With the Red Sox now just a few million dollars shy of the luxury-tax threshold after their deals to bring in Garrett Richards, Enrique Hernandez, Martin Perez and Adam Ottavino, a reunion with Jackie Bradley Jr. appears unlikely, ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote Sunday. That’s not especially surprising on its own, of course, but Olney notes more interestingly that Bradley “could wind up with a three-year deal elsewhere.” That’d be a strong outcome for Bradley, who’ll turn 31 in April, given the difficulty mid-tier free agents have had in securing lucrative deals this winter.
Bradley has been connected most frequently to the Mets in recent weeks, although he’s also reportedly drawn interest from the Blue Jays, the Cubs, the Phillies and the Astros at various points this winter. The Red Sox’ likely departure from any bidding for his services won’t help Bradley’s market, but most indications still seem to suggest that he has a case for a multi-year pact wherever he ultimately lands.
A few more notes on the free-agent market…
- Olney also writes that the Tigers could look further at the third tier of free-agent outfielders, listing names like Adam Duvall, Jay Bruce, Kevin Pillar, Tyler Naquin and Matt Joyce as potential fits. Detroit already inked Robbie Grossman to a two-year pact and will likely hand him the keys to an everyday gig in left field, but their outfield mix still isn’t quite settled. JaCoby Jones has shown flashes of high-quality play in center field but lacked consistency while battling injuries. Victor Reyes has had a nice run at the plate over the past couple of seasons but has yet to ever tally 300 MLB plate appearances in a given campaign. The Tigers have plenty of younger options in the form of Travis Demeritte, Daz Cameron, Derek Hill, Christin Stewart and Rule 5 pick Akil Baddoo, but the first four all have minor league options remaining and Baddoo is no lock to make the club.
- Agent Paul Kinzer tells MLB.com’s Jon Morosi that his client, Edwin Encarnacion, hopes to play another two seasons at the MLB level and still has aspirations of reaching 500 home runs in his career (Twitter link). It feels like a stretch that Encarnacion could get to that mark in two years, given that he’s still 76 long balls shy of that illustrious milestone, however. The 38-year-old slugger has four seasons of 38 or more homers under his belt, but he’d need to land somewhere with an opportunity for everyday at-bats (presumably as a designated hitter) to even have a chance. Coming off a .157/.250/.377 showing in 2020, such an arrangement could be tough to find. That said, if Encarnacion rebounds in 2021 and is open to playing beyond the 2022 season, it’s conceivable that he could yet reach that mark.
- There’s “little interest” in bringing second baseman Kolten Wong back for the Cardinals at this point, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote in his latest Q&A with readers. A new home for Wong has felt likeliest since the Cards bought out his $12.5MM option for the 2021 season, although some Cards fans have held out hope for a new deal as the two sides have reportedly stayed in touch throughout free agency. The infield market has picked up steam recently, but that hasn’t translated to a deal for Wong — arguably the game’s best defender at his position.
What teams are still in need of a 2B?
Kolten Wong is a great defender. However, I would prefer Wong to sign with another team. Matt Carpenter should get another opportunity to play second base or be the DH if it’s implemented this coming season or Tommy Edman could also play second base. If the Cardinals want they could consider signing Jonathan Schoop. I really like having Schoop with the Cardinals.
you really want to see more of Carp?
No. Carp is an expensive bench bat or potential part-time DH at this point. As it stands, Edman will be the primary 2B.
Darkside830- Yes. He needs to play somewhere because he making a lot of money. Where do you think he should play?
Money shouldn’t dictate who plays, though it often does. I see Carp starting 1-2 games a week at 3B, 1B, and a little 2B when the starters need a rest and a RH is on the mound for the opposition.
The cards would have one of the greatest IF defenses of all time if they signed Wong again. Doubt it happens though. Besides, edman is no slouch at 2B and figures to get better if that becomes his everyday position.
That wouldn’t be such a Wong idea.
You absolutely do NOT say you HAVE to play someone just because they’re expensive. Carpenter is already a sunk cost, so you’re paying that salary anyway, so do you pay that salary and play him at 2B or pay that salary and play someone on your roster who is better at 2B? The latter option is obviosuly the correct one.
