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Quick Hits: Sugano, Arihara, Padres, Varitek, Pirates

By Mark Polishuk | November 30, 2020 at 7:19pm CDT

Right-handers Tomoyuki Sugano and Kohei Arihara “are on the Padres’ radar,” The Athletic’s Dennis Lin writes (subscription required).  The two Nippon Professional Baseball veterans will both be available on the posting market, and represent intriguing alternatives to more established Major Leaguer hurlers in free agency.  As Lin notes, the Padres have worked to establish a scouting pipeline to the Asian leagues, with Pierce Johnson and Kazuhisa Makita representing San Diego’s most prominent NPB signings in recent years.

Sugano and Arihara are quite likely to each land multi-year deals but perhaps not overly long commitments, which could appeal to a Padres team Lin says is “mulling one-year deals as a way to reinforce a rotation.”  The Padres will be without Mike Clevinger in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery, leaving a vacancy in the starting mix.

Some more from around baseball…

  • Jason Varitek officially joined the Red Sox coaching staff earlier this month, working in the new position of game planning coordinator.  This is Varitek’s first assignment as a full-time MLB coach, and the longtime former catcher tells Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that eventually managing a team is “the ultimate goal” down the road in his post-playing career.  Varitek has worked as a special assistant within the Boston front office since 2012, a post that has allowed him to dabble in several different organizational facets such as scouting, player development, and (most recently) working with Red Sox catchers throughout the 2020 season.  “There are no set parameters” to the game planning coordinator job, Varitek said: “I’ll work with the catchers and pitchers and be a liaison with the analytics people.  Whatever comes my way, I’ll help out.  It ends up being the same thing I have been doing, helping the players grow.”
  • The Pirates are known to be considering all options on the trade front this winter, though The Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel (subscription required) doesn’t think Josh Bell or Gregory Polanco will be dealt since the Bucs would likely be selling low on either player.  “It’s more likely than not” that Joe Musgrove will be traded, though Biertempfel also thinks it’s possible Musgrove could be signed to a contract extension, with Pittsburgh either seeing him as a long-term piece or perhaps using the extension as a way of enhancing Musgrove’s trade value.
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Boston Red Sox Gregory Polanco Jason Varitek Joe Musgrove Josh Bell Kohei Arihara Notes Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres Tomoyuki Sugano

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45 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. miggy4prez

    2 months ago

    Pittsburgh & “long term plans” in the same sentence?

    4 Like
    Reply
    • colonthegoat40

      2 months ago

      Lol

      1 Like
      Reply
    • gozurman1

      2 months ago

      New sheriff in town so anything is possible. If Huntington still wore the badge I would be thinking like you. Too soon to judge Cherington yet.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • pasha2k

        2 months ago

        Cherington is terrific, give him a chance. He made some mistakes in Boston but learned, n he made some wonderful choices in Boston too.

        Like
        Reply
      • Dice 66

        2 months ago

        Agree !

        Like
        Reply
    • mlb1225

      2 months ago

      Cherington seems to know what he’s doing. I like that it looks like he has a plan and potential timeline in place.

      Like
      Reply
      • pasha2k

        2 months ago

        He’s excellent n learned by his mistakes. But he made more great than bad moves.

        1 Like
        Reply
  2. Down with OBP

    2 months ago

    Good for Varitek. I believe a game planning co-ordination was what Cora was doing with the Astros.

    Like
    Reply
  3. braves4life1

    2 months ago

    I’m sorry guys, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed so hang in there with me?? Do you mean to tell me that the Atlanta Braves have 1 of the Top 5 players in all of Baseball, Ronald Acuna Jr and 1 of the best young 2nd basemen in all of Baseball Ozzie Albeis on Guaranteed Salary where they are making $5 million and $3 million respectively each season? My next question is who represents them? They have the worst Agents of all time!! The Braves are paying Peanuts for Acuna and Albeis

    Like
    Reply
    • Chris_Favreau

      2 months ago

      Acuna signed an 8yr $100mil contract that bought out his arb eligible years… That’s a pretty nice deal..

