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East Notes: Red Sox, Wright, Marlins, Orioles

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The latest on a few East Coast clubs:

  • After the Red Sox removed the injured Steven Wright from their ALDS roster on Saturday, the knuckleballer lamented (via Christopher Smith of MassLive.com), “This feels like a nightmare to be honest with you.” Wright aggravated his left knee Friday while warming up before Game 1 of the team’s series against the Yankees, Smith details. It’s the same knee on which Wright underwent surgery in May 2017, thereby keeping him out for most of last year and a large portion of this season. Wright added that “what we think is there’s loose bodies in there.” He’ll know more after a Monday visit in New York with Dr. Riley Williams III, the same doctor who performed his surgery 17 months ago. The loss of Wright’s an unfortunate development for Boston’s bullpen, as the 34-year-old pitched to a 1.52 ERA with a .191/.303/.314 batting line against in 29 2/3 innings in relief during the regular season.
  • The Marlins made a trade Saturday, sending right-hander Ryan Lillie to the Reds for international bonus pool money, and there may be more such moves on the way from the Fish. Miami’s “exploring other deals” that would enable it to net more international cash, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com tweets. The Marlins entered Saturday with the second-most international money available ($4.3MM) and are known to be in the market for Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa, MLB.com’s top-ranked int’l prospect.
  • The Orioles – the only team with more international money to spend than the Fish – had five representatives in attendance for the showcase of Victor Victor Mesa, brother Victor Mesa Jr. (also an outfielder) and Cuban pitcher Sandy Gaston on Friday in Miami, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. Baltimore sent vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson, senior advisor Joe McIlvaine, special assignment scout John Stockstill and a pair of scouts (Dean Albany and Calvin Maduro), according to Kubatko, who hears that the O’s lack of a GM/manager won’t impact their pursuit of the Mesas. The Orioles said goodbye to both GM Dan Duquette and skipper Buck Showalter earlier this week.

Yankees Notes: Voit, Bird, Hicks

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The latest on the Yankees, who will try to draw even against the archrival Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Saturday after dropping the opener Friday:

  • Luke Voit may be on his way to becoming an “increasingly legitimate answer” at first base for the Yankees, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post observes. Acquired in what was then a low-key trade with the Cardinals in July, Voit slashed an astounding .322/.398/.671 (187 wRC+) with 15 home runs in 161 regular-season plate appearances, also posting the majors’ leading expected weighted on-base average (.440) among those with at least 150 PA. The 27-year-old continued to stand out during the Yankees’ first two playoff games – including their wild-card win over the Athletics – and general manager Brian Cashman said Friday (via Davidoff): “He’s certainly exceeded my expectations. He’s batting close to the middle of the lineup in the postseason. That’s pretty impressive stuff. And he’s certainly taken advantage of his opportunity playing here. I’m thankful for it.”
  • Voit was on New York’s “radar” before it acquired him for relievers Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos, Cashman revealed, adding that “our analytics crew had noticed him early on. In a lot of our meetings last year, he was someone we coveted from St. Louis, and we finally matched up.” Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe sheds more light on the Voit addition, writing that assistant GM Tim Naehring has credited both the Yankees’ scouting staff and fellow AGM Mike Fishman – an “analytics guru,” per Cafardo – for the move. A 22nd-round pick of the Cardinals in 2013, Voit totaled just 137 PA with them – during which he batted a mediocre .240/.307/.432 (93 OPS+) – prior to the trade.
  • While Voit looks like the in-house favorite to start at first for the Yankees in 2019, Cashman’s not ready to give up on the 25-year-old Greg Bird, who has battled injuries and inconsistency during his 659-PA career (via Davidoff). “The way his season played out has been a head-scratcher. But the great thing about our game … is he’ll go home and try to regain all the accolades that were coming his way with performance and that can start next spring,” Cashman said of Bird, who hit an ugly .199/.286/.386 (81 wRC+) with 11 HRs in 311 trips to the plate during the regular season.
  • Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks aggravated his right hamstring Friday, forcing him to exit in the fourth inning, but it seems he dodged a serious injury. While Hicks won’t start Game 2 in Boston, he’ll be available off the bench, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com relays. Manager Aaron Boone said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to use Hicks, whom Brett Gardner replaced Friday and will once again fill in for on Saturday.

