MLBTR Poll: Kris Bryant’s Future
The long-running service-time grievance battle between Kris Bryant and the Cubs finally came to an end Wednesday. To no one’s surprise, Bryant lost the hearing – had he won, he’d have been eligible to reach free agency after 2020 instead of 2021 – though it took longer than expected for a decision to come down.
[RELATED – MLBTR Video: Kris Bryant Loses Grievance]
Bryant’s grievance was heard back in October, not long after the Cubs’ disappointing 2019 season came to an end. Back then, there was widespread belief that the Cubs would shake up their roster this offseason, maybe even with a Bryant trade, but they’ve instead sat on the sidelines for the most part. There hasn’t been a core-altering trade, nor have there been any especially noteworthy signings, leaving the Cubs with a team which doesn’t look any better than the one that mustered 84 wins and a third-place finish in the National League Central a season ago.
Spring training is fast approaching, so the window’s shrinking for an earth-shaking Cubs trade to come together before the season. Still, despite the outcome of his grievance, it’s up in the air how much longer Bryant will last as a Cub. There was trade speculation centering on the 28-year-old former NL MVP before Wednesday, and it continued then with a rumor linking him to Colorado and a one-for-one swap for fellow star third baseman Nolan Arenado. That type of deal seems highly unlikely to occur, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams detailed, though that doesn’t mean someone (Dodgers? Rangers? Braves?) won’t make the Cubs a palatable offer for Bryant sometime soon.
Of course, if the Cubs plan to contend in 2020, it’s hard to imagine a Bryant trade doing anything but worsening their chances. At the same time, moving him could presumably upgrade a farm system that has already made recent improvements and, to many fans’ chagrin, help the club avoid the luxury tax in 2020. Bryant’s due a $18.6MM salary, and getting rid of it would put the Cubs under the $208MM threshold by a fair margin (they’re currently projected at $214MM-plus, per Jason Martinez of Roster Resource). That said, the Cubs have until the end of the season to get under $208MM, meaning they may be inclined to see how they perform over the first few months of the year before deciding whether to sell off Bryant or any other high-priced players.
Bryant, for his part, doesn’t seem like a player who’s champing at the bit to get out of Chicago. Even though the grievance didn’t go his way, Bryant harbors “no ill will whatsoever” against the Cubs, which is yet another reason they don’t have to trade him. Nevertheless, we could still see more Bryant-headlined rumors in the coming weeks. Do you expect him to open 2020 as a Cub?
(Poll link for app users)
Will Kris Bryant be a Cub on Opening Day?
-
Yes 68% (13,886)
-
No 32% (6,652)
Total votes: 20,538
Latest On Dodgers’ Pursuit Of Mookie Betts
5:54PM: “All signs point to a two-team race” between the Dodgers and Padres for Betts, the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier writes, and “Major League sources believe that it’s likelier than not that Betts gets traded, potentially in the very near future.” Price might yet be involved in a potential Dodgers deal, though adding Price alongside Betts “might compromise the prospect return for the Sox,” since Los Angeles doesn’t want to absorb much of Price’s contract. On the Padres’ side, they “seem open on just about any other outfielder” than Tommy Pham or Trent Grisham in trade talks. The Diamondbacks were another team linked to Betts in trade rumors, though Speier hears from a source that there was “no real traction” between Boston and Arizona even before the D’Backs acquired Starling Marte, so Arizona seems to be out of the Betts hunt.
7:30AM: With camp fast approaching, teams weighing major trades are surely beginning to feel the pressure. The Dodgers are keeping their cool as they continue to pursue Red Sox star Mookie Betts, Andy McCullough of The Athletic writes (subscription link). But they’re also possibly nearing a decision.
Talks between the coastal giants could well be reaching an inflection point, it seems. McCullough writes that the teams have “approached a resolution” in their talks “in recent days.”
Details of the packages under consideration are limited; as McCullough notes, it’s possible to imagine rather a wide variety of permutations. But the talks — at least, in some variations — do involve high-priced Boston hurler David Price. (Shades of another major trade between these teams?)
As we discussed recently in a poll on the subject, there’s no shortage of pressure on the team to make strides. And the goal is obviously to find a major new performer. But the team also has reason to remain comfortable with its existing talent. No surprise, then, that McCullough indicates the organization isn’t really interested in stretching too far to make a deal.
It’s worth noting, too, that holding back assets for mid-season trades represents a viable alternative strategy. Betts himself could be available then, if he’s not poached first by another club (such as the division-rival Padres). The Dodgers can’t assume they’ll coast to another title, particularly now that the Diamondbacks have compiled such an interesting roster, but there’s some conceptual merit to waiting for mid-season roster holes to open before acting.
