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MLBTR Originals

By Connor Byrne | at April 17, 2016 8:21am CDT

Here’s a look back at MLBTR’s original analysis and reporting over the past seven days:

Chuck Wasserstrom engaged in an in-depth and informative interview with Tyrone Brooks, the recently named Senior Director of MLB’s Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program. Brooks is at the helm of an effort “to help increase the pool of minority and women candidates for baseball operations positions.” The Brooks-led program starts people off in internships and entry-level positions as they work to climb the ladder toward more prominent jobs. Brooks can relate, having started his career in baseball as an intern with the Braves 20 years ago before ultimately becoming the Pirates’ director of baseball operations in 2009. He left the Bucs after last season to fill his current role.
In the first edition of this year’s Draft Prospect Q&A series, Chuck spoke with University of Louisville center fielder Corey Ray. Baseball America recently projected Ray to go sixth overall in June’s amateur draft. The Mariners chose Ray in the 33rd round of the 2013 draft, but he instead went to college at the insistence of his father. Ray touched on how his time at Louisville has been key for his development, his upbringing in Chicago, and which past and present major leaguers he’d like to emulate, among other subjects.
On this week’s edition of the MLBTR podcast, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald joined host Jeff Todd to discuss several Red Sox topics. MLBTR’s Steve Adams also hopped on to talk about the early season struggles of the Braves and Twins. A new episode of the podcast is released every Thursday and can be accessed on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.
Steve examined the Padres’ offseason, during which time the club took a much more guarded approach toward spending than it did a year earlier. Their most notable transaction was shipping elite closer Craig Kimbrel to the Red Sox for a prospect haul.
Jeff took a look back at a Mets offseason that featured several beneficial moves, including the re-signing of star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, on the heels of last year’s National League pennant.
Steve also reviewed the Rangers’ offseason. After winning the AL West last season, Texas had a modest winter in terms of spending. Its biggest addition was outfielder and erstwhile shortstop Ian Desmond, who unexpectedly remained on the free agent market until late February. Of course, the Rangers’ thrifty offseason was sandwiched between the acquisition of expensive lefty Cole Hamels last summer and the pricey extension given to third baseman Adrian Beltre earlier this week.

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MLBTR Originals

Offseason In Review: Texas Rangers

By Steve Adams | at April 15, 2016 11:00pm CDT

This is the latest entry in MLBTR’s Offseason In Review series. The full index of Offseason In Review posts can be found here.

The Rangers entered the offseason looking to supplement a club that made a surprise run to the AL West Division Championship after a huge splash on last summer’s trade market.

Major League Signings

Ian Desmond, LF: One year, $8MM
Colby Lewis, RHP: One year, $6MM
Tony Barnette, RHP: Two years, $3.5MM (plus 2018 club option)
Justin Ruggiano, 1B/OF: One year, $1.65MM (split contract)
Total spend: $19.15MM

Notable Minor League Signings

A.J. Griffin, Bobby Wilson, Michael McKenry, Cesar Ramos, Nick Tepesch, Pedro Ciriaco, Jeremy Guthrie (since released), Ike Davis, Drew Stubbs (since released)

Trades and Claims

Acquired RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, OF James Jones (released and re-signed to minor league deal) and INF/OF Patrick Kivlehan from Mariners in exchange for OF Leonys Martin and RHP Anthony Bass
Acquired RHP Myles Jaye from White Sox in exchange for LHP Will Lamb
Acquired C Bryan Holaday from Tigers in exchange for RHP Myles Jaye and C Bobby Wilson
Acquired INF Frandy De La Rosa from Cubs in exchange for RHP Spencer Patton
Claimed 1B Andy Wilkins off waivers from Mariners (later lost Wilkins, via waivers, to Brewers)

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Yovani Gallardo, Leonys Martin, Anthony Bass, Adam Rosales, Carlos Corporan, Mike Napoli, Will Venable, Drew Stubbs

Needs Addressed

General manager Jon Daniels and his staff began the Rangers’ offseason shopping last July with the blockbuster acquisition of Cole Hamels and, not to be forgotten, stellar lefty setup man Jake Diekman from the Phillies. While the Rangers parted with a significant amount of talent, the club had the minor league depth necessary to make a trade of that magnitude without depleting its still-robust pipeline of young talent. Also not to be overlooked is Texas’ July 31 addition of Sam Dyson. While the trade seemed minor enough at the time — catcher Tomas Telis went to Miami in return — Dyson has been nothing short of a revelation in the Rangers’ bullpen and, along with Diekman, further solidified what was already a strength.

Though adding Diekman and Dyson to the late-inning duo of Shawn Tolleson and Keone Kela gave the Rangers a strong quartet, the offseason addition of Tom Wilhelmsen added another experienced arm to deepen that unit. The emergence of Delino DeShields Jr. had made Leonys Martin expendable in the eyes of the Rangers, and swapping him for Wilhelmsen saved the club a bit of cash while lengthening the ‘pen and allowing Daniels & Co. to pursue an upside play elsewhere in the bullpen. With the prices of setup men ranging from expensive to borderline ludicrous this winter, the Rangers made a $500K bid for Nippon Professional Baseball star closer Tony Barnette — a former D-backs prospect who blossomed into an elite relief arm in Japan. Though Barnette had never pitched so much as an inning in the Majors, the Rangers took a $3.5MM gamble on the 32-year-old after he posted a 1.29 ERA and saved 41 games in Japan last season. The total expenditure was a fraction of what established major league relievers received and is small enough that Texas can hit the eject button without virtually any harm being done to its payroll should Barnette prove overmatched by Major League hitters.

With Hamels in the fold alongside fellow lefties Derek Holland and Martin Perez, ace Yu Darvish on the mend from Tommy John surgery, and (realistically) a lack of financial leeway, Texas looked to stabilize the rotation rather than make another dramatic upgrade via a stacked class of free agents. The result was an affordable one-year deal to bring Colby Lewis back to Texas for his seventh consecutive year. Lewis isn’t teeming with upside, but he’s been a capable innings eater and familiar face that maintained some continuity in the clubhouse for the Rangers. If necessary, Lewis can be shifted to a swingman role at some point, depending on the rest of the rotation, but as the 2014 Rangers can attest, injuries to the pitching staff can come in bunches, so it’s possible that Lewis is again asked to make 30 or more starts.

Texas looked to be largely done with its offseason spending after finishing up the Lewis contract, but the lingering presence of Ian Desmond on the free agent market was too tempting for the front office to pass up. Despite not having an infield spot for Desmond, the club added Desmond to slot in as the everyday left fielder, likely pushing the injured Josh Hamilton to a bench role upon his return.

Keep reading for more analysis after the break …

Questions Remaining

Even without an injury to Robinson Chirinos, catcher was somewhat of a question for the Rangers. Chirinos is a solid backstop, to be sure, but he’s a converted infielder that’s never started more than 88 games in a season at catcher, and the options behind him were thin. Adding Bryan Holaday late in Spring Training created some more depth, but even with Holaday in tow the Rangers looked like a team that could be hunting for catching help this summer. Texas was linked to Derek Norris and Jonathan Lucroy this offseason, and either could be a reasonable upgrade for this team. With Chirinos out for 10-12 weeks, one has to wonder if the Rangers would consider making a move to upgrade behind the plate sooner rather than later despite reports that Holaday will get the bulk of time.

The largest question for Texas throughout March and early April was whether the team would work out an extension for Adrian Beltre. Both sides have interest, but Beltre and Scott Boras are reportedly seeking a three-year contract worth $60MM or more. While Beltre’s recent play suggests that he’s certainly worth that level of investment, that’s a risky commitment for any player’s age-38 through age-40 seasons. The ideal scenario for Texas is probably something like David Ortiz‘s situation in Boston — a one-year deal with rolling club/vesting options — but given Beltre’s maintained excellence with the bat and glove, it’s not surprising that they’d seek a considerably more substantial guarantee. A two-year deal with a hefty annual salary would seem like a fair compromise, but Beltre has more leverage in the situation, as he’s five and a half months from the open market, where he probably could find another club willing to guarantee those three seasons at a premium rate. (Editor’s note: this review was written prior to the club’s two-year, $36MM extension with Beltre.)

Complicating the Beltre matter is the presence of Joey Gallo — one of baseball’s premier power-hitting prospects — at the Triple-A level. Gallo is nearly ready for a prolonged trial in the Majors (one could argue that he’s ready right now), but signing Beltre long-term would block Gallo from his natural position. He could be transitioned to the outfield or first base, but the Ranges have an outfield logjam as it is with top prospects Nomar Mazara and Lewis Brinson in addition to DeShields, Shin-soo Choo, Hamilton and Desmond (though Desmond isn’t a long-term factor in the equation). Moving to first base would diminish Gallo’s value, especially when considering his outstanding arm strength.

That logjam presents not only long-term complications but also short-term implications. Once Choo returns from the disabled list, the Rangers will have to make a call on Mazara, who has been nothing short of incredible in his first taste of Major League action. Texas will have Hamilton, Choo, DeShields, Desmond and Mazara all vying for semi-regular time in the outfield, with Ryan Rua and the outrighted Justin Ruggiano also presenting right-handed-hitting options. Perhaps Mazara will eventually struggle, or perhaps an injury will create space for Desmond to move back to the infield, but as it stands right now the front office and field staff will have some difficult decisions to make.

Deal of Note

In spite of a poor first half in 2015, it was widely expected that Desmond would secure a notable multi-year deal. Fans were quick to pile on Desmond for rejecting a $107MM contract offer from the Nationals two years ago (he earned $17.5MM for two of those years anyway, making the amount “left on the table” about $89.5MM before the deferrals that were said to be in the proposed pact), but in speaking to execs around the game before we released our Top 50 free agent list, the belief seemed to be that at least four years would be there for Desmond even if it fell shy of the dollars he’d have obtained in that rejected extension offer.

Instead, Desmond languished on the open market, with clubs that had obvious shortstop needs (e.g. Padres, White Sox) instead electing to fill those holes with cheaper veteran alternatives. Desmond, along with Dexter Fowler, Yovani Gallardo and Howie Kendrick, became one of the driving factors behind a growing belief that the qualifying offer system needs to be amended.

While the pros and cons of the QO system have been debated ad nauseum, the deal itself comes with a fair bit of upside for the Rangers. Desmond’s slow start notwithstanding, he’s still just 30 years old, batted .262/.331/.446 in the second half last season and is a collective .262/.317/.443 hitter with per-season averages of 22 homers and 20 steals from 2012-15. Desmond’s inexperience in the outfield will probably weigh down his value somewhat — though we’ve seen infielders smoothly make that transition recently, as Cleveland’s Lonnie Chisenhall can attest — but adding his bat to the lineup on a short-term deal with a mere $8MM guarantee is a worthwhile risk. Ultimately, Texas did as well as could have been hoped after learning in late February that Hamilton would be shelved to start the year, as Desmond provides a good bit of stability to the club’s overall position player mix while improving upon the presumed platoon of Hamilton and Rua/Ruggiano in left.

Of course, the Rangers didn’t know at the time that Mazara would be quite so impressive over the spring and early portion of the season. His emergence could make things interesting once Choo returns from the disabled list, as the club could conceivably keep Mazara in the Majors and deploy Desmond as a super-utility player. If Desmond is able to spell regulars at shortstop, all across the outfield (he’s already played two games in center) and possibly at second/third base, the flexibility could pay significant dividends down the stretch — even if he’s a somewhat below average defender at a few of those spots. From Desmond’s perspective, demonstrating that type of versatility would only enhance his stock for next winter’s free agency mulligan.

Overview

Few expected the Rangers to contend for the AL West title last season, but they’re not sneaking up on anyone this year. While it was a fairly quiet offseason — especially relative to some other aggressive winters we’ve seen from Daniels & Co. — the Rangers began to plant the seeds for a 2016 contender back in July. At some point this season, they’ll have a rotation fronted by Hamels and a returning Darvish to complement a lineup that is anchored by productive veterans like Beltre and Prince Fielder while also featuring high-upside young talent like Odor, Mazara and possibly Gallo.

