Free agent outfielder Kyle Schwarber is said to be asking for a three-year, $60MM contract, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Marlins were exploring contracts with both Schwarber and Nick Castellanos before the lockout, ultimately coming to a four-year, $53MM agreement with Avisail Garcia instead. Miami also offered Starling Marte a four-year, $60MM offer before he signed with the Mets, notes Jackson.
The market for Schwarber remains robust, however, with many teams throughout the league in need of corner outfield help. The Red Sox – his most recent club – may be a less clean fit for Schwarber after re-acquiring Jackie Bradley Jr. and making the lineup that much more left-leaning, writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey isn’t as sure that Schwarber’s being a left-handed hitter really represents a problem.
Beyond Schwarber and Castellanos, there remain a plethora of free agents capable of stationing in an outfield corner. Kris Bryant is the biggest name of the bunch, though his strongest suitors are likely to at least appreciate his glovework at the hot corner. World Series highlight generators Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, and Eddie Rosario remain available. Michael Conforto is the other big name still out there, though he has a qualifying offer attached, which may affect his market.
Brett Gardner, Andrew McCutchen, Tommy Pham, Brian Goodwin, Alex Dickerson, and Corey Dickerson are some of the more attractive options out there with recent starting experience. In terms of specialists, Ender Inciarte, Roman Quinn, Kevin Pillar, and Jake Marisnick may fit the bill. There are also a fair number of multi-positional utility men out there, such as Niko Goodrum, Josh Harrison, Marwin Gonzalez, Danny Santana, and Brad Miller.
Mets and Pham or mccutchen for a one or two year deal like the cahna got wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
# 2 would be Jorge Soler…
This is one of the things that gets so irritating, the idiotic overemphasis on constructing lineups with hitters alternating from each side of the plate.
What difference does the acquisition of JBJ make when his career BA and OBP are both slightly better against LHP?
Last year he had a .900 OPS against LHP and a .776 against RHP.
So the Red Sox are gonna pass on getting a great hitter like Schwarber just because JBJ’s career OPS is .717 vs RHP and .674 vs LHP?
Ridiculous!
Fever,
Remember by last year I assume you mean 2020, which was not even 40% of a season. The Sox seem to be trying to better their defense, something getting Schwarber back doesn’t accomplish. Let’s see what the lineup looks like on 03/31. My guess is a big time additional bat will be starting either by trade or via free agency.
dewey – Yes when I said last year I was referring to last year. LOL
Their defense has already gotten better, now that JBJ is in CF and Hernandez is at 2B. Remember, their original plan for this year was Dugie in CF, Renfroe in RF, Hernandez at 2B and Franchy in LF.
I think everyone agrees the defense on the left side of the infield needs to be improved, but what does that have to do with Schwarber? If they trade Xander, which I think is a definite possibility, they will likely replace him with a better defender who doesn’t hit nearly as well. All the more reason why they should add Schwarber’s bat, they need his .957 OPS.
My point is, LHP/RHP splits is what’s important … NOT what side of the plate you swing from.
They’ve already got Xander, Dalbec, JD, Hernandez and Vazquez who are RHB that perform better against LHP.
So WHY would anyone say that having an all-lefty OF along with lefty Devers is “too lefty-heavy”? How is 4 out of 9 LHB in the lineup considered to be “too lefty-heavy”?
JBJ’s role should strictly be defensive replacement. If he has even ONE at bat, Bloom should be grabbed by the ear tossed into Boston Harbor.
Seriously! If JBJ comes in the 9th, and the game goes extra innings and he comes up to bat? A pitcher should hit for him!
Defensive replacement is a waste of a roster spot. No way to carry a hitter and not give them at bats. Impossible.
DBH – Hate to break it to you, but the Sox ain’t taking a $12M luxury tax hit next year PLUS an $8M 2023 buyout just to have him be a defensive replacement. He will be starting nearly every game, guaranteed.
DBH, Bradley makes too much to just be a defensive replacement. I think Boston is hoping he’ll revert to his better offensive days now that he’s back to playing half his games at Fenway. And at worst, his defense is still really good.
as a pitcher, if im seeing 9 guys on the same side of the plate i am a lot more comfortable than if it were alternating
Do you consider 4 LHB in the same lineup to be “too lefty heavy”?
Fever, you’re pretty short-sighted. Red Sox aren’t building a team for ’22. Building is for ’23 and beyond.
Casas (L) replaces Dalbec (R)
Mayer (L) replaces Bogaerts (R)
Duran (L) replaces Bradley (L)
Binelas (L) replaces Devers (R)
Maybe they all work out, maybe they dont. But its clear as day, Red Sox future is mostly Left-Handed.
