Dallas Keuchel and the Braves are squaring off against the Cardinals in a memorable NLDS, but the left-hander recently told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he’s surprised the Redbirds didn’t make a bigger effort to sign him when he was a free agent from November to June. “Honestly, I was fully expecting an offer from them,” said Keuchel. “Just never really came about.” Keuchel, whom the Braves signed to a one-year, $13MM deal after a protracted standoff between him and the entire league, added that he viewed St. Louis as “a good destination,” which could be notable with the soon-to-be 32-year-old set to hit free agency again in the coming weeks. Meantime, his club will try to eliminate the Cardinals in a do-or-die Game 5 on Wednesday.
- The manager-needy Mets may have a couple in-house candidates for the job in quality control/outfield coach Miguel Rojas and Single-A manager Edgardo Alfonzo, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. The 38-year-old Rojas, who’s the son of longtime MLB outfielder/first baseman/manager Felipe Alou and the brother of former outfielder Moises Alou, has been a member of the Mets organization for 14 seasons (including eight as a minor league skipper). Now 45, Alfonzo’s best known for a highly productive run as a second/third baseman for the Mets from 1995-2002. Having coached in the organization since 2014, Alfonzo’s hoping New York considers him to replace the fired Mickey Callaway, Puma reports.
- If the Reds are going to re-sign pending free-agent left-hander Alex Wood, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com estimates it would happen by way of a minor league contract. Considering Wood’s past success and relative youth (29 in January), getting him to accept a non-guaranteed deal may be unrealistic. Regardless, it’s inarguable Wood is coming off a contract year to forget. Acquired from the Dodgers last winter, Wood made only seven starts and threw just 35 2/3 for the Reds this year as he battled nagging back issues. Wood managed an ugly 5.80 ERA/6.38 FIP with 7.57 K/9, 2.27 BB/9 and a 38.2 percent groundball rate when he was healthy enough to take the ball for Cincy.
- It’s already known the Marlins had interest in DJ LeMahieu last winter, but Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes the Fish “made a strong push to sign” the second baseman in free agency. The former Cub and Rockie ultimately accepted a two-year, $24MM contract from the Yankees, with whom he has enjoyed a career season. The low-budget Marlins, meanwhile, ended up guaranteeing a mere $4.5MM to players in free agency, inking infielder Neil Walker (who served as a lesser version of LeMahieu for the club) and reliever Sergio Romo to one-year contracts.
Mel Rojas, not current MLBer Miguel Rojas. He is the cousin of Moises Alou.
It’s actually Luis Rojas.
It’s Luis Rojas.
Why is he still talking about a contract when his team is still in the postseason? Shows where his mind is…which is not surprising because most players realize win or lose, they are still millionaires. They don’t care as much as the fans do.
When the Braves are eliminated tomorrow, hopefully, the first news to release is the Braves have no interest in bringing him back. Of course, after the Braves confirm Donaldson and Teheran are also out. Please don’t bring back JD. Given their clear distrust in Teheran, it is safe to assume he will not be back.
I couldn’t agree more.
Pretty sure he was asked by a reporter because he is facing a team he was tied to for months but didn’t sign with. If he ends up helping the braves beat st Louis it makes it a bad look for the cards. Now, if he wasn’t playing the cards, your critism would be warranted. Still, hard to blame a guy who was one of the top starters available but couldn’t get a contract for being upset about it a few months later.
Ironically, your username is a perfect example of what DK should have done…dodge the question. In other words say, “Right now, I’m focused on helping my team win…..I don’t want to talk about free agency right now!”
No one cares about his feelings other than him. You got a contract, you got a good amount of money, now focus on during what you were brought to do. Instead, he is answering questions that have no importance in the best interest of his current team. Hell, he is saying, I wish I played for the team I’m facing right now. His performance so far also negates any sympathy for him.
Commenting about signing with the Cardinals while facing them in the postseason isn’t a good look
This was Keuchel’s problem: He didn’t lack for offers, but had a price in his head for what he felt he was worth, and didn’t bend when the market disagreed. That was what he stated in an interview in June, before he signed with the Braves for a prorated 1 year deal equivalent to the $18.5 QO he turned down.
This winter there will be no draft pick attached to him, but he hasn’t exactly lit up the NL with his pitching. I expect he will need to be much more financially flexible if he expects to be playing in 2020. I think he is viewed as no more than a #3 or #4 pitcher at this point, which is far from the salary expectations he set for himself last winter.
I am sure you’re right. The Braves don’t want Josh Donaldson back at all. He did nothing good for the team at all this year. They probably shouldn’t even give him a QO even though this site said he and Rendon were the only “no-brainer” third baseman in all of MLB to give a qualifying offer to.
He is not worth further investment despite his solid production this year. He is an aging, injury risk, non-hustling showboating power hitter. The Braves have money to spend and prospects to trade. Go for someone who will man the position for years to come without the risk. I understand there are not much available at third, but the Braves are not a JD away from winning one postseason series either. Either get Rendon, trade for Bryant (if available), or allocate the free money on multiple positions because the Braves have holes everywhere other than SS, 1st, 2nd, and CF.