Finding a way to work all of those bats into the lineup could be a challenge for second-year manager Jeff Banister, but it’s one that he’s probably happy to tackle (and it certainly beats the alternative). The Rangers have a quality product when it comes to their 25-man roster but can also boast a deep farm system with a significant amount of talent on the brink of Major League readiness. That should make it possible for them to contend in the future and, if necessary, upgrade the 2016 club in advance of this year’s Aug. 1 trade deadline. There are a lot of moving parts on the Texas roster, but the outlook for the short and long term is bright.

All that said, let’s hear from MLBTR readers (link for mobile app users) …

How would you grade the Rangers' offseason?

B 48% (283)
A 26% (153)
C 22% (127)
D 3% (20)
F 1% (4)

Total votes: 587

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2015-16 Offseason In Review MLBTR Originals Texas Rangers

Offseason In Review: New York Mets

By Jeff Todd | at April 15, 2016 12:30am CDT

This is the latest entry in MLBTR’s Offseason In Review series. The full index of Offseason In Review posts can be found here.

The Mets continued to add pieces around a stellar young rotation before making a major splash to bring back last year’s trade deadline star.

Major League Signings

OF Yoenis Cespedes: Three years, $75MM (opt-out after first year)
INF Asdrubal Cabrera: Two years, $18.5MM
RP Antonio Bastardo: Two years, $12MM
SP Bartolo Colon: One year, $7.25MM
OF Alejandro De Aza: One year, $5.75MM
RP Jerry Blevins: One year, $4MM
Total spend: $122.5MM

Notable Minor League Signings

Roger Bernadina, Duane Below, Ty Kelly, Marc Krauss, Jim Henderson, Rene Rivera

Trades And Claims

Acquired 2B Neil Walker from Pirates for SP Jon Niese

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Tyler Clippard, Kelly Johnson, Eric O’Flaherty, Daniel Murphy, Niese, Bobby Parnell, Ruben Tejada, Juan Uribe

Needs Addressed

The Mets entered the offseason riding high after an NL East division title and run to the World Series. There weren’t a lot of major needs, but the club looked like it could stand to add a few pieces — like any other.

What resulted was, perhaps, more exciting than most reasonably expected out of the Sandy Alderson-led front office. After missing on an early-winter pursuit of Ben Zobrist, the Mets kept in touch with Yoenis Cespedes — who had an other-worldly run with the team after coming over at the deadline — even as they checked other boxes. With the massive offers that had been anticipated never quite coming to fruition, New York made a stunning late strike to bring back the star outfielder. We’ll take a closer look at that signing in the “deal of note” section below, but it’s worth noting that it may never even have been a possibility were it not for the fact that outfielder Michael Cuddyer surprisingly retired, taking most of his $12.5MM salary off of the books.

To that point, the Mets had methodically worked to bolster an impressive roster with some veteran additions. Prior to linking up with Cespedes, the club had added Alejandro De Aza on a fairly modest one-year deal, with expectations that he’d share time with Juan Lagares in center. Instead, he’s now a somewhat awkward fit — given the presence of two left-handed bats ahead of him in Curtis Granderson and breakout youngster Michael Conforto — and could end up being traded at some point if the Mets can find a taker or another roster need intervenes.

The biggest question as the postseason closed, though, was in the middle infield. Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada remained as options, but Daniel Murphy was vacating second after declining a qualifying offer. Both positions were addressed at the Winter Meetings, as the team gave two years to free agent Asdrubal Cabrera and swapped out lefty Jon Niese for Neil Walker.

While Cabrera has had mixed results in recent years, he’s still young and provides a sturdy presence that will allow Flores to move around the infield. And Walker not only represents a capable replacement for Murphy, but didn’t require the team to part with any essential pieces. Though he’s struggled against lefties, Walker brings serviceable glovework and a consistently above-average bat, and could be spelled by the right-handed-hitting Flores as situations dictate. With several young options available in the upper minors if a need arises, those additions also allowed the Mets to cut Tejada loose late in camp to avoid fully guaranteeing his $3MM arb salary.

While it didn’t cost much payroll space to add Walker, as he’s owed just a shade more than Niese for 2016, the loss of the veteran southpaw did create a need in the rotation. Top arms Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz form as good a front four as any in baseball, and will eventually be joined by another high-quality option in Zack Wheeler. But Wheeler is still working back from Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected until mid-season, so the Mets brought back ageless wonder Bartolo Colon to provide stability in the rotation. He may ultimately end up in the pen, but only if Wheeler and the others are all healthy and (as expected) effective.

The bullpen, too, needed supplementation, even after the Mets tendered Addison Reed on the heels of his solid late-2015 run. He’s a fairly pricey risk at $5.3MM, given his inconsistencies over the years, and you could argue the same of lefty Jerry Blevins, who’ll earn $4MM after missing most of 2015 with a pair of freak, non-pitching arm injuries. The Mets ended up adding an even more expensive southpaw in Antonio Bastardo, but were able to get him for two years when he had seemed a decent bet to land three. Minor league signee Jim Henderson also showed well in camp and earned an Opening Day roster spot to bolster the middle-relief ranks.

Beyond that, there wasn’t much work to be done, though the club did want to improve its catching depth behind promising youngsters Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki. New York patiently waited for other rosters to shake out, and ultimately added glove-first veteran Rene Rivera after he was released by the Rays.

Read on for more analysis after the break …

Questions Remaining

With a young and talented roster that just made it all the way to the World Series, it’s largely a matter of nit-picking to find flaws. But there are some questions facing the Mets, particularly in the health arena.

Last year’s starting staff was nothing short of outstanding, and projects to be one of the game’s best. But innings are a concern, particularly after that deep run. Harvey ended up topping 200 innings in his first year back from a TJ procedure, Syndergaard worked 199 2/3 after a previous single-season high of just 133, and deGrom went nearly forty frames over his 2014 tally. The first two haven’t shown any ill effects to date, but deGrom experienced some velocity decline this spring and could be headed for a short DL stint after suffering from lat stiffness in his first outing of the year. Meanwhile, the youthful Matz missed a decent stretch of time last year after his own lat issues, and Wheeler’s continued progress remains to be seen. In the aggregate, it’s an area to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

As for the relief corps, closer Jeurys Familia topped 90 frames himself after leading the league with 65 games finished and receiving heavy playoff usage. Fellow right-handed setup option Hansel Robles had a promising 2015 debut, with 10.2 K/9 against 3.0 BB/9 and a 3.67 ERA, but he also benefited from a .227 BABIP and was susceptible to the long ball. Even with Reed, Bastardo, and Blevins in the fold, there isn’t a ton of depth in the late-inning mix. That’s particularly notable given that the Mets won’t have the benefit of receiving a mid-season boost from Jenrry Mejia after his shocking lifetime ban for a third positive PED test. While he will remain under Mets’ control, and can eventually seek reinstatement, there’s no chance that Mejia will pitch this year and he obviously won’t feature very prominently in the organization’s future plans.

There are some other names kicking around in the Mets’ system that could factor into the pen. Rafael Montero has a ways to go to re-establish his former prospect standing, but he’s received an early call-up to provide another swingman option alongside Logan Verrett. Other righties on the 40-man roster include Erik Goeddel, Akeel Morris, Robert Gsellman, and Gabriel Ynoa. The southpaw depth includes Sean Gilmartin, who was a successful Rule 5 pick last year, as well as reclamation project Josh Smoker, a couple of arms with some MLB experience in Dario Alvarez and minor league free agent Duane Below, and (eventually) TJ rehabber Josh Edgin.

The health questions don’t stop with the pitching. David Wright missed significant time with spinal stenosis last year, and he’s going to deal with the ailment for the rest of his career. If anyone has the talent and work ethic to battle through the condition, it’s him, and all things considered his early-season output has been fairly promising. Likewise, d’Arnaud has a fairly lengthy medical report, and will need to prove that he’s durable enough to shoulder a full season behind the dish. (If he can do that, Plawecki could turn into a rather interesting trade chip.)

Beyond health, Cabrera isn’t the surest of options at shortstop, while both Walker and Lucas Duda need to show that they can succeed against left-handed pitching (the former struggled in that regard last year, while the latter thrived). Flores will hopefully plug whatever holes arise, and there are other fairly talented (albeit largely unproven) options behind him — Dilson Herrera, Matt Reynolds, Danny Muno, and Gavin Cecchini chief among them — but there’s room for some downside scenarios here.

Looking at the overall mix on the position-player side, there’s good reason to think that the lineup will be reasonably productive in spite of tepid results in the early going. But the team’s new additions up the middle come with questions on the defensive side of the spectrum. Cabrera and Walker have both received below-average ratings with the glove for much of their careers, and aren’t terribly likely to improve much now that they’ve cracked thirty years of age. And despite his outstanding metrics in left, Cespedes has never drawn good reviews in center. There are questions elsewhere around the diamond, too, as Wright could be diminished by his chronic back condition and Flores has always been thought of as a bat-first option. There’s not much cause to expect that the defensive unit will be a major concern, particularly with this strikeout-heavy rotation, but it’s another factor to watch.

Deal of Note

The Cespedes re-signing was a dramatic stroke that punctuated a productive winter for the Mets. New York not only kept the veteran from the division-rival Nationals (among other suitors) but did so with an appealing commitment.

While a $25MM AAV seems about right for a 30-year-old who just wrapped up a dynamic, MVP-quality season, the Mets only committed to a three-year term. Cespedes can walk after earning $27.5MM of that, so it’s slightly front-loaded, but that too seems eminently reasonable from the team’s perspective — after all, if he does enough to warrant the forfeiture of the remainder of the deal, he’ll probably have been worth every penny.

MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz pegged the value of the opt-out at around $11.8MM, and it’s easy to see why Cespedes was willing to sacrifice that kind of cash — and to bypass the five-year, ~$100MM deals from other clubs he reportedly left on the table — for the opportunity to seek another payday. But it’s equally sensible from the team’s perspective, as the Mets not only kept the downside scenario short and manageable but remain in a good position to deal with the uncertainty inherent in an opt-out situation. New York retains plenty of flexibility in structuring its outfield in the future: De Aza will come off of the books after this year, Granderson has one more to go thereafter, and the team controls Conforto and Lagares for the foreseeable future. Prospect Brandon Nimmo could enter the mix with a solid campaign, with any additional needs or wants addressed from the outside.

There’s risk here, of course. It’ll be an unquestioned win if Cespedes comes anywhere repeating his 2015 output: .291/.328/.542 with 35 home runs over 676 plate appearances, with top-quality glovework in the corner outfield. But Cespedes was a barely-above-average offensive producer over the prior two years, his low on-base numbers remain a concern, and (as noted above) he hasn’t shown himself to be nearly as adept at center field — where he’s expected to see most of his action this season. The remaining two years of the contract might not look so appealing in the event that he falls off in 2016, though all said it’s a pretty tame downside scenario as premium free-agent signings go.

Overview

It’s possible to quibble with some of the particular decisions made — waiting for Ian Desmond or even adding a cheaper veteran might’ve made more sense than paying market value for Cabrera, for example, and the De Aza signing looks like wasted capital in retrospect. And the overall picture wouldn’t be quite so exciting were it not for the somewhat unexpected Cespedes bounty.

But the overall winter work of GM Sandy Alderson and co. was well-conceived and well-executed. It’s possible to imagine a disappointing season unfolding if the club’s core falls shy of expectations or is racked by injury, but the offseason additions give that group of young talent every opportunity to succeed while steering clear of regrettable future commitments.

Looking a bit further ahead, the Mets won’t have much of an opportunity to sit back and rest. The longer we go without an extension involving the pitching staff, the more questions will arise — especially with regard to Harvey. And New York still needs to develop or otherwise acquire replacement position players with Walker and possibly Cespedes hitting the market after the season and a host of others (Cabrera, Duda, Granderson) likely to do so one year later.

Now it’s your turn to grade out the Mets’ winter (link for mobile app users) …

How would you grade the Mets' offseason?