Unless you wish to be rid of that contract. Benching a player kills the trade value. Darvish doesn’t get traded at that salary, unless they give him the opportunity to put up decent numbers. Cubs had lots of candidates that could have beaten his previous years numbers, but his salary gets him the additional opportunity. Odor will never be moved if Texas benches him. Same with Andrus.
Japan
Sign Wong, great lead off hitter and the BEST 2nd baseman, we need Edman to back up SS, 2nd and 3 rd
“Matt Carpenter should get another opportunity…”
Let me stop you right there.
Rangers would probably consider Carpenter if Cards take Odor Liles and throw in ONeill.
“Throw in O’Neill.”. That’s funny.
From what I have seen in multiple posts, Cards fans not huge supporters of Oneill yet and desperately want to be rid of Carpenter, so I guess it depends on how bad they want Carpenter gone.
This trade scenario doesn’t make sense at all. You don’t have to “throw in” another low-paid player with potential if you are doing a bad contract swap and taking on two bad contracts that not only equal Carps contract in 2021 but than add another EXTRA 25 mil over the next two years. Rangers would be the ones throwing in a player or two to make something like that work, Carps contract is off the books next year. Or Rangers would need to cover Odors next two years and ONeill isn’t included.
rangers13 – I apologize for my snide tone. I was reading Marty McRae’s comments, too, and they were bringing out the worst in me.
Rangers29 did bring this idea up a few days ago, but I’m not sure it would work. The Cardinals need to sort out their OF, and Odor does have a larger overall salary remaining (about $7M more in guaranteed money), even if it’s spread over two years instead of one. The Cards don’t have any concerns with the luxury tax, so getting this mostly-dead money off the books sooner rather than later probably is preferred.
Ranger fans are always trying to add Odor the reality is the Cards would much rather have Carpenter then Odor. The reality is for the Rangers to make the trade of Odor and Lyles for Carpenter they would have to send something of value back and it would have to pretty valuable. The Cards only have to pay Carpenter one more year Odor has two years and I like the chances of Carpenter to bounce back much more then Odor. Odor is terrible and no one and I mean no o e wants that guy.
Matt Carpenter for Odor. I brought the idea up the other day. Rangers would eat some smelly cash too.
I have always been a big fan of Carp, but he was never worth a darn at second base. At this point, I hope he announces his retirement at the end of the season and joins Waino and Yadi on the farewell tour. Mostly viewing it from the bench …
This could be the last year for Waino, Yadi, Carp, and Fowler with the Redbirds. And only Fowler hasn’t played every one of his MLB games with the Cardinals. That will be a big changing of the guard – and a lot of money freed up.
You’re crazy!!! Carp stinks defensively. I’m in agreement that Wong should move on, but the Carp extension was a mistake.
Man—- don’t even mention Matt Carpenter’s name as a starter!!!!
The Cardinals already seem to have reconciled that Carpenter hurts the team as an everyday starter!!!!
And what are you going to achieve by Carpenter being a DH??? You want an every day DH who just stands in the box hoping for a walk??? I’d rather have Knizner at DH that Carpenter. At least he will swing at first pitch strikes down the middle!!!!
I suppose it depends on how Oakland feels about Chad Pinder there on a daily basis, but the A’s could be a player.
Pinder is currently penciled in as the starting SS, not 2B. Tony Kemp is the current 2B. Machin in the mix too.
Wong to Oakland easily makes the A’s the West frontrunners. That INF defense might even be able to keep Pinder at SS too, unless Chapman moves there and Pinder goes to 3B (a position he’s actually good at).
A’s won’t get Wong though, because their team owner is a billionaire who claims to “not have money”. They are so close and getting Wong puts them over the edge but they won’t do it – just an unfathomably dumb franchise. Moneyball wasn’t about being smart, it was about being dumb cheapskates who don’t actually care about winning a ring.
Money all wasn’t just about the A’s, it was about a process.
