Notes from around the game’s western divisions…
- The A’s are “not giving up” on Kyler Murray, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Murray’s widely perceived as first-round selection in the forthcoming NFL Draft – he’s the 8th best ranked prospect on Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest big board – and recently checked in at an encouraging (for NFL teams) 5’10 and 207 lbs, just a half-inch shorter than Seahawks QB Russell Wilson during his combine appearance in 2013. His status, in fact, continues to soar: NFL Network reports suggest that the QB/OF is now “universally” projected to go first overall in April’s draft. Still, as Rosenthal reminds us, the A’s can still beat any NFL offer for Murray by offering him an unrestricted major-league deal that would guarantee him a spot on the 40-man. Baker Mayfield, last year’s first overall selection in the NFL Draft, signed a guaranteed deal worth nearly $33MM, so any investment of the kind in Murray, a player with only 238 AB in two college seasons, would be a significant risk. Still, the gamble may yet prove to be a worthy one under the current rookie-scale structure, where even the best players struggle to eclipse $5MM combined in their first four full major league campaigns.
- Mariners righty Felix Hernandez, who clung ardently to a world-beating changeup at the height of his reign, has bluntly been informed that his best pitch is now his curveball, as the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish writes. Indeed, per FanGraphs’ pitch value metrics, the curve was easily tops among Hernandez’s offerings in 2018, the worst in a storied Seattle career for the Venezuelan. With just 0.7 combined fWAR in over 230 IP the last two seasons, and an average fastball velocity that reached a career-low 89.3 MPH in ’18, Hernandez knows his grip on the last rotation spot in the Mariner rotation is tenuous at best. Remarkably, the King, who’s thrown nearly 2,700 innings at the big-league level since his teenage debut, will be just 33 years old for much of the year, and may yet have a second act left in him.
- Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo is tired of waiting for an opportunity, as Bill Plunkett of the OC Register explains: “I hit .330 for two years. I mean – at a certain point, numbers don’t lie. I’ve hit in the minor leagues. I think I’m a career over .300 hitter. Everybody wants to talk about ‘It’s the minors. It’s not the big leagues.’ I hit over .300 against lefties in my career. I hit righties and lefties very well in my career.” Verdugo, who’s been knocked in multiple circles for makeup issues dating back to high school, may again have a bird’s-eye view of the action this year – per Plunkett, the Dodgers “expect” to align their outfield with Cody Bellinger in right and A.J. Pollock in center; Joc Pederson, too, comes in with a career 118 wRC+ total under his belt, and Verdugo wouldn’t seem the logical choice to spell him against his left-handed kryptonite. The 22-year-old isn’t wrong about his batting average totals, but the power numbers – a .122 and .143 ISO in the last two seasons, respectively – leave plenty of room for improvement.
I dont think murray is worth the trouble or financial comittment. Its obvious he loves football more, no matter what extra money A’s throw at him. Also A’s ownership is cheap, id be shocked if they atep up and give him an extra 30-40 mill to an unproven prospect when they refuse to invest big money in their current mlb roster.
I agree. They should not try to outmatch whatever NFL teams offer. They have first dibs to get him back if football does not work out. Honestly, that’s a very real possibility too. Just wait for him to flame out in football and get him then. If not, suck it up and move on.
You mean “Hope for him to flame out”. Not gonna happen. Kid has too much talent and make up off the charts.
Its 50/50 that he makes it in the NFL. Players are bigger strong and taller than they are in college. He will probably be drafted by a team as a 3 year development player. How will he handle sitting on the bench for the next 2 years? Let’s not forget Tebow had even more fab fare coming out of college an his career stalled out.
He’s a 1/2 in shorter than Russell Wilson and weighs 8lbs less. Weighs 5lbs less than Mayfield. So, that makes Wilson/Mayfield are itty bitty guys.
He will not be a 3 year development player nor will he be a back up for 3 years you clearly no nothing. Arizona is apparently leaning towards taking him #1 overall and trading Rosen. Even if they don’t there are a few teams near top of the draft that will trade up to get him and most likely start at least half of his rookie year
Nobody doubts he has huge talent. It’s his size that is in question. There is a tremendous difference of talent and power between college and NFL. Is it possibly he can be successful like Russell Wilson? Yes, but undersized quarterbacks generally are not successful and he is shorter and weighs less than Wilson. So, the odds are stacked against him.