      2 Like
      Reply
    • BobGibsonFan

      2 months ago

      It was probably part of an agreement when they were signed as international free agents. The old okeydoke. Braves have done it for years and finally got caught.

      Like
      Reply
    • tad2b13

      2 months ago

      braves4life1:

      Although, in general, Braves fans defended the deals, you’re sharp enough to know they could have done much better. Especially Acuna, who’s on par with guys making twice, to two-and-a-half times more than he is.

      When you think that Kris Bryant is projected to make something like $18M to $19M in arbitration and Acuna’s contract has an AAV of $12.5M, it seems to me, he got short-changed.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Mrtwotone

        2 months ago

        Nobody put a gun to their head and forced them. Yeah they are definitely underpaid but the pre arbitration and arbitration years were bought out. Maybe they wanted to stay on the same team long term? Either way it’s life changing money

        Like
        Reply
        • thelegendaryharambe

          2 months ago

          @Mrtwotone they didn’t need to sign those extensions to stay on the same team long-term

          Like
          Reply
    • DTDATL

      2 months ago

      They obviously got what they wanted. They got their arbitration years bought out and gained a lot more money in the short term with long term security. Plus, both will still be young enough to cash in on a big money deal when these contracts are up. They love it in ATL and ATL loves them. Everyone wins…team, players, fans

      1 Like
      Reply
  4. mlb1225

    2 months ago

    I think it’s odd that the Pirates want to extend Bell out of anyone else on their roster. Sure he was good more often than not in 2019, but his career has been the definition of a roller coaster. sometimes he looks like he could be a silver slugger winner. Other times, he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of the boat. On Musgrove, they need to decide this off season whether to extend him or trade him. He’s a really underrated pitcher because he not only plays for thr Pirates but his surface numbers aren’t great. Get a decent defense behind him and you have a high end 3 starter, potential number 2 starter..

    2 Like
    Reply
    • BobGibsonFan

      2 months ago

      I fell out of a boat once and didnt hit water. It was in the driveway.

      3 Like
      Reply
    • Dorothy_Mantooth

      2 months ago

      Where did you read that Pittsburg is looking to extend Bell? The article says they might extend Musgrove but doesn’t say anything about extending Bell.

      Like
      Reply
      • mlb1225

        2 months ago

        Last month, the Pirates said that they were going to explore an extension with Josh Bell: mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/pirates-to-explore-josh…

        I just find it odd that of all the players they have, he’s been the only one they’ve explicitly want to go after.

        Like
        Reply
        • Spinning Wheel

          2 months ago

          Agreed! Only if NL went DH full-time could an extension to keep Bell in Pittsburgh seem to make sense. But, of course, that is IMHO, just from the surface.

          Like
          Reply
  5. bobtillman

    2 months ago

    So the question for Red Sox Nation has always been if “Teck” wants to be a manager. Judging from the quote (“the ultimate goal”), apparently he does. I wonder how long it will be until teams start calling?

    I suspect, not very.

    Like
    Reply
    • lefty177

      2 months ago

      As a Red Sox fan I want him to work on the bench for Cora until Cora is fried then he takes & keeps the job

      Like
      Reply
      • pasha2k

        2 months ago

        I love Tek n I love Cora. It’s what’s best for the team, n this team it’s Cora atm.

        Like
        Reply
      • tad2b13

        2 months ago

        lefty177:

        Fried Cora isn’t that healthy, especially if you have to sit on the bench for any length of time before they do the frying.

        1 Like
        Reply
        • bluewho

          2 months ago

          Try Frank’s Hot Sauce. I put that s–t on everything.

          Like
          Reply
      • MZ311

        2 months ago

        Yeah, Varitek needs to learn how to cheat in other ways than taking PEDs

        Like
        Reply
    • pasha2k

      2 months ago

      My guess is they haven’t called cuz he’s devoted to the Redsox since 2012, long time. The was part of the trade the Mariners gave to the Redsox for that horrific Slocum. That was prolly the BEST outcome the RS ever got in a trade. I always felt badly for the Mariners.

