While free-agent right-hander Matt Harvey has drawn the attention of teams in the Korea Baseball Organization, a KBO match may not be all that likely. KBO clubs are currently wary of adding new players to their roster because those individuals would need at least six weeks from debuting, per Daniel Kim of MBC. There would be a few notable hoops for someone like Harvey to jump through, including a two-week quarantine, acquiring a work visa and getting into game shape. There’s also the fact that KBO teams are only allowed to carry two foreign-born pitchers, Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs points out. Beyond that, Jaffe explains that Harvey may have a difficult time boosting his stock enough in the KBO even if he does land there. The former ace, 31, is coming off a mostly disastrous run over the past few seasons, thanks in part to major injuries and a serious dip in velocity, so it’s unclear whether he’ll get another MLB opportunity.
More from around baseball…
- The Tigers made what most have deemed the right call in selecting Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. However, the team caught many off-guard when commissioner Rob Manfred announced Torkelson, a college first baseman/outfielder, as a third baseman. Even Torkelson didn’t see it coming. “The first time I knew they were drafting me as a third baseman was when the commissioner said, ‘Spencer Torkelson, third base,'” he revealed Thursday (via Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic; subscription link). But Torkelson’s a former high school third baseman who has taken reps at third at ASU, so the position’s not foreign to him. Even if he’s unable to stick at the hot corner as a professional, the Tigers are confident the big hitter will make a significant impact at either first or in the outfield.
- The Giants now have two premium catcher prospects in 2018 first-rounder Joey Bart and their No. 1 pick this year, Patrick Bailey. In a best-case scenario, both players will evolve into impact big leaguers within the next few years. But will there be enough room for Bart and Bailey on the same roster? The Giants believe so, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area relays. In the wake of the Bailey pick, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said that, if their development goes according to plan, “there are going to be times when you want both guys in the lineup.” Zaidi also noted a potential universal DH could help the Giants achieve that goal, adding the club wants “all the guys in the system to be able to play a different position.”
- More on the Giants, who have now committed to paying all of their minor leaguers a $400 weekly stipend through the end of the season (Sept. 7), according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. In all, the organization will pay out roughly $1MM to its 270 minor leaguers, Schulman reports. The Giants had previously agreed to pay those players through June.
Patty Barrels is going to be a stud.
That’s a bold assumption, the guy hasn’t hit with wood bats, and he barely hit .300 in college. “Studs” don’t barely hit .300 they hit .400 in college.
Giants made a mistake with this pick.
It makes me laugh when people say “I can’t believe SF took a C”. In mlb draft u take the best talent. Worry about other things when they come. Bailey is a really good talent
Exactly. You can trade that player if you need another position player. Bart could get injured and never play again (I hope not).
So much can happen from now until the time comes when a player is ready for the majors.
Exactly. Plus Bart can easily move to 1B, if needed (or they could rotate), if the universal DH doesn’t come to fruition. Posey won’t play forever.
The casuals are my favorite part of the draft lol
It’s still relatively early in Zaidi’s tenure, but I’m learning not to question his moves. In a few years, we may be looking at him as one of the best. Time will tell…
He has literally done nothing. That is the first place you start when questioning him.
What do you mean? He’s cut the payroll practically in half, and dramatically increased the talent level in the farm system. What more do you want?
Had a huge hand in building the Dodgers into what they are now, took one of the oldest and worst teams in baseball for two years straight and had them contending for the postseason at the trade deadline.
Yeah, what a loser.
@Dandan, Zaidi had very little to do with that, if you want to see who was responsible for that look at who the dodgers did not let go to the biggest rival.
Says someone who sounds suspiciously like a Deplorable for Dump
Both catchers have the athleticism to play multiple positions.
The giants don’t have a sure thing 1B prospect in their system
The Giants. Lol
premier C prospects have immense value. its always worth getting one when you can. look at the A’s selecting one when they have Murphy, Heim and Allen already in a squeeze.
Hope they were not referring to DH as a position.
They are, because it is, and it doesn’t matter that you don’t like it.
As much as I don’t want a dh, it makes sense to build depth in preparation for it and if you have the chance to have multiple premium bats in the same position, especially something like catching where guys need to be rotated out from behind the dish it gives you a lot more flexibility than signing a bat only dh only guy
This is a serious question: what does it matter what position is announced for a draftee? I mean, Tigers are not going to be FORCED to play Tork at 3B. To me it’s much ado about nothing. Non story.
@hook316, I was wondering the same thing about the announced positions. Didn’t see anything obvious when I did a quick internet search. Anyone know why that would matter?
Imo it’s about projecting future value. When you know a players position, you have an idea how much value he would bring as an Defender at average, above average, below avg at whatever position
And as a 1B or LF, his bat has to carry him to the majors. Their defensive impact is lesser
but if he can play 3B while hitting like he’s expected to, he’s that much more valuable
It also Reveals initial plan usually for club, and therefore let’s BA or FG to speculate on his path to majors+long term impact on MLB club+timeline+even future moves from mlb team
If you ask me, Harvey’s best bet is to sign with an Independent league team. I’m sure there are plenty of teams in the Atlantic League that would sign him. His name alone will put people in the seats
Or the beer line which is more profitable
Either way.. his name alone would get fans into the ballpark.