Yeah and the process was “allow the owners to keep the money they got from revenue sharing and not pay any players what they’re worth”.
Marty McRae is sitting in the As front office right now looking over their potential plans for the 2021 season.
Marty McRae is dropping a deuce reading over 30 year old centerfold mags
There was no revenue sharing due to covid.
Marty “Strike Four” McRae!
“Over the edge” as you replace Semien with Kolten Wong. (Maybe a wash) Lose Tommy La Stella and the best closer in baseball. Not the adjective I would use. The A’s have a chance but Kolten Wong is not puttting them over the top. Improvement on the margins, sure.
That explains a lot.
I hate you
It’s been a black hole at Wrigley since Baez moved to SS full time.
The Nationals could look for a 2B and shift Castro to 3B if they believe Kieboom still needs more time in the minors. The A’s but they probably won’t spend the money. The Cubs if they want to compete with Cardinals as Hoerner needs to work on his hitting in AAA. The Tigers could be possible.
Oakland should take a run at Wong.
It makes a lot of sense, but that will only happen if his market completely disintegrates, and he has no choice but to accept like a 3-year/$15M deal from the A’s.
Could see 2yr/$16-mil. Potentially too rich for Oakland but it shouldn’t be. He might even settle for less the way things are going.
Teams aren’t paying a premium for 2B defense. Right or wrong—it’s what’s happening. I’d be surprised if he got that honestly. I’m thinking he’s getting a 1 year deal (perhaps with the club option) in the Cesar Hernandez range.
Not sure if I’d call that a premium in-comparison to the rest of the league as it would be $1-mil per year more than Profar and Kiki, and I’d take Wong over both. I realize Wong’s power numbers were terrible in 2020 but still managed a .350 OBP which would work for this league. His issue is the fact that he’s going to sign late in the offseason which, to your point, would lower the price tag.
2/$18-mil. Not bad. Wasn’t expecting Wong to reach $9-mil per.
I figured someone would have signed Kolten by now, but I guess the timing was Wong.
Try the veal
What’s wong here? Perhaps the Cardinals are realizing their DESPERATE need for more offense? I’m not sure getting rid of Wong will help that considering he’s actually gotten better in recent years. Maybe the move is financially strategic since Edman is a relatively suitable replacement and is far cheaper. Idk…I’m curious to know what’s going on in the bosses head.
I believe Wong made around $5 million last year and the option was $12.5m. I can see why they declined the option because he can probably be signed for a lower annual salary. But the Cards would be better a team with Wong at the keystone and Edman free to bounce around the outfield and spell some of the infield from time to time.
Yeah I tend to agree with that. Wong is so valuable defensively, though his lack of impact with the bat leaves one to believe he’s not worth 12.5 mil.
How does Wong not have a deal yet? He must be holding out for a long term deal.
Go long, Wong.
I have a feeling The Cards are being their typical sly selves , laying in the weeds. Other teams might know this and are going in other directions away from Wong. I could be Wong.
Wong will sign with Texas. IMO.
Solak will man 2B for Texas, so Wong only comes to Texas if they can move Andrus and he can play 3B or if Solak is included in a trade which is unlikely.
Solak is horrendous defensively and is best suited to 1B/DH. Texas probably won’t let him sniff the field much longer.
I think I’m gunna give a guy with a 91 percentile sprint speed the opportunity to become a decent defender, especially on a losing team. Seems a waste to take his best asset defensively and completely remove it from the equation.
No argument that Wong is better defensively and likely even as of now offensively with Solak, but Woody and JD seemed determined to play Solak there. If Rangers moved Calhoun then Solak could DH and Wong play 2B, but not sure of Wong’s age as far as Rangers future goes and Foscue is 2-3 years away at least and is the next best 2B in the minors.
Sprint speed and being a good defender—unfortunately not the same thing. Solak does in fact suck with the glove. He is not wrong. Texas Sucks so I expect he gets another crack at it. But he is well below average at every position. I am not sure that sprint speed holds up over the course of an entire season. I don’t believe Nick Solak is truly in the 91st percentile moving forward.
