Denver native Kyle Freeland was a revelation for the Rockies in his sophomore season, posting a 2.85 ERA/3.67 FIP over 202 1/3 innings. Two years later, however, and the Rockies have yet to discuss an extension with their homegrown star, writes the Athletic’s Nick Groke. Freeland’s 2018 was an almost as a magical affair, so starved is the Rockies franchise for a cornerstone rotation piece. The bubble burst in 2019, of course, as his run prevention numbers ballooned to a 6.73 ERA/5.99 FIP. He found a middle ground over 70 2/3 innings in 2020, logging a 4.33 ERA/4.65 FIP with a 15.1 percent strikeout rate, 7.6 percent walk rate, and 51.5 percent groundball rate. Freeland agreed to a $5.025MM deal for 2021 on Friday, and he has two more seasons of arbitration before reaching free agency. Given the range of outcomes Freeland has already seen across four seasons, he’s likely to go year-to-year until reaching free agency after 2023. Let’s stay out west and check in with the Angels…
- Kurt Suzuki had offers for more money, but he signed with the Angels for $1.5MM, per the Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya (via Twitter). Suzuki was with the Braves when Angels’ GM Perry Minasian was an executive there, which certainly could have helped smooth negotiations. But Suzuki’s ties to California don’t end there. Had Suzuki any reservations, he surely could have reached out to Anthony Rendon, who bonded with Suzuki’s son while the two were teammates in Washington, writes Robert Collias of The Maui News. Not to mention, Suzuki’s a native of Hawaii, he won a College World Series playing for Cal State Fullerton, and he began his career playing in the bay for the A’s. At 37-years-old, Suzuki’s not going to be a 130-start catcher, and injuries have hampered his ability to control the run game, but he’s been an above-average bat by measure of wRC+ in each of the last four seasons. Not to mention, having been the trusted receiver of Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez the past two seasons, Suzuki no doubt has plenty of sage advice to impart to the Angels’ less experiences backstops about how to manage a ballgame.
- The Angels came to terms with five of their six arbitration-eligible players before yesterday’s filing deadline, but they’re heading to a hearing with star two-way player Shohei Ohtani. As if arbitration hearings aren’t complicated enough, Ohtani’s two-way abilities coupled with his injury history make him a particularly thorny case. Ohtani requested a $3.3MM salary, while the Angels countered at $2.5MM, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. New GM Perry Minasian says the Angels will be a “file-and-go” team, also known as “file-and-trial,” meaning they don’t plan to continue negotiations after the filing deadline. Of course, even teams with this philosophy occasionally reach an agreement between the filing date and hearing.
i am so glad the angels signed rendon!
Agreed, but hopefully that’s not the main reason Suzuki signed there. With COVID-19 going to be around forever now, he could just have Zoom calls with Little Tony Rendon instead.
COVID has been around for years. COVID 19 is the 2019 strain of it.
When do we start referring to it as COVID-20? I’ve yet to see any source (online or offline) refer to it as that yet. If somebody dies from it today, was it COVID-19 or COVID-20?
The virus was discovered in 2019, hence the name COVID-19. If scientists discover a new coronavirus in 2021, then it would be called COVID-21.
So is the new strain COVID-20 or COVID-21, or just COVID-19 still?
@mlb1225 –
I don’t honestly know, but my best guess is that the new strains would still be identified as COVID-19 as they are just mutations of the original COVID-19 virus. If scientists found a new virus strain that wasn’t a mutation of COVID-19, then it would be named COVID-21.
Dos-Icky virus is the new Coronavirus.
You’re so glad they gave Rendon $250 million so that they could sign this 37-year-old backup catcher?
Ohtani only makes the league minimum?
Ohtani has played at the league minimum the last couple years, but now he will go through the arbitration process just like any other regular MLB player. He didn’t get to sign a large contract coming out of Japan because he was less than 25 years old when he came over.
I remember liking Kurt when he played for the Twins…. are the Twins still around??
Yeah, they’ve got uniforms and everything. It’s really great!
they still may win central.
Rumor has it the Twins have abandoned MLB and committed themselves to Elon Musk’s Mars operation.
Well played. Jobu approves.
I make the league minimum…
they are just the T s now
Max Stassi (when he returns) and Kurt Suzuki could be a really solid tandem behind the dish.
For pennies on the dollar too. Allows more financial resources to be allocated toward pitching help
Yes, it allows for that possibility, but haven’t seen it happen yet.
Ohtani’s “two-way abilities “: getting injured on the mound and striking out at the plate…
How long before the Angels tell him to pick one position?
