Over the weekend, the Royals and A’s were among the clubs linked to free-agent lefty Scott Kazmir, and this morning, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale calls those two teams, along with the Orioles, Cardinals, Nationals and Astros the finalists for Kazmir (links to Twitter). That’s a fairly lengthy list of finalists, of course, and with so many clubs in the mix, it’s not entirely surprising to see Nightengale add that no deal is imminent.
On Friday, it was reported that Kazmir has received multiple three-year offers in the range of $12-13MM per season. With a number of comparable offers of that nature already in hand, Kazmir may very well be holding out for a fourth guaranteed season or, at least, a notable increase in average annual value. Of the listed clubs, only Oakland has added arms to its rotation picture this offseason (Rich Hill and, reportedly, Henderson Alvarez, though his deal has yet to be announced by the club). The Royals struck a deal to retain right-hander Chris Young but haven’t penciled in a replacement for the departed Johnny Cueto just yet. The Astros have been more focused on their bullpen and parted with a significant package to pry Ken Giles away from the Phillies. The Cardinals made a significant run at David Price but ultimately came up short, while Baltimore’s focus has been on Chris Davis. The Nationals have pursued both Jason Heyward and Mike Leake this winter — the former more aggressively than the latter — but didn’t sign either (Leake remains a free agent) and have lost Jordan Zimmermann to the Tigers. Any of the involved parties stands out as a reasonable fit for Kazmir, though from a financial standpoint, if one club is to separate itself from the others, the Athletics and Royals seem less likely to do so than their reported competitors for Kazmir, if history is any indication.
Kazmir, 32 in a month, recorded a 3.33 ERA with 7.7 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9 and a 43.4 percent ground-ball rate from 2014-15 — the duration of a two-year, $22MM contract initially signed with Oakland. A fourth guaranteed season for him could understandably be cause for hesitation among interested clubs, as he comes with quite a lengthy injury history and has wilted somewhat late in each of the past two seasons. However, he’s also a more affordable alternative to five-year hopefuls Wei-Yin Chen and Mike Leake. And, unlike some of his competition (Chen, Yovani Gallardo, Ian Kennedy), Kazmir won’t require a signing club to forfeit a draft pick.
maybe he signs a 3 yr 35-39 mil with Yankees ?
Yankees don’t want him. They’re making the movement for a younger team and trying to get under the luxury tax
Hell no!
Isn’t that the same or less than Happ got?
Yes, Kazmir was terrible with the Astros. I’m surprised them and the Orioles are even involved in a guy that gives up so much hard contact. He needs a big stadium with his high fly ball rate and hard contact rates.
I would be surprised if Oakland didn’t get him, he’s a perfect fit there and they have the money and like him there. He’s the safer-bet guy they need after Gray, as their current rotation has a high ceiling but even more “if”s. After all the time he missed he might be 32 but his arm doesn’t have the innings a lot of other 32 years have so I don’t think 4 years is all that unreasonable either.
The O’s are in on him because he’s a lefty that can give them 30 starts, he won’t require a 4-5 year contract, and he won’t cost a draft pick. His implosion in Houston was due mainly to a ridiculously high 10% HR/FB rate. I would expect he, like all flyball pitchers, would benefit more from a home park like Oakland than they would from Houston or Baltimore, but Chen has shown that you can be a successful flyball pitcher in Oriole Park. I would prefer the O’s sign Leake or Gallardo, but Kazmir would fill the void left by Chen I suppose.
This entire piece is based on how 4 years definitely gets him signed but no ones willing to go there just yet, so yeah, he kind of will require a 4 year deal.
Yankees Kazmir will go….need him they, not? He will be….he will be.
Yankees will probably be in on Maeda more than Kazmir. Their park is a horrendous fit for him, as his 5.04 career ERA in Yankee stadium shows. I’d be furious if I was a Yankees fan and they got him and left the superior Maeda out there.
How could we know Maeda is better? Not every player translate well.. Kazmir will probably only take a 3-4 year contract, is proven in MLB, and will almost certainly be cheaper unless other teams are not high on Maeda.( In that case he probably just wouldn’t sign and stay in Japan). The Yankees probably won’t go after ether but if they add a player, I’d assume it would be on a shorter contract.
The Cardinals could use him (to replace Lance Lynn) but they won’t go for a 4th year. Moving to the N.L. would be good for him.
I sure do wish that the Pirates were in on him. But, nope, we get Ryan Vogelsong!
Completely agree he would be a very useful bridge to the kids but the pirates are interested in making money not actually winning anything. Being competitive is what they want!
Fenway park would be great for him not just saying that because i like the sox but i mean if a 4 year deal is what gets it done that wouldnt be a bad 2 or 3 mayb even 4 for the red sox after price bucholtz and maybe then erod
Why do the Astros need Kazmir or Gallardo? Keuchel/McHugh/McCullers/Fiers/Feldman, with Feliz as the swing and a handful of stopgaps in AAA should more than do the trick. The priority should be 3B, unless anyone here thinks Valbuena can be a serviceable 3Bman.
Because injuries happen. You really need 7 good MLB pitchers to win a division and/or it all. Kazmir would be a great #3 and a phenomenal #4 starter on that staff. McCullers has better stuff but is young (meaning he will play stupid occasionally). Fiers is good but may be better suited for long relief (and improving the bullpen even more putting him there). And Feldman is coming off a shoulder injury that ended his season. So who knows at this point what you are getting with him. Kazmir is also from Houston (so his family will want him there) and this will probably be his last contract IMO so he is taking it slow. Money is money but if everyone is offering the same I bet he signs with Houston. Plus of those teams the Royals and Astros have the best chance of winning. Cardinals and Nationals do too but I doubt he will want to bat making them longer shots.
As far as Valbuena… he hit 25 HR’s and he is an excellent defensive 3b that can cover 1b well. He isn’t going anywhere.
Actually, Valbuena has been a serviceable 3B for several years now. Not a lot of teams have 3B that are more than serviceable.
A’s get him for 4 and $48 then they trade him to the Yankees in July, 2018 for 4 prospects, 3 of which will be flipped for 7 other prospects and 2 middle relievers.