      Like
      Reply
      • jmi1950

        2 months ago

        You neglected to mention that the Mariners stuck the SOX with D Lowe in that trade. I always celebrate July 17…. the birth of 2 RS WS wins.

        Like
        Reply
        • pasha2k

          2 months ago

          He was amazing I adored him n my bad not mentioning Derek. I think he pitched the clincher in the WS.

          Like
          Reply
        • jmi1950

          2 months ago

          D Lowe was the W pitcher in the clinchers vs Angels, Yanks and Cards in 2004.

          1 Like
          Reply
  6. pasha2k

    2 months ago

    Excellent job for Tek the team. I was wondering what his job meant but he explained it being a liaison between analytics n the team, excellent job. I wish him well he’s a great guy n when the time comes he’ll manage n be a fantastic manager. We all adore Tek!

    1 Like
    Reply
  7. ChangedName

    2 months ago

    When do you guys think the meaningful transactions will actually begin? After the tender/non-tender deadline this Wednesday?

    Like
    Reply
    • DTDATL

      2 months ago

      I’d say Morton and Minor are pretty meaningful.

      1 Like
      Reply
  8. Peart of the game

    2 months ago

    The Padres probably won’t sign either Sugano or Arihara as Sugano will probably cost $51 million over three years and Arihara will probably cost $16 million over two years

    Like
    Reply
  9. HBan22

    2 months ago

    I don’t see the Pirates being competitive under owner Bob Nutting. He is quite simply the worst.

    1 Like
    Reply
  10. Dorothy_Mantooth

    2 months ago

    I really don’t see Sugano signing for a one year deal. I’m sure both he and his posting team are looking for a minimum 3 year commitment from someone. Provided that the AAV is reasonable, he seems worthy of a 3 year gamble. He could fit well in Boston actually. 3/$21M

    1 Like
    Reply
    • I Beg To Differ

      2 months ago

      Definitely worth a 3 year gamble, but I don’t see it being 7 mill a year. A lot of guys are going to struggle to get 7 mill a year. Unless he does a structured deal of like 5 mill 2021, 7 mill 2022, 9 mill 2023.

      Given the current state of finances I can see mlb players signing 1 year deals with player option for a second year hoping the market rebounds in 2022 so they’re not locked into lower aav long term deals.

      Like
      Reply
    • bobtillman

      2 months ago

      Both Asian imports would front the Red Sox rotation….OTOH, so would Hop Sing, the cook for the Cartwrights on Bonanza….

      Like
      Reply
  11. Josh blankenship

    2 months ago

    Why in hell would you want to extend musgrove. Dude seems very overrated.

    Like
    Reply
  12. padreforlife

    2 months ago

    Preller checkbook given by owners is the bottom feeding kind now

    Like
    Reply
  13. SDHotDawg

    2 months ago

    Preller is “mulling one year deals as a way to reinforce the rotation?” Somebody needs to take a closer look at the Padres staff. Even WITH Clevinger, they needed two more reliable SPs. As of now, two decent starters is a necessity. Preller can’t run that staff the same way he did in a 60 game season.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • padreforlife

      2 months ago

      Padres will be bottom feeders 2021

      Like
      Reply
      • SDHotDawg

        2 months ago

        They will be if they don’t get some good pitching. Even then, Preller/Tingler need to demonstrate they can manage a real live ML pitching staff. Assuming Preller can put one together.

        Like
        Reply
  14. I Beg To Differ

    2 months ago

    Padres could dive back in to the former major leaguer overseas looking for pitching help.

    Dan Straily, Erik Jokisch, Raul Alcantara, Chris Flexen had very productive seasons over seas this past year and at best could see a 2 year 6 mill Merrill Kelley received from the DBacks. Could be worth a shot.

    Would be interesting to see the Padres chase after Tetsuto Yamada. If the DH is permanent they should move Cronenworth to OF, Pham to DH, and put Yamada at 2B.

    Like
    Reply
  15. whyhayzee

    2 months ago

    Varitek seems to be very patient in his journey to becoming a manager. Not typical in this day and age. He might be my favorite only because they didn’t screw it up like with Fisk. Happy that he is still a Red Sox.

    Like
    Reply

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