Jose Altuve provided an update on his rehabilitation from knee surgery, telling MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart and other reporters that he’s “not doing a lot” in the early stages of his recovery process, though “the only thing they told me is we’re going to be 120 percent for the first day of Spring Training, and that’s what really matters.” Altuve underwent the procedure shortly after the Astros were eliminated from the ALCS, after playing through the injury for much of the second half of the season. More will be known later in Altuve’s rehab process, though for now, it doesn’t seem like the surgery will keep Altuve from being ready to go for next season.
Here’s more from around the American League…
- Whit Merrifield is arguably the Royals’ biggest trade chip, though the team’s lack of interest in dealing him is indicative of GM Dayton Moore’s unique team-building process, Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star writes. On paper, a player who turns 30 in January doesn’t have much long-term value to a Royals team that has 2021 as its internal start date to once again be competitive. Moore, however, has spoken openly about how disappointing the 2018 season was for the Royals, and he has been hesitant to enter into a full rebuild. As Mellinger puts it, “holding onto Merrifield serves several purposes simultaneously: projects hope and confidence to players and fans, helps maintain culture of professionalism in the clubhouse, creates the best possible team for 2019, provides time to see what might be needed in a few years, and retains the ability to trade a presumably still valuable asset next summer or winter.”
- “There is nearly a zero chance Michael Brantley will return to the” Indians in 2019, Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes. A reunion between the two sides seemed pretty unlikely, as Brantley’s strong 2018 season has put him in line for a lucrative free agent contract. This made him an imperfect fit to return to the Tribe’s outfield, as Cleveland may be exploring ways to cut some veterans from the payroll while still looking to contend again next season.
- Three evaluators from rival teams shared their thoughts on Sonny Gray with George A. King III of the New York Post, noting that the Yankees right-hander still has some solid trade value despite a rough season in the Bronx. “I think he [has value] because with the way starting pitching is right now, you look at him as a reclamation project. There has to be value with what starting pitching has become,” one evaluator for an AL rival said. Between Gray’s good numbers away from Yankee Stadium, his past track record, youth, and one remaining year of arbitration control (at a $9.1MM salary, as projected by MLBTR’s Matt Swartz), it isn’t surprising that at least five teams have reportedly called the Yankees about Gray’s services.
bigcokeslushy
The AL central is why an entire league being numerically ranked for the postseason makes the most objective, competitive sense, but I still like the division format and the number of teams that get postseason spots.
I’d love to see the White Sox pull an A’s and creep up on the Indians this year. Funny enough Brantley might be a good choice for the South Side
SuperSinker
They need to balance the schedule
User 4245925809
Dump interleague play so AL teams play more games within the league is way No. 1, just like it used to be
sufferforsnakes
Bingo!
pt57
A team would have to switch leagues again for that to work (or expand or contract 2 teams).
slider32
Time to scrap interlleague play, get universal DH, and balanced schedule within leagues. I would also restructure playoffs by record.
indiansfan44
I would like to see any team in the Central challenge the Indians. Last season was so boring I barely watched during the regular season especially after the Twins sold everyone at the deadline. Everyone knew that the games didn’t matter because everyone else was just conceding the season for a rebuild. NOBODY wanted to watch 17- 19 games each against glorified AAA teams. MLB needs to rework the schedules in a major way.
I don’t think it would be that hard to make it so you played every team in your division for 2 series at home and 2 on the road instead of 3 each and take those extra series and distribute them to the other divisions. You could set it up on a rotation where say this year the Central plays 2 home series and 1 away series against the East and 1 home series and 2 away series against the West. The next year it flips so that they play the West more at home and the East less. Still leaves room to figure out interleague play so that everyone has a game.
It would work out so instead of about 72 games coming our of your division and about 30 from the other divisions and inter league play we would have around 48 division games and 42 in the other 2 divisions and 30 in inter league play.
