The Cardinals are among the teams with interest in right-hander Nick Martinez, reports Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (Twitter link). Martinez, who will reach free agency at the start of December, is coming off a dominant showing with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Over 140 2/3 innings, the 31-year-old worked to a 1.60 ERA, striking out a quarter of the batters he faced in the process. After a four-season run in Japan, that strong 2021 campaign could earn Martinez another MLB look this offseason. Heyman suggests upwards of a third of MLB teams could join St. Louis in having interest in giving Martinez another opportunity stateside, although it stands to reason the Hawks would like to re-sign their star hurler as well.
A couple more notes on players currently in Japan’s top league:
- Robert Suárez is on the radar of multiple major league teams, according to a Japanese-language report from Yahoo! Japan (h/t to Sung Min Kim). The 30-year-old has posted incredible numbers serving as the Hanshin Tigers’ closer over the past two seasons. After working to a 2.24 ERA in 52 1/3 innings in 2020, Suárez dominated to the tune of a 1.16 mark across 62 1/3 frames this past season. His peripherals were equally impressive, as the righty struck out 25.3% of opposing hitters against a minuscule 3.5% walk percentage. Suárez has never pitched in the majors but reportedly also caught the attention of big league clubs last winter.
- The Red Sox are among the teams to have scouted NPB star Seiya Suzuki, reports Rob Bradford of WEEI. They’re certainly not alone in that regard, as the Hiroshima Carp outfielder has long been regarded as one of the top talents in Japan. The Carp will make Suzuki available to major league clubs this winter via the posting system, coming off a season in which the 27-year-old mashed at a .319/.436/.644 clip with 38 homers in 530 plate appearances. Between his youth, huge numbers in NPB, and scouting reports that suggest he could immediately step in as an above-average major league right fielder, Suzuki should be one of the winter’s most in-demand free agents. MLBTR projects he’ll land a five-year, $55MM contract — an investment that would cost an MLB team $65.125MM after accounting for the posting fee that would be owed to the Carp were Suzuki to land a $55MM guarantee.
Nick Martinez?
A year ago I was reading about similar gaga stats from an America ex-Patriot playing baseball in Japan……
Matt Moore.
The Phillies bit.
Silly Season is blooming more by the day. One can smell the delusion in the air.
I like Suzuki. I’m hoping the Braves let one of Soler or Rosario walk and use Suzuki as a replacement. Suzuki, Duvall, Acuna and either Soler or Rosario as OF/DH. I’m good with that.
Only thing that smells around here is the smarm from this post.
You just love to be right and seeing other people be wrong, dont you? Really quality posting from you here smh
He’s relating an American pitcher who tried to rebuild his career in Japan to a very good hitter who spent his entire career there. Don’t pay any mind to it. It makes no sense so no further thought or analysis needed. Just because Matt Moore sucked doesn’t mean every player who ever played in Japan will. Tell that to Ichiro and Matsui. Matt Moore isn’t even a hitter and he isn’t even Japanese.
Last I checked The Mariners did alright with last years gamble on an American pitcher (Chris Flexen) who resurrected his career in Asia. MLB FO’s would be stupid not to dive deeper into that market after seeing the return Seattle got on the young ex NY Met
Flexen was a steal.
Amen!!! The Cardinals John Mozeliak is known for scum dwelling & signing “over the hill” former stars and semi stars from years long gone!
The Cardinals need at least a strong #2 or #3 starting pitcher who has a great ground ball ratio. They also need a great fielding and contact hitting Shortstop. Or even an above average glove with a low strike out rate.
That would make them World Series Contenders in 2022. But John Mozeliak will not spend the money this off season to do that. He’s a Low Hanging Fruit for big money type of guy!!!
Suzuki to the Sox would give them a stacked outfield, with Renfroe, Hernandez, and Verdugo already figuring to be next year’s starting trio in the grass and JDM filling up the DH spot.
Still, if Kiké is willing to move back to 2b to start the season, the offense would get a huge boost from a Suzuki signing. Throw in Casas coming up to push Dalbec at 1st and the offense would be set.
Totally agree ! Having depth and versatility is what will help the Sox
one of renfroe or dugie gets traded. i’d guess renfroe
Perfect world is looking at a bigger picture.
FA of note: Kiki, JDM, Vaz for 2023, Devers, Renfroe 2024, Verdugo 2025. Take Bogey’s opt out for what you will.
