How Good Are The Angels?
The Angels have employed the world’s best baseball player, center fielder Mike Trout, since 2011, yet the team has never come close to fully capitalizing on his presence. The Halos endured their third straight non-playoff season in 2017, during which a thumb injury helped limit Trout to a career-low 114 games, and finished below .500 (80-82) for the second year in a row. With Trout on their roster, the Angels have gone to the postseason just once – in 2014 – and the Royals swept them from the American League Division Series that year. So, through no real fault of his own, Trout has never even won a playoff game in the majors.
With Trout set to enter the third-last year of his contract in 2018, general manager Billy Eppler has spent this offseason making one impressive move after another to ensure the Angels finally give real support to the two-time AL MVP. Not only was Eppler able to reel in the offseason’s top free agent, ballyhooed Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, but he also kept big-hitting left fielder Justin Upton from leaving via the open market and improved the team’s infield substantially with the pickups of second baseman Ian Kinsler (acquired from the Tigers) and third baseman Zack Cozart (signed to a three-year, $38MM deal).
The Angels’ inability to find solutions at either the keystone or the hot corner helped lead to their downfall last season, when their second basemen finished with the majors’ third-worst fWAR (minus-0.3) and their third basemen posted the league’s 10th-worst mark (2.0). Kinsler and Cozart combined for 7.4 fWAR in 2017, meanwhile, and the latter was particularly strong during an unexpected offensive breakout (.297/.385/.548 in 507 plate appearances). Even if that proves to be a mirage and Cozart regresses to being the roughly league-average hitter he was from 2015-16, both that and the ex-Reds shortstop’s top-quality defense would still make him a welcome addition in Anaheim.
Now, with Trout, Upton, Kinsler, Cozart, shortstop Andrelton Simmons, catcher Martin Maldonado and right fielder Kole Calhoun, the Angels have an enviable core group of position players (though Calhoun’s the only lefty-swinger of the bunch). Of course, they may yet have another impressive bat in Ohtani, who thrived as a lefty slugger in Japan and will get an opportunity to factor in as a designated hitter with the Angels. Another benefit of Ohtani’s presence is that it should make it easier for the team to limit the at-bats of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, who seemed to finally hit the wall during his age-37 campaign in 2017.
While it’s anyone’s guess whether Ohtani’s offensive excellence will transfer from Japan to North America, he at least figures to be a front-line starting pitcher if healthy. That’s not a given, unfortunately, as the hard-throwing right-hander is currently dealing with a sprained UCL in his throwing elbow. Every team that courted Ohtani during his famous foray into free agency seemingly knew about the issue at the time, however, and there’s hope it won’t prove to be a major injury.
Barring a disastrous turn of events, Ohtani and fellow righty Garrett Richards – who barely pitched over the previous two years while contending with injuries of his own – should form an outstanding one-two punch. There are injury- and performance-related questions peppered throughout the rest of what could be a six-man starting staff, though, with no one from the quintet of Matt Shoemaker, Parker Bridwell, Tyler Skaggs, Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano inspiring a ton of confidence.
Beyond that, a bullpen that was an upper-echelon group last season lost arguably its premier reliever, workhorse Yusmeiro Petit, who joined the AL West rival Athletics in free agency. With apologies to up-and-down veteran Jim Johnson, whom the Angels acquired from the Braves last month, they haven’t done anything to adequately replace Petit. Consequently, their current relief corps consists of several question marks aside from Blake Parker, who was tremendous last season.
Eppler’s heavy lifting for the offseason is probably over, but he could still address certain areas – namely the pitching staff – in an effort to bolster the Angels’ playoff chances in 2018. At the same time, other AL GMs will surely make moves in the coming months that help shape the postseason race next year. But for now, the Angels join the division-rival/reigning world champion Astros, Indians, Yankees and Red Sox as the class of the AL, according to FanGraphs, which regards the new-look Halos as an 86-win team. Based on that projection, the Angels would finish three games ahead of sixth-place Toronto, earn the AL’s second wild-card spot and snap their three-year playoff drought. We’re still a few months from seeing these Angels play a meaningful game, but are you on the bandwagon right now?