Speaking of that aforementioned poll … the results were interesting. Respondents were fairly evenly split as to whether the Dodgers would pull off a blockbuster. Among those that foresee a deal, about half think Betts will indeed land to L.A.
Cameron Maybin Switches Representation
Free agent outfielder Cameron Maybin has hired a new agent in Gene Mato of Mato Sports Management, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link).
Maybin is in his third straight winter of an extended trip through free agency. It took the veteran until past mid-February in each of the last two offseasons to land contracts — a MLB contract with the Marlins in February 2018, and then a minors pact with the Giants in February 2019. That latter deal gave way to another minor league deal with the Indians after San Francisco released Maybin near the end of Spring Training, and Cleveland then traded Maybin to the Yankees in April.
After all that movement last spring, Maybin rather surprisingly emerged with one of the best seasons of his 13-year career. Maybin hit .285/.364/.494 with 11 home runs over 269 plate appearances for New York, becoming one of many unheralded roster additions who made big contributions to an injury-plagued Yankees team. There was a bit of good luck involved in Maybin’s performance (a .365 BABIP, and a .363 wOBA that was decently higher than his .337 xwOBA), though Maybin posted a career-best 37.7% hard-hit ball rate and an 11.2% walk rate that nearly matched his 11.3% career high from 2017.
That strong season hasn’t resulted in much free agent buzz, however, as the Pirates (whose interest was only reported earlier today) have been the only team linked to Maybin this offseason. Maybin turns 33 in April, and given how he didn’t produce much in 2017 or 2018, clubs could be waiting until deeper into Spring Training to consider Maybin, possibly in the event of an injury or a trade that creates a roster need. Indeed, Pittsburgh may have only entered the picture in the wake of Starling Marte being dealt to the Diamondbacks.
Maybin expressed interest in returning to the Yankees in 2020, and the possibility exists that the Bronx Bombers could choose to augment their outfield depth with a familiar face, especially since Aaron Hicks will miss at least the first three months of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Aaron Judge, Mike Tauchman, and the re-signed Brett Gardner represent New York’s starting outfield, with Giancarlo Stanton (who will mostly see DH duty), Clint Frazier, utilityman Tyler Wade, Miguel Andujar (who will be tried out in left field), and minor leaguers Rosell Herrera and Zack Granite representing further outfield options.
Alvarez’s change in representation is reflected in MLBTR’s Agency Database, which contains agent info on thousands of Major League and Minor League players. If you see any errors or omissions within our listing, please let us know by e-mailing mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
Tigers Re-Sign Jordy Mercer
4:33PM: The Tigers have officially announced the signing.
2:35PM: The Tigers have brought back veteran shortstop Jordy Mercer on a new contract, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). The deal is a minor league pact with an invitation to Detroit’s big league Spring Training camp, as per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
After signing a one-year, $5.25MM deal with the Tigers last winter, Mercer hit .270/.310/.438 over 271 plate appearances, despite missing much of the first half of the season with quad injuries. That roughly matches the .256/.316/.383 slash line Mercer posted over the first 2996 PA of his career from 2012-18 as a member of the Pirates, and he’ll now head back to the Motor City as a depth option.
Niko Goodrum is currently Detroit’s top choice at shortstop, though given Goodrum’s multi-positional versatility and the presence of both younger Willi Castro and now Mercer, the Tigers are arming themselves with some extra depth should they decide to again move Goodrum around the diamond. The 33-year-old Mercer gives the Tigers more veteran experience in that regard, as Castro has only 30 MLB games under his belt. Beyond just shortstop, Mercer could also back up elsewhere around the infield, as he has some experience as a first, second, and third baseman over his career.
Rangers Sign Derek Law To Minors Contract
The Rangers have signed right-hander Derek Law to a minor league deal, as per a team press release. Law will receive an invitation to the team’s Major League Spring Training camp.
The Blue Jays non-tendered Law in December rather than go through the arbitration process with the 29-year-old. MLBTR’s Matt Swartz projected Law to receive a $1.3MM arbitration salary in 2020, coming on a heels of a 2019 campaign that saw Law post a 4.90 ERA, 9.9 K/9, and 1.68 K/BB rate over 60 2/3 innings for Toronto. It marked Law’s heaviest workload since his 2016 rookie season, though he has been an inconsistent performer since that breakout campaign, with a 5.25 ERA and 1.2 HR/9 over 111 1/3 innings since the start of the 2017 season.