B 53% (635)
A 37% (437)
C 7% (88)
F 1% (16)
D 1% (13)

Total votes: 1,189

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2015-16 Offseason In Review MLBTR Originals New York Mets

Corey Ray (Louisville) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | at April 13, 2016 12:19pm CDT

MLBTR is re-launching its Draft Prospect Q&A series in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11.

University of Louisville center fielder Corey Ray is rated among the top position players available in this year’s draft. In a recent mock draft, Baseball America has Ray going sixth overall.

At 6’0″, 200 pounds, Ray made a name for himself in 2015 with a strong sophomore season for Louisville, recording a .325/.389/.543 batting line with 11 homers and 34 stolen bases. Over the summer, the left-handed batter led the U.S. collegiate national team in extra-base hits (nine), OPS (.971) and steals (11). After Louisville’s weekend series against ACC rival Florida State, the 21-year-old is hitting .331/.396/.624 with 20 extra-base hits (including nine homers), 38 RBI and 28 steals as the Cardinals’ leadoff batter.

According to MLBPipeline.com’s Jonathan Mayo, Ray is “the epitome of the college performer. He just hits. He’s got some power. He’s performed well. If he continues to do that, he should be a guy who easily can go in the Top 10.” Keith Law and Eric Longengagen of ESPN.com rated Ray third among draft prospects yesterday, praising his blend of power and speed.

Ray arrived on the Louisville campus after a stellar prep career at Simeon Career Academy in Chicago. Over his own objections, he went the college route after being selected in the 33rd round of the 2013 draft. Ray was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR this week.

Chuck Wasserstrom: I know the draft is a couple months away – and you’ve been through the draft process before – but is it hard not to think about the draft right now?

Corey Ray: “No, it’s not hard, because I’m in a college season. As a high Division 1 program, we have goals. And we want to accomplish those goals first and foremost. I put the team before myself.”

I like that answer. Let’s go back to 2013. You were selected by the Mariners in the 33rd round of the draft, but your dad (also named Corey Ray) put his foot down and said you were going to college. Can you talk about how those conversations went down?

“They were intense. As a baseball player and as an African-American from the south side of Chicago, you love playing sports. The idea that you get paid to do it is a dream come true. That dream was knocking on my door, and those were some pretty tough conversations with my father. He told me I wasn’t ready. All I was seeing was the dollar amount and not the big picture in the long term.”

How hard was it for you to say ‘No’ to the Mariners?

“Very hard … I think I may have teared up a little bit.”

You have said your dad was right. Can you tell me how the Louisville experience has changed you?

“I think it’s made me a baseball player. I came here and I had some talent, but I didn’t know how to play the game. I didn’t know what hard work was. Being here under Coach Mac (Dan McDonnell) has taught me what hard work was. The players I have played with here have taught me what hard work was – and they taught me the game as well. It has also made me a more mature person – being in college … being on my own … finding out what it takes to be successful at this level.”

Why did you choose Louisville?

“It was close to home, but not too close. My grandparents and my father can come and see me play when we have weekend series, but they can’t come up here every day. They can’t surprise me. I have enough distance between my parents and here that I feel like I’m on my own, but I see them enough not to get homesick.”

For people who haven’t seen you play, how would you describe Corey Ray as a baseball player?

“Versatile … can play all three outfield positions … can steal a base … can hit the ball in gap … if you make a mistake, can hit the ball over the fence. But I also can grind out at-bats and see pitches. Whatever that needs to be done, I can do it.”

You made the huge jump forward your sophomore year, and then had a big summer campaign. You’ve followed up on that with a strong junior season. What do you see as the turning point in your college career?

“I think the turning point for me was, at the end of my freshman season, just being able to play and being able to get reps. But I think one of the best things for me was going to the Cape Cod League after my freshman year. I wasn’t as successful as you’d like to be as a hitter, but the reps … I saw the best pitching that college baseball has to offer day in and day out. You learn what you can and cannot do on the baseball field. You learn the flaws and the advantages of your swing. I think I learned a lot about myself as a baseball player from just being unsuccessful in the Cape.”

But you also got to see a lot of quality players and use a wood bat, so you were learning how the pro game is played.

“You’re playing with some of the best players in college baseball and you’re playing against some of the best players in college baseball. So I tried to pick up some things that other players do that I didn’t do that could possibly help me with my game.”

The old speed or strength question … Do you see yourself as more a leadoff hitter or a middle of the lineup batter?

“Leadoff hitter… I love leadoff. I practically had to beg Coach Mac to lead me off this year. Just being that table setter … I think in the leadoff spot I can be more dangerous because when I’m on base and there aren’t any out, I can pick which pitches to steal and what situation I want to steal in.”

Being a leadoff hitter all the time now, have you taken a different approach to the plate? Your strikeout total (17 in more than 150 plate appearances this season) rivals your walk total (16).

“Definitely. Not just because I’m the leadoff hitter, but because I want to grow as a hitter. I think I’ve become more mature. I’m starting to learn what pitches I hit best and what pitches I can’t hit. And what pitches to swing at early in the count and which pitches not to. I also think that can be attributed to being more comfortable hitting with two strikes. Last year, I wasn’t as comfortable and I’d swing early in the count. I would get myself out sometimes, or with two strikes – I’d sometimes swing at anything thrown. Now, I’m able to work counts with two strikes and get a better pitch to hit.”

Defensively, if you’re given a choice, what position do you think you should play?

“Center field.”

Why center field?

“I think it’s the easiest of all three positions, but there’s more ground to cover. You’re the leader of the outfield. That’s the premier position to play. I think my speed and my jumps and my defensive ability profiles better in center field than the corners.”

But you’ll play anywhere they tell you.

“Yes sir. As long as I’m in the lineup.”

As a Chicago native, I have to ask you this question: Cubs fan or White Sox fan?

“I like them both. Growing up, I lived close to [U.S. Cellular Field] and went to a lot of White Sox games – and I like the White Sox. But before my senior year in high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to play in the (Under Armour) All-American Game at Wrigley Field. Just being in that clubhouse and playing on that field … the history from that ballpark, you can’t not like a team like the Chicago Cubs. It doesn’t hurt that they could win the World Series this year.”

What was it like being on a Major League field?

“I’ve been on a few different Major League fields before, but the two that stand out to me most are Fenway Park and Wrigley, just because of the history. They’re old, but they have that historic feel. You can just tell you’re in some place special.”

Speaking of Fenway, I know you’ve listed former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury as someone you model your game after. Are there other players that you look up to?

“Yes, Jacoby Ellsbury … definitely. Oregon State … two national championships … first round pick … Boston Red Sox. He’s made a lot of money in his career, and he’s done it in many ways. By stealing bases. By defending. He also hit third for the Yankees one year. He can hit the long ball. He’s very versatile. And then there’s Curtis Granderson. He’s from Chicago. I’ve talked to him a lot. He’s a mentor of mine. He’s a great guy. If I can have the career Curtis Granderson has had, I’d be pretty happy. I’ve also been watching a lot of videos on Tony Gwynn. One of the best hitters to ever play … the way that he did it was amazing.”

Your Louisville bio includes the phrase “the greatest influence on his career is his grandfather because of his support.” Tell me about your grandfather (Earnest, his paternal grandfather).

“Growing up, I can probably count on two hands the number of games my granddad missed. And that includes playing out of the state and all over the country. He’s the reason I started watching baseball more. I’ve always liked playing it, but I’ve learned a lot about baseball by just watching it. I remember times when I was younger when we’d just sit down and watch whole White Sox games on back-to-back days. I could always count on him to be in the stands if I had a baseball game, cheering me on, telling me to hit the ball. He made it known from an early age that, if you want to do this, you have to work hard to do it. It’s possible if you work hard enough.”

I’ve read stories about your dad getting you started in baseball at a young age.

“His co-worker started a baseball team, and they needed one extra player. My dad signed me up and they stuck me in center field. The rest is history. My dad always told me that whatever it is you want to do, you’ve got to work harder. You’re not only going against the people in your area in Chicago or even the Midwest, you’re going against everybody else in the country. He always told me that there’s someone out there trying to take your spot. And that guy’s working hard, so you have to work harder to keep up. He would tell me to go and run the hill. The ironic thing is he would never watch me. He said ‘if you’re working hard and you’re really doing what you’re supposed to do, it will really show on the field. So I don’t have to watch the process. I want to watch the result.’ ”

If you don’t mind, tell me a little bit about this legendary hill (a 40-foot-high hill at Robichaux Park in Chicago).

“There’s a hill that was basically behind my house that I would run on. I would run sprints up it and run sprints down it. Do some push-ups. And then run a 50-yard sprint. At the end, run up the hill and sprint down backwards. Some agility, some speed, some conditioning.”

Did you do it by yourself or with friends?

“I did it by myself. Sometimes I would take my puppy to run with me (laughing).”

There hasn’t been a city of Chicago product picked in the draft’s Top 10 since 1989. Do you think about that at all? Is that a goal for you?

“I think a goal for me is to play the game of baseball as long as I can and to give back to Chicago baseball as much as I can, whether that be as a Top 10 pick or being just a draft pick at all. To be able to get into professional baseball and hopefully to get into Major League Baseball and leave my mark on Chicago baseball – to be an ambassador for Chicago baseball.”

So if you are a high draft pick, will your dad be OK if you turn pro?

(Laughing) “Definitely. I don’t think he’s the decision maker this time.”

Does he know that?

“Yes. He knows.”

– – –

Chuck Wasserstrom spent 25 years in the Chicago Cubs’ front office – 16 in Media Relations and nine in Baseball Operations. Now a freelance writer, his behind-the-scenes stories of his time in a big league front office can be found on www.chuckblogerstrom.com.

Photo courtesy of University of Louisville Sports Information.

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2016 Amateur Draft Draft Prospect Q&A Interviews MLBTR Originals

Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres

By Steve Adams | at April 12, 2016 3:03pm CDT

This is part of MLBTR’s series of posts breaking down the offseasons of every team in baseball. You can find all the others at this link.

After one of the most hyper-aggressive offseasons in recent history, the Padres pumped the brakes at the 2015 trade deadline and did so again with a more reserved winter.

Major League Signings

Alexei Ramirez, SS: One year, $4MM (plus $4MM mutual option)
Fernando Rodney, RHP: One year, $2MM (plus $2MM club option)
Carlos Villanueva, RHP: One year, $1.5MM
Buddy Baumann, LHP: One year, $520K
Cesar Vargas, RHP: One year, salary unreported
Total Spend: $8.02MM

Notable Minor League Signings

Jeremy Guthrie, Brandon Morrow, Adam Rosales, Mike Olt, Matt Thornton, Casey Janssen, Christian Friedrich, Justin Sellers, Josh Satin, Erik Kratz, Philip Humber

Trades and Claims

Acquired CF Manuel Margot, SS Javier Guerra, 2B Carlos Asuaje and LHP Logan Allen from Red Sox in exchange for RHP Craig Kimbrel
Acquired RHP Enyel De Los Santos and IF Nelson Ward from Mariners in exchange for RHP Joaquin Benoit
Acquired CF Jon Jay from the Cardinals in exchange for INF Jedd Gyorko and cash considerations ($7.5MM)
Acquired LHP Drew Pomeranz, LHP Jose Torres and a PTBNL (Rule 5 pick Jabari Blash) from Athletics in exchange for 1B Yonder Alonso and LHP Marc Rzepczynski
Acquired C Christian Bethancourt from Braves in exchange for RHP Casey Kelly and C Ricardo Rodriguez
Acquired 2B Jose Pirela from Yankees in exchange for RHP Ronald Herrera
Acquired LHP Trevor Seidenberger from Brewers in exchange for OF Rymer Liriano
Acquired RHP Jean Cosme from Orioles in exchange for Odrisamer Despaigne
Acquired RHP Dan Straily from Astros in exchange for C Erik Kratz (Straily was then claimed off waivers by Reds)
Traded RHP Nick Vincent to Mariners in exchange for PTBNL
Selected RHP Luis Perdomo from Cardinals in Rule 5 Draft
Selected RHP Blake Smith from White Sox in Rule 5 Draft

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Justin Upton, Ian Kennedy, Craig Kimbrel, Joaquin Benoit, Shawn Kelley, Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso, Clint Barmes, Dale Thayer, Will Middlebrooks, Odrisamer Despaigne, Bud Norris, Marc Rzepczynski

Needs Addressed

Looking at the list of trades made by general manager A.J. Preller and his staff this winter, perhaps “reserved” wasn’t an optimal word selection for the introductory sentence to this review. The Padres were hardly dormant this offseason, but the club’s direction unequivocally changed: while the 2014-15 offseason was about acquiring Major League talent with an eye towards immediate improvement, the 2015-16 offseason instead focused on long-term value and short-term additions that didn’t compromise that long-term outlook.