(Poll link for App users)
Do you expect the Angels to make the playoffs in 2018?
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Yes 66% (12,374)
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No 34% (6,516)
Total votes: 18,890
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Machado, Yelich, Cole, Ozuna, Harper, Red Sox
This week in baseball blogs…
- Chin Music Baseball ranks the top five trade destinations for Manny Machado.
- Camden Depot makes cases for and against the Orioles trading Machado.
- Fish Stripes weighs the pros and cons of a Christian Yelich trade for Miami.
- The Point of Pittsburgh wonders whether the Pirates should make a run in 2018 with Gerrit Cole or trade him now.
- Pirates Breakdown tries to find the best fit in a Cole trade.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2, 3) looks at Cole and other starting pitchers the Yankees could acquire, responds to the Astros’ addition of Hector Rondon, and evaluates the Twins’ signing of Fernando Rodney.
- STL Hat Trick and Nyrdcast offer pieces on new Cardinal Marcell Ozuna.
- District On Deck forecasts the Bryce Harper sweepstakes that could take place in a year.
- The Sports Tank believes the Red Sox must attempt to sign both J.D. Martinez and Eric Hosmer.
- Outfield Fly Rule analyzes this weekend’s Braves-Dodgers trade.
- The Loop Sports projects the Cubs’ 2018 pitching staff in the wake of their recent moves.
- Good Fundies and Mets Daddy react to the signing of Anthony Swarzak.
- Kennedy’s Commentary argues that long-term contracts are bad for baseball.
- Jays From the Couch explains how Toronto can contend in 2018 without mortgaging its future.
- Pinstriped Prospects details how Jacoby Ellsbury‘s presence could hurt the Yankees’ farm system.
- Collegiate Baseball Scouting Network interviews MLB.com prospect guru Jim Callis about two-way players and 2018 draft prospects.
- The 3rd Man In profiles and talks with left-handed pitching prospect Ryan Weathers, the son of former major leaguer David Weathers and a potential top 10 pick in next year’s draft.
- World Series Dreaming contends that the Cubs are in an enviable position from a payroll standpoint.
- Reviewing the Brew writes a letter to Santa from Brewers general manager David Stearns.
- The Giants Cove doesn’t have much hope for the club heading into next season.
- Think Blue Planning Committee assembles a Dodgers All-Prospect bullpen.
- Baseball Essential says it’s time for a couple AL East teams to rebuild.
- Diehardnyy asks if the Yankees should pursue a trade for Josh Harrison.
- Jays Journal isn’t encouraged by Toronto’s offseason thus far.
- Call to the Pen could see the division-rival Phillies and Mets lining up as trade partners.
- Bat Flips & Nerds breaks down the players coming over from Japan this winter (besides Shohei Ohtani).
- The K Zone points out that pitchers tend to post worse results upon switching from the NL to the AL.
- DiNardo’s Dugout (podcast) discusses their trip to the Winter Meetings and some of the key moves made during the festivities.
- North Shore Nine (podcast) was also on hand at the meetings, and chats about various Pirates rumors.
- Bronx to Bushville (links: 1, 2) focuses on the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton acquisition.
- Everything Bluebirds highlights a few Blue Jays prospects who could be in for bounce-back years in 2018.
- The First Out At Third revisits their 2017 bold predictions for the Brewers.
- Rotisserie Duck names some highly touted 1990s prospects who didn’t pan out in the majors.
Submissions: ZachBBWI @gmail.com
NL East Notes: Nats, Rendon, Mets, Phillies
Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon implied to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and other reporters Sunday that he’d be open to discussing an extension with the team (Twitter link). “Why not stay with one organization?” said Rendon, who has been a member of the franchise since it chose him sixth overall in the 2011 draft. The Scott Boras client has turned into an elite-level player since then, and he’s only two years away from free agency (he’ll make a projected $11.5MM in 2018). Unsurprisingly, general manager Mike Rizzo suggested earlier this week that the Nats would be interested in locking up Rendon before he’s able to leave.
