Some notes from the American League:
- George Springer and Michael Brantley will be two of the top free agents on the market this offseason. Astros general manager James Click confirmed the organization will look into bringing both players back, but he also cautioned that the club has to “balance the present and the future” (via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Click pointed to the broad financial uncertainty throughout the sport thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, while expressing a more general desire to avoid “a series of short-sighted moves that (would) put us in a bad position for the long term.” If Springer and/or Brantley were to depart, the outfield would have to be addressed in some way, with Kyle Tucker the only in-house replacement locked into an everyday role. Houston will certainly make a qualifying offer to Springer, at least guaranteeing themselves draft compensation if the sides don’t agree on a deal. The QO decision on Brantley will be a tougher call.
- There’s more certainty on the Astros’ coaching staff than there is in the outfield. Manager Dusty Baker confirmed to reporters (including Jake Kaplan of the Athletic) the entire staff is invited back for 2021. Baker himself is under contract next season by virtue of Houston’s exercising his club option in July. Bench coach Joe Espada, hitting coaches Álex Cintrón and Troy Snitker, and pitching coach Brent Strom headline Baker’s assistant group.
- Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier suffered a wrist injury when he was hit by a pitch in Game 3 of the ALCS. He’ll be a full-go for the World Series, he told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). That’s not particularly surprising, since the 30-year-old returned to Tampa Bay’s starting lineup for Game 7 against Houston. The three-time Gold Glove winner has been an integral part of the Rays’ superlative team defense this postseason.
- The Orioles will have to decide whether to add infielder Rylan Bannon to their 40-man roster in advance of this winter’s Rule 5 draft. In an effort to improve his chances of cracking the roster, Bannon is expanding his defensive repertoire, as Rich Dubroff of Baltimore Baseball details. “I’m (at instructional league) to work on second base stuff, and kind of surprising, (Friday) was my second day of working on a little bit of catching stuff,” Bannon said. The 24-year-old started 37 minor-league games at the keystone in 2019, compared with 84 starts at third. He has never lined up behind the plate. Part of the five-player return from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade, Bannon combined for a .266/.345/.421 line between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
- The Rangers hope to fill their pitching coach vacancy by the conclusion of the World Series, reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. That individual is expected to come from within the organization, Sullivan adds. Texas parted ways with former pitching coach Julio Rangel earlier this month.
Would like to see the Mets sign Springer for LF, leave Mcneil at 2b, Davis at 3b hopefully the DH stays let Cano and D.Smith share that role besides playing 2b,1b for them to switch out.
The Mets have a lot of $$ coming off the books so signing Springer, a SP maybe Bauer and a couple RP’s
Two issues:
1. They still don’t have a CF. But Springer is still preferable to Nimmo in center
2. Davis shouldn’t be guaranteed a starting job heading into the season
they should hire the astros trash can
Still not enough…
He’s been a mainstay and far to reliable. They can’t afford him.
Mets might get one of those guys. But to expect just oodles of spending is unrealistic.
Mets fans (some) seem to think Cohen will come in and start spending his personal money on every player. Not sure why.
Are you trading Nimmo or Conforto, because Nimmo can’t play CF and neither can Springer going foward.
What do you mean? Springer had 6 DRS in CF last year.
Yeah I’m not sure why people think Springer cannot handle Cf at least at the beginning of his 10 year deal.
I would keep Springer in CF as long as possible because you are not going to get that type of production out of many Center Fielders regardless if his defense is slightly below league average. He has always seemed to perform better in center than in right anyway.
10 year deal wtaf? Dude is 31…
Imo its Jt or bargain bin for the offense –
Sp- Boy do they need help (and so do a ton of other teams ) Good luck
Pen- Maybe just try and re-sign Wilson and throw the dice with the same group- Pens are strange and can turn quick
If the payroll stays North of 150 this teams going to be loaded with talent the next couple years- They have got to stay healthy for once tho
Astros will sign Refsnyder and Swihart.
Rylan Bannon should have a good shot of being the Orioles’ regular 3B next year. Rio Ruiz has shown nothing to be excited about.
Springer a good player but Mets need someone younger. They possibly play in the hardest division and need to build for the future.
Rio makes barely above minimum and is not yet arbitration eligible. He will be on team next season
Next season is Ruiz’s last shot. I suspect Velasquez could be DFA’d for Bannon. Valaika, Ortiz, Martin and Iglesias is enough SS’s on the roster. I’d think Velazquez is the man on the bottom there. Though if the Orioles decide that they want to sign a 3B placeholder this offseason I could very easily see Ruiz go.
Repeat with me Mets fans:
Springer is not a CF
Springer is not a CF
Springer is not a CF
have to get away from playing inferior or declining defensive players in such an important position. Look at the defense on the two teams in the WS. 2015 was an absolute exception.
Looks like the Mets could use Kelenic right about now.
How would an unproven prospect help?
Hopefully the new front office understands this. The Mets have been neglecting defense for years to their detriment. Nimmo is a LF, Alonso is a DH and Davis should throw out his gloves.
And I agree that Springer doesn’t belong in CF, but he might as well be Kevin Kiermaier compared to Nimmo
Would the Mets trade Nimmo for Lynn+? The Mets need starting pitching, and they are good enough to where a couple of good pieces could make them a contender. Lynn is cheap next season, so he wouldn’t be a contractual boar to work around. Plus the Rangers have said that they want to do a 1v1 deal with Lynn instead of a package deal in return. Maybe Lynn and Montero or Lynn and Taylor Hearn (who can go 3+ innings relief)? Nimmo is already 27, and would probably be close to 30 by the time the Rangers are contending again. What would also be tough is the Solak situation. He’s our LF right now, but he isn’t good defensively outside of that (despite his ability to play 2nd… it isn’t good), so that’d be something we’d have to work around. Granted I think Texas wouldn’t mind seeing as how it would give them Nimmo.
