In the course of yesterday’s arbitration whirlwind, we covered quite a few players who reached agreements in advance of the non-tender deadline. But several others also struck deals last night (all projected salaries from MLBTR & contributor Matt Swartz) …
- Righty Anthony Bass has agreed with the Blue Jays at $1.5MM, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). Recently plucked from the waiver wire, Bass had projected to earn $1.7MM. The 32-year-old is coming off a season in which he threw 48 innings of 3.56 ERA ball with 8.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. It was his most extensive MLB action since 2015.
- Ben Gamel’s deal with the Brewers includes a $1.4MM salary as well as a $2.55MM club option for the 2021 season, also per Nightengale (Twitter link). The option functions as an earning ceiling for the outfielder. Gamel had projected at $1.6MM, so he’ll come in under that amount while giving up some upside in the event of a breakout. But the priority is surely to gain another opportunity at playing time. Gamel has hovered in range of league-average with the bat over the past several years but slipped to a .248/.337/.373 slash in 356 plate appearances last year in Milwaukee.
- The Twins have agreed to a deal with righty Matt Wisler, the club announced. The salary isn’t yet known, but it’ll be guaranteed. Given that Wisler is out of options, he’s now rather clearly in line to take a spot in the Minnesota bullpen. The recent waiver claimee projected at $1.0MM. Anything in that range could be a bargain rate for a player that carried a sparkling 63:16 K/BB ratio in 51 1/3 relief innings last year. Of course, Wisler was also tagged for 32 earned runs and ten homers, so he’ll have to figure out how to avoid the long ball.
- Infielder Donovan Solano has a $1.375MM deal with the Giants, per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). That tops his $1.2MM projection, so obviously the club felt there was some risk that he’d be able to command a greater salary in the course of the arb process. Soon to turn 32 years of age, Solano produced one of the game’s least-expected breakouts in 2019. Long a light-hitting utilityman who struggled to establish himself fully in the bigs, Solano turned in 228 plate appearances of .330/.360/.456 hitting last year in San Francisco.
Gamel sold himself short here. no doubt he had the Crew hostage with all their other losses.
Hes a solid player, glad we have him!
Hostage? Maybe if he pitched or played in the IF, but the brewers have plenty of OF’s
Wisler still plays? I thought all the teams just told him they didn’t want him around anymore and made him leave.
Perfect Twins Pickup…
Man are the Brewers cleaning house. Love to see them getting rid of the dead weight guys like Nelson and Saladino. Shame Nelson could not stay healthy, he was on his way to becoming a potential number 1. But I think Brewer fans should be excited that a new pitching staff is going to emerge next season, which is what we have been asking for!!
Hope shaw figures it out somewhere else, hes just a good human being. One of the better guys in the game–and i know he has a child with issues which cant be easy on the guy.
I dont care what anyone says your definitely a great fan of this team. You hit everything right on the head. Too many people are panicking with what they are doing. They have just doing the right thing with some of these players..
Solano is a no brainer…
Agreed,he earned it,Solano was a bright spot!
Glad to have Donovan back.
I’m glad Solano’s back too! First move Farhan has made since the last game of the season that I understand (yeah, I know, he’s “smarter” than me and has a master plan, I’m just waiting to see what it is. It’ll be long offseason).
A piece of corn left on your Thanksgiving plate is a good thing. An undigested one in your turd isn’t. Put it in perspective the same way they looked at Pillar. The numbers look nice but a deeper look says he’s behind in the count usually which explains his low walk, high strike out. All his numbers are fairly balanced across the board except home vs away. At home he hit only .259. So was 2019 the new standard or an anomaly? Maybe if Kapler’s wi-fi signal stays strong but more likely his numbers will drop but hopefully still respectful. But the Pillar non-tender shows this will be a losing season. The commitment is no longer in the short run to win but to give the illusion of trying to win. Same as last season was. It started that way when they fired Bochy but didn’t give him a 2 week notice. Instead they gave him a year long notice since there was no intention to win. Proof of this was prior to the trade deadline after the winning streak they gutted the strength of the team. Yes, I know you have to give to get but show me a team who’s made the playoffs without an elite bullpen. Now lastly to get everyone riled up, no one I’ve seen is getting the Giants offensive issues. We need an OF or a 2B etc., No, fielding position doesn’t matter at all. They need a 3rd place and cleanup hitter. Oh they have one already, not, well yes and no. Unless you field a team with less than 9 players, someone will hit in those positions. You need quality and consistency in those batting slots. You can’t tell me if Anthony Rendon called the Giants up and said I’ll take less than market value as it’s been my dream to play for the Giants they wouldn’t find some way to move Longoria. Would that happen, No or about as great a chance of me finishing that piece of corn.
P.S. anyone who believes the Giants only and not the opposing teams numbers will go up as a result of moving the fences in is dreaming..
I’ve been shouting from the rooftops to play Solano more but no, it was Panik then Gennett. Dubon is now at 2nd but his natural position (from what I’ve read) is SS. So why not start Solano at 2nd, Dubon at SS and Crawford, who has a dismal 2019, as back up? Lefty (Crawford) vs righty (Solano) doesn’t matter if Crawford’s not hitting anyway.