Maybe it’s wishful thinking. I’d rather have Wong at 2b than Rougned.
Encarnacion is only a year removed from a 134 OPS+ season. Even then, he didn’t even reach 200 plate appearances in 2020. There’s still some teams that need a 1B/DH. Rockies could use a big bat after trading Arenado and their current 1B is Ryan McMahon.
With Arenado gone, I think Ryan McMahon is now their current 3B (unless they want to try Ian Desmond there). Maybe Josh Fuentes at 1B. Meaning they could use another corner IF, but I doubt they would want Encarnicion unless there was a DH in the NL. Not an everyday player in the field at this point in his career.
We have extra 1B candidates in Texas, give Chris Young a call, and let’s make a deal.
EE unfortunately can’t catch up to anything 95+. There is no shame in that for sluggers when you get into late 30s. Hitters with good chemists can so called “defy age”, but that is about it. He has had a fantastic career.
I like Edwin in Coors everday.
Yep. If Colorado rebuilds they’d have a solid vet in the clubhouse in Edwin.
Wong seems like an Oakland A’s signing waiting to happen. Chad Pinder’s value is as a utility asset and Wong would be a nice fit there. Chapman, Olson, and Wong would make for a tremendous infield defense. Especially if the A’s can figure out a cost effective option at SS (or a surprise trade for Trevor Story???)
The A’s getting Story and Wong would make them AL frontrunners, which they are scared of doing because John Fisher is a billionaire cheapskate who “has no money”.
I dont frequent these pages as much as I use to so I’ve only seen Marty a few times recently. Does he cry nonstop or am I just catching him on his bad days?
still hoping my Wong-to-ARI prediction comes true. that would be a nice pickup in the FA contest.
With Ketel going to CF? That works, but puts Varsho on the bench, but he’s probably best there. Good call.
id send Varsho down to start after the year he had. Wong would probably only be a one year candidate so they can deal him at the deadline. if their CF spot doesnt involve Varsho then its probably…Tim Locastro. I get they are probably retooling but Wong is a better stopgap then having Lo start. if there is a DH that also allows you to DH Marte from time to time to keep him healthy. could also trade Ahmed and move Marte to 2B and then maybe jump into the SS fray in the next offseason.
I think ARI would be a good fit for him but as a Cards fan, I am still delusional we can re-sign him
I wouldn’t mind having him back on a 6-8 million deal, but that would cause a log jam. Edman is going to be the primary second baseman with Carp getting reps as the backup and, gulp, right field. With Wong on board that makes Edman the super sub and Carp only getting in in emergencies. I wouldn’t mind that for Carp but we all know he will get at bats. Not the 550 he needs to force his option but he will see 300+ in a full season. I like Wong but I just dont see a true scenario to bring him back.
I see Wong coming back.
1st, Edman is most valuable because he can play all over the field. 2nd Edman is not really a known quantity with the bat.. He had a high babip his rookie year and came down to earth last year. 3rd, Dejong needs someone to spell him at short for 20 games or so due to burning down every year from playing every game.. 3rd, if anyone goes down Edman can step in without missing a beat. 4th Wong is a strong bat against rightys which are predominant in the division. Edman is the reverse. so he can also spell Wong against tough leftys.
4th Wong give us the best infield defense in baseball. We can pick up heavy ground ball pitchers on the cheap and make them allstars.
You’re completely forgetting that Carp is going to get at bats no matter what. With Wong back that makes things jammed.
As unlikely as it is would love to see Edwin get to 500Hr. Carlos Delgado came up just short- would be nice to have Eddy and his parrot get there.
For what it is worth, Rick Hummel is extremely out of touch and I wouldn’t trust his opinions on anything baseball these days. He is about 85 years old and still thinks that a pitcher’s win/loss record is an indicator of their effectiveness. Also, he is kind of a general a**hole, so there is that too.
So he’s like all Cardinals fans?
Marty, I didn’t realize you were a Cardinals fan.
Wong has the same problem Tommy Pham had.Except Pham was better. Wong was an ass at AA Springfield and I have never liked him. Until he realizes he just plays second base he will always be an egomaniac!
