There’s plenty of bullpen chatter circulating as the Winter Meetings get underway. Here’s the latest…
- The latest updates on Mark Melancon last night revealed that the three-time All-Star has received multiple four-year offers, potentially in excess of $60MM in some cases. The Nationals have indeed made a four-year offer to closer Mark Melancon, according to Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post, but their offer was for less than $60MM guaranteed. That makes a reunion look unlikely for now, barring an increase in the offer from the Nats.
- FanRag’s Jon Heyman writes that Melancon is the Giants’ top target, and Greg Holland could be their primary alternative, as opposed to either Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen. Heyman feels it’s unlikely that they’d pursue either Jansen or Chapman if they fall to land Melancon. The Giants and Nationals are pushing the hardest for Melancon, tweets Heyman.
- The Nationals, Marlins, Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees and Giants are all in on Kenley Jansen, per ESPN’s Jim Bowden. Heyman tweets that the Marlins are intent on adding a top closer, and owner Jeffrey Loria is a fan of Chapman in particular. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Loria is at the Winter Meetings and is participating in meetings with the representation for top-tier bullpen arms.
- The Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, Indians, Dodgers, Rockies and Diamondbacks are all in the market for a bullpen lefty, putting names like Mike Dunn, Boone Logan and Jerry Blevins in a good position, Heyman tweets. Heyman also tweeted this morning that the D-backs are focused on the bullpen at the moment and have no plans to “shock the world” like they did last offseason.
- Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweets that veteran southpaw Joe Beimel is at the Winter Meetings and is seeking a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Beimel, 40 in April, hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2015 but had a nice two-year stretch in Seattle from 2014-15, posting a 3.12 ERA in 92 1/3 innings.
Closers are generally used to complete games in which a team has a lead, not a deficit. Without more talent in the starting rotation, the Marlins will rarely have a lead. Talking elite closers is absurd.
Yeah I agree especially when you already have AN Ramos, he’s no slouch
I mean yea AJ can close.
They don’t need a closer they need a starter or two, maybe five.
What even is their rotation?
Wei-Yin Chen
Conley
Hand?
Phelps?
Nicolino?
Volquez probably fits in there as well with the contract they gave him.
Forgot about him, such an unnoticeable signing
Hand was a padre last year,
Also a forgettable trade
I hope the Cubs can land Jansen.
Me too. Nice to see them mentioned in big reliever talk. Most talk has been Cubs not spending for one of big 3. With Jansen and resigning arrieta and getting a young controlled starter or 2 we should dominate for a long time
I highly doubt the Cubs re-sign Arrieta. He’s a borderline ace at this point. Anything north or $150MM is an overpay, and he’ll probably ask for $190MM.
I guess Beimel could be henderson 2.0 for the Mets
Gotta agree I have very little faith in the Marlins going after a top tier closer… someone’s in fantasy land, and it’s a no brainer article