The Braves weren’t willing to go beyond a three-year contract for Madison Bumgarner, and “it seems highly doubtful” they would go to four years for Hyun-Jin Ryu, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes. Atlanta’s interest in Ryu is something of a new development, but Bowman feels it could be more due diligence on the Braves’ part than anything else, in case Ryu’s market shifts within the two- to three-year range. Multiple teams have been linked to Ryu this offseason, though it remains unclear whether any club will be willing to stretch to four years for a hurler who will be 33 years old on Opening Day and possesses a lengthy injury history.
The latest from around the NL East…
- Could Yoenis Cespedes be a trade chip? A deal seems unlikely, but MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports that the Mets have received some trade interest in the outfielder in the wake of last week’s news that Cespedes’ salary has been reduced to less than $10MM, though with significant incentives that could make it worth $20MM (assuming Cespedes gets on the field at all in 2020, of course). Cespedes has a full no-trade clause, though DiComo speculates that Cespedes might welcome a change of scenery to a team that could offer him DH at-bats, or just to get away from “a team that successfully filed a grievance against him.” It could be that rival teams are open to absorbing Cespedes’ contract as a method of acquiring some younger talent from New York, similar to how the Giants recently took Zack Cozart’s salary off the Angels’ hands in order to land shortstop prospect Will Wilson, or how the Mets themselves are trying to attach a younger player to Jeurys Familia or Jed Lowrie in a trade.
- The Nationals’ fifth starter competition is examined by Sam Fortier of the Washington Post, who reports that Erick Fedde has a minor league option remaining. This might not bode well for Fedde’s chances, as the Nats could send him down to Triple-A in favor of Austin Voth or Joe Ross, who are both out of options. That’s assuming, of course, that D.C. ends up going forward with one of these three in-house arms as the fifth starter. Fortier notes that the team was seemingly satisfied with this same trio last winter before signing Jeremy Hellickson prior to Spring Training, so it isn’t out of the question that the World Series champs could pursue another low-cost veteran before the offseason is out.
- We haven’t heard much about David Phelps about this offseason, but Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer feels the right-hander would be a good (and relatively inexpensive) addition to the Phillies bullpen. After missing all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, Phelps had a solid comeback year in 2019, posting a 3.41 ERA, 2.12 K/BB rate, and 9.4 K/9 over 34 1/3 innings for the Cubs and Blue Jays. Phelps pitched under Phils manager Joe Girardi with the Yankees in 2012-14, and when asked about the reliever at the Winter Meetings, Girardi praised Phelps’ versatility, game preparation skills, and good numbers against both right-handed and left-handed batters.
Ryu is not getting as much attention as I thought he would. Thought teams would jump on a 4 year contact, even with that injury history. Getting a free agent starting pitcher who put up great numbers for less than 6 years is rare these days.
3 years up to 60 million would be okay with this White Sox fan.
Or I guess 4 for 64.
4/70 more like it
Ryu has always been under the radar because of where he plays, and the fact that he’s a control pitcher, which is unfashionable these days, but it’s his age that argues against four years more than his injury history.
Ryu will sign with another NL team and punish the Dodgers for letting him go….
In the same report, Cespedes is said to have claimed he’ll be ready to play 140+ games. If he’s healthy and hitting, the Mets will have a killer lineup. I can only imagine how many back-to-back homers he and Alonso would hit.
In the same report, Cespedes claimed he was the descendant of Barney Rubble, and as such was entitled to compensation from Hanna-Barbera.
he just wants a clean slate
That doesn’t track. Huckleberry Hound is heir to the Hanna-Barbera fortune. Barney Rubble’s contract was limited and didn’t include residuals.
Ah, but Huckleberry Hound lost his claim to the fortune by sleeping with Wilma Flinstone.
It was in all the papers.
@Bilbo
The likelihood of Cespedes and Alonso hitting back to back homers is probably not high unless you think they’re batting back to back as righties. I don’t think that’s likely. Mets lineups tend to alternate left, right, left, right.
That was a Mickey thing. Terry may have done it, too, but we don’t know that Carlos plans to do it as well. For relievers with the new 3-batter rule, the alternating lineup may make sense. I’m sure Pat Venditte will get a job somewhere.
True. I guess it depends on who the opposing starter is. Either way, the potential of that lineup is tremendous if he’s healthy.
That wasn’t Huckleberry Hound. It was Muttly in a hat. It turns out Dick Dastardly set the whole thing up to frame Huckleberry Hound and take control of the fortune. He would’ve gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those kids and their pesky dog.
Don’t forget about Captain Caveman and his unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. This event inspired Willma to play the field. And She’s Ready To Play!
Who’s bed would you rock? Wilma or Betty?
@Bilbo Van Bagenen
But does he deserve to play ahead of Conforto (.856 OPS) or Davis (.895 OPS)? Factoring in how bad his defense is and he shouldn’t be moved to 1B and the answer is no.
