Some items from around baseball as we head into a new week…
- Brian Dozier is drawing interest from other teams but the Twins aren’t looking to tie Phil Hughes’ contract to Dozier in trade talks, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Hughes still has three years and $39.6MM remaining on the extension he signed with the Twins prior to the 2015 season, and since inking that new deal, Hughes has struggled badly and battled injury problems. The veteran righty underwent surgery to help alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome last summer, and Hughes believes he can regain his old form now that he’s healthy.
- While Hughes may not be getting shopped, Berardino also notes (Twitter link) that the Twins aren’t looking to add payroll, even after freeing up some money by parting ways with Trevor Plouffe, Kurt Suzuki and Tommy Milone. As one rival official puts it, “everyone knows they’re rebuilding.”
- The Mets don’t seem to be looking for a big change at catcher, as Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports that the team told representatives of a free agent catcher that Travis d’Arnaud will be given every opportunity to succeed next season. Since the Mets offered d’Arnaud as part of trade talks for Jonathan Lucroy over the summer, it’s notable that the team is reaffirming its commitment to the talented but oft-injured catcher, though it could be that New York was more enamored with Lucroy than it is with the options on free agent catching market. Ackert does note that the Mets could look for a more reliable backup, given d’Arnaud’s injury history and the shared offensive struggles of Kevin Plawecki and Rene Rivera.
- Though Nori Aoki has only been an Astro for less than three weeks, the veteran outfielder may now be a non-tender candidate, the Houston Chronicle’s Jake Kaplan writes. If the Astros plan to use the newly-signed Josh Reddick in left field, Aoki will be a very highly-paid fourth outfielder (thanks to a projected $6.8MM arbitration salary) and possibly an expendable part. If the Astros use Reddick in right and move George Springer to center field, Aoki will again have more of a clear role, platooning with Jake Marisnick in left. Houston has also been linked to some first baseman in rumors, which could push Yulieski Gurriel to left field and again leave Aoki without regular playing time.
- For the second straight offseason, Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto is acting quickly on lower-profile moves to elevate his team’s talent floor, ESPN.com’s David Schoenfield writes. Additions like Danny Valencia, Richie Shaffer and Carlos Ruiz fill holes and add more valuable depth around the Mariners’ core players, the type of top-to-bottom roster management that former Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik was unable to achieve in his time with the club.
- While several big-name relievers are dominating headlines this winter, MLB.com’s Mike Petriello cites Daniel Hudson, Juan Nicasio and Koji Uehara as relatively inexpensive arms who could provide major dividends in a bullpen next season, perhaps even as closers.
d’Arnaud isn’t a free agent until 2020.
The article isn’t suggesting he’s a free agent; just that the Mets talked to reps of a free agent catcher, presumably stating they had no interest in signing said free agent catcher.
Ahhh…yes. Tired eyes missed the “a”. My bad.
Most likely Castros agent tbh
I bet the Astros try like hell to sign Beltran before they have to tender a deal with Aoki.
Why? The whole point about Aoki is that there isn’t going to be a lot of playing time for Joe much he will be paid. How does that same situation not arise if they go sign an even more expensive outfielder?
Joe? Stupid auto correct.
Because Beltran is a superior hitter to Aoki. At that point, he would DH with occasional outfield play, Gattis would probably play some left and first and catcher and DH, and McCann would play catcher and DH and maybe even some first base. It sounds like they want offense. Not sure of Aoki’s defense, but he isn’t very offensive aside from probably a solid OBP. Astros want more bang for their buck.
Aoki is a terrible defender. Beltran might actually be better
You can’t just jostle around three players game to game, especially ones that old. Beltran should log only a handful of the games in the OF no matter where he goes, he’s completely shot defensively. There is nothing wrong with Aoki offense. He’s a prototypical low in the order hitter, he can get on base, he wont strike out, and he has above average speed. I’d rather pay $7-8MM for that than$18-20MM over multiple years for a guy like Beltran who isn’t necessarily needed in that lineup..
