Some items from around the AL East…
- Thursday’s three-team deal between the Rays, Indians, and Mariners was a very notable swap for all sides, and while payroll concerns were a big factor for Seattle and Cleveland, the Rays’ role was apparently more baseball-centric, and all the more interesting given the team’s long-standing admiration for first baseman Jake Bauers. As Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes, Bauers had long been seen as the Rays’ projected first baseman of the future, and the 23-year-old only just made his big league debut in 2018. New acquisition Yandy Diaz, however, adds a bit more positional flexibility as well as a right-handed bat to Tampa’s roster. “Jake’s pretty special to us and our high opinion of him doesn’t change….We like him a lot,” Rays senior VP of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said. “This was one (deal) where there was no high-fiving, just something we thought really made sense for us going forward. The Indians are getting a hell of a player. It’s going to be fun to watch his career progress.”
- In more details on the trade, Topkin reiterated that Edwin Encarnacion isn’t likely to be flipped from the Mariners to the Rays, even though Seattle could very well trade Encarnacion elsewhere before Opening Day. That fits with a report from Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who said that Encarnacion wasn’t originally a part of any talks between the Rays and Indians, who were initially planning to just swap Bauers for Diaz in a regular two-team deal. Hoynes also “would not be surprised” if the Tribe acquires a veteran bat for pinch-hitting or part-time DH duty, to get some playing time when Carlos Santana is at first base and Bauers is deployed as a corner outfielder.
- Mike Elias’ contract with the Orioles may be a five-year deal, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com has heard, though Kubatko noted that this hasn’t been confirmed by the organization. It isn’t unusual, of course, for teams to not publicly release details on executive contracts. Five years isn’t an uncommon contract length even for a first-time GM like Elias, especially given the large amount of work he faces in overseeing what should be a very extensive rebuild.
- The Blue Jays are known to be looking for some veteran rotation help, though they apparently weren’t “serious bidders” for the recently-signed Charlie Morton or Lance Lynn, Sportsnet.ca’s Ben Nicholson-Smith writes. Morton signed a two-year, $30MM deal with the Rays that includes an option year, while Lynn reportedly got a three-year, $30MM commitment from the Rangers. It would be somewhat surprising if Toronto signed an experienced starter to such a contract, either in price or perhaps anything longer than two years, given how the Jays are in a rebuilding phase. The Blue Jays reportedly at least checked in on Lynn, though it isn’t surprising that they balked at giving him a three-year deal. Toronto’s lack of moves on the pitching front makes them a team to watch as various hurlers continue to come off the board, particularly if the team is also weighing offers for Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez.
get on with more trades already. old news just rewriting.
Amen brother!
And if they didn’t write something, you’d whine
Because this site controls the trades?
ALMOST FIRST!!
Never first!
So close, yet so far away.
H & O
Xabial must be studying…
Yessir!! Last final is tomorrow and had a three hour calculus tutoring session today that cost $300.
It’s a lot… but It was either that or fail; this guy helped my sister get a perfect score on Math SAT. (Hell if I tell you what I got, I feel like an idiot, in comparison) anyway, thanks for your kind words.
X, did you take the ACT?
Nope. In East coast, ACT not as popular, as SAT though it is accepted by every University.
Wish I did! was always curious what Act like. “Back in my day” Sat was out of 2400 Lol. Now it’s out of 1600? Gen Z little help here!
Sorry pness, I didn’t want to be trolled..
But hey, they updated, only article think you gave me a compliment. What’re the odds!
You don’t have to tell us, we already know.
Oh snap you called him p-nis
I had a calculus tutor before. Worth every penny.
One semester of intro.
Remember pretty much none of that f(x) stuff.
Bs
Back in my day it was out of 1600, then it went up to 2400, and now it’s back to 1600.
Seahawks should’ve ran the ball
How many years now?
Ran it where?
Into the end zone.
Got stuffed the play before.
Lynch ran for 4 the play before. On first and goal. From the 5 to the 1.
Correct. Seahawks also had to pass on at least one of the plays given the clock and timeout situation.
The Portland Seahawks don’t exist yet. They’re the mystery team that’s gonna sign Harper tho.
Encarnacion might be appealing to the Rockies. He still offers power and would represent little risk since he’s only under contract for one more year.
