Felix Hernandez: “I’m Not Retiring”
Mariners legend Felix Hernandez may have taken the ball for the last time as a member of the organization on Thursday. In what seems likely to go down as his goodbye to the M’s franchise, King Felix threw 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball against the Athletics before an emotionally charged exit from the field in Seattle.
Even though Hernandez’s phenomenal tenure as a Mariner may have just drawn to a close, the right-hander hopes his career hasn’t. Hernandez told Greg Johns of MLB.com and other reporters after the game that his goal is to pitch in 2020.
“We’ll see if I can find a job. I’m not retiring,” the 33-year-old said.
For the extreme majority of his career, it would have been ludicrous to wonder if Hernandez was capable of landing a job in the majors. Unfortunately, though, that’s no longer the case for the longtime ace, six-time All-Star and one-time AL Cy Young winner.
Hernandez inked his current contract – the seven-year, $175MM extension he signed in 2013 – at the height of his powers, but injuries and the significant amount of mileage on his arm have taken their toll over the past couple seasons. In fact, since 2018, no starter with at least 200 innings has posted a worse ERA (5.84) or a higher FIP (5.41) than Hernandez. He ran up an even uglier 6.40 ERA/6.01 FIP across 71 2/3 innings this season, during which shoulder problems kept him out from the first half of May until the second half of August.
Based on the rough turn Hernandez’s production has taken of late, it appears the pending free agent will be in line for a minor league contract in the offseason (if anyone signs him, that is). But if Thursday proves to be the final time Hernandez takes a major league mound, it’ll count as one of the most memorable sendoffs the game has seen in recent history.
Francisco Liriano Plans To Pitch In 2020
Set to turn 36 next month, Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano hopes to keep pitching for a couple more seasons, Stephen Nesbitt of The Athletic reports (subscription required). There’s no word on whether the Pirates are interested in re-signing the pending free agent, though.
Liriano could be days from wrapping up his second stint with the Pirates, who inked him to a minor league contract last February. While the well-traveled Liriano was a starter (and a good one at that) during his previous run with the Pirates from 2013-16, he has settled into a full-time relief role this season.
Pittsburgh’s decision to buy low on a Liriano reunion and use him in its bullpen has worked out for both parties. He earned a roster spot out of camp and has since logged 69 innings (which paces all Pirates relievers) of 3.39 ERA ball with 8.09 K/9, 4.43 BB/9 and a 49.2 percent groundball rate. ERA indicators FIP (4.54), xFIP (4.93) and SIERA (4.76) suggest Lirirano has been fortunate to prevent runs at such a useful clip, but it’s worth pointing out he has done so by inducing harmless contact more than the vast majority of major league hurlers. Liriano’s infield fly percentage (15.2) sits 22nd among all of the game’s qualified relievers, while he ranks in the league’s 99th percentile in average exit velocity against (84.5 mph) and hard-hit percentage (28.7), according to Statcast.
Assuming Liriano remains a reliever going forward, it doesn’t seem he’ll be fazed by the three-batter minimum rule that MLB will implement in 2020. That could push southpaw relievers who struggle versus right-handed hitters out of the bigs, but Liriano has done a satisfactory job retiring them. Righties have posted a .309 weighted on-base average against Liriano, which isn’t a great deal higher than the .295 mark lefties have managed.
Despite his success this year, Liriano obviously isn’t going to come at a high cost as a free agent. Liriano has earned a $1.8MM salary this year, and if he does land a guaranteed contract during the offseason, the value doesn’t seem likely to stray far from that neighborhood.