Hate to tell ya, this year still a building year. Bloom was hired with a 3-year rebuild game-plan, and that exactly what he’s on course for.
dennyd – The guys you listed are 2025 not 2023!!! Nice planning horizon. I heard he wanted Papi’s grand child for the 2040 Red Sox!!!
Casas still has a lot to prove before he’s considered better than Dalbec.
Mayer will likely replace somebody other than Bogaerts who will be gone.
Duran I hope replaces JBJ in 2022 after he proves himself at AAA
Binelas can’t play 3B defensively much like Devers so at best he’s DH
(FYI Devers is (L) not (R))
You can’t build without adding talent and so far the crap 2020 season got us the best talent on your list (way to go Bloom?) Casas and Duran are from the much maligned farm system left by DD that has contributed MLB talent for the last decade and Binelas is pure hitting potential and not a lick of defense just like Devers. Dalbec and Casas are the corners of the future and Devers should be DH until his ego pushes him to go the FA route. (see picture of pitching staff applauding!)
You are like the lookout on the Titanic watching the horizon and never seeing the iceberg that is right in front of you. The team was in it’s prime and Bloom dismantled it so SOME DAY Boston will have sustained winning. To me, four rings in 15 years was plenty of sustained winning and most fans based on the opinions on this site agree!! That’s gone now and my telescope sees nothing like that in front of us or on the horizon.
I don’t see how you can dismiss handedness balance in the era of the three batter minimum. Distribution of lefties and righties is determining when certain specialists are used and when they’re not. Maybe your lefty can hold his own against lefties, but if the one adjacent to him is overmatched, the opposing manager wins a plus matchup or forces you to remove your player. It’s a vulnerability that, while not something to avoid at all costs, is an ancillary cost of handedness imbalance.
rhswanzey – I completely support alternating guys in the lineup, based on their splits and effectiveness against LHP & RHP – not based on what side of the plate they swing from.
If a LHB hits the same, or better, against LHP then what’s the point of bringing in a lefty to face him?
The Mets will sign Kris Bryant or Kyle Schwarber
I doubt both. Bryant more likely
Agreed. Bryant would be more likely. It’s hard to see them signing anyone else who is exclusively an outfield option before trading away anyone in the J.D. Davis, Dom Smith, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo group.
I honestly don’t see either as a fit or necessity. I think they need another starter most of all.
Agreed. They need that third pitcher. I would doubt Schwarber is a consideration due to his poor defense – the Mets D is already bad enough. Bryant would be a bad addition, but I don’t think the production will match the contract.
Wouldn’t *
That’s possible but doubtful before they trade any of their bench outfield options or Nimmo who is still slated to be a starter.
They already have Nimmo, Marte and Canha with D. Smith and JD Davis, etc. The Mets need SP to put around deGrom, Walker and Scherzer, imho.
No love for Seiya Suzuki? If I were Chaim Bloom he would be my #1 target
I would be thrilled if this was part of the plan. Suzuki could be a steal if he’s an above average hitter and decent defender. 5 years 55 Million wouldn’t be much to pay for an everyday player. There’s a chance he’s not good, but it’s not too much of a fisk at that amount of money.
Lol oh yeah? How many $55 million risks have you taken lately?
Us on here personally, likely little to none. The Red Sox however, quite often. Actually seem about due for the next one. If bloom has it in him. Hanley Sandoval disney Castillo pshhh they can afford a 10 mil dollar paper weight once a year. But fr next year once price is off the books they really gotta focus those $ at devers. Whatever it takes for him to stay here.
Lots of Rangers fans are starting to entertain the idea of signing Pham in lieu of a guy like Suzuki or Conforto because not only would he be cheaper and have less commitment than those two, but he’s not even that far off from above-average offensive performances. With our shiny new hitting coaches and a changing culture on the offensive side, quite a few fans are vying towards signing Pham for cheap and then allocating more funds towards the starting rotation this winter.
(Note: Suzuki is still my top target outfield-wise, but I just wanted to bring that up.)
The starting pitcher free agent market is looking thin now.
Yeah, but there’s still Kershaw and a plethora of trade candidates who the Rangers are looking at. Personally, I want one of Kershaw, Mahle, or Pablo Lopez, and then one of Danny Duffy… that’s about it. I was inbetween Duffy and Nick Martinez for the 5th spot, but the Padred made that choice for me.
I had forgotten Kershaw has been linked to the Rangers. He would be a good pickup for them.
