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FA Rumors: Ozuna, Braves, J. Castro, Stammen, Peraza, Grandy

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The Braves are interested in free-agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna, Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets. This isn’t the first connection between the sides, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported last month that the Braves were one of the clubs in on Ozuna. Now, though, it seems the Braves are willing to aggressively pursue the 29-year-old qualifying offer recipient. In the event third baseman Josh Donaldson leaves Atlanta for another team, the Braves would regard Ozuna as a viable fallback option, Morosi suggests. MLBTR predicts Ozuna will reel in a three-year, $45MM guarantee, and if he lands anywhere near that neighborhood, he should fall well short of Donaldson’s next contract. That said, replacing Donaldson’s bat with Ozuna’s would still leave a sizable hole at third base for the Braves.

Here’s the latest on several other free agents…

  • The Angels, Astros, and Rangers are among the organizations with interest in backstop Jason Castro, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). With Yasmani Grandal and Travis d’Arnaud off the market, the 32-year-old Castro could be the best catcher left on the board. The pitch-framing savant’s coming off a strong season in Minnesota, where he batted .232/.332/.435 in 275 plate appearances and earned positive grades in Baseball Prospectus’ Fielding Runs Above Average metric.
  • Several teams appear to be in the market for reliever Craig Stammen. The right-hander’s most recent team, the Padres, as well as the Astros, Diamondbacks, Reds, White Sox, Blue Jays and Cardinals have all expressed interest, per Morosi (Twitter links). Stammen, whom MLBTR projects for a two-year, $10MM guarantee, has put together a strong career divided between Washington and San Diego. The 35-year-old logged a 3.29 ERA with 8.01 K/9, 1.65 BB/9 and a 50.8 percent groundball rate in 82 innings last season as a Padre.
  • The Reds are one of the teams with interest in Japanese center fielder Shogo Akiyama, president of baseball operations Dick Williams revealed (via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer). Clubs have until Dec. 19 to sign Akiyama, who had an impressive run with the Seibu Lions from 2011-19. It’s unclear what a potential Reds-Akiyama union would mean for Nick Senzel, their starting center fielder last season. Senzel could perhaps move to the corner outfield, which does look like a need area for the Reds.
  • The Cardinals are interested in re-signing backup catcher Matt Wieters, according to general manager Michael Girsch (via Goold). Whether it’s Wieters or someone else, the team seems intent on adding a veteran to play behind Yadier Molina. Wieters could wind up in Oakland if he doesn’t go back to St. Louis, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Athletics have shown interest in the 33-year-old to back up Sean Murphy. This is the second straight offseason in which Wieters has landed on the A’s radar.
  • The Orioles and Indians are two of the four teams that have shown interest in infielder Jose Peraza, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). The Reds non-tendered Peraza last week on the heels of an unproductive season, but he’s only a year removed from a respectable showing. The 25-year-old’s also controllable via arbitration through 2022.
  • Although he hopes to play next season, there has been little interest in outfielder Curtis Granderson, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. The soon-to-be 39-year-old Granderson is a revered clubhouse presence who has enjoyed an outstanding career, but he’s a free agent at an inopportune time. Granderson struggled to a .183/.281/.356 line with minus-1.4 fWAR in 363 plate trips with the Marlins last season.
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Comments

  1. I’d rather see the Braves overpay a bit on Donaldson than sign Ozuna. Yikes.

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    • I agree. They should get Castro or do a reunion with Maldonado. As much as we need pitching…they need a decent catcher in line to help. Cause Bemboom and Stassi wouldn’t cut it for a possible playoff push…

  4. I don’t get this. Ozuna does not fit Atlanta’s MO. Plus, they have a ton of depth in the Farm that either won’t fit on their squad or can risk having their star fall like Allard last year. Make a trade before wasting money on Ozuna

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    • I think if they sign Ozuna one of the AAA outfielders gets moved in a deal for a third baseman. Maybe for Bryant? I don’t think Riley/Camargo would be terrible though. One of Waters/Pache will be traded at some point. Neither profiles as much of power bat and they are both at peak value now.