On the plus side for Law is a solid 94.7mph fastball and his 50% grounder rate last season, his highest since that 2016 rookie year. There isn’t much risk for Texas in seeing what Law can do in camp as the Rangers continue to amass more bullpen depth. Law joins Luis Garcia, Nick Goody, Juan Nicasio, Joely Rodriguez, Brian Flynn, and Jimmy Herget as experienced relief options who will be battling for jobs on the Opening Day roster.
Brewers Designate Deolis Guerra For Assignment
The Brewers have designated right-hander Deolis Guerra for assignment, as per a team press release. The move creates a roster spot for David Phelps, whose one-year deal with Milwaukee is now official.
Guerra re-signed with the Brewers on a Major League contract earlier this winter, after being outrighted off the team’s 40-man roster during the season. Guerra pitched in only one game and 2/3 of an inning for the Brewers in 2019, allowing four runs in that brief cameo. That ugly outing was countered by some outstanding numbers at the Triple-A level, as Guerra posted a 1.89 ERA, 5.50 K/BB rate, and 11.9 K/9 over 66 2/3 relief innings.
While the 30-year-old Guerra had an age and experience advantage over much younger Triple-A batters, his performance was particularly impressive given that 2019 was by far the biggest-hitting season in the history of Triple-A baseball. Another team could be intrigued enough by those minor league stats to pluck Guerra off the DFA wire, or he could remain in Milwaukee’s farm system once again as a depth option.
Over 95 2/3 career Major League frames with the Brewers, Angels, and Pirates, Guerra has a 4.52 ERA, 3.41 K/BB rate, and 7.1 K/9.
Mariners To Sign Wei-Yin Chen
The Mariners have agreed to a deal with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter). Seattle will owe Chen a Major League minimum salary ($563.5K) if he makes their big league roster, and that minimum salary will be subtracted from the $22MM the Marlins owe Chen for the 2020 season, the final guaranteed year of the southpaw’s original five-year, $80MM contract with Miami.
That deal ended up being a significant misfire for the Marlins, as Chen battled injuries and struggled over the length of his time in South Florida. Chen posted a 5.10 ERA over 358 innings as a Marlin, including a 6.59 ERA over 68 1/3 frames in 2019, working exclusively as a reliever.
Seattle is likely to see what Chen can do as either a starter or a reliever in camp, while gauging if the 34-year-old still has anything left in the tank following his rough stint in Miami. Chen will at least get opportunity on a Mariners club that is open to all contributions at both the back of the rotation or in the bullpen. Seattle is particularly thin on left-handed relief options, so that stands out as perhaps Chen’s best shot at making the Opening Day roster.
GM Jerry Dipoto said last week that the M’s were close to adding some new arms, and Seattle has since brought Nick Margevicius, Yoshihisa Hirano, and now Chen into the fold. Marco Gonzales, Yusei Kikuchi, and Justus Sheffield project as the top three starters in the Mariners’ rotation, though the last two spots are still up in the air, with Margevicius, Chen, Kendall Graveman, Nestor Cortes, Phillips Valdez, and top prospect Justin Dunn all in the mix as potential rotation members.
Mariners Sign Yoshihisa Hirano
The Mariners announced that right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano has been signed to a one-year, Major League contract. Hirano is represented by John Boggs & Associates. Left-hander Ricardo Sanchez has been designated for assignment to create roster space.
Hirano will earn $1.6MM in guaranteed money, as per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (all Twitter links), plus incentive bonuses based on numbers of games pitched and finished. Hirano can begin to unlock these bonuses if he makes at least 30 appearances, or finishes at least 20 games. There is also a $250K transaction payment due to Hirano whenever he is traded.
After coming to Major League Baseball on a two-year, $6MM deal with the Diamondbacks in the 2017-18 offseason, Hirano finished sixth in NL Rookie Of The Year voting in 2018 after posting a 2.44 ERA, 2.57 K/BB rate, 50.3% grounder rate, and 8.0 K/9 over 66 1/3 innings out of Arizona’s pen. Despite a higher strikeout rate (10.4 K/9) and K/BB rate (2.77) in 2019, Hirano’s ERA ballooned to 4.75 over 53 frames, and he also spent a few weeks on the injured list due to elbow inflammation.
Despite the wide gap in ERA over the two seasons, Hirano’s advanced metrics indicate a pretty similar level of performance in both 2018 (3.69 FIP, 4.01 xFIP, 3.76 SIERA, .311 xwOBA) and 2019 (4.04 FIP, 4.24 xFIP, 3.95 SIERA, .296 xwOBA). Hirano finished in the 94th percentile of all pitchers in terms of limiting hard contact last season, so the Mariners are hoping the righty can translate that soft contact into better on-field results.
