Here’s the latest on a few National League clubs…
- There have been rumblings of discord between the Mets and injured third baseman David Wright, but the captain shot those rumors down Saturday, saying (via Tim Healey of Newsday): “The last thing that I want to portray is that there is some sort of rift between the Mets and me. That’s false. There’s been communication. I know where they stand and they know where I stand.” Wright added that he intends to appear in a major league game this month – something he hasn’t done since May 27, 2016, on account of various upper body injuries. Before a potential return to a big league diamond, the rehabbing 35-year-old will meet with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon in order to map out “a game plan from here to the end of September.”
- As Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out, it was a year ago Saturday that the Brewers lost budding No. 1 starter Jimmy Nelson to a major right shoulder injury – one that will end up shelving him for all of this season. Brewers general manager David Stearns offered an encouraging update Saturday on Nelson on the first anniversary of his injury, saying that “Jimmy is nearing a really positive phase of his rehab here.” However, while Nelson will continue working toward an early 2019 return over the next several months, Stearns isn’t certain if he’ll be ready to slot into the Brewers’ season-opening rotation. As a result, the club will “continue to have contingency plans.” To the credit of the Stearns-led Brewers, they’ve found a way to overcome Nelson’s absence this year en route to an 80-62 record and a 1 1/2-game lead on the NL’s top wild-card spot.
- Reds righty Homer Bailey has made 20 starts this season. The Reds have won just one of those outings, largely because of the 6.09 ERA the once-solid Bailey has put up over 106 1/3 innings. The club temporarily pulled the plug on Bailey’s time in its rotation Friday, removing him in favor of fellow righty Tyler Mahle, as Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer was among those to report. However, the Reds still owe the 32-year-old Bailey $23MM next season, so they don’t seem ready to give up on him. “Right now, he’s going to be just working on his mechanics and video and so forth to improve himself any way he can and be ready for the offseason,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “I don’t anticipate him pitching in games in the bullpen.” Whether Bailey will start or relieve in 2019 isn’t yet clear, nor is it a sure thing he’s equipped to work in relief after starting in all 212 career appearances to this point. Asked if a full offseason of preparation would leave him ready to come out of the Reds’ bullpen in 2019, Bailey told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic (subscription required), “I don’t know.”
I wonder if the Mets/Wright discord has anything to do with New York’s ability to collect insurance on Wright’s contract.
I’ll give you $5.7 million reasons why you wonder. Reason 1….Bernie Madoff.
I’d rather read spam than your stupid comment.
lmao!!!
that has been my thought all along with this
so called rehab stint. if he wants to make a
token appearance then fine, but he can not
be a regular player. let him play and show he
can’t continue so the two incompetents can get
their insurance money. they can then have a
david wright day. offer him a job working with
kids in the org. everybody gets
emotional but realizes that its for the best and the
world moves on
I think it does.
The Mets are currently recouping 75% of Wright’s salary via insurance. The insurance has a 60 day deductible. Once he’s back in the majors the Mets pay the full freight, should he go back on the DL, the Mets would be fully responsible for the next 60 days, then back to recouping 75% if he’s still out.
It’s a two way street. I’m sure the Wilpon’s are mainly focused on the insurance money and slightly focused on Wright’s terrible performance in his rehab games.
I’m about as die hard a Mets fan as there is. As in I have a damn Mets tattoo. We are awful. We will be awful next year. Wright’s playing or not playing has nothing to do with what we can afford under the Madoff Mets. Please just let him play a few games and give us something to cheer for other than Degrom being the best pitcher who can’t win a game.
Even if wright can physically play in a game there can’t be any expectation that he’ll be able to produce at a meaningful level. He hasn’t been a productive player for 6 years. If he wasn’t David Wright and he had to earn his way onto the roster by results in the minor leagues he would have no chance. It’s a lost season so it’s fine but it’s nothing more than a PR move.
He did post a wRC+ around 120 when he did play in 2015-2016.
But even 2.+ years is a long time ago at this point. There should be no expectation about him being productive – it will just be nice to see that he was able to make it back.
And he is David Wright (and he is under contract) so what might’ve happened had he not been David Wright and under contract isn’t particularly relevant, Besides the Mets have played a lot of players this year who don’t necessarily deserve it.
It’s amazing how quickly people forget.
Douchebag Duo Of The Day!!
Max Kepler And Robbie Grossman
Ummm…ok? That’s a stupid comment.
Homer Bailey and Matt Harvey. What a pair of former stars that are still young and yet are a shell of themselves.
Homer got paid $21mil this year, $23 next year
So the Brewers will be going into next year with starters Davis, Peralta, Anderson, Chacin, Burnes, Woodruff, Nelson, Derby, Miley. I think you let Guerra walk. But I do wonder if you resign Moustakas and then maybe see if you could trade Shaw, Thames, Santana and maybe Arcia to the Mets for Thor or Wheeler. I believe that Dubon could take over at short. Schoop should be fine at second with an offseason to get ready mentally. I know probably a pipe dream
I don’t think the Mets are looking for ML players who will be passed their prime by the time they are ready to contend again. I also doubt they choose to keep Moustakas over Shaw. Shaw is younger and cheaper. We’d also be more likely to trade Dubon than Arcia. I could see them trading Peralta, Ray, and Woodruff for a TOR SP, giving them a starting rotation of New SP, Chacin, Burnes, Anderson, Davies, and put Miley in the pen. Then when Nelson in healthy, have him and anderson
Pitch together, ie they both get 3-4 innings. Nelson won’t be ready to pitch longer than 4 innings for a while.
Reds can’t give up on Homer Bailey; nobody wants that contract and the Reds need as many arms as possible to compete for starting rotation jobs next year.
One of the worst contracts given out in baseball. At least Chris Davis, Ryan Howard, Troy Tulowitzki, Jacoby Ellsbury were all star-calibre and MVP candidates at one point in their careers (Howard won the award). Bailey was never a Cy Young contender. Reds probably can’t wait for that salary to leave the books.
I can’t be the only person who pictures Homer Simpson on the mound every time Homer Bailey is out there… can I?
No you can’t especially when he serves up gopher balls. DOH!!!!!