If he can still pitch. And if he can still pitch, the Dodgers are not letting him go. He’s one of those situations where if he’s really available, you really don’t want him. Cuz the Dodgers are not dumb and they don’t pass on guys because of money.
They passed on Seager…….
Rangers29 – I won’t be surprised to see Kershaw sign in Texas. It makes his life easier the last few years of his career and he still goes into the HOF as a Dodger. It would boost sales in Arlington tremendously.
I think Pham would be a good fit for the Rangers. He’s not too expensive so you guys can focus more money on the bullpen/starting rotation. He was bad last year, but that was mostly the result of getting stabbed and he will be fine with a full offseason.
I think way too many people are saying we need bullpen help when we really don’t/won’t get any. We have Jonathan Hernandez and Leclerc returning next season after they both missed 2021, and we have some great young arms that will be mainstays in the pen next season as well (Barlow, Snyder). That’s four guys we had for – at most – less than half of 2021. Add that to Brett Martin and then our plethora of LR arms that’ll get pushed from the rotation (Alexy, Allard, Otto, and maybe Hearn) and you’ve got yourself a pretty good pen. This team never signs big bullpen arms. I expect a few sneaky MiLB pickups that will contribute (i.e Ian Kennedy), but don’t expect the bullpen to be sector of much attention for us this off-season.
@dan55 –
Is Pham still capable of playing CF? Asking for Brian Cashman.
@Ducky –
Pham’s defense really struggled with the Padres. I don’t know if this is because of injuries or age, but he should only be considered as a left fielder/designated hitter right now.
Not that I’m aware of his contract demands; Conforto is probably asking far too much for far too long, just because he’s repped by Boras. Having watched him struggle so far through his entire pro career, whoever winds up signing him is really not going to know what they’re getting from one season to the next. I guess everything is based on what they’ve just done the year before, rather than what they’ve done throughout their entire career.
Conforto’s worst season was his contract year, but he’s flashed plenty of potential and has generally been in a struggling Mets lineup. Someone is going to gamble on what he can become.
I disagree, his worst season was when the club sent him down to triple-A because he was batting below the Mendoza line. Unfortunately, a beautiful swing doesn’t necessarily equal a high BA.
Think conforto is past the potential phase and he is what he is. A ok outfielder and occasionally above average.
“Occasionally above average”? Seriously, you all need to head over to one of the stats sites before forming your opinions. He’s literally never been below average. He’s got a 147 and an over 150 (albeit in the shortened 2020) wRC+ season in his recent past. If that’s “OK,” gimme some of that.
They sent him down his second year in the majors when he didn’t even play half a season his rookie year, so he was basically still a rookie… and it helped… from 2017-20 he was over 130 WRC+ and OPS+… up and down? Sure, his 2018 coming back from serious surgery was just okay.. His 2019 was prob more his average year and was very good.. 2017 and 20 show what his best can be.. man, is this guy consistently under appreciated by met fans and I’ll never get it other than extremely high expectations bc he was a first round pick and had a strong rookie half season
I can’t imagine him topping 12-15m a year. Maybe that’s his ask; because I think that’s a lot of money for a guy like him, especially if you’re going to commit 4+ years to him. Which I’m sure is what he is asking for. Maybe a 2/$25-$28 type deal with a player option for the 2nd year or something like that. Let him prove it and return to the market next year or the year after.
Dude he’s got a 147 wRC+ year on his baseball card, and only one season below average (which wasn’t 2021 actually), and that only barely. Just about every outfielder in baseball would love to “struggle” like that.
His problem is staying healthy, not “struggling” at the plate.
Omg how did I miss that wrc+. I was looking at him as a player I watched 100s of times. Should have been using my calculator to judge him. Why has he not won 4 MVPs
@Lee Mazzilli for HOF
You have to be patient with the analytics guys. They know not what they know not.
We had the same problem when the Marlins had Ricky Nolasco. Many people would argue with us Marlins fans for us bashing Nolasco. They cited so many analytics crud to support the notion that he was a stud pitcher. Our eyeballs and the game results said different. Conforto is like the many guys like Nolasco, etc. The analytics guys argue up and down that the guys are studs, but real-game results, performance, eyeball test, etc. says they’re mediocre to average at best. But guys like you and me have to argue with these guys that look for the one stat or couple of other questionably theoretical measuring stats to say that the guy is a stud.
Funny thing. All these MLB teams have access to that same stat he’s citing in favor of Conforto, yet these teams have not deemed him worth signing and losing draft picks over yet…in a market where many teams can use these corner OFs.