Especially if he signed with the Long Island Ducks. Bethpage Ballpark is only like 50-60 miles from CitiField.. LOTS of Met fans in the area. And who knows? If he worked hard, and got a bit of luck, he might make it back to affiliated baseball, and maybe even get to the Show again.
i really dont think Harvey puts fans in the stands in an established league. maybe one of the newer Frontier league teams can pull in some fans with hin, but i dont think he is a draw in a league that has ML veterans (and regognizable ones at that) every year.
Harvey would definitely draw fans if he played for the Long Island Ducks.
Francisco Rodriguez drew fans during his brief time with the Ducks.. so did Carlos Baerga, Edgardo Alfonzo and any other former Met or Yankee who signed on with that team.
I still say that, ignoring the players who passed away unexpectedly, the fall of The Dark Knight of Flushing is one of the great tragedies in baseball in the last decade. Before he had TOS, he was something special. Headcase or not, the guy was one of the better pitchers to make it to the Show in the last 25 years when he came up.
Matt Harvey article every other day….Really?
I know… They should be writing about the games being played…
No. Wait.
I seriously doubt there will be games played this season.. not unless Manfried grows a pair and forces the issue.
He does have the power to restart the season at any time, as per the agreement they made back when they shut down spring training.
Manfried could have spring training reopen in 48 hours if he wanted to.
I was shocked that the Giants selected Bailey, but in Farhan I trust. And now Casey Schmitt (3b – “Above average raw power, defense at 3B and arm strength and performed last spring and on the Cape. Is up to 96 mph on the mound with an above average splitter and fringy slider.”)
Bailey – terrible pick for that spot in draft, but if he is trade bait and can learn how to not be like chris davis at the plate and more selective with pitches maybe..he turns into a solid hitter; I wonder if he is going to be moved to 1B or OF / DH
Schmidt – 2 way interesting. but can he be the home run hitter or stud in bullpen but I doubt both at least he can hit with a wood bat unlike bailey.
Swiney – hopefully they see something more than scouts say. They do have a pretty good track record in turning out pitchers
Glowenke – solid pick, but light on the swing, sounds like a future lemaster or rennie stennett but maybe he will learn to hit with more pop — 2nd baseman for sure.
Not too impressed with draft but you never know…
I’m sure taking that catcher has something to do with having all those picks in the top Hundred & the ability being able to sign all of them. You won’t see much of a difference in the $$ amounts with those top four five picks. Which makes it a better chance for all of them to sign. I think they did well so far.
Bailey walked more than he struck out in his college career. Not saying he doesn’t have swing and miss, but he isn’t Chris Davis. He also never played in the Cape, so let’s wait on the wood bat analysis.
He actually played briefly in the Cape in 2018.
https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1288158&seasonid=31242
Scouting reports said he did not have the exit velocity with wooden bat as he should as the aluminium swings were much different. He is prone to swing once pitchers adjusted to him he didn’t make adjustments — things he is certain to change as he rises in minors or at least hope
Patrick Bailey reminds me a lot of Blake Swihart back when he was a hyped up prospect. Hopefully he sticks as a productive player unlike Blake.
The San Francisco Giants are just a Colossal mess. Casey Schmitt ? Dude isn’t a 2nd round pick. No way. he’s at best a 4th round guy. Total over value.
Then they took this scrub Glowenke w/ compensation pick? WTF Dude ranks like 175-200 on most boards. 5th rounder at best.
What makes you an expert on players you have never seen? What is wrong with the Giants farm system? You being the the expert.
You understand that any online ranking system is more impacted by a players agent than the players ability, right? Following them like their gospel just makes you look ignorant
I’ve been closely following NCAA baseball for years. And Dubs is correct.
I scratched my head w/ the Schmitt pick. He’s a good player. But San Diego State isn’t the ACC and he wasn’t on anyone’s board below the 4th round
The 2020 Draft Long before covid-19 was always about College arms. And Zaidi for whatever ridiculous reason went in a different direction.
Look at LAD and what Friedman drafted BIG NCAA ARMS . Period
Overall. The Giants 2020 was a head scratching disappointment
Rightyspecialist LOL. If he doesn’t like it, it must be good.
I hate myself for agreeing with rightyspecialist, but he is totally correct. Zaidi wants to build the Giants with a bunch of role players and super utility players.
remind me what experts thought about Trout? or Piazza?
Datashark, umm experts were extremely high on Trout, he was a 1st round pick that would have gone higher but teams weren’t sure of his signability.
Piazza… well they missed on him.
So if every team paid their minor leaguers the $400/week for the whole season, it would cost them +/- $1M? That’s it? And some teams are trying to stop paying early? WTF?!
apply for an accounting position with a team and make that change happen!