Drew Brees is short, right? But I wouldn’t want to play in the NFL either; the CTE stuff is terrifying, and we’re going to learn so much more about it in the next decade. There’s this guy, Rob Gronkowski, who isn’t even 30 and has had ten concussions in the NFL, and he’s still allowed to play. Ugh. He seems like a dim bulb already and I can’t imagine what his life is going to be like after football. The Patriots player that murdered his wife and then killed himself in prison (don’t feel like looking up his name) also had severe signs of CTE…Murray is probably not any kind of slam-dunk baseball prospect, but he has a much better shot at a long career in baseball than he would in the NFL.
He is an itty bitty guy. He is going to get crushed in the NFL and when his career is over in a year or two he will not be able to go back to baseball. It will be too late then. If I were the A’s I would show him the stats of the length of careers of QBs under 6′ and under 200 lbs. Its less than a 2 year career. I would then offer him a MLB deal that added $4 or $5 million to the signing bonus he earned from the MLB draft. Now he is at or above the $9-10 million he would get being drafted at the end of the 1st round in the NFL.
Its a shame that he broke his deal to play in the MLB. He signed it so he should honor it. I would tell him if he decide to play baseball after his NFL career falls he gets no bonus.
Why make an offer when he clearly doesn’t want to be there. I’d rather see Oakland throw a few dollars at another SP or two.
I agree as well. A’s screwed up and did not interview him enough to see if he was passionate about baseball. They should not have invested a 1st round pick & the money on the “If/Come”. They could have waited until the later rounds and still paid him the same money or given him a major league contract but you don’t waste a top 1st round pick like they did. A total screw up.
If the Dodgers are to choose, I say move Verdugo instead of Joc, as he’s proven to be a serviceable big leaguer.
Joc only has 2 more seasons under control and he never plays vs LHP
Joc Pederson is a career .228 hitter who has hit .181 against LHP. If you have to trade one of Pederson or Verdugo, Pederson would be my choice to go.
Joc posted an .843 OPS last year; league average was .728. He’s a slugger with a good glove. AV in 100 MLB ABs has shown us nothing. He has only potential at this point.
Verdugo was wanted in many trade scenarios but the Dodgers refused to include him yet they are not giving him a shot. I think they are messing with him and it could come back to haunt them. Either play him or trade him!
Félix to Astros, confirmed.
When do we tell him to pack?
Seems appropriate to send a fading star to the astronauts.
It was a joke about finding out his curve was his best pitch.
Curveball and that the Astros traded for another former Cy Young winning in Verlander a couple years ago.
I like Joc, he’s got a lot of power but you gotta give Verdugo a chance at this point. Platoon Joc throughout the outfield but I’d definitely still keep him
When is Verdugo Rule V eligible? Once that hits and the Dodgers start eating option years, he’ll get his shot.
They’ve already used option years. Those are after he’s added to the 40-man roster, which brings me to my next point, players on the 40-man roster aren’t rule 5 eligible
He is on the 40 man so he will never be rule 5 eligible
I believe you’re right in principle but what if the player is removed from the 40-man through a DFA. Can he not then become rule 5 eligible again?
Gose was selected by the Astros in Rule 5 a couple years ago while transitioning to the mound. Once returned though, I think the designation disappears and status changes or something to that effect.
Yes.
If they DFA him and another team is interested they won’t take him in Rule 5 they’ll just claim him on waivers
the Dodgers went play verdugo but he has nothing left to prove in the minors. if they don’t believe he is major league ready or FT ready they should have offered him this last offseason for Realmuto.
They did that’s the issue they’ve been trying to trade him, but with the off the field concerns and attitude he’s not that desirable.
Not desirable is probably the wrong terminology. His trade value probably doesn’t line up where it should.
What are the off the field concerns?
Verdugo alone wasn’t enough. Marlins wanted Bellinger as well.
Always found it odd how the year Felix won the Cy young he wasn’t even an all star ! Don’t know how he wasn’t.
