The Rangers don’t appear to have anyone firmly in place as the their closer, though the recently-signed Tim Lincecum is one candidate to win the job. There’s at least a possibility that they could fill the position externally, as Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports in his latest “Inside Baseball” column that the team has considered bringing Greg Holland into the fold. We haven’t heard much other chatter about interest in Holland recently. The outgoing Rockies closer is MLBTR’s third-best free agent remaining, and the odds of him surpassing the offer he reportedly received from the Rockies earlier this winter (something in the three-year, $51MM range) aren’t good. This is particularly true considering the fate of the two Scott Boras clients to sign contracts most recently; Mike Moustakas recently received just a one-year deal at a $6.5MM guarantee from the Royals, while Carlos Gonzalez is said to be finalizing a one-year, $8MM contract with the Rockies.
Other recent items out of the AL West…
- Speaking of the Rangers’ bullpen, the team hasn’t yet decided whether to utilize former closer Matt Bush as a starter or reliever this season, according to Evan Grant of SportsDay. By his own admission, Bush had trouble finding consistency in his most recent spring training outing, walking two and allowing a homer on 43 pitches. In 52 1/3 innings with the Rangers last season, Bush pitched to a 3.78 ERA and a 4.57 xFIP. He saved ten games during his brief stint as the club’s closer, but he blew another five save opportunities that came his way.
- Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports provides feedback from some scouts on the bat of Shohei Ohtani, the Angels’ most high-profile offseason acquisition. These eight MLB scouts (seven of whom have seen Ohtani this spring) aren’t high on the Japanese phenom’s chances to produce offensively at the major league level. According to Passan, these scouts believe that “[p]itchers are going to punish him with inside fastballs, his swing contains flaws in balance and mechanics, and he needs at least 500 plate appearances of seasoning in the minor leagues to give him a chance at becoming a productive major league hitter.” One in particular noted that Ohtani did not hit from a balanced base, adding that he needed to “cheat” on inside fastballs, which would theoretically leave him susceptible to other pitches. Of course, it should be noted that Ohtani’s never attempted to hit major league pitching before this spring; one would think he deserves a reasonable adjustment period before jumping to any conclusions about his hitting ability.
- On the flip side of the coin, Joel Sherman of the New York Post details some concerns about Ohtani’s pitching. Sherman notes that he lacked high-end velocity in his most recent spring training start, mostly throwing between 91-94 MPH with some command issues. Though he generated 17 swings and misses (an extremely impressive number in just a few innings), he also uncorked a triad of wild pitches. Sherman wonders whether this can simply be chalked up to growing pains, or if it’s part of a more serious issue. The obvious caveat to this is that minute spring training sample sizes aren’t entirely indicative of cause for panic.
- Mariners reliever Tony Zych is undergoing medical tests for what’s being described as shoulder discomfort, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. Though Seattle’s setup man improved his ERA to an impressive 2.66 in 40 2/3 innings last season, he experienced a steep dropoff in his strikeout rate, down to 7.75 batters per nine innings from a 12.66 career mark prior to 2017. He didn’t make any appearances past August 19th due to arm issues.
Ohtani is not gonna be a two way player for long. Just my opinion. Stick to pitching
Looks to me like he may be suspect in both areas…don’t believe the hype
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt pitching. Luckily nobody gave him 150 million to figure this out. He is young and can be sent down to work it out
Because of his age, the CBA prohibits any team from offering him a standard contract (three pre-arb years, then three arb years—although he’d likely be eligible for Super Two status). Ergo, no team could have offered him $150M, even if they wanted to. Which is a shame for him, because he would have gotten more than that.
While I agree we should give it time, these issues do also mirror the foreign scouting we had heard.
When both what we heard and what we see with our owns eyes match…
I really think the Angels should have scheduled him to have been sent him down to Salt Lake (or Mobile if they wanted more pitcher friendly) for a season too, taking off the pressure for him to learn while under the ‘need-to-win’ gun
Yeah I know but I’m saying it’s a good thing he came early and nobody paid him that money he was expected to get
we just need to wait and see
this is reasonable
yes. we just need to be patient. we truly cant expect too much right now. the hype was a media thing. comparing the bave ruth two way player stuff. now that he is pmaying he gets all the naysayers. justnot fair
but belive a few ST games?
I agree, I think the hitting will stop by seasons end, and he’ll be strictly pitching by next season
No biggie, give Ohtani time. The Angels are not going anywhere anyways….
xactly
Remember when the scouts were saying in the first year of Spring Training that Ichiro’s bat was weak? Time will take care of it one way or the other!
Ohtani is gonna be a no way player if he can’t hit or pitch.
Injuries are piling up again for the M’s.
