A few items from around the baseball world as we head into the new week…
- “There is interest on both sides for a reunion” between the Indians and left-hander Oliver Perez, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, though Hoynes doesn’t expect a deal (if any) to happen for at least a month. Perez is one of many veteran relievers who may be somewhat stuck in limbo until later in the offseason as teams try to wait out the market, though the southpaw figures to draw another Major League contract based on his strong performance in 2018. After spending Spring Training and the first two months of the season on minors contracts with the Reds and Yankees, Perez landed in Cleveland and posted a 1.39 ERA, 6.14 K/BB rate and an 11.97 K/9 over 32 1/3 innings, posting dominant numbers against both left-handed and right-handed batters. Even expecting some regression, Perez at worst looks like he could be a LOOGY type. Outside of closer Brad Hand, Tyler Olson is the only other left-handed reliever in the Tribe’s pen, so there’s certainly a case for Perez to return.
- Left-handed pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo is drawing raves from both inside and outside the Athletics organization, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser writes, leading to increased speculation that he could begin the season on Oakland’s Major League roster. The 21-year-old Luzardo jumped from high A-ball to Triple-A in 2018, posting a combined 2.88 ERA, 10.6 K/9, and 4.3 K/BB rate over 109 1/3 total innings. Those numbers did include a 7.31 ERA over 16 Triple-A frames, however, and two rival scouts felt Luzardo needed a bit more minor league seasoning. (Left unsaid were any service time considerations the A’s might have about gaining an extra year of team control over the top prospect.) On the other hand, Luzardo’s widely-praised poise and makeup makes him seem like a good candidate to at least mentally handle the jump to the big leagues, and his talent could also be too much to ignore. “I don’t see any way he can’t break [camp] with us,” special assistant Grady Fuson said, also favorably comparing Luzardo to several past Athletics arms. “He’s one of the best things to come along here in a while. If you take our own history, he has better stuff than [Mark] Mulder. He’s got better heat than [Barry] Zito. You could kind of compare him to Gio Gonzalez at the same point, but with much, much better command.”
- With the Diamondbacks mired in a disappointing season back in August 2016, the Dave Stewart-led front office proposed a five-year rebuilding plan for the team, the Athletic’s Zach Buchanan reports (subscription required). Largely compiled by former assistant GM Bryan Minniti, two of the plan’s main components involved trading Paul Goldschmidt and exploring an extension with shortstop Jean Segura, which created an immediate contrast to what the D’Backs actually did when Stewart was replaced by current GM Mike Hazen — Segura was the one dealt as part of a noteworthy trade with the Mariners, while Goldschmidt was kept in the fold for two more seasons, leading the Snakes to a postseason berth in 2017. The piece is well worth a full read for a look at this potential alternate history of Arizona baseball, as Buchanan weighs the pros and cons of whether it would’ve been wiser for the D’Backs to begin a rebuild then as opposed to the semi-retooling that the club has undergone this offseason. Of course, as one source mentioned to Buchanan, Stewart might not have been the best GM to entrust with a rebuild, given how his front office was often criticized for its approach to acquiring and evaluating minor league talent.
partyatnapolis
would love to see the tribe resign perez. even if he’s only half of what he was last year. that bullpen is in desperate need of help and experience.
Polish Hammer
He was phenomenal last season and came at the right time as the bullpen was absolutely terrible until he showed up and things leveled out somewhat. However, it seemed to me like he kept it together with duct tape and crazy glue and I just hope they don’t overpay for him expecting the same results that I don’t see happening again.
sufferforsnakes
Way to keep a positive mind about him.
Michael Chaney
Me too. I think it’s pretty natural to expect some regression, but he’s good in his role and he really stabilized the bullpen after he arrived. I remember commenting how much I hated the move when they signed him, but he did a great job. I’d love to see him back.
FutureMiLBWife
It’s going to be so odd seeing Goldy in a Cardinals uniform
TrumpisMyGawd
You’ll get used to it.
Thronson5
I agree. It will be odd, I think he will have a great season for them as well. Personally as a Dodgers fan I’m happy he’s out of the division l, guys a beast but I hate that he went to the Cardinals who will always be a rival for the Dodgers in my opinion after they kept kicking out butts in the playoffs lol. Great pick up for them though, congrats to their fans for landing such a solid bat. Curious to see how that division plays out this coming up season. Curious to see how the West fairs also. Is it Baseball season yet? Lol. I can’t wait!
youcannnnnputitontheboard
Why does this get a downvote?
HalosHeavenJJ
I’m convinced some people simply down vote every comment. I’ve seen some great stuff get down voted.
xabial
Please sign Oliver Perez, Mets. — You know you want to
NotaGM
love to the sox take a flyer on Perez….this dude has been around 4ever…try him as a closer somewhere. he has had the rich hill path…might work
NewYorkMetropolitans
clown comment of ther day
NotaGM
you did ur best….moron
fc4391
Tempting. But how will fans treat him when he serves up a stinker? Not being negative on Ollie as I see him as a fit but there is the noise factor. On other hand if he is the real deal he will become a fan favorite. Worth the small gamble. Sign him.
