Korean first baseman Dae-ho Lee, who is currently with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, could draw interest from Major League teams if he turns down his 2016 player option, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick notes (links to Twitter). The right-handed hitter will turn 34 next June, so he’s a good bit older than some other international free agents we’ve heard about, but Lee’s .282/.364/.524 batting line and 31 homers in 2015 are nonetheless impressive. Lee has enough service time that he is exempt from the posting process. In other words, if he turns down the option, he could jump right into a free agent class of first basemen that’s currently headlined by Chris Davis and Korean star Byung-ho Park.
A few more notes on some upcoming free agents…
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks at the postseason’s impact on the price tag for free agents Johnny Cueto, Yoenis Cespedes, Ben Zobrist, Alex Gordon and Daniel Murphy. Relaying some chatter from executives with whom he’s spoken, Sherman has heard some liken Cueto to James Shields a year ago. Shields hit the open market with higher expectations than the four years and $75MM he ultimately landed, though that, in my eyes, is still too low a price for Cueto, who is younger with a more dominant track record and no qualifying offer attached to his name. More surprising is the lack of support for Gordon, who “could” get to somewhere north of $75MM over five years with the benefit of open-market bidding, Sherman writes. A five-year $75MM contract for Gordon seems to me to be very much on the low end of the spectrum. While others at MLBTR are more bullish on Gordon than I am, I still think he’ll end up much closer to, if not north of $100MM as a free agent. Sherman also suggests a contract in the four-year, $68MM range as a possibility for Zobrist despite his advanced age.
- Fans shouldn’t be dismissive of recent suggestions that the Red Sox could make a play for Gordon this winter, writes WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. Pursuing Gordon is an idea that “has at least been considered” by the Red Sox’ inner circle, he writes, noting that Gordon’s glove would maintain an elite outfield defense in Boston and possibly allow the team to include Jackie Bradley in trade packages.
- Free agency is looming around the corner and comes with significant ramifications for the Orioles, who could potentially lose Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, Matt Wieters, Darren O’Day, Gerardo Parra and Steve Pearce, writes the Baltimore Sun’s Dan Connolly. However, Connolly hears that the Orioles have had talks with many of those players, and agent Jeff Borris, who represents O’Day, told Connolly that the conversations he’s had with the Orioles won’t stop even with free agency nearing. “We’ve had ongoing discussions with Baltimore throughout the season and I plan on continuing to have ongoing discussions with Baltimore,” said Borris. “However, time is of the essence because free agency is right around the corner.”
What the Orioles should do if they can’t improve on that starting pitching by much is find out the weaknesses of the teams in their division… Although it’s easier said then done.
Could you speak the obvious of shat evert team does any better?
I saw Lee Dae-Ho play for the Lotte Giants in his final year in Korea. From what I recall, he has below average defensive skills at first base. I hope he at least gets invited to Spring Training.
I doubt he gets a Major League contract. He’s old and didn’t hit week for his league.
The Sox should dismiss the notion of signing Gordon. We already have an “elite” defensive outfield team. The only positive thing Gordon would add is about 50 points on the batting average in one spot. On the negative side, he would add many millions of dollars to our payroll, which needs to be spent on pitching. I think its ridiculous to think about moving Bradley, a superlative range center fielder with the best arm in the entire MLB (he throws guys out at the plate from the center field fence), just so we can say we signed a free agent.
I’m thinking more along the lines of losing the very high draft choice involved in signing him.. 12th isn’t it? The bat I wouldn’t mind at all, neither the glove and consider him overall another JD Drew type of player to be approached as.
Agree with you that Betts and JBJ are keepers, problem is what to do with Castillo and his millions? He has to play. None are 3b and have to hope one can be made into a 1b after someone is moved (Sandoval, Ramirez).
Moves will be made this winter and once they start? It could be a whirlwind in Boston.
I think only way y’all move bradley is in a package for a big name SP like Gray or Sale. I doubt you want to pay the price for Gray so imagine the price that would be on Sale.
I have to disagree there. It’s not by much, but I’d say Sale is the best pitcher in the AL, and he’d command such a price. At least you can negotiate with Billy Beane.