Sorting The Starting Pitchers Of The Upcoming Free-Agent Class

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With the MLB offseason only a few weeks away, most of the league’s teams are already focusing on how to improve their rosters for 2019. Many of those clubs will look to free agency to repair their starting rotations, though only a few will land the top arms who are expected to be available in Clayton Kershaw (if he opts out of the two years and $65MM remaining on his deal), Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel. Nevertheless, as you’ll see below, there should be some intriguing starters on the market who may be able to offer solid production at lesser costs next year.

Following the method MLBTR’s Steve Adams came up with last year, here are the top free agents-to-be with respect to velocity, missing bats, limiting walks and inducing weak contact in 2018. The list includes Kershaw, who seems likely to opt out, and also features several hurlers who pitched out of their teams’ bullpens in 2018. However, the numbers they compiled in relief aren’t factored in here. (Special thanks to FanGraphs for providing such valuable, easily accessible information.)

Hardest Throwers (FanGraphs leaderboard)

League average = 92.4 mph

  1. Nathan Eovaldi: 97.2 mph fastball
  2. Charlie Morton: 96.6 mph
  3. Garrett Richards: 95.9 mph (note: Richards underwent Tommy John surgery in July)
  4. Matt Harvey: 94.1 mph
  5. Lance Lynn: 93.1 mph
  6. Martin Perez: 92.5 mph
  7. J.A. Happ and Francisco Liriano: 92 mph
  8. Trevor Cahill and Matt Moore: 91.8 mph
  9. Derek Holland: 91.5 mph
  10. Jason Hammel: 91.4 mph

Top Strikeout Arms (FanGraphs Leaderboard)

League average = 21.6 K percentage, 8.25 K/9

  1. Patrick Corbin: 30.8 K%, 11.07 K/9
  2. Charlie Morton: 28.9 K%, 10.83 K/9
  3. Hyun-Jin Ryu: 27.5 K%, 9.73 K/9
  4. Garrett Richards: 26.9 K%, 10.26 K/9
  5. J.A. Happ: 26.3 K%, 9.78 K/9
  6. Anibal Sanchez: 24.6 K%, 8.96 K/9
  7. Clayton Kershaw: 23.9 K%, 8.65 K/9
  8. Lance Lynn: 22.7 K%, 9.16 K/9
  9. Trevor Cahill: 22.5 K%, 8.32 K/9
  10. Derek Holland: 22.3 K%, 8.52 K/9

Fewest Walks (FanGraphs leaderboard)

League average = 8.0 BB percentage, 3.03 BB/9

  1. Nathan Eovaldi: 4.1 BB%, 1.51 BB/9
  2. Bartolo Colon: 4.2 BB%, 1.61 BB/9
  3. Clayton Kershaw: 4.5 BB/%, 1.62 BB/9
  4. Hyun-Jin Ryu: 4.6 BB%, 1.64 BB/9
  5. Matt Harvey: 5.1 BB%, 1.93 BB/9
  6. Jeremy Hellickson: 5.4 BB%, 1.97 BB/9
  7. Clay Buchholz: 5.6 BB%, 2.01 BB/9
  8. Patrick Corbin: 6.0 BB%, 2.16 BB/9
  9. Doug Fister: 6.6 BB%, 2.59 BB/9
  10. Dallas Keuchel: 6.6 BB%, 2.55 BB/9

Highest Groundball Rates (FanGraphs leaderboard)

League average = 43 percent

  1.  Trevor Cahill and Dallas Keuchel: 53.7 percent
  2. Wade Miley: 52.8 percent
  3. Doug Fister: 50.4 percent
  4. Lance Lynn: 50 percent
  5. Martin Perez: 49.4 percent
  6. Garrett Richards: 49.3 percent
  7. Adam Wainwright: 48.7 percent
  8. Patrick Corbin: 48.5 percent
  9. Francisco Liriano: 48.3 percent
  10. Clayton Kershaw: 47.9 percent

Least Hard Contact (FanGraphs leaderboard)

League average = 35.6 percent

  1.  Jeremy Hellickson: 26.4 percent
  2. Adam Wainwright: 26.5 percent
  3. Dallas Keuchel: 28.1 percent
  4. Anibal Sanchez: 28.3 percent
  5. CC Sabathia: 28.5 percent
  6. Charlie Morton: 29.8 percent
  7. Marco Estrada: 29.9 percent
  8. J.A. Happ: 30.9 percent
  9. Gio Gonzalez: 31.7 percent
  10. Nathan Eovaldi: 33.2 percent

