1:36PM: It doesn’t seem like the Blue Jays are one of the finalists for Yates, as Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith tweets that the Jays “aren’t considered frontrunners” for the righty, though Toronto had “real interest.”
10:12AM: Former Padres closer Kirby Yates may be nearing a new contract, as the right-hander is “in final stages of considering offers from five teams,” according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). Yates has whittled his market down to these five finalists from a reported 12 teams that showed interest in the former All-Star. Most notably, the Padres aren’t one of the finalists, as Acee writes that the club would have to “substantially” increase their current offer to bring Yates back into the fold.
That stint in San Diego saw Yates develop from being something of a journeyman reliever in his age-30 season into a legitimate weapon. Yates posted a 2.55 ERA and an exceptional 38.44 K% and 31.2 K-BB% over 183 2/3 innings with the Padres after being claimed off waivers from the Angels in April 2017. Yates emerged as the Padres’ closer after the Friars dealt Brad Hand in 2018, and he proceeded to convert 53 of 57 save opportunities over the 2018-19 seasons. Between a league-high 41 saves and a tiny 1.19 ERA over 60 2/3 innings in 2019, Yates received a ninth-place finish in NL Cy Young Award balloting.
2020, however, was a much different story, as Yates pitched only 4 1/3 innings before undergoing a season-ending surgery in August to remove bone chips from his elbow. The Padres and their fans must surely wonder what might have been if the 2019 version of Yates had been available to contribute to their postseason run, and while there was some interest in a reunion between the two sides, it seems as though Yates will be moving on.
A few weeks ago, Acee reported that Yates was looking for a deal in the range of over $5MM in guaranteed money, plus millions more in potential incentives. (MLBTR projected a $5MM contract for Yates, ranking him 42nd in our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents.) Even considering the slow-moving nature of the relief pitching market, that would seem like a pretty reasonable price for Yates, given the possible upside he could bring to any bullpen.
There hasn’t been much public buzz about Yates on the free agent rumor mill — besides the Padres, the Dodgers are the only other team known to have interest in Yates’ services. The Dodgers have addressed their bullpen by re-signing Blake Treinen and acquiring Corey Knebel, but there would certainly still be room for L.A. to also add Yates to the relief corps if they are one of Yates’ five finalists.
Wonder who those five clubs are?
I’d imagine either there aren’t any at all, or maybe 1-2 and a fabricated 3-4 to drive up bidding/urgency at getting him signed.
We’ll isn’t AJ cynical?
Cynical does not always mean incorrect.
Well isn’t gbs naive?
On a 1 year incentive heavy deal?
I hope my team signs him. I’d be cool with the Dodgers giving him 2 years even.
Interesting. I would say the Angels, Red Sox, Phillies, Nationals and Twins are trying to sign him. The Red Sox needs bullpen arms.
And Bloom had Yates before for the latter’s brief career in Tampa…
Yates also played 1 game of the angels and promptly gave up 2 homer runs in the inning, so maybe we are entering “revenge season”
Although 5 million might be a little pricy for Cheap Chaim.
He’s not cheap. It isn’t even his money. It’s not like Henry gave him a $209,999,999 budget, and Bloom keeping anything he saves.
So, just for the record, the owner decides how much the GM can spend, not the GM.
Aren’t the Padres still in the mix?
Oops, skimmed past that part in the article.
Dodgers were one of 5 by sports writters.
It seems likely he’s looking for a team to close.
Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jay’s, Yankees, Red Sox. Thank you
I wouldn’t necessarily count out the Braves just yet either…
AA and Snitker definitely want to replace losing Greene and Melancon, and Yates wouldnbe just the guy to do it. The Braves have shown some interest in him previously, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see tr hem makenanrun at signing him..lol
If I were AA, I would easily give Yates a one year deal worth $7 mil, and then give him a team option worth 6 mil, with a $1.5 mil..
If Yates is able to prove hes healthy again, and can revert to even 80% of his former self, then that would be entreat deal for AA, Snit, Yates, and the Braves for sure!!
If the Braves were to sign Yates, they’d quietly have a very strong pen with Yates, Smith, Minter, Martin and Matzek.