Is Nimmo even the kind of player Texas should be trying to acquire? He has just two years of control left. If Texas is focused on rebuilding, perhaps a player with more control should be on their radar.
That said, Mets would probably say no. Their window is still open and Nimmo’s a key piece. They could sign someone like Gausman or Walker, or another free agent to tighten up their rotation while Syndergaard recovers.
This trade makes no sense for Texas.
6 DRS in CF this year, but sure, he’s not a CF. As if Nimmo is any better.
Springer definitely getting qo’d but Brantley don’t see it when rotation needs work. He is oft injured and can be replaced with tucker.
Tucker is replacing Reddick, who only played because Yordan was hurt.
Brantley will look decent in the outfield…I say!
Just don’t bring back Duvall.
The Rangers have some AAA and AA coaches for whom they’ve raved about for a while, so I’d guess they replace Rangel if we really are working in house.
Bannon will get claimed if he doesnt make the 40.
sign Puig and JBJ for 2 years. Yordan Alvarez Returning next season and the offense will be excellent once again. Then bring Kevin Gausman 2 years and the Astros will be in 2021 and 2022 in the ALCS
Nobody wants Puig. He’s a talented player, but he doesn’t fit in with teams very well. There’s a reason he went unsigned this year.
Gausman does have that Hou feel
I can see the Tigers taking a splash while the market is deflated. Springer would look excellent in LF.
Lynn for Nimmo doesn’t really make sense. My guess if it is JD’s desire to trade Lynn 1f1, then you are looking for a position player coming off a tough year, or with a contract a team wants to remove from payroll, Second possibility is whomever you get 1f1 for Lynn is simply a piece to be included in another trade, perhaps paired with Andrus, Odor, Gibson, or Lyles with and additional prospect or two attached for multiple near MLB ready pitching. For example, only Lynn to Cubs for Bryant and then Bryant and perhaps Leclerc and others go to ATL, for Toussaint/Newcomb, or Foltynewiczs. I think Rangers should look into Puig as he is still young enough to fit in future plans if Woody and others can correct his lackadaisical attitude at times. He could play LF or if the Rangers get stupid which is possible and trade Gallo to Colorado, NYM or CWS for MLB-ready talent. In which case Puig goes RF, Solak in LF, and Tejada at 2b if Odor is traded or a 2b such as Madrigal is not acquired in a trade.
The may you speak makes it sound like Lynn is a contractual baron (which he’s not), that’s probably not what you meant, but I can’t tell for sure.
The Cubs would just trade Bryant straight up to the Braves for some young pitchers if that deal was available anyways, so there’s no way they’d want a year of Lynn for a year of Bryant in any scenario. They’re looking young too.
I don’t really want Puig around this team with how young that they are because I think Puig could be a bad influence on anybody. Fun to watch, not fun to be around.
I think ideally we go out and Sign Ha-Seong Kim, and Marcell Ozuna. Trade Lynn and Solak to a team like the WSox, re-sign Kluber, trade/release Odor, and Sign a Chris Archer type. Done. I think it is unrealistic that we sign Ozuna, but Kim, Kluber, and Archer I can actually see happening. Maybe a lineup like…
Taveras
IKF
Ozuna
Gallo
Kim
Calhoun
Madrigal
Trevino
Guzman
Decent lineup, and even without Ozuna, it’s still Solak. I’d be fine with that this off-season.
I do not think Lynn is a financial burden, my point was that if JD was going to use him in a 1f1 trade it would be a similar proposition for a player the Rangers could use this year and then flip at the deadline or it would be a player that JD knows another team wants and has a need for a front-line starter, and in return, Rangers pick up multiple near MLB read talent. The Atl and Bryant example was simply an illustration based on Atlanta’s pursuit of a front-line 3b and Chicago’s need to fill the void left by losing three starters. The same illustration would work for someone like Brandon Belt in SF or with some enhancements Story in Colorado. I would love Ozuna, but it is unlikely Rangers pursue him, Springer, or Brantley, which on FA market leaves Pederson, who I like, but you would need RH compliment with him. I would also love Madrigal, but I am not a fan of Guzman or Calhoun. With Guzman, you get some defense but neglible offense and with Calhoun, you get neither. He cannot play LF in the new ballpark, so he is stuck at DH. I am with you on Archer, but I think you will need at least two more.. Kluber in fifty percent of the best year would be a good deal, but with the number of contending teams needing pitchers, he will likely cost more than risk is worth, which leaves Quintana/ Odorizzi as the best affordable options for TX or dropping down a few tiers to Wacha, Woods, Bradley, etc. A Red Sox trade of Odor + some mid-level enhancements might work if you got Covey and perhaps another pitcher involved and hope one turns the corner. The three still young ATL pitchers mentioned are cast-offs as is Luchesi in SD so any of them are worthy of pursuing. Would still really love Andujar or Bell and Frazier or Grichuk.
Jays top priority should be starting pitching, second should be signing George Springer
Curious if the Astros could send an asset and eat some cash to clear Greinke’s salary and open up resources to sign Springer and/or Correa.