Tyler Naquin and Rob Refsnyder are still competing for a potential spot on the Indians’ opening day roster, and Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets that manager Terry Francona has explained some details to them. Francona reportedly told the two players that the spot won’t simply go to the guy who gets the most hits over the last week, and that roster construction could be the biggest factor. For instance, if Brandon Guyer and/or Michael Brantley aren’t ready in time for opening day, Naquin and Refsnyder would stand a better chance to make the club out of camp. Whether the club chooses to carry seven or eight relievers will also affect their fates. It’s worth noting that Tyler Naquin has multiple options remaining, while Rob Refsnyder is an out-of-options player.
More out of the midwest…
- In a piece for The Athletic, Doug Gray details ten Reds prospects to keep an eye on for the coming season. The players in the article aren’t necessarily top prospects, but rather a group of under-the-radar players who Gray describes as “unheralded”. The list includes right-handers Nick Hanson and Ryan Hendrix, $10MM shortstop Jose Garcia, and Brandon Phillips’ cousin Montrell Marshall. Many of these players have significant upside and are worth the exploration by any Reds fan, or indeed any avid baseball follower.
- Wade Miley’s opt-out date has been pushed back, Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reports on Twitter. The southpaw seemed likely to make the Brewers’ rotation before suffering a torn groin that’s expected to keep him out two to four weeks. Miley could have opted out of his contract tomorrow after being informed that he wouldn’t make the opening day roster, but GM David Stearns apparently worked out a deal with his agent. Miley’s opt-out date has been extended until the point at which he’s able to start pitching again.
- Two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera is stuck in “baseball purgatory”, says Scott Miller in an opinion piece for Bleacher Report. Miller describes Cabrera as “an island unto himself”, on a rebuilding Tigers team that will not likely be able to deal him and the $192MM remaining on his contract, particularly coming off the worst season of his career wherein he was plagued by back issues. For his part, Cabrera doesn’t seem to be focused on that aspect of his situation. “I’m here to play,” he says. “I’m not here to give my opinion of what’s going to happen. I’m here to do my job, to help win games and to help the process.”
Wade Miley throws left handed.
That’s what a southpaw is
Things you own, end up owning you
– Miguel Cabrera
You know that’s from Fight Club, right?
Looks like someone just broke rule number one…and two.
Doug Gray is legit. Glad to see him getting mentions.
Settle down Doug.
I drink fiber.
Insert [Refsnyder joke] here.
Refsynder has shown squat this spring. The only reason, and it’s a stupid one, that he would have any chance of making the team is because he bats RH.
Francona needs to come to his senses.
Miggy-Enjoy Detroit! You signed it.
Cano-Enjoy Seattle! You signed it.
Albert-Enjoy Anaheim! You signed it.
Owners choked on the A-Rod’s & Carl Crawford’s of the world…now it’s your turn for that humble pie.
sheff86 enjoy the jealousy. You own it.
For 192 million I’m sure miguel Cabrera can find enjoyment anywhere.
It is sad that he’ll never get a World Series ring. He’s a first ballot hal of famer.
You know he won one with the Marlins in ‘03, right?
I don’t get this, is it a weird troll just designed to get confused responses? Cano and Pujols are both on teams with legit chances to contend.
The Yankees choked on A-Rod? Attendance went up by a million/year when they acquired him. They became the richest sports club in the world because of A-Rod.
And, oh yeah, he won several MVPs, and they went to the playoffs pretty much every year while he was around.
Not to mention, chances are NO 09 WS without ARod.
And they can thank PEDs for putting ARod over the top.
Who cares. Damn everyone that was good was linked to them. Get over it.
Sure, because “Yay, cheating!”
Yes, I keep forgetting what a bankrupt, penny pinching franchise those Yankees were, before A Rod. They made the Marlins look like the Cadillac’s of the Baseball world in comparison. If not for A Rod, they may have relocated to Montreal by now.
I’m not in the locker room but Miggy has always seemed to be a good teammate.
Cabrera just had a down year… Miggy is a tremendous player and the leader of a young tigers team…
Miggy is the greatest right hand hitter of his generation. He’ll bounce back if healthy.
So in return for Miggy and $100 M would you take Hanley, Castillo and Pomerantz?
Probably not a great trade and Red Sox Nation would not approve. However Hanley’s contract could come off the books this year if he doesn’t get necessary AB’s and Castillo’s a few years later. Pomerantz will be a FA after this season. Castillo is a pretty good player but with Bene, JBJ, Betts and JDM there’s no room for him.
Pomerantz–is mired in Lefty Heaven with Sale, Price, ERod and Brian Johnson.. We could expand the trade to include Michael Fulmer for some pitching prospects–Jay Groome and reliever Austin Maddox.
Fulmer for Groome and Maddox. That was a good one. Thanks for the laugh
More like fulmer for benintendi, groome, Erod, Maddox and more.
will if refsnyder doesn’t make it he could always headline a sale trade right.
A big first half will restore a lot of Miggy’s lost value, enough that they could move that contract. If he wants to land in a better situation, he’ll have to earn it by raking.