The Braves organization suffered a difficult loss over the weekend, as long-time coach, advisor, and instructor Bobby Dews passed away at 76 years of age. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman explains how deeply embedded he was in the team’s fabric, even as he spent less time around the ballclub in recent years. We join all those around the league in tipping our cap to Dews and offering our condolences to his family and friends.
A few notes from the National League …
- Following the Nationals’ reported agreement with Stephen Drew on a one-year deal, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post breaks down what the club’s bench could look like. As Janes notes, the addition of Drew will give first-year Nationals manager Dusty Baker four left-handed bats on the bench (Jose Lobaton, Clint Robinson and Matt den Dekker being the others, as things stand). His versatility, as well as the versatility of fellow newcomer Daniel Murphy (who can also handle third base, first base and, in a pinch, left field) gives Baker plenty of options to mix and match. A significant addition may or may not be coming, Janes writes, noting that the pursuit of top free agents such as Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist at least indicates that the club has money to spend. However, even if the team doesn’t land an additional center field option, the much-needed addition of some left-handed options in recent weeks has brightened the 2016 outlook.
- Former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond has long been rumored to be dabbling in the idea of signing as a Zobrist-esque super-utility player, and ESPN.com’s Buster Olney suggests the Giants could be a fit for him in such a role. Desmond could be the regular left fielder, even see time in center, and function as a reserve or injury replacement in the infield, Olney reasons.
- Speaking of converting infielders to the outfield grass, Cubs youngster Javier Baez has seen time in center field in the Puerto Rican winter league, MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat noted recently. It doesn’t seem that the organization is looking to press him into regular duty there, at least at present, but would at least like to have the option of deploying him in the outfield on occasion.
- The Reds’ two Rule 5 picks have a solid chance of sticking with the club, C. Trent Rosecrans writes for Baseball America. Outfielder Jake Cave (from the Yankees) makes for a good fit because he hits from the left side, assistant GM Nick Krall tells Rosecrans. And Krall adds that southpaw Chris O’Grady (via the Angels) has shown an ability to retire batters on both sides of the box, with good command helping to make up for average stuff.
Well the Giants had Morse as their left fielder so having Desmond there with Blanco as a defensive replacement is tolerable. I can’t see him playing center at all though
I love Ian Desmond’s decision to market as a utility guy. I think he has more value as a left fielder both in this market and as a whole, especially with all the errors he committed last year and the pop in his bat. He’s also a nice fit in San Fran, and deepens their lineup nicely.
Nope. Alejandro de Aza, a guy who hit way better than Desmond did in 2015 just signed for peanuts. Asdrubal Cabrera, who had similar offensive numbers to de Aza but plays a mediocre shortstop, made significantly more money. Shortstops make more money than left fielders, all else equal.
I love Ian Desmond’s decision to market as a utility guy. I think he has more value as a left fielder both in this market and as a whole, especially with all the errors he committed last year and the pop in his bat. He’s also a nice fit in San Fran, and deepens their lineup nicely.-
I love Ian Desmond’s decision to market as a utility guy. I think he has more value as a left fielder both in this market and as a whole, especially with all the errors he committed last year and the pop in his bat. He’s also a nice fit in San Fran, and deepens their lineup nicely. He’s definitely athletic enough to play a solid, if not above average, outfield.
I love Ian Desmond’s decision to market as a utility guy. I think he has more value as a left fielder both in this market and as a whole, especially with all the errors he committed last year and the pop in his bat. He’s also a nice fit in San Fran, and deepens their lineup nicely. He’s definitely a good enough athlete to move around and play at least a decent left field, if not better.
So how do you feel about his decision to market himself as a utility guy again? More than likely it was his agent that made the decision for him. Remember Hanley Ramirez only wanted to be marketed as a SS last year until it started getting late in the off season and out of nowhere he decided switching positions would be OK with him. It pays to have a good agent that tells you exactly how to fit into the market. They probably saw the money Zobrist got compared to what Cabrera got and decided super utility was the way to go. Whomever lands him has a good chance of getting a solid #2 bat at a discounted rate. The worry and pressure of performing probably got to him in his contract year. He was a solid performer up to that point. It’s not like he was putting up Stephen Drew numbers prior to last year. I wish the Yankees would have grabbed him for 2nd and kept Warren instead of trading for Castro. Hopefully, Castro will have one of his very good even year performances with the bat and won’t be a black hole at 2nd. The Giants or Padres will be a nice fit for Desmond but more than likely he is going to want to sign a pillow contract in a more hitter friendly park. Maybe the Orioles or even someplace like Philly where he can be traded to a contender at the deadline so he can avoid another QO.
Desmond has played all of 7 innings in the outfield and 39 innings at 2B and is trying to market himself as a super utility player? Giants shouldn’t touch this guy with a 10ft poll to be their left fielder. Look how well it worked in Boston last year.
Desmond is a better athlete and also 2 years younger. This is idea would be a million times better than the Hanley experiment.