Right, because the eye test of fans is how a player should be judged… once he became a full time starter his ops is 837 and that includes last year’s nightmare… No, using your observation isn’t reliable, sorry to break it to you
Yes it is. Does it tell you how hard someone plays? How smart they are? How tough they are? That Ricky Henderson will make any pitcher shake in his cleats or the guy is facing Nolan ryan for the first time? Opening day 1983 tom seaver vs. Steve carton in twighlight of there careers pitched their hearts out to beat each other. Or bunting on Keith hernandez is automatic out.Excel spreadsheet can’t tell me that.
What cracks me up is when the analytics guys think that is the only way to evaluate talent… and then the “eyeball test” guys think that is the only way to evaluate talent… when the truth is that it should be a mixture of the two. So you’re both wrong lol
Actually, a lot of us eyeball test guys look at some of the analytics stuff, but more as the equivalent of clerical work to measure something we’ve already observed in the eyeball test. These analytics guys that are incapable of using the eyeball test tend to come up with stuff that never shows itself on the field – and only are relevant in fantasy leagues or video games.
As for guys that are pure eyeball test without the analytics, I trust them more because of experience (vast majority of eyeball testers played), while analytics guys are solely basing knowledge on experiences with fantasy league and video game dominance (small percentage of the whole of them actually played).
To me, based on my experiences, it’s like watching a scene from the film “The 40 Year Old Virgin”. The guys at the table that actually have been with a woman are speaking from hans-on experience. They may not always get it right, but they have more credibility from experience. The analytics guys are like the guy that described a woman’s breast as being like a bag of sand.
Analytics guys who base all their discussions on it don’t realize what they expose about their baseball knowledge and experience when they talk to us eyeball testers. They clearly don’t realize that the game is played by humans on a field – not a database-run video game with AI technology that combine to create a simulation world.
*The guys at the table that actually have been with a woman are speaking from hands-on experience. They may not always get it right, but they have more credibility from hands-on experience.
Sure, but that’s not conforto’s issue, he’s not someone who doesn’t hustle or care… and the eyeball test will never be able to distinguish the extra 3 or 4 hits out of 100 that improve someone’s “clutch” stats… nobody is that discerning… I’m far from an analytics nut, but if i see someone trying to devalue a player and say their stats aren’t valid over the last 3 or 5 years because of some intangibles they claim to see, I call BS… more likely their expectations of that guys performance were much higher than what they got, so it taints their view
Re: Conforto
As a Mets fan his declining the QO was the best case scenario. His defense also cratered, supported by both analytics and eyeballs. Im sad to say it, but I believe he’ll never top 110 wrc with below average RF defense. Not sure what happened to him.
Canha will be better over the length of his contract regardless of $.
I am well for a mixture. I like the eyeball test but if you can get a statistical advantage go for it. Pitcher always gets bombed in 7th take him out. Guy on the bench crushes a Pitcher play him. But a Pitcher with an Era over 5.50 stinks. But his abcd and his xyz are good.
MarlinsFanBase3 days ago
@Lee Mazzilli for HOF
but real-game results, performance, eyeball test, etc. says they’re mediocre to average at best.
====================
So you ignore average, HRs, etc.?
@Joe Brady Re-read my posts.
I did. Upon re-reading it, I found something else to quibble with.
“analytics guys are solely basing knowledge on experiences with fantasy league and video game dominance (small percentage of the whole of them actually played).”
I’m betting that virtually no one that never played baseball, started playing video BB games, or played fantasy baseball. I just can’t imagine it. I never played hockey, so playing video hockey would never occur to me as something I would like.
More likely, it is the ones that are BB fanatics that are the ones that dive into the numbers.
Is there a Met forum? If not maybe you should start one
I’d rather have Bryant versus Suzuki for OF.
The Red Sox said they wanted a right-handed bat so I think Jorge Soler would be the best fit for Fenway Park…
Eddie Rosales is a sleeper he has had some huge years and was amazing for Atlanta.
I am actually hoping Atlanta brings him back especially if the designated hitter is added so be extra room for him
Except that’s not his name.
Because I don’t see The Red Sox going after Nick Castellanos my # 1 overall pick for them.. Even though Bloom said he wanted a right-handed bat.. My hope is that Bloom will get Nick but Jorge is a very close 2nd to him.. I would be happy with either one…
Ya don’t like Bryant….who can even play 3B in a pinch??
I really hope the Jays has the versatile Kris Bryant in their mind !
This guy can either play 3B, RF or even 1B in a day off the field for Vlad Jr. without having Tomlinson Biggio or Lourdes Jr. around that often !