Assuming JD goes and doesn’t return on a QO (which may be out of CBA anyways), renfroe is the oldest of the bunch, and, least likely to consider an extension buying out FA years ahead of time since he’s approaching his one and only chance at a decent FA payday. He’s the most likely OF to move, but, I’d think with every overseas player coming with questionmarks and Duran clearly needing time there would be Kiki spelling some IF and OF days off. Dugie goes in LF.
Still, I’d expect other teams with greater immediate need will put a higher premium on Suzuki in their offers, and, as many Japanese players as Boston has had they tend to have a west coast bias to be closer to home. Meanwhile, Boston really needs pitching, and, again like every year since bloom arrived, relievers. Maybe this will be the offseason to actually build a relief core able to hold a lead.
2B should go to Iggy if he’s willing. Yes his babip was really high, but it was when he first came up in Boston too. Dalbec/casas should be your 1b/3b tandem with Devers replacing JDM at DH next year, let casas season until year end in aaa.
If I recall correctly, JD already agreed that he will be returning to the Sox.
I was speaking regarding the lists of FA for 2023, not this winter, but you’re correct he will be here for 22.
Too many ifs to prepare a roster a year from now.
GASoxFan – Reading your response to pwndroia it sounds like you have already condemned the Red Sox pitching staff to another year of Devers at 3B!! Say it ain’t so!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still have my fingers crossed that JD is marketable if there is a 2022 season and can be dealt for something Boston actually needs. What makes the most sense to me is trading him to CWS for Hendricks. He’s a bit more expensive than Hendricks but the CWS NEED a DH if they aren’t going to move Abreu there to reduce the wear and tear on him so he can play 162 games.
Until the Universal DH is accepted there is no place to move JD if Cruz stays in TB. The payrolls of all the teams that need him at DH are too small for a guy making JD money. The NL having a Universal DH would raise JD’s value significantly.
How about this for an out of the box suggestion. Trade Devers straight up for Jose Ramirez and if they say no throw in the crap from LAD to seal the deal. It solves the defensive problem and Ramirez is a better hitter. The down side is he’s older but he’s in his prime and could be significant talent jump from a one dimensional player like Devers. Then, when Devers out grows the Cleveland payroll the Red Sox can sign him as their DH after JD leaves!! Win-Win!!! The pitchers have to love this suggestion!!
Still, I’d expect other teams with greater immediate need will put a higher premium on Suzuki in their offers,
==================================
I agree. He looks like a real player to me, at least to the extent we can examine any Japanese player.
But the issue is that other teams need a RF a lot more than us. I can’t see us outbidding a team like the NYMs, who currently have no RF.
Please for the love of God can we sign a pitcher who doesn’t have a 4+ ERA or isn’t almost 40?
That’s all Moe can afford. He and Dewitt have no stomach to spend to get someone worth it.
Except that STL has two of the highest paid players in baseball on their roster. Criticize them all you want, but keep it real and fair.
Everyone has to pay their players! St. Louis has two and builds cheap around them!K.C. has one Salvy ! We are in flyover country, nobody’s coming here cheap
The Red Sox are jumping on the Suzuki cavalcade.
Indians should be all over Suzuki even he might fit their miniscule budget
Why? Does he play cricket?
Who? Oh, you mean the Guardians.
If they sign him they will then offer Renfroe arbitration and then trade him.
If E-Rod takes the QO then there is no money for Suzuki under the cap. With 3 OFers already plus Duran there is no need for Suzuki. Re=signing E-Rod means BOS needs more quality pitching after throwing away $18.4M on a guy who could catch COVID and miss a major portion of the year and whose numbers are SP 5 worthy at best.
Bloom has painted himself into a corner if E-Rod accepts the QO. Unless he trades somebody making big bucks he’s only going to have enough left to bring in nickel and dime guys who can spot fill holes.
FYI….. Here are the latest numbers for the 2022 payroll (CAP not cashflow).
Chris Sale 25,600,000
Xander Bogaerts 20,000,000
J.D. Martinez 22,000,000
Eduardo Rodriguez 18,400,000 (QO price tag if he accepts)
Nathan Eovaldi 17,000,000
David Price 16,000,000 (wasted money helping LAD not Boston)
Rafael Devers 10,750,000
Matt Barnes 9,375,000
Hunter Renfroe 7,500,000
Enrique Hernandez 7,000,000
Christian Vazquez 7,000,000
Nick Pivetta3,000,000
Alex Verdugo 3,000,000
Kevin Plawecki 2,000,000
Ryan Brasier1,750,000
Hirokazu Sawamura 1,500,000
Christian Arroyo 1,000,000
Tim Locastro 750,000
That’s $163.625M so far. Add another $9.775 for 17 controllable players making roughly $0.575M and $18.25M for benefits and minor league contracts and the current total is $191.65M. The CAP is $210M.
