Free agent left-hander Derek Holland has been in contact with the Reds, tweets MLB Network’s J.P. Morosi. After a resurgent season with the Giants, which came after signing a minor league contract late last offseason, Holland appears poised to reel in a far more valuable big league contract for the 2019 season. At the outset of the offseason, MLBTR pegged him to receive a two-year contract worth $15MM. The 32-year-old Holland has thus far been tied to the Rangers as a potential suitor; he previously played in parts of eight seasons with Texas after debuting with the club in 2009. The Reds, meanwhile, have made it clear that they intend to play more competitive baseball in the coming season, with much of that improvement tied to the starting rotation. Having already acquired Tanner Roark and Alex Wood, the Reds would still like to add another arm to join the two newcomers, budding star Luis Castillo, Anthony DeSclafani, and Tyler Mahle. Though the Reds have been linked to big names such as Dallas Keuchel and Corey Kluber, those avenues appear unlikely; Sonny Gray remains a potential trade target for Cincinnati, and Holland’s name is now being thrown in the hat as a more affordable option to fill out the team’s starting staff.
Some other notes from around the major leagues…
- Though the Mariners have been perhaps the offseason’s busiest club to date, the team likely has more moves yet to come. Greg Johns of MLB.com lists a number of trade candidates that general manager Jerry Dipoto may still move. Though it hasn’t yet been a month since Edwin Encarnacion was traded from Cleveland to Seattle, Dipoto seems intent on finding a trade partner for the veteran slugger. With Nelson Cruz now off the market, a team like the Rays, who at a time appeared to be in position to acquire Encarnacion, could move to fill their DH spot with a right-handed impact bat. Johns also names veteran right-hander Mike Leake, as well as infielders Dee Gordon and Kyle Seager, as other Mariners on the block. However, Gordon and Seager each seem less likely to find suitors, given that both turned in underwhelming 2018 seasons and are still owed significant dollar values over multiple years. As for Leake, many teams would certainly be interested in adding a durable, consistent (if unspectacular) innings-eater like Leake, who has now pitched upwards of 175 innings in each of the last seven seasons.
- In other news out of Seattle, TJ Cotterill of The News Tribune writes that the Mariners have leveled their own allegations against former employee Lorena Martin, who in November accused team leadership of racism and gender discrimination. In addition to stating that Martin’s allegations are false, the Mariners claim that they received multiple complaints that Martin “created a hostile work environment” and that she “misrepresented herself as a medical doctor.” According to Cotterill, the Mariners have received reports that Martin implemented her own practices for treating injured players in place of doctors’ orders. In their defense of Martin’s lawsuit against the Mariners, the team is seeking to void the remainder of Martin’s contract, as well as damages for her accusations on social media that team officials made discriminatory remarks about Latino players. An investigation into Martin’s accusations was launched by MLB, which has yet to make public its findings.
- Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com offers his outlook on the Royals’ remaining plans for the offseason, suggesting first and foremost that the team would like to add a pair of inexpensive free-agent relievers before Spring Training. While they won’t be targeting any of the marquee bullpen arms that have yet to sign, Flanagan proposes that, due to limited payroll flexibility, general manager Dayton Moore will take a more patient approach to the market, pursuing bargain veterans whose demands have lowered late in the offseason. The bullpen, of course, is a glaring need for the team that finished with baseball’s second-worst record in 2018. And while the Royals have yet to make any significant additions in that area, Flanagan also notes that the club expects to have a surplus of candidates vying for a rotation spot, and those who fail to make the cut will likely shift to a bullpen role. This depth could make for some natural improvement, even if the Royals cannot invest big money in improving the unit.
Are there any lousy fielders still on the market that the Twins can sign?
Holland will find pitching in Cincinnati more difficult than SF.
I think his numbers in Cincinnati will be closer to his stint in Chicago than his stint in San Francisco.
Bingo. Reds are the moxie for 2019 started
Holland should come over to Oakland and experience real fans who love baseball. Two years, 10 million, two rings.
I rather have Gio because his personality will gel in the clubhouse.