        • Waters will be the next Chipper Jones. Switch-hitter, a little power and have good avg. The Braves are in good shape if they do nothing else. Don’t waste/throw any of the prospects now.

    • Tend to agree. If you look at the farm, Atlanta does have a glut of outfielders, especially if Riley stays in the outfield. They might be better off going after a Betts as a bridge to Pache and/or Waters.

      • There is no Betts in the Braves future. Thanks to what will be the Cole deal (I know people will slam the comparison), Betts will stand to make 400 mil. He will ride it out in Boston all the way to FA, as he’s already said.

      • People, People, People, you so-called Braves fans. The Atlanta Braves are a kinda cheap club, they have sort of been that way for many years. That means they don’t spend a lot of money, meaning like contracts of 150-200+ million. That is why they rebuilt, to get good, young, cheap players so they can kinda control money. They don’t need to trade away those players for players that will be getting those 200+ million dollar contracts.

  5. sounds like the cardinals lone signing in this years free agent class.

  6. Wow, really. The only player the Sox have expressed interest in since Wheeler is Stammen?

    • The interest has to be mutual. Clearly the White Sox have been historically bad at getting top FAs to take their money, that coupled w/ Reinsdorf’s notorious cheapness…. well, it’s obviously been a bad combo. Reinsdorf’s tight purse strings and loyalty to inept front office clowns has rendered both the Bulls and White Sox irrelevant jokes.

      I get that the Cubs own Chicago and JR is forced to operate the White Sox like a mid/small market team, but there is no excuse for the Bulls to be in a 20+ year rebuild. The only NBA team in a MAJOR market, they don’t take a back seat to anyone. Yet, like the White Sox, the Bulls can’t attract a top free agent. It’s embarrassing, it’s so frustrating. As a life long Bulls fan, I will celebrate the day Reinsdorf no longer owns that team.

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      • The Knicks are in a major market and have been bad for a long time, too. The White Sox have changed their ways in recent years in my opinion. They did land Luis Robert and Grandal. The 3 big trades the Sox made look pretty good for them so far. We’ll see if they land a SP. I’m more optimistic about them than the Bulls.

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  7. This may or may not be a hot take, but I think that the Reds have really mismanaged Senzel to this point and he won’t reach his potential with them.

    • Yes, they need to stop injuring him… oh wait, the Reds aren’t the ones injuring him? OK maybe he just needs a healthy run to get back on track. Your had me worried for a moment.

  8. Even in this year’s free agent market if you can get a commitment from Ozuna for 4/60, and then trade for a third basemen while essentially balancing out the pick lost from Smith…

    In fact, it may work in Atlanta’s favor if Bryant wins his arbitration hearing. A year of control lessens his price and makes a trade more likely. Another year of Bryant and you’ll have a better gauge on what Riley can become long term while issuing KB a QO.

    • Agreed,on the kris bryant situation, but still not to happy about settling for ozuna

  9. Braves should look into trading for Matt Chapman and then sign Ozuna.. I know chapman will cost in prospects but I think we have the stock to do it.

    Waters,Wright,Contrares and Riley..

    Thoughts??

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    • The farm would surely take a hit…Are the A’s even shopping Chapman??

      • Chapman is a 6.7war player. That’s better than Donaldson. At 25 with 4 years of control.

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      • More like not enough. Chapman is an elite defender with a good power bat and has 4 years of control. If I’m the Braves I would definitely do that. These Chapman proposals are ridiculous. And I’m a Braves fan.

        The A’s seem to be wanting to compete anyways. I’d be shocked if he’s moved.

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        • I could see possibly one more player a top 10 guy like Wilson as well. Not sure much more. Chapman is a difference maker but the A’s are not big spenders and I would imagine it would be very hard for them to turn down 4 top ten prospects and a guy with Riley’s upside.. and ridiculous trade proposal?? Who has been traded for a better package lately?

