The Diamondbacks have waved goodbye to cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and Patrick Corbin in the past few months, leaving right-hander Zack Greinke as their best remaining player. In all, things haven’t gone according to plan for the Diamondbacks since they signed Greinke to a whopping six-year, $206.5MM contract heading into 2016, but he said Saturday that he has “(no) desire to be traded to any team,” Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. It stands to reason, then, that Greinke would block a deal to any of the 15 teams on his no-trade list should the Diamondbacks find an offer to their liking. Indeed, the Diamondbacks reportedly found Greinke’s limited no-trade clause to be a “major impediment” during the winter. In addition to his ability to block a trade to half the league’s clubs, Greinke’s a 35-year-old with $104.5MM left on his contract – two more factors that undermine his value. Still, Greinke did turn in yet another highly productive campaign in 2018, his second straight quality season after he began his D-backs tenure in somewhat disappointing fashion in 2016.
- Their courtship of free agent Bryce Harper aside, the Giants haven’t made a lot of headlines since president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi took the reins in November. Thus far, Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz – two relatively modest free-agent signings – are the only players who have received major league contracts on Zaidi’s watch. However, the former Dodgers GM has worked diligently to strengthen the Giants’ depth and improve their culture, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times explains. “Coming in, it was pretty clear that that second level of depth just wasn’t there for the organization,” said Zaidi, who has been plenty active via the minor league, waiver and Rule 5 routes early in his Giants stint. He’s also trying to form relationships with the Giants’ key players, some of whom he met with recently to discuss the team’s pitching plans, McCullough reports. While Giants starters Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija have made their disdain for the opener known lately, it seems Zaidi assured his pitchers the team won’t use relievers at the beginning of games as often as they may fear. Once the meeting ended, Bumgarner approached Zaidi and told him that the anti-opener comment he made to manager Bruce Bochy was in jest.
- The Mariners will open the season in Japan, which could be outfielder Ichiro Suzuki’s major league sendoff, but the 45-year-old has informed the team he has no plans to retire, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. As he has done in the past, Ichiro told media Saturday he wants to play until he’s “at least” 50, though he did declare that he expects the Mariners uniform to be the last one he wears as a professional baseball player (via Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times). Unfortunately, in regards to playing another several years, odds are stacked against Ichiro. The future Hall of Famer posted dismal production in two of three seasons as a Marlin from 2015-17, after all, and then did the same over 47 plate appearances last season in his return to the Mariners. Seattle then moved him into a front office role in early May, ending his season, but brought him back on a minor league deal last month.
- Sticking with the Mariners’ outfield, Mallex Smith will sit out “at least” the first few weeks of camp because of a strained flexor mass in his right forearm, Greg Johns of MLB.com writes. The injury doesn’t appear serious, but with the Japan-bound Mariners set to begin their season earlier than most teams, any setback could jeopardize Smith’s status heading into their March 20 opener, Johns points out. Smith, who notched 40 stolen bases and 3.4 fWAR with the Rays in 2018, joined the Mariners in an offseason trade which also featured Mike Zunino as a principal piece.
As a Ichiro fan, it is tough to see him like this. I think he has proven plenty and should just hang it up for good. Japan series is the perfect opportunity.
Agreed. I admire the guy’s passion and dedication but he’s got be realistic.
I have my fingers and toes crossed, all rest last season, helps for one last season of couple games of hit machine production. Just one last glimpse. Pinch hit, pinch run, late game defense extraordinaire for one last season.
I feel like Ichiro is the only player who loves baseball as much as us on MLBTR.
He has said that he wants to stay with Seattle for as long as he is playing.
Considering he wants to play until he’s 50, I doubt it will be with Seattle given their youth movement – Haniger, Smith, Kelenic, Santana, Fraley, Bishop, Lewis, Thompson-Williams.
There doesn’t appear to be a spot on the field for him after this season. Maybe not even after the Japan trip.
Ichiro has been a well below-average baseball player since…oh wow, 2011. So 8 years now. Not quite sure what he thinks he’s accomplishing by trying to play 6 more seasons.
