Free-agent right-hander Zack Godley threw for roughly a dozen clubs last week, Steve Adams of MLBTR reports. Godley battled a flexor issue last year, but he’s now healthy. While Godley was an effective starter with the Diamondbacks from 2017-18, his numbers fell off severely over the past two seasons with the D-backs, Blue Jays and Red Sox. He tossed a combined 120 2/3 innings during that span and logged a woeful 6.49 ERA/5.20 SIERA with similarly subpar strikeout and walk percentages of 17.8 and 10.2, respectively.
Other notes from around the league:
- There are five legitimate in-house candidates to serve as the Phillies’ starting center fielder, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Along with Scott Kingery, Adam Haseley and Roman Quinn, both Odubel Herrera and Mickey Moniak have thrown their hats in the ring. Herrera was a productive starter at the position for the Phillies from 2015-17, even earning a five-year, $30.5MM extension in the last of those seasons, but his numbers tanked from 2018-19 and he sat for most of the latter campaign because of a domestic violence suspension. The Phillies outrighted him before last season, meaning he’s not on their 40-man roster. Moniak, who made a brief major league debut in 2020, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, but he hasn’t matched the hype since then. He owns a .692 OPS across 1,671 plate appearances in the minors, though the 22-year-old has put himself on the radar early in spring training. Moniak went yard twice against the Yankees on Thursday.
- A foot injury has slowed Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi this spring, but he’s “moving in the right direction” in his recovery, per manager Mike Matheny (via Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Radio). It’s not clear when Mondesi will make his Cactus League debut, though. The 25-year-old batted a below-average .256/.294/.416 with six home runs in 233 plate appearances last season, but he played in 59 of 60 games, easily led the majors in stolen bases (24) and earned good grades at shortstop (plus-2 DRS, plus-0.8 UZR). [UPDATE: Mondesi is in the Royals’ lineup for this afternoon’s spring training matchup with the Dodgers, notes Anne Rogers of MLB.com].
- It would make sense for the Angels to open extension talks with David Fletcher, writes Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic. To this point, there’s been no discussions between the two sides about a potential long-term deal, Ardaya notes, but there’s little question the 26-year-old has established himself as an important piece of the organization. Fletcher’s on-base skills have helped compensate for his lack of power, with a career .292/.346/.386 line translating to league average offensive production (100 wRC+). Combined with high-end defensive metrics between second and third base, that’s been enough for Fletcher to accrue around seven or eight wins above replacement over his first 283 MLB games. Ardaya examines the framework of a hypothetical Fletcher extension in a piece that might be of interest to Angel fans.
Moniak had gotten way too much flak so far. people forget he’s only 22.
He still has time to turn it around, but he hasn’t really hit at any level, which is surprising for the first overall pick in the nation.
Unfortunate, but not uncommon. There have been several first overall picks that have had little to no impact at the major league level. How much cheering have we done for these first overall picks?
2014 – Brady Aiken
2013 – Mark Appel
2008 – Tim Beckham
2006 – Luke Hochevar
2004 – Matt Bush
2002 – Brian Bullington
1997 – Matt Anderson
Luke Hochevar actually was not that bad when he turned to a reliever. Wouldn’t call him a little to no impact but agree with everyone Apple.
I remember the hype around Mark Appel. Crazy how far he fell out of favor.
To quote David Spade, They’re not all 10’s bud.”
Not to belabor the point, but I’m betting the Royals had higher hopes than Hochevar’s career .415 winning percentage, 5.00 ERA, and 3 saves.
Yeah people see guys like Soto come up at 19 and expect everyone to do that. That being said, .692 ops in the minors is a little troubling. He’s had almost no success down there and while that doesn’t mean he can’t improve, it doesn’t really give me much hope that he can. The swing he put on that first bomb was lightning fast and looked really good. So maybe he figured something out, but I don’t think he’s the starting CF. I think he goes to AAA and refines that approach and that swing, before getting a chance if the other guys scuffle
His age has no thing to do with his disappointment as a prospect. Even adjusting for age, he has underwhelmed at every stop in the minors. He has shown little power and a inability to walk. A number one overall pick that looks like a 4th outfielder profile 3 years later is a major let down especially when Kyle Lewis, Dylan Carlson, and Alex Kirilloff were taken later.
why is age not a matter? He never repeated a level, so he could have easily been held back for a year and seen increased numbers each year there after at an older age.
