in the playoffs? Not sure that is the kind of intangibles you want to instill into your young players.
Love that word, … ‘instill’. So does my girlfriend.
….yep, she does……
Geez, grow up already.
Somebody tell Mike Elias that you can do some infrastructure repair (scouting, minors, etc..) and still do something with a roster that would have finished behind, literally, a team made up of replacement players. Really Mike; maybe get to the office an hour earlier or something.
The business with the manager, the bizarre dance with the coaching staff……no Scouting Director……no movement on a roster where half of it could be waived and go unclaimed…..
Fans in Baltimore are great; park is superb. This is turning into a Greek Tragedy.
Most of these new GMs are statistic brains but have no common sense or gut decision ability..
Problem is that some teams need to do a rebuild but the GM can’t because it means a couple of years as a bad team and the fans all scream its the GM’s fault. O’s should have done their rebuild 2 years ago. Same with a few other teams but hanging on to vets that are over paid makes the fans happy thinking a miracle will drop out of the sky and they will compete.
No, I disagree! There are many teams that pivoted and rebuilt in a year sometime less. The Yanks and As are prime examples. No most teams want to put out a cheap team and blame the crowds on the fans disinterest.
The Chicago White Sox could and should make historical baseball news this weekend by signing all of the big three free agents; Bryce Harper (9 years $300M), Manny Machado (9 years, $300) and Dallas keuchel (5years $100M). All three with an opt-out after three years. This transfors Chicago from a rebuilding team to a title contender and its only money with a farm system to support championships over the long haul.
Lineup: Tim Anderson RH SS, Bryce Harper LH RF, Manny Machado RH 3B, LF Yonder Alonso LH DH , Jose Abreu RH 1B, Yoan Moncada SH 2B, Willin Castillo RH C, Leury Garcia SH, Adam Engle RH CF
Starters: Dallas Keuchel LH, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Ivan Nova, Carlos Rondon