More on Washington and two of its division rivals:
- The Mets‘ front office enters each offseason “flying blind,” without an exact idea of how much money is available to spend, Marc Carig of Newsday reports. Carig reached out via email to Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon to discuss the team’s payroll, but the executive declined comment through a spokesman. As a result, Carig goes on to criticize the Mets for a lack of transparency and accountability, an unwillingness to spend like the huge-market team they are, and their almost nonexistent scouting presence in the Pacific Rim and Cuba.
- Even with Carlos Santana, Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek now aboard, the Phillies may not contend for a playoff spot in 2018. However, those signings are credibility-building moves that will help the team make progress in the win-loss column next season, thus making it a more attractive option for premier free agents in a year, Matt Gelb of Philly.com observes. According to Gelb, the club has done a lot of planning around next winter’s class, one that’s currently slated to include Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and other superstars.
- Reliever Brandon Kintzler turned down offers to close elsewhere to return to the Nationals as a setup man, Rizzo revealed Sunday (Twitter link via Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com). “Part of the thing we like most about him is he’s about the name on the front of the jersey, more so than the name on the back,” Rizzo said. More on Kintzler from Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, who reports (Twitter link) that the righty’s agent, Kevin Kohler, asked Rizzo during negotiations if he’d re-up Kintzler to a one-year, $5MM contract. Rizzo said he would, but he expressed doubt that Kintzler would accept that. Kintzler’s camp then responded with a two-year, $15MM proposal. In the end, the sides settled on a two-year agreement with a $10MM guarantee and a chance for $6MM million more in incentives.
Week In Review: Winter Meetings
This year’s Winter Meetings didn’t provide as much activity as expected, but this has still easily been the busiest week of the offseason thus far. During the meetings (which ran from Sunday to Thursday) and the days since, we’ve seen a host of transactions. In case you missed any of those moves, here’s a full rundown:
Trades
- Angels – acquired 2B Ian Kinsler from Tigers for RHP Wilkel Hernandez and OF Troy Montgomery
- Athletics – acquired OF Stephen Piscotty from Cardinals for IF Yairo Munoz and IF Max Schrock
- Braves – acquired 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Scott Kazmir, IF Charlie Culberson and $4.5MM from Dodgers for OF Matt Kemp
- Cardinals – acquired OF Marcell Ozuna from Marlins for RHPs Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, OF Magneuris Sierra and LHP Daniel Castano
- Mariners – acquired RHP Shawn Armstrong from Indians for $500K in international bonus pool space; acquired LHP Anthony Misiewicz from Rays for $1MM of international bonus pool space
- Padres – acquired 3B Chase Headley, RHP Bryan Mitchell and $500K from Yankees for OF Jabari Blash; acquired SS Freddy Galvis from Phillies for RHP Enyel De Los Santos
- Pirates – acquired RHP Nick Burdi from Phillies for $500K of international bonus pool space
- Rangers – acquired LHP Matt Moore and $750K in international bonus pool space from Giants for RHPs Sam Wolff and Israel Cruz; acquired OF Carlos Tocci from White Sox for cash
- Rays – acquired IF Joey Wendle from Athletics for a player to be named later; acquired IF Ryan Schimpf from Padres for IF Deion Tansel
- Royals – acquired RHP Brad Keller from Reds for cash or a player to be named later; acquired RHP Burch Smith from Mets for cash or PTBNL
- Yankees – acquired OF Giancarlo Stanton and $30MM (barring opt-out from Stanton after 2020) from Marlins for IF Starlin Castro, IF Jose Devers and RHP Jorge Guzman