OK Dad. Get off my lawn! Sincerely Kolten.
There should be an extra roster spot just for a name like Akil Baddoo
Baddoo sounds like the nickname of a kid who struck out all the time and got stuck in left field.
What’s the latest on Bauer?
According to Buster Olney, the Yankees’ lover, Jackie Bradley Jr could wind up with a three year deal. As the saying goes, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
If I were DD I might check out JBJ on a 2 year deal. He couldn’t hit any worse than Haesley Quinn or Kingery.
doesnt move the needle if we can’t add to the pen. that’s the #1 priority.
Article says JBJ is getting 3 year offers.and you suggest offering 2. Since you don’t want him, why offer at all?
JBJ in that bandbox would just crush it in Philly. Just make contact. That said, until he signs I wouldn’t count Boston out of itm
Hope you’re right
Stymeedone again with the poor reading. Not sure why you got snippy with the OP.
Where does “could wind up with a 3 year deal” become JBJ has a 3 year deal in his hand? Baseball rumors are often inaccurate. And this isn’t even saying that the offer is out there. It says “it might”
Offering a 2 year when the belief is 3, doesn’t get you the player. I sincerely doubt JBJ is placing his offers on the table. Going on the info provided,(yes it could be wrong, but only info I have) I need to match or better, not offer less. Been seeing this type of thing all off-season. Turner wants 4 years, Cruz wants 2, and that’s why they haven’t signed with LAD, or MIN, but Atlanta should sign them to one year deals. Gotta deal with reality at some point.
They haven’t signed anywhere for a reason. I want to buy a yacht but my financials tell me I’ll be buying a center console. We’ll see what any of those guys get. But by no means is suggesting a 2 year deal for JBJ ridiculous in any way.
1 year for Nellie Cruz…..
I’d like to see Carpenter and Arrieta in a Rangers uniform be nice to see some old TCU guys come back
Jake on the Rangers makes a ton of sense. Still hoping my Cubs bring him back tho.
Why would the Tigers “check in on the third tier” rather than give reps to the existing players? I realize some of them might be hopeless (Christin Stewart, I’m looking at you!), but taking more playing time away from JaCoby, Victor Reyes, and Daz Cameron is just plain dumb! They’ve already got Robbie Grossman to help stabilize things. Signing another veteran might help them win an extra game or two, but that isn’t going to make a difference. Giving the youngsters a full season with 300-400 ABs or more will help assess whether they are going to make it or not.
Please keep those OFs off the Tigers. None are a noticeable difference from what they have.
The Red Sox are looking like underdogs this year in the AL East.
Sale/Rodriguez/Eovaldi/Richards/Perez is a pretty nasty rotation.
You’d be lucky to get 250 innings COMBINED from four of those 5 names this year.
That rotation is trash. Maybe Sale comes back to form, but E-Rod would be a #4 on most teams. Evoldi was a one year wonder, Richards is the Kerry Wood of the Angels org, and Martin Perez is Martin Perez.
So obvious that even a Yanks fan can figure it out. Sox rotation is going to need a lot of luck.
JBJ is NOT getting 3 years. It’s February. He will be lucky to get a second year option
Cubs should absolutely be in on both schoop and wong but they wont be b/c ricketts is a dipsh*t
Chea-pass is more like it.
Depends.. if they’re still in on Bradley (unlikely), they could put Jackie in CF, and move Happ back to his original 2B.
Edwin is only worth a minor league/Spring invite-type of deal at this point. I think he’d be a great sneaky deal for the Rays. Cheap, thump at DH, and a competitive team in a familiar division for him.
I love EE, but 76 more homers would put him in a unique place of probably being the first 500 club member to not make the HoF simply by insufficient qualifications (as opposed to Bonds and Palmeiro types).
I honestly believe that Christian Stewart for the Tigers needs to go overseas (Korea/Japan) for a while. It’s clear that major league pitchers have his number and AAA wont help him. His defense is poor and he can’t hit off-speed pitches. He’s just not a MLB level player. I hate saying this because he is a nice guy, but he’s not good enough to be in the Bigs.