Unlike countryman Ichiro, sounds like scouts think Ohtani may be a big bust on the mound and at the plate. But then again this wasn’t a Josh Hamilton $$$$ level bust.
What are you talking about
hamiltons stuation hurt the halos for a few seasons abd even prevented them from obtaining help
Actually it didn’t. They had the best record in the majors in his second year with them, proving that his and Albert’s contracts are poor excuses. They had a nice cushion before the luxury tax threshold before pushing it the last two seasons. What kept them from getting help were two things: a) not having good enough prospects to get viable help in a trade, b) not taking on a salary dump like they did with Justin Upton and Ian Kinsler. Losing their entire starting rotation didn’t help matters either. Their entire rotation is full of 0-6 year pitchers with enough upside that it basically off-sets the burden of any huge contracts they’ve had, if they could only stay healthy. They could easily have a James Shields contract in their rotation that would definitely make things more difficult.
Joel Sherman is not a scout. He was simply reporting that as a pitcher there are some things he needs to prove. That is not suggesting he is will be a bust as a pitcher.
Hitting though it does appear the scouts are predicting bust!
Ohtani was never pitched inside by Japanese pitchers because it was frowned upon. They were told by their managers not to and it was a respect precedent. Look at the amount of time he lacked at the plate in the first place through injuries and other factors. So to think this will work at the MLB level is dreaming. Tiger stands a much better chance of winning 5 more majors then this 2-way thing working…
Can you share an article or something that mentions this was frowned upon in Japan? I’m genuinely curious.
If you Google how the Japanese pitchers are respected by their counterparts when batting it will show various articles. I also heard this discussed on MLB network by Smoltz,Plaesack,and Pedro among others when talking about the possibility of a two way player in MLB…
I think it’s a shame
and saving face thing in Japan culture due to respect !
If they weren’t throwing him inside pitches in Japan — IF — it seems more likely that it was because a power hitter will usually kill inside fastballs unless he can’t get around on them. Evaluators who’ve questioned Ohtani’s ability to hit in MLB, like Keith Law, have said that he’s got a long swing, which might be fine against lower-velocity fastballs in Japan (and in batting practice), but won’t work against most MLB pitchers. If that’s the problem, it’ll be incredible if he can revamp his mechanics to fix it while being a full time pitcher. Seems unlikely, but I hope so because it would be great to see.
It seems more likely to me they did not pitch him inside in Japan out of the Japanese culture out there to not do so to pitchers as other commentors have pointed out.
To say its out of fear does not seem realistic to me
I remember reading one article from a pro scout in Japan that the fear of hitting Omani on his pitching arm (left handed hitter, right thrower) or hos hand kept them from throwing hard inside. He was so respected that the pitcher who would have done that would have faced shame from his fellow countrymen.
Hence, not pitching him inside in Japan. Not the fear of his hitting, but the fear of injuring him.
Is anybody else bothered by Matt Bush getting to pitch in the big leagues? People like Aroldis Chapman and Bruce Maxwell deal with all sorts of people talking smack but Bush literally tried to kill somebody and I see nothing, makes you wonder what the real motivation is behind the anger towards the others.
1.) He didn’t kill anyone
2.) He went to prison and served his time
3.) Delete you comment
No I am not bothered by Matt Bush turning his life around after going to prison for his mistakes.
That too weighs into this. Pulling himself together is respectable. But it should at least be understandable why some people aren’t comfortable with him having the privilege of playing in MLB after all that.
You’re comparing going to prison with talking smack.
Stop hiding what you’re true accusstion is, everyone sees through you.
Ohtani has the ability to be a great major league pitcher. I just think that his ability is much better suited as a closer rather than a starter.
Matt Bush is a certified addict who is remorseful over his past and taking steps to better himself/make sure it never happens again.
Maxwell feels entitled to be a jerk and pull guns on people and is showing no desire to grow up.
But nice race baiting there.
Hard to see you defending the guy who committed assault with a deadly weapon on no less than 3 occasions yet Maxwell who has been convicted of nothing is worse.
So what do you think should be done with Matt Bush? What about others who have gone to prison? What should be done with them when they’re released?
Bush clearly had a problem with alcohol, but some people understandably question his character. He had multiple, violent assault charges and ran over a guys head with his motorcycle. Asking the question whether or not someone with a history like that deserves to play in a respectable, professional sport is fair, even if you disagree.
The commenter was expressing an opinion and he wasn’t suggesting Maxwell or Chapman were any better.
yeah, he was
I didn’t take it that way.
Remember when Daisuke was suppose to be the best pitcher ever? Now Darvish is already struggling in the post season. Let’s not forget this is America’s game. I highly doubt we’ll find someone who can come over here and be a two way play any better than guys we’ve already seen.
I imagine we will see someone as good to better again, and I think the games are working towards eachother in style over time.