Not to mention that Gio is a better pitcher
A’s need to go after a bigger prize and get Kikuchi first, then they get get either Gio or Holland.
Kikuchi just signed with Seattle, so he is still available.
That took me a second to catch what you said there.
only if they throw in a whole Block of PRIME Oakland Real Estate by the stadium.
He doesn’t need to go to Oakland to get a cable package that includes the Cubs.
Oakland is ghetto. The city and the stadium. He can experience other drunk fans in a city that actually wants their team.
Love those sanctuary cities!
MAGA, amirite?
No, you’re wrong. Couldn’t be more wrong.
Sarcasm
2 rings? Onion rings?
The way the As spend they won’t get another ring
Yep great fan base .. how did that work out with the Raiders. Cincy is a far better fan base than Oakland. We don’t have control over poor ownership , nor do you .. quit hating on the fans.
Wait until the Vegas property owners find out that each one of them will be paying a extra $1000 over the next ten years on their property tax bill. You get to pay a rich NFL owner money to come to your city. LOL
lived in San Leandro and went to tons of games in Oakland as a kid. why take a pop shot? Jealous of a great ballpark and 3.3m attending every year? The drum beating is incredibly annoying and the ball park is aweful for baseball. I’m ussaully cool with A’s fans just not a fan of clown (dh) ball.
Trade for Jose Martinez
He’d look good back in Royal blue
Sorry………
Royals expect their position players to play defense (as well as run the bases properly). They’re funny that way. Don’t believe in a full-time DH.
Decides, they dumped Jose Martinez in 2015.
Yeah, Sammy whatever fits your narrative. We can pretend they didn’t give 400 Abs to the lumbering awful hunter dozier last year. Or how about all those years Billy Butler played there? Kendrys Morales? Yeah, you’re right though.
They also gave 600 PAs to Alex Gordon in 2018, and he was awful
DeSclafani will be in the Reds’ rotation over Mahle
Until he is hurt. Which seems to be half of every year.
Very likely, but Mahle has good stuff. He stumbled some in ’17, but then again all of their young pitchers did. They have talented young pitchers, but it’s not that you show up, it’s HOW you show up…
DeSclafani is solid when healthy with upside and fairly young still. Mahle has Tons of upside and young and especially hopefully with Derek Johnson the pitching coach of the Brewers last year … now Reds pitching coach can help. I think Derek Johnson signing and Ward Turner Dodgers hitting coach last year now Reds hitting coach were very aggressive moves. Even the Bell signing as Manager was aggressive. The Reds were the first to interview Joe Girardi and all the top candidates and the first name a new manager. Roark was a good arm. Wood is a real nice arm … When healthy. The A’s won 97 games last year and the Rays won 90. The expert’s aren’t right plenty of times. The Reds had a good offense last next year and should only be better this year. The bullpen was good last year and looks to be set for this year. Always good to have 6 or 7 Starting Pitcher options and a solid 5. If the Reds add one more they should have 6 and plenty of other options like Reed, Romano, Amir Garret, Satillian, Lorenzen as options. Love that Iglesias is a closer that can go more than one inning and Lorenzen is a multiple inning guy too and Garrett and Romano. We were going to cut Homer Bailey and we turn that into at least two productive players in Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig. Reds fans should be excited no matter what the experts say.
Rays will trade for Jose Martinez and the Astros will trade for Edwin Encarnacion.
Of mccarthy, lowe and robertson who is the closest to equal value for jmart?
Leake to the Cubs for Addison Russell and Chatwood.
AR replaces Seager at SS, once he is moved.
Lester, Q, Hamels, Darvish, Hendricks and Leake.
The Cubs have insurance against Darvish struggle and can start YU in the minors to be sure, then move Leake for another piece or BP him
Kyle Seager is the Mariners 3b…
Or save the silly trade ideas and just use Montgomery in the suggested Leake spot you have, cut Russell before you have to pay him (awful person who hasn’t even really been that good of a baseball player) and see if Hottovy can do something with Chatwood before bailing on him or eating his money.