Only thrown 50 innings in 3 years. I can’t imagine he will be eating a bunch of innings in 2021
all 30 teams sought after him. yeah!
I can’t imagine that the other 29 teams are upset they lost the bidding war.
Hindsight is always 20/20
As much as he’s been a dissapointment given expectations, he’s still been a decent value in his MLB time.
Considering he’s made league minimum to this point it really wasn’t a bidding war. All 29 teams would be thrilled to have such a player for such an insignificant amount
Wow @Rsox –
I’m aghast that you can rip on such a unique player in such an all encompassing way.
In a way that’s commendable.
Hardly. This describes every NL pitcher ever injured pre 2020
I knew Suzuki was a native of Hawaii but he’s Japanese right? Sure he speaks it so that’s a good pairing with Ohtani.
Dumbest thing I’ve ever read on here.
Actually, having a catcher who speaks Japanese would be good to pair with a Japanese pitcher like Ohtani. It would be easier to communicate if they don’t need a translator. For the record, I don’t know if Suzuki can actually speak the language, but he is Japanese.
That would be huge.
Baseball needs the next Mo Berg, serious.
Doesn’t take much to offend Tom Monty. Be better.
Be Best.
What a d.b. thing to say. What are you mad about, wanna talk about it?
I could list five of your posts that were far dumber. What about your self-congratulatory “I’m not a racist post”? Or maybe just post the John Candy quote for the seventeenth time!
Yeah, what’s up with that guy? He posts the dumbest comments on every single article. I really wish that this website allowed you to block certain posters.
I know Bauer is a native of California but he’s German right? Sure he speaks it so that’s a good pairing with Mike Traut.
Good one.
You wish
Now they just have to go get Jake Odorizzi so Max Stassi isn’t so lonely.
IIRC, Suzuki didn’t grow up speaking Japanese but learned it later in life specifically to be able to better communicate with Japanese-speaking pitchers on his team. Perhaps he had other relatives who also speak Japanese who could help him learn and or provide additional motivation for him to learn, which would make him a better candidate to learn the language than other catchers who works with Japanese-speaking pitchers.
I have always thought that it is better to go with a defense-first catcher, especially when trying to attract quality pitching. With that being said, I am surprised that the Angels didn’t go after Zunino.
Stassi is a pretty well regarded defender having +16 DRS and +25.6 framing runs through 1355.1 innigns behind the dish. Like the article said, Suzuki isn’t going to be catching every game so I’m sure Stassi will find a decent amount of playing time and potentially be a late inning defensive replacement.
Thanks for doing the homework on this @mlb1225. Those are *really* good numbers.
I knew that was his rep but still that is really good, man.
I find it interesting that Stassi was really like a third/fourth string catcher up until 2018. He debuetd with the Houston Astros in 2013, but didn’t lose his rookie status until then. Now he’s gonna get semi-regular playing time with the Angels probably. Overall, he hasn’t been all that bad. He’s been able to rack up 3.4 fWAR in 591 PA’s, which is essentially a full season.
It’s similar (but not the same) to Austin Nola. The Rockies (I think) had him in their organization for a very long time but never got to play until he was 29. He’s turned into an above average backstop.
Nola was originally drafted by the Rockies back in 2008, then again by the Blue Jays in 2011 and a third time by the Marlins in 2012. Then he finally made his debut in 2019. Wild ride for him.
Think Rockies would at least listen to offers on Gray & Freeland. Gray could be this this year’s Dylan Bundy. The Phils need a lefthanded starter and he’s controllable for 3 more seasons. I’d at least be inquiring. Rockies would get a nice return for either.
Blue Jays should be on that since Bauer probably isn’t happening. They should also look at Arenado and build a package.
Rockies have to careful with that fanbase and fire sales.
I hear you. If I’m the Rockies fan base I take a look at the AL West and figure out when it’s time to overtake the top teams. LA and SD have that division locked the next two years. 2024 should be their aim, and with Blackmon’s contract off the books and a good return for Arenado and others they could, theoretically, overtake the NL West by then.
I think they’re going to try and compete in 2021 and then do a fire sale at the deadline.
With the Rockies is might depend on if fans are allowed in Coors or not. That could dictate when they go about it. I’d they’re looking at no better than 3rd in the division then I’d maximize return as much as possible if no fans are in the stadium. Most years Colorado turns to the Broncos in August. Who knows. Time to do something. Load up the system
Not to discount the Rockies fan base, but Denver is a city of transplants. There’s quite the representation when the Dodgers, giants, cards, Cubs, etc are in town. The Rockies don’t have trouble drawing crowds no matter their roster.
