The Rays are likely to continue with first baseman Brad Miller, which would seem to rule out potential pursuits for either free agent Adam Lind or just-designated Twin Kennys Vargas, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. It’s unclear, though, whether Miller will primarily occupy first, second base or the designated hitter spot this season, Topkin adds. Miller on Saturday saw his first action since Feb. 23 (he was out with a toe injury), so he may not be ready for Opening Day. He also struggled mightily a year ago (.201/.327/.337 across 407 plate appearances) and is on an arbitration awarded salary of $4.5MM that the Rays would be able to escape without much consequence prior to the season. Nevertheless, it seems they’ll stick with Miller.
More from around the AL…
- Shoulder inflammation has troubled Blue Jays star Marcus Stroman this spring, but the right-hander told reporters Saturday that he’ll be available during the team’s first turn through the rotation this year. After throwing a pair of scoreless frames Saturday in his first spring outing of the year, Stroman said (via ESPN.com): “I thought [Saturday’s game] went really well. I’m ready to rock — just progress over the next two starts and looking forward to pitching against the Yankees on [April 1].” Needless to say, that’s welcome news for the Jays, for whom Stroman delivered 201 highly effective innings in 2017 (3.09 ERA), thanks in part to an excellent 62.1 percent groundball rate.
- Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury stands “a strong chance” to begin the season on the disabled list, George A. King III of the New York Post writes. Ellsbury has been battling an oblique injury that has kept him out since March 1. The Yankees are, of course, built to go without him, given the presences of fellow outfielders Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks. Their other outfield role may well go to young utilityman Tyler Wade to start 2018, King suggests.
- Whether he begins the season in the majors or at Triple-A, Tigers left-hander Daniel Norris will continue to work as a starter, general manager Al Avila informed Katie Strang of The Athletic (subscription required). “Right now, I would say, for me that’s not in his future,” Avila said when asked if Norris could fill a relief role. “Because we all believe he is a starting pitcher.” The 24-year-old Norris is competing for a job in a Tigers rotation mix that lacks certainty beyond Michael Fulmer, Jordan Zimmermann and Francisco Liriano. Mike Fiers, whom the Tigers signed in free agency with the idea that he’d occupy a starting spot, has “been bad” this spring, in part because he’s dealing with back issues, according to Avila.
Oh boy…
Oh boy… I thought Boyd looked terrible against Yankees today. I didn’t know that Fiers had issues with his back. Miggy and Victor have looked healthy and spry, and the fantasy part of my brain was conjuring pictures of 70 wins, but in reality, maybe it’s better to just really suck for a few years to keep getting first dibs on draft, rule 5, waivers, etc.
Why Norris coming off a strong spring isn’t going to be in the rotation is beyond me. Boyd hasn’t looked good and Fiers has been terrible. I think the only way teams look at liriano for a potential trade at the deadline is as a reliever. He’s pretty much proven he’s a 5 inning starter at this point.
How many innings is a major league team expecting from their 4th or 5th starter, lately? If he provides 5, he is a realistic option. Thats all the Tigers are asking of him. If they do trade him, the next team can use him how they wish. They will get more teams interested, though, if he can be used either way.
Not really. Liriano hasn’t proven he can be a dominant lefty out of the pen. Proving he can be a lock down lefty out of the bullpen would increase his trade value. I’m not saying they don’t need starting pitching but they shouldn’t keep one of their highest upside pitchers out of the rotation for liriano or Matt Boyd. Look at the deadline returns for solid relievers and back end starters. It’s pretty obvious that a reliever brings back more in a trade.
Ellsbury and the disabled list. Name a more iconic duo.
Carl Pavano and the Disabled List.
Arod and steroids
The rangers and David freese
Virginia and Choke.
Fergie and National Anthem
Jerk and Jack. The Off Brothers
Pablo Sandoval and the d/l
The disabled list, “Official Designation of the NY Mets’.
Pablo Sandoval and the buffet.
Red Sox and bad contracts.
You and a box of tissues on the weekend.
Padres and mediocre
Rich hill and blisters
UMBC and Untold Millions of Brackets Crushed (that’s on the home page of the school’s website) = )
Time for Ellsbury to learn a new position. Preferably third base.
That would never happen.
Well he’s a lefty so OF it is….
I don’t know….third base?
How about golf? When does cashman cut the bum? Any possible trade scenario we eat all the money anyway so why not cut him outright to free up that spot for literally anyone? There is no scenario where he isn’t hurt and he never is going to live up to that contract in any way. Yankees need the spot for these young guys. Gardner in his last year of his deal, Hicks has two more years, who of all our prospects are we keeping? Let them stay up at the show over that bum elsbury.
*see below*
Only 3 more years until Ellsbury’s $21M 2021 club option is mercifully declined in favor of a $5M buyout…
Why not just send Ellsbury down to AAA as he has one remaining option. Clear a spot for someone who can help the team. Your on the hook for his salary anyway so what’s the difference. If he refuses the assignment all the better. You are out of his contract.
I’m sure him or any one else would go to A to collect the rest of that money!
Uhhhhh Ellsbury doesn’t have an option. He has a major league contract.
Yeah jbigz12 is right. With his service time and no options remaining, Ellsbury would still be entitled to his entire contract if he refused such an assignment.
The only money the Yankees would get back is the minimum MLB salary when another teams takes him after he rejects. The team is stuck with him. Even if the yanks ship him off and pay the whole contract they wouldn’t get much.
because you can justify paying him that much money to pay triple AAA baseball. It just never happens.
The Red Sox do it all the time. Wonder how they are able to avoid luxury tax though? It’s another under the table arrangement by John Henry.
Ellsbury is still a good player. He is just over paid. Check his stats. And he delivered well last fall.. He is a better player than Frazier who is a triple A player at best.