Saint Chris
Dbacks GM Stewart traded Segura AND Haniger for Taijuan Walker. Has to be one of the top 5 worst trades in the last few years.
ScottRolen
No that was the new guy from Boston, the current GM who made that trade.
basebaIl1600
Whats more sad is that the Mariners couldn’t make the playoffs after getting Haniger and Segura, while the Dbacks made the playoffs with Ketel Marte.
casmith12
And Stewart did the Shelby Miller trade, giving up Swanson, Inciarte, and Blair. Not the best track record at all.
mj-2
I’m fairness Shelby Miller was a tough one to fault him for. He was coming off a breakout season and in the middle of his prime
I don’t know anyone who predicted Miller to fall off the map the way he did.
Even in spite of that, it’s not like Swanson and Blair have been all that stellar themselves. The big loss comes from Inciarte from that deal mostly.
You could very well argue the Braves could have gotten a better return considering Millers value at the time and how things ultimately played out for the players they got in return.
And I’m a Braves fan
delete
Given that Shelby Miller posted a 4.07 xFIP and only 7.5 k/9, I think what you mean is that YOU didn’t predict major regression. You and Dave Stewart
olereb
I don’t know why people keep bashing Swanson, he is one of the best defensive ss in the game. He has had two years in which he has not put it together offensively. I just want to remind people of one thing, do you remember when we traded our last defensive ss and do you remember how that turned out. As for me, Swanson can play ss for me, he makes plays that other ss can only sit back and admire
mj-2
If you think Swanson and Simmons are comparable defensively you haven’t watched them play.
Swanson isn’t a bad defender but he’s not the world class defender that Simmons was.
Simmons defensive WAR is literally routinely about 2.5 times Swanson’s. People calling Swanson a bust are closer to accurate than people pretending Swanson is Simmons.
mj-2
A 4.07 xFIP isn’t major regression. Shelby Miller fell off the map entirely with an ERA above 6
So if you were going by xFIP to value him you misvalued him as much as Stewart so join the club beisbolista
petrie000
No it wasn’t. Everything about Miller’s statline screamed regression, especially when switching to a hitter friendly park.
It was pitifully poor scouting of both their own team and Miller
mj-2
Poor scouting of their own team? Swanson as been an average player at best and Blair as been an adomination
All they really lost of value was Inciarte which sucks I’m sure but we all need to stop pretending that trade was some massive win for the Braves and a catastrophic failure by the DBacks.
Was it a win for the Braves? No doubt but it didn’t turn out as lopsided as some of you are trying to spin it.
At this point I’d argue buying Touki by taking on Arroyo’s contract for a year was more of a mistake by Arizona than the Miller trade.
Let’s stop putting Swanson on some pedestal like he’s something special.
mj-2
In fact Nick Ahmed was practically an identical player to Swanson last year. So what exactly did the DBacks lose in the Miller deal outside of Inciarte? They ended up with the same player at SS (with a different name).
sidewinder11
Ahmed is better than Swanson both defensively (gold glove winner) and offensively at this point. Doesn’t mean Swanson won’t be better in the long run but right now Ahmed is ahead
holecamels35
If Swanson wasn’t a top overall pick, no one would really think much of him. He’s just a guy. I know the Shelby Miller trade was bad but let’s not pretend they lost any amazing talent by acquiring him. I think it just goes to show the immense risk in trading for young starting pitching.
DTD
Swanson is just a guy that is gold glove caliber, gives the game everything he’s got, continues working on his offense, has developed some pop, and comes up big in the clutch. He’s just a guy.
petrie000
I’m spinning nothing. Inciarte and Swanson had far more trade value than what they ultimately went for. That’s a failure to appreciate value, so which a failure of scouting.
The overvalued Miller and undervalued what they were giving up.
bravesfan88
And don’t forget he basically sold Touki Toussaint for roughly 8-9mil…
Man was a genius!! Well, for every team except the D-Backs..lol
prestigeworldwide
and signed yasmany tomas.. Highest paid position player and a total bust. Also signed Yoan Lopez….16 mill potential mediocre reliever and caused the team to have international siging restrictions for years all because of their stupidity, Dave Stewart will go down as wort GM in history.
tharrie0820
the crazy thing about the Miller trade is Stewart did a pretty good job evaluating his prospects..Blair was top 25 at the time, now a complete bust. Dansby was top 10 at the time I think? looking more and more like a glove only player.
Chebert
Luzardo isn’t on the freaking 40-man roster. So yeah, I could see lots of ways he doesn’t break camp [with the big club.]
