The Reds continue to show interest in free-agent corner outfielder Marcell Ozuna, Jon Morosi of MLB.com and Jon Heyman of MLB Network relay. In fact, the Reds and Ozuna’s camp have been in contact in the past 24 hours, Morosi adds. However, Ozuna is not expected to sign during this week’s Winter Meetings, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Instead, he seems inclined to wait for third basemen Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson to sign, which Sherman observes would leave him as the top bat on the open market (though Nicholas Castellanos may have something to say about that). A four-year deal is in play for Ozuna, Sherman suggests.
- The Giants, Brewers and Reds were the runners-up for shortstop Didi Gregorius, per reports from Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The presence of his former Yankees manager Joe Girardi in Philadelphia helped influence Gregorius to take the Phillies’ one-year, $14MM offer on Tuesday. Of the other teams involved, the Giants’ inclusion is particularly interesting. They already have an expensive veteran shortstop in Brandon Crawford, who has a sterling defensive reputation. Speculatively, the Giants could have been after Gregorius with the intention of playing him at second base. They wound up acquiring a different infielder, former Angel Zack Cozart, on Tuesday.
- The Brewers are considering a reunion with first baseman/outfielder Eric Thames, general manager David Stearns told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other reporters Tuesday. The club bought out Thames’ option for $1MM last month in lieu of paying him $7MM next season, but doing so left the Brewers dangerously thin at first base. Outfielder Ryan Braun may be an option at the position, but manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday (via Haudricourt) that he’s not going to be the Brewers’ primary choice there in 2020.
- Robinson Chirinos, Austin Romine and Matt Wieters are among the available catchers the Rockies have spoken with, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. The offensively solid Chirinos looks like the most appealing of the trio, as he could earn a multiyear contract worth in the neighborhood of $10MM. Whether the Rockies would be willing to go to those lengths is unknown, though it’s obvious they need help behind the plate. Their catchers (including current starter Tony Wolters) posted bottom-of-the-barrel offensive production in 2019.
So the Giants just spent 22M today, are reportedly readying an offer for Castellanos, have plans to meet Bumgarner and his reps this week, and were runners up to signing Didi? Wtf is going on?
They’re still foolishly refusing to rebuild
They bought a prospect for 13 million of those dollars. That’s a heavy slant to suggest they aren’t accepting a rebuild. They ,unlike many other rebuilding squads, have the financial capacity to spend some money while sucking.
They don’t need to be handing out 100 million dollar deals; but if Zaidi sees a value play, why not?
that ship sailed when they didnt sell at the deadline. now they have no assets to sell regardless.
I absolutely love that move by the Giants. They now basically have two first round picks from the last draft, to go on top of their drafts from the last couple of years. I’d expect this sort of thing to go on for a year or two more, by which time they’ll have a completely loaded farm. Of course it’s a rebuild.
they looked at their roster for 2020 and realized they were looking at 100+ losses…
It’s December! you really don’t know what’s going on,that’s what makes the offseason fun!you’ve probably never put a Puzzle together huh?Nothing will make sense til the Spring,chill and don’t listen to the Loud Media and do your own research!
Zaidi’s so called master plan; dumpster diving in hopes of finding “lightning in a bottle.” Taking on salaries {Cozart $12.7 million and Gausman $9 million} that could have been used to sign MadBum. Still haven’t seen the power hitting corner outfielder; Castellanos is not the answer.
They still have money to sign Madbum
Sounds like the Giants philosophy’s to follow the Cardinals Owners and John Mozeliak lead by their Winter meetings!!! Leading the team in reverse to get rid of High Dollar-Long term contracts with marginal older players. Cardinals have reiterated that they will wait until 2021. I think I’ll give up my season tickets until they care again!!!!
It’s crazy how things change. Some of the biggest contracts were given to 1st baseman not long ago. Pujols, Fielder, Gonzalez, Delgado, Ortiz, Thomas etc… Now a guy who hit 40 or so hr’s two years ago can’t get a $7,000,000 contract. A Jones signed in Japan after having a decent season. Can’t wait for five or six years when teams pop up in London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels etc… MLB would be thrilled to break into Europe in a big way and I think they will. They could start with a semi-affiliated league, 4a or KBO/Npl level competition. Many large markets and mid-level to large metro areas all over which would make it attractive along with lower crime than Mexico for instance. A thirty team league that will eventually have several cities get MLB level teams. Teams have tons of depth that needs to play regualarly against higher competition while upping the interest of the masses, especially younger people. Pitching and position players will begin to flow out of Europe at a higher rate than we’ve ever seen. Eastern Europe could become a new Dominican level of talent for baseball adding a couple hundred million people to the talent pool.