I don’t disagree, but like Cano, if he’s healthy, he’ll play. If so, and there are no other major changes, I think we’re looking at a lineup of:
C – Ramos
1B – Alonso/Smith
2B – Cano/McNeil
3B – McNeil/Davis
SS – Rosario
LF – Cespedes/Davis/Smith
CF – Nimmo/Marisnick
RF – Conforto/McNeil
The defense of this team is pretty damn terrible, but the offensive potential is exciting to think about.
You think Rosario is hitting ahead of ces. Mets fans are really dumb as rocks.
That’s not the batting order being suggested, but the positional players. And you’re calling him dumb…?
It’s not a lineup dipsh*t
@iamhector24 Ummm… clearly it’s just a positional lineup, not a batting order… Something something, dumb as rocks.
Youarehector – funny. I would think seeing a catcher was batting first would be the first hint it is not a lineup.
@iamhector24: They let you out of the monkey cage & you still throw poo.
The guy hasn’t swung a bat in two years, how do you know how he will be? If the Mets are going to trade him wait until spring training.
Cespedes to the AL makes sense. Can’t see him manning the outfield on hobbled legs.
I honestly don’t know what the Phillies are doing other then spending a lot of money on a NL East 3rd place team. Years of terrible drafts have destroyed the minor league system.
They have no choice but to spend money now because their drafting and player development has been so poor. Their 4 best developed players since Hamels are Nola, Kingery, Cesar Hernandez, and Hoskins. Really puts things in perspective.
But Moniak is a can’t miss
Ugh you knew that would hurt me.
“They have no choice but to spend money…”
So why is Gerrit Cole in New York and Anthony Rendon in Anaheim?
They spent on Arrieta, Harper, McCutchen, Nola, Realmuto, Gregorius, Robertson, and Wheeler what are you talking about?
dont listen to that fool. he thinks that only BOTH of Rendon and Cole were needed for the offseason to be justified.
If teams could realistically have a $300m payroll but we don’t live in that world hahaha.
“They spent on Arrieta,… McCutchen, ….Gregorius, Robertson, and Wheeler what are you talking about?”
The answers were: Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon.
If too many of the answers are wrong you fail the test.
That’s all Klentak is good for; spending money. Hell, you and I could do that. His acumen as a talent evaluator sucks big time. I predict he’s collecting unemployment at this time next year.
okay, but what’s the solution then?
“okay, but what’s the solution then?”
Guys get paid real money for answers like that.
Agree 100%. Still waiting for our 1-1 pick, Mickey Moniak to do something (Anything!) that suggests he was worthy of being the first overall pick.
Frankly, I think as a GM Klentak is in over his head. If it weren’t for Cigar Guy’s checkbook, what has he done? Yeah, he traded for Realmuto, but we gave up two pretty good players in that deal. It’s a real bummer of a trade if the Phillies do shi**y this year and FA Realmuto opts to move on from Philly.
Why would the Mets give up a prospect to get rid of $10 million guaranteed? It’s not that unreasonable, if Cespedes is healthy he could well be worth it, and if completely injured all season insurance covers his cost.
I could see them moving him for a similar contract, particularly a reliever.
i would imagine 20 million in guarantees includes a lot of guarantees that come to fruition simply due to ganes played in the case of an injury riddled player such as Cespedes.
I think joe ross is the 5th starter for the nationals he’s solid coming off of TJ surgery he’s got good stuff
I definitely think Ross is the guy. Voth to the pen as long relief/spot starter and Fedde gets to see if he can light up AAA and not get lit up.
Wouldn’t mind the Nats taking a flyer on Taijuan Walker. Nice talent and could have a nice bounceback. But that doesn’t seem very Nats like. Also, what about King Felix? He wants to play and needs to depend more on “pitching” than his fastball. Max, Stras, Sanchez etc would be a good mix to return to dominant form.
The Braves offseason is already a failure. Same bad rotation, different year. Don’t waste time on Ryu.
Ryu is better than Bumgarner lol
Ryu had a better season last year than MadBum. I’m not sure he is the better overall guy and can stay healthy.
Ryu was 3-1 vs nationals in 2019
Cute, you’re back. Thought you would have wised up and only tuned in to Dbacks feeds. That dry air should heal your crocodile tears.
of course, it is not the end of the world that they didn’t acquire Bum, but the team is not a legit team until they add to the rotation. I’m not sure who though!
if the team started the seaso. now they would be perfectly fine. Hamels, Fried, Soroka are all good, and between Newcomb and the field there are plenty of other options too. the tean will also be fine in hitting as well with Pache, Waters, and Riley as all breakout candidates. the Braves needs are so overblown. be happy youre not a Phillies fan.
Ridiculous. They’re the best team in a tough division and the second best team in the NL. They’ve been very active this offseason. Just because they didn’t get the one guy you wanted does not mean they’ve failed this offseason. They got upset in the playoffs, but that happens. Barring injuries, they’ll be in the playoffs again.