Three Needs: Philadelphia Phillies
We’re continuing with our “Three Needs” series, in which we take a look at the chief issues to be addressed for clubs that have fallen out of contention. We’ve already focused on the Mariners, Tigers, White Sox, Marlins, Rangers, Pirates, Angels and Royals. Now we’re focusing on the Phillies, whose ultra-aggressive 2018-19 offseason didn’t yield the type of results they wanted this year. The club has now gone eight straight seasons without a playoff berth, and its mediocrity over the past two years may well cost manager Gabe Kapler his job. Regardless of what happens with Kapler, general manager Matt Klentak obviously has quite a bit of work to do with the club’s roster this winter. Let’s take a look at a few areas he could address…
[Philadelphia Phillies Depth Chart]
1. Repair The Rotation
The Phillies’ weak rotation is one of the obvious reasons for the team’s demise this year. Aside from Aaron Nola, the club hasn’t received particularly strong production from any of the starters it has relied on in 2019. Looking ahead, Nola, the disappointing Jake Arrieta and Zach Eflin are either locks or solid bets to occupy rotation spots in 2020, while high-end prospect Spencer Howard could stake a claim to one at some point. Jason Vargas is controllable next year by way of a club option worth $8MM, but the Phillies could instead buy the deadline acquisition out for $2MM after his below-average second-half performance. If that happens, and if the Phillies don’t want to rely on the other shaky in-house options who have failed them this season (Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta, to name a couple), they figure to search elsewhere for help.
The Phillies just allocated an enormous amount of money to their position player cast a year ago, including $330MM on outfielder Bryce Harper, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see owner John Middleton authorize major spending on their rotation during the upcoming offseason. Baseball’s premier pending free agent, Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole, looks like a potential target – one who could cost in the $200MM range or more. Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dallas Keuchel, Jake Odorizzi, Kyle Gibson and old friend Cole Hamels make for several other soon-to-be free agents who’d help the Phillies’ cause.
2. Upgrade The Bullpen
The Phillies have made multiple ill-fated bullpen signings over the past couple offseasons. They’ve gotten little to nothing from Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter during their soon-to-expire two-year guarantees, while the same will wind up applying to David Robertson. The team awarded the normally durable and excellent Robertson $23MM over two years last winter, but he only threw a handful of innings this season before succumbing to Tommy John surgery in August. As a result of that procedure, Robertson probably won’t pitch in 2020.
While the Phillies have struck out on relief acquisitions lately, that doesn’t mean they should stop trying. It’s obvious their relief corps is in need of aid heading into the offseason, especially with Juan Nicasio (who’s third among their relievers in innings) and Nick Vincent (who has performed well since signing in August) due to hit free agency. Hector Neris, Jose Alvarez and Ranger Suarez comprise the team’s only relievers who have been effective over a solid sample of innings this year, and all three figure to be back in 2020. Philadelphia will also hope for healthy bounce-back seasons from Seranthony Dominguez, Edubray Ramos, Victor Arano and Adam Morgan, who entered this year looking like building blocks but have since endured disappointing, injury-laden campaigns.
That’s not a group devoid of promise, but it’s also loaded with risk. So, expect the team to continue attempting to bolster its bullpen with more established arms in the offseason, when Will Smith, Aroldis Chapman (if he opts out of his Yankees deal), Will Harris, Chris Martin, Dellin Betances and Drew Pomeranz are among those who could hit the open market.
3. Lock Up J.T. Realmuto
Last offseason’s acquisition of Realmuto has been hugely success for Philly, which saw the 28-year-old continue as the game’s foremost catcher in 2019. While Realmuto is sure to remain a Phillie next year, which will be his final season of arbitration eligibility, his future’s murkier thereafter. Both Realmuto and the Phillies have made it known they’d like to continue their relationship for the foreseeable future, though, making him one of baseball’s prime extension candidates going into the winter. Having traded two quality pitching prospects – including the excellent Sixto Sanchez – as well as major league catcher Jorge Alfaro for short-term control over Realmuto last offseason, the Phillies will be all the more motivated to prevent the star backstop from entering next year without a long-term deal in place.