Unless Bloom is willing to go over the cap or trade away a big payroll guy the E-Rod deal uses up most of what’s available in 2022. Cross your fingers that he can trade JD for a closer (CWS Hendricks), E-Rod gets a multi-year deal elsewhere, Schwarber is NOT signed and Bloom gets a quality player to play 3B like Trevor Story. That would still leave room for a guy like Rodon or even Verlander to be signed to fill out the Starting Rotation..
I don’t think you want Verlander. You’ve already got an innings capped shaky Chris sale who will be ramping up this year. I don’t see why you want a second much older aging pitcher fresh off TJ in the rotation where you’ve got short starts taxing the BP already.
Also, Verlander costs a draft pick, and, will be wanting 1) more money than the QO he passed up for 22, and, multi years to decide where he goes. Someone will pay up.
Now. Prospects are nothing but trade fodder until they produce. But why would you want story with his QO attached? It is as good as giving up on Bogey, or devers. Why not rework bogeys deal to keep him in town, toss him two more years? Try to extend Devers.
Then let casas come up late season and have him and dalbec make the jobs theirs on the corners. Reality is, payroll won’t support Devers + story + Bogey. Pick 2. Remember, performance-wise eovaldi is a bargain contract compared to SP prices. He’s gone soon. I’m not confident anyone on the farm is going to come up and produce to his level. So plan on a good 25m to a #1/2 level sp next offseason.
I don’t see anyone picking up JD without Boston eating significant money or taking back a bad contract. A high paid DH is mostly a BOS/NY concept… bos doing it intentionally, and ny stuffing injury prone aging vets there of necessity. Most teams just don’t see it as a good use of resources, cite to nobody but the redsox even really going after JD to start with at the high salaries he wanted/is at.
To some degree you’ve got to be forward looking with your payroll. Teams keep getting more fiscally responsible and you can’t keep hoping for LA to bail you out. Each time it gets more painful.
GASoxFan – Ahhhh where to begin!! Lets start with Verlander and how many elite pitchers exist in baseball. Verlander like Sale is elite. E-Rod is mediocre. E=Rod’s offer of $18.4M translates to over $40M per year to a guy with Verlander’s skill set on cost/value basis. Getting JV for $20M each year for 2 or 3 years would add talent to the rotation. E-Rod adds no talent to the rotation since he’s the 6th best pitcher. The draft pick isn’t a first round pick and so far Bloom has two good picks and they are both his first round picks so that cost in minimal or negligible.
JD was ranked 18th in runs produced in 2021 despite the jack-ass manager batting him 5th!! Being 18th best in baseball suggests he’s much better than you are giving him credit for. Yes in 2018 he was #1 and has fallen 17 spots but he was only surpassed by Devers in 2021!! If he and Devers didn’t both need to be DHs I’d want to keep him but the defense can’t take another year of two to four dozen misplayed balls at 3B. JD could be traded for something needed like Hendricks of the CWS who have two closers. No money would need to be eaten.
You need to wrap your head around the fact that JD is still underpaid based on his numbers not overpaid. The fact that he didn’t opt out shows how much he is willing to play at a team discount. That is admirable and you are interpreting it as him thinking he couldn’t get more. He could.
Your last paragraph is very odd. Boston offers a crap pitcher like E-Rod who is 6th best on the team $18.4M and you preach about how fiscally responsible teams are behaving these days?. Are you nuts? The E-Rod offer is conclusive proof that there is no fiscal responsibility even when it comes to a guy staying under the cap and originating in TB!!!
I’ve already posted the SPs that are making the QO in 2021 and E-Rod should be shining their shoes not being put on a list with them. Boston won’t have the money to get a $25M SP next year if Bloom keeps using volume K-mart specials to eat up the money under the cap.
Pedroia’s money rolled off, Bloom added nobody of value and the team is still near the cap because of the Price money and the numerous small money deals that he has inked.
Go back and take a second look at JD’s numbers. It’s not 2018 numbers but there are less than two dozen guys in all of baseball that put up better numbers than him. When you consider there are 30 teams that means many teams don’t have a JD level hitter.
Last year, Sugano couldn’t get something done in time and headed back to NPB. There are time limits on those NPB postings. How likely is it that MLB and NPB’s offseason will align in a way that even allows a team to get a deal done with Suzuki?
They have to January there’s enough time
If you have a good strikeout rate in Japan as a pitcher probably be ok in mlb. Martinez could be a decent 4-5 starter.