Blue Jays for sure.
They DO have a need for a proven closer… All their last year’s options are gone or missing the season
They proved last year that they don’t need a proven closer. Had a nice year without one, even with the bullpen having to take way too many innings.
Astros, Dodgers, Jays, Phillies, and Mets?
I doubt the NYM are looking for yet another rhr. More likely leaning to the lefty Hand
I doubt it’s the Braves but I’d really like the Braves to add 1 more really good RP
I am all for adding one more high caliber bullpen piece to Atlanta, as well. We could probably make it work and still be okay in case the DH gets back in for 2021. We can piece together an affordable outfield with another platoon player, while still allowing room for Pache and possibly Waters.
It’s actually pretty hard to come up with a team that wouldn’t improve from adding a guy like this.
Especially amongst the actual championship contenders. Interesting & notable that SD is out.
Agreed. I could even make the case for 2 pieces for their bullpen.
That’s where I want to see the Yanks go from here. Sign a couple of the numerous above average to elite relievers.
Should be something all contenders are thinking about.
After Kluber, I thought that left the Yankees with about $4MM under the CBT. Not adding two, let alone one, for that amount.
But I don’t think the Yanks are actually going to get under the first threshold.
– They (unnecessarily) picked up Britton’s option
– They settled with Judge early
– They didn’t DFA Sanchez
– Yesterday they brought themselves to within 4 mil of the first CBT level
– The only real information we’ve heard from the Yankees is two-fold: they want to lower payroll & they also expect to have the highest payroll in baseball
I’m betting the Yanks have at least $20 mil more they’re willing to spend. That takes them up to the second tier (with some room for deadline adds) – so comes with the mildest fines/penalities.
So. Yeah.
A *couple* more relievers.
I’m sticking with it lol
Probably all of the NL East teams
I can assure you the ghostly Redsox will be flying around the room but never get close.
Orioles should snap up Osuna as a lottery ticket and then trade him at the deadline
Yates was never as good as Osuna and I don’t care about Osuna’s past, as long as he is healthy and ready to pitch, I would consider him
You don’t care about his past as a domestic abuser?
if Osuna is no longer a domestic abuser why should we care about his past as one? If he’s no longer abusing women only thing that should matter is if teams think he can help them.
It’s the mlb. Not the EML (ethics and morality league)
If the Astros are no longer cheating, who cares if they cheated in the past, right?
If the Ped users no longer use Peds, maybe we can vote them into the HOF as well while we are at it.
@lets Go?
DId Osuna cheat with the Astros?
I certainly don’t remember him cheating with the Jays!!!
Wow, you really missed the point of letsgodbacks’ comment.
“If the Astros are no longer cheating, who cares if they cheated in the past, right?”
How does them cheating years ago help them in 2022? Hint: it doesn’t.
And in 2-3 years most players associated with the cheating will have moved on and nobody will care if their team signs them.
Also doubt you’ll care the prospects the dbacks for Greinke were part of that cheating organization. 100% doubt you’ll hold that against them.
“If the Ped users no longer use Peds, maybe we can vote them into the HOF as well while we are at it.”
$100 says you weren’t complaining of Starling Marte PED past when he was helping the dbacks win games.
Sometimes people do horrible things.And sometimes those same people can come back and do great things.
I wouldn’t mind the Phillies taking a chance on Osuna,same way I think they should give Odubel Herrera another shot.In Herrera’s case,they’re still paying him,might as well see if he can help them out for that money.
Just don’t let him be alone with a woman and everything will be fine.
Hilarious /s
He had TJ that’s why the Astros didn’t tender him…
take him, angels!
Angels better get him and Im not even an angels fan.
lol, thanks!
I just hope Perry realizes he needs an RP. People mention Claudio as if he’s a late inning pitcher, he’s not. They need at least one more late inning RP.
i would be ok with adding 1 ok starting pitcher and 3 more setup/closer. and i was wrong. angels had $36 mil before suzuki signing.
There are two to for more players they need to add.