If Seattle ate a chunk of his salary, maybe Josh Fuentes would be a feasible return? He’s blocked in Colorado and Seattle has a glaring need for ready/near-ready infield prospects.
He’s done playing the field and is primarily a 1B these days.
1b is the field.
Also, he’s talking about Fuentes being blocked, not Encrnarcion
Obviously meant EE is strictly a DH and not for the NL Rockies.
I didn’t like that move for the Indians.
Breaking it down, they acquired Santana and $6 million for Encarnacion and then acquired Jake Bauers for Yandy Diaz, Cole Sulser, and the draft pick.
Looking at the first part of the deal, it’s a clear loss. Encarnacion is still owed at least $26.6 million over the next two seasons and Santana is owed $41.6 million over the next three years. Even taking the extra money sent to Cleveland in the swap, the Indians come out still having added $9 million to their payroll. Furthermore, Encarnacion was actually better than Santana last season, by a rather wide margin. The difference in OPS was a whopping 44 points (.810 to .766)!
The second half of the deal is actually worse than the first is. While Yandy Diaz was essentially blocked in Cleveland, I probably wouldn’t have even traded him straight up for Bauers. While many analysts are very high on the top-100 prospect, I don’t see it. First of all, he’s defensively limited and around average to slightly above average defensively at those few positions that he can play, namely the corner outfield spots and first. Unfortunately, his bat doesn’t necessarily amaze me either. While he has shown the ability to steal upwards of 20 bases in a season, his power is lacking a bit for his positions. While he does a nice job managing the strike zone, I would consider his ceiling to be .250/.350/.415 guy with about 10-15 homers in the long run. While a .765 OPS isn’t necessarily bad, it isn’t pretty when you’re looking at a guy who lacks defensive value, and is probably only good enough to hit seventh in the line-up of a contender like the Indians. The fact that they also gave up their competitive balance pick makes this a very poor deal for Cleveland.
Sorry for the novel
If the short term $ savings lets them keep Kluber for another playoff run I think it was worth it.
I see where you’re coming from but you can’t base Jake’s value just on his numbers..I know that sounds stupid but – watch him hit – he has a sweet swing and imo the best is yet to come…That said, I’m not losing sleep over getting Diaz in return. Yandy’s contact ability and multi pos ability plays well into the model the rays are trying to form…they were both top 100 prospects (I think Diaz was…too lazy to look it up) Jake def was, and there’s a reason…he’s got some great raw skills that’ll be evident next year, if he gets the abs…
As far as Edwin vs Carlos, I read somewhere that Carlos’s money was back loaded whereas ed’s was all ’19 – this frees up some flo for next year for CLE…I am still with you, though… I don’t like the Edwin / Carlos swap for CLE regardless of the short term economic benefit.
Yandy was never rated in the top 100 prospects.
Especially in the offseason, a trade cannot be judged on its own. Rather, it needs to seen as a part of other offseason moves.
The Indians objective is not only to compete in 2019, but to be a sustainable contending team with a small-market payroll limitations for years.
What we’ve seen so far is this……..
The Indians dumped Encarnacion’s bad salary $20m + $5m buyout. But to do so, they had to take on 2 years of Santana for $35M.
Looks bad.
But by trading Diaz for Bauers, the Indians acquired a decent prospect that plays 1B. That made Yonder Alonso superfluous. So the Indians dumped Alonso on the White Sox, saving $9m. Therefore, the Indians would have spent $25m for ONE year of EE. Instead they’re getting TWO years of Santana for $26m when you factor in the money saved trading Alonso. Diaz & Bauers salaries are basically a wash.
So the Indians have Santana replacing EE as a 1B/DH, and Bauers replacing Alonso as a backup 1B…..and part time OF. The cost for this was Diaz. Buuttttt……
EE and Alonso would have left after 2019. This gives them an additional year of Santana. They can play him in 2020…..or…..if Bauers is showing life, they can trade Santana and his $17.5m due in 2020 for some cheap prospects….saving millions and gaining players with additional years of control.
Bauers reminds me of Brandon Belt when he was young – could play OF, but he was a crack 1B.
These were 2 brilliant moves by Antonetti/Chernoff.