Hope he turns it around this year !
He had a few clunkers in his first 10 starts. Numbers weren’t completely insane at the break yet, but he pitched to a 1.48 era in his last 21 starts :0
Wow!
Belonged will get some time at first. But I agree with Verdugo. Play him or trade him. Chris Taylor will be begging for time this year. Verdugo should be an everyday outfielder. He has tremendous value right now. I personally say him over Joc. But they should do something.
Taylor is penciled in as the starting second baseman?
Verdugo has one of the best arms and can play all 3 outfield positions. His defense alone they should keep him. I like Joc but he can’t hit lefties…
Bellinger*.
Verdugo’s value is likely more dramatically decreased by the “makeup issues” than we realize. Whatever issues those are, and his easily-noticed lack of hustle , I doubt the Dodgers get much. The bat plays, no one doubts it. But, especially these days, who needs the extra hassle.
They’ll get plenty if they decide to trade him. Numerous teams have inquired but the Dodgers have said no.
Verdugo was 5th in the PCL in extra bases taken and was in the top 10 in infield hits. Not sure where you get “easily-noticed lack of hustle”.
Verdugo for Castellanos. No questions asked
Let’s do it!
As a Tigers fan, done!
@diller
Please explain how that makes any sense?
IF he’s traded, it will be to fill a hole from an injury come AS break.
It’s time to just let Murray go. It’s not like there aren’t lots of OF prospects every year. He’s probably not Mike Trout.
Trade Alex Verdugo to the White Sox. They could use some “attitude” and a decent left-handed bat in their lineup after ultimately passing on targeted FA Bryce Harper this past week.
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf should be happy with a much cheaper option in RF and they look to be a good match with the Dodgers who could use some bullpen depth at the MLB level or simply swap Verdugo’s lefty OF bat for one or two of the White Sox better right-handed hitting prospects not named Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert or Nick Madrigal.
Perhaps the Dodgers could use a veteran catcher like Wellington Castillo who has up to two years of affordable contract control with a 2020 team option. He would provide a more consistent right-handed bat than Austin Barnes in the Dodgers regular lineup to pair with aging backup Russell Martin. Castillo might be a better bridge than Barnes to top catching prospect Keibert Ruiz who could be ready for prime time within the next two years. Barnes would be a nice fit going back to the White Sox in an expanded trade involving Verdugo since he would provide their young pitching staff with one of MLB’s better pitch framers.
It’s not as if the White Sox haven’t pursued former Dodger RF’s with attitude issues, good bats and even stronger throwing arms in the past. Yasiel Pug was a White Sox target in prior years. Maybe they can final get their man in Verdugo this time.
I like the way your grey matter functions.
I am the Hercule Poirot of the comment section. lol
Often Leo Tolstoy as well!
I must be the Rodney Dangerfield, because I get no respect, (tug tie), NO respect at all.
One time as a kid, my old man took me to the zoo. The zookeeper told my old man, “Thanks for bringing him back!”
LOL! Or he could have been like Rodney’s dad and tied pork chops around your neck so the neighborhood dogs would play with you.
No need to trade him right now. If he wants to play every day, then he needs to prove himself in spring training. Crying will get him no where.
He’s asking for an opportunity to prove himself. Not crying.
Barnes and Verdugo for Castillo? You really think so?
I never proposed that specific deal. I merely threw out some names that could be of interest to both sides. I was never specific about bullpen names either but the Dodgers might not mind having Alex Colome or Nate Jones as another bridge to Kenley Jansen. A veteran starter like Ivan Nova might also be a decent depth piece if the Dodgers continue to have health issues with their rotation this spring.
If the teams are up for a mega blockbuster trade then Jose Abreu and Carlos Rodon might be possible names to consider for the Dodgers. Since the White Sox failed to land either Manny Machado or Bryce Harper this offseason they might as well look into selling off their less controllable veteran assets and try to secure more controllable MLB talent or higher level prospects. Verdugo certainly fits that part of the equation along with other possibilities like Julio Urias and Will Smith.