Many of the starters above won’t fetch big-money contracts this offseason, nor did they land high-paying deals last winter. Eovaldi, who’s still pitching with the title-contending Red Sox, has posted encouraging production in his first action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2016. Meanwhile, Lynn, Liriano, Cahill, Holland, Miley, Sanchez, Colon, Hellickson, Buchholz, Fister, Sabathia and Estrada are all coming off either one-year major league contracts or minor league deals. At least a few of those pitchers recorded quality numbers this past regular season, showing that you don’t necessarily need to splurge in free agency to upgrade your rotation.

Reds Acquire Ryan Lillie From Marlins For International Spending Capacity

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The Reds have acquired right-hander Ryan Lillie from the Marlins for international bonus money, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Athletic (Twitter link). $750K of availability is going to Miami in the swap, per MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (via Twitter).

Lillie, 22, was a fifth round pick of the Marlins in the 2017 draft.  Though he showed plus command (1.12 BB/9 for Low-A Greensboro this season) in his initial low-level taste, Lillie seems little more than organizational depth at this point: at season’s end, he didn’t rank in the top thirty for a mid-pack Marlins system in any major publication.  Baseball America (subscription required) does note that he has a chance to be a back-end reliever, lauding his ’above-average’ slider, though the Marlins used him almost exclusively in a starting role.

For the Marlins, the incentive seems clear: stockpile as much international bonus pool money as possible in hopes of luring star free agent Victor Victor Mesa to Miami.  The Fish, who began the day with $4.3MM in pool money, have baseball’s second-highest total in that department and figure to be key players for the 22-year-old when the time comes.

Quick Hits: Mesa Brothers, Giants, Rays, Braves

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Cuban prospect Victor Victor Mesa, the consensus top prospect on the International circuit, held a showcase for all 30 teams yesterday at Marlins Park with his brother Victor Mesa, Jr., and made a strong impression, reports Jesse Sanchez of mlb.com. Victor Victor, the older of the two by five years, posted top marks in the 60-yard dash, flashed plus arm strength, and hit “with authority” during a live batting practice session against current Marlins minor leaguers.  One top-level American League scout left unimpressed with the eldest’s power projection and noted that Mesa, Jr. could have higher upside, though the prevailing notion, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan, is that Victor Victor is the superior prospect and may only need “a year” in the minor leagues.  The Orioles, who boast the most international bonus pool money for the upcoming signing period at $6.7MM, are considered the “likely” favorite to sign the 22-year-old Victor Victor, according to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, though the market remains nebulous.

In other news from around the league . . .

  • The Giants haven’t yet been bit by the returns for offseason acquisitions Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria, writes Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.  The McCutchen trade was dually headlined by reliever Kyle Crick, whose substantially improved command still falls short of the threshold for sustained success, and outfield prospect Bryan Reynolds, who turned in a solid, if unspectacular season as an old-for-the-level 23-year-old for Double-A Altoona.  Reynolds, who dealt with hamate issues at the beginning of the season, still faces questions about his ability to stay in center field and whether or not he’ll possess enough thump should he be confined to a corner.  For Longoria, the Rays’ lot was headlined by the 23-year-old Christian Arroyo, who again struggled this season after a disastrous MLB debut in 2017.  Arroyo’s strikeout rate ballooned to a career-high 27.1% at Triple-A Durham, and his coveted versatility won’t much matter if he continues to be inept at the plate.
  • The Rays are preparing for an about-face this offseason, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.  Tampa’s startling turnaround, headlined by an embarrassment of pre-arbitration riches and unanticipated minor league breakouts, has left the team with a litany of options as they enter the winter.  “The expectations are up,” GM Erik Neander said. “We go into next year off the season we had, we want to improve. And to improve on the number of wins we had this year should put us in the territory where we’re expecting playoffs.” Neander did add that the club isn’t necessarily expecting an “active winter,” but with only $32MM in payroll commitments for the upcoming season, the Rays figure to be a team to watch as we enter the Hot Stove.
  • Sean Newcomb will start tomorrow’s game three for Atlanta, reports Mark Bowman of mlb.com.  The club had originally tabbed righty Kevin Gausman for the outing, but abruptly changed plans after dropping the first two games in Los Angeles. Newcomb, who was shaky at best for the Braves in the season’s final weeks, perhaps will get the nod merely for his status as a left-handed arm: the Dodgers, after all, destroyed right-handers to the tune of a 117 wRC+ this season, the top mark in the league.

