October 16 is an important date in the histories of the Royals and White Sox, as the two teams each clinched the American League pennant on this day back in 1985 and 2005, respectively. Kansas City recorded a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays in Game Seven of the 1985 ALCS, completing the comeback after being down 3-1 in the series and winning the second AL pennant in club history. The Royals went on to take the further step of capturing the franchise’s first World Series that came October, topping the Cardinals in another seven-game set. The 2005 ALCS was also Chicago’s first step en route to a World Series title, as the White Sox beat the Angels in five games before sweeping the Astros in the Fall Classic. 2005 ended a pair of long droughts for the White Sox, as it marked the club’s first pennant since 1959 and its first World Series title since 1917.
News from around the AL Central…
- The Giants, Padres, and Mets have all shown some interest in Royals special advisor Mike Matheny as a possible candidate to fill their managerial vacancies, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan writes. Matheny hasn’t been linked to any of those clubs for an interview, however, and “word has it that the Padres are going another direction,” Flanagan writes. [UPDATE: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Giants hadn’t spoken to Matheny as of three days ago.] All three of those teams have already amassed a long list of candidates for interviews, as you can follow via MLB Trade Rumors’ central post for the many rumors and reports floating around concerning the offseason managerial carousel. Matheny has also been widely tabbed as the leading contender to be the Royals’ next manager, and while Flanagan notes that Matheny’s hiring is “not as certain as it once was,” the former Cardinals skipper still appears to be “the odds-on favorite” for the job.
- Byron Buxton stands out as a prime extension candidate this offseason, MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park opines, looking at the Twins’ model in extending Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco last spring. Both of those players were coming off solid but not surefire breakout seasons (Polanco’s year was also marred by an 80-game PED suspension) in 2018, while Buxton is similarly coming off something of a mixed 2019 campaign. He hit .262/.314/.513 with 10 homers in 295 PA while contributing excellent baserunning and center field defense, though Buxton’s year was marred by injuries, including season-ending shoulder surgery that could cause him to miss the start of Spring Training. With this health uncertainty in mind, Buxton could have interest in locking in a long-term payday, though he would be foregoing potentially big arbitration raises in both 2021 and 2022 (Buxton has three arb years left as a Super Two player). Buxton has also achieved some financial security already, with close to $9.5MM in career earnings that includes his $6MM signing bonus as the second overall pick of the 2021 draft. Beyond Buxton, Park figures Jose Berrios and Miguel Sano are also extension candidates.
- Assuming the Indians are no longer cutting costs, the Athletic’s Zack Meisel (subscription required) estimates that the Tribe could have roughly $17MM to spend this winter. The current payroll sits at $102MM, as Meisel calculates based on current salaries, some minimum contracts, and MLBTR’s projected salaries for Cleveland’s arbitration-eligible players (with a few non-tender candidates not counted). That leaves the Tribe short of their $119.5MM Opening Day payroll from 2019, giving the club some extra cash to pursue needed help in the infield and outfield. Meisel also guesses the Indians could look into some future payroll certainty by discussing extensions with Mike Clevinger and/or Shane Bieber.
I believe the Meisel estimate to be on the high side seeing as attendance dropped 10% in 2019 so a figure of 213-214 million would be more accurate.
Still just a guess though,the rest of his numbers are spot on.
I hope Matheney does get another chance to manage out from under the burden of having St. Louis’s Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak!!! In 2016, John Mozeliak set Mike Matheney up to continue to Fail !!! Mozeliak gave Matheney 4 primary Second basemen for his Opening day lineup. Matt Carpenter 1st, Kolton Wong 2nd, Diaz SS, Gyorko at 3rd. If any manager was mistreated by a front off more than Mike Matheney, I’d like to know who??? He actually would probably be a better American League manager with the DH.
Matheny was a sucky manager. He was the laughing stock of the league. If he manages again, he will become a laughing stock again.
Carpenter was never really a 2nd baseman. They used him there to get his bat in the lineup. Matheny made countless questionable strategic moves, tortured BP arms, set players against one another and was horrible with the media.
Other than that, he was a great manager.
Mo must go
The Twins would be wise to consider Matheny if they do extend the bulk of their young talent. The team won in spite of Baldelli and he should be looking over his shoulder. A slow start in 2020 will seal his fate but the Twins should be proactive.
This must be sarcasm right? The Twins won 101 games with a pretty subpar pitching staff and injuries all over the roster. Baldeli is going to win manager of the year and is viewed as one of the best managers in the league. If this is sarcasm you nailed.
It
Well, to a Degree he’s right about the fact that they won the division in spite of baldelli. The second half of the season, in particular, he made some VERY questionable moves. But I think pretty much every fan is going to disagree with a chunk of moves the manager makes over the course of the season.
Where baldelli showed that he’s NOT the man to take the twins to the next level, is the playoffs. He was literally standing in the dugout in New York chewing on his fingernails looking like a nervous wreck. And that’s how the team played in New York. The twins need a leader who can get them amped up and prepared but also realize it has to be “business like usual”. He absolutely S*** the bed in New York.
ps Manager of the year is a useless award and has nothing to do with anything other than “this team won more unexpected games than other teams”
No 1st year manager will ever be fired after a 101 win season. He is safe for at the very least one more full season. No way is fired until at least 2021. Troll
Twins have history of firing a manager that has had a successful first year ( Billly Martin).
Make that the 2012 draft year for Buxton.
You certainly did miss it. The ‘85 Jays won 99 games, led by future HOF manager Bobby Cox. Jays were a good team in the 80s – Bell, Barfield, Fernandez, Stieb.
Loved those mid-to-late 80s Blue Jays teams. Lots of young exciting talent.