Why would Seattle want any part of that deal?
At Wrigleywannabe
That makes no sense for either team. You think the Cubs are gonna start Yu Darvish in the minor leagues? Talk about ignorace. Wow.
These are my absolute favorite posts. I love when people call out others for being “ignorant” or “stupid” or “insert degrading comment here based on intelligence” while spelling it completely wrong or making a terrible grammatical error. I love it. Would upvote you 10 times if I could. Thank you!
I doubt the Mariners will trade Gordon or Seager. Both had a rough 2018 and therefore don’t have much trade value – especially Seager with his contract.
Leake on the other hand could find a home with many teams given his durability and their need in the rotation – Giants, Athletics, Reds, Nationals, Mets, etc.
It’s not a bad idea for the Mariners to hang onto him though given they will need someone to eat up innings instead of rushing Sheffield and Dunn to the MLB.
I think pitcher Jerry Blevins would fit in perfectly with the Royals bullpen for 5 reasons:
1. 4.85 ERA last season
2. 35 years old = cheap deal
3. 64 appearances last season
4. Left Handed
5. believes in family values
You could have just said “sucks” and saved yourself some effort.
Irrational hate for a Lefty RP? No way.
so he beats his wife and molests kids as well?
Reds r collecting a staff full of mid to bottom of the rotation arms. After they promised fans they’d spend this offseason. I guess taking on a crappy Matt Kemp contract counts as spending. Cincy sports r hard to watch
while I agree, we can hardly argue that they’re not making an effort. Jettisoning Bailey’s contract was HUGE, and how can you not be stoked about Puig and Wood, who I would argue is a solid #2 on most staffs when healthy. There’s a lot of off season to go. (not very high on Holland as a Red myself, love his character though.. he needs to be in a pitcher’s park)
Amazing how quickly the royals collapsed. 15 an 16 they were in the world series. They were young and had a dynamite bullpen
An entirely different team 2 years later.
14 and 15
Weak farm and they couldn’t afford their core players once it was time for free agency
They only locked up one player and of course one tragic accident
We do not want Holland bring Gio to Convey. Holland is not better then what we already have Mahle is better.
Cincy not convey
I would like to see the Reds get Gio or Wade Miley. Really Keuchel but I understand we are small market and that is a major commitment even if you can get him at 4 years. You are right I like Mahle much more than Holland. Mahle has tons of upside. We have seen Holland and no way he pitches like he did last year in our bandbox. I don’t trust a guy’s that had 3 good years out of 10 either. Especially to give real money too … 2 at 15 Hell no.
I think if the Reds sign holland and go all in on Kluber they’ve got a shot at the playoffs next year, and they should go for it
If Rays or Astros wouldn’t pay Nelson Cruz $14-plus million, why would they trade current assets plus pay any salary they take on for Encarnacion?
The Mariners understand that if they are going to get anything of substance back for EE they’ll have to eat a significant amount of salary.
Like a Josh Reddick.
Blue Jays should sneak in and offer Smoak to Houston.
I’ve never understood the want for Holland. Fellow Rangers fans used to act like he was a legitimate ace, it was ridiculous. Then you always had to listen to how hilarious he was for about six innings every fifth game, while they sprinkled in clips of his stupid impersonations. Under 4 era once in 8 years. I just don’t get it.
Correction, twice. He squeaked by one other year with a 3.95.
Come on Giants, Get off the bench and sign Holland. He kept us in games and was a good presence around the young guys !!
Giants don’t want Leake, they had him for a few months and he sucked !! Resign Holland.
I would like to see the Reds get Gio or Wade Miley. Really Keuchel, but I understand we are small market and that is a major commitment even if you can get him at 4 years 82 millionish. I like Mahle much more than Holland. Mahle has tons of upside and is young. We have seen Holland 10 yrs wortg and no way he pitches like he did last year in our bandbox. I don’t trust a guy’s that had 3 good years out of 10 either. Especially to give real money too.
Holland’s reassurance won’t last. He’s just trying to take the best deal he can find.