Um nope, I’m betting on contraction before expansion. Already losing money in Miami, Tampa, and Oakland.
Contraction over expansion for sure. There just isn’t enough support to keep those teams in Florida. I can really see the A’s sliding over to Vegas when they finally accept they will never get a stadium in the Bay Area. What other U.S. city really can support a team? Portland? They pretty much said no and I believe Seattle has rights there. San Antonio? Nashville? Probably be smarter to add a team to Boston or even Brooklyn instead. Where else can they go? They could go back to Montreal (doubtful) or Mexico City (logistically tricky and unproven).
I don’t see Europe expansion anytime soon. You’re going to have a whole lot more traveling to get over the pond, and there are 162 games in a season. MLB is trying it out a bit with London, but it’s way too early to gauge results and I doubt it will happen in the next twenty years. The NFL makes more sense with only one game a week. MLB will watch how that goes over like a hawk before making their own move.
By all reliable reports, Montreal will have another team within 3-4 years. My guess is it will be the Rays or A’s.
Portland cannot support a major league team. They didn’t even want baseball in their town. They gave the Portland beavers (AAA) the boot in favor of soccer and completely redid the stadium
No team in MLB is losing money
Until they are willing to open up the books all their crying poverty can not be taken seriously
I wouldn’t want any more than 2 teams entering the league. However, I do think it would be very interesting to see Europe get a few teams, teams of AAAA and former MLB castoffs, and compete in some of the Asian leagues, maybe play some games against MLB teams.
I’m sure if these teams were somehow affiliated with the MLB, they would be down, this would definitely generate great revenue and certainly a profit, and that’s all it takes to draw interest. Interesting concept though. Maybe similar to a March madness type thing? Trim down the 162 game season? Get fans more engaged in the middle of June and July.
What are you smoking!!??
I hope Ozuna isn’t really on the Reds radar. He would help, but I don’t think he’s that over the top guy that’s needed. For my money, I’d much rather have Puig come back on a 3-year deal.
Would much rather have Puig…
Buyer beware on Ozuna. One of the Laziest players in the league.
I hope he isn’t too! I honestly would much rather have Nick Castellanos because he would absolutely rake in our park. He’s never going to win a gold glove but I think he would do fine.
If the Reds get Ozuna, I hope they dont scratxh their heads as to why their pitching suffers next season to terrible defense. Ozuna, Moose, & Galvis will all be defensive downgrades from a year ago. 2 of those 3 make up the current double play combo. I’m a Reds fan, and I’m scared to death right now..
30 years ago Marvin Miller (congrats, MM, even if it was too late) said MLB would expand to Europe as soon as the talented youngsters in the Dominican, Venezuela et al learned the financial realities of baseball. While limits on signing bonuses has hurt them some, they’re still light years ahead of where they used to be.
So MLB needs more lands to find cheap talent. It’s pretty much as simple as that.
DiDi signed for 1 year so it makes a ton of sense the Giants were in on him. A prove it year and move him at the deadline and get a prodpect back.
Thames is a real fan favorite and actually made some great plays at 1B last season. Would be great to have him back. He brings a nice spirit to the table also.
Mediocrity loves mediocrity.
Then they made a baby, and here you are.
Hahahahaha you win the internet today sir. Props.
he gets so excited in post game interviews. dude loves to play ball and I think he loves the brewers
I wonder if Zaidi has a line on trading Crawford…
Reddick and Correa for Castillo.
Make it Trevor Bauer and you have a deal. Castillo is a stud, no shame in trying! Maybe Castillo for Springer? Lol
No.
Hey Tom. Interesting but only if they sign Madbum or some such free agent.
The Giants have certainly put Crawford on notice, first by acquiring Cozart and now the news about Didi. His arm is still fantastic, but Crawford has gotten fat – his range factor and other defensive metrics dropped and at 33 on opening day, I doubt they’re coming back unless he’s gone on a massive weight loss program to regain some agility. Add to that his stunning .654 OPS, 0.6 WAR and $15M contract and you have one big fat piece of the anchor dragging this team down.
As a 50-year Giants fan, I could accept that the Giants wanted to show loyalty and reward members of their championship teams, but it’s been 5 years and it’s time to move forward. I’m giving Zaidi a lot of slack while the terrible contracts expire and he can look to acquire the right talent at the right price. For now, we’re all stuck with the Sabean contracts. Call it one big World Series hangover that’s not ending soon.
Gigantes need to find a way to set the Brandons and Longoria free to pursue other interests and move on…