Troy Tulowitzki impressed enough in his December 16th showcase to draw genuine interest from as many as 16 major league clubs, per Andy Martino of SNY.tv. The Cubs were reportedly willing to hand Tulo their starting shortstop position at least until the end of Addison Russell’s suspension. The Pirates, as well, liked Tulo’s lateral mobility and overall athleticism enough to install him as their starting shortstop. The Angels were interested in him as a third baseman. By signing with the Yankees, however, Tulo arguably sees more playing time certainly than in Chicago, assuming Didi Gregorius’ injury will keep him out for longer than Russell. The Yankees fulfill (at least for now) his desire to stick at short, and they certainly figure to be more competitive than the Pirates. In context, there’s ample reason to understand New York’s appeal to Tulowitzki and vice versa, though the story changes if Manny Machado winds up in pinstripes. Of course, Tulo’s minimum salary deal would hardly be a deterrent to a Machado signing, but it could be yet another sign that Brian Cashman and the Yankees are more than content to enter 2019 without the divisive superstar. Let’s check in on a few other notes from around the game…
- Interestingly, Mike Napoli interviewed with the Chicago Cubs before they filled their recent coaching vacancies, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter). It’s been less than a month since the former All-Star announced his retirement, but now that the Cubs went in a different direction, Napoli will have no trouble enjoying his time off. Napoli was always touted as a positive influence who buoyed clubhouse morale with intensity and charm, and there’s plenty reason to believe there is a future in coaching for him, if he so chooses.
- The Tigers are no-doubt ready to deal Nick Castellanos, but they’re not ready to give him away, per mlive.com’s Evan Woodbery. GM Al Avila faced a similar quandary last offseason in trying to find a match for veteran Ian Kinsler. He settled on returning a pair of lower-tier prospects from the Angels, only one of whom registers on their list of top-30 prospects from MLB.com (Troy Montgomery at #29). Kinsler’s situation was complicated by a partial no-trade list, but the Tigers still ended up with a package not much different from what the Angels received when they moved him to Boston mid-season. The Tigers don’t appear ready to settle this time around, even if it means getting a lesser prospect mid-season or letting him walk at year’s end. The crux of the issue is that the Tigers view Castellanos as a robust offensive producer on a one-year deal coming off a career season and entering his prime. Trade partners, meanwhile, can paint Castellanos as an $11MM defensive liability. Of potential trade partners, the division rival Indians are still the most logical fit, and they’ve partnered even recently on the Leonys Martin deal last season. Still, finding middle ground on appropriate compensation for a player with such evaluative extremes is proving difficult. Avila and the Tigers, however, will not be cowed by the challenge, nor will they give in to it – at least for now.
- The Tampa Bay Rays are reducing the seating capacity of Tropicana Field in order to create “a more intimate, entertaining, and appealing experience [for our fans],” per Carl Lisciandrello of the Tampa Bay Times. The new renovation plan will lower the seating capacity by roughly 6,000 to around 25,000 to 26,000. With an average daily attendance in 2018 of 14,258 that exceeded only the Marlins, the Rays are certainly taking a creative approach to attract more fans by lowering their capacity ceiling. While the initial optics of this renovation plan certainly invites a degree of ribbing, Rays ownership is wise to take a creative approach to growing a fanbase that has been historically lackluster, especially given the recent failure to finalize a deal for a new stadium in Ybor City. Outfielder Tommy Pham was the latest to criticize Rays’ fans in a recent interview on MLB Network Radio, saying, “It sucks going from playing in front of a great fan base to a team with really no fan base at all,” as chronicled by Anthony Barstow of the New York Post. The Rays have done the job of putting a competitive and exciting team on the field, now they’ll embark on better utilizing areas within the ballpark. Hopefully, there will be more fans there in 2019 to notice.
Yankees will not land Machado. Tulo addition I believe proves the front office in NY has a lot of skepticism in landing him.