Heath Hembree Added To Red Sox ALDS Roster

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Boston righty Heath Hembree has replaced right-hander Steven Wright on the Red Sox roster for the American League Division Series, the team announced this afternoon.

Wright, whose previous knee issues forced him to miss most of the 2017 season and a sizable chunk this year, was a trusty long option in a suddenly patchwork Red Sox pen.  The knuckler’s results wildly outshined his peripherals (as, it should be noted, is wont to occur among knuckleballers) for the fourth consecutive season, with the 34-year-old posting a stellar 2.68 ERA over 53 2/3 IP. The longtime starter figured to be the perfect change-of-pace hurler in a hard-throwing Red Sox pen that struggled mightily down the stretch.

Hembree, 29, was left off the roster for the opening round after allowing a startling 10 HR in an even 60 IP for Boston this season, the second straight in which the righty was plagued by a propensity for giving up the gopher ball.   Acquired in a 2014 deadline deal from San Francisco in exchange for Jake Peavy, Hembree has stumbled to a mostly uneven career in Boston, where his early-career command woes have never quite been solved, leading to periodic bouts of wildness (4.05 BB/9 in ’18) and the aforementioned issues with the long ball.  Still, Hembree adds a quality right-on-right option (he struck out 31% of same-side hitters he faced this year) to a pen facing perhaps the most dangerous collection of right-handed hitters the game has to offer.

Boston’s bullpen, perhaps the club’s only weak link, is still searching for reliable arms in the most pivotal part of the season.  The Sox didn’t look far for upgrades in July or August this season, comfortable, perhaps, with their historically great offense and collection of Cy Young winners at the top of the rotation.  Still, the team’s recent configurations hint slightly at a deep unease, with the club calling upon rotation lynchpin Rick Porcello in the 7th inning of last night’s 5-4 win, and stationing highly effective third starter Eduardo Rodriguez in the corps for an indefinite period.

Jedd Gyorko’s Future In St. Louis

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St. Louis Cardinals incumbent third baseman Jedd Gyorko’s power has diminished each of the last three seasons and it may be time to find a replacement, opines Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. It promises to be an important subject for the organization over the offseason.

Gyorko has provided valuable versatility for the Cards, seeing time at all four infield positions the last three years. His OBP has risen each year in St. Louis (.306 to .341 to .346), but his power output has gone the other way (.253 ISO to .200 to .154). On the whole, Gyorko’s proven a good gamble since his somewhat-surprising acquisition from the Padres in 2015 – and though he’s not known as a defensive stalwart, defensive metrics are less certain, crediting Gyorko with 24 DRS and 4.9 UZR at third base since 2016. Contractually, he’s guaranteed one more season at $13MM before a team option in 2020.

Finding a player that complements Gyorko’s skill set may be the judicious solution in the short term. The Cardinals front office is said to be “on the edge of giddy” about three third base prospects in their system who could be ready by 2020: Elehuris Montero, Nolan Gorman, and Malcom Nunez.

Gorman was listed as the Cardinals 6th ranked prospect by Baseball America, but the 20-year-old Montero will likely reach the big leagues before Gorman or Cuban-born Nunez, who is only seventeen years old. Montero tore through the Midwest League in 2018, hitting .322/.381/.529. After 24 games in High-A with the Palm Beach Cardinals, the 19-year-old could reach AA sooner rather than later. 

For next season, Gyorko’s role is not likely to change a whole lot – save for possibly in volume. Matt Carpenter started 74 games at third this year, but the Cardinals seem to prefer him on the right side. Top catching prospect Carson Kelly could be an option in short stints, as he played the position in 2013. He hit .269/.378/.395 in AAA and is ostensibly blocked behind the plate by Yadier Molina – but that feels more like a plan D than a plan A.