A QO is one of the most risk free options a team can select. It’s only a 1 year commitment and if the player refuses, the team gets a free draft pick.
My comment was based on the assumption he will reject the qualifying offer, which will be likely.
Free draft pick then, unless he withers for half the season waiting for the QO to expire. This system is so f****d up.
He will have suiters for sure and will get the money he wants. Hopefully, it is not the Braves.
The QO only lasts 10 days,
Jonbluvin
meant the
QO
requirement
of a draft
pick…..
The ability to accept the QO lasts ten days after it’s extended to the player, but it hangs over the player until after the first few rounds of the June draft. To be fair, the player should get until the start of spring training to accept it, then be able to accept it for half value until at least the start of the season at which point it could drop to the veteran’s minimum, but the team would be required to hold a spot on the 40-man open as long as the player is unsigned. Teams would have to think a bit harder about extending the QO.
The teams have realized signing these FA right away hurts the future unless it’s a Machado or Harper like player. Agents need to start telling their clients unless you want to sit out until June maybe you should stick with who you brought to the dance.
I think the braves push on
Just like I think the nats push on
Assuming you are inferring the Braves and Nats win tomorrow, then I agree. At least that was my postseason prediction prior to the games starting.
Part of me still believes the Braves manage to push forward given the forward momentum vibe they had all year, but with the way the games have played out, they are revealing themselves as poorly managed, underachieving failures. As I said before, the Braves have outperformed the Cards in all 4 games, yet we are headed for game 5 because they keep failing to get a big hit to put a dagger through them. All the games have been close.
Side note: Anyone else notice Molina used the cut-throat gesture after the game? He copied Acuna, who used that same gesture at the end of game three. Tomorrow we might see some hostile tensions between the two teams. Just please don’t let the Cards beat the Braves again!
2Hundred – it’s a nasty little trick the media uses as a “gotcha” question; if they ask DK the question and he answers, it gives them lots to talk about and that’s what they want. If DK snaps on the reporter, which would have been warranted since this is the WRONG time to talk contracts and free agency, DK would have caused controversy by snapping on the reporter.
Do we know who’s asking these questions in the presser? Nope. The media protects one another and band together to stir up unnecessary drama.
Barry Bonds wasn’t exactly the greatest person ever. But he was right for going after the media. They are and have been a problem in this game in so many ways.
Gimme a break
earmbrister – You deserve a break? For what?
earmbrister & 2hundredkspsuedostar – who tf let their grandpa on the internet?!?!
The third option is the player politely declines to discuss business while his team is in the fight of the playoffs. There is no “gotcha” there, just a question he didn’t need to answer.
Keuchel appears to still be stung by the lack of a multi year deal, and didn’t answer the reporter’s question in a tactful and intelligent way.
Geo – It is an inappropriate question to ask in the middle of a playoff series, period. In fact, it’s an embarrassment they even thought about the question. Because it’s inappropriate, it becomes a “gotcha” question. If DK didn’t answer the question he would have received blowback from the idiot who asked plus the people who wished he answered.
The question should have never been asked. The person who did is irresponsible.
i think it’s smart to ask the tough questions, if in english or not.
Luis Rojas. Miguel Rojas is an infielder for the Marlins.
There are Rojas’s falling from the sky!
Did the author mean Miguel as a joke? Come on.
Keuchel is really embarrassing himself here. “I was fully expecting an offer from them.” How embarrassingly pathetic and clueless. Boras probably presented him a list of 20-25 teams that would have interest in him, 10-15 of which would have high interest. But when word got out he was looking for nine figures he didn’t get a single call. And Boras convinced him it was the QO. Let’s see if he comes to grips with reality this offseason. Just really embarrassing. (And as someone else pointed out: the fact that he’s talking about this now is further patheticness.)
I wouldn’t make Boras the villain here. Keuchel has the final say. Boras is obviously going to have to rethink his tactics for those middle market free agents or they’ll start leaving his agency but this burden has to lie mostly on Keuchel’s shoulders. He came in way too high and kept his price way too high for too long. Teams went in other directions. You need to have that realization. This wasn’t the first offseason the market began shifting away from the gigantic overpay to past prime guys either. He should’ve been well aware of this possibility.
Boras probably told him not to take the QO and we will get you 9 figures. So it got stuck in his head and that’s all he wants
Boras could have told him the baseballs are edible. It doesn’t matter. The player drives the bus, and the agent works for the player. If Keuchel believes he’s worth $100M in a multi year deal, the it is Boras’ job to make that happen. From Keuchel’s own words in an interview last June, he wasn’t going to budge from his expectations and his self-valuation.
Many players—Keuchel, Kimbrel, and Grandal come to mind—misread the market and the value of their services. I would expect this winter to see a lot of signings, quickly, when free agency starts. More players will be seeking to close their deals fast, with the exceptions being Cole, Ryu, Rendon, and Strasburg (if he opts out), because Boras works more slowly.
Boras is most definitely a villain for all Mlb baseball fans.
All we have to go on is press releases by parties with a stake in the game, and people trying to sell clicks online. We have zero actual information about why he wasn’t signed earlier. He may have misjudged the market, or he may have told boras he wouldn’t accept anything less. Everyone tries to make boras the bad guy at every opportunity, even though he has gotten more money from the billionair owners than any other person. Also, boras works for the players, not the other way around.