Really just wanted to add the one I grew up hearing the hype about tho…
Hideki Irabu!
The whole situation around IRobU was such an epic debacle to witness
Mbutter88, Darvish was tipping his pitches in the World Series (he was fine in the divisional and championship series). You can bet he’s making sure that doesn’t happen again, but as far as your “America’s game” comment goes, it’s “America’s pastime”. It’s important to understand the difference.
The game itself has been a part of Japanese culture for over a hundred years (introduced in the 1870’s) and while you singled out Darvish’s struggles, you neglected to recognize the success of Maeda and Tanaka last season–and that’s just a couple of Japanese names. Correa’s from Puerto Rico; Altuve–the 2017 AL MVP–is from Venezuela. Successful MLB players come from various backgrounds and cultures.
Like it or not, Baseball is an international sport and we should feel honored to have created something so wonderful that we have been able to share with the world. You don’t have to be threatened by foreign players. The majority of Americans have foreign roots themselves and the integration of talent is a positive for the understanding and acceptance of cultural differences.
You should check out a game in Japan, whether it be on TV or in person, so you can see how American players are embraced there. You might learn something from the experience. I know I have.
He also forgot to mention a guy named ICHIRO
1 in a million. Literally.
“1 in a million. Literally. ”
Unlike Babe Ruth?
I can name 30 hitters that we’re better than Ruth. and as far as his pitching went, he couldn’t throw a scoreless inning in AA today.
You’re deflecting. The point is that Babe Ruth was seen as one of a kind–and rightfully so. Ohtani has been one of a kind in Japan and we’ll see if he can continue his success here.
“I can name 30 hitters that we’re(sic) better than Ruth . . . “
Go a head, I’ll wait. And start by defining “better”, please.
“ . . . he couldn’t throw a scoreless inning in AA today.”
Kinda doubt that’s true. However you could make the argument that no pitcher of Ruth’s era would be successful today. Nonetheless it remains true that Ruth was an outstanding pitcher before converting to full time OF. He didn’t stop pitching because he wasn’t good at it but because the Yanks decided he was more valuable playing every day.
YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!!!!!!
It would be tough for Ruth to get on mound today, so yeah, he probably wouldn’t throw a scoreless inning in AA.
yet every major record is still held by an American player I get that there’s talent everywhere. If Japan has been playing baseball since the 1870s how come there’s only been 55 players to play in the major leagues.???!
Mbutler, why does it matter that so few Japanese born players have made it to MLB? There’s a number of reasons for that and none of them have anything to do with your original comment.
Who owns the single season hit record and where is he from?
And how many of those were routine ground balls in the infield that he beat out becahse he’s running out of the box? Does that make him the best pure hitter? Because he runs out of the box before hitting the ball? You idiot.
I don’t think any nation has ownership over a sport. And I don’t see why Ohtani couldn’t be a special talent.
Because he’s over matched. Because he can’t hit big league pitching. He can hit Japanese pitching. Because Japanese pitching isn’t American pitching. Get it ?
Mbutler, it might be wise to wait and see how he fairs in MLB. But there’s good reason for the hype. Every single team in baseball wanted him.
Ohtani will hit under .265 and have an era over 4. If that’s what ever MLB team wanted than it’s becahse of the hype and not the numbers.
I didn’t realize you had a crystal ball and are able to see into the future.
Many believe there will be a transitional period and that wouldn’t surprise me, either. But he has an incredibly high ceiling. You can deny that all you want, but no scout is going to tell you otherwise. Questioning his ability to handle both jobs is one thing, but dominating at one or the other is another.
He’s struggling without anyone even having a scouting report. Just wait until every team has 3 page reports and video of exactly what to throw him. 55 Japanese players have played in the mlb and there was plenty of hype surrounding each one of them. how many had success? unfortunately for him we live in a society where media and hype is blown way out of proportion. the guy is getting way more hype and publicity than Ichiro ever did. Even after hitting .300 countless years.
You think there aren’t any notes on his pitches and habits? Of course there are. They’ll become more detailed with time, but I would also remind you that this is spring. James Paxton’s results haven’t been good, either. This is the time when pitchers work on specific things without worrying about the results. Let’s see how he does after he has a significant number of starts under his belt before we pass judgement.
Regarding the hype, he killed NPB. The hype should be understandable.
no one claimed tbey did
The problem with Daisuke was that his best pitch was a figment of somebody’s imagination.
This will sound like nitpicking, but Tony Zych wasn’t Seattle’s set-up man. In fact, he fell out of favor for late inning appearances in general last season, which led to the trade for Phelps. Vincent, Phelps, and Nicasio will cover the later innings this season.