This year’s free agent class does provide a few palatable options. Bringing home World Series hero David Freese for a season would be a fun retro choice. Mike Moustakas’ name has been thrown out there as a potential stopgap solution as well. Then there are the big names – Josh Donaldson and Manny Machado. It’s unclear if the Cardinals are ready to commit the years and dollars to snag one of the elites, but regardless of the path they choose – they have options.

Check out the 2018-19 MLB Free Agent Tracker for a full list of upcoming free agents.

Playoff Notes: Wright, Barnes, Hicks

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Steven Wright won’t pitch again in the ALDS, per Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston via Twitter. Wright, arbitration eligible for the second time this winter, returned in 2018 to post a 2.68 ERA (4.37 FIP) in sixteen relief appearances and four starts after losing most of 2017 to invasive surgery that repaired cartilage in his knee. The knuckleballer had an MRI after feeling discomfort in the surgically repaired knee before the game, making him a last minute scratch from Alex Cora’s bullpen in Friday’s ALDS game one, and he will see a knee specialist when the team arrives in New York. In an earlier piece, Drellich noted that Wright’s replacement on the ALDS roster would likely come from a pool of Bobby Poyner, Heath Hembree, Hector Velazquez or Brian Johnson. For last night at least, even Rick Porcello was surprised to hear his name called, per this fun peak behind the curtain from Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Boston manager Alex Cora recognized the need for improvisation during the playoffs – as using Porcello in relief was plan “C and a half.” The injury likely affects Boston’s playoff rotation, as mid-season acquisition Nathan Eovaldi could slide up a day to take Porcello’s scheduled start in game three if the latter isn’t ready to go on two days rest.

More from the Red Sox, Yankees ALDS…

  • Drellich also writes that now might be the time for Matt Barnes to step up as the potential stopper the Red Sox need. With Craig Kimbrel an impending free agent, Barnes’ moment could extend through next season. Boston’s offseason decisions do not probably hinge on playoff performance – he’s been in the organization since 2011 and they likely have a sense for his abilities – but it’s an interesting narrative to track. The 28-year-old reliever would certainly be a cheaper option over Kimbrel –  he’s arb eligible for the first time this offseason – and his stuff compares – Barnes’ 14.01 K/9, 4.52 BB/9, 53 GB% to Kimbrel’s 13.85 K/9, 4.48 BB/9, 28.2 GB % in 2018. Collecting saves in 2019 would certainly net Barnes a larger pay bump his second time through arbitration. For next season, however, he provides Boston with a lower-cost option to close out games.
  • Across the diamond, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reports Aaron Hicks aggravated his bothersome right hamstring Friday. Hicks was forced to leave the game after singling off Chris Sale in the fourth and was scheduled for an MRI. Hicks has struggled with a series of nagging injuries during his Yankees tenure, to his oblique, intercostal muscle and now his hamstring – which he injured on September 24th before being cleared of a tear two days later. Brett Gardner is likely to get the start in game two if Hicks can’t go. More concernedly for Hicks, hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky as they often lead to overcompensation and further injury down the line if tested too early. One hopes Hicks can get healthy and stay healthy, lest he earn the ever-ominous label of “injury prone” leading up to his 2019 free agency. Hicks will be arbitration eligible for the final time this offseason and due a raise after hitting .247/.368/.465 with a 127 wRC+.

 

Quick Hits: Managerial Openings

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Make your pick for the most appealing managerial opening here, but while you mull your options, catch up on the latest rumblings…

  • The Rangers managerial job is Michael Young’s if he wants it, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The former Rangers infielder is one of many ex-Rangers currently serving as special assistant to GM Jon Daniels, along with Ivan Rodriguez, Darren Oliver, and Colby Lewis. Theoretically, Young would provide philosophical continuity with the previous regime as well as the front office. Conversely, he’s been looked at before, withdrawing himself from consideration before the hiring of Bannister in 2014, and there’s no indication he has any more interest in the position now. MLB TV analyst Mark DeRosa and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin – Young’s teammates on the 2006 Rangers – continue to pop up as potential alternatives.
  • The Reds hope to have their new skipper in place by the end of the World Series, per Nightengale. Next on the interview docket: Rays bench coach Charlie Montoyo and Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens will be brought in this week, reports Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Meulens served as Bruce Bochy’s right-hand man last year after eight season as the Giants’ hitting coach. The Curacao native managed the Netherlands for two World Baseball Classics and has been considered a manager-in-waiting for a few seasons – interviewing with the Tigers and Yankees last winter, added Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Charlie Montoyo managed Rays affiliates for eighteen years before coaching third base at Tropicana from 2015-17 and – like Meulens – moving to the bench for 2018. Along with their internal candidates, the Reds have interviewed Joe Girardi, Brad Ausmus, and current Giants VP of player development David Bell, as it appears the Reds search is beginning to take shape. It’s no surprise that they’ll want their new manager installed before the offseason bonanza begins, as they plan to be aggressive in going after pitching. If they can secure a clear, strong voice in the dugout and a few extra arms for the mound, the Reds will have accomplished their two primary offseason goals.

