In the latest edition of his podcast, Bill Ladson of MLB.com spoke with longtime major league starter Bronson Arroyo about whether he’ll continue his career. Arroyo, a free agent, hopes to return for what would be his age-40 season in 2017. However, the right-hander is unsure if his arm will hold up. It feels “terrible” some days, said Arroyo, who hasn’t taken a major league mound since June 2014. Arroyo underwent Tommy John surgery soon after, causing him to miss a large portion of that year and the entire 2015 campaign. He then suffered a partial tear of a tendon in his right rotator cuff during spring training with the Nationals last year and spent the season rehabbing. Arroyo informed Ladson that a few interested teams have contacted him this offseason, but he’ll wait “until closer to January” to determine if he’s physically capable of pitching anymore.
More free agency- and trade-related notes:
- The Tigers are continuing to shop J.D. Martinez, one of the majors’ best offensive outfielders, but they’re having difficulty finding a fit, reports Jerry Crasnick of ESPN (Twitter link). Detroit is looking for “young, controllable” talent in a Martinez package, according to Crasnick. Martinez is only under contract for another season, though, which helps explain why teams aren’t eager to trade major league-caliber youth for him.
- Speaking of the Tigers, they “would love” to sign free agent catcher Alex Avila, but it’s unlikely he’d fit into their budget, tweets Crasnick. Avila, of course, was with the Tigers from 2009-15 and is the son of their general manager, Al Avila. The younger Avila spent last season as a member of the AL Central rival White Sox, with whom he batted .213/.359/.373 in 209 plate appearances and made $2.5MM. A similar amount would price him out of Detroit’s range, relays Crasnick. If the lefty-swinging Avila were to return to Detroit, he’d platoon with right-handed-hitting backstop James McCann. Righties held McCann to a woeful .201/.243/.268 line in 240 PAs last season.
- The Dodgers are reportedly willing to trade a Jose De Leon-led package for Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, but no deal is imminent, a Minnesota official told Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). While at least a few teams have checked in on Dozier this offseason in the wake of a 42-home run campaign, the Dodgers are seemingly the most interested. Any offer would have to be “very strong” for the Twins to move the 29-year-old, notes Wolfson. Given Dozier’s outstanding track record and appealing contract (two years, $15MM), that’s not exactly a surprise.
Avila would fit really well into the Tigers’ catching situation… Really hope they’re able to sign him.
Concussion magnet, not worth 2 1/2 million dollars for a backup catcher
That can’t hit
Alex Avila has always been able to hit righties. And quite frankly, a wet paper bag could out-hit James McCann against righties, so the bar is pretty low anyways.
As a White Sox fan, you can have him.
No thank you.
As a Detroit fan, that’s what we said to you last year.
He stinks
I’d rather have Alex on the team than a rookie catcher.
Deals with the Dodgers are never imminent.
Tigers reallly need to do something
Is Miggy’s big money, and age, the reason why the Tigers continues to dump salary.
If you want young and controllable in return for martinez you’re gonna have to sacrifice from the talent portion.
Dalton Pompey is young and controllable.
I like this. Gut feeling that Pompey could materialize, but the Jays just haven’t given him a real chance.
Why? Detroit got Fulmer for half a season of Cespedes. Martinez may not have the glove of Cespedes but his bat is severely underrated. Detroit absolutely should get something of value for a full season of Martinez
Fulmer was not all that highly thought of at the time of the trade.
Strongly disagree…
Fulmer was very well liked (as a prospect) in the NYM’s org…and they tried to move other pieces, but DET pushed for him. Rarely do trades work out for both sides, but Ces was the difference maker for the NYM’s run to the WS, and Fulmer obviously later turned the corner and snagged ROY.
yes he was. some concern about him starting but he was for sure a good prospect, too many people put too much emphasis on lists. there are good prospects outside of those, just usually come with lower ceilings.