Cubs Notes: Hamels, Maddon, Russell
Already out of playoff contention, the Cubs’ late-season downward spiral continued with a loss to the lowly Pirates on Thursday. The Cubs have now dropped nine straight, including a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh’s hands. Thanks in part to their September unraveling, there’s sure to be notable changes to the Cubs’ roster (and perhaps the coaching staff) over the next several months. Here’s the latest on a few members of the organization who will head into the offseason with uncertain futures…
- Left-hander Cole Hamels has been one of the Cubs’ top starters overall this year, but he – like many of his teammates – hasn’t performed at his usual levels this month. Hamels is scheduled to start Chicago’s game Saturday in St. Louis, which could go down as his last with the Cubs. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is on his way to free agency, though he does seem open to staying where he is. “It was a dream come true,” Hamels told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com of his time with the Cubs. “I love pitching at Wrigley. And to be able to put a Cubs uniform on, this is a tremendous organization and one of the best fan bases you can ever play in front of.” Hamels, whom the Cubs acquired from the Rangers before the 2018 trade deadline, has earned $20MM this year after the club exercised his option last offseason. Although he won’t do that well again on his next deal (not on an annual basis, at least), Hamels has produced enough in 2019 to reel in another solid payday. An oblique injury has helped limit the longtime workhorse to 137 2/3 innings, but he has still turned in a respectable 3.92 ERA/4.22 FIP with 8.83 K/9, 3.66 BB/9 and a 47.5 percent groundball rate.
- Hamels’ fate won’t be officially determined until at least November, whereas an answer on manager Joe Maddon’s future should arrive within a few days. Maddon, also without a contract for next season, said Thursday (via Bastian) he’s “certain” he’ll know by the start of next week whether he’ll remain in the Cubs’ plans. “I’ve got to know by Monday, yeah,” said Maddon, who will be traveling back to his hometown of Hazelton, Pa., by then. Chicago’s fifth-year manager expressed optimism earlier this week that the team will bring him back, but president of baseball operations Theo Epstein hasn’t tipped his hand.
- Unlike Hamels and Maddon, middle infielder Addison Russell is under the Cubs’ control for next season. That doesn’t mean he’ll stay with the franchise, though. To the chagrin of many observers, the Cubs stuck with Russell this year after a domestic violence suspension, bringing him back for $3.4MM in his third-last season of arbitration eligibility. However, the weak .226/.300/.385 line Russell has posted in 234 plate appearances in 2019 could help make him an offseason non-tender candidate. Asked if he’d welcome a change of scenery, Russell offered (via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times): “You could look at this a lot of different ways. The grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side.”
A’s To Activate Stephen Piscotty; Latest On Mark Canha
The Athletics will activate outfielder Stephen Piscotty from the injured list in time for tonight’s game in Seattle, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The A’s have been without Piscotty since he suffered a high ankle sprain Aug. 24. It was the third significant health problem of the season for Piscotty, who previously dealt with a melanoma on his right ear in mid-June and then missed all of July with a sprained right knee.
A healthy Piscotty hasn’t matched his quality 2018 production, having hit .252/.312/.416 with 13 home runs in 389 plate appearances, though he seemed to be rounding into form before landing on the shelf last month. The fact that he’s returning when the A’s are pushing for a playoff spot looks like a boon with fellow outfielder Mark Canha battling groin troubles.
Canha’s injury appeared as if it could end his regular season when he suffered it Wednesday, but it now seems he dodged a worst-case scenario. He may be available off the A’s bench as early as tonight, Slusser tweets. Meantime, Oakland will start Ramon Laureano, Robbie Grossman and Seth Brown in its outfield.
Carlos Correa Done For Regular Season
The Astros have shut star shortstop Carlos Correa down for the remainder of the regular season because of a back issue, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle tweets. The club expects Correa to be ready when its first-round playoff series begins next week, according to manager A.J. Hinch.
