In case you missed it from Friday, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark provided an interesting look at the views of 23 MLB executives on the still-concluding off-season. Intervening events already have impacted some of the conclusions (and will continue to do so), but the piece is chock full of interesting observations nonetheless. Among them: whether or not the money was all wisely spent, the voters say that the Yankees are the most improved team in the American League. A comparatively quiet off-season from the National League left the Nationals as the most improved club on that side (largely on the back of the Doug Fister trade), with the Padres a somewhat surprising choice for the second slot. As for least improved, the Orioles and Blue Jays top the list on the AL side, though Baltimore has already made an off-season altering move and Toronto still could. (The Tigers came in third.) The Reds and Pirates pulled up the rear among National League teams. After the Fister deal (an "all-time heist," as Stark summed up the collective viewpoint), voters liked the Rays' trade for Ryan Hanigan and the Athletics' acquisition of Jim Johnson.
Here are notes on some other free agent situations around the game …
- Last we checked in with lefty Barry Zito, it was to learn that his option was being declined by the Giants. The reason, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, is that Zito has apparently not done anything to pursue a contract. Though he is not necessarily hanging up his spikes for good, says Heyman, the 36-year-old will seemingly not pitch in 2014.
- Southpaw Oliver Perez is considering offers from four clubs, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. A decision is expected in short order.
- Swingman Chad Gaudin tweeted today that he is in line for surgery and expects to be at 100% in three months. Gaudin, was recently released by the Phillies when he failed his physical, did not disclose details of his malady.
- Outfielder Tyler Colvin could still end up with the Orioles, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Baltimore somewhat infamously blew up its contract with the 28-year-old after he failed his physical.
- A.J. Burnett was mistaken when he said that the Orioles did not express much interest in him, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). In fact, says Rosenthal, Baltimore made multiple offers but Burnett wanted to pitch in the National League.
It’s ok A.J. you are happier as a Phillie and I am happier!
Although, it a shame that you couldn’t make the All Day/Night A.J. Burnett Rally at the Double T Diner for a free cup of Coffee! They are home to the ‘Smoothest Cup of Joe’ you will ever have! =P
and a really good bowl of Maryland crab soup
Saying the Yankees are most improved is just plain wrong. Yes, they added the most players but they also lost the most. They lost Robinson Cano (probably in the top 3-5 players in baseball), Curtison Granderson, Alex Rodriguez (who admittedly they only had for a portion of last year), Mariano Riviera, Andy Petite and a bunch of second tier players like Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Boone Logan. Yes, they added Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Masahiro Tanaka and Jacoby Ellsbury. But, is the second group really better than the first? Maybe slightly.. but most improved??? Ridiculous! The Yankees are the worst run team in baseball. They have an insane amount of bad contracts and the only reason they are still remotely good is because they spend 1/2 billion dollars every few years to reload.
Don’t forget their “luck” in one run games last year.
I’m pretty sure he won’t….as the Orioles were even “luckier” in one run games a year before and was the only reason they went to playoffs after 1998, only to be eliminated in the first round…by the Yankees.
Eliminated in the second round by the Yankees. If your gonna take a cheep shot make sure its accurate. Also after 162 game sample size luck does not exist. Those numbers are reflective of how good their pen was that year.
Even if 162 games was a large enough sample size to draw a conculusion the Orioles did not play nearly that many one run games that year. You can not apply non-one run games to a sample size about trends in one run games.
Even if 162 games was a large enough sample size to draw a conculusion the Orioles did not play nearly that many one run games that year. You can not apply non-one run games to a sample size about trends in one run games.
RedSox fan here and I think you have some valid points but disagree and think thatthe Yanks are the most improved team especially on offense. Let’s look at infield first.
2013 Catchers averaged an OPS+ of 58 and contributed .2 WAR.
2014 McCann Career OPS+ 117 and averaged 3 WAR in 8 full years.
2013 1B Overbay 87 OPS+ added .2 WAR
2014 1B Texeria 2012 OPS+ 115 and added 3.9 WAR
2013 2B Cano OPS+ 145 and 7.5 WAR
2014 2B ? Let’s say 1 WAR
2013 SS Nunez OPS+ 86 and -1.5 WAR
2014 SS Jeter averaged a 107 OPS+ in 2011-12 and 1.5 WAR
2013 3B Many combined for OPS+ of 73.
2014 3B Kelly Johnson OPS+ of 99 in 2013
Four of the 5 positions contributed nothing and they clearly improve at all of those 4 positions and I think as a whole the infield will be better even without Cano.
Don’t you dare bring statistics and common sense. It’s much better to make hypothetically biased calculations and not provide any facts.
Now
Outfield and DH
2013LF VERNON WELLS OPS+ 72 and WAR -.2
2014 LF Alfonso Sorionio OPS + 112 and 2.4 WAR in 2013
2013 CF Gardner OPS+ 108 WAR 4.2
2014 CF Ellsbury OPS+ 114 WAR 5.8
2013 RF Ichiro 75 OPS+ WAR 1.8
2014 RF Gardner OPS+ 108 WAR 4.2
2013DH Hafner OPS+ 85 and WAR -.1
2014 DH Beltran OPS+ 128 WAR 2.4
All four positions clearly improve and combined the unit improves a lot.
I like how you left out the IF and pitching staff
Did infield below…
The Infield is below and the Pitching staff only got better.
Sabathia
Kuroda
Nova
Pettite
Hughes
Vs
Sabathia
Kuroda
Tanaka
Nova
Pineda
Which rotation has the best upside? and which one you rather have?