It doesn’t sound like much but using the Central from last year again as an example that is an extra 12 games against Boston, NY, Houston and Oakland. I would rather see those any day instead of 12 more games against Chicago and KC.
xSpecBx
The only true way to make it even would be for all the teams teams in each division to play each other the same number of games. Look at a team like the Rays. They had, 90 wins, playing roughly a quarter of their games against boston and new York while Cleveland had 91 wins playing almost half their games against teams that wound up below 0.500 for the year. Put the rays in the AL central and they probably are in the high 90s for wins, but in the AL east they don’t make the playoffs.
refereemn77
Maybe the divisions need rebalancing???
treewoof
Could the giants pull off a trade for Gray?
baseball1600
Gray in SF would be good for him. He’s a fly ball oriented SP. The only problem for him would be regularly pitching in LA, COL, and AZ. Otherwise I think he’d make a good number 4 in the SF rotation.
treewoof
Good point. Will be interesting to see what direction the new GM for SF goes.
aamatho18
Number 4? Who’s gonna be ahead of him besides Baumgarner?
mrnatewalter
While I think rotation “order” is one of the silliest things to debate in baseball, I think the Giants would view at least Dereck Rodriguez as a better pitcher right now.
jekporkins
That would be fine with me as a Giants fan, but what do the Giants send back?
Balk
The one thing I fear about a trade for Grey is we already have risks under contract. The shark is one of them, and seeing how that dude try’s to bounce back should come first before adding another risky contract. I would rather pick Holland back up then Grey.
treewoof
Holland is coming off his best season, and is going to want to get paid. Not sure the giants are the team to sign him. Bungarner,
treewoof
Holland is a risk because he will want a multi-year deal and his numbers could drop back to his career average. Gray has 1 more year of arbitration and could be a cheap, quality pitcher behind Bumgarner and Rodriguez with a change of scenery to SF.
slider32
Giants need a total rebuild like the Yankees did, Farhan is the man to do it. Times have changed, and so must the Giants.
Balk
Slider32, You have to know where the team is before you can state a total rebuild. The Giants can’t just take 100 million in contracts with no trade clauses and throw them out the window. They’re stuck with trying to make something happen.
Balk
Now they could decide to move Bum and Panik. But no one will get Crawford, or Posey, or Longo. If a team wants to take Shark, Shimmy, or Belts contract I’m sure the Giants would love for a team to have them! Reality is that’s not going to happen. Giants are stuck trying to hope for bounce back season.
xabial
Sonny Gray’s greatest trade value: HOME/ROAD SPLITS
15 games at Home: 6.26 ERA, .318 BAA, 1.90 WHIP
15 games, Away: 3.17 ERA, .226 BAA, 1.15 WHIP
HalosHeavenJJ
Gray’s best bet is return to the much bigger ballparks if the West, and I think that’s where he’ll eventually end up.
WestCoastSoxFan
Sonny Gray for Greinke would solve problems for both teams.
Kayrall
Lol
billysbballz
Yanks taking on all of Grienke salary might be huge deterrent other then the obvious no trade for Grienke.
WestCoastSoxFan
Arizona would LOVE to move that contract off the books so they could re-sign Goldschmidt and reallocate those funds elsewhere. Pretty sure Greinke has a limited no-trade?
You can add some other prospects to this deal and move some money around, too, but it might just be a deal both teams would make.
Chris Giarraputo
I mentioned this many times. Greinke from my memory since he was first s free agent stated he didn’t want to play for yanks and I am sure he’s on his no trade list. He has social anxiety. He is past it to a degree but working in the field of healthcare you don’t get cured, you manage it. All this talk about him going to NY is a pipe dream Unless all of a sudden at 35 or so he wants to scrap his current treatment plan and subject himself now as an aging pitcher to NY. I’ve followed him for over a decade. He turned down NY I know 1x in FA and why would he put himself in a position to fail when he’s in the desert collecting huge paychecks with little media hounding him. Arizona are fools to give ANY pitcher not named Cy Young that amount of $. The whole FO who signed off on the pick up should be fired and not hired by another team. It was so stupid it’s funny. And he must be laughing every 2 weeks when he sees the deposit in his bank account. Good for him. But- sets a bad comp president for future pitchers hence why Arizona should be ashamed of themselves. They now have to overpay for players since they set the market. And Goldy unless they throw the same stupid $ at him will not resign. He is who the yanks need. A 1st baseman for the first time since b4 Tex started getting injured 6+’years ago.
Old User Name
It would be better if Goldie was a lefty.
sidewinder11
Pretty much all of that front office is gone. Although I think the Shelby Miller trade had more to do with that than Greinke
slider32
Teams are too smart to take on Greinke unless the D-Backs eat 40 million.
Netflix&RichHill
Gray seems like a Pirates’ type of pitcher. After getting Archer and Kela, bringing back Kang, and jettisoning Harrison in favor of Frazier, they may as well stay aggressive and go after Gray. Talk about a good home park for Gray, PNC is perfect for him, though other people may be right about heading out west.
billysbballz
I would hold up Neil Huntington for a top 5 prospect just because. He asked for a totally different return them what he accepted value wise from Houston for Cole. I would deal the same way with him.
rocky7
Huntington, always tries to “win” every trade….you are absolutely right….he took a much lesser haul from the Astros for Cole that what he was asking from the Yankees….let him swing in the wind for awhile!
cxcx
I forgot Chris Archer exists.