Major league signings
- Angels – IF Zack Cozart (three years, $38MM)
- Astros – RP Hector Rondon (two years, $8.5MM); RP Joe Smith (two years, $15MM)
- Brewers – RHP Yovani Gallardo (details unknown; contract is pending a physical)
- Cardinals – RP Luke Gregerson (two years, $11MM)
- Cubs – RP Steve Cishek (two years, $13MM); RP Brandon Morrow (two years, $21MM); LHP Drew Smyly (two years, $10MM)
- Dodgers – RHP Tom Koehler (one year; contract is pending a physical)
- Mariners – RP Juan Nicasio (two years, $17MM)
- Mets – RP Anthony Swarzak (two years, $14MM)
- Nationals – RP Brandon Kintzler (two years, $10MM; contract is pending a physical)
- Orioles – RHP Michael Kelly (details unknown)
- Phillies – RP Tommy Hunter (two years, $18MM); RP Pat Neshek (two years, $16.25MM); 1B Carlos Santana (three years, $60MM; contract is pending a physical)
- Rangers – RP Chris Martin (two years, $4MM)
- Rockies – RP Jake McGee (three years, $27MM); RP Bryan Shaw (three years, $27MM)
- Twins – RHP Michael Pineda (two years, $10MM); RP Fernando Rodney (one year, $4.5MM)
- Yankees – LHP CC Sabathia (one year, $10MM)
Minor league signings
- Angels – OF Rymer Liriano (link)
- Brewers – RHP Angel Ventura (link)
- Indians – OF Melvin Upton Jr. (link)
- Mariners – IF Gordon Beckham (link)
- Marlins – IF Cristhian Adames, OF Rafael Ortega, RHP Alex Wimmers (links here)
- Mets – C Jose Lobaton (link)
- Nationals – LHP Tim Collins (link)
- Rangers – IF Hanser Alberto, RHP Kevin Jepsen (link)
- Rays – Thirteen players (link)
- Rockies – UTIL Shawn O’Malley (link)
- Royals – 3B/OF Cody Asche, RHP Mike Broadway (link)
- Tigers – UTIL Ronny Rodriguez (link)
- Yankees – C Erik Kratz (link)
International signings
- Dodgers – RHP Guillermo Zuniga ($205K bonus)
- Rays – SS Jelfry Marte ($800K bonus)
Designated for assignment
- Astros – OF Preston Tucker (link)
- Braves – 1B Adrian Gonzalez (link)
- Marlins – LHP Hunter Cervenka (link)
- Padres – RHP Jose Ruiz (link)
Released
- Mariners – RHP Seth Frankoff (link)
Waiver claims
- Mariners (from Phillies) – OF Cameron Perkins (link)
- Pirates (from Phillies) – INF Engelb Vielma (link)
Outrighted
- Tigers – RHP Victor Alcantara (link)
Latest On Manny Machado
SUNDAY: The White Sox and Diamondbacks had shown the most interest in Machado as of Saturday morning, Olney heard from AL sources.
THURSDAY: Trade winds continue to swirl around Manny Machado, as the Orioles’ apparent willingness to consider dealing its star third baseman was one of the major storylines of the Winter Meetings. The Orioles have received ten “legitimate offers” for Machado, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports, though the quality of those offers and the number of teams involved may be hampered by Baltimore’s refusal to allow a 72-hour window for a new team to talk to Machado’s agents about a possible extension.
The Cardinals didn’t make “a formal offer” due to that lack of negotiating period, and the White Sox (previously thought to have made the strongest of all the offers) apparently didn’t include any of their top prospects in their proposal, Nightengale reports. Two executives said that Chicago made its offer with the belief that the Sox would only have Machado for the 2018 season.
One major factor influencing talks is Baltimore owner Peter Angelos’ insistence that Machado not end up with the Yankees in 2018. This naturally rules out a direct trade with New York, though Angelos also doesn’t want a scenario where Machado is dealt to a team that would flip him to the Yankees for prospects, be it before the July trade deadline or even later this offseason. These parameters would seem to limit the Orioles’ list of potential trade partners to only contending teams, and maybe even to contenders that would seemingly have no chance of a midseason collapse and subsequent deadline fire sale (though obviously one can’t know for sure what would-be contenders could be in for a nightmare season, a la the 2017 Giants.)
