The market for free-agent infielder Wilmer Flores has started moving, Jeff Passan of ESPN tweets. It’s unclear which teams are interested in Flores, but he does look like one of the most intriguing players left in a constantly thinning class of unsigned players. Still just 28 years old, Flores is coming off a season in which he batted a robust .317/.361/.487 with nine home runs in 285 plate appearances as a member of the Diamondbacks. The righty-hitting Flores did most of his damage against left-handed pitchers, which has been a regular occurrence throughout the ex-Met’s career, but he has typically been playable against same-handed hurlers. He also carries a fair amount of experience at each infield position.
- Free-agent second baseman Scooter Gennett recently held a workout that “a number of teams” attended, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score writes. That jibes with the latest on Gennett from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, who tweets that roughly six clubs (including the Cubs) are interested in the former standout. The Cubs have been the lone team linked to Gennett in the rumor mill since the Giants released him in late August. San Francisco cutting ties with the 29-year-old less than a month after acquiring him in a trade with the Reds put an end to a nightmarish season for Gennett. While he was quite productive with the Reds from 2017-18, Gennett could only muster a .226/.245/.323 line with two home runs in 139 plate appearances during an injury-limited 2019.
- The Nationals have officially re-signed franchise icon Ryan Zimmerman for another year, but he’s not committed to playing beyond then. Zimmerman told reporters Tuesday that he and the team will continue to evaluate their union on an annual basis going forward, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post relays. That said, while Zimmerman’s due to become a free agent in another year (he’ll be 36 then), it seems doubtful Mr. National will ever put on another team’s uniform. Zimmerman’s playing time with the Nats has declined as his career has advanced, in part because of a variety of injuries, but he said he’s “okay with” his part-time role in D.C.
- The Orioles made a small move to address their weak rotation when they signed southpaw Wade LeBlanc to a minors pact on Tuesday. The agreement came after the 35-year-old LeBlanc, who spent most of last season as a reliever in Seattle, turned down other teams’ offers in hopes of earning a spot in the Orioles’ rotation, per Joe Trezza of MLB.com. While LeBlanc could indeed take on a role as one of the O’s starters in 2020, they’re not done shopping for help in that area, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Notably, Baltimore was connected to one of its former SPs, righty Andrew Cashner, this past weekend.
Flores has Brewers written all over him.
id rather have Travis Shaw bat .094 for the year again over that crybabyb1tch
WTF? Over one moment when he thought he was being traded away from the only pro team he had ever known? He bled orange and blue. I don’t fault him for that.
A human being expressing true emotions and a sense of loyalty. Who does that?!
Phattey, you are a troll.
I think he plays for TEX helping provide a right handed hitting option to platoon with Ronald Guzman at 1B.
I like this idea.
I see Flores signing with the Cubs for 4 years/$64 MM. I think he takes a pay cut to play for the Cubs because they’ll be the NL favorites.
That dude is straight trash no way in hell he comes close to anything like that kind of money
sar·casm
/ˈsärˌkazəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: sarcasm; plural noun: sarcasms
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
“his voice, hardened by sarcasm, could not hide his resentment”
Or…woosh
The proper form for sarcastic posts is include your [sarcasm alert] at the end. That allows less experienced posters (who can’t see your face when you type, as well as bleary eyed morning posters (like me) to decode the intent of the post…
This form can be as important but not as wide spread as the infamous DFtT
Benny lay off the bennies, Cubs will not b NLC pick 2 win
C’mon Scooter, get back on the juice and smash some homers
That’s ridiculous.
next year, flores will still be 29
Mr. Byrne any man who stashes “jibe” in his vernacular quiver is A-okay in my book.
Scooter seems like a clear bounce back to me in 2020. Hope this dude lands somewhere & performs!
I could see Flores going to TEX to add power off the bench against lefties and platoon at first base with Ronald Guzman.
Perfect fit now that El Cheapo the GM, Jon Daniels has missed out on every useful FA that could’ve played 1B or outfield.
Was Scooter a “former standout”?
Scooter was a former standout, he even had 4 homers in one game, a fan favorite & could possibly have signed somewhere for $10m a season b4 injury he hasn’t come back from, wish him well just not in NLC
Looks like Wade LeBlanc is going to be allowing a ton of gopher balls and might just be released like Dan Straily was last year.
Flores might be a nice add for the Reds who supposedly will be without Suarez on Opening Day due to shoulder surgery. Dunno, but I don’t like seeing the words “shoulder surgery” when it comes to a power hitter like Suarez (49 long balls last year.). Makes me think his power might be compromised.
Also think Mark Kotsay will be a good fit in Boston. He played there a couple of years, and throughout his career, he was productive and a good teammate. Plus, bringing a little bit of that “Oakland method” can’t hurt.
Finally, I don’t see the Cubs winning the NL Central much less a World Series. They are a flawed team, especially with starting pitching. Solid enough? Yes, but there’s not a Strasburg or Scherzer among them.
Fact is, my pick to win the NL Central is Cincinnati. They are gonna have a dynamite offense, and their SP (They go five deep here.) and bullpen are both solid. I like the Brewers’ bats but not their arms, save for Hader.
Scooter makes sense for the A’s as they love rebound candidates. Also for the White Sox as a stopgap for Madrigal.
Rangees, Reds, Indians could be fits for Flores.
Gennet could be a good buy low candidate for the Red Sox
Agreed. Gennett could play second with Chavis getting time all over the Infield while also learning to play the Outfield corners (which is rumored that he will do in spring training), while keeping Peraza limited to backup duty.