I’m happy with our starting nine. Starting ten if you count Walsh. I think Adell is going to win the RF job out of Spring Training. Bat him 7th or 8th and let him relax.
Yates is lowkey one of the most important FA’s out there.
Yay, the Padres are getting weaker this offseason (sarcasm). It’s about time, though, that something doesn’t amazingly in their favor. My guess is if they lose Yates, they’ll just pivot and go hard after Hand.
I think they might be looking at bringing Trevor Rosenthal back if they can afford him. He pitched well the month or so he was in SD last season.
DrDan75, Trevor Rosenthal is likely the best reliver remaining on the FA Market. I would love the Padres to bring him back. I guess the only question is money. The Padres have already added 123M in payroll this off season. I doubt they have the budget remaining, but have been shocked by what they have spent already. We’ll see! I can’t imagine Trevor not wanting to remain a Padre. The team is poised to win a World Series.
Good chance they just roll with Pomeranz and Pagan, or even Castillo if he’s healthy.
Yeah maybe, but knowing Preller I think he will still be looking for another arm or two.
hyraxwithaflamethrower, I am SORRY the Padres ever traded Brad Hand! And, for Francisco Mejia…..what a rip-off. “Highly touted catching prospect”….MY ASS!
Regardless, I doubt AJ Preller would bring him back. The Padres already have a similar LH reliver/closer in Drew Pomeranz..
For all that has been accomplished by the San Diego MLB franchise over the course of their existence…….
They deserve a HAND !!
This joke, however, does not.
A GROAN will suffice….
Typical joke for MLBTR. They usually all get applause.
Read some of his other “jokes” in this thread. They get much worse.
*thud*
Maybe Preller will get himself a time machine and go grab Rollie Fingers.
DrDan75, Rollie Fingers? LOL! Yep the Padres have had some GREAT closers. If AJ had ‘Doc Brown’s’ time machine there are multiple arms I would LOVE to see him get BACK IN BROWN for 2021: Rollie FIngers, Trevor Hoffman, Rich ‘Goose’ Gossage, Health Bell, Rod Beck, Huston Street, and let’s not forget LH CY Young Winner Mark Davis. Any of these former Padres closers would be a welcome addition in 2021.
Hahah who to choose for the Gold Glove, Fingers or Hand?
And then may as well trade for Shawn Armstrong?
Indecently, the Catholic Diocese, The POPE, the Latino Community, and people of Spanish decent are offended by the use of the team name “Padres” and are demanding that it be
changed !!
I couldn’t care less about the Catholic Church or the pope being offended. Much love for the Latino community.
nentwigs the jokemeister. Or maybe not.
And Clorox is offended by the name White Sox…
Clorox is fine with the name WHITE Sox,
However, the African-American, Native American, and Amer-Asian communities have a few choice words to say about THAT team name!
Ketch, “And Clorox is offended by the name White Sox…” LOL
I went to a bar last night and had to order an “African American Russian”
I am just waiting for someone to be offended by the “Yankees” and demand a name change.
Since “Yank” and “Jerk” pretty much have the same meaning,
I refer to THAT team as the “Jerkees”.
But then, again, the MLB team in MN I call the “Twinkies”.
(Remember back in the day when the team almost relocated out of MSP to either:
Hostess, NJ or Savannah, GA?)
nentwigs, when does your Netflix comedy special debut?
How about them BloSox looking to be in a different cycle, than the Yankmes?! I would be all for a couple of games that are on cable and R-Rated with lots of adult humor. All these sordid nicknames and the dugout microphones would get lots of print for a “cursing MLB cable game”.
I would also be interested in a Nickelodeon or youth focused game that has more music overlaying the game, basic rules and baseball history, and a more kid-centric format.
Both would be a lot of fun, even with the criticism that would surely come. Any news at all is welcome, even the bad news looks different in the light of the last year!
It’ll happen.
I don’t care for the name Cleveland Naps. I don’t think a sports team should be associated with sleeping.
So I thought, why not the Cleveland Napoleons? Ya know. That’s what the “Nap” stands for. But that would run the risk of raising the ire of Corsican-Americans & short dudes.
