On the heels of free agency’s quiet period coming to a close yesterday, here are three things for MLBTR readers to watch out for today:
1. Rockies get their man:
After a lengthy and tumultuous search for their next front office head, the Rockies went outside the box to land former Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta, who had spent the past decade working for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. DePodesta’s first task now that he’s in place will be deciding what to do with the Rockies’ managerial chair. Warren Schaeffer served as interim manager after Bud Black was fired earlier this year, and now it will be up to DePodesta whether Schaeffer is retained or if he’ll search for his own managerial hire. Plenty of possible candidates remain available even after the recent round of hirings, including former MLB skippers like John Gibbons, David Ross, Brandon Hyde, and Don Mattingly.
2. Silver Sluggers announced:
In all of the hubbub surrounding yesterday’s offseason news and transactions, the NL’s Silver Slugger awards were quietly announced. Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, Mets outfielder Juan Soto, Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, and Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani all took home the awards at their respective positions, while the award for a utility player went to Cardinals first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson. The Dodgers, meanwhile, were named the NL’s team of the year. With the NL awards already announced, the AL’s awards are expected to be announced later today. Who will win these same awards in the junior circuit this year?
3. Live Chat On MLBTR’s Top 50 MLB Free Agents:
MLBTR released its Top 50 MLB Free Agents List, complete with contract projections as well as landing spot predictions. If you have any questions about those projections, then you’re in luck: MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes and Steve Adams will be available at 9am central time for a live chat with readers centered around this year’s Top 50. If you miss the live chat, a transcript will be available so you can read through the conversation after the fact. Also, don’t forget to enter the MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contest, where you can make your own attempt to predict player landing spots in what is sure to be a busy and unpredictable offseason.
Albert Pujols for Rockies manager…
vader – Don’t think so.
The best choice from the above list is without question Ross.
The absolute worst choice from the above list is without question Gibbons, it’s shocking that he’s even being considered. I wouldn’t let him manage a little league team. He should never manage in the majors again.
Agreed, Pujols just feels like a “Rockies” move, then again, so does John Gibbons.
Gibbons only got 2 ALCS appearances off the backs of Joey Bats, Donaldson’s MVP caliber seasons, Alex Anthopoulos, and Rangers implosions.
Imagine looking at the Browns and saying ‘you know what? I want the guy that built that to run my baseball team’.
It’s good to know they like MONEYBALL, too.
Gave me my morning laugh….ty
Brian – Well in all fairness, Isiah Thomas wasn’t available.
To be totally fair to DePodesta, the Browns have been a clown show basically since before he was born. He didn’t exactly fix them, but he didn’t really break them either.
Canuck – One of the best obituaries I’ve ever seen:
legacy.com/us/obituaries/dispatch/name/scott-entsm…
“He respectfully requests six Cleveland Browns pall bearers so the Browns can let him down one last time.”
Damn! That’s pretty rough. The ultimate burn: no Aloe Vera and you can’t hit back because it’s an obituary.
Why is there such a thing as “Team of the year”? Such a dumb award when the World Series already exists.
@ You amongst the fools
The award is actually for ‘offensive’ team of the year, as the Silver Slugger awards are for offense.
From the MLB article from yesterday:
“The Silver Slugger Awards, which are voted on by MLB managers and coaches, go to the top offensive player at each position in the NL and the AL, including three outfielders and one utility player. There is also an Offensive Team of the Year in each league.”
FO – I believe it’s to distinguish the team that accomplished the most despite the most challenges.
Let’s say a team barely gets into the postseason with 83 wins, then is blessed with a lot of good fortune in the postseason ….. they wouldn’t necessarily be the team of the year.
The Rockies lack a system that is staffed in analytics . DePodesta is very skilled in that area and that will benefit the Rockies. He was a baseball executive long before he worked with the Browns so he knows the business. They needed to go outside of the organization to make this work and I think they made the right choice. I have been very critical of the ownership and not attended a game in 4 years. Every year we would go to Spring Training plus drive 430 miles to attend 3-4 series a season. We want to have that pleasure back in our lives, but need to see the Monforts are making an effort to improve this team.
I admire your optimism. Hiring DePodesta to build your analytics department is a bit like hiring an ‘expert coder’ just to find out the guy only knows HTML in a world of Python.
4 people got that joke, good job 👍🏼
fences – DePodesta is so skilled that the one team he built in MLB, the 2005 Dodgers, went 71-91 despite a Top Ten payroll.
fences, I am a Dodger fan who was and will always be Depo’s biggest supporter.
While with the Dodgers, he was set up to fail from day one. McCheap hired him because he was young, inexpensive. The owner had no idea how or why Depo’s perspective was unique and, more importantly, what it would take to succeed. From day one, traditionalists within the organization, the media (Plaschke just buried him with ignorant insults) and the fan base undermined him. In his first year he nevertheless exceeded expectations. Year two was a disaster and he became the logical fall guy for a corrupt, incompetent and under financed owner desperate to redirect criticism.
Depo was young and lacked management expertise outside of his brilliant analytical skills surrounding talent and performance assessment. He was not Andrew Friedman and probably still lacks many of the leadership experiences and sensibilities of successful player personnel execs. He does have marvelous people skills and I think Rockie fans will warm to him. Hopefully, he will be given 5 years with support by the ownership.
Truly, I am hoping he succeeds and Rockie fans are rewarded for their exceptional loyalty to this organization.
Tucker? What are the qualifications for Silver Slugger? Since Soto is also a Rf, it’s obviously just the “best” offensive outfielders. No one other than Soto and Carroll had a better year in the entire NL?
It’s 3 outfielders regardless of specific outfield position.
Really thought Stowers would take home some hardware. Bummer.
Most likely AL Silver Sluggers
C – Cal Raleigh
1B – Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2B – Jazz Chisholm Jr.
3B – Jose Ramirez
SS – Bobby Witt Jr.
OF – Aaron Judge
OF – Byron Buxton
OF – Julio Rodriguez
DH – George Springer
Util – Maybe Jorge Polanco, not really sure on the qualifications
The only close one might be the 3rd outfield spot. Tyler Soderstrom had a 125 wRC+ to Julio’s 126.
Also, how about Byron Buxton. Had a great year on a disappointing team. He finally has a healthy and productive year and the team is out of it. Shame.