Bob,
You make some good points but you are also making the assumption that aging and/or injured players are going to automatically go back to their previous production. You also aren’t considering the changes to their pitching staff. Losing Riviera and Pettite is a huge deal. Adding Tanaka will most likely help but he’s no guarantee. I did say I think they are improved just not nearly the MOST improved team in the AL.
What team is the most improved in the AL then? if you’re going to make a point, then go all the way.
The Twins, White Sox and Rangers actually improved a lot more. They added a lot of players and didn’t lose anyone. The Yankees gains are offset by the loss of 3 great players in Rivera, Pettite and Cano.
Rangers may well be the most improved. they added Choo and Fielder while loosing only Kinsler and Cruz. Kinsler will be replaced by Profar so his loss is at least offset somewhat.
Rotation Kept CC (prime bounce back candidate), Nova, and Kuroda. Lost Petitte (pretty good) replaced him with Tanaka(should be better) and Hughes (-2 WAR one of the worst pitchers in the game in that park) and replaced him with someone who most likely will be better.
I will admit the bullpen is shaky and I’m not expecting them to win the World Series but which team do you think has improved more?
Ah yes, Curtis Granderson, the real hero of the 2013 Yankees. And A-Rod’s two months…Phil Hughes and Joba leading the pitching staff. I’m really curious what Yankees’ version you saw last year? Don’t forget, Jeter and Tex are healthy, and then you can include all the additions, plus Cervelli and the potential for Pineda. Boone Logan and Mariano Rivera are literally the only major loss from that 2013 team you just listed.
So who then, improved more?
Robinson Cano wasn’t a major loss?
Yes, he was. So, lose your closer (with a top three setup man to replace him), lose your 2B and lose your left handed reliever. They have internal options for both bullpen situations) which means offensively they lost Cano. They gained, Tex, Jeter, Ellsbury, Mccann, Cervelli, a full year of Soriano and Beltran. Plus, they have a suitable backup to Jeter and instead of two months of A-Rod, they have a full season of Kelly Johnson.
They lost Pettitte, but presumably have a full year of Pineda, a good Nova, a healthier Sabathia and Tanaka. Hughes and Chamberlain were addition by subtraction and Granderson was a non-factor last year.
So, back to my original point, who improved more?
Might be a good fit for the Tigers. Their only BP lefties are Coke and Krol, neither of who has much of a track record. It’s a gaping hole in a contending team, and one that has historically had a good relationship with Boras.
Great idea but they also have Crosby. That would hopefully eliminate coke from the equation.
Maybe, but Crosby, despite his upside, has as many questions as the other two. He doesn’t have much more mlb experience than Krol. Would be nice for Ausmus to have a reliable veteran lefty in his BP his first season…
Maybe, but Crosby, despite his upside, has as many questions as the other two. He doesn’t have much more mlb experience than Krol. Would be nice for Ausmus to have a reliable veteran lefty in his BP his first season…
Burnett was smart to stay in the national league.
Righties had a .786 vs perez last season. I’d still want him over thronton but coming back to NY is probably not his first choice.
Barry Zito is probably happy to be out of the news after hearing he was one of the worst signing for the last 7 years.
You get that players like Overbay, Wells, Francisco, Nix, Overbay, Nunez, Chris Stewart, Ichiro were everday players last year? don’t count Jeter or Teixeira as they barely played.
You get that Kelly Johnson and Bryan Roberts are being counted on as everyday players in 2014 right? Not only are the sub-par players but Brendan Ryan is their backup plan.
You get that Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts are an improvement over Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez right?
The loss of Pettite and Rivera can’t be offset by the acquisition of Tanaka alone. Pineda was on the team last year, its nothing more than speculation to say he will pitch a full season in 2014.
Pineda was not on the team last year, He was rehabilitating.
25 year old ace potential Tanaka or 40 year old pettite.
Pineda/Phelps/Warren >>> Hughes.
Who did NYY add to replace Hughes? are you counting Pineda as a new acquisition?
Pineda, Phelps, Warren, Nuno, Banuelos, anyone can probally improve on Hughes performance from last year.
All none players were Yankees last year too….
Just because a player (Pineda or Banuelos) was injured and didn’t play in 2013 doesn’t mean he can’t contribute in 2014. Warren had a ERA+ of 120 and even if stretching him out makes that drop to 100 that is still a massive improvement over Hughes. You don’t need to replace every departing player with a FA signing especially when the player was as bad as Hughes.
Please what did the Twins add? Hughes and Nolasco both very questionable players… And I don’t count adding 5 wins to a last place team a massive improvement anyways.
The Twins added Hughes, Nolasco, Pelfry, Suzuki and Kubel while not loosing anyone. That’s the big difference they added and did so without subtracting from the team. NYY subtracted 3 all-stars caliber players.
Ok you just lost all your credentials when you mentioned Hughes, Pelfry, Suzuki and Kubel.
Pelfry on the Twins last year and had a ERA+ of 78
Hughes last three years ERA+ 74, 100, and 78.
Nolasco last five years ERA +85, 92, 84, 91, 101. And that’s in the NL
Kubel was a minor leauge FA for a reason!
Suzuki and his 2013 OPS+ of 73 in Ryan Doumit and his OPS+ OF 96 out.
Not much improvement there…
Seriously, Hughes leaves the Yankees and all of the sudden he’s a good pitcher…unreal the logic of Yankees haters
His home road splits suggest that will make a big difference.
I think Texas is the most improved team
Anybody who thinks the Yankee spending spree is going to end well needs to head out to Vegas because most of the sports books have them at 83 wins on the over/under for the season.
Yanks should have made an offer to Perez .. Bad scouting.