Ok, but there’s also more outfielders out on the market than there is demand for them, so why not sign a real outfielder? Or a trade target like Blackmon, CarGo, Dickerson, Ozuna, Gardner, Bruce, etc. All guys I’d rather have for their need – even Bruce, who hasn’t been good in the last couple years but at least is good defensively in the corners.
But there is no need to take a chance on any experiment when there are guys available who actually play the outfield.
The other issue is that at least Hanley could hit before he signed. Desmond looks like he can’t even hit anymore.
Hanley couldn’t play shortstop.
Desmond is an average defensive shortstop, a lot younger, and would be cheaper.
The only major issue I’d have with the Giants going after him is, what if he can’t play LF?
They don’t have a 1B/DH spot to hand over to him. Panik, Duffy and Crawford are controlled for a few more years. The Giants aren’t going to want Posey to catch forever, plus they have Belt.
Matt Joyce could make a fun reclamation project to platoon with Blanco.
They would be much better off with one of the second tier guys who is probably going to sign for something in the same neighborhood money wise as Desmond, such as Fowler. He might not win and gold gloves but at least he wouldn’t be learning on the job. That’s only if they are truly out of the mix for the top 3 guys.
And after losing their first round pick for Jeff Samardzija, losing a 2nd rounder for Fowler really isn’t a big deal at all.
Agreed, now is not really the time to be paying Desmond big money for positions his doesn’t play. It’s not a video game. You just can’t stick anyone at any position you feel like and think it won’t have a negative impact on the team.
How much are the Giants going to give a mistake-prone, slump-prone 250/300/400 strinkeout maestro to play left field (or cover 10 sq ft of their spacious CF)? Here’s guessing it’s not $107m over 7 years, or whatever record-breaking number Desmond thought he could get for the sake of resetting the market.
Padres seem like the only match for Desmond if he wants to be a shortstop but does anyone else know of a team that may need him as a shortstop?
White Sox could use a shortstop. Twins too. A’s. Both the Dbacks SS kind of stunk last year. He’s got a market.
Thanks dude. Wonder what those team are willing to pay for his services but seems like he could get some money from someone.
White Sox have a protected pick, too, if I remember right. No team should be giving up a first rounder for such a mediocre player.
Mariners need a shortstop after dealing miller to the rays,
hope the angels could pick up Desmond on a 3yr/20 million. could take over 3rd, with yunel at 2nd, and Andrelton at SS. PLUS the chemistry is there for Ian and Yunel.
He won’t be signing for less than $7 mm a year , that’s for sure. 3/35 is more the range I see.
He passed on almost $16 million for one year with the QO. So you think he is going to sign for 3 years at close to the same money he passed on for one? He is probably looking at a pillow contract if he doesn’t get Zobrist money. It’s a shame he had such an awful season and shows teams are more forgiving on starting pitchers. Both Desmond and Samardzija wrecked their chances at huge paydays. This time last year everyone was predicting at least $100m for Desmond. Shark still somehow managed a big payday based on potential. I can understand paying a 26 year old like Heyward for potential, but how much future potential can a 30 year old (31 in January) pitcher have?
Desmond is still going to ask for 5/70, or something close. No way he signs for 3/20, and probably not for 3/35. He’s a way better selection than guys like Cabrera, and certainly more upside (still) than Murphy. He had a pretty decent 2nd half last year, and someone will benefit from signing him in 2016. Players often are revived by a new clubhouse…..maybe Desmond was affected by the negativity in the Nats clubhouse. The White Sox should spend their money on Desmond & Fowler instead of just Cespedes, Gordon, or Upton. They’ll “get more for their dollar”
in addition Ian could play a little LF to fill that gaping hole for the Angels
So far from what I can find he has logged the following innings at other positions besides SS:
2B: ~40 Inn. in 2009 (ML), 27 Inn. in 2006 (MiL)
RF: 7 (1/3) Inn. in 2009-10 (ML)
CF: 8 Inn. in 2009 (MiL)
So, basically, he has played some at 2B, ~67 Inn, and he has barely any experience at all in the OF, ~15 Inn, throughout his pro career.
Does anyone know whether he has played any 3B or OF during the Winter Leagues or during Spring Training??
There has been plenty of focus on Desmond’s number of error last year, highest in the NL and second highest in MLB; but he also was in the top five of every other positive defensive category in the NL. Sure he isn’t at the same level as Simmons, but he made some pretty hard to make plays that a lot of SS in the league wouldn’t have even attempted.
As for his hitting, he definitely had a down year, but over the last few seasons when the Nationals needed a clutch hit there was no other hitter, besides Harper, that I would have wanted up than Desmond.
It’s too bad the QO exists because he would be a good fit for the Nationals now as a utility player and the contract negotiation would be much more favorable for the Nationals then it was a year ago. Someone mentioned the Phiillies as a good fit for him, I can see him doing pretty well there on a short term contract.
Honestly if the Phillies sign him to a one year deal I would love that, if e turns it around this year they could flip him for a prospect and if he doesn’t it’s not like your committed to him for years to come, would be a good bridge to have for Crawford