The White Sox aren’t expected to contend for even a couple of seasons yet, and thus would seem like potential candidates to deal Machado in order to further hasten their rebuild. The Sox are apparently willing to address Angelos’ concerns, as Nightengale writes that “if the Orioles even wanted it in writing that they’d keep him around until at least mid-summer,” Chicago would be fine with that assurance. This would be quite an unusual type of trade provisio, of course, and one that Angelos may still not be fine with if he wants to eliminate any chance of Machado wearing Yankee pinstripes in 2018.
Beyond the teams already reported as having interest in Machado, the Diamondbacks are also in the mix, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets. Arizona “checked in” on the Machado talks, though it isn’t clear if the D’Backs were just performing due diligence or if they were one of the clubs who made Baltimore an offer. Machado would seem to be something of an unlikely fit for a D’Backs team that doesn’t have the payroll space to afford Machado’s $17.3 projected salary for 2018, though they could clear some of their own pricier arb-eligible players off the books by sending them back to the O’s. Patrick Corbin, for instance, would be an upgrade for the Orioles’ rotation, while Jake Lamb would replace Machado at third base and give some much-needed left-handed balance to Baltimore’s lineup.
MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently took a broad look at the Machado situation, gauging all 29 other teams by how plausible they seem as contenders to actually land the star infielder. Needless to say, Angelos’ specifications would seem to narrow an already thin market, since there aren’t many teams willing to meet the Orioles’ big asking price (reportedly two controllable starting pitchers) for just a year of Machado’s services. Adams listed both the White Sox and Diamondbacks as “out of the picture” candidates, so their chances of working out a deal could be even more remote given Angelos’ wariness of any “creative” follow-up trades a Machado suitor could make.
Orioles Rumors: Schoop, Mancini, Givens, Machado, Cards, Duffy
The latest on the Orioles comes in a pair of articles from Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com…
- It’s unclear how many “untouchable” players the Orioles have, but second baseman Jonathan Schoop, outfielder Trey Mancini and reliever Mychal Givens are among them, an executive from outside the organization told Kubatko at the Winter Meetings. The lone player of those three who’s not under control for the long haul is Schoop, who has two arbitration-eligible years remaining. The Orioles will attempt to extend him sometime soon, Kubatko suggests. Mancini is controllable for the next half-decade, including two pre-arb campaigns, while Givens is under wraps for four more seasons (he’ll be eligible for arbitration in a year).
- While talking Manny Machado with the Cardinals, the Orioles showed interest in a trio of right-handers – Luke Weaver, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Hicks – as well as catcher Carson Kelly, Kubatko relays. In acquiring Weaver and Flaherty, the Orioles would accomplish their goal of getting two major league-ready starters for their top player. Of course, it’s questionable whether the Cardinals would even part with one (let alone both) for a single year of Machado. Weaver held his own across 60 1/3 innings last season for the Cards, who may not be in position to lose another starter with free agent Lance Lynn likely set to depart, while Flaherty ranks as MLB.com’s 48th-best prospect.
- The Orioles are reportedly trying to acquire Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, but Kubatko throws cold water on the possibility. Baltimore is indeed interested in Duffy, but it’s unlikely a deal with Kansas City will come together, in part because the Royals aren’t “aggressively shopping” the soon-to-be 29-year-old, Kubatko hears.
- Although the Orioles are seeking a left-handed hitter, they don’t seem to have interest in free agent Jon Jay, per Kubatko. That differs from previous offseasons when Jay was on the O’s radar, he notes. Conversely, Baltimore could consider Preston Tucker, whom the Astros designated for assignment Friday.
Quick Hits: Cubs, Giants, Franco, T. Frazier, LeBlanc
The Cubs should offer a package centering on shortstop Addison Russell to the Orioles for Manny Machado, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com argues. While the Cubs would be parting with four years of control over Russell for a season of Machado, the latter would improve their chances enough in 2018 to make it worthwhile, reasons Rogers, who points out that Chicago would perhaps have a shot to re-sign him by next winter. Even if Machado left the Cubs a year from now, they could conceivably spend big money on another free agent (Bryce Harper?), move Javier Baez from second base to shortstop to replace Machado and use Ian Happ and Ben Zobrist at the keystone.
