Here’s the latest from around the AL East…
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman talks to John Harper of the New York Daily News about the trades of Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs and Andrew Miller to the Indians, deals that took quite a bit of preparation on the Yankees’ part as they looked to get maximum value for the two star relievers. Yankee scouts targeted certain players within the farm systems of the many organizations that had interest in Chapman and Miller, and Cashman wasn’t willing to budge from his high, and specific, asking prices. The two relievers are playing big roles in the postseason, and Cashman is rooting for a Chicago/Cleveland World Series matchup. “I want the teams that stepped up and made those trades to be rewarded for doing so. It would justify the action they took,” Cashman said. “I have absolutely no regrets about the deals we made — other than being in the position we were in. We did what we had to do, and hopefully everybody wins.”
- The Rays’ view of the postseason has to be more bittersweet, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes, given that Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman have their new teams fighting for the NL pennant. Both left following the 2014 campaign, and the Rays have since suffered two losing seasons. It’s still too soon to judge manager Kevin Cash or baseball operations president Matt Silverman, though Topkin wonders if the front office would’ve been better off under a traditional “baseball guy” type of executive, or at least a singular voice in charge rather than Silverman’s penchant for group decisions amongst his top lieutenants.
- Also from Topkin, he notes that Rays prospect Josh Lowe has been playing center field in Instructional League action and could take over the position on a full-time basis. Lowe, a Georgia high schooler selected 13th overall by the Rays in the 2016 draft, taken as a third baseman but has often been considered athletic enough to potentially handle an outfield role. Lowe was also a very accomplished pitcher, and MLB.com (which ranks Lowe as Tampa’s fourth-best prospect) notes in its scouting report that a return to the mound could be a possibility if Lowe doesn’t develop as a position player.
- Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis stands out as a future managerial candidate, though as Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald notes, the path to a big league managerial job isn’t an easy one for minorities. Drellich’s piece is well worth a full read, as it details both Davis’ coaching history and how Major League Baseball is taking steps to ensure that teams are giving minority candidates a fair look in hiring. Davis is under contract to the Red Sox for 2017, Drellich notes, though that wouldn’t be a big obstacle if one of the teams looking to hire a new skipper this winter made him an offer.
- The Orioles should issue a qualifying offer to Matt Wieters, CSNmidatlantic.com’s Rich Dubroff opines. Though Wieters had another below-average offensive year, Dubroff figures that he will still look to land a multi-year deal in free agency, especially now that Wilson Ramos’ injury has made Wieters the top catcher on the open market. There’s a chance Wieters could again accept the QO, and while $17.2MM is a high price tag for a catcher who has produced as little as Wieters has in recent years, Dubroff could see Wieters and Caleb Joseph providing a one-year bridge until prospect Chance Sisco develops as the longer-term answer behind the plate. If Wieters leaves, Dubroff suggests that the club could sign former Oriole Nick Hundley to team with Joseph.
- The Orioles should pursue an extension with Zach Britton rather than consider a trade, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko writes. Britton’s price tag will continue to rise through his final two arbitration years so there is some logic in dealing him now to both save money and sell high in the wake of Britton’s excellent season. On the flip side, Britton has been so tremendous as Baltimore’s closer that he could lock down ninth innings for the O’s for years to come.
I completely agree with cashman’s comments… I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching Miller dominate this postseason (not so much a Chapman fan). Was hoping Beltran would hit some big HRs and get a shot at a much deserved World Series title as well.
Looking forward to 2017 though, go Yanks!
O’s should be open to discussing Britton if the right offer is made. The chances of Zach having 2, 3, or 4 more seasons even remotely resembling 2016 are very slim. Strike while the iron is hot.
Would be a smart move could get more than the Yankees got for Chapman or Miller. O’s could plug some holes they have & help the minor system
I agree. He would get the O’s a huge return that could help their minors and major league team. He would get the O’s a bigger return than what the Yankees got for Chapman since he is controllable for I think 2 or 3 more years. Britton could easily bring back a solid pitching prospect (maybe even a teams top pitching prospect) and probably 2-3 more top prospects.
Not saying it wouldn’t be a smart move for the O’s,
Sure, Britton won’t replicate 2016 – it’s been one of the greatest seasons by a closer ever, but how do you get the idea that his future won’t be remotely close?
This isn’t the first year for Britton. Compare him to the top closers in baseball over the past three years. He has the best line among all of them.