Seattle may have a bit of dilemma, though. With Zych and Ramirez likely missing the start of the season, and Rumbelow having an issue with his trapezius, the depth is getting a little thin.
He’s even arguing about the guy who wrote the article is WRONG ! Classic !
Hard to see you defending the guy who committed assault with a deadly weapon on no less than 3 occasions yet Maxwell who has been convicted of nothing is worse.
if you believe the guy has addressed the issuecwith remorse and ther other hasn’t, yeah there is
The Japanese league is supposed to be better than AAA. If so, then he may not have much to prove and should be allowed the chance in majors.
At the same time, he’s trying to be a unicorn. If he’s determined to hit/pitch, so seasoning makes sense.
Btw, I thought he would sign with an NL team, so that he could pinch hit. That would have been an easy way to ease him into hitting. Plus, he would have never been pulled for a hitter.
If NPB was better than AAA why do we see countless guys fail in AAA and go to Japan and do well?
Actually, it’s players that dominate AAA and struggle in MLB, or are in their decline, that typically go to Japan and do well. We also see players go to Japan and return having learned something.
Like Mikolas? Who dominated there and can’t buy an out in the big leagues, still?
Mikolas is to be determined as we’re still in spring. Cecil Fielder immediately comes to mind. Matt Stairs, Julio Franco, and Colby Lewis would be a few others.
Actually the Japanese League from what I understand is more in line with Double A and probably in line of the quialty of baseball you would see in the American Atlantic League.
Holland is the missing piece for the angels
Yep. And Arietta.
they don’t need Arrieta , I would be just fine with Lance Lynn
No, and no.
Arrieta is asking for #1 money, while his peripherals are #3 and fading. He’s going to be a bad, untradeable overpay.
Holland would be betting on consistency from a closer, which is a bad bet. Few closers have held their dominance for more than a few seasons before either losing their control/velocity, or being figured out by the other teams. Holland may be one of those exceptions, but right now the expectations are for serious money to find out for sure. Pass.
I’m a baseball fan first, Mariners’ fan second, and even I’ve been anticipating Holland signing with the Angels. It’s been a little surprising that a closer hasn’t been brought in.
There’s many durability questions with their rotation and they really haven’t done anything with their bullpen. Losing Petit stung. Holland would allow them to use Parker in a set-up role, which would be a pretty good late-inning 1-2 punch.
Adding a swingman could help considerably as well.
I just got a notifaction that Moustakus turned down a 3 year 45 million offer from the angels before he signed back with the royals.
Lucky for the Angels! Cozart makes far more sense for LA, in my opinion, despite the position change.
I kinda thought Moustakus made more sense, angels need another lefty bat other then Calhoun
True, the Angels are RHH-heavy. But Moose has slowed down considerably. The power is undeniable, but I would stick with the better defender who can get on base. Cozart has a little pop himself.
Let’s start calling strikeouts a Triad of Strikes.
Of course he won’t be too good. Not everyone is babe Ruth, but then again pitcher throw harder now. Maybe, he would have had success in the 20s and 30s
Honestly what a load of rubbish. It’s spring training. For all we know the angels coaches might be saying “slow down your speed we want to see your mechanics” or “only throw outside fastballs we want to see how batters react” you can’t read into any results because they aren’t game situations at all. They are live practice games to work on certain areas of things. Who wants to bet that these 8 scouts were all raving to their respective teams about how great Ohtani was before he signed with the angels and are now just salty
Aussie, you nailed it.
Go St. Kilda 😉
It would be a really awesome story if Lincecum could reinvent himself as a good closer. What if it works out and for the next 5 years he’s a really good closer. HOF?
Let’s not forget Ohtani is a 23 year old prospect ..
Who we should also not forget was paraded around MLB as if he was the second coming of the Babe, and then some. If he turns out to be human after all, who will be shocked?
^^^ Exactly, he’s still a kid and ST is just underway. There is a big transition to make before he’s ready for the Bigs. What has happened with Ohtani is no different than what happens with all of the prospect over-hype. You know all of those “can’t miss” studs that never make it past AAA ball? He may or may not make it as a MLB’r but let him take time to develop.
And those worried about how bad Darvish is, I remember watching Tom Glavine give up 7 straight hits in the All Star game and how did he turn out? All pitchers hit a rut at some point in their careers. Yu just had it happen in the WS. He’ll be fine…
Ohtani was promised that he will get his at bats that why he sign with the angels Ian a big angels fan I don’t mind it spring training guy Ian sure ohtani will come to his senses if not help the team
If Mike Trout goes 1 for 14 no one says a thing(and they shouldn’t). But Ohtani already gets dissected like a frog.
Mike Trout gets hit in the head by Texas no one does anything. I am all for obp etc. but if
a team does not react, they will get it all season.That’s just the way it is.