Okay, sounded like that was your proposal. I don’t see the Dodgers making any moves at C right now. For some reason (that honestly escapes me) they seem satisfied with Barnes/Martin. Having passed on the opportunity to upgrade bigly with Realmuto they opted for the pat hand. Pederson is the player they really need to move to unblock Verdugo. I think even he’s surprised to still be with the Dodgers. Urias is pretty much immovable, not just because it seems the Dodgers really want to see what he can do, but because after that serious surgery his value is rock-bottom for the kind of player he could be. One of either Ruiz or Smith could have been good trade chips for Realmuto but we saw how that worked out so that tells me the Dodgers treating both of them as untouchable for now.
The Dodgers value Ruiz much more than Smith as their future catcher. I also believe the Reds did as well. The Dodgers might have passed on a Ruiz and Verdugo deal with Cincy because of Realmuto’s two years of remaining contract control.
The Marlins weren’t allowing any suitors the ability to conduct extension talks with Realmuto and his representatives prior to dealing their prized catcher although that shouldn’t necessarily have dissuaded a big spending team like the Dodgers from pulling the trigger. Realmuto seemed amenable to an extension with the right ball club following a trade. The Dodgers could have fit that bill as well as the Phillies do now.
Ruiz and Smith are both top-ten rated prospects in the Dodgers system with Smith being the more advanced of the two and perhaps Ruiz having the higher ceiling. So I don’t know who the Dodgers value more but we’re likely to see Smith before Ruiz. Not sure how you’re bringing the Reds into the discussion on them since I don’t recall hearing about any trade with the Reds that might have involved either of them. I would have expected one of them to be in trade to the Marlins for Realmuto.
The Dodgers and White Soxs aren’t what you would call a good match. Their pen has some good pieces, but they have their red flags. I certainly don’t think the Dodgers are going to give away Verdugo. In a sense, that’d be what they were doing attaching him to a RP with little control or one coming off major injuries especially if they aren’t still elite. It just hasn’t been their track record.
I’ve also seen Castillo’s name brought up, but he’s not really the type of C they value. Most of the discussion has been concerning the bat, because he’s a bat first backstop. But really the guys they’ve had behind the plate have been league leading/upper tier framers. Which lends itself to the complete opposite spectrum, of Castillo, where you can live with a less offensively inclined C if he’s a good defender. I don’t think he’s on their radar. I do genuinely believe they like Barnes & are giving him another year to get on track after a weird sophomore campaign year, which they saw him injured in ST and just never getting on track.
Once you take those top 3 bats off the table, which rightfully so, there’s not much there that combines the ability to help, talent, and control Verdugo would provide. Seems more likely they’d hold and he be the next in line to be traded for a impact type rental in an area of need.
hit the pipe!
Kyler Murray is 5’9″ tall. He is not going to participate in throwing or running drills in the NFL Combine. Without those showcasing those two skills he has no advantage over other QBs that are taller and he will end up going late in the 1st round or early in the 2nd.
NFL salaries are only guaranteed if you play. Get hurt and you get paid NFL minimum for that season. My nephew was on a “guaranteed contract” but only played in 2 of the 4 seasons and ended up with a little more than half of his “guaranteed contract” being paid to him. NFL contracts are also not guaranteed if you are cut. The Broncos cut Lynch after 2 seasons. In 2018 he was paid $1.9 million and in 2019 he will be paid NFL minimum ($645K) by the Seahawks. The Broncos still ended up paying him 65% of his rookie contract, but not the full $9.5 million he signed for when drafted.
Baseball fans just need to remember that in the NFL they still get paid something, but not the full salary that their contracts “guaranteed”. That guarantee is only if you are playing.
In MLB if you sign a deal, you get paid 100% regardless if you play a single game. Lose an arm in a freak accident at spring training and you get paid the full contract you signed in MLB.
With all the info leaking about Verdugo it’s somewhat concerning. It seems like the on field issues: Attitude, lack of hustle, work ethic, etc.. have been well documented, somewhat put on the forefront during his AFL stint and again when Hill aired him out. But off the field has seemed to take a significant hit on his trade value. Generally, when the Dodgers have passed on giving guys opportunities they aren’t long for the roster. With the Dodgers talking up Verdugo and actively trying to trade him this winter it’s hard to not expect he gets traded.
