With Alex Gordon off the board to the Royals, all the other teams seeking significant outfield or power bat pieces remain in the market. That could, in theory at least, be good news for the top unsigned free agent bats.
Here’s the latest chatter, with a particular focus on Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes:
- Olney tweets that the Orioles have been in talks with the representatives for both Upton and Cespedes, noting that Baltimore has money to spend (as evidenced by their reported offer to Davis).
Earlier Updates
- The Rangers have interest in Upton in a one-year or multi-year scenario Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). Either way, the club’s budgetary restrictions will limit their involvement, per Rosenthal, who adds that Upton is still looking to do better than a short-term pact.
- The Orioles are remaining in contact with Upton as well, FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi reports on Twitter, though he’d factor as a backup option if the team doesn’t land Chris Davis. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets that the hypothetical fit would make the most sense on a one-year arrangement.
- Heading into the day, Jon Heyman tweeted that the Orioles are holding with their $154MM offer to Davis. And, at least at present, owner Peter Angelos is not permitting the club to engage in a “full-bore pursuit” of alternatives to the slugger.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds, on Twitter, that the Orioles’ interest in Upton could still just be a leverage play against Davis. Or, he notes, it may still be that Baltimore prefers Cespedes to Upton.
Great.. Ranger sign Upton, O’s sign Davis, and Cardinals sign Cespedes.
Or mets act like a big market team and sign cespedes to a 4 or 5 year deal.
Orioles–> Upton
Nationals–> Davis
White Sox –> Cespedes
Been calling that for more than a month…
why would the nationals get davis? they have zimmermann playing first
Yea… They have Zimmerman playing 1st base and Werth playing LF … except neither of them are EVER healthy. They have a 91-year old owner, desperate to win… a ready-made rotation with a superstar in RF and not much else (w/ respect to Rendon who was injured most of last year). Davis transforms their lineup, protects Harper and puts them right back in the thick of contention.
Keep in mind, Davis can play 1B or LF… both of which are occupied by players w/ injury concerns. Given that the Nationals were in on Heyward until the end – likely mustering an offer around $20 million per year – it’s not hard to think they have money to spend. Davis makes a lot of sense if you don’t trust Werth and/or Zimmerman.
The Nats just announced the Murphy signing who is more than capable of backing up Zim at 1B. Plus they also have Clint Robinson and Tyler Moore (if he isn’t traded) who can also back up 1B.
What they need is a true OF; just because Davis has played LF a little in 2015 and didn’t embarrass himself does not warrant giving up a draft pick and probably upwards of $150 million. Yes, the Nats have money to spend, but signing Davis would be trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
He actually spent more than 1/3 of the season in RF, and he graded out as one of the top RFs in baseball… He can more than handle LF. But again, this is also about protecting the team at 1B if necessary. And since Zimmerman hasn’t played 162 combined games in two years, my guess is that Davis would more than likely play 100+ games at 1B next year…
As for Moore and Robinson – if the Nats find themselves in a situation next year where they need to rely on either of those guys, then they’re going to find themselves in the same spot they did in 2016….
Davis started 29 games in RF, 57 for his career, and graded out as below average in DRS, Rtot and RZR, and about average in UZR. Considering none of them are considered accurate until you have about 10 times the innings he has, I would say that no one really has much basis to say one way or another how good or bad his defense is at that position. The Orioles had 12 guys play RF in 2015 and none started more than 38 games, so that is still an area of need for them. Only Jones has cemented a spot in their outfield. They could use both a LF like Upton or Cespedes AND Davis if Kim doesn’t show in ST that he is ready for one of the corner spots. Trumbo can hold down 1B.
Yeah, but if everyone is healthy, they don’t have room to play them all. None of those guys would be happy in a platoon or bench role. They’d be better off with a complimentary piece who could be used in a bench role if needed.