I’m gonna guess that Keuchel failed Self Promotion 101. “Yeah, my guys have an elimination game tomorrow. So, how much are you willing to pay me?”
If you look over the stats for World Series winning managers, I think it provides an important look at who the Mets should hire here. Across the 114 World Series that have been played, the average years of MLB managing experience for the World Series-winning manager is 9.3 years, with a median of 7 years. What this shows is that teams who go on to win the World Series usually do it with someone who has cut their teeth managing another team first, before coming to a new team to push them over the finish line. Even recently, over the last 20 years the average age goes up to 11.4 years and the median is 10.
Alex Cora last year became not just the first rookie manager to win a World Series since 2001, but the first manager who did it with his FIRST TEAM since 2005. Therefore in this era of “analytics,” all of the managers who won the World Series between 2006 and 2017 did so after starting their managerial careers with different teams. Certainly you have successful first-time managers today, especially with 8 of the 10 in the playoffs being with their first team, but if the Astros win the World Series, which they very well could, maybe it will be because of the decisions and gambles of A.J. Hinch.
What this boils down to is that the Mets, like every other team that goes on to win the World Series, are a team with a lot of talent that needs someone to get them that extra step across the finish line. And like every team that has won it between 2006 and 2017, they should look to hire someone with experience rather than a rookie. And with successful options like Girardi, Baker, Maddon, and Showalter available, they cannot make the same mistake of going with someone new.
Great post, thank you!!
Okay, so there is hope that the Marlins will win in the next couple of seasons under Mattingly! And we have owners with multiple rings (Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan). Wait, are there analytics for the probability of winning a championship when you have owners that have 5 rings or more? We’ve got two owners that have achieved that.
Just kidding. But this was a great post. Although, I will be rooting for the Mets brass to do what they do and continue being the Wilpon Mets.
Wood I think would be perfect in Milwaukee probably better then Wade Miley signing
On the eve of Game 5, a game Keuchel will start, he somehow thinks expressing his disappointment that his Game 5 opponent didn’t offer him a contract last winter! What an idiot. Just another meathead athlete making big bucks who thinks his IQ increased in proportion to his bank account balance. Better to be thought stupid than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.
As a Phillies fan with 3B problems of our own, I was surprised to read what little appreciation Brave fans have for the year Donaldson had. He hit for power; got on base,; stayed healthy and played a decent 3B. Okay, maybe he’s not Nolan Arenado at 3B, but he’s far from the second coming of Roger Dorn.
Brave fans would be wise to heed that old adage, “You don’t know what you’ve got until you lose it.”. Braves should try to bring him back. Austin Riley doesn’t look ready for prime time, and with several other holes to fill, I doubt the Braves pony up $250 million or more for Anthony Rendon.
Trade for Bryant? Hmm, that’s gonna take a lot. Besides, why would the Cubs trade him? A lineup with a support base of Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Contreras is pretty darn good.
Once the baseballs revert back, Donaldson’s numbers will no longer be impressive. He is not worth giving 2 plus years over $25 million with his current production and risk. The team is not good enough to win a postseason series with him anyway. The Braves have much to fill this offseason and knowing ownership, they will likely target short term cheap options. This year may be the last time the Braves see a postseason run for quite a while. Despite what many seem to think, the Braves are not competing against themselves every year. The Mets and Phillies will only get better heading forward. If the Braves lose the NLDS, there is zero reason to believe the Braves will ever be a better team than what we have seen this year (albeit they are nothing special right now).
BTW, you clearly missed the part where DK started game 4.
The Cardinals do need a Lefthanded starter. I just don’t know if Keuchel is the right guy at this point.
Gotta agree with the others. When I first started reading the article, I couldn’t believe the Keuchel was talking about pitching for St. Louis. 95% of the time, players say ‘I’m just focusing on the next game’. I’ve been watching BB for 50 years and never heard a player talking about playing for the opposition.
All I can say when I read about who should sign who and who should be the next manager where: Go Tampa Bay with your 59 million dollar payroll and roster devoid of million dollar super stars.
Love to see the Mets stay in-house for a change. Both players have experience already know all the home grown Mets players. Hope the front office is smart for a change.
Could you imagine if DJ had signed with the marlins? No one would have noticed what a great season hes having.
Nice of the brave fans tonight to not be a chopping. Glad they decided to quit that nonsense.
They were chopped down about 4 batters in.
Wong, batting 2nd in the lineup, actually sacrificed to get Dex to 2nd, which results in an out even tho not an official AB (“AB” stands for “at-bat” – in English). An out is good for the Braves because they are trying to retire the Cards batting order. Goldy (Goldschmidt) followed with an infield single, which was followed by an Ozuna single. So technically, Grampy, the “first 4” batters resulted in 1 run which by no means should make any professional team feel “chopped” out. You try hard to be witty with your comments but I think it’s time for the Guest to leave. After Donaldson’s hr (that means Home Run – in English), Atlanta crowd was again chopping away. #EnglishForGrampy