Chief among those forward-looking moves was the decision to trade one of the game’s best closers, Craig Kimbrel, less than nine months after acquiring him. In terms of prospect capital, the Padres received more than they gave up in order to acquire Kimbrel in the first place, although part of the reason they were able to acquire Kimbrel at a lesser price in terms of young talent was their willingness to absorb Melvin Upton’s contract. The addition of Manuel Margot, Javier Guerra, Carlos Asuaje and Logan Allen was a huge boost to a floundering Padres farm system, but the club still rates among the worst overall minor league systems in baseball, per Baseball America and ESPN’s Keith Law. Be that as it may, the Kimbrel trade could reap Major League benefits in the very near term, as Margot is close enough to the big league level that he could be in center field for the Friars as soon as this summer. Asuaje, too, could emerge on the big league scene relatively quickly.

While many thought the trade of Kimbrel and the subsequent trade of Joaquin Benoit signaled that the Padres would embark on an offseason fire sale, the team didn’t move enticing veterans like Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner or Derek Norris. Rather, the Padres dealt from the fringes of their Major League and 40-man rosters and, in doing so, were able to pare down the payroll a bit while simultaneously bringing in additional near-term pieces. The new regime clearly wasn’t as high on Jedd Gyorko as the former front office, and shedding his salary for a more substantial up-front cost (the final year of Jon Jay’s contract) created some roster flexibility down the line. Christian Bethancourt and Jose Pirela give the Friars a pair of young players that can step directly onto the roster.

San Diego also moved a year of Marc Rzepczynski and two years of Yonder Alonso for three years of Drew Pomeranz and an intriguing Rule 5 pick in Jabari Blash (plus minor league lefty Jose Torres). From my vantage point, it was hard not to like the deal for the Padres, who gained more control over Pomeranz than they had over either Alonso or Rzepczynski. Pomeranz might not have lived up to his potential yet, but he posted solid numbers in both seasons he spent with the A’s and is nearly two years younger than Alonso, whose ceiling is pretty limited at this point.

In Rodney, Villanueva, Baumann and Vargas, the Padres made a series of low-cost bullpen signings to help replace some of the depth they surrendered in other trades, and while none of the group will replicate the production of Kimbrel, there’s reason enough to believe that Rodney or Villanueva could easily justify the modest salaries that each was guaranteed.

The Padres’ only other free-agent expenditure was a similarly small commitment to Alexei Ramirez, and he’ll serve as a short-term patch over a long-term problem. I’ll talk a bit more about the deal later in the review.

Keep reading for more analysis after the break …

Questions Remaining

Frankly, the Padres have more questions on the roster than they have answers. For the time being, their starting outfield consists of three players that were acquired because their former teams wished to shed what now look to be regrettable contracts. None of Melvin Upton, Jon Jay or Matt Kemp have been particularly valuable in recent years, though Kemp did have a nice second half in San Diego last year, and Upton quietly had a modest rebound as well. Margot should insert himself into the outfield mix shortly, and the Padres will hope that Hunter Renfroe can do the same in left field. Should either player fail to progress in the minors this season, Blash and Travis Jankowski could be leaned upon, but it’s still strange that the Padres seemed dismissive of moving Wil Myers back to an outfield corner and were never strongly tied to any form of outfield upgrade.

The infield picture is only moderately clearer. Myers has limited experience at first but will be asked to man the position full-time, it seems. Ramirez, as mentioned, is a stopgap. The Padres undoubtedly hope that Guerra (acquired in the Kimbrel deal) can rise quickly through their minor league ranks, but having opened the season at High-A, he’s unlikely to be a factor until mid-2017. Yangervis Solarte would be a utility option on most clubs but figures to man third base for the majority of the season, and former first-round pick Cory Spangenberg will hope to build on a quietly sound 2015 season as the second baseman. Neither Solarte nor Spangenberg has much of a track record, though, and minor league alternatives like Pirela and Asuaje have been cast more as utility players than future starters by most scouting reports.

I already noted that the acquisition of Pomeranz has the potential to be a nice addition to the rotation, but he’s no sure thing and the long-term outlook of the Padres’ staff is still murky. James Shields‘ post-2016 status is unknown due to his opt out, and if he doesn’t make his escape it’ll probably be because he had a pedestrian season. Tyson Ross has been in trade rumors since July, and he’ll be mentioned in them again for the next couple of months as well if the Padres don’t perform well. The same is true of Andrew Cashner, who is a free agent following the season. The Padres don’t have much in the way of MLB-ready starters in the minor leagues, but most of their rotation is only controlled for the short-term. Despite this fact, Pomeranz was the only somewhat controllable MLB-ready (or near-MLB-ready) arm for whom the Padres traded, and they neglected to sign a free agent from this winter’s exceptionally deep crop of starting pitchers.

There’s plenty of uncertainty up and down the roster, but the greatest question facing the Padres could simply be what path Preller and his staff elect to take this summer. Despite the fact that they were out of contention, the Padres didn’t make a move of consequence at last year’s deadline, only sending Abraham Almonte to the Indians in exchange for Rzepczynski. That seemed to signal that they could again act aggressively as a contender in the offseason, but the team more or less spun its wheels, adding some veteran pieces and clearing salary without firmly committing to a rebuild or adding major components to the Major League roster. If the Padres are out of contention again come July, it would make sense to market Cashner, Ross, Norris, Rodney, Villanueva, Ramirez or any other pieces that end up having value, but that was true at last year’s quiet deadline as well.

Deal of Note

The Padres’ signing of Ramirez didn’t grab many headlines, but it was noteworthy in the sense that San Diego reportedly chose him over Ian Desmond, who at the time was still seeking a longer-term, more lucrative contract. In opting to go for a more affordable short-term deal with Ramirez, the Padres opened themselves up to the likelihood that they will again be in search of a shortstop next winter — Ramirez’s mutual option, as is the case with all mutual options, is unlikely to be exercised by both parties — but also preserved the Padres’ top unprotected draft pick.

San Diego now has three of the top 25 picks in the 2016 draft (thanks to comp picks acquired when Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy signed elsewhere) and six selections in the first 85 picks. That presents a huge opportunity to boost a farm system that, despite acquiring a very strong package in the Kimbrel trade, rated as the game’s sixth-worst minor league system per BA and ESPN. With the Padres also widely reported to be preparing for an extremely aggressive international signing frenzy in the 2016-17 class, which opens on July 2, the Friars are positioned to restock their pipeline of young talent considerably more quickly than most clubs.

Had the club elected to sign Desmond, the Padres would’ve had to forfeit the No. 24 selection (their top pick, eighth overall, is protected), which Baseball America’s Hudson Belinsky projects to come with a slot value of about $2.19MM. Subtracting that notable sum from their draft pool would still have left the Padres with one of the largest pools in the upcoming draft but would also have limited the team’s flexibility to aggressively pursue top-tier talent that slides due to asking price.

From a strictly on-field perspective, the Ramirez signing unquestionably has bargain potential as well. The 34-year-old is off to a slow start and batted just .249/.285/.357 last season, but his numbers from July 1 through season’s end are far more encouraging; Ramirez hit .282/.329/.426 over the final three months of the 2015 campaign, and if he can approximate that level of production — or even check in slightly below — he’ll vastly exceed the club’s small financial commitment while capably handling a position of need and possibly turning into a trade chip with modest value.

Overview

The Padres’ offseason was filled with activity, but save for a few notable moves, much of it related to the fringes of the 40-man roster. One year after taking up one of the most aggressive win-now mindsets in recent history, the Padres walked the line between rebuilding and aiming to contend. The result is a big league roster that doesn’t appear strong enough to contend for the postseason and a farm system that doesn’t offer much in the way of immediate help. The farm system, as noted above, should receive an enormous boost this summer, but that won’t help the club’s big league roster in the near term unless a pursuit of MLB-ready names like Jose Miguel Fernandez and Yulieski Gurriel are in the offing (both of which have been rumored as possibilities, and, in Fernandez’s case, a likelihood).

It does look like there’s a strong possibility of rebuilding the farm without fielding a lineup that is populated by journeymen with little to no MLB experience thanks to the Kimbrel trade and the upcoming draft/international classes. Perhaps that’s a win when it comes to ticket sales and keeping the fan base invested in the team, but with the Dodgers, Giants and D-backs all looking better than the Friars on paper, it’s surprising that the club seemingly took a half-measure by trading its expensive relievers, when moving the likes of Ross, Norris and certainly Cashner (a free agent at season’s end) could’ve further accelerated the club’s return to contention in the National League West.

Here’s your chance to weigh in on the Padres’ winter efforts (mobile app users can click here):

How would you grade the Padres' offseason?

C 42% (467)
B 26% (283)
D 18% (202)
F 9% (96)
A 5% (55)

Total votes: 1,103

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2015-16 Offseason In Review MLBTR Originals San Diego Padres

Tyrone Brooks And MLB’s Diversity Pipeline Program

By Chuck Wasserstrom | at April 11, 2016 11:30pm CDT

Tyrone Brooks has been preparing for his current job since joining a Major League front office more than 20 years ago. Brooks, who was named Senior Director of MLB’s Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program earlier this year, has long been known for the work he has done in trying to help people land careers in baseball. Back in 2009, he founded the Baseball Industry Network – a networking group designed to assist individuals working in and/or connected to the game. One of the goals of the network – which now has over 29,000 members – is to develop mentoring relationships between people in the sport and individuals attempting to enter the industry.

Brooks, 42, got his start in baseball by landing an internship with the Atlanta Braves. He didn’t come from a baseball pedigree – as he double-majored in accounting and marketing at the University of Maryland, where he also spent time as a photojournalist. He took the internship opportunity and parlayed it into a full-time position. His resume – with stops in Atlanta (1996-2006), Cleveland (2006- 2009) and Pittsburgh (2009- 2016) – shows slow steady progress through different departments and roles en route to leadership positions. In essence, Brooks was the first member of his own pipeline.

“With the Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program, the goal is to help increase the pool of minority and women candidates for baseball operations positions,” Brooks said. “The main thing is developing a pipeline both to the front office and for potential managers at the big league level. We’re starting from the bottom. We’re not looking to bring somebody in and try to make them assistant GMs for a club right away. We’re trying to bring new people in through internships and entry level jobs and create a path for that person. And as the person goes through the pipeline, that’s how we can help develop that person. Looking at it from a long-term perspective, that’s how we can make this game better … by giving individuals opportunities, and from there, helping develop them as they go through the process.

“We’re putting programs in place where we can help individuals make the next step from entry level to mid-manager to higher levels within an organization. It’s a continual process as you make your way through the pipeline. You need to have things in place that are going to help an individual grow and work their way toward the top of an organization.”

The type of path Brooks talks about directly mirrors his own course, beginning with the aforementioned Braves internship. Brooks got that position through that organization’s Career Initiative Trainee Program – a program developed by Braves executives Hank Aaron and Stan Kasten to help create opportunities for minorities and women in baseball. He spent just a couple months as an intern before a full-time position opened up – and he was hired as an administrative assistant in scouting and player development. Brooks bided his time and put in nine full years before being promoted into his first titled position – as the Braves’ Director of Baseball Operations.

“You can look at my own career as a little bit of a model for the program,” he said. “I came in as an intern out of college – that was my way in. I got my feet wet. I was very fortunate to get hired later that summer full-time. From there, I continued to grow and expand in the duties I was given. At that time, I wanted to learn how we evaluated talent. The Braves were a very scout-driven organization, so the opportunity to get exposed to that area was important. I just tried to balance as much as I could – both on the administrative side in order to do my job effectively and to grow on the evaluation side as well.