A few more notes from around the game:
- The Giants expressed some interest in Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco at the Winter Meetings, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia (Twitter link). It’s unclear, though, whether the two sides engaged in any substantive talks. The 25-year-old Franco’s value clearly isn’t at its peak, as he has fallen flat since a terrific 80-game debut in 2015. He’s now coming off a season in which he hit a woeful .230/.281/.409 in 623 plate appearances. Franco will try to rebound in 2018, his first of four potential arbitration years (he’ll earn a projected $3.6MM).
- Free agent Todd Frazier has played the overwhelming majority of his career at third base since debuting in 2011, but he’d consider moving to the keystone in 2018. “I’m open to anything,” he told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com on Saturday. “Even second base, without a doubt. When I first came up, I was a utility guy. I’m not afraid to go back to playing another position. I’m comfortable playing any position any team wants me to play.” The 31-year-old Frazier’s comments came on the heels of a report that some teams believe he’s capable of handling second. As for where he’ll sign, Frazier said he’d “love to play for any team,” including the Yankees, with whom he spent the second half of last season. Unsurprisingly, the New Jersey native’s seeking a multiyear contract, Kuty reports.
- Six teams are showing interest in free agent left-hander Wade LeBlanc as a swingman/long reliever, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN tweets. As a Pirate last season, the 33-year-old LeBlanc threw 68 innings of 4.50 ERA ball with 7.15 K/9, 2.25 BB/9 and a 45.9 percent groundball rate. That performance didn’t win over Pittsburgh, which declined LeBlanc’s cheap option ($1.25MM) in favor of a $500K buyout.
Reactions To And Effects Of Dodgers-Braves Trade
The Dodgers and Braves swung an out-of-nowhere, payroll-geared trade Saturday consisting of five major leaguers, with just one (Matt Kemp) going to Los Angeles in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Charlie Culberson. LA, which made the trade for luxury tax purposes, previously tried to send Gonzalez, Kazmir and McCarthy to the Marlins as part of a package for now-Yankee Giancarlo Stanton, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. Although that failed, Dodgers brass already had a fallback option in the Braves, whose general manager – Alex Anthopoulos – worked in LA’s front office until mid-November. The two sides began discussing the parameters of Saturday’s trade shortly after his hiring, per McCullough. Talks gained steam during this week’s Winter Meetings before culminating in an agreement Saturday.
- The Braves immediately designated Gonzalez for assignment after his acquisition, but the 35-year-old had to waive his no-trade clause before the deal could occur. Gonzalez touched on that choice afterward, saying in a statement: “My final decision was not based on playing time, as I had agreed to a limited bench role. It is a way to test the free-agent market and see what opportunities are out there for me so I can make the best decision moving forward for me and my family. Lifting the no-trade clause is the hardest decision I have ever made in my career due to the fact that I loved every single second being a Dodger.”
- The Padres will consider a reunion with Gonzalez if they’re unable to reel in free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer, Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests (Twitter link). Gonzalez was a franchise player in San Diego from 2006-10, slashing .288/.374/.514 with 161 home runs in 3,425 plate appearances and earning three All-Star nods.
- Shortly after the news broke, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Dodgers would likely trade or release Kemp before he ever plays another game in their uniform (he was previously with LA from 2006-14). The Dodgers will first try to flip Kemp, confirms McCullough, who adds that they “appear willing to offer prospects” to help convince someone to take some of his contract. Kemp, 33, is due $21.5MM in each of the next two seasons. Keith Law of ESPN opines that he wouldn’t even be worth picking up if the Dodgers ate all of that money (subscription required and recommended). Regarding a discussion he had with Kemp, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said: “I was very open and honest with him about what the future might hold. It’s just too difficult to say, definitively, at this point.”
- Having completed this trade, it seems the Braves’ heavy lifting for the offseason is mostly over, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution details. They improved their defense by getting rid of Kemp, thus freeing up a spot in the outfield for elite prospect Ronald Acuna (he’ll be in the majors early in 2018, whether it’s Opening Day or a bit later); added a veteran starter in McCarthy (possibly two if Kazmir recovers from a hip injury); and landed a backup infielder they like in Culberson. While Anthopoulos said the Braves could still seek a third baseman and relief help, he noted that those areas are not priorities, O’Brien writes.