Yankees should be one of the most revered and honored names in all of sports:
1)A name that took on meaning during the American Revolutionary War and the fight for independence from England
2)Term used by Southerners during the Civil War to refer to Northerners fighting to keep the nation unified and free slaves
3) Term used to refer to all Americans soldiers fighting against the Nazis in Europe.
To me, the name “Padres” is borderline offensive, especially if you know anything about the history of Spanish colonial settlement of the American southwest in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Of course if you know anything about the Catholic church the name “father” itself would be offensive for far more recent reasons.
Jesus, ya know a culture is grasping for straws when Tom Selleck’s stand in is lecturing a bunch of sports Fans on the finer points of the era of exploration. Guess what? In the battle for land and resources there are winners and losers. Losers give up much more than naming rights and territory claims, entire cultures are rightfully forced into subjugation to the victorious culture. Them’s the breaks.
I am just waiting for someone to be offended by the “Yankees” and demand a name change.
========================================================================
Technically, ‘Yankee’ is an ethnic slur against the Dutch.
What will come next people get offended by the name Yankees because of the Civil War!? Give me a break
Be right back…..
Got to put a cover over the roof of “The General Lee” !!
I’m offended by the name yankees because I’m a New Englander. An actual Yankee. What the heck was wrong with the Highlanders? Great name.
It takes a lot to offend me. Angels, Devils, Padres, Indians, Red Skins, Braves, Fighting Irish. I couldn’t care less.
If an insult is not intended, why should I be insulted?
It irks me when EVERYONE mispronounces my last name when it is spelled EXACTLY how it is pronounced, but I don’t take it as an insult.
Indecently? I’m offended by your use of the English language.
Omg shut up
nentwigs, “Indecently, the Catholic Diocese, The POPE, the Latino Community, and people of Spanish decent are offended by the use of the team name “Padres” and are demanding that it be changed !!” Well to steal a line from motivational speaker ‘Matt Foley’ LA DE FRICKIN DA…..
While I’d love Boston to take a flyer on Yates, I’m thinking the other Sox team might be pushing hard to get him. The back-end tandem of Hendriks & Yates would be filthy!
What about the CBT? You MUST post about the CBT!
Marlins are maybe one of the five teams, improving the bullpen is their priority according to the new GM, so I’d imagine, that they are interested in guys like Yates, Colome, Rosenthal, Greene, Melancon or Hand.
Kind of surprised they haven’t done more this off season. They have a young core and a talented looking pitching staff. I think they’ll be a real threat in 2022 and possibly even 2021 if they have an active second half to the off-season.
The Marlins should be close to bolstering their bullpen with the rewards from their minor league rebuild taking off and advancing to the bigs. And it does look like their pitching staff has been bolstered by their drafting near the top of order for the last few seasons. If they keep improving and performing it will be interesting to see what the new ownership group does in free agency over the next few seasons. I look forward to seeing what they do without the Loria ownership strings on the organization.I
Go NL East!
I guess they want to keep a lot of their young guys and build a team around them. The pitching is good, but they need to add 2 or 3 guys to their back-end, so that the bullpen becomes their strengh. A starter would also make sence. Offensively the youngsters haven’t performed well, and they are in a difficult position. Do they still keep Brinson and hope he becomes that star, probably not. Will Diaz, Sierra or Sanchez keep getting ABs? At least they have enough of solid players like Cooper or Anderson to have an average offense, but definitely a new catcher is needed, maybe they are waiting to see how it works out with Contreras before they do more business.
Red Sox need to get him.
Red Sox need to sign a lot of players.
That too.
Whether it be Yates, Rosenthal, Hand or alike, the Padres definitely need to add at least one more top arm to the back end of their bullpen. I personally think Pomeranz or Pagan could handle the closer role, so even if they can get a top setup guy to slot in for the 7th or8th, that would be fine with me.
Giving up late leads can unhinge a team in a hurry and with their lineup and rotation, the Padres should have their fare share of leads this upcoming season.
I would agree with this. The Padres bullpen has tremendous depth, but a lot of that depth comes with question marks about health and consistency. As we saw when both Yates and Pomeranz got hurt last year, bullpens can be thinned out in a hurry. This team could definitely use one more reliable late inning option.