“I started in the office as an administrator … became an area scout … went back into the office … did more of the administrator stuff – contracts, arbitration … went back into the field as a pro scout (with the Indians) … then came back into the office with the Pirates and basically did the duties of an assistant GM day-to-day … and from there, Director of Player Personnel.”

In his new role at MLB, Brooks will play a part in the way baseball front offices are constructed moving forward. He was asked what it was like knowing that he was involved in changing future front office landscapes.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have this opportunity,” he said. “This whole process started in November, when I was asked to be on an advisory council to look at how we can help get more minorities and women into opportunities on the baseball operations side. Right before we got ready for our first council meeting – and the council was made up of individuals throughout the league at both the club level and through the league office – I saw the job description for the program director. When I read it, I thought, ‘Man, this is something up my alley. I’ve already been doing a lot of this informally with the Baseball Industry Network.’ I saw the job description and said I’d like to throw my name in the hat.

“MLB, at that time, wasn’t thinking they’d be able to attract anybody to leave a club for that kind of a role. When I saw it, and once I had a chance to talk about it further with executives in the league office and see how committed they were to this program – I knew I wanted this. Twenty years ago, somebody gave me an opportunity. Now, I have a chance to do this on a bigger scale and help individuals get into the game. If anything, I would love for my legacy in baseball to be that I was always willing to give back to our game – and I was always willing to share in providing opportunities for other people who were passionate for our game and qualified to work in our game.”

Looking at his background, it speaks highly to what he has been able to accomplish. His unconventional path — accounting, marketing and photojournalism as opposed to spending time as a player — gives him a diverse skill set and unique perspective. He was given an opportunity, but then he had to do something about it.

“When I talk to individuals at various schools, I let them know that education opened up doors for me,” Brooks said. “I didn’t have the playing background like some others have. I came in with the idea that I was going to find a way to show I had a skill set to differentiate myself. That’s what you have to have. Now, the game is even more receptive to the idea of somebody not having a playing background; you see it more and more. Our game is attracting talented people. Since the time ‘Moneyball’ came out, that led a transformation as far as different types of people coming into our industry. Before, they probably would go into another realm and make more money to start a career. They saw this as an avenue to do something they were passionate about. It brought a new influx of talent into major league baseball.”

There are increasing numbers in higher-level executives that, like Brooks, didn’t play the sport. That excuse cannot be used as a reason for the lack of females in front offices around the game, but while society has embraced empowering women in other fields, baseball still lags behind.

“It really shouldn’t,” Brooks said in discussing how gender should impact the hiring process. “Now, it’s a case where every baseball ops department staff is getting bigger and bigger. There’s more information, more things for that person to manage. It’s just a matter of having enough ability to lead and manage those areas – and having good people around you to do that job.”

The game has largely been male-centric through the years, with women playing supporting roles for the most part. There are some signs of change on that front, though, and Brooks hopes to see this new program to facilitate greater change in that regard.

“In today’s game, we’re now seeing new opportunities opening up,” Brooks said. “Thanks to Amanda Hopkins, who is now an area scout with the Seattle Mariners in the northwest – seeing a young woman who had played college softball moving into that position shows that there is opportunity for women in this game. Look at Rachel Balkovec, who is with the Houston Astros – and she’s their Latin American Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Those avenues are right there and available. Within the front office, now within scouting, we’re going to push things. Justine Siegal was in the instructional league as a coach with the Oakland A’s last October. There are going to be opportunities for women.

“We have to make sure that college programs academically and athletically are aware of our program – so that their students can have a potential avenue available to them if they so desire. I had a chance to speak to some softball players the other day. I was visiting Lehigh University, and I talked to their coach and some of their players to make them aware of what we’re trying to do here. It’s great to see the excitement when you’re talking to a young woman athlete and her eyes open up and realize there are ways to stay in the game.”

In giving advice to college students who want to work in a big league front office, Brooks speaks solely about necessary skills and characteristics.

“First and foremost, from a college standpoint, you need to be in a rigorous program,” he said. “Having a program where you’re going to be critically thinking, analyzing things, showing your ability to write, and your ability to communicate. All of those areas are vital as we look at individuals who are coming into our game, and how somebody is going to come in and fit into that environment.”

Brooks is starting at the bottom level, so he can grow and develop the program. With that in mind, he was asked about his vision for what his department will look like down the road. In other words, for people with teenage sons and teenage daughters who want to work in baseball, what does he think the landscape will look like moving forward?

“If they love the game, they need to watch the game at all different levels – and make sure they have an idea of what’s going on during the game and behind the scenes,” Brooks said. “From an educational standpoint, being in a college program where you’re constantly thinking, you’re writing, you’re dealing with numbers, too. Organizations want individuals who are analytically inclined. If you continue to have that kind of skill set and are looking for ways to separate yourself, try to look for the next area. That’s something that could be groundbreaking for the industry.

“There are so many opportunities out there. It’s just a matter of finding someone who can believe in them. That’s where I totally believe it all comes down to having one person believe in you. That’s why networking is important. Getting to know people … telling your story of where you’re coming from … where you’re trying to go … what are your hopes. Remember, this is still a relationship business. It’s so vital to meet people. Start doing informational interviews. Talk to people who are already in the field. Find out further if this is the right career for you – so you have an understanding of it. Even volunteering if you want to work in sports. Just build your resume. Start meeting people. You never know when that connection with one person will lead to another opportunity.

“There’s one thing we’ve all found out in this game – you can’t do it by yourself. There has to be somebody along the way who has taken a belief in you as a person and wants to see you succeed and pull you along the way with them.”

The best thing about baseball is that there’s not only one way to break into the sport. The hardest thing about breaking into baseball is that there’s not just one right way to do it.

“I look at my own career, and once I was an intern and had one foot in the door, if it wasn’t for one of our staffers leaving in the middle of the year – who knows where I would be,” Brooks said. “That’s why I’m so thankful and feel so blessed. I had the opportunity to get into the game 20 years ago, and now I’m hopefully paving the way for the next generation of individuals who want to work in baseball.”

– – –

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Interviews MLBTR Originals Tyrone Brooks

MLBTR Originals

By charliewilmoth | at April 10, 2016 8:35am CDT

Here’s a look back at MLBTR’s original analysis and reporting over the past seven days.

On the latest edition of the MLBTR Podcast, host Jeff Todd spoke to the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro about A.J. Pollock‘s injury, and to me about the Gregory Polanco extension.
Jeff looked back at the Nationals’ offseason, which included the signing of Daniel Murphy and a trade for Ben Revere.
Jeff also analyzed the Dodgers’ winter, in which the team spread its spending among a wide variety of players while allowing Zack Greinke to leave for Arizona.
Mark Polishuk reviewed an Athletics offseason in which David Forst and Billy Beane acquired Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie while focusing their free-agent spending on pitchers. (MLBTR’s entire Offseason Outlook series — which now includes reviews of 25 teams’ winters — can be found here.)
On Wednesday, Steve Adams’ chat topics included the meaning of Robinson Cano‘s fast start and the Astros’ usage of Ken Giles.
On Thursday, Jeff chatted with MLBTR readers, discussing what new contracts for Jose Bautista and Adrian Beltre might look like.

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MLBTR Originals

Offseason In Review: Oakland Athletics

By Mark Polishuk | at April 7, 2016 5:30pm CDT

This is the latest entry in MLBTR’s Offseason In Review series. The full index of Offseason In Review posts can be found here.

The A’s significantly shook up their roster yet again in order to rebound from last year’s 94-loss disappointment.

Major League Signings

Ryan Madson, RP: Three years, $22MM
John Axford, RP: Two years, $10MM
Rich Hill, SP: One year, $6MM
Henderson Alvarez, SP: One year, $4.25MM
Total spend: $42.25MM

Notable Minor League Signings

Bryan Anderson, Eric Surkamp, Carson Blair, Matt McBride

Trades And Claims

Acquired OF Khris Davis from Brewers for C Jacob Nottingham and SP Bowdien Derby
Acquired IF Jed Lowrie from Astros for RP Brendan McCurry
Acquired SP Zack Erwin and RP J.B. Wendelken from White Sox for 2B/3B Brett Lawrie
Acquired 1B Yonder Alonso and RP Marc Rzepczynski from Padres for SP Drew Pomeranz and OF Jabari Blash (eventually added to deal as player to be named later)
Acquired RP Liam Hendriks from Blue Jays for SP/RP Jesse Chavez
Acquired IF/OF Chris Coghlan from Cubs for SP Aaron Brooks
Acquired RP Trey Cochran-Gill from Mariners for RP Evan Scribner
Acquired cash considerations from Blue Jays for RP Arnold Leon
Claimed OF Andrew Lambo off waivers from Pirates
Claimed RP Andrew Triggs off waivers from Orioles

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Dan Otero, Ike Davis, A.J. Griffin, Edward Mujica, Fernando Abad, Craig Gentry, Sean Nolin, Lawrie, Pomeranz, Chavez, Brooks, Scribner, Leon

Needs Addressed

In MLBTR’s Offseason Outlook piece about the Athletics last October, Charlie Wilmoth suggested the the A’s could explore “spending heavily on righty relievers in an attempt to improve by building a good bullpen around Sean Doolittle, Fernando Rodriguez and (Drew) Pomeranz,” with the logic that upgrading the bullpen would cost less payroll-wise both now and in future commitments.

Since the Billy Beane/David Forst front office are always one to consider an “off-the-grid possibility,” relief pitching was indeed a major focus of Oakland’s winter, specifically right-handers. The A’s spent $32MM (the bulk of their winter spending) on multi-year deals for Ryan Madson and John Axford, both of whom will serve as setup men for Doolittle.

Madson’s re-emergence as a top reliever after missing three seasons to injury was a big factor in the Royals’ World Series championship, and the A’s will hope he can continue his good form as both a setup man and possible closer should Doolittle run into problems. Axford will go from one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly parks in Coors Field to one of its most pitcher-friendly in the Coliseum, though the hard-throwing Canadian didn’t have as many issues with homers last year (a modest 0.6 HR/9) as he did his career-long struggle to limit walks.

With Jesse Chavez becoming increasingly expensive in arbitration, the A’s dealt the veteran swingman to Toronto for Liam Hendriks, who will only become arb-eligible for the first time next winter. Hendriks was shifted into a full-time relief role last season and blossomed, posting a 2.92 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 6.45 K/BB rate over 64 2/3 IP for the Blue Jays.

In addition to these three righties, the A’s also addressed the left-handed side of their bullpen ledger by acquiring Marc Rzepczynski as part of a multi-player trade with the Padres. “Scrabble” had a bizarre 2015 season that saw him post a 5.66 ERA over 35 innings due in large part to a freakishly high 25% home run rate, a .381 BABIP and a stunningly low 54% strand rate. ERA predictors had a much more favorable view (3.36 FIP, 2.75 xFIP, 2.49 SIERA) of the southpaw’s season, so if the A’s limit Rzepczynski into more of a traditional LOOGY role, he should be fine.

The Padres deal sent Pomeranz and Rule 5 draft pick Jabari Blash to San Diego with Yonder Alonso also coming back as part of the trade package to Oakland. Alonso will essentially fill Ike Davis’ role as a left-handed hitting first base complement, platooning with Mark Canha. Alonso is a strong defender and posted career highs in average, OBP and OPS over 402 plate appearances last season, including a .287/.364/.398 slash line against righties.

The Athletics will substitute a Lowrie for a Lawrie at second base this year, as they dealt Brett Lawrie to the White Sox and brought back veteran Jed Lowrie for his second stint in Oakland. Lowrie has a checkered injury history and he’s a pricey acquisition for the A’s (owed $15MM through the 2017 season), though he gives the club positional flexibility since he can also handle shortstop and third if Marcus Semien or Danny Valencia need some time.

Speaking of versatility, the A’s picked up Chris Coghlan with the intent of turning the former Rookie of the Year into a super-utility man capable of playing all over the diamond rather than just his usual left field. Coghlan also gives the A’s a strong lefty bat who has an .831 OPS against righty pitching over his last two seasons with the Cubs.