He wouldn’t last a month in Japan if he can’t hit off speed stuff. Like you said, though, he can’t hang in the big leagues so it’s worth a shot if a team is willing.
Everyone knows Wong is only mentioned as the best defensive 2nd baseman in baseball because teams have refused to meet Rob Refsnyder’s asking price. $40 million a year for 15 years, 51% ownership of the team and Refsnyder gets final say in all coaching decisions. Teams can either meet his demands and win 15 World Series in a row or refuse and never received rave reviews again.
Not a great off season for Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox. With Richards, Hernandez, Perez and Ottavino, the team is hardly any better than they were last year. Is this what they decided to do with the Betts money they saved?
I believe the plan is to not be good again in Boston. They are still rebuilding. This team is expensive, severely deficient in key areas, and didn’t have much of a farm system. They are the BoSox, so it shouldn’t be years until they are competitive, but they aren’t ready yet.
with the cardinals outfield in flux, sign wong and start edman in the outfield
Wong to the Cubs announced later today
He checks all the boxes for the cubs besides the fact he will cost more than 2 million dollars. I really hope they can pull it off.
Cleveland getting Encarnacion makes too much sense not to happen. I can’t see many teams that would start him but the DH job is his in Cleveland.
The Tigers need a first baseman second baseman..another starter and bullpen help…so let’s get another outfieder..Al is clueless…guess all those OF prospects are garbage..Forgot they are
The Tigers need to play their prospects. Candy at 3B, Willi at SS, Parades at 2B and Goodrum roaming. Harold off the bench. 1B is open until Torkelson is ready. No need for 2B. Grossman is holding LF until Greene is ready. JaCoby in CF with Reyes in RF. Demeritte, Hill,Cameron and Stewart can be be fodder for the bench.
You forgot, new GM and hire the SuperFife!
This is not a proactive rebuild, Al appears to be a good baseball guy but poor sales skills. Excruciating!
The appears to be stinky for years, not buy prospects or flip for them. No aggression and BORING also pretty darn inconsiderate to the FANS!
Encarnacion is probably the player that would benefit the most from the NL adopting the DH for 2021. The Twins, Rangers, Indians, Astros, Mariners could take a minor league flyer on him,
I’m surprised the Tigers haven’t considered Yasiel Puig, he would be exactly the kind of veteran help they need, Puig is a quality hitter that would do well at Comerica.
If they’re not going to sign Wong maybe they can find an outfielder who can hit over 230.
I wish the Jays had gone hard for Wong instead of Semen.
Yep. Would’ve fit better with the kind of lineup the Jays have.
The Boston Red Sox must sign at least one more player.. Marcell Ozuna must be in a Red Sox uniform before the start of spring training this year.. Because Ozuna was a baseball demolition man in 2020.. A right-hand slugger who seemed to enjoy Fenway Park. How much? In three games it was four home runs, eight RBI, and a .429 average. Three of those impressive dingers came in one game. The first NL player to accomplish that feat. Those numbers get attention and Boston was not the exception to Marcell’s terror of pitchers…
As interesting as Ozuna would be in Fenway (defensively flashbacks of Manny Ramirez come to mind) we must keep in mind that those numbers came against Red Sox pitching, which wasn’t very good. Based on the logic of a fine three game showing would suggest that the Red Sox should sign Adam Duvall as well (though that is probably more realistic than Ozuna given how much money Ozuna is likely asking for)
The Boston Red Sox must sign at least one more player.. Marcell Ozuna must be in a Red Sox uniform before the start of spring training this year.. Because Ozuna was a baseball demolition man in 2020.. A right-hand slugger who seemed to enjoy Fenway Park. How much? In three games it was four home runs, eight RBI, and a .429 average. Three of those impressive dingers came in one game. The first NL player to accomplish that feat. Those numbers get attention and Boston was not the exception to Marcell’s terror of pitchers… THIS MOVE NEEDS TO HAPPEN BLOOM…
You can’t go Wong with Edman at 2B
I would like to see EE enter the 500 HR club before he calls it a career.