Not because they don’t want him but because they are cheap now. As a Yankee fan I’m really getting tired of bs
DITTO
Cheap? Look down a couple of years. They hope there’s a reason to pay Sanchez, will have to pay Judge and Gregorius (assuming he returns to form). Unless they can ship Stanton to LA, pitching will be more important than Machado at his current price and desired length.
Ellsbury and Tanaka will both be off the books by then and Chapman heading into a walk year. The needing to pay guys three years from now excuse is just that.
He’s not worth the contract and we don’t need him. Buying championships doesn’t work.
Since when?
Of course it does. When you buy the right players
Ummm do players pay for free? As long as players make a salary, championships have been bought.
Might wanna tell that to the Red Sox
They are cheap because they may have decided not to spend more than $200 mil? It’s debatable. Cheap doesn’t feel like the right word for it though. Frugal maybe? Hard to call a team that acquired a $325 mil contract last year as “cheap”?. But I get it. Fans have become accustomed to us (them) signing elite players over the last 2 decades.
Remember the Marlins are paying a nice chunk of that $325 million
Aw, poor guy. Yanks not willing to spend whatever it takes to put together a winning team? It’ll be a long summer in the Bronx, I guess. Low payroll, a lack of star power, unwillingness to spend money… Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh… LOL
They literally got Stanton LY. How are we cheap, stop being a baby.
I hope they don’t land Machado , because they honestly don’t need any more all star bats. They need power pitching more then anything. Machado will be with the phillies or they get harper.
They were too cheap to pay for Corbin so where are they going to get power pitching? They need an overwhelming lineup or they will fail in the playoffs again. Yanks cannot be cheap in the AL east and succeed.
So you think the Yankees should have paid even more for Corbin who the Nats already overpaid for.
I’m sick of Yankee fans thinking because they make so much money that they need to sign everyone. It’s a business and the business is to make money not to overpay to have everyone.
Machado could go to the Phillies for 350 million but Yankee fans will be mad because they didn’t go Atleast 375.
Corbin is no star. He was great last year. The previous three years his ERA was 4.35.
I’m not sure why anyone would pay 100+ million for such a pitcher.
Why shouldn’t the Yankees be able to pay more since they make more than everyone else?
What’s wrong with wanting to sign a couple of high end free agents when they haven’t been shopping in a couple of years? What was the point of getting under the tax line? They made weak efforts over the last two years in the playoffs to rebuild and reset. Now that it’s time to cap off the rebuild we’re supposed to settle for mid market blues and pass on the two best free agents since Arod? To make money???
I’m sick of other teams fans who feel the need to police Yankees fans expectations but not as tired as I am of people who don’t understand economics weighing in on the subject.
Stanton.
More important, is Keep Judge and Torres, Servino sign them to long term contracts. Judge has another. Good year, he will be in Jeter popularity level. So beef up bullpen, and good backup infielder. Money better spent
They added Paxton and Happ for a full year instead of Gray and Happ for a couple of months. Assuming Sevy stopped tipping his pitches, I would say the rotation is already vastly improved. Add to it Montgomery’s return midseason and the emergence of Michael King in the minors, plus the return of Lasagna and I would say their depth is also improved.
The make more money because they have a near monopoly. If it was market based, the New York market could support two more teams. The Yankees need the other 29 teams for their own existence.
I can’t agree with this comment more. I’m a Rays fan, which is the antithesis of the Yankees, however I wish the Rays were in position to grab a player such as Harper. The idea that you could add a Harper or Machado to a solid young core is exactly what you would hope for. A team like the Yankees is perfectly set up to add a player such as Machado or Harper and should jump at the opportunity to add a young superstar. If the Rays could add a 26 year old superstar such as Harper to split time between RF/DH I would be ecstatic. This is why you root for smart big spending teams like the Yankees or Dodgers.
They need a competent defensive 3rd baseman more than anything. It isn’t even close.