Though Hirano (who turns 36 in March) only has four career saves, the number of finish-saved incentives in his contract indicate that the Mariners see him as a potential answer to their unsettled ninth-inning situation. Matt Magill is ostensibly the top in-house choice after saving five games for the M’s down the stretch last season, though those were the only five saves of Magill’s big league career. While Hirano rarely got the call in save situations for the D’Backs, he has a long and successful history of saving games in Japan, racking up 143 saves for the Orix Buffaloes between 2013-17.
Sanchez posted a 4.44 ERA, 3.55 K/BB rate, and 8.3 K/9 over 146 innings for Double-A Arkansas last season, starting all 27 of his games. The 22-year-old southpaw already has six years of professional experience, beginning in the Angels’ system before pitching with the Braves from 2015-18.
Rockies Hire Peter Bourjos As Advance Scout
The Rockies have hired longtime outfielder Peter Bourjos as an advance scout, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter link). The hiring would seem to indicate that Bourjos, who turns 33 in March, is hanging up the cleats after a 14-year professional playing career that included 10 years in the majors.
Bourjos both began and ended his career with the Angels, who originally selected him in the 10th round of the 2005 draft. He spent his first four MLB seasons with the Halos before moving on to stints with the Cardinals, Phillies, Rays, and Braves before once again landing back in Anaheim on a minor league contract last offseason. After appearing in 26 MLB games for the Angels last season, Bourjos was released in May.
Best known for his quickness and defense, Bourjos was an often-outstanding center fielder, posting +40 Defensive Runs Saved and +11.9 UZR/150 over 4080 1/3 career innings up the middle. This glovework made him a valuable part-time and bench commodity for teams looking for backup at all three outfield positions. Bourjos hit .237/.293/.376 over 2334 plate appearances, and his offensive resume includes an AL-leading 11 triples during the 2011 season.
We at MLBTR wish Bourjos all the best as he moves into this new phase of his baseball career, and congratulate him on a successful decade on the field.
Reds To Sign Pedro Strop
The Reds have agreed to a one-year, $1.825MM deal with free-agent reliever Pedro Strop, according to Hector Gomez of Deportivo Z 101 (Twitter link). The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal adds that incentives can push the value of the deal, which is still pending a physical, up to $3.5MM. Strop is represented by the Movement Management Group.
It’s surprising that the Reds are coming away with Strop, who was reportedly deciding between the Marlins and Rangers as of last week. Nevertheless, it’s the latest strike in free agency for Cincinnati, a team clearly bent on returning to contention after a six-year drought. The Reds rank near the top of the National League in offseason spending via the open market, and Strop will go down as the second free agent they’ve pilfered from the division-rival Cubs. They took outfielder Nick Castellanos from Chicago earlier this week, though he cost far more money ($64MM) than Strop will collect.
While the Reds have been aggressive in bettering their roster this winter, they haven’t been all that active in upgrading a bullpen that was middle of the pack last season. They’re returning some quality holdovers – Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett and Robert Stephenson, to name a few – and the hope is Strop will accompany them as a key late-game option for the club in 2020.
The right-handed Strop, 34, has been quietly terrific over the past several years. Dating back to his 2011 breakout with the Rangers and Orioles, Strop has combined for a 3.00 ERA/3.32 FIP with 9.82 K/9, 3.89 BB/9 and a 54.8 percent groundball rate across 483 2/3 innings. He was mostly excellent with the Cubs from 2013-19, including during their championship drought-breaking 2016 campaign, but fell on hard times last season.
A hamstring injury limiting Strop to 41 2/3 innings, his fewest since 2011, and he only managed a 4.97 ERA/4.53 FIP when he was healthy enough to pitch. He also saw his average fastball velocity dip from 95.1 mph the previous season to 93.6 mph. Despite the drop in heat, Strop did strike out 10.58 batters per nine and induce grounders at a 52.9 percent clip; however, he struggled with control and home runs. Strop walked 4.32 hitters per nine and yielded homers on a career-worst 18.8 percent of fly balls, though he was hardly alone in surrendering more dingers than usual during the most HR-friendly season in the history of the sport.
The Reds are, of course, hoping Strop’s HR-FB rate bounces back toward his career mean of 10.1 percent. Regardless, he’s the latest of MLBTR’s top 50 free agents they’ve added. The club has now come away with five players from that list this offseason. And now that Strop’s coming off the board, Yasiel Puig (an ex-Red) and Brock Holt are the last ones standing.