True…. especially if you consider him a fourth or fifth outfielder …. if you can set aside the overpay, he is decent option
He sucks! Florial, Austin, McKinney, all would be better options or even Frazier over elsbury. At least we would get these future guys showcased better and can package them with others for a pitcher. Dump elsbury and do it before the season starts. We have a log jam in the outfield all the way down to A ball. Elsbury is dead weight in that log jam and isn’t offering anything. Hicks is firmly in CF and so Austin or McKinney should get the shot to be the 4th guy.
Florial is in no way ready. Austin is a AAAA player. McKinney is transitioning to first. Frazier has concussion symptoms. Finally Wade will make the team and can play the OF with exceptional speed. Ellsbury is far better then most 4th outfielders and he’s not getting dumped.
Wait. Lind is about twice the player miller is at first base. And he can be had at a very small deal, judging by the fact that he signed a minor league deal earlier in the offseason. If you ask me, I would rather pay one million to play lind (minor league contract + release miller) than 4.5 million to play Miller. C’mon Rays…
Ever since Pat The Bat Burrell, the Rays refuse to sign a 1B/DH who projects to hit at league average.. They should petition to move to the NL where this might work..
They released him this week
Miller had one good year and the Rays keep holding their breath he will repeat. Ain’t.Gonna.Happen.
Ellsbury and 2 elite prospects for Tulo? Who says no.? Why?
The yankees aren’t dealing elite prospects for Tulo, not to mention there would be no place to put him.
You mean Tulo the “shortstop” that can’t stay on the field due to injuries? Tulo the “has been”! He’s a lot further back than yesterday than he’ll ever be closer to today!
And, by the way we have a shortstop that he could learn a few things from currently playing for the Yankees.
Please how dumb!
Hahaha..”who says no” anyone that doesn’t have a major brain injury. “Why”because the Yanks already have a way-way-way better shortstop. Finally Tulo isn’t worth two c-level prospects…
What the hell are they giving you guys up there?
Tulo is an injury machine, he has a stupid contract and he’s been crying to come to NY for years. He’s old news.
I’m gonna say the Yankees since Tulos contract is just as bad.
I would do Ellsbury for Tulo in a minute pending Tulo physcial of healing of current issue. Save 10 mill or so on the same term of contract. Move Tulo to another position. Get rid of Ellsbury and contract. Would depend on the prospects the Jays are asking for.
EVERYONE!
Unfortunate how the baseball gods have turned on Ellsbury, I enjoyed watching him play with the Sox. Would be nice to see Cashman resolve the matter by releasing Ellsbury. Have to think another team would give him a shot at the league minimum.
Ellsbury should never have been a Yankee. Gardner is a very similar player with more pop and less years left on a less ridiculous contract. It doesn’t seem likely another team will pay Ellsbury’s contract in a trade and no one is giving up prospects for him at his age, so he will likely go down as one of Brian Cashman’s missteps.
Resolve what matter? He is a good contributor on a playoff team making $20+ million dollars on the most successful sports franchise in American history. He’ll likely get some starts and around 250-300 ABs and provide his usual average offense and above average defense. Ellsbury is overpaid but he doesn’t suck
By no means suggesting Ellsbury is a bad ball player, meant “resolve” from the point of view of an Ellsbury fan – I’d like to see the guy get regular playing time.
If Stroman can go April 1st and the Jays rotation stays as healthy as 2016 then there will be a lot of people sleeping on the Jays that don’t see them coming. No, i don’t expect the Jays to win the AL East, but they won’t lay down and die with their pitching alone.
Agreed. Lots of upside compared to last year, both in performances and health, and much better depth on the infield and outfield (rotation depth is still thin though, which is why their health will be so important, like you said). There’s even the outside possibility that two of baseball’s top-10 prospects could be ready to join the team late in the year if they obliterate AA this year.
Not a chance the Jays will compete in Sept/Oct.. The Jays may start well but the rotation depth is so thin they’ll be out of it by the trade deadline. Happ is 35 and only good for 140 innings, Estrada is a 55 inning guy because of his back, a friend of mine in the Blue Jays room says the finger issue isn’t resolved and he sees Sanchez moving to the pen to save the finger – it is repeated use over start after start that causes the problem. That problem won’t occur in short outings out of the pen.
Martin is only good for 60% of the games and Maile is a pylon. They appear to be building a very good bullpen. There is no Shortstop beyond Tulo, Solarte and Diaz will be exposed at short quickly. Grichuk is an unknown – 4th outfielder in St Louis. Grandy will be Grandy although the average may slide. Will Smoak be the Smoak from the first half in 2017? Or the pylon the last half? Will Travis be able to stay on the field?
No way this team competes for any playoffs in 2018. #Scoutseyes
You were NEVER a scout or a AAA manager! Stop the lies!
“Scouts eyes,” ha! #fullofit #friendontheinsideof____
(Fill in the blank)
YuhMom, for example
LMAO Scoutseyes.. what a fool
With full respect to the Jays, I hope they don’t hang around .500 and put-off a rebuild. Jays have some great prospects and desirable trade chips that would make for an efficient, meaningful rebuild. The present Jays brass did a fine job rebuilding Cleveland, here’s hoping the same occurs in Toronto. Rebuild and start in 2018.
Sad year for the Tigers. Worst team in baseball but better than TV Broadcast Crew . Can not believe they use trivia, generalizations and senseless banter because they lack professional demeanor..
TV crew not as bad as the radio team, which is indeed one of the worst, but I doubt the team is anywhere near the worst in 2018, As usual, it depends on pitching, and we’ll know by June 1st but no depth anywhere, so they have to stay healthy to win 75.
Ellsbury has spent the majority of his career disabled and wealthy.