Well below for 8 years? That’s a little far fetched my friend.
OPS of .645, .696, .642, .794 (240 AB), .639, .664, .562, .730, .649, .460 since 2011. Not that far fetched at all.
Since 2011, he only time he’s had an OBP over 324 was in a part-time role in 2016 with the Marlins, a season in which he had a 102 OPS+ (in just 365 PAs).. Every other season it’s been well below 100. His last full season, in 2013, he was preposterously bad – hitting 262/297/342 with the Yankees. A very unique and terrific career, but he needs to really give this up.
Doesn’t his “leadership” and “grit” add to his “veteran” rating though? It was above 716% in 2018.
It was a publicity stunt last year and if he plays in 2019 it will be a publicity stunt again. Total waste of a roster spot. Of course the Mariners aren’t expected to be competitive so maybe they think they will steal the headlines in the beginning of the year because they will be forgotten at the end.
You cite OPS on a career contact-hitter with no power? Brilliant!
He was worth 2.2 fWAR in 2012
Why are you using OPS to judge Ichiro? OPS is a more important stat for power hitters. 2011 Ichiro still had a .272 BA, 184 hits, and 40 SB’s. 2012 Ichiro had .283 BA, 178 hits, and 29 SB’s. 2013 was when he started to decline. 2014 when NY started using him as a part time player was when the wheels really started to come off.
it drives me bonkers when people use ops against a guy who is not supposed to be a power hitter.
Not that I dont agree with him being a wasted roster spot, having him around for a bit to help with Kikuchi’s transition could he pretty beneficial. Maybe it wont mean a thing, but that’s something that we as fans will never know the truth about.
If you actually read the article, Ichiro saying he wanted to play until he was “at least” 50 was very much tongue-in-cheek. In the interview, Ichiro was very realistic that this could be the end of the road for him, that he’d be grateful for any opportunity he gets.
Giants also gave a major league contract to Pat Venditte
Yeah that signing gets overlooked a lot, don’t even know why it was a major league deal when it was for 585K. Their bullpen is deep enough to the point where they didn’t need it to be a major league signing.
I saw it as a sign they were going to trade Watson or Smith, but everything we’ve heard lately is that they are keeping all their quality vets.
I agree. Think the movable vets are here until the deadline and if they are out at that point my guess is Bum, Watson, Smith and other movable components get traded. This current group is not that bad as long as they stay healthy. Giants could surprise some folks
Giants also do better as underdog. They needed a few bad seasons to get expectations low. It’s the giants way.
I think they are there already…
Perhaps a return to Japanese baseball??
Yes, so he can pad his combined stats even more.
Not sure what Zaidi is supposed to do? They finally got back under the luxury tax last year. They got there by spending foolishly. They have immovable contracts and they’ve got to pretty much go with what they have and hope one or two of these non roster invites comes up big. I think he’s doing a good job restocking, whether he gets Harper or not. More moves coming but I’d be surprised if they throw big money at anyone other than Harper
Agree. Harper the only one that gets a big money, long term deal.
I could see Adam Jones and Nick Castellanos as targets if Harper signs elsewhere.
Would enjoy the bloopers that would follow Castellanos in that spacious OF.
NL Dh soon
Not before 2022
Not likely.
Not ever. MLB doesn’t want it. The owners don’t want it. The NL fans don’t want it. I don’t get why AL fans don’t leave us alone and just root for their softball teams.
Player union wants it. Why? So players who can’t field will have jobs. Like it or not it will probably go through at the next player contract. It shouldn’t change but my guess it will because money is most important to the union not traditions.
While Castellanos does not get high ratings for his fielding, its because of his lack of range, not because he has hands of stone.
He could still play in the NPB for a couple more years. Could be a player/manager and then come back to mlb as a manager.
Similar to what Kazuo Matsui is doing now evidently.