I’m referring to the Nationals here.
because rather than just be good on paper they rather actually win
…they didn’t win last year. And then they lost one of their best pitchers. So I don’t see a team that’s good on paper… nor do I see that’s going to win as presently constructed.
imo Zimmermann was their best pitcher, and they are prolly gonna lose Strasburg in free agency. On paper they are ready to win but they need to win.
Max Scherzer says hello…..
What would the Nats do with Davis? Zimmerman going somewhere?
exactly , unless they put him in the outfield and he platoons with zimmermann, I think the o’s is the best fit for davis
Two of these teams will regret signing them! It’s the way it goes with big free agents.
I think Parra might be the safest free agent outfielder on the board and fowler
Again, one out 3 ain’t bad. I’d peg the White Sox to sign Yoenis Cespedes, although with less confidence than the Orioles inking Chris Davis. With Davis in the fold, the Birds won’t have the resources to sign Upton. The Nats would have a better chance to sign Upton than Davis, regardless.
I think Davis will end up on the west coast
Listen the mets won’t land anyone because they don’t have interest in Davis or upton and they already stated that they will no longer be in pursuit of cespedes
Sounds like a winner
One out 3 ain’t bad…It’s likely the Orioles retain Chris Davis. As for the other two scenarios, I would doubt it very much.
The Orioles need a RF’er!
Let me recap, the Orioles need a Right Fielder!!!!
Now who fits that description??
PS What is going on with Justin Morneau, I know the O’s are kicking the tires on Pedro Alvarez, but still what is going on with Morneau???
Upton is the only one w/ experience in RF, but he hasn’t actually played there in 2 years.
The o’s have a decision to make , do they want davis or do they want an outfielder.
Trumbo had RF experience w/ the Angels…
Nobody can beat the Cubs this year so it doesn’t matter what anybody else does
The Cubs successful rebuild has actually created a National League landscape where 1/3 of their NL opponents (5 of the 14) are trying to mirror their approach by gutting their rosters and focusing on prospect hoarding… and none of those 5 teams are SD or Miami, 2 teams with little to no chance of contending in 2016.
Thanks to their rebuild – the Cubs have never been stronger. And the NL has never been weaker.
Ditto that!
Washington was the best team on paper last year. How’d that work out? Cubs are this year’s paper winner.
I’m just kidding. I’m a Cubs fan and being around this team with these players is a different feel than years past. Obviously it’s not guaranteed. Baseball is the best sport bc any team can beat anybody on any given day. But I love our chances on getting to October and making history.
I’m going with the cubs to win the nl central, but regardless of the players the cards lost, they are one team you never count out
The key is to get to the dance, and the teams that get these guys might not get there. The playoffs are outleir!
Cubs fans know well that the Cards always have a “way”.
Yeah, the Cards won 100 games last year with a crippled offense and an injured ace. Imagine what they can do just with better health.
What is the Rangers short term interest w/ Upton? They have Hamilton short term AND FREE….haha
Oh wait he can’t stay healthy….
Isn’t it about time the Orioles move on? Wonder what their fans think but I think they should just sign some of the lower tier pitchers because they have no one good on the pitching side. If I were them I’d sign Upton and Fister for that kind of money.
So Rosenthal says the Rangers are interested in signing Upton to a one-year or multi-year deal. Is there a third option that only Rosenthal has heard of that would not be a one/multi year deal?
For what it’s worth bases on confidence”
1-Chris Davis re-signs with the Orioles
2-Yoenis Cespedes signs with the White Sox, a contract that also features a player opt-out either 2 or 3 years into it.
3-Justin Upton probably remains in the N.L. and signs with either the Nationals, Giants or Dodgers (in conjunction with trading at least one outfielder to make room) or signs with the Tigers in the A.L., courtesy of owner Mike Ilitch despite the likelihood of a luxury tax liability. Like Cespedes, a player opt-out is likely included as part of any contract with each team.
Cespedes tigers
Davis angels
Upton cards
Tigers to re-structure all players contracts to pay upfront a lump sum and then 10mil/year each for the personnel on longterm contracts and cespedes for 200mil for 10yrs and 100mil upfront