BrandonGregory74
Gray to the Reds. Reunion with Derek Johnson.
tylerall5
I was thinking that too. It would be interesting to see a Taillon, Archer, Gray, Williams, Kingham rotation with Kuhl in the pen and moving Nova while having Keller in the wings. Maybe the Yanks would take Nova back in the trade.
jimmyz
Forgot Musgrove who pushes Kingham to the pen, replacing Kuhl who had TJS and won’t be pitching next year.
halos101
I’m sorry but I don’t buy the fact that Moore thinks keeping Whit brings a glimmer of hope. I think he’s smart enough to know that’s a full brebuild whether they want to or not.
cygnus2112
If Whit was 2-3 years younger, yeah, of course you keep him but let’s review the facts….
He’s going to be 30
His contract is never going to be more team friendlier than it is right now.
His output in relation to age will never be any better than it is as we speak.
Based on the fact he was never on any top prospect list thus no one could’ve predicted this kind of performance we’ve seen the last 2 years yet he’s produced the way he has, well IMO you cash in for that he’s like finding something of value you weren’t counting on & opportunities like this are few and far between to score a potential fantastic return that KC could secure.
MetsYankeesRedSox
Red Sox!
Dump Pedie.
joepanikatthedisco
Michael Brantley is one of the most underrated players in the American League.
In the past 5 years he’s hit .311/.371/.475 with 62 SB in 68 tries.
Mookie Betts in the same time frame: .303/.370/.518 with 110 SB in 132 tries. Surprisingly not THAT much better.
AsNchill
If we end up feeling a combo of Barreto/Fowler can net a top starter I’d be willing to take up 4 years for Brantley. Probably not gonna happen, but a lot can happen before spring training,
thelastonetodie
Massive injury concerns, not a gold glove caliber defender, far less power and significantly less SB.. that’s a terrible comparison tbh. You’re taking about an MVP compared to above average corner outfielder
Samuel
Move Brantley to 1B.
He’d be a Gold Glove candidate, and would stand a much better chance of staying healthy for the life of a contract. His baseball IQ, calming presence, and professionalism would anchor a young infield.
Dan Rogers
Why do you assume he’d be a gold glove candidate?
xabial
And yet Cleveland still felt he wasn’t worth $17.9M QO. Hasn’t felt this perplexed by a small-market team not tender a QO, since Cincy declined to tender Zack Cozart
Polish Hammer
More reason for a salary cap and level playing field. They can’t afford to take on that much salary but it would far worse if they did and he pulled up lame as he’s prone to do. One bad contract can cripple a small market organization, unlike the big boys.
WestCoastSoxFan
This is a dumb comparison because Brantley is 5.5 years older than Mookie AND because Mookie wasn’t even a full-time player 5 years ago. That doesn’t mean Brantley isn’t underrated, by the way.
Meow Meow
What are you going to make with all those cherries you’ve picked?
Ejemp2006
Brantley is not going to get a big contract. He’s not a consistent impact player. He’ll probably wait too long and then settle for a one year deal at 6-7 million.
Solaris601
I tend to agree. When he’s healthy he is a solid producer without question, but when he’s injured he misses large chunks of time, and his rehab stunts go on for months. Just not worth the risk of a 3-year contract.
slider32
Gray is a good value for a team with a big ballpark, he reminds me of Javier Vasquez, as for Kluber and Mad Bum teams will have to give up some quality prospects to land them. They could be difference makers for a contender. Brantley is a good hitter and could get a 3 year deal from a contender, his injury history and age will keep him from getting a big payday.
RunDMC
There will be a big difference in the get for MadBum with 1 year of control & coming off an irregular season and Kluber with 3 possible years of control and consistent (top-tier) production. I’d imagine you’d get a top prospect for MadBum and 2-3 headlining a package (at least) for Kluber.
To me, I’d almost see MadBum on the same level as Greinke – who is still productive, but overpaid and controllable for 3 years.
justin-turner overdrive
Why yes, Gray still has -some- trade value, he’s not going to go unclaimed if he’s DFA’d. His trade value is worth about a Jorge Mateo or a Sheldon Neuse straight up 🙂
justin-turner overdrive
GMDM is infuriatingly stupid. Merrifield has no reason to be on the Royals at his age.