        • A’s are not trading chapman. He is by far their top player under team control. Chapman will not get traded until his walk year. his agent is Boras who said he will not sign a extension because Chapman as a free agent will get close to $200 million deal.

  10. Well if Wieters was on the A’s radar last year they didn’t share that with him. When Wieters was asked why he signed with the Red Birds, he said it was because they were the only club that called him.

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  11. I would rather have Castellanos over Ozuna if they plan on signing a free agent.
    Wonder who is showing interest in Price. I really though the Braves were gonna surprise everybody and get him to be that TOR arm they needed.

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      • I am sure Boston would have to eat a portion of his contract to move him

      • have redsox eat most of salary and get that shortstop who replaced swanson when he was hurt

  16. If you have an outfield of Acuna, Inciarte (provided he is not packaged in a deal for a third baseman) and Ozuna, I’m fine with that. Markakis as your nut holder. If Pache or Waters isn’t included in a deal you have them knocking on the door at some point this year. 4/60 is right in the Braves financial wheel house for Ozuna if they don’t spend d it elsewhere. Tell me why I’m wrong!

    • Because whatever you gain in offense with Ozuna, you lose on defense tenfold. Dude has a wet noodle for an arm and can’t judge a ball to save his life.

      • Fair, but Is this gaining Ozuna’s offense and sacrificing the defense, as you point out, a worse alternative than what they have currently?

        • I’m not sure. And I’m no expert. But I would much rather have Acuna and Markakis in the corners than Ozuna. Ozuna embarrasses himself in the outfield from what I’ve seen. I think we need a 3B much more than an OF. The need is dire IMO.

        • I watched every Cardinals game and Ozuna can be a beast at the plate when healthy, but he is a clown in the outfield with a little league arm. Commonly misplays balls in the outfield and every team goes 1st to 3rd or 2nd to home on any ball hit to left.

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      • With that thinking, that’s why we have Duval to put in the game in the 8th. and 9th. innings.

  17. I called Stammen for the Reds early, he’s a somewhat local boy that should have been here a long time ago. As for the Japanese man, I know little about him, I’ll do some homework in the morning…

  19. umm… NO on stammen to the Pads. he sucked last year and is on the downslope. team is loaded with arms that are cheaper AND better.

    • Stammen sucked last year? That’s an interesting take their bro…..a wrong one but an interesting one nonetheless

      1

      • did he suck as bad as gerardo reyes, adam warren, brad wieak, maton, stock, or wigenter? no. nonetheless, he was below average & another arm the team should have stopped running out there. in other words, with even more arms on the way this year, DON’T RE=SIGN STAMMEN. period.

      • another jackass… that obviously knows more about baseball than you dimwit

  20. Pretty sure all Braves fans are on the same page. No Ozuna…. just because he owned us in the playoffs doesn’t mean he’s worth the risk in the outfield. He’s a train wreck even when he performs well. Stick to the obvious play. Go get an elite 3B, if a OF falls in our laps that’s really good we’ll take it. Ozuna is neither of those

  21. Only way I’d want to see Ozuna in Atlanta is if they also plan on trading for a 3B like Bryant. I don’t see Ozuna giving them that consistent middle of the order presence they seek

  22. Reds, hopefully no on Ozuna, yes on Corey D or Akiyama & move Senzel to corner, Stammen? Plus he’s 35 years old, sounds like reclamation project @ 10mil, get some LHR instead

    • MLBTR: “The 35-year-old logged a 3.29 ERA with 8.01 K/9, 1.65 BB/9 and a 50.8 percent groundball rate in 82 innings last season as a Padre.”

      Jock2854: “…sounds like reclamation project…”

      • Yes too much for a 35 yr old $10 mil, I stand by my comment with small track of success

  23. The Cardinals need to sign Wieters. It is good for the young pitching staff and he is a left switch hitter. No brainer right now for this 2020 team.

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