As much as Oakland builds its roster around platooning and depth, the A’s are certainly hoping that Khris Davis can emerge as an everyday player in left given his already-apparent potential as a power bat. Davis has 60 homers over his first 1132 career PA and has posted pretty similar splits against righties and lefties, though the downsides are a lack of walks, a lot of strikeouts and below-average left field defense.

Finally, the A’s added two major rotation pieces in Rich Hill (who we’ll cover later) and Henderson Alvarez, though the latter isn’t expected until May as he’s still recovering from the shoulder surgery that sidelined him for most of 2015. If healthy, Alvarez’s grounder-heavy, low-strikeout approach would seemingly be a good fit at the Coliseum, and he’s still only 25 years old with two productive, 187-inning seasons under his belt.

Questions Remaining

The idea of Hill and Madson earning a combined $28MM in free agency would’ve been unthinkable at this time last year, given how both pitchers were so tenuously hanging onto their careers. The signings are similar to the Athletics’ free agent outlays on Scott Kazmir and Billy Butler in recent years — since the A’s can’t afford the biggest names on the market, they pay mid-market prices for players who have some question marks attached to them in the hopes that the players will either keep producing at a high level or bounce back from disappointing seasons. This strategy obviously carries some risk (Kazmir worked out for the A’s while Butler to date hasn’t), especially since if both Hill and Madson don’t live up to expectations, their deals are bigger albatrosses on Oakland’s payroll than they would be for a team with more financial flexibility.

No matter if you’re playing in a big market or a small market, however, spending a lot of money on a bullpen overhaul can be dangerous given how reliever performance can vary so wildly from year to year. It was just two winters ago that the A’s invested a large chunk of payroll in relief pitching and the plan was successful for much of the season, save for the most expensive of those relievers (Jim Johnson) having a rough year and the bullpen’s late collapse that cost them the Wild Card game against Kansas City.

Madson will earn the fourth-highest salary of any Athletics player this season, and Oakland needs more from the three players ahead of him on that list. Lowrie has to stay healthy and the A’s must hope his .240/.318/.369 slash line over the last two seasons was a sign of injuries and not decline as he enters his age-32 season. Coco Crisp is earning $11MM in the last year of his contract but can’t be counted on for anything more than a backup role due to his own plethora of injuries over the last two seasons. Butler was a sub-replacement level player in the first year of his three-year, $30MM deal and since he is limited to DH-only duty, he’ll need a big turnaround at the plate to give the A’s some return on that contract.

While benching Butler or Crisp may be unpleasant from a payroll standpoint, the A’s have alternatives in place should either veteran again struggle thanks to their usual platoon-heavy roster. Semien, Josh Reddick and maybe Davis and Valencia could be the only Athletics playing pretty much every day, with Davis or Valencia sitting against tough righties. Sometimes the platoon system works well (2014) and other times (2015) less so, as even a couple of players getting hurt or having off-years can disrupt the A’s strategy of optimizing their lineups.

Sonny Gray is a proven front-of-the-rotation pitcher, though beyond him, the A’s have some uncertainty in the pitching staff. Hill’s apparent revival is based on just four starts. Chris Bassitt and Kendall Graveman have a combined 39 career big league starts, and the advanced metrics haven’t thought too much of either pitcher during their brief tenure in MLB. Bassitt posted big strikeout totals over his last few minor league seasons but only a 6.61 K/9 in 115 2/3 Major League innings. Graveman is a groundball pitcher whose 4.05 ERA last season may have been a bit goosed by a 1.2 HR/9 — he has done a much better job at keeping the ball in the park at the minor league level, and limiting homers shouldn’t be that big a problem at the Coliseum.

Felix Doubront was intended to be the fifth starter though his status is in question due to an elbow injury. Jesse Hahn will likely step in if Doubront misses time; Hahn’s health is also a bit uncertain given how forearm problems limited him to just 16 starts last year, though in theory, he would only need to be a short-term fill-in until Alvarez returns in May. The A’s were hoping to have Jarrod Parker available in some capacity at least as a reliever or spot starter, though the injury-plagued righty’s career could well be in jeopardy after undergoing another elbow surgery.

With little pitching depth to spare and Gray as the only sure thing in the rotation, it’s rather curious in hindsight that Oakland dealt away so many arms (Chavez, Pomeranz, Sean Nolin, Aaron Brooks) in trades this winter. Top prospect Sean Manaea is very likely to make his MLB debut this season though perhaps not until the A’s can assure that Manaea wouldn’t earn enough service time to claim Super Two eligibility. Lefty Dillon Overton, ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in Oakland’s system, will start the season in Triple-A and might also get a look in the Show later in the year.

Both the A’s and Reddick have expressed mutual interest in working out an extension as the outfielder enters his last year under contract, though not much progress seemed to be made on that front before Opening Day (Reddick’s deadline for talks to end) hit. Another healthy and productive season could put Reddick in line for a big payday on the open market — MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes currently ranks Reddick as having the sixth-most earning power of any free agent next winter. Given that the Athletics’ extension history over the last decade consists of locking up young players or handing short-term, multi-year deals to veterans, it would be surprising if the club broke with recent precedent and kept Reddick around for the long haul. If the A’s struggle again, Reddick could very well find himself traded at the deadline, or simply be allowed to walk after the season with Oakland recouping a draft pick via the qualifying offer.

There will undoubtedly be a ton of trade rumors about Gray if the A’s are out of the race by midseason, as the young ace is scheduled to become arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. Gray drew a lot of trade interest this winter and, despite Beane and Forst’s insistence that they’re keeping the ace, there has been a lot of speculation that the A’s will eventually trade Gray as his price tag rises. Even if Gray is dealt, however, the move doesn’t necessarily have to happen at this trade deadline or even next winter. Gray’s first arb year will net him roughly $5-6MM in salary for 2017, which is hardly an onerous sum to pay in a winter when the A’s have Crisp, Hill, Reddick and Coghlan all coming off the books. I would consider it likely that Gray remains in Oakland throughout the 2016 season unless the front office decides to completely rebuild.

Deal Of Note

Hill overhauled his throwing motion and pitch selection last season and looked completely dominant over four September starts with the Red Sox, turning him from a lightly-regarded journeyman into a hot offseason commodity, with at least 20 teams reportedly showing interest. Hill received at least one larger offer than the one-year, $6MM deal he signed with the A’s but chose Oakland since the club was willing to give him a full-time rotation job.

Yet the big question is, how much stock can the Athletics put in just four starts and 29 innings’ worth of information? Hill’s numbers (1.55 ERA, 11.17 K/9, 7.2 K/BB rate, 48.4% grounder rate) over those 29 innings were exceptional, and even the ERA predictors (2.27 FIP, 2.50 xFIP, 2.29 SIERA) were favorable despite such big outliers as a .197 BABIP or a whopping 87.9% strand rate. It’s worth noting that Hill has become more of a strikeout pitcher in recent years, posting an 11.7 K/9 over his previous 71 2/3 innings prior to 2015, though those added strikeouts came with a lack of control (6.2 BB/9) and those innings were spread out over four seasons, speaking to Hill’s inability to retain a big league job.

The A’s obviously assume that Hill won’t keep up those Cy Young-worthy numbers all season long in 2016, though the difficult part is guessing whether Hill has actually turned a corner and can at least be a reliable rotation piece, or if he’ll fall off the map completely. Before last year, Hill hadn’t even recorded a big league start since 2009, when he posted a 7.53 ERA over 13 starts for the Orioles.

Rather than spend on a more established veteran starter looking to rebuild value on a one-year deal in a pitchers’ park, Beane and Forst took the riskier route in betting on Hill’s late-career renaissance. If Hill looks even remotely as good as he did in Boston, however, the $6MM will be a nice bargain.

Overview

The Athletics primarily focused on adding veterans to the Major League roster this winter, yet another example of how Beane has traditionally been loath to enter a full rebuild during his tenure in Oakland. Though the A’s are just 90-127 since August 1, 2014, Beane and Forst clearly still think the core of this team can be successful. The A’s have roughly $86.8MM committed in salaries (hat tip to Cot’s Baseball Contracts), their largest Opening Day payroll of the 21st century and the third straight season their payroll has cracked the $82MM plateau.

With so many question marks dotting the roster and an offseason’s worth of moves that didn’t necessarily solidify many of those positions, it’s hard to know what to expect from Oakland this year. If all goes well, it’s not hard to see the A’s once again emerging as under-the-radar contenders in the AL West. Another down season, however, could lead to yet another roster shakeup, with this one perhaps being more about reloading the farm system than making another run at contending in 2017.

What’s your take on the Athletics’ winter? (Link to poll for mobile app users)

How Would You Grade The Athletics' Offseason?

B 37% (208)
C 37% (207)
D 16% (90)
A 7% (37)
F 4% (20)

Total votes: 562

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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2015-16 Offseason In Review Athletics MLBTR Originals

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jeff Todd | at April 6, 2016 11:00pm CDT

This is the latest entry in MLBTR’s Offseason In Review series. The full index of Offseason In Review posts can be found here.

The Dodgers spread their cash rather than making a single splash, opting for roster and lineup flexibility over premium assets (at a premium cost).

Major League Signings

SP Scott Kazmir: Three years, $48MM (opt-out after first year)
SP/RP Yaisel Sierra: Six years, $30MM
SP Kenta Maeda: Eight years, $25MM + $20MM posting fee
2B Howie Kendrick: Two years, $20MM
SP Brett Anderson: One year, $15.8MM (accepted qualifying offer)
OF Yusniel Diaz: $15.5MM bonus (minor league deal)
2B Chase Utley: One year, $7MM
INF Omar Estevez: $6MM bonus (minor league deal)
RP Joe Blanton: One year, $4MM
SP Brandon Beachy: One year, $1.5MM
RP Louis Coleman: One year, $750K
Total spend: $193.55MM

Notable Minor League Signings

Corey Brown, Daniel Corcino, Charlie Culberson, Alex Hassan, Elian Herrera, Brandon Hicks, Chin Hui-Tsao, Jordan Schafer, Donavan Tate, Matt West, Jamey Wright (since retired)

Trades And Claims

Acquired SP Frankie Montas, INF Micah Johnson, OF Trayce Thompson from White Sox in exchange for INF/OF Jose Peraza, INF Brandon Dixon, OF Scott Schebler (all of whom went to Reds in three-team deal that sent Todd Frazier to White Sox)
Acquired C Jack Murphy from Blue Jays in exchange for 2B Darwin Barney
Acquired INF Erick Mejia from Mariners in exchange for SP/RP Joe Wieland
Acquired RP Tyler Olson from Mariners in exchange for PTBNL/cash
Acquired INF Rob Segedin and PTBNL/cash from Yankees in exchange for INF Ronald Torreyes, RP Tyler Olson
Claimed RP Brooks Brown off waivers from Rockies
Claimed OF Danny Fields off waivers from Brewers (later claimed by White Sox)
Claimed RP Danny Reynolds off waivers from Angels (later claimed by Astros)
Claimed RP Lisalverto Bonilla off waivers from Rangers (later non-tendered, re-signed)

Options Exercised

RP J.P. Howell: $6.25MM player option

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Bronson Arroyo, Zack Greinke (exercised opt-out), Chris Heisey, Jim Johnson, Juan Nicasio, Joel Peralta, Jimmy Rollins, Justin Ruggiano

Needs Addressed

Even while failing to make any single commitment of $50MM, the Dodgers ran up a $193.55MM tab in open-market expenditures (including some bonuses to Cuban amateurs). That bought the club 36 years of control spread over 11 players.

Ironically enough, the division-rival D-Backs got six years of former Dodgers’ sub-ace Zack Greinke for a guarantee that the union values at $193.85MM (after accounting for deferrals). Los Angeles pursued a reunion with Greinke after he made the easy decision to opt out of the final three years of his contract. Indeed, the club seemed all but certain to add him before Arizona swooped in with a dramatic offer that the Dodgers probably could have — but didn’t — meet or exceed. While many have criticized the organization’s decision not to chase the bidding, and there’s certainly some risk in forgoing the chance to retain Greinke, it’s not hard to see why the Dodgers felt uncomfortable making that level of investment in a pitcher who’ll turn 33 in October and whose otherworldly 2015 results (a league-leading 1.66 ERA and 0.844 WHIP) were backed by merely excellent peripherals.