Machado to 3rd. Andujar to first. Done.
I don’t disagree BUT I do believe players who work to improve deserve a chance to show they actually are improving. I can’t provide a source but I have heard numerous discussions saying Andújar is already hard at work trying to improve his defense. I actually believe the Yankees need a contact hitter or two more than pitching. The lineup the last two years has been very “feast or famine”. They have no ability to manufacture runs and that can be critical.
I don’t agree that the Yankees have any incentive or obligation to give Andujar a chance to improve as much as I would want to see his defence improve.
He had too much time in the minors to show up in the majors this unable to compare to his peers.
Giants fans would be happy to drive Longoria to the airport for you.
Andujar’s defense, as bad as it is, wasn’t the reason they didn’t win last year. They won 100 games despite Jordan Montgomery missing most the season, despite the wheels falling off on Gray, despite Judge, Hicks and Didi all being on the DL. Andujar is like reason number 10. His bat made up for it as he carried this team for a whole month or so.
How does that matter?
The team should be trying to improve and a significant defensive improvement at 3rd makes all of their pitchers better. How exactly would you use that list to make decisions going forward?
You’re acting as if defensively stellar 3rd who can also hit are a dime a dozen. They aren’t. And I also believe that a 23 yo can improve. The Yanks won 100 games WITH him. As much as we are all disappointed in losing to the Red Sox let’s not forget we had the 3rd best record in baseball and I think the Yanks have a better shot at winning 100 games than the Astros do without McCullers, Keuchel and Morton and the Sox aren’t a lock for another 108 wins either. I would say the Yanks, as of right now, have done more to improve their team than the Red Sox or Astros have.
Yes, but Andujar can hit with his eyes closed, a natural. Have to find a place for him.
When he makes a costly error in the playoffs (which will happen if he played 3rd everyday) then it will be his fault. i.e. kolten wong
“Andujar can hit with his eyes closed” That’s far fetched to base such a statement after one year, because plenty of players have fallen way off after a good rookie season.
Chase Headley might be available.
@big jm
Castellanos works hard on defense every off season-now trying the OF.
Tulo is not just a SS anymore because of his health,he will be a affordable Utility Man in the Infield so it means nothing as far as Machado
Multiple playoff caliber MLB teams were willing to give Tulo their starting shortstop gig after watching him play/workout.
As powerful of an argument the random opinion from your backside might be, I think I’ll go with the the MLB scouts who watched him.
Tulo at SS would be great if this was 2013. Still can’t fault the Yanks here, vet min salary. He essentially just takes up a roster spot. No risk, potential nice reward if he stays healthy and finds the fountain of youth. Anyway, Machado to the Phils, Harper to the LAD.
Florida should not have more than one baseball team.
Should not even have a team at all.
Florida can absolutely support the 2 teams here! The TV social Media contracts make both teams profitable before 1 game is played. We need better commute service such as train and bus service along with family packages with small children to get us to the parks. The marketing for Tampa Rays has been minimal and horribly done.
I both agree and disagree with you on your points. Yes. The Rays do a TERRIBLE job of promotions. I dated a girl from UT back about 7-8 years ago and I commented to her back then about how amazingly good the Rays were and how I didn’t see 1 Rays jersey on the UT campus in any of my trips. Not even a banner for the Rays at most of the bars and gas stations. There is no strong fan base. Pham is not wrong. No one is dying down there to become a Rays fan, which is a huge problem. Everyone is quite happy going to games in the summer when they travel north to see their family and “home teams” in Boston and New York. It is what it is and its the same argument that has kept baseball out of Las Vegas (its just a transplant for people from California and vacationers).
The number of actual “native Floridians” that don’t have roots elsewhere is too slim to support 2 teams (unlike California or Texas for example).
My parents live in Miami and I won’t even get into the Marlins… Its Tampa Bay’s problems x5.
However, your point is well taken when you look at teams like the Dolphins that have built up a