Here’s the latest on some notable names still on the open market…
- Scott Boras has been talking to at least six or more teams about his client Pedro Alvarez, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports (subscription required). The slugger got calls from at least five teams after he was non-tendered by the Pirates earlier this winter, though some of the clubs known to have been interested (including the Orioles, Indians and Brewers) have since moved on with other first base/DH options. Interestingly, Boras has been addressing concerns about Alvarez’s defense by making the case that Pittsburgh was positioning him too far away from the bag, which led to a larger number of errors committed in receiving the ball.
- Around 15 teams watched lefty Eric O’Flaherty throw for scouts earlier this week, Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown tweets. It’s no surprise that there was interest in O’Flaherty given how impressive he was out of the Braves bullpen in his heyday, though he’s been hampered by Tommy John surgery and control issues over the last three seasons.
- Rafael Betancourt may only be willing to pitch in 2016 if he gets a guaranteed Major League job, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets. The 40-year-old Betancourt missed all of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery and posted a 6.18 ERA in 39 1/3 innings with the Rockies last year. With this in mind, a guaranteed bullpen spot will be hard to find for Betancourt despite his solid career track record. After being designated for assignment last August, Betancourt said he was at peace with the fact that he may have thrown his last MLB pitch, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the veteran reliever officially retire within the next few months.
Boras is hilarious. It’s their fault? He is allergic to baseballs when he has a glove on….the best thing is at first base, he didn’t have to throw the ball often. Thanks Pedro, wished it would have worked out better and best of luck to you. Boras? I’ll be nice.
Buddy, he’s an agent, can’t blame him at all. And maybe he has a point. He doesn’t just spit random information out, he does his research.
Boras obviously doesn’t do his research at all. When you can’t catch or throw a ball it doesn’t matter where you are positioned. Alvarez was just that bad at defense.
He’s one of the best agents of course he does his research. Very silly of you to think he’s this successful by spitting out things.
He obviously didn’t do his research his time. It doesn’t matter where the coach places you on the feild if you can’t catch or throw a ball you don’t deserve a job. Boras master negotiator yes no doubt one of the best. Boras the baseball expert hardly after these comments.
Exactly, I don’t think Boras watched his client play the field very much last year if he thinks the Pirates were at all to blame for Pedro having feet for hands.
Crazy – what Boros is saying is that the Pirates were playing Alvarez where balls would get hit to him. Yeah buddy, heaven forbid!!!!!!!
This is why Boras isn’t a coach.
Their problem is they didn’t position him in foul territory, if they had done that then he wouldn’t have made as many errors. Lol Boras is a tool
At best, Alvarez is a platoon DH.
Alvarez will probably require 5/75, with an opt out after each year, and incentives for each Gold Glove once he’s properly positioned on the field….
boras airmailed it. his client just flat out didn’t do his homework on how to play 1st. blown coverage, errors and airmail were the norm. heres a pitch sequence , down the pipe, ,pedro takes strike 1. down the pipe , pedro takes, strike 2. junkball in the dirt, swings and misses, strike 3.
It seems like the free agent market was largely wrapped up by this point last year. I might be wrong.
The scary part to me about Pedro is that he lost his ability to cleanly field a ball at first. Due to his size, there were rumors he would have to move to first back when he was drafted but early in his career he showed enough athleticism and a good enough glove to stay at third. He got moved from third two seasons ago because he had 25 (I think) errors but all except 2-3 were throwing errors. Then he moves to first and can’t play grounders that are easy by MLB standards.
He couldn’t feild grounders cleanly that were AA standards. The only reason he was on the club last year was becuase of his bat.
Exactly. It’s easy to forget that Pedro actually played a solid defensive year at 3B in 2013. Then, the throwing yipps in 2014 (twenty something throwing errors to 1B in a partial season!).
Then he moved to 1B and couldn’t field.
Just like the hitting “ruts” he is famous for, his defensive yipps, etc. are between the ears…nothing to do with where he’s positioned, etc.
Pedro is a nice guy…but hell, the Pirates babied him up until the end because they didn’t want his delicate psychological feelings to affect his bat.
As a DH, he can fully focus on his hitting, with opportunities to take reps at 3B again in spring training and/or situational needs.
A 1 year pillow contract is all he’s getting this year…IMHO.
Congratulations, I am so proud of you all
Angels could use Alvarez , they need a lefty bat and a platoon at third with escobar.
Alvarez can’t even play 1B, let alone 3B.
Don’t vote for Pedro.
Maybe he needs to play winter baseball in DR to work in his defense, but he doesn’t wanna do that. Alfonso Soriano, Robinson cano, David Ortiz, Carlos Gomez, Pedro Martinez they all did it, but this guy never wanted, even though the Pirates recommended it three years ago.
Most of the comments regarding Pedro here are wrong. Before making the move to first, his glove wasn’t the issue. His issue was throwing to first. He couldn’t. At all. It got in his head. The yips.
Boras comment didn’t relate to ground balls either. His positioning too far from first base made him late getting to the bag and caused him to drop more balls the not. Especially scoops.
Nothing will help Boras overcome the fact that his client couldn’t hit a donkey’s ass with an ironing board.
Boras neglected to mention that the weighted donuts supplies by the Pirates were three ounces too heavy, causing Alvarez to overswing, hence the strikeout totals.