The Astros already stated that they would love to acquire Beltran. I’m not just making up some scenario; I don’t know how they would work it out, but they can especially since Gattis has played left field and 1st I believe. Beltran is 40, I’m sure it would just be a one year deal. Aoki might be valuable to a lesser team, but not as valuable to this at that price. Astros sound like they would rather pay up for a better hitter in Beltran or just as soon let a cheaper, young player like TeOscar or Marisnick play.
Nicasio is not a free agent.
Who cares?
Nowhere in the article does it say that he is.
Aoki hits singles….can’t run, poor defensively, no power…that’s great if your name is Wade Boggs…..Reddick’s defense looks better in metrics than to the naked eye; should never be considered for LF….Aoki’s only value is as a DH-leadoff hitter, and even that is marginal……cut lose, likely about 3 million… tops…..
Aoki had 24 doubles, putting him in the same rank as guys like Jonathan Lucroy, Kendry Morales Morales, Logan Forsythe, Khris Davis, Ryan Braun, and Victor Martinez.
Nothing wrong with his legs, he’s not a 30 SB guy anymore but he still has the wheels to get you 10 or so a season.
He’s never been a great defender but adding Beltran or Gattis to the outfield solution is even worse.
Everyone else in that lineup has power potential. you don’t need 1-9 hitting 30 homers a year.
Reddicks defense is exactly what it’s always looked like, average, with some dips here and there. He’s not a bad defender, but he’s not exactly good either.
Guys like Aoki are valuable to have.
Um………….no…..all your comparisons to Aoki have other values besides doubles; they all contribute in other ways….. I can cherry pick stats to indicate anything……a .210 hitter doesn’t have any value even if he doesn’t strike out much…..
will agree that he wouldn’t be any worse defensively than Beltran or Gettis who are frankly horrible , but again, contribute in other ways…….But Astros are a contender, and poor defense costs you important games…..Reddick is a RF where the inconsistent defense doesn’t hurt you as much…..
Aoki will be non-tendered; not enough bang for the buck, especially for a mid-market contender…..
Aoki is a liability on the bases too many base running errors last year. He did hit better after a stint in the minors but not great. If he was worth keeping Dipoto would have made sure he got the 3 or 6 extra ABs he needed to kick in his option but he hoped he would slip through so they wouldn’t have to pay as much. Seattle is in need of good OFers and letting Aoki go over a few ABs should tell you what you need to know about him.
Where Aoki is a liability is in the field. He doesn’t cover the ground he once did and his arm is very weak.
I don’t think Hughes has a scrap of value until he shows he can come back from TOS. Twins probably aren’t in a position to trade pitching anyway.
D’arnaud and Pwalecki together equal 3/4’s of one back-up catcher. Sign Rene and make it official what everyone knew last year. He was the FIRST-STRING catcher at the end.
I want them to sign Ramos to a one year deal. Have trav start and if he sucks, then half way through the year we get a great catcher in Ramos. If he is good, then u can use either one as trade chips by the deadline.
Ramos is most likely going to need to be a DH his first year, so the Mets obviously don’t fit that description. Ramos is also probably going to hold out for a long term deal, unless a team offers him an ungodly amount of guaranteed money for one year. And finally, and this might be speculation on my part but I thought I remember reading something similar, he probably won’t even be ready to go until close to mid year. Unless he absolutely kills it, not many teams are going to want to trade for him based on a small post-injury sample size and his rental status.
I love what Jerry Dipoto is doing with the Mariners right now. Building up a cushion for the core guys with skilled veterans who can fill the spot when needed, Meanwhile bringing up young talent in the OF like Ben Gamel and also in the bullpen. Dipoto sneaks around the market and picks up low-profile guys, who are consistent, for a bargain and then flips them for more value in a year or two. Perfect example; Nori Aoki. Dipoto will turn the Mariners into a Wildcard and Division winner very soon.