Quick Hits: Mets, Watson, Ng, Twins, Rowson, Cubs

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Few days on the sports calendar are better than the day when all four Division Series have games scheduled, and today was no exception.  We saw a pair of shutouts in both NLDS matchups, as the Brewers took a 2-0 series lead over the Rockies after a 4-0 win, while the Dodgers blanked the Braves on eight innings of two-hit ball from Clayton Kershaw.  (Incredibly, the Braves are still looking for their first run in the series as they head back to Atlanta in a 2-0 hole.)  The Astros began their World Series title defense in strong fashion with a 7-2 rout of the Indians in Game 1, while the Red Sox jumped out to an early lead and then held on to win a 5-4 nail-biter to win the first game of their showdown with the Yankees.

Here’s more from around the baseball world as we look forward to more ALDS action tomorrow…

  • The Mets will interview Nationals special assistant De Jon Watson as part of their GM search on Wednesday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports (via Twitter).  Still just 52 years old, Watson has a wealth of front office experience dating back to the early 90’s, working as a scout, scouting director, assistant GM (with the Dodgers) and senior VP of baseball operations (with the Diamondbacks) before spending the last two seasons in Washington’s front office.
  • Watson joins Gary LaRocque and Doug Melvin as known candidates reportedly set for interviews with the Mets in the coming days, and Mike Puma of the New York Post adds that Kim Ng is also expected to be interviewed this week.  Ng, a former assistant GM for the Dodgers and Yankees, was recently mentioned as a potential candidate.
  • While the Mets are lining up interviews, Puma notes that some candidates have declined to be involved due to the twin perceptions that the next GM won’t have full autonomy under the Wilpon family, and that the team isn’t open to embracing analytics.  For instance, Jeff Wilpon has “indicated” the new GM will have the power to replace returning members of the front office braintrust (i.e. Omar Minaya, John Ricco, J.P. Ricciardi), though “there is heavy skepticism throughout the industry” that this would be the case.  As past reports have indicated, Fred Wilpon would prefer hiring a GM from a scouting and player development background, with one source telling Puma that “Fred would go out of his mind” dealing with an analytically-inclined GM.  Though the elder Wilpon will ultimately make the hire, however, he won’t enter the process until the final list of candidates has been determined, as Jeff Wilpon and Ricco will conduct the first round of interviews.
  • The Twins interviewed hitting coach James Rowson for their managerial vacancy today, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.  The team also has interest in Mark DeRosa and David Ross, a pair of former players-turned-TV analysts who have often been mentioned as potential future managers.  DeRosa could be on the Rangers’ radar as well this winter, and he has interviewed with the Mets and Marlins for past managerial openings in recent years.  None of the trio has any previous pro experience as a manager, as Rowson has previously only worked as a hitting coach (with the Twins and Cubs) and minor league hitting coordinator (with the Cubs and Yankees).
  • The Cubs project to be very deep in starting pitching options in 2019, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes, with the obvious caveat that several of those arms will have to rebound from injury-filled or just ineffective seasons.  “We’re not looking to get rid of starting pitchers,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said.  “We’re looking to have as much depth as possible so we can withstand multiple injuries.”  As the team is expected to exercise their club option on Cole Hamels, Chicago will have Hamels, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana, swingman Mike Montgomery, Yu Darvish looking to get healthy, Tyler Chatwood looking to improve on his brutal 2018 numbers, and Drew Smyly in his first full season recovered from Tommy John surgery.  It makes for quite a surplus if all those arms are healthy and productive, though that would be a problem the Cubs would certainly be happy to face if it occurs.

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