Key, Henke…they paved the way for the early 90s teams. Pat Gillick was the architect.
The Indians would be smart to lock up those two young pitchers on some deals that will keep them in town for a while like they did with Kluber and Carrasco.
Lindor refused an extension and that seems to be the direction players are going on the advice of their agents. Those young pitchers will do better to go the free agent route in a couple more years than give the Indians a “home town discount”.
Tell that to Cookie. He chose to sign a very team-friendly extension, because he loves playing in Cleveland. Free agency doesn’t always equate to big $$$.
Financial security for ones self and family is important.
Exactly, he had a heart scare and took the offer, upsetting the union because they thought it was low. He didn’t want to be anywhere else and was content with the financial security for his family. Then he re-upped and had his latest health scare (leukemia) and was again extremely content to remain an Indian.
Please research Mike Moustakas and get back to me.
Linder is looking at $300+ million, these guys will get a fraction of that.
Buxton cannot be counted on for more than 80-120 games in any season. His injury history is terrifyingly long for such a young player. While I’m sure Buxton would be on board with some security, I’m not sure the Twins are interested in long term talks at this point. I’m also expecting the Twins will fight him in arbitration if the demands are much in the way of pay day increases due to his extreme injury history.
If Buxton ever has a healthy season, he is an MVP candidate. He is worth about 30 million/year if he can stay healthy. If you can lock him up for arb plus two club options for an average of 20 mil a year…I think you have to do it.
Byron Buxton was paid $1,75 million and missed 75 games in 2019. A bump to $2-$2.25 million in 2020 would be generous,
Buxton is projected to get around 3 million next year. Also, Martras you can’t “fight” a player in arbitration, that’s literally the point of arbitration a red party decides what the contract is worth and you can accept it or you can decide not to tender him.
That’s not how it works at all. Both sides come up with a number and pitch their case to an independent arbitrator. The arbitrator will then decide which side wins based on the information presented. That is a one year contract for the winning side. You non-tender a player BEFORE arbitration happens, not after.
Either way point remains the same there is no “fighting” in arbitration theres no back and forth, each side submits their number and its decided by a 3rd party. It’s no like a contract negotiations.
There is no ‘either way’, what you are/have been saying is wrong. They will put up a fight if he asks too much as they will explain to the arbitrator why he doesn’t deserve that amount. They will fight to not pay him the higher salary. They may lose, but if the two sides disagree yes they will duke it out in arbitration. They submit their number and pitch their case in arbitration. Please go read up on it, I don’t think you understand how it works.
I understand how it works, there is no fighting, there is no back and forth in arbitration. The arbitrator gives them a number and they, as you stated, must accept it. Please explain how there is fighting there? Again not the contract negotiations, that’s not the same as arbitration. If you want to say they should fight to avoid arbitration that’s different but saying “they get to make an argument” in arbitration is not fighting because that’s literally what a arbitration hearing is. There has never been an arbitration hearing in MLB history that both sides agreed on before hand, if they just agreed on things they wouldn’t be going to arbitration in the first place. Again that’s the point of arbitration.
Ignorance is bliss or so they say. Tell me, do you enjoy it?
Thanks for admitting I’m correct by not offering any kind of rebuttal and just insults, it’s the easiest way to tell you lost the argument.
Why is Matheny even in the running for a managers job? How did he even become a manager???
Because during his playing career in St Louis he was propelled to a higher standard than he deserved, much like Ausmus. Both were regarded as great baseball minds with great futures as managers. That stank hasn’t worn off for Matheny.
It is amazing reading about how this guy and that guy stinks as a manager. How any team is even able to find a qualified person is amazing in itself. I guess that person must win every game and make game decisions that are universally recognized as correct.
You set the bar high. So tell me…..What makes Matheny qualified to be a big league manager?
If you watched the Cardinals during his tenure you would know he is not a good manager. Yes, he was not given a ton of talent in his last few seasons (blame the front office) but he did not adjust well in his bullpen use as well as player management (Jordan Hicks treatment by Bud Norris). The front office had to trade struggling players (Allen Craig) because he would keep trotting them out every day despite lack of results because the player was one of his guys. Matheny is a nice man but if it were my team I would stay away unless he admits his faults and is willing to learn from his mistakes.
Buxton was easily the best player in the 2021 draft!
I’d add Taylor Rogers to the extension list too. Berrios has turned down Twins overtures in the past. Given Sano’s past weight concerns, Twins should be hesitant to go longterm deal route.
Actually the ALDS was “Chicago’s first step en route to a World Series title” in 2005. The White Sox swept the Red Sox 3-0 in that best of five series before beating the Angels in the ALCS 4-1 and the Astros 4-0 in the World Series. With that 11-1 postseason run, the White Sox tied the 1999 New York Yankees for the best record in a single postseason.
The FAL-vine boy wonders have no intention of offering Buxton anything other than an extremely team-friendly extension. They’d be unwise in doing otherwise.
Eddie Rosario, Miquel Sano and Jose Berrios are clearly extension candidates, but Byron Buxton has never proven he can stay healthy enough to contribute to the Twins. Buxton has three years of team control ahead of him. Let’s see if he can stay healthy long enough to contribute, or if he is going to be a BUST before extending him a contract.
That literally defeats the entire point of trying extending him. If you wait until he’s a proven commodity then he’s going to cost a whole lot more. You can it’s not worth trying to extend him now but if you wait until he’s “proven” himself you no longer get the discount you would now.
I know it is fun to give ones opinions but maybe it might be fun not to take yourself to serious.
Ridiculous. Just like last offseason when Preller “leaked” that he was interested in just about every free agent or trade piece in the universe.