Age matters zero.
Moniak hit two homers yesterday. Good luck to him. Sometimes a game like that can go a long way.
In March?
Yes, as long as we’re using the Gregorian calendar. I can’t speak for those using the Mayan calendar.
And they’ll be players in this year’s draft older than him.
Moniak is finally filling in his frame with muscle and as his two HR’s yesterday show, is developing more power. He’s still very young.
Give Fletch his money!
He won’t be a free agent until 2025, when he’ll be entering his age-31 season. You got him for the next four years regardless. Unless he’s open to a cheap deal, you might want to see if he can replicate what he did in 2020 over a full season.
Jeff McNeil is in a similar situation with the Mets. An excellent player, but he won’t be eligible for free agency until 2025 when he’s entering his age 33-season. It’s a tough go for these late bloomers.
True. I do think McNeil will be rewarded better in arbitration than Fletcher. He has more pop in his bat, and that scores better within the arbitration guidelines.
Teams in recent years have effectively either locked up star players through their 20s, as the Padres just did with Tatis, or they’ve effectively delayed the arrival of midrange players so that they’re in their 30s by the time they’re finished with arbitration.
Not going to happen until Albert’s contract is off the books, Next off season Fletcher will get his extension. Artie will not go over the cap.
Fletcher is fun to watch so Angel fans overrate him and because he’s a baseball player whose numbers don’t say much, fans of other teams underrate him.
There is no hurry on the extension. When the time comes, I don’t think he’ll be in high demand.
Pujols contract is up after 2021. That really has nothing to do with why Fletcher won’t get an extension now. Fact is Fletcher isn’t even arb eligible yet. He won’t enter arb until next year. At that point the team may look to buy a couple of arb years depending on his performance in 2021.
spark plug for sure
Rangers hopefully watched Godley and can sign him to a minor-league deal with an invite. This year depth will be important and he is still young enough to help in case of injury.
I think a lot of teams should be in on the Godley train.
Porcello, too. A couple of rough years, but he’s only 32 and can provide some inexpensive depth in a season where it will be needed.
Both Godley and Porcello provide excellent mediocrity.
Watching Godley last season for the Sox was brutal. Only made it to the 5th inning once, and couldn’t complete it. Lots of high pitch counts even though he had a 2-1 strikeout-to-walk-ratio. Could be he was never healthy and could be worth a look for a team looking for depth.
Porcello has a much better track record and I’m a little surprised he’s still available. Astros or Cardinals would be good landing spots for him
Both are terrible.
I like Moniak as a future piece here. Probably more of a 4th outfielder but a true CF. I think Odubel might make the team, flanking Hasley into a 4th OF’er role and playing a lot of LF. It will come down to Odubel or Matt Joyce, but unless Moniak does this regularly for the next 3 weeks, he’s destined for Lehigh. Spencer Howard as well. Here’s my projected opening day lineup & roster:
Cutch LF
Harper RF
Rhys 1B
Bohm 3B
Gregorius SS
JT C
Segura 2B
Hasely CF (Kingery vs LHP)
Kingery
B. Miller
Knapp
Odubel/Joyce
Quinn
Nola
Wheeler
Eflin
M. Moore
C. Anderson
V. Velasquez
B. Mitchell
T. Watson
B. Kintzler
H. Alvarado
H. Neris
A. Bradley
I like this squad and I think we are going to surprise people.
We have 26 man rosters again this year, I think, so if Odubel/Joyce is an either /or, then you can add one more. I think they will keep 13 pitchers, although I wish they would not..