The departure of the excellent-but-aging righty set the tone for the rest of the winter, as it left the organization with yet more rotation needs and plenty of financial flexibility. Brett Anderson had already surprised, somewhat, by taking the club’s qualifying offer. But he was one of several staff members who come with long-term injury questions, and he ultimately joined Hyun-jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy in the rehab line. Anderson is questionable to return this year after back surgery, Ryu has recovered slower than hoped from his shoulder issues, while McCarthy won’t be expected back from TJ surgery before the middle of the year.

The Dodgers went on to pursue a veteran, mid-rotation arm in free agency. It seemed that Hisashi Iwakuma would fill that role after agreeing to terms, but his three-year deal was blown up after his physical. Los Angeles landed Scott Kazmir in his stead, promising three years and $48MM — just $3MM more than would’ve gone to Iwakuma — in a deal that also includes an opt-out after the first season. One-third of the cash is owed in the event that Kazmir departs. Interestingly, MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz values the opt-out at only $5MM, suggesting that’s the approximate amount that the team saved by giving him the opportunity to re-enter the market.

Of course, Kazmir, too, is a pitcher who has a rather checkered medical history, so the Dodgers weren’t done there. They gave a $20MM posting fee to land Japanese stalwart Kenta Maeda, ultimately agreeing to a unique deal after his physical, too, showed some signs of worry. He’ll only be promised $25MM over an eight-year term, but incentives tied to starts and innings could boost its value to over $90MM. Soon to turn 28, Maeda isn’t seen as possessing the same top-of-the-rotation stuff of prior cross-Pacific aces Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka, but he could prove a nice value as a mid-rotation piece.

The Dodgers added yet another long-term, high-upside rotation piece in Frankie Montas, as the club parted with Jose Peraza on its end of the three-team swap that sent Todd Frazier from the Reds to the White Sox. That deal also landed Los Angeles a pair of future options in infielder Micah Johnson and Trayce Thompson, both of whom could impact the roster as soon as this year. Peraza remains an interesting talent, but the same could be said of all three players coming to the Dodgers, who received solid reviews for their side of that move. In addition to making that rare exchange of youngsters, the Dodgers continued to plunk down big money on the international amateur market, dedicating $51.5MM to a trio of Cuban ballplayers.

While president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and GM Farhan Zaidi focused primarily on the rotation, they also saw work to do in the infield mix. Corey Seager is one of the game’s most exciting players, and figures to hold down shortstop for years to come, while Justin Turner has turned into a highly-productive third baseman and Enrique Hernandez provided a super-utility option. But with Peraza on his way out, the Dodgers brought back August addition Chase Utley on a one-year deal. And with Howie Kendrick languishing on the market after declining his qualifying offer, he was also re-signed. Those two veterans provide a substantial upgrade to the overall infield mix, and free Hernandez to spend more time in the outfield.

The pen lost several oft-used members from the 2015 squad, and looked like it could use some supplementation, even after J.P. Howell exercised his player option at a fairly appealing rate for the club. The Dodgers initially aimed quite high, lining up a deal for Aroldis Chapman that was ultimately scrapped after his domestic violence allegations arose. Instead, the club went after Joe Blanton, who improbably turned himself from an innings-eating rotation piece to a relief ace last year. Brandon Beachy could also provide depth in the pen or the rotation, and Louis Coleman provides another depth piece.

Managing all the moving pieces will be new skipper Dave Roberts, who somewhat surprisingly emerged to run the dugout after the Dodgers mutually agreed to part ways with Don Mattingly.

Read more analysis after the break …

Questions Remaining

The rotation is still anchored by Clayton Kershaw, who is pretty clearly the best pitcher in baseball. And there’s plenty of upside down the line if the Dodgers get some good health breaks; Ryu, McCarthy could provide a significant boost if they can get back to form. But there’s uncertainty even in those arms that are currently in working order. Last summer’s addition of Alex Wood looks all the more important in retrospect, as he’ll hold down a slot — though he, too, is a pitcher who has often been cited as having questionable mechanics. (Even apart from that, he comes with a 72% above average Tommy John risk in 2016, according to the statistical research of MLBTR contributor Bradley Woodrum.)

After the names already mentioned, there are plenty of names but few with MLB track records. Ross Stripling was the surprise victor of a fifth-starter race that the Dodgers never hoped to host. Carlos Frias and Zach Lee were said to be the other finalists. There are other depth options in the form of Mike Bolsinger (when he’s back from an oblique strain) and the re-signed Beachy (if he can stay healthy and return to effectiveness). And the club also has a variety of quality prospects rising up in the system — including young ace-in-the-making Julio Urias, the highly-regarded Jose De Leon, Jharel Cotton, Chris Anderson, and Montas (when he’s back from his own injury). Needless to say, this is going to be a fascinating unit to watch as the season progresses, especially with the club staggering its innings-limited youngsters with a possible eye on maximizing their potential major league value without harming their development.

The bullpen was a source of some consternation last year, especially in the postseason, but was probably better than its run prevention numbers suggested. As with the rotation, you couldn’t ask for a better primary piece; in this case, it’s Kenley Jansen, who is in the conversation as the best reliever in baseball. He’s entering his walk year with a potentially huge contract at stake, and is as sure a thing as you can have in his role. Blanton and Coleman are the two new names, with the latter beating out struggling southpaw Luis Avilan for the final Opening Day slot. If Avilan doesn’t make it, then Howell will be the sole lefty in the pen, and he’s been a reliable source of outs against opposing lefties. Otherwise, Chris Hatcher, Pedro Baez, and Yimi Garcia look to be the primary right-handed setup options. That group doesn’t come with much name recognition, but all three power arms turned in rather strong campaigns in 2015; each averaged better than ten strikeouts per nine with 3.0 or fewer free passes per regulation game. Big-money Cuban free agent Yaisel Sierra could conceivably enter the picture at some point, as could several of the rotation options listed above, and southpaws Adam Liberatore and Ian Thomas remain available at Triple-A.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the health issues don’t end with the pitching. The outfield depth was dealt a blow with the news that Andre Ethier will be sidelined for most or all of the first half with a fractured tibia. While he probably isn’t worth his contract and has often been mentioned as a trade candidate, Ethier was set to receive semi-regular time after a strong performance at the plate in 2015. (It’s worth noting that he’s almost certain to reach ten-and-five rights while still on the DL.)

There’s both upside and downside to be found across the rest of the unit. Yasiel Puig has played at a superstar level in the past, but came back down to earth last year while questions arose as to his conditioning and commitment. Joc Pederson looked like an emerging star in the first half of 2015 before struggling down the stretch; to reach his ceiling, he’ll need to make strides against left-handed pitching, reduce his strikeout tallies, and improve his batted-ball results. (Pederson ended the year with a below-average 15.8% line-drive rate and above-average 20.4% soft contact rate, though he also made plenty of hard contact and had a strong 19.7% HR/FB rate.)

Los Angeles will also need contributions from a variety of role players in the outfield. Hernandez could spell Pederson in center against lefties, but it’ll be a tall order for him to replace his productivity from a year ago. Left-handed-hitting veteran Carl Crawford will combine with righties Scott Van Slyke and Trayce Thompson to account for much of the remaining time. All have their function, and could combine to be plenty useful, but might need to produce without receiving consistent at bats. The club will eventually face a decision on Alex Guerrero, who’ll open on the DL but could end up being traded or released.

The injury questions in the infield appear to be more of the short-term variety, but they’ll play a role there, too. Seager, the all-world prospect who exploded on the major league scene late in 2015, has dealt with a balky knee this spring and still has to prove he’s capable of high-end production over a full season in his age-22 campaign. Though Turner how now displayed a consistently excellent bat for the past two years, he’s coming off of microfracture surgery to his left knee and may need to be spelled at times. Kendrick not only missed time late last year but now may need a DL stint with lingering calf problems. And the aging Utley was out for a long stretch in 2015 while battling an ankle injury. Hernandez, Johnson, minor league free agent Charlie Culberson, and perhaps even the enigmatic Erisbel Arruebarrena all represent part-time/fill-in possibilities.

At first base, Adrian Gonzalez produced at an .830 OPS clip last year, but was less effective against southpaws and fell off in the second half. He could yield some time to Van Slyke to stay fresh. The Dodgers go three deep behind the plate, with Austin Barnes joining Yasmani Grandal and A.J. Ellis. Grandal earned an All-Star nod but cooled considerably in August and September, and he’s taking some time off early as a result of forearm issues. Ellis may take a step back at the plate after a strong 2015, but is as good a backup as you could hope for. As for Barnes, who’s also capable of playing elsewhere in the infield, he still needs to prove he can hit at the major league level.

Deal of Note

The Dodgers, more than any other team, have exemplified the rise of creative player transactions in the game of baseball. Exercising the organization’s financial muscle isn’t just a matter of inking big-ticket free agents; far from it, in fact.

There are numerous examples that one could tick through, both before and since Andrew Friedman took over the front office. Indeed, the entire 2015-16 offseason spending strategy is worthy of a study in how nearly $200MM can be spread in so many different directions.

But the signing of Maeda, in particular, represents a whole new style of contract in baseball. With the changes to the posting rules that govern the transfer of players from Japan to the majors, Maeda was effectively a free agent who came with a $20MM tax that functions like the draft pick compensation attached to those who decline qualifying offers. Of course, rather than giving up the right to spend lots of money on a draft pick, a team signing a quality transferee is required to part with a big lump sum payment that can be difficult for many teams to cough up.

While many clubs would have been dissuaded from such an up-front payment for a player deemed to carry injury risk, the Dodgers have shown no such qualms. And rather than simply reducing the guarantee and/or years heading to Maeda to account for whatever it was that his medicals showed, Los Angeles instead presented a contract scenario that is more typical in other sports.

Maeda will be owed only $3MM annually over an eight-year term; if you spread the transfer fee over that span, for purposes of analysis, there’s a $5.5MM guaranteed outlay from the Dodgers for each year of pitching that they acquired. That’s the kind of annual value that many teams commit to back-of-the-rotation starters or good relievers on today’s market, and by the end of the deal it could look like a pittance. Of course, Maeda can also tack on just over $8MM per season based on the number of starts he makes and innings he throws. That kind of financial uncertainty might wreak havoc on some payrolls, but is the kind of fluctuation that the Dodgers are apparently willing and able to absorb — if, of course, Maeda can prove his worth.

What’s so unusual is to see that level of salary committed over such a lengthy timeframe, and for it come with such expansive performance bonuses. Deals with equivalently incentive-heavy arrangements are typically reserved for one-year veterans coming off of sub-par or injury-riddled campaigns. This makes for an intriguing bargain on both sides. Whether or not we see other uncertain but potentially high-level performers agree to this sort of pact remains to be seen, but the deal will be a fascinating one to track as it unfolds.

Overview

The L.A. front office continues to eschew typical big-budget spending patterns, loading up on depth while prioritizing flexibility and young talent over major investments in proven commodities. Pitching injury risk was unquestionably accounted for, but the team’s roster construction theories will be put to the test early and often in 2016. Whether or not this somewhat experimental approach will work promises to be one of the game’s most-watched storylines.

How would you grade the Dodgers’ offseason? (Link for mobile app users.)

How would you grade the Dodgers' offseason?

B 51% (836)
A 24% (392)
C 18% (295)
D 4% (71)
F 2% (36)

Total votes: 1,630

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2015-16 Offseason In Review Los Angeles Dodgers MLBTR Originals

Offseason In Review: Washington Nationals

By Jeff Todd | at April 5, 2016 10:24am CDT

This is the latest entry in MLBTR’s Offseason In Review series. The full index of Offseason In Review posts can be found here.

The Nationals missed on several major free-agent targets, but added multiple veteran pieces to a still-talented core.

