AL Central Notes: Abreu, Duffy, Burrows, Perez
2019/08/al-central-notes-abreu-duffy-burrows-perez.htmlDetroit has multiple prospects that are Rule 5-eligible and only a certain amount of open space, leading McCosky to wonder if they would still protect Burrows if his future (as some in the organization believe) is ultimately as a relief arm. … Like many minor league hurlers this season, Burrows has had trouble keeping the ball in the park, surrendering 12 homers over those 65 1/3 frames.
Looking For A Match In A Clint Frazier Trade
2019/06/looking-for-a-match-in-a-clint-frazier-trade.htmlBesides, considering the Tigers don't want to continue their relationship with defensively limited, offensively gifted corner outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, it's fair to wonder how much they'd value a similar player in Frazier. … After all, the vast outfield at Oracle Park in San Francisco is no place for a weak defender.
Top 50 Trade Candidates For The 2019 MLB Trade Deadline
2019/06/top-50-trade-candidates-2019-mlb-trade-deadline.htmlYou might wonder whether he's even really marketable at this point. … (Sandoval has a 142 wRC+ away from Oracle Park, thus supporting my over-played cultural reference.
Central Notes: Sano, Wood, Tigers
2019/04/central-notes-sano-wood-tigers.htmlIt's awfully tempting to wonder whether one of the Tigers' blue-chip pitching prospects could instead get the call, particularly after ace-in-the-making Casey Mize spun a rare complete-game no-hitter this evening. … He'll open at the High-A level, with planned stops at the next two rungs on the ladder before MLB activation, MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park was among those to report.
Phillies Acquire J.T. Realmuto
2019/02/phillies-to-acquire-j-t-realmuto.htmlSome may wonder whether this represents an alternative to the Phils' longstanding pursuit of top free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. … Realmuto's OPS+ (which is adjusted for home park and league) checked in at 139 -- effectively indicating that he was 39 percent better than a league-average hitter.
Quick Hits: Padres, Red Sox, Cubs
2019/01/quick-hits-padres-red-sox-cubs.htmlThe Red Sox are treading awfully close to the penalty-inducing $246MM tax threshold, and Masslive.com's Christopher Smith wonders if that might be why they didn't make a push to sign reliever Adam Ottavino. … Essentially, the Padres followed the structural rebuilding approach popularized by Theo Epstein in Chicago: improve fan experience with additions/renovations to the ballpark while pouring roster resources into the acquisition and development of amateur and international talent.
Pitcher Notes: Fiers, Sanchez, Brewers, Claudio
2018/12/pitcher-notes-fiers-sanchez-brewers-claudio.htmlPark factors for Comerica Park and the Oakland Coliseum definitely worked in his favor, so it's fair to wonder how his stuff will fare in the bandboxes of Cincinnati, Texas, and Washington, especially considering increased use of his slider corresponded with a similar decrease in sinker usage, leading to elevated launch angles and more flyballs (43.2 FB%).
Extension Candidate: Matt Chapman
2018/10/extension-candidate-matt-chapman.htmlOf course, as Cameron noted, there was plenty of reason to wonder whether Chapman would really be able to hit enough to profile as a true star. … But it stands to reason that the A's will at least try to open the door to talks once again -- perhaps with added motivation as they seek to continue the momentum from an exciting 2018 season and keep pushing for a new ballpark.
East Notes: Rendon, deGrom, Wendle, Rays Stadium
2018/09/east-notes-rendon-degrom-wendle-rays-stadium.htmlThe article is essential reading for fans of the Nationals -- or of other teams who wonder whether they might one day hope to cheer for the 28-year-old. … But the park project is estimated at $892MM, so there's a gulf still to be bridged.
AL East Notes: Sale, E-Rod, Red Sox, Orioles, Davis
2018/08/al-east-notes-sale-e-rod-red-sox-orioles-davis.htmlGiven that the Orioles and Phillies were heavily involved in trade talks for such players as Manny Machado and Adam Jones in the lead-up to the July 31 deadline, it's fair to wonder if Baltimore again tried to acquire Davis as part of negotiations. … After suffering a four-game sweep at Fenway Park, the Yankees are now 9.5 games behind the Red Sox for first place in the AL East.
Yankees Promote Domingo Acevedo
2018/07/yankees-to-promote-domingo-acevedo.htmlThough roster implications no doubt had plenty to do with it (the aforementioned three pitchers are all on the Yankees' 40-man), it's fair to wonder why the pitching-needy Yankees continue to keep Sheffield at the Triple-A level despite his excellent performance there so far this year. … While the right-hander has managed to rack up an impressive amount of strikeouts (10.38 K/9), his struggles to keep the ball on the ground (37.3% ground ball rate) and in the park (1.64 HR/9) have led to a bloated 5.68 ERA.