It’s amazing that the bullpen now looks like a strength on paper. There are still other question marks, but I think this time can compete. It’s just such a tough division.
as good as Joyce has looked so far I dont think taking on that cap charge is worth it. I’d rather see him dealt during the spring. (not out of the question for NRI guys, its happened before)
Odubel could he HUGE for the phillies this year. Absolutely he deserves another chance.
I hate to be Debbie downer, but I’m not sold on Odubel. His last season and a half was putrid before his suspension, so his track record doesn’t look great.
Sure, he’s hit so far in ST, but it’s early and he’s faced mostly minor league pitching that he, quite frankly, should be hitting. If he’s doing this same work with a week left in ST and it’s coming down to roster crunch time, I might change my feeling on it. I’m just not convinced.
It wasn’t like Moniak at 1-1 was like when the Rays took Tim Beckham (something NOBODY understood). More than one pundit had him at 1-1.
Sometimes you give a high school kid 6M, and he thinks he’s arrived. That makes him almost un-coachable. Then he matures a bit, and you’ve got a totally different situation.
The swing is still pretty, as is the athleticism. And it’s not like the Phils need a Mike Trout in CF; a guy with speed and good quick-twitch works; they’ve got enough offense, and their defense is, well, borderline awful. I’d give him a shot, and see what you’ve got. There’s a whole lot more upside with Moniak than the other guys.
I think for all but the supremely talented and mature, college is the way to go in baseball. And get an education while you’re there. I love the Joey Cora story. Went to Vanderbilt with no English so he majored in mathematics. Academic All-American. That’s because academics were important to the family. That’s the way it should be for everyone.
The gold standard for drafting a high school kid that high has for me always been Kershaw (1-6 if I remember). His interview after the draft was, like, ya, he’s 18 going on 30. But Clayton’s a rarity.
Dan O’Dowd always says it’s the “double-M factor”; money and maturity. And I’m not saying that especially deleteriously; if you’d dropped 6M in MY lap at 18, I’m not sure I would have reacted in a positive way.. I was bad enough with $10.18 in my pocket.
I think the elimination of Advanced-Rookie and Short-Season-A leagues will skew more drafting toward college guys. Not that necessarily means more maturity, but it improves the odds.
And again, performance isn’t just a function of tools and ability. Call those other things ‘soft metrics” if you will, but they mean a lot.
The NBA has a program for rookies that focuses on real-world issues. It has worked wonders as, generally speaking, NBA newcomers demonstrate admirable maturity. Fewer knuckleheads since the program was initiated, which has contributed to the league’s growth.
While MLB teams obviously have more players in their organization, I think they should do something similar. Not just with prospects, but with all minor leaguers and MLB rookies. Help them learn about their responsibilities as professional athletes and how to handle their money and the distractions that come with the lifestyle. This would not only benefit the players, but also the sport as it would lessen the likelihood of embarrassing situations that teams/players can find themselves in. Training and personal development should also extend to management and coaching personnel.
Haseley also has upside.
I’d like to lock Fletcher in as a career Angel along side Trout.
yes
Since Odubel is off the 40 man, does that mean his current salary does not count against the cap? That could be a big issue for the Phillies and really hurt his chances as they try to stay under the cap or even have room for mid year additions. If it already counts… please disregard.
His salary still counts no matter what due to service time.
google.com/amp/s/www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillie…
Moniak went yard twice against the Yankees on Thursday.
I guess the Phillies found the garbage can. Because the only way you can beat the yankees is by cheating.
Looking at Fletcher’s career offensive production is a little misleading. His numbers are on an upward trajectory as his OBP, SLG and OPS+ have improved significantly each year in the league.
Phillies should give Moniak a shot at everyday CF. See if they have anything there or cut him loose
why do we have to see what we have already when he’s not even played in AAA yet and still has 2 options?
Lol he has 6 years of control left 3 will be for league min, why the heck are you cutting that loose?
Angels’ news is always depressing.
SugaMonkey
You poor guy maybe you should see a psychiatrist
Somewhere between Whitt Merrifield and Scott Kingery’s deals would be the template for a David Fletcher extension. At this point they would just by out his arbitration years and gain cost certainty, maybe add a free agent year or two.