Major League Signings

2B Daniel Murphy: Three years, $37.5MM
RP Shawn Kelley: Three years, $15MM
RP Oliver Perez: Two years, $7MM
INF Stephen Drew: One year, $3MM
RP Yusmeiro Petit: One year, $2MM
Total spend: $64.5MM

Notable Minor League Signings

Bronson Arroyo, Burke Badenhop, Matt Belisle, Sean Burnett, Chris Heisey, Reed Johnson, Aaron Laffey, Nick Masset, Brendan Ryan, Logan Schafer (since released), Scott Sizemore, Jhonatan Solano

Trades And Claims

Acquired OF Ben Revere from Blue Jays for RP Drew Storen and $2.125MM
Acquired RP Trevor Gott and SP/RP Michael Brady from Angels for INF Yunel Escobar and $1.5MM

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Ian Desmond, Doug Fister, Casey Janssen, Nate McLouth, Denard Span, Craig Stammen, Matt Thornton, Dan Uggla, Jordan Zimmermann

Needs Addressed

The Nationals entered the winter with more roster questions than they’d faced in quite some time, and proceeded to answer them with a modest and methodical series of transactions. Along the way, though, Washington dabbled in some higher-priced assets.

The first order of business was to plug arms into a bullpen that was in need of multiple new options. With Casey Janssen (declined option), Craig Stammen (non-tender), and Matt Thornton (expired contract) moving off of the roster, and several injuries and performance issues limiting the in-house options, this represented the clearest roster hole for the club.

Thus, even while president and GM Mike Rizzo was trying to woo the heavily-pursued Ben Zobrist, he quietly added southpaw Oliver Perez and swingman Yusmeiro Petit to begin the process of rebuilding the pen. While the Nats missed on Zobrist, they still followed through on a deal to send out infielder Yunel Escobar to the Angels, thus adding an interesting young reliever in Trevor Gott. And when they lost out on ace setup man Darren O’Day — who returned to the Orioles when they promised a fourth season — Rizzo and co. went out and got the underrated Shawn Kelley, who received three years and $15MM in a deal that took some time to be finalized. Of course, the Nats were also collecting minor league free agents all along the way. The spring pen competition included not only incumbents such as Blake Treinen, but veteran bounceback candidates including sinkerballer Burke Badenhop, former Nats lefty Sean Burnett, and longtime big leaguers Nick Masset and Matt Belisle.

Those moves bolstered the relief corps, but failed to address the situations of the team’s two best relievers: Jonathan Papelbon, fresh off of a rather public altercation with star Bryce Harper just months after coming over from the rival Phillies, and Drew Storen, the twice-deposed closer who the Nats had drafted and developed. And the reliever additions left unaddressed — or exacerbated — other needs. Having parted with Escobar to get Gott, the Nats lacked a clear option at second. The two obvious options — Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa — were already set to move to the left side of the infield, which had already lost Ian Desmond to free agency. And Denard Span also hit the open market, leaving the relatively untested-but-toolsy Michael Taylor atop the depth chart in center.

Rizzo first inked Daniel Murphy, who signed for less than expected — and far less than some were unrealistically calling for after his torrid post-season run. A qualifying offer certainly reduced the tab in terms of dollars, but meant that the Nats had to cough up a pick. The long-time Mets stalwart isn’t much of a fielder at second, but brings the lineup a much-needed left-handed contact bat with some pop. He’ll join Rendon, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and catcher Wilson Ramos as regulars in the infield. Espinosa appears to have the reins at short, but he’ll be accompanied by veteran Stephen Drew and could eventually be displaced by top prospect Trea Turner.

The Nats then solved two open issues in one move, sending Storen to the Blue Jays to acquire two seasons of Ben Revere — who is a somewhat lesser and more extreme version of Span himself. Revere hits for little power and draws few walks, and his glove hasn’t always rated well in center, but he hits for a high average and is one of the game’s most electric baserunners.

Revere, Taylor, and Jayson Werth look to be set up for some kind of outfield rotation, with Bryce Harper sure to see near-full duty as he tries to repeat his MVP campaign from a year ago. That’s a sensible mix, which provides its share of flexibility and upside, but the team tried to do even more. Washington was among the teams that tried to get Jason Heyward before he joined Zobrist with the Cubs, and later lost out to the Mets in pursuit of Yoenis Cespedes (after already adding Revere).

The outfield-related moves and non-moves just mentioned combine to set the stage for some of the many questions still confronting the Nats in 2016 …

Questions Remaining

When the offseason started, it seemed possible that Rizzo would look to deal away both Storen and Papelbon. The former had become something of a symbol of the team’s failure to live up to its promise in recent years, and his departure was one of several that closed a chapter on an interesting period in the organization’s history. As for the controversial Papelbon, he likely provided a difficult asset to get any kind of value on, and both he and the organization seem committed to giving things another try. While he isn’t his former self — and hasn’t been for some time — he’s still quite an effective late-inning arm, though he did struggle down the stretch as the team collapsed.

Clubhouse dynamics are a hard thing to evaluate, but the Nationals’ dugout has come under close scrutiny of late. The Papelbon-Harper incident, failed tenure of former manager Matt Williams, and unrequited interest in several prominent veteran free agents has led to many questions.

Of course, failing to land Zobrist, O’Day, Heyward, and Cespedes likely had as much or more to do with financial considerations as any wariness toward the organization. While the latter two reportedly would have received greater guarantees had they signed in D.C., the opt-out provisions and average annual values they achieved arguably made the offers they took preferable. And the Nationals’ own proposed pacts were said to include heavy deferrals, like those built into Max Scherzer‘s contract from the prior winter, with the team claiming it has been harmed by the still-unresolved MASN television dispute with the neighboring Orioles.

In any event, solving any chemistry issues will fall to the charge of veteran skipper Dusty Baker, a personable and player-friendly manager more in the mold of Williams’ predecessor, Davey Johnson. Of course, he wasn’t necessarily the first choice of the organization, which seemed set to hire Bud Black before failing to agree on a deal — leading some to charge the Nats with stinginess by failing to offer a market-length contract. Baker was happy to take the opportunity to return to the helm of a high-talent team, and he’s shown every bit of his legendary effervescence this spring.

While he’s renowned for his player management, Baker has come under fire in the past for in-game strategy, particularly in handling arms. He’ll have a good bit of talent at his disposal in the staff, albeit less certainty than in prior years. Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez are the undisputed top three. That trio has plenty of upside, but Strasburg and Gonzalez struggled with consistency (and, in the case of the former, health) in 2015.

The departures of Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister leave the final two rotation slots to Tanner Roark and youngster Joe Ross. Both have shown promise, but have yet to entrench themselves as reliable starters. The team was hoping that Bronson Arroyo would add depth, but he’s out at least til midseason with shoulder issues. Washington also pursued Mike Leake at one point over the winter, though perhaps that would’ve worked in concert with a trade of some kind. There are still options on hand, with A.J. Cole perhaps the nearest prospect arm, and the Nationals have the top pitching prospect in baseball — towering righty Lucas Giolito — charging swiftly up the ladder. Still, there’s an argument to be made that the Nats would’ve been well served by making at least a modest investment into another starter to ensure there’s adequate depth.

There were enough options in the bullpen for the organization to part with Burnett — who turned in an excellent spring — and open with Gott in the minors. That was certainly surprising, but he does need plenty of work on his secondary offerings to come anywhere near the ceiling his upper-90s heater provides. He’s likely the first man up, and could see a chance rather quickly if Treinen or Belisle falter. Badenhop, too, remains an option. Washington would surely love to see Treinen, Gott, and southpaw Felipe Rivero all end up with results matching their high-powered stuff, as the members of that group — along with the injured Aaron Barrett — have the talent to constitute the core of the relief corps for years to come.

As with the arms, the position player mix is largely set but comes with performance and health questions. Werth, Rendon, and Zimmerman have all shown quite a bit of variability in recent years. Each has spent long stretches playing at a high rate, scuffled at other times, and encountered lengthy DL stints. Taylor has tantalizing skills but needs to cut down on his strikeouts quite a bit to reach his ceiling. Espinosa had a decent 2015 after his productivity had plummeted, and the team will only be looking for steadiness. But he won’t have a long leash if Turner excels upon his return to Triple-A. Ramos was finally healthy last year, but just didn’t perform. (He’s hoping that mid-spring Lasik surgery will help, and certainly has every reason to be motivated with the market beckoning after the season.)

The bench mix is likely to change as the season goes along. Jose Lobaton could lose his job to Pedro Severino if he continues to struggle. Clint Robinson will provide a left-handed complement to Zimmerman at first while also performing late-inning pinch-hitting duties, but he’ll need to keep hitting after finally sticking in the majors last year. And Drew’s all-or-nothing bat could prove a weapon or a liability. Chris Heisey earned the final spot, but players like Matt den Dekker, Brendan Ryan, and Scott Sizemore may get chances down the line.

As the season goes along, there’ll be increasing attention paid to the status of Rizzo, whose two-year contract option is reportedly due to be decided on June 15. As Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post explained recently on the MLBTR podcast, it’s hard to imagine that the ownership group won’t retain the veteran executive. He’s had some moves backfire, but the majority have succeeded — particularly in the trade department. In the aggregate, he’s played a huge role in transforming the organization from a baseball backwater to an expected annual contender.

Regardless of what happens with Rizzo, the Nats will need to keep plugging away at finding a resolution to the MASN television dispute. If the impact on future payroll flexibility is anywhere near as severe as the organization has portrayed it, it’s essential that things get sorted sooner rather than later. Indeed, Rizzo has expressed some hope of bringing back Strasburg (who’ll be a free agent at season’s end) and even attempting to keep Harper in D.C. past 2018. Financial certainty will be critical to either effort, or finding new talent to fill in the gaps.

Deal of Note

Truth be told, none of this winter’s deals were as important as those that took place in years past — or the free agent pursuits that never came to fruition. But the final decision on Storen certainly rates as a notable one given his unique place in the organization’s story.

Originally drafted tenth overall in the 2010 draft, Storen was to the pen what Strasburg was to the rotation: a quick-to-the-majors centerpiece and fan favorite. Both have had their ups and downs, making good on their talent while somehow falling just short of expectations and landing at the center of controversies through no fault of their own.

In Storen’s case, his departure came along with those of fellow former franchise icons Desmond and Zimmermann, thus closing a chapter of the organization’s history. The 2012 through 2015 Nats never got it done when it mattered most, and only ended up making the postseason in two of four years, but nevertheless provided a sustained stretch of contention for the first time since the organization moved to D.C.

As for the swap itself, the Nationals certainly could still have used Storen’s arm in the pen. But having bumped him from the closer’s role not once but twice — first with Rafael Soriano, who he ultimately overtook, and then with Papelbon, even after Storen’s outstanding first half of 2015 — the front office probably felt a change of scenery was best for all involved.

Washington did well in adding Revere. He’s more of a sturdy contributor than any kind of star, of course, but he brings just what the team needed (at least, if it wasn’t going to make a bigger move). The left-handed-hitting Revere is the perfect complement for a club that has an aging Werth and talented-but-untested Taylor — both of whom hit from the right side. Storen could be the more impactful player, though of course he’s limited to pen duty, but Revere comes with one more year of arb control. He could turn into a non-tender candidate, but that’s effectively a one-year option that will give the club some much-needed flexibility come next fall.

Overview

It wasn’t a terribly exciting winter for Nats fans — unless you count the anxious moments watching as several big-ticket free agents signed elsewhere — but that was largely expected. After all, Rizzo had already lined up the long-term replacements for Desmond (Turner), Zimmermann (Ross), Fister (Roark), and Span (Taylor), and had other young pitching nearing MLB readiness.

The overarching goal, then, was to plug in veterans at reasonable rates of pay both to bridge to the next group of youngsters and to supplement the existing group of regulars. Ultimately, the offseason was more of a bet on the team’s pre-existing talent than it was any effort to improve from the outside.

While the expectations aren’t quite as high this year as last, there’s still ample pressure on the organization to be a winner. Anything short of a postseason berth would be yet another considerable disappointment — and would raise questions about how the organization has gone about converting its significant talent base into on-field results.

What’s your take on the Nationals’ winter? (Link to poll for mobile app users …)

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