Samuel
“Whit Merrifield is arguably the Royals’ biggest trade chip, though the team’s lack of interest in dealing him is indicative of GM Dayton Moore’s unique team-building process….”.
Yes!
“Moore’s “unique team building process” is why I became, and remain, a Royals fan.
–
It’s nice to have a team with a tradition and culture that is passed on, as opposed to trading off players only to bring back similar players after a flurry of trades – which is standard in almost all of MLB..
Salvy is only a year younger. Where is the cry to trade him?
Samuel
The fact that MLBTR writers and posters are united in agreeing that Dayton Moore is going about it wrong, is a major contrary indicator confirming his actions are for the good.
Left out of the article – Merrifield loves KC, playing for the Royals, and has made it clear that he’d rather stick through the rebuild then be traded to a contender (who would only dump him and half the team in 2 years).
getright11
Keep talking to yourself
justin-turner overdrive
99% of MLB players say they enjoy playing baseball for their team, this isn’t NBA, there’s no Jimmy Butler out there. Please do not take that to mean anything ever at all .
justin-turner overdrive
Salvy needs to be traded too!
greg1
Not the best spot for Gray as it’s a launching pad, but to the Jays for Smoak?
Yankees have a need at 1st, and seems more inclined to spend on pitching this offseason, Smoak is on a very team friendly contract for 2019, and is both a plus power hitter and strong defender at first.
Jays starting staff is a wreck right now, and getting any decent starter on a reasonable contract should be a goal. Moving Smoak opens up the one bagger for Rowdy.
Straight up, or with additional assets included, I think a deal centred around these two works for both.
costanza
If cashman could pull that off, fantastic, but the yanks would definitely have to send more over. Would love to see smoak between judge and Stanton, especially after watching him crush the yanks all of 2018.
southbeachbully
The Yanks don’t have a NEED at 1B. They have Voit. I don’t think Smoak offers enough upside to trade assets to acquire Smoak. His most attractive characteristic is ability to bat LH but as a switch hitter, he’s far less of a power hitter from the LH side.
I see no harm in letting Voit start at 1b next year. Goldschmidt is an obvious upgrade but it wouldn’t make sense to pay the prospect price on a 1B upgrade when we have glaring needs elsewhere.
Old User Name
Agree. Also as Gray is only one year from free agency, only a contender is going to want him.
southbeachbully
I think the Yanks should be interested in Merrifield. Last year he displayed characteristics the Yanks lack (speed, contact hitting ability, SB, etc). Plus his versatility could allow him to play 2nd, move Torres to SS and when Didi returns, he can move to LF and be an emergency back up CF. Too bad he’s not LH. He’s not expensive and should be coming into his prime years. At the end of his deal the Yanks can let him walk,
What would be the ask for Merrifield?
MetsYankeesRedSox
Sonny Gray…straight up
southbeachbully
i wish.
lasportsguru18
The Dodgers need a second RH SP. Since he has another year of control I can see the Dodgers kicking the tires on Gray.
lasportsguru18
I said a second RH SP because I see Maeda as a better relief pitcher than SP at this point.
Thomas Bliss
I would love Whit in a White Sox uniform. Make a trade for him and JBJ.
Dan Rogers
JBJ?
Thomas Bliss
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Dan Rogers
Yeah, I’m well aware. The point was that’s a pipe dream
Thomas Bliss
Okay. So? What’s your point? It really wasn’t long ago when Boston was considering moving him and if they had a big fish outfielder want to sign with them, Jackie would be the 1st guy out.
OCTraveler
Merrifield to the Dodgers for Pedro Baez and 1 or 2 prospects not named Verdugo. Immediately gives Dodgers a lead off hitter and gives the Royals someone they could try as a close
Dan Rogers
Obvious dodger fan is obvious
justin-turner overdrive
Yeah cmon man, Merrifield is absolutely sick. He’s worth Verdugo PLUS two or 3 from your top 20 prospects.
Polez
Apparently Cleveland is in need of some outfield help. How about Florial, Gray, and a mid level pitching (Acevedo or Abreu) from the Yankees for Kluber.
Polish Hammer
No. No Gray, more like Sheffield and a package that might also include Frazier.
justin-turner overdrive
You don’t get to fob off your unwanted players for a legit ace. Obvious Yankee fan is obvious.
Try Frazier, Sheffield, Florial and Acevedo and you might have something.
slider32
Done deal!