While this doesn’t appear to be a serious injury, it’s nonetheless alarming with the Astros headed toward the playoffs. Back problems have been an all-too-common occurrence over the past couple seasons for Correa. The 25-year-old returned just a week ago from a back injury that kept him out of action for almost a month, though he hasn’t played since last Saturday.
When Correa has been healthy enough to take the field this season, he has once again been one of the Astros’ top performers. Correa has slashed .279/.358/.568 with 21 home runs in 321 plate appearances to help the Astros to the No. 1 seed in the American League. With just a few days remaining in the regular season, Houston holds a 2 1/2-game lead over New York for homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs.
East Notes: Acuna Jr., BoSox, Betts, Yanks, Hicks
The Braves announced Wednesday that they’ve shut banged up outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. down for the rest of the regular season. Hip tightness and a left groin strain have troubled Acuna of late, but the NL East-winning Braves expect the superstar to be fine by the time the NLDS begins next week. The Braves, who are locked into the NL’s No. 2 seed, don’t have anything of substance to play for over the final few days of the season. However, it’s still a shame for the 21-year-old Acuna that he won’t have an opportunity at a 40-40 campaign. Acuna’s outstanding regular season will end with 41 home runs, 37 steals, a .280/.365/.518 line and 5.5 fWAR over 715 plate appearances.
Moving over to the AL East…
- Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts has made it known that he plans to become a free agent after 2020, his final season of arbitration control. The 2018 AL MVP told Rob Bradford of WEEI that he’s taking a business-minded approach instead of one driven by emotions because of his upbringing. “Fans and media get caught up in emotions and that’s just not how I was raised and that’s just not what my point of view with my agents is,” said Betts. “We take emotions out of it and we focus on the business part. Of course, I love it here. This is all I know. But you also have to take that emotional side out of it and get to what is actually real.” Betts further explained to Bradford that a business-first mindset has steered him right in the past, specifically when he signed with the Red Sox as a fifth-round pick in 2011 and when he brushed off a possible contract extension before the 2017 season in order to reach arbitration during the ensuing winter.
- Utility player Brock Holt, one of Betts’ Red Sox teammates, may be in his final days with the club. The pending free agent told Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald that he has loved playing for the Red Sox, who acquired him back in 2013. At the same time, though, he finds the idea of a potential trip to free agency “exciting.” That’s understandable coming from Holt, who boasts a respectable track record of production. Injuries have limited him to 83 games this season, but the 31-year-old has batted a solid .303/.379/.414 during that 280-PA span.
- Although he hasn’t played since Aug. 3, injured Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks continues to hold out hope that he’ll be able to return during the postseason, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. Hicks, who’s dealing with a right flexor tendon issue, has begun to throw from 120 feet. He hasn’t progressed to throwing to bases, though, and there won’t be any chance of a comeback until that happens.
West Notes: Angels, Maddon, Giants, Sabean, D-backs, A’s
Angels manager Brad Ausmus has only been on the job for a year, but the club “would consider” firing him to hire Joe Maddon after the season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (subscription link). That would require the Cubs to move on from Maddon, whose contract is up, while the Angels would likely need to make the 65-year-old a substantial offer. The first part of that equation looks like a real possibility, but it appears the second would pose a problem. Angels owner Arte Moreno likely doesn’t want to pay two managers, per Rosenthal, who adds it’s very doubtful he’d be willing to match Maddon’s current salary of $6MM. Notably, though, there is quite a bit of history between Maddon and the Angels. He spent 31 years with the organization in a variety of roles before his managerial career began with the Rays prior to the 2006 season.
- Recent speculation has linked longtime Giants executive Brian Sabean to the Marlins, but the 63-year-old told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that he isn’t going anywhere. Although Sabean’s contract is about to expire, he and the Giants are in talks to keep him in place for what would be his 28th year with the organization in 2020. “We’re in the process of sorting that out as we speak,” Sabean said. “I’m quite sure my Giant career will continue in some form or fashion. I’m not interested in looking to go anywhere else. We’ll see how it develops in the next month or so.” While Sabean was at the helm of the Giants’ baseball department during all three of their World Series wins this decade, he has taken on a lesser role since the team hired Farhan Zaidi to steer the ship last offseason. Sabean spent a large portion of this season scouting, which is his passion, Schulman notes.