Wow!
Forgot that the Indians gave up a comp pick – but they also got back $6m cash.
Great moves.
Samuel, this time I agree with you. Good job by the Cleveland front office.
They saved money in 2019, and left themselves flexibility.
Brilliant.
I’m right about Myers. It’ll grow on you. 2.4 war in 343 PA’s in 2018. Entering his sweet spot. Signed for 4 years at age 28.
He’s not a great player, but can be solid. What makes him unattractive is that ridiculous back-loaded contract Preller gave him. If the Indians can be creative and get that AAV down, he would fit perfectly. Batting behind Lindor, Santana, and Rameriz, he’s easily good for 100 rbi. The Indians cannot afford a guy like Stanton or Harper. Have to be realistic as to what will work with the rest of the lineup.
Truth is that the Indians need TWO run producers if they’re going to advance in the playoffs. Naquin/Luplow platoons won’t cut it.
Very, very impressed with Antonetti/Chernoff.
Samuel, the Indians front office is not done, They will add to the outfield. It is December now. The season starts in late March.
I know that you are fascinated by Myers, but that backloaded contract is much too much for a small market team to handle, If they spend that type money it will be on a better player than Myers. I won’t change my mind on that.
Please read what I wrote……
“If the Indians can be creative and get that AAV down,”
The Indians FO likes Myers and have been talking to the Padres. You can be sure they’re trying to get the AAV down.
The Padres badly miscalculated. Paying Myers that money as young guys are matriculating onto the team and being initiated in the ways of major league baseball makes little sense. Sure he can mentor them – but every year there are veterans like Adam Jones or Nick Markakis or Gerardo Parra or Curtis Granderson, etc. that can come in for less than half Myers salary to play LF some for a year or two, then give up their position to a cheap prospect that has earned playing time.
Preller is going to be hampered by that salary from 2020-2022. He has to face the fact that no team will take that contract on without concessions. If he moves Myers this offseason, that brings the AAV down from $22.5m for 3 seasons to $18.25 for 4 years. Pare that down to $10m-13m a season, and he’s in the Indians price range. Getting the Padres to take Kipnis drops it down to just above $14m.
Samuel, I have read what you wrote over and over again and I just don’t see that he is that piece that helps us enough for the price that it will cost. You have stated over and over again your thoughts. I just don’t agree with you. I am sorry. I would rather use the money you would spend on Myers trying to lock up one of our younger players or a better player than Myers.
I will be interested to see the finished Indians product come the start of the season. So far the Indians have done a good job. Now let’s see some additions to the offense.
@ hockeyjohn
No problem……
Tell me what run producer is on the Indians team that should be given an extension – Rameriz is locked in, Lindor won’t negotiate, he’ll get $400-500m in 3 years if he stays healthy…..there is no one else.
The only possible run producer possibly available for a reasonable salary is Andujar – that’s if the Yankees sign Machado, and Didi comes back healthy and resigns. All that will not be known till at least mid-season 2019, and probably not until next off-season. Do the Yankees put him in a package for 2, 1.5, or 1 year(s) of Bauer; or 3, 2.5. 2 years of Kluber?
So the Indians have to look at either minor league prospects that have not proved they can hit major league pitching, or a guy like Bauers that has had some major league experience, but is a project. Keep in mind that with Lindor and Kluber signed for 3 years – that’s the window to win. It may take a prospect 2 years to just begin to hit his stride in MLB.
All this leaves is someone like Odúbel Herrera that the Phillies might move – he of the attitude problems and 0.8 WAR in 597 PA’s during 2018; or a Puig for a year.
So the Braves, Dodgers, Brewers can offer players that have never established themselves as run-producing starters in MLB. I’d circle back to Jorge Soler who can’t stay healthy, or Nelson Cruz who you cover your eyes and stick in RF 3-4 times a week…..then again, would he be much worse than Melky Cabera was?
I was thinking of trying to lock up Clevinger. I know Lindor is a pipe dream to extend. I just don’t see the love for Myers. The only way I would do a deal for Myers is if they tack on a couple of their top 100 prospects.
Samuel – This is from Fangraphs on December 17, 2018 from Dan Szymborski’s chat.