Great job DiPoto, already lost the Zunino trade
Because of one short term, minor injury? Wow, SMH
My blood pressure rises every time I see the word “then” in between two commas. GOne are the days MLBTR featured quality, to-the-point journalism. Every article now has to be a treatise. It’s like these guys are paid by the word, and throw in every little thing they can, no matter how meaningless.
Boo.
Journalism? Lolol.
I recommend, then, that you schedule an appointment with a cardiologist.
Off the top of my head, I cannot think of smaller stuff to sweat.
If little things like that raises your blood pressure, you’re a “GOnner”.
Well, then, maybe you should, I don’t know, maybe, possibly, lighten up, Francis.
That just seems like so much money yet for Greinke. He’s been pretty good but I don’t think as good as the money merits, and never in the big game.
One of those that got paid, then stopped caring. a la Sandoval
He’s still been good the past 3 years, so not like Sandoval. AZ just outbid extremely heavily when signing him do I hope they enjoy paying out 100M during their rebuild. Yes, I’m still salty they outbid us by 50M. We could’ve used another front line pitcher our last 3 playoff runs. Oh well…
LOL totally clueless… Try watching baseball!
AZ eats half Greinke contract and bring back decent haul? Would love for him for an Angel. Bring us October Trout!
Greinke? He was terrific in 2018. A 5-WAR season, 200Ks, over 200 innings, a 1.079 WHIP, He’s still really good.
He pitched over 200 innings, had a combined 10.3 WAR and two All-Star game appearances. He’s still one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball. He’s not elite, but still a great #1 pitcher.
In addition, he plays amazing defense and is one of the better hitters for a pitcher. Signing that huge contract was always a risk, but he’s returned good value to the DBacks during his run.
He won the Wildcard game against the Rockies in 2017. He hadn’t been on the staff, they wouldn’t have been in the playoffs and made a run at the playoffs last year.
Greinke is really a lot like Maddox and some decline in velocity the last few years hasn’t diminished his effectiveness.
I agree, a lot. Greinke’s aging great. And more continued, Maddox compares. Contenders should be pleading for AZ to eat some contract in exchange for good prospects. Cubs window looks closing, faster then anyone expected. Angels need lots of help for October Trout. Yankees have money print press, and need for top guy.
Is that supposed to be English?
No, but, your mom is supposed to be English!
You need to go back to school. You do not even understand basic punctuation.
is it Engrish?
I wouldn’t compare him to Maddox at all. Garry was a slick-fielding, speedy center-fielder and Greinke is a pitcher.
Boom.
Elliott Maddox says hi, too.
If you’re going to blaspheme the name of Greg Maddux by stating that any pitcher who’s successful without a 107 MPH fastball is “a lot like him”, the very least you could do is spell his name correctly.
My spell correct kept saying “mad ducks” I tried to fix but edit available disappeared after I noticed Maddox not right either.
But still, Maddux great fielder, Greinke too.
Maddux use whole zone like noble prize professor, Greinke use whole zone like junior college professor.
Similar, not same.
Ichiro is aging like convenience store sushi.
yet, like convenience store sushi, people will still buy it.
And Yak!!!
I see what you did there. Nice!
At one time, I wanted Ichiro for a Tiger. Huge outfield for all his balls to drop.
Now he would need sooo much wasabi before being palatable in Tiger uniform. Best he helps us enjoy his legacy finish in Mariner uniform.
Still hope for some big hits though! Go Ichiro!
Let him play! Let him play!
Ichiro is a living legend.
That’s funny that Jeff Szmar…is against the “opener” he’s going to be the opener.
Being a starter who can’t get out of the first inning doesn’t make you an “opener”…..
Now that’s funny.
Ichiro has been staying in the majors because of his name for some time now. It’s tough watching great players hang on well past their ability to contribute on the field. But, it’s his, and any team that wants to sign him, choice to continue on, not ours.
At this point i still don’t see a viable ML starting OF for the Giants.
Will today be the day when Harper signs with someone?
doubtful.
Feel as though it won’t be necessary, but could see Greinke to Stros midseason, similar to 2017 acquisition.