Free Agent Stock Watch: A.J. Pollock
2018/05/free-agent-stock-watch-a-j-pollock.htmlPollock, really, was Blackmon before the bearded wonder came into his own as a power-speed force. … He returned with a quality showing in 2017 -- a league-average (park-adjusted) .266/.330/.471 slash with 14 home runs and twenty steals -- but produced more as a high-quality regular than a superstar and missed nearly a third of the season with a groin injury.
Offseason In Review: Oakland Athletics
2018/03/offseason-in-review-oakland-athletics-9.htmlWhen you add those factors up, it's no wonder Lucroy went four-plus months without a job. … It should help his cause that the A's park, the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, was roughly middle of the pack in terms of HR friendless for right-handed hitters a year ago, whereas St.
Rangers Will Not Sign Seung-Hwan Oh
2018/02/rangers-to-sign-seung-hwan-oh.htmlRegardless, given Oh's background, it's certainly fair to wonder whether the 35-year-old is slated to close for the Rangers.
Top 60 Remaining Offseason Trade Candidates
2017/12/top-trade-candidates-offseason-2017-18.htmlDanny Salazar, Indians: Many other organizations would love to take a chance on this talented hurler, though it's fair to wonder whether Cleveland would rather just keep the upside in-house. … Adam Duvall, OF, Reds: There's been some chatter here, but nothing yet that would suggest the Reds are preparing to deal away a player that has hit the ball out of the park thirty times in each of the past two seasons -- but also has a sub-.300 MLB on-base percentage.
Sorting The Skills Of The Best Free Agent Corner Outfielders
2017/10/sorting-the-skills-of-the-best-free-agent-corner-outfielders.htmlStill, his fielding skills are more likely than not to decline from this point on, and one has to wonder at what point his defense will become a liability. … Martinez' baserunning value works against him, but speed doesn't matter as much when you're hitting 45 balls out of the park.
Poll: How Much Will Eric Hosmer Earn In Free Agency?
2017/10/poll-how-much-will-eric-hosmer-earn-in-free-agency.htmlWhen he did put the ball in the air, it went out of the park over twenty percent of the time for the second consecutive season, though it's still fair to wonder whether that's sustainable.
Top 5 NL MVP Candidates
2017/08/top-5-nl-mvp-candidates.htmlBut Arenado isn't just some Colorado-inflated wonder, as his .877 OPS away from his home park this season shows.
Cafardo’s Latest: Jones, Alcides, Cain, Devers, Dickerson
2017/05/cafardos-latest-jones-alcides-cain-devers-dickerson.htmlThe Sox have already dealt quite a few notable prospects in recent trades, making Cafardo wonder if the club is willing to give up even more minor league talent to acquire a pitcher like Jose Quintana. … Devers has often been earmarked as Boston's third baseman of the future, though since he is tearing it up at Double-A, one wonders if we could potentially see Devers at Fenway Park as a late-season callup, a la Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada last season.
Nationals To Sign Joe Blanton
2017/02/nationals-to-sign-joe-blanton.htmlIt's still tempting to wonder whether the organization will pursue an experienced closer before camp breaks, though the addition of Blanton likely draws down the available resources and reduces the likelihood of another significant move. … If a few more of those flies end up in the seats -- which is always possible when Nats Park heats up over the summer -- then there could be some regression in store.
Potential Trade Destinations For Derek Norris
2017/02/derek-norris-trade-rumors-nationals.htmlThat was about 45 percent worse than the league-average bat, per park-adjusted metrics like OPS+ and wRC+, leading many (myself included) to wonder about the possibility of Norris simply being non-tendered by the Padres this winter.
Offseason Outlook: Miami Marlins
2016/10/offseason-outlook-miami-marlins-5.htmlThey could seek some functional innings from a pitcher in the mold of Doug Fister, Jorge De La Rosa, Charlie Morton, or (for a budget option) Tommy Milone, though it's fair to wonder whether that's really what the team needs.
Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Phillies
2016/10/offseason-outlook-philadelphia-phillies-7.htmlThat said, the Phils can't be counted out for any free agents, and it's reasonable to wonder whether the team will weigh a significant addition if it sees a chance at achieving good value and infusing some life into Citizens Bank Park.
Offseason In Review: Houston Astros
2016/03/offseason-in-review-houston-astros-8.htmlAnother season worth roughly 2.5 wins (he posted 2.6 rWAR and 2.8 fWAR last year) will make the Rasmus contract well worth it, but with the uncertainty at the infield corners and behind the plate, it's fair to wonder whether some of Rasmus' salary could have been better distributed elsewhere.
Offseason In Review: Chicago Cubs
2016/03/offseason-in-review-chicago-cubs-8.htmlWith Andrew Friedman earning $7MM a year with the Dodgers, I wonder if Epstein's new contract will push a $10MM salary.