Mr Glass – What can the Padres realistically trade Wil Myers for?
Dan Szymborski – Not Much. He’s not enticing enough to pay for the privilege or paying.
It is obvious you didn’t see Bauers play first base. He is FAR better defensively than ” slightly above average”! He is actually a very good defensive first baseman. You are right about him in the outfield.
Encarnacion is only signed for 1 year, and Santana just for 2.
Cleveland added a little bit of money, but spread over 2 seasons instead of 1 – it decreased their costs in both 2019 and whatever they would have had to spend in 2020 to replace the departing EE
Santana only had a lower OPS because of an uncharacteristically low BABIP. Santana is expected to be quite a bit better than Encarnacion next season because EE has major red flags in his stats. Santana is also a good fielding 1B, where Edward is a DH.
And Santana was more valuable than Edward last season – EE 1.0 WAR, Santana 1.9 WAR
As far as the Bauers/Yandy part – once again, we have stats. Specifically Bauers as a 22 YO put up a 0.6 WAR over 90 games, while Diaz had the same 0.6 over 88 games but as a 26-27 year old.
Then there is this
136 ISO
110 ISO
95 ISO
Those are the AAA numbers for Diaz the last 3 seasons and it shows his power is in absolute freefall. Not a good sign for a guy entering the age of 28. Meanwhile Bauers has had a consistent 147 ISO the last 3 minor league sesons, saw it go up in the MLs last year, and is only 22 so he’s not in his peak physical condition yet.
It’s hard for me to see how Bauer’s is a 10-15 Hr guy in the long run. The guy hit 11 in a half of season worth of ABS. I’d say at his floor he hits 15 a year which is fine with the rest of his offensive profile. I don’t think you have a star but you have a guy who should be an above average regular.
If the Rays aren’t pursuing Encarnacion anymore then which right handed bat will they go for?
Cruz
YEEEEAH, BOOOOY!
they need to make it official and get that boomstick in the lineup…we haven’t had a bat that potent since…the crime dog? SIGN NELLIE NOW, TB.
As said two years ago, the Blue Jays Mgmt lack of acquiring high end pitching at that time is finally coming home to roost this year They have little high end pitching in the barn and on the farm and the notoriously cheap spending Shapiro has already spent his money by releasing Tulowitski.
This is going to be one rough year for Blue Jays fans.
The Jays will be out of it by June 1st. Might as well totally tank and sell off the rest of the assets.
Not really. There are no expectations, so why be upset when they finish in 4th place again. The silver lining will be seeing Vlad Jr. come up to the bigs and watching the kids play. Anyone expecting a playoff run from the Jays is delusional.
June 1st, that’s optimistic…
Things wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t have huge injury setbacks to Stro and Sanchez in the rotation, not to mention the Osuna debacle and subsequent suspension. Let’s also not forget Donaldson was on the shelf for huge amounts of time.
Not sure how ANY of that is Shapiro’s fault. And, they had to pay Tulo the money regardless so you’ve misstepped there as well.
There is never any reason to make it personal, please keep it professional.
There have been no missetps on my part in the last post.
For the Jays to release Tulo, Shapiro had to go to the board and present his case for making a decision to create dead money. This is a significant loss to a corporation when an asset has to be written off the books like that Yes the Tulo money would be spent anyway, but the balance sheet is now revsed asnot making any income from Tulo and optically and balance sheet wise, this is not a good thing at the highest corporate levels
As far as injuries go, they are a part of the game but good scouting can call a bad rotation most of the time as poor. The Jays results were called in advance in these very pages at the end of 2016. So yes, Shapiro did miss it when the opportunity to rebuild was at the end of 2016 when certain scouts were calling for it. As for as good scouting is concerned, Shapiro has wasted two years of rebuild time and lost significant prospect and time value by not trading and rebuilding/tanking back at the end of 2016.
An easy answer to the pitching issues in the Jays organization. It’s funny, because our previous GM emphasized in drafting arms early and often.
2015 – Jon Harris (1), Brady Singer (2 – did not sign), Justin Maese (3)
2014 – Jeff Hoffman (1), Sean Reid-Foley (2), Nick Wells (3)
2013 – Drafted 9 pitchers first 9 rounds. Matt Boyd (6), Kendall Graveman (8), Chad Girodo (9). Phil Bickford (1) did not sign.