He’s a good prospect, but not elite. He’s a tweener that the Dodgers would probably take a hit on “what should be” his value. I think he falls into that tier where he can be packaged with a really good 2nd and 3rd piece for a good talent just not elite talent, unless it’s a rental. I truly think if Toles were in camp he’d probably get the 25th spot nod. I’m in the, take the hit on Verdugo and trade him for a need seeing as your trying to win a WS and he has yet to figure it out.
Besides rumors, I haven’t seen anything where the Dodgers have been actively shopping him. If he doesn’t get an every day spot after spring training, put in AAA , trade him at AS break to fill a need in the line up.
Today’s NFL rules help guys like Kyler. Pre-2004 rules he’d be crushed. Now, not so much. QBs are protected. That’s just the way it is. He should be fine.
As for Verdugo, LA is not doing a good job protecting the kid. They aren’t dealing him nor are they going to give him a fair shot at starting. Then this info about his attitude and makeup doesn’t help their trade leverage one bit. Nobody’s winning this situation.
Ozuna for Joc, straight swap.
Cards get two years of Joc and can let O’Neill and Martinez get the platoon advantages AB’s
And Ozuna is a one year stop gap and Pederson takes over in left.
I realize it won’t happen, but I think it would make sense.
How does Pederson take over in left after he’s been traded?
Verdugo*
Felix has ruined his arm trying to throw that change up 91mph for years. His curve was wicked when he came up.
I’m sure this ship has long sailed by now but I would have loved to see the Dodgers trade Verdugo and Muncy to the Indians for Bauer or Kluber. Indians would probably have asked for an additional piece for Kluber though.
I failed to mention that with Puig and Kemp now being traded, trading both Verdugo and Muncy would leave the outfield vunerable and they have to go out and acquire another outfielder. Like I said before, that ship has probably sailed anyway.
Longevity is unbelievably hard in general in baseball, but it’s the hardest for starting pitchers. It’s why the guys who played for 20 years and were good the whole time all seem to end up in the HoF.
It doesn’t matter how good you are at your peak. Felix was as good as they get, so was Lincecum, so were many others that we could sit here and list off all day. But in addition to injuries and generally “getting old” it’s just hard to adapt and adjust for an entire career, particularly in this day and age of video and analytics.
Don’t know how to separate truth from lies about Verdugo; however, the Atlanta Braves should offer their top prospect, Mike Soroka, for Alex Verdugo and give him a try.
There is absolutely no upside with Pederson. His hitting is poor except for outliers and he K’s a ton. Should have been traded. Verdugo makes contact and is the type of hitter the lineup needs.plus he needs a shot at playing full time. The dodgers like to bury good hustle guys like Verdugo and Toles playing nitemare Kiki and Pederson who are free swingers where the ball hits the bat sometimes and gets out of the park. Want to improve hitting vs left handed pitching …170 last year!!!!!!!! and only 260 vs Right handers. The guy is a bust. Get Verdugo in there now.
I’ve never quite understood the use of the term upside in this context. Pederson is a platoon player, quite effective against RHP and feeble against side-sided pitching. That’s who he is. The Dodgers don’t especially like to bury anybody, but they do have a real devotion to the concept of depth. What this means is keeping more talent stashed in the minors than most teams would do. A team that does that will eventually need to trade some of those players, and Verdugo might be one of them. Also don’t get what you are saying about Hernandez. His platoon spilts have sometimes been a bit ugly but those virtually disappeared last year and he was much more offensively effective overall than in the past (OPS+ 117). He’s more than any team could ask for in a super-utility player who can cover any position on the field and do it well.
BTW, Toles has still not reported to camp. Nobody has said what’s going on with him this time, but it sure looks like he isn’t coming back.
Don’t get the Dogers trading Alex Wood.
Felix Hernandez is the unluckiest pitcher ever!!! He’s had 45 starts where he’s allowed zero runs or one run and didn’t get credit for a win. That’s about 10% of his career stats! In those 45 starts he has pitched 317 inn with a 0.88 ERA, 317 innings with zero wins. Those inept Mariner lineups from 2007- 2015 will probably end up costing Felix a place in Cooperstown and that’s criminal.