- Meanwhile, Nightengale, Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs and Bill Shaikin of the LA Times agree that this trade will help set up an action-packed offseason in a year. Now that the Dodgers are unlikely to exceed the $197MM luxury tax threshold in 2018, they can be more aggressive in trying to reel in certain members of a star-studded class of free agents next winter. One of their own standouts, left-hander Clayton Kershaw, could be a prominent part of that group.
AL Rumors: Rays, Archer, Longoria, Yanks, White Sox, Machado, Red Sox
The Astros and Phillies have interest in Rays right-hander Chris Archer, joining a slew of previously reported clubs, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays clearly wouldn’t have any trouble finding a taker for Archer, thanks to his track record, age (29) and team-friendly contract (four years, $34MM). Teammate and face of the franchise Evan Longoria, the Rays’ longtime third baseman, is three years older than Archer and costs far more (a guaranteed $86MM over a half-decade). But that doesn’t seem to be a prohibitive price tag, as the three-time All-Star is drawing some interest from the division-rival Yankees as well as the Giants, Mets and previously reported Cardinals, according to Topkin.
More on Tampa Bay and a few other teams:
- The offer the White Sox made to the Orioles for third baseman/shortstop Manny Machado did not include second baseman Yoan Moncada or rightyMichael Kopech, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes. It would’ve been a surprise to see the rebuilding White Sox consider parting with either player for only a year of control over Machado. The 22-year-old Moncada and Kopech, 21, were the crown jewels in the package they received last winter for Chris Sale, after all. Moncada, whom the White Sox promoted last July, will be their second baseman from the get-go next year. The flamethrowing Kopech reached Triple-A in 2017 and now ranks as MLB.com’s 10th-best prospect.
- While righty Jake Odorizzi represents another Ray who could be in a different uniform in 2018, teams aren’t having an easy time prying him out of Tampa Bay. The Rays have let potential trade partners know they’ll have to “extend” for a shot at Odorizzi, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press tweets. Odorizzi, who will play his age-28 campaign in 2018, is under control via arbitration for two more seasons. He’s projected to earn a reasonable $6.5MM next year.
- Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com and other reporters Saturday that the club had interest in Carlos Santana before he agreed to to a pact with Philadelphia on Friday. However, the Red Sox “weren’t necessarily prepared to go to the dollar amount that was there” for the first baseman, who landed a three-year, $60MM guarantee. And after suggesting at the Winter Meetings that offense-needy Boston would only add one big bat, Dombrowski doubled down on that Saturday, saying the team’s “focused on getting one person.”
Minor MLB Transactions: 12/16/17
The latest minor moves from around baseball:
- The Rockies have signed utilityman Shawn O’Malley to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp, Bob Dutton of Baseball America reports on Twitter. The switch-hitting, 29-year-old O’Malley has collected 305 major league plate appearances since debuting in 2014, batting a combined .231/.315/.317 with the Angels and Mariners and playing all over the diamond (every outfield spot, second base, shortstop and third). An appendectomy and arthroscopic shoulder surgery helped keep O’Malley out of the majors last year and limit him to 120 PAs between Seattle’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
- Utilityman Ronny Rodriguez announced on Instagram that he’s joining the Tigers on a minor league deal (h/t: Evan Woodbery of MLive.com). Rodriguez had spent his entire pro career with the division-rival Indians since signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2010. He never cracked the majors with the Tribe, though, instead topping out at Triple-A. The 25-year-old played at the minors’ highest level from 2016-17 and hit a respectable .274/.308/.427 in 971 PAs. Rodriguez has seen action at every position but pitcher, catcher and left field during his minor league career, as Woodbery notes.
- The Brewers announced the re-signing of 24-year-old right-hander Angel Ventura to a minors pact. Ventura, whom the Brewers signed out of the Dominican in 2011, owns a 3.96 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 across 534 minor league innings with the organization (130 appearances, 67 starts)