- The Diamondbacks have shut right-handers Luke Weaver and Zac Gallen down for the season, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. Weaver sat out all of June, July, August and most of September with forearm and UCL injuries, but he made a successful two-inning return last weekend to cap off his 2019. He and Gallen, whom the D-backs acquired at the trade deadline, figure to slot in near the top of the club’s rotation in 2020. Fellow righty Taijuan Walker could join them if he overcomes the arm problems that have essentially shelved him for two straight seasons. Walker could, however, take the ball for the first and only time of the season in Arizona’s finale on Sunday, Piecoro relays.
- The Athletics just designated catcher Beau Taylor for assignment for the second time this year, but that doesn’t mean his days with the organization are over. On the contrary, chances are “good” that the A’s will try to re-sign Taylor in the offseason, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. Judging by the glowing reviews of Taylor that prized young catcher Sean Murphy and manager Bob Melvin offer in Slusser’s piece, he clearly has the respect of the A’s players and coaches.
Mark Canha Suffers Strained Groin
1:11am: Canha and the A’s may have dodged a bullet: He hopes to play Friday, Slusser tweets.
12:53am: The playoff-contending Athletics picked up a crucial victory over the Angels on Wednesday, but they may have suffered a serious loss in the process. Outfielder Mark Canha left the game in the seventh inning with a strained groin, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. With so little time left in the season, it’s possible Canha won’t play again in 2019, Slusser notes.
This had been a dream season for Canha prior to Wednesday’s unfortunate turn of events. The 30-year-old has enjoyed one of the biggest breakouts of any player in 2019, having slashed .275/.399/.524 with 26 home runs in 489 plate appearances. Canha ranks ninth in the majors among qualified hitters in wRC+ (148), while his 4.2 fWAR places third out of Oakland’s position players. And Canha has complemented his stellar offensive output with versatility in the outfield, where he has seen time at all three spots (primarily center of late).
There’s no doubt Canha’s contributions are among the chief reasons the A’s own a 95-63 record and a half-game lead on the AL’s top wild-card spot. Now, if the A’s do hang on to reach the playoffs, it’s possible they’ll have to go without one of their best players. They’re already down fellow outfielder Stephen Piscotty, who hasn’t played since Aug. 24 and who’s not a sure bet to return from an ankle sprain. Aside from Canha, Oakland’s recent outfield mix has featured Ramon Laureano, Seth Brown, Chad Pinder and Robbie Grossman.
Corey Seager Leaves Game With Hamstring Tightness
THURSDAY: Seager’s fine, according to manager Dave Roberts (via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com). He’ll return to the Dodgers’ lineup Friday.
WEDNESDAY: Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager exited the team’s game against the Padres on Wednesday with left hamstring tightness, Alanna Rizzo of SportsNetLA reports. The Dodgers replaced Seager after the third inning with Enrique Hernandez.
The Dodgers say they pulled Seager as a precautionary measure, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register tweets. Still, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Dodgers fans to be nervous about his departure. After all, Seager missed a month from mid-June to mid-July on account of a left hamstring strain. LA fared well without Seager then, but there wasn’t nearly as much at stake at that point. Having since locked up the No. 1 seed in the National League, the Dodgers are a week from beginning the NLDS. They’d surely like to have a healthy Seager on hand when their first-round series opens.
Despite the time Seager has missed this year, he has bounced back nicely from an injury-limited 2018. After missing most of last season because of Tommy John surgery, the 25-year-old has returned to slash .274/.338/.481 with 18 home runs and 3.2 fWAR in 528 plate appearances.