Frisco500
That guy was talking out of his butt. He doesnt know what hes sayin.
Frisco500
MLBTR,your clock is fast. Post made before midnight on 23rd say 24th. It is now Officially the 24th. PS Merry Christmas eve to everyone. I hope everyone has a great holiday. And dont be afraid to say Merry Christmas.
NotaGM
now if X said that he be a clown and a troll.
happy holidays to all but the buns in here calling people out vs posting real thoughts.
olereb
He is the reason we celebrate this holiday
Melchez
X is the reason for the season? Is that why it’s called XMas?
sufferforsnakes
Yes, Jesus is the reason.
baseballpun
Happy holidays.
dbacksrs
Luzardo looks to be good but he is not drawing the same rave reviews as Peter O’Brien, especially behind the plate and in the outfield.
OrangeKhrush
Luzardo is a pitcher
Michael Chaney
It’s an inside joke
lowtalker1
I liked Oliver Perez when he came up. I was shocked the padres traded him.
NotaGM
how so…2004 was his only season below a 5 era as a starter. that was 2 seasons after they traded him…then at 2004 he still tanked…until he hit relief role
lowtalker1
I liked him
I liked his make up
One day he was there and the next he was gone
This was in the bad padres year before the back to back division crowns
mj-2
What would it cost for the Braves to bring in Peralta, Hirano, and Greinke + $30 mil?
If that’s the Braves final move of the offseason I’d be content and this coming from someone who wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of bringing in Greinke at the beginning of the offseason.
It’d be helpful if the Braves also dumped Teheran somewhere after this move is made for financial reasons. But this all seems realistic at this stage of the offseason since th Braves refuse to sign any relievers.
B-Twice
A lot. Like. A lot.
mj-2
I can’t imagine it takes too much to get Greinke if we took on 75 mil of what he’s owed.
That really leaves Peralta and Hirano. The asking price really couldn’t be that substantial especially with Hirano in his last year and Peralta 2 years.
1 year of Goldschmidt got them a catcher and a struggling pitcher. Peralta and Hirano shouldn’t net much more than that I wouldn’t think. And the price on Greinke should be minimal unless they kicked in more than 30 mil
Billy 3
You must have seen my Atlanta / Arizona trade proposal in an earlier article :
Arizona receives:
1) Teheran 2) Gohara 3) Wright or Soroka 4) Pache 5) Riley
By 2020 Arizona has 3/5 of their starting rotation
Starting possible GG CF
With Lamb moving to 1B the RH power Hitting Riley moves in at 3B
Atlanta receives :
1) Zach Grienke. 2) David Peralta 3) Archie Bradley
Now Atl has their TOR Ace
#6 Hitter and RF in Peralta who hits .290-.300, 30 2B, 30 HR in Sun Trust for two years
And their new closer for 3 years
iverbure
Nobody intelligent who runs a baseball team or who is a fan in 2018 cares about batting average because they figured out 5+ yrs ago that the stat is useless.
daved
When Arizona put Tony “the dolt” Larussa in the front office, that was the end of it all.
Priggs89
I remember when the Nationals were too cheap to take on half of David Robertson’s salary to fix their awful bullpen. Luzardo would’ve looked damn good on the South Side.
Bjoe
Luzardo is going to be a stud
sufferforsnakes
Tribe needs to bring him back.
CowboysoldierFTW
Luzardo gets rave reviews!
anthonyd4412
Much better heat than Barry Zito? Ok, so what?
throwinched10
Did Barry Zito ever throw anything that could be classified as “heat?”
imgman09
Low to mid 90’s was heat at that time
Asfan0780
Beane trading donaldson was a disaster but his khris davis trade with brewersand trading doolittle, madson for treinen, luzardo, neuse hit the jackpot. Also piscotty trade was a nice one even though i didnt like giving up yairo munoz
arc89
people only remember the bad trades not the great trades.
iverbure
People only remember things that fit the narrative they’re trying to convince others of.
A'sfaninLondonUK
Kind of agree with both the immediate comments above. I hope you’ll correct me if I’m wrong but I think we gave up two years control of Donaldson for Graveman (who was twice an opening day starter) we still have Barreto under what 4/5 years of control and got JB Wendleken (via Brett Lawrie….) as a direct consequence…
I still don’t think of this trade as a bust. I don’t think it was a bonanza either but what would we have got for JD a year later? I think there were more questionable moves (in going “all-in” in 2014) prior to this move. This one was the icing on the cake/final nail in the coffin for the really good 2012-14 teams.
You could argue the Samardzija/Hammel trade was a bust but we still have Semien, Phegley & Bassitt as a consequence. 20/20 hindsight?
Merry Christmas
Wolf Hoffmann
Ten years ago I would never have predicted Oliver Perez would still be pitching in the MLB in 2019. Good for him.