It’ll also keep 3B warm and open if Groshans is ready to come up and take 3B assuming they don’t trade for Ketel or J-Ram !
Castellanos, Soler, Cruz, Schwarber, Pham would benefit greatly from the universal DH.
I am curious to see what Conforto ends up getting. Doesn’t seem like the Mets are going to be in on him.
Marlins
@Mjm117
I hope not. Conforto is another overrated player who benefitted from the NY media. He’s not worth any of the money or the draft pick compensation that some dimwit or desperate team will pay for him.
You’re delusional.. how the heck has the NY media overrated him.. if anything he gets unfairly bashed
Conforto has been placed as a stud player in their media, but his resume doesn’t match that.
Oh I get it. You were mocking Mets fans. Good stuff!
I picked mariners. Since they are spending a bit and he is a local.
Mariners are set in the OF. And the next time a player’s home town is relevant to what team they pick in free agency will be the first.
They’re all over Bryant though. For 3B.
The Mariners don’t want someone for 3rd.. they want someone for 2nd/1st/DH.. They were in talks with Trevor Story before the lockdown
Andy petite, Roger clemens, Charlie Morton.
Safe to say Conforto’s Mets days are well behind him.
Alex Dickerson is DH in outfielders clothing.
Padres should sign Kyle Schwarber to replace Pham. Should shift Myers to full time DH and play Profar/Kim in the OF in CF with Grisham in LF.
If you’re the Pads GM would you take a JD Martinez for Eric Hosmer, Will Myers, Luis Campusano and Chris Paddack trade? Red Sox eat all of Hosmer and Myers salary in this scenario.
Lol.. No
That would get rid of the Hosmer and Myers contracts. I guess it’d depend on how much SD likes Paddack and Campusano. The latter has a few guys in front of him now that they got Alfaro.
Conforto will be lucky to get as much as the qualifying offer. We tend to forget that he’s a .254 hitter and .213 with RISP.
His .214 ISO and 124 OPS+ for his career I think will help them ignore his batting average with RISP I think.
RISP? He’s worse when runners are on base? What an absurdly useless stat. Causation?
Ladies and Gentlemen, the last living baseball fan who still cares what a player’s batting average is.
Conforto’s career on-base percentage is almost 360, with a 124 wRC+. That’s the kind of production that Kris Bryant and Jose Abreu had last year. Dude’s a fantastic hitter.
PoloGrounds623 days ago
Conforto will be lucky to get as much as the qualifying offer. We tend to forget that he’s a .254 hitter and .213 with RISP.
=============================
He has a career .891 OPS with RISP. That’s excellent.
How can anyone who writes about baseball make a list of corner OF and not have Suzuki Seiya at the top? This guy doesn’t even MENTION him! WTF? The best hitter in NPB. Not even mentioned. Should be fired.
Yeah pretty blatant omission. Mistakes were made.
Hitters do not always transition to MLB as well though, so I’d hardly put him at the top. It’s not the same as evaluating a pitcher where if he throws 99mph or has a great breaking ball you know it carries. You have to project a hitter from another league at the plate, and that’s not always easy.
I have an appointment on Monday to see my therapist about MLB off-season lockout withdrawal. Anybody else?
Jefe, would you say I have a “plethora of free agents”?
I learned that word from that movie. Kudos on the reference.
Schwarber will easily surpass his asking price
Totally agree.
If Boston is now more interested in a right bat, Bryant might be a good target. He could play left and spell Devers on days off till Boston gets their head out of their ass and moves Devers off 3rd permanently.
Bryant costs too much for a declining left fielder
Kris Bryant to Seattle, please!
Money spoke to the reigning AL Cy Young award winner. May it speak to Bryant as well! And/or Story, and/or Suzuki.
Brett Gardner is an attractive option?
Angels need to sign on one of these guys and go ahead and trade away Adel or Marsh for a SP (Castillo would be awesome).
Corner outfielders are dime a dozen comparatively, no need to spend big on SP if you can take this route.
You forgot the most intriguing of them all- Suzuki. I think he will be the best of the rest.
Red Sox Stats
@redsoxstats
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4h
McAdam reports that more than a few people in the game “believe that the Red Sox are intent on landing Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki” and that the Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox have been the most aggressive clubs.
bostonsportsjournal.com/2021/12/04/mak
Kris Bryant would look good with a Big Red B on his lid!
nteresting, nobody mentions Puig, the best without a doubt among free agents, it is evident that the state of opinion is directed from the MLB offices