Once again, Royals general manager Dayton Moore has made it clear that the club wants left fielder Alex Gordon to return in 2020. According to Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star, Moore informed a group of season ticket holders that he told Gordon, “We want you back.” Moore added, “We’re a better ball club with Alex Gordon.” Set to turn 36 in February, Gordon indicated earlier this month he’s likely to wait until the winter to decide if he’ll continue playing next season. The career-long Royal has said he’ll only play for them if he does keep going. Gordon has a $23MM mutual option (or a $4MM buyout) for 2020, but the two sides figure to work out a much cheaper arrangement in the event he doesn’t retire.
More from the game’s Central divisions…
- Twins manager Rocco Baldelli expects the banged up duo of outfielder Max Kepler and utilityman Marwin Gonzalez to be ready when the American League Division Series begins next week, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com relays. Meanwhile, injured utility player Ehire Adrianza is making progress, but he’s not as far along in his recovery process as Kepler and Gonzalez are in theirs. Shoulder and back problems have prevented Kepler from taking an at-bat since Sept. 14, thereby derailing a breakout season; Gonzalez has been dealing with oblique issues throughout the month; and Adrianza went down Sept. 12 with oblique troubles of his own.
- The Brewers announced that outfielder Ryan Braun exited their game against the Rockies on Friday with discomfort in his left calf. The severity of the injury isn’t clear, but with Christian Yelich done for the year and Lorenzo Cain playing through injuries, a serious ailment for Braun would be another unwelcome development for the Brewers’ outfield as the playoffs approach. While the 35-year-old Braun is no longer the star he was in his prime, he has still contributed a valuable .285/.343/.505 line with 22 home runs and 11 steals on 12 attempts in 508 plate appearances this season. [UPDATE: Braun suffered a strain and will undergo an MRI, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.]
- The Pirates have discussed using left-hander Steven Brault as an occasional outfielder in 2020, according to manager Clint Hurdle (via Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). The 27-year-old Brault hasn’t garnered any professional experience in the grass, but he did play some outfield at Regis University. Brault would be open to giving it a shot in the majors, Adam Berry of MLB.com tweets.
this is a misquote – Brault said he would try catching occasionally
Funny man Bobby!Seeing Lorenzan today probably gave the Pirates the idea.At the very least if he stays a starter he should be used as a pinch hitter more often.Musgrove was used this year but Brault is a much better hitter.
It seems the Pirates are looking at Brault to be a two-way player candidate. He would need 20 games in the outfield or as a DH in inter-league games with at least 3 AB’s per game. The 20 innings as a pitcher are pretty much a given.
Making him a two-way opens a bullpen spot which will be valuable when MLB decides on the exact number of pitchers they will be allowing.
Got to give it to Moore. He’s loyal to his players, for better or worse.
It takes guts to stick with your guns, even if they start to wear down. I respect that.
Braun was really carrying the team. Sucks as a baseball fan. Don’t like to see the contenders lose players down the stretch.
Pirates have found a way to save more money. Teach pitchers to field. Get more bang for your buck.
Nutting needs outed by MLB for pocketing MLB revenue sharing.
I guess the Pirates are trying to be like the Reds, with Lorenzen in the outfield and pitching. I guess neither one of them has enough faith in the regular utility players.
Maybe Lorenzen should start trying to sing the national anthem, too.
Although he hasn’t played in the outfield since his days at an unknown university. (Jury still out in whether its a real one) we’re going to stick him out there. We’re not gonna actually try to find some help in free agency. We will stick a one pitch pitcher out there. Yep that will put fannies in the seats. Great job pirates. Can my 5 yr old be the new closet?
If he has the ability it makes sense. MLB will be limiting the number of pitchers allowed on the 25 man in 2020. That is also when the two-way player rule kicks in. If Brault can play 20 games (with 3 PA’s) in the field and DH when playing in an AL park he becomes a two-way player and that opens a pitcher spot.
They’re capping the pitchers at 13, most teams only carry 5 starters and 7 relief pitchers. Plus they’re adding a player to the roster. How many guys do you want riding the bench? Something like that would made Roberts or Maddon multiple lineups look tame.
Cmurphy
Unless I missed it MLB hasn’t announced the pitchers cap. It’s to be decided during the off-season. If you have a link stating otherwise please share. There has been speculation but that’s all.
Can’t give a link, forgot it hasn’t been published. My point is that most teams only usually carry 12 pitchers on a 25 man roster. The roster is expanding to 26 in 2020 so more than likely, the need for another bench player isn’t a reason to turn a pitcher into a two way player. Now if the player wants to be, like Lorenzen or or Ohtani, that’s a different story.
are the pirates that desparate for an outfielder? nothing in the system? I know it sounds great and all but cmon. and then he hits the relay man and throws out his arm, or dives and busts up something, just stay on the mound. sometimes you don’t need analytics just common sense.
Honestly though for years now one of the most frequent compliments given to Brault as a pitcher by announcers and journalists is that he’s very athletic and can swing the bat well. Sure he had a pretty decent second half of the season on the mound and has had sporadic success before but he’s a poor command/average control pitcher without a strikeout pitch that doesn’t throw terribly hard by today’s standards. If he threw right handed he probably wouldn’t be in the majors.
Jimmy-He was the International League pitcher of the year I believe in 2017 so I think that he is a decent pitcher.One of the reasons that he has had sporadic success is that he has pitched sporadically.He clearly is not a reliever and he said that he does not like it.
This year he had a run there of about 7 or 8 starts where he pitched very well.He has had other opportunities with the Pirates,including 2016,but has never had an extended run before this year.He also may actually hold up well since he does not throw 95 mph.I think that his availability as a pinch hitter is also a plus.
It would be nice if he had an option left but they burned it this year for no good reason and recalled him immediately when an injury suddenly cropped up.
I am comfortable with him being the #5 starter with the Pirates next year.I think that he has as good of a chance to pitch decently as any of the other four in Keller,Williams,Archer,and Musgrove.