Castillo gets a pass for this past season. I think we reserve judgment and let him gain more experience. He’s only had 310 AB’s in the MLB. And he can play 2B, which is his natural position. That could be necessary, given Pedey’s penchant for getting and staying injured the last few years. Get rid of the dead weight of Hanley, get in some quality pitching and we will make the post-season next year.
I too think Castillo can become a solid MLB player. Injuries helped derail this past season and he just can’t be judged on the short amount of playing time he’s had so far.
Is Hanley really the one to be moved though? Neither him, or Sandoval has much value and Hanley at least has offensive potential. I don’t think Sandoval has anything to offer on either end of the stick, though some team may be willing to take on a bit more of his contract thinking it could be their answer to a 3b problem.
Hanley can be platooned at 1b/3b with Shaw if forced into it, even become the DH in another year or 2. There really is -0- upside to Sandoval and never was.
Your so right. If they move Bradley it would be a massive mistake. If he plays at least 2/3 of next year like he did this year he would be worth it. Chili mentoring him has got him hitting Hot. Bottom line…. Keep him.
I don’t get all the love for Zobrist. He’s a nice utility player to have but a 4-year deal worth nearly $70 million for a guy will start the contract at age 35 seems absurd.
Agree on the four year deal, but he’s far more than a utility guy unless his defensive skills have really declined as much as the metrics indicate they may have in 2015. After all, he was a 5+ WAR player from 2011-2014.
His defensive metrics fell off as well. He’s going to be limited to LF or play a poor 2b. SS is not viable anymore. Not a ton of value in those 2 positions. I still think his approach will age well. 3 years 45 million with a vesting option that he won’t reach is a good bet.
Provided the physicals come back normal, I don’t see any way Cueto signs for less than 5 yr / $100M. Could see him getting 6 / $125M, which is shy of some early prognostications but still pretty good.
Murphy is a perfect American League Player, Cespedes will be a Mistake for who ever signs him ,Both will go to Yankees for Big Bucks !
With Refsnyder and Purely as young potential long term options with high upside, I do not see them signing Murphy who will make a good amount of money on a long term deal which the Yankees won’t give him. Cespedes won’t br wearing pinstripes neither. They have a full outfield already and they still have reportedly said they want to get Bird some at bats out there.
You do know Gordon will be 32 in February, right? How then can he be worth $20M a year for FIVE years?
Defense is elite and his soft skills like OBP won’t age. You pay for 3 and essentially hope the back end works out these days.
I guess signing Gordon makes sense. He’s a year or two old for my tastes, but we can’t really count on JBJ maintaining his bat, and Rusney is still pretty raw as a player. Still, I’d rather take the cheaper route and sign a lefty 4th outfielder to bolster what we have.
I’m not saying that the sox need to go out and get a starting outfielder like Gordon, but insurance for Betts, Castillo and Bradley is something they should seek this winter. Perhaps Gerardo Parra or another Alejandro De As a type?
Trade Margot, Owens, Johnson, espinoza for Gray
Margot is the number 25 prospect in the game and could be ready for the majors by mid-late 2016. Owens and Johnson give Billy Beane top-mid rotation potential guys who are major league ready.
Sox get Gray who would become their ace for years and probably the best pitcher they have had since Pedro.
Espinoza is a top 100 prospect at just 18 years old. A high ceiling starter
I’d be OK with a package of Margot and Owens, plus some pieces, but I would not throw in Johnson or Espinosa. That’s too much of our pitching future to send off and there’s no way you need to pay with four Top 50’s. I’d add Javier Guerra (Sox Breakout Player of the Year at SS) and Pat Light (RRP with a 3.88 ERA), instead. Two center pieces (both consensus Top 50), a mid-level (#7 prospect in GCL for 2014 / top 3 SS in SAL 2015) and a throw-in are usually enough for a front-line starter.
I think Oakland wants a potential ace type kid prospect in return for someone like Gray and that’s not Owens. Doubt Dombrowski even would consider moving Espinoza, or hope he wouldn’t, but he might move Kopech in a deal unfortunately and that might satisfy Beane and qualify as a front of the rotation type prospect to include in a deal for Gray.
Make it Margot, Kopech, Guerra and a utility guy like Asuaje that Beane always likes.
The Indians are desperate for a centerfielder who can go get the ball. JBJ Owens and one of the younger top 50 prospects probably can get Carlos Carrasco, who is an actual ace.
No way the A’s trade him to Boston without Moncada in the deal.