What would it take for the M’s to get him? We could use him instead of overpaying a Trumbo
Who is him? Arroyo (no, I know), Martinez (probably), Avila (probably not), or Dozier (maybe)?
How does Al tell his son Alex that his team doesn’t want him? Probably similar to the Santa Claus and Easter Bunny talks..
Bring the Bull-Dozier to L.A. !
Dozier would be a good fit for the Cardinals. A package of Weaver, Wong, Gonzalaze, Adams.
Always trying to trade their junk for someone’s star … Oh, those “BFIB”
yea or not maybe weaver,bader, Fernandez, and some other peice
If you put a guy (matt adams) in every single trade proposal, it doesn’t make him more likely to get moved, haha. Adams isn’t very good and has like no trade value. I applaud you for not trying to ship him and Rosenthal for real talent though.
yeah this isn’t a bad deal, just take Adams out of it and replace with a minor arm. Adams needs to stop being included in trade proposals, if he gets moved its for some minor league reliever.
If Dozier’s track record is “outstanding”, what verbage gets used to describe the track records of Cano, Kinsler, Altuve, and Pedroia? Don’t get me wrong, its a solid track record. But with that batting average being part of it, outstanding just doesn’t come to mind.
Batting Avg is over rated in today’s baseball. It is about production, getting on base and playing an above average defense at 2nd base. If he had 15 to 20 hrs avg could play a bigger factor but if you have 42 hrs from the one spot in the order batting him in the 5 spot on a good team could equate to 120 RBI and 30 hr. Don’t let avg skew your view of a player.
The value that LAD’s put on Dozier is that he destroys LHP, a mid order stick that has eluded them vs Lefty’s.. His RBI potential is massive, hitting between within the parameters of Turner and Gonzo. His salary is lowball for 2 more years, and the LAD have no everyday 2B.. Makes great sense to go for this guy.. as long as the biggest chip they have to give up would be De Leon..
You say BA is overrated and OBP is important….but Dozier has a career .320 OBP which isn’t exactly good….sure he hit 42 HR, but never showed power in the minors…and then jacked 23 HR’s in 56 games. He’s a good 2B but you can’t count on him hitting even 30 HR’s again. Over the next couple seasons he’ll probably average around 20-25 HR, 18-20 SB, hit around .250, and play above average D.
the last two seasons he has hit more the 25 hrs idk how u can say he will never hit 30 again
If the Tigers need a cheap Lefy hitting catcher, Steve Clevenger is available. Hopefully he will have learned to watch his comments.
Avila’s better though, and he comes with less off-field baggage. There’s a good chance that Clevenger’s done at this point I think
The Tigers only need to stay healthy. They have a good team. They do NOT need to trade anyone. They DO however, need a better Manager. I don’t understand why Gene Lamont isn’t given a chance.
Of all the AL teams that are considered “on the brink” of being a playoff team, the Tigers are probably the most iconic example I can think of. Aged veterans, but solid offense and decent enough (assuming Zimmermann can recapture some of that first half with consistency). I don’t know if this is a team that could make it deep in the playoffs, but they have the tools to get there.
The Pirates would have to be the NL pick, there’s so much talent there.
decent enough pitching*
I think Arroyo needs to accept the fact that he’s done. If he is still in pain, pitching is not going to alleviate the problem. He’ll just get hammered. There is definitely a post-career position for a guy like Bronson.
His heart is still in there but injuries have taken him out of the past few years. Who knows, maybe if it heals, we ll see him again as a pitcher.
Maybe if he got hammered before pitching he wouldn’t feel the pain
I feel the same but I can imagine it must be hard to just give up, knowing the only thing you’ve been doing since you were a kid is over. Plus, and I’m sure he’s made plenty of money, of course, but it must feel odd to be retired at 40. He’s got like 40 more years or so to live. There’s not that much fishing and hunting to pack into all that time.
I think that a lot of players have trouble retiring when they feel like they might be able to contribute. If he thinks he can get another season out of that arm, great. It seems unlikely but weirder things have happened.