Where do these guys sign?
1. Rosario – Braves
2. Paxton – Mariners
3. Walker – Jays
4. Colome – Marlins
5. Hand – Mets
6. Rosenthal – Nationals
Hand – dodgers
Rosenthal – padres
Rosario – Dodgers
Paxton – Dodgers
Walker – Dodgers
Colome – Dodgers
Hand – Dodgers
Rosenthal – Dodgers
Financials aside, whatever team signs him will be getting a really solid pitcher! I’m not surprised he has 5 options to consider.
I wonder if the Padres are prioritizing one more starting pitcher rather than adding one more reliable bullpen arm. They have been rumored to be interested in Tanaka, and were pursuing Sugano aggressively right up until he decided to return to Japan. While I definitely think that the Padres could use one more reliever, it may make more sense to pursue a starter, especially if they are as worried about Lamet’s arm as rumored.
and who exactly are their other “reliable” arms??
Pomeranz,Johnson and Stammen.
yeah i don’t get the premise the Pads dont have good BP arms. besides those three you could probably name more, but even those three beat the top 3 for a lot of other teams.
LaFlamaBlanca, “Who exactly are the other reliable arms?” Emilio Pagan, Drew Pomeranz, Craig Stammen and Pierce Johnson are solid arms in the Padres pen.
Pagan and Stammen? Oh god I hope you’re not relying on those guys
Five teams that I can hardly stand to hear
Including yours and mine
And one more club who isn’t here
What do the Padres know about Yates that other teams don’t?
Braves weren’t mention, so that’s already a good thing considering how they operate. Watch as he signs with ATL next week.
The Jays are in on everyone, but get no one.
Yeah they are leading the Worst Off-season Award so far
Cubs fans might disagree.
This is getting funnier and funnier by the day.
Singing one Ryu really did make them delusional about the whole tax thing – no one wants to work in Canada when they could work in a country that charges less taxes.
You keep saying that but players who play on the five California teams get taxed more and they’re about the exact same as the two New York teams. That has always been a myth. You’d see players flocking to the Florida or Texas teams if taxes were a real issue.
It would be a good observation if it weren’t completely wrong.
Or…. no major leaguer wants to go play in a minor league stadium for the foreseeable future, with no end in sight, when they could go suit up at Yankee Stadium with millions in pregame equipment a minor league stadium never would have
I’d argue the Jays are being hurt by *not* being able to go to Canada way more than any tax issue. What an ignorant comment
$5 million seems doable for the Padres, maybe they don’t believe he can regain his previous form. I would like to see the Padres bring back Yates and Rosenthal – if they really plan to go for it this year.
Phew, what a relief to hear that the Jays had interest but won’t be signing him. I would have started questioning my sanity if they had actually gotten someone.
As a San Diego Native and lifetime Padres fan, I say Hail and farewell Kirby Yates. If AJ isn’t willing to bring Kirby back on an ‘incentive laden’ deal he must know something that most GM’s don’t. Perhaps his instinct is just telling him that Kirby is spent….regardless I wish Kirby well….as long as he’s not pitching against the Padres…LOL
You have to wonder so….. Same thing with Garett Richards
Mark Shaprio to Yates agent: How much AAV does Kirby want?
Agent: $5M plus incentives
Mark Shaprio: bites fingernails
Mark Shapiro: That’s more than $19.95
Mark Shapiro: Yells for Atkins and says, “is Bill Caudill available?”
As bad as the Phillies bullpen was in 2020, I’m surprised they didn’t get a mention as a possible landing spot for Yates. Hector Neris is way too up-and-down for my taste. Archie Bradley has always impressed me more of a 7th or 8th inning guy than a shut down closer.
Maybe Phils are holding back spending cheese until the Realmuto thing sorts itself out? To wit, with Realmuto it pays the Phils to go all-in and to try and win this year. Thus, add a reliever like Yates. With no Realmuto, and presumably no Didi either, I wonder if, as currently constructed, this team is no better than being capable of anything more than a slightly above or slightly below .500. team?