If the Mets and dodgers played only against each other. What do you think their records would be.
I’ll go first
Mets 84-78
Dodgers- 78-84
Dodgers 100-62
Mets 62-100
Imho
and to be honest you can easily say that and it be more a nod to LAD’s effectiveness rather then a knock on the Mets. quite frankly no one is on the level of the Dodgers right now.
In no univer would the dodgers go 100-62 against us. The best I could see is 83-79
wanna beat dodgers? have a killer bullpen.
The Dodgers are better in all phases of the game. They average 102 wins per season and have their best roster in franchise history now. An established winner versus a 2020 last-place team with a ton of “ifs.” Why do you insist on making a fool of yourself?
I love your optimism, but the Mets have done nothing to prove their in the Dodgers league. Worry about the Braves first. And Nats, Marlins and Phillies too. If you get passed them, you can consider worrying about the Dodgers.
*they’re
If that is the case, I’d carry another pitcher. With Kingery’s versatility, he’s got the middle (CF, 2B, SS) covered and Brad Miller has the corners (LF, RF, 1B, 3B) covered. Knapp is a tremendous backup catcher, in my opinion. Near elite plate discipline and a backstop the pitchers like to pitch to. Hasely can play all 3 OF positions so it has to be a pitcher. You would think a 40 man guy so they dont have to run anyone through waivers and risk losing them. Coonrod, Hale, Dohy, Ranger, JJ or Damon Jones. The latter 3 def have options and service time implications, so I would imagine one of the first three.
Is Enyel de los Santos still a part of this organization? Lehigh should operate with a 6 man starting to rotation to keep pitch counts down an adjust to the lighter work loads caused by covid. Correct me if you think I’m wrong, but I’d roll out Howard, Ivan Nova, Medina, Enyel, Rosso & Llovera up there with Morales as the Reading ace (for now).
id just dump Nova. depth is nice but promoting him straight up during the season likely puts them over the lux and he’s just taking AAA starts away from other guys. I’d like Parkinson to get AAA starts.
well the Astros 5th starter battle got a whole lot more interesting. worth noting Whitley is not on the list.
Fletcher is a case study of why the CBA will be changed to allow players free agency earlier in their careers. Metrics consistently show a player peeks at 27-29 years. Angels have Fletcher “on the cheap” through age 31. Why would they extend him? Any contract would be based on what he did during him prime years. The value post 31 years is statistically going to decline. You see the dilemma for both the player and the team.
It’s as big of an issue as manipulating service time. The fact that they are separate issues will make for some messy negotiations, a situation that could have been alleviated had the MLBPA not allowed both to ride out this long. Trying to have both addressed at the same time will result in bad PR for the players, even though both must be addressed.
Also Mondesi’s ops was like 1.200 the last two months with like 15 steals
The Angels will find a way to screw up any extension plans for Fletcher. That’s the Artie Moreno way.
Fletcher has four seasons left and if there is one position you can easily fill it’s second base. No one should worry about this.
Fletcher is easily the most enjoyable player not named Mike Trout to watch on the Angels. Spark plug, excellent hustle, one of the best contact hitters in baseball, super-utility, great fielder, great attitude. Throwback kind of player we used to get to see more before the days of bloated guaranteed multi-million dollar contracts that have made today’s players entitled, selfish and lazy. Joy to watch. He should have no problem landing an extension.
Ohtani is enjoyable when healthy. I’m talking about as a pitcher.
you know with Adam hasley getting hurt and going to miss four weeks most likely he’s probably going to miss the beginning of the season maybe a week or so. I’ll be honest I’m thinking that there is a chance now that odubel Herrera will make the team, but another player I would really want to see make the team is Mickey moniak. I know it’s spring training but he does look a little more comfortable at the plate, granted it is spring training. Plus I don’t want to have to sit there and say that Mickey moniak ends up being one of the biggest busts for #1 overall picks