So anyone over the age of 45 cheered for another team because there was no home franchise? That makes sense. There are some people over that age that cheer for other basketball teams in Toronto rather than the Raptors. They came in 1995, and many cheered for other teams because there was no home team. In Toronto we aren’t all Bills fans.
I’m a Denvee regular…no doubt a transplant location. No place outside of DFW gets more Californians I don’t believe. Covid might have an effect on handling. I’m just hoping that 2021 isn’t another relatively lost year. The Rox will have eaten up some contracts without much to show. Weird time to be holding an elite chip like Arenado. Time to pull that trigge, though. Hard to imagine a playoff even if it’s expanded.
Colorado still has TONS of Cubs fans due to WGN. I can remember it being a hot bed of Cubs fandom back in the 80s. It was one of those locations where no team could really claim regional identity. Arizona is almost the same way.
Signing Suzuki has to be a clubhouse thing. Otherwise why not sign Yadi for a year or two? He has similar connections to the Angels. Yadi would improve the pitching better than Suzuki.
I’m already beginning to question the new GM – but I’ll keep an open mind.
By the way, I believe the Angels STILL NEED PITCHING!
Maybe Yadi doesn’t want to sign with any one but St.Louis, unless they go another direction. Angels didn’t want to see what was left when that happens.
Maybe Yadi wants more than a one year contract at $1.5m? Just a thought.
Ohtani throws fire and the ball flies off his bat.During BP he hits mammoth shots and easily has the most HR power on the team.I’m very confident he’ll be throwing 99 heat again and when Puljos bails next yr his value will shine and be taken for granted,he’s that good!
So you are saying as long as pitchers throw Ohtani 70mph fastballs down the middle he will crush the ball?
If Ohtani manages to hit 99mph on the radar gun is arm will probably literally fall off…
Molina has everything in STL.Dude has made bank and his days as an elite earner are gonzo.1 team 4 his career and he deserves to go out on his terms.Pay him like you do any potential future HOF candidate who spent his entire career selling out.Omg he was a beast throwing out runners and blocking the dish.Respect
Just pay Ohtani his $3M. He sold at least that many jerseys for the Angels. Don’t go to Arbitration with him. He will leave when the time comes.
Yeah, I don’t get the hard line they’ve set with him. This was a guy who was looking at a nine-figure contract if he had just waited two more years to sign with an MLB team as a traditional free agent. Btw… MLB-licensed merchandising sales are split between teams and players union (and paid out to all players equally).
Angels need to know Ohtani has to work twice as hard to perform at his level. Hitting and Pitching. The difference of salary is minimal. He is once in a generation talent who has not peak yet. All 29 other teams would be glad to pay him $3.3m for his services.
Too bad he’s the same generation as Mike Trout. I’ve heard “once in a generation talent” on about 10 guys of the same generation. All but one of them is just pretty decent…one is a legend.
all 29 other teams would also be glad to pay him 2.5 as well. i dont get this notion we have that going to arbitration is evil and rude to players. this system wouldnt be in place if it didnt have some degree of backing by the MLBPA. maybe you think the difference doesnt mean thar much for the team, but does a player also get the benefit of the doubt in all cases then? just about all arb saleries are a steal – look at what Beli made last year. that’s just how the system works and it does a good job benefiting both sides in my mind.
Arbitration only leads to animosity because its and either/or decision from an arbiter that sometimes doesn’t even know baseball.
Sitting in a room and listening to the team that wined and dined you (in some cases) trying to get you to sign now trying to take you apart and explain why you don’t deserve the money you are asking for is a fairly “evil and rude” system for players
But at the same time he hit .190 last season and even said himself it was a terrible season. Of course the club won’t budge on that when the player even agreed he was terrible.
Ah, what exactly is “generational” about Ohtani?
His .280 BA (cue to metrics freaks), or his 50 innings ( again cue the metric freaks) or so pitched so far?
Lots of accolades on a guy who has yet to show his “generational” talent on the MLB stage in 2 years of play….not to say he seems to be a good player, but generational? Seems a tag he hasn’t come close to earning yet in his career.
I don’t know what it would take, but if the Reds are selling, the Angels should take Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo off their hands. Both of them. Maybe Castellanos too, lol
I’m not sure the Angel’s have the firepower to pull those two back.
Of course they have the players to do so. It’s just how much they’d have to give up.