That should properly explain why arms aren’t coming through the way some had hoped.
Yah easy to see why there are no arms ready on the Jays. Trades, bad drafting not refilling the funnel,
By the way just my opinions: Hoffman isn’t making it very well in ROX land. Sean Reid-Foley has no idea where the ball is going, Graveman sucked last year due to Injuries, otherwise he is a 3-4. in the rotation, Boyd is a 4. Nick Wells might never reach the majors, the same for Girodo. Phil Bickford[Milwaukee] has a great arm but needs a few years more to mature as will Maese and Singer[for the Royals].
And let’s not forget Danel, I live out of my van, Norris. He has been hurt a lot and the rest of the time sucked for the tigers.
^Yes I haven’t forgotten Trailer Park Boy. I didn’t want to go beyond 5 years of drafts as I wanted to paint the picture of a farm system with little to show for despite the emphasis on pitching during the AA era.
Also can’t really account for anyone after 2016. But minor league development has been a problem for years. Jays fired many scouts in 2002 and hired Keith Law. They haven’t been the same since.
Atkins and Shapiro fired half the scouting staff when they got here as well. Maybe they were starting over.
Rays could probably have Giles and Morales from the Jays for practically nothing. Potential low commitment, low cost solution to a couple of their glaring holes.
Giles for nothing? Hardly. He was good for the Jays last year, zero reason to sell low on him.
To get rid of Morales. Put Teo in as the DH and rotate in Martin to keep Jansen in the lineup.
Look at morales stat line.. it was decent, and needed for a mentor
Sounds to me like new manager Montoyo is going to be doing things differently defensively so I can’t see how Morales being defensively inept is part of his plan. And being the new manager he is the new mentor. Tulo is gone for a reason.
Giles and Morales to TBay? Do it. Grab a couple arms (Gibaut could start in the rotation). Open the DH spot and rotate around with Vlad, Tellez, Travis, Martin, Teoscar.
Giles only has two years of control and is a huge head case himself. Attaching morales too him would make the cost very cheap. Giles won’t be cheap in arb either. If he stays in Toronto and racks up more saves this year that’ll just inflate that figure next season as well. I can’t see TB being interested in paying his likely arb figure for 2020.
^Closers implode, and Giles is a big time candidate for just that. Sell early. Do not hold onto him longer than necessary. If there is a trade, consider it. Don’t hold out hope that he’ll “rack up more saves” as he carries a significant amount of kerosene to the mound. Waiting around got Atkins into trouble time and time again.
Atkins seems terrified of making deals. He waits way to long. Sell Giles ASAP. Only closer in MLB last yer with no blown saves?
I think we need less notes on news with no significant updates. I get that they need to keep “informing” to keep the readers interested. Still though….
You could probably set up notifications from this site or another and not waste your time. But since you felt obligated to leave a comment my guess is you won’t do that and you’ll continue to check in on your own. Maybe you can keep the whining to yourself though.
and you could keep commenting on my whining.
Off topic, but its basically impossible to be a Yankee fan on here and not get downvoted to oblivion.
Everybody hates fans of successful teams.
Everybody hates obnoxious fans…
Yeah, like Cubs and Sox fans.
I use the app on my iPad. I don’t have the ability to up or down vote on it. On the plus side, I can’t see votes, either. A win-win!
Paul Hoynes is a meat head…
Jays aren’t going to be in any of these FA deals. Why? The new CEO of rogers and the board of directors has mandated that the payroll be lower. Not becuase they are in rebuild mode, no, they have mandated the payroll lower to make more money for the corporation.
That is the new CEO modis operandi. He cuts all not core costs to the bone and focuses his marketing efforts on what is making Rogers money.
This is all about money folks, make no mistake about it. Don’t drink any Kool_aid that suggests it is about building or retooling etc. Money, Money, Money and the same decepetive rhetoric about it coming out of the Jays front office.
Just like when they bought the team in 2000 and hired Ricciardi a year later.
Just like other times between then and now.
Standard operating procedure.
m.mlb.com/prospects/2018/list=tor?list=la
#14 Tony Gonsolin looks like a Shapiro potential add.