They didnt get upset by the Cardinals. They got embarrassed.
It happens. The playoffs is a crapshoot.
thay added a whole bunch of talent at reasonable prices. what’s the issue?
That guy thinks Acuna is overrated and has been whining about Bumgarner since before the trade deadline. Most of us just ignore him now. He makes 0 sense in any post he makes.
Ryu will get four years in the range of 17 to 20 million a year. Three years is not going to get it done. Four 60 is not going to get it done.
A lot of teams want pitching, and right now he’s the best on the market.
Ces needs to stay until the deadline. He’s going to turn it on I think. Trade him when he’s valuable. If not insurance coverage will pay him.
I have a bad feeling that the White Sox are one of the teams inquiring on a potential trade for Yoenis for a DH position.
Change of scenery? For Cespedes? Wouldn’t New York be a change of scenery for him?
Good one!
LOL thank you great post made my day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cespedes to the mariners with dominic smith sounds good the mariner fans potential get to watch his bat this year Which could be something to root for since ain’t no one else on that team is doing anything
Oakland trade for Cespedes, Lowire and Familia reunite the former A’s.
Yoenis Cespedes and Jeff Wilpon to the Rockies for Nolan Arenado and Charlie Monfort.
I think the Giants should take Familia AND Lowrie ($20M) off the Mets hands if the Mets would offer Mark Vientos in return. They already have one of the top rated 3B in Brett Bay (who is a bit further off than Vientos), and Vientos would fill a huge hole for the Giants in a year or two when it will be easier to start easing Longoria out
The Braves are just cheap. It is an easy way to put a number on years in an attempt to convince their fans they are actually trying to improve. What a joke. You got your stadium now screw the fans. Should rename them Marlins North
Phelps could help in middle relief but i’d like to see the Phillies aquire a high leverage, late inning arm on the cheap with serious bounceback upside potential. D. Betances, G. Holland, C. Allen, J. Jeffress, T. Clippard. Any of them, with the exception of maybe Betances, would keep the Phillies below the luxury tax threshold. They would also provide a viable plan B if the Vinny Velasquez and Nick Pivetta to the ‘pen experiment doesnt pan out.
Velasquez and Pivetta both failed in the pen last year. I would be happy never seeing Pivetta pitch for the Phils again. At least Velasquez can play the outfield.
id love to see Phelps in here. he’s sneaky good when healthy. 1 year with a team option and a vesting option.
Cespedes ? teams want that bum ? I say if some team wants Cespedes they have to take Cano also — Any takers ?
I wish the Mets would trade Cespedes to the Cardinals for M. Carpenter and a Subway sandwich. Thanks Mets. Can Cano pitch out of the bullpen? Close games? That would be great. Thanks Mets.
I would do that trade — Cano cant pitch or hit but he can clean the bathrooms at Bush
the giants would gladly take a chance if a good prospect were attached for cash or ptbnl, if he can play he fits the bill as faras right handed OF that they have been looking for and if not they bought another prospect
Cano comes with a few signed baseballs and a bucket of mop water for him to clean the bathrooms –Cespedes ? just take him off the Mets hands
KC is a good landing spot for ex-Phillie Maikel; Franco. Always thought that his high contact rate with low Ks was a sign that there’s more to him than what we’ve seen.
No pressure to win in KC, and if their hitting coach isn’t a launch angle slave, maybe this is the year (Still just 27) breaks out. KC is not a great HR park, but I think Franco hits .270 with 30 bombs this year.
Personally, I wish KC would take Klentak off our hands, too. The guy is in way over his head other than being able to hit up Cigar Guy’s checkbook. Heck, I could do that!
Think about this for a moment-Ryu, Soroka, Hamels, Foltynewicz, Fried, Newcomb goes to the pen. I love that rotation.
Ryu would be a great..ryu was 3-1 against the nationals in 2019…
It all depends if Folty has his head on straight. I’d think about sending Newk or Folty, Riley, Camargo maybe and a couple of lower prospects, maybe Touki to Chicago for Bryant and Kimbrel. Opens some roster space.
Ironic, Braves struck quickly to add a couple players like last year and now crickets.
I don’t expect to many more moves, not costly ones.
Regardless, they certainly have improved an already good team. Problem is, so have the Nats & Phils
What have the Nats done to improve their team? They lost Rendon and Straus was there already.
What is Klentak’s job these days? Caddy? Does he call other teams to see if their needs could be found on the Phillies? Does he make sure the new uniforms from Nike fit all the players? I mean if he happens to locate a team wanting to make a trade, who does he report this to: MacPhail or Middleton or maybe Harper? The guy is either playing darts behind his closed office door or getting ready for his next news conference in Clearwater in 6 -8 weeks. I know he happens to watch MLB TV quite a bit to keep up with the latest transactions. Lots going on Matt!
Terrible defensive teams don’t make the playoffs.