Britton: 1.38 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 94% SV rate, 8% IR score
Jansen: 2.32 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 91% SV rate, 32% IR score
Chapman: 1.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 93% SV rate, 39% IR score
Melancon: 1.85 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 93% SV rate, 30% IR score
Kimbrel: 2.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 92% SV rate, 21% IR score
Familia: 2.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 87% SV rate, 28% IR score
How often do closers dominate for more than a couple years? Gagne, KRod, they flame out. I doubt we have a Lee Smith or Trevor Hoffman on our hands. While I do love me some Zach, if we got a haul like we did for Jonesy (hell even what Cashman got this year), pull the trigger. We need cheap, young talent to help compete on the cheap. We have to pay Machado soon or else he will be in pinstripes.
That’s true – closers are a very risky business.
However, I think Britton is highly unlikely to follow in the footsteps of Brian Wilson, Trevor Rosenthal, or John Axford. Typically, most of these relievers that flame out rely heavily on high velocity fastballs that they can just blow by hitters, but not Britton.
The key to his success is his sinker, which he throws over 90% of the time. It gets guys to ground out at historical rates. It’s got a very good velocity, but not anywhere close to some of the game’s other closers. And while I’m not suggesting he’s Mariano Rivera, just look at the Sandman’s career. He, like Britton, relied on a single pitch that had great movement and was very deceptive. Because of that, he remained effective his entire career, from when it was sitting around 95-96 during the beginning to when it dropped to 91-92 near the end. So I see Britton being a very special reliever – one who will consistently put forward excellent seasons for some time.
And I also agree that extending Machado is more important, but they don’t need to do that until the 2018-2019 off-season. By that time, Gallardo, Miley, Jimenez, Hardy, and Jones will all be off the books – that’s about $70 million right there. Even with the money owed to Chris Davis, I think it’s very possible for Baltimore to extend both Machado and Britton before they hit the market in 2019. And with that, you still have three seasons left on Gausman, two on Bundy, and one on Schoop. Personally, I think it might even be a better idea to try to move Tillman this off-season with such a bare SP market if they don’t plan on extending him. .
That’s my take on it – but like I said, I wouldn’t think it’s an awful idea to trade Britton. However, considering Melancon, Chapman, and Jansen (not to mention Casilla, Holland, Zeigler, K-Rod, Papelbon, and Romo) are all free agents this year, the O’s might not be able to get as much as they could for him.
Love Cashman’s comments. Prospects are gold, but it’s almost reached a point where proven commodities are devalued in lieu of prospects.
Weiters may be the best free agent catcher available, but Brian McCann will be available in trade.
Im not sure the Yankees trade him hes has more value to keep then trade but could get a good return for him
McCann is a 33 year old catcher who just put up a 0.9 WAR at $17 million per, and he’s still got 2 years left. I can’t imagine he’s got much value.
Yankees have to keep there fingers crossed, that these 3 top 20 prospects make it to the majors! Not every prospect does!
Like Michael Kay was saying… There not there Heat. Maybe a couple of years!
Kevin Cash’s lack of experience is so obvious after following Maddon. Maddon had decades of hands on experience and it complimented the openness to the statistical side. Cash is just following the spreadsheet and Front Office without the much needed hands on experience to compliment it.
I’d definitely like to see examples of this.
Okay, a good example would be the way he handled the rotation. The org thought limiting starters to only 2 times through the order was going to be the new 2%. Cash implemented the strategy with zero nuance. Maddon would implement such strategies, but he tweaked things based on his own hunches from prior experience. Cash could have been more nuanced on which starters to use this method with or incorporate what he was seeing the pitcher and hitters doing in game. Instead he would often pull a starter having a good outing after 80 pitches in the 6th only to see the bullpen implode.
Expect this isn’t really true. The Rays’ starters ranked 12th in IP and threw the 5th most pitches this past season. Hardly seems like a manager who is consistently pulling his starters too early.
Bet the Giants wish THEY got involved in talks with Cashman
The O’s should upgrade at back up catcher. Hey, I like Caleb Joseph and he had a horrific injury this year. But, the dud couldn’t bat over .200 and had 0 RBIs. He hit into some many inning ending double plays it was painful to watch. The same goes for Ryan Flaherty (sub .200).. I know these are Buck’s guys, but the Os need more production at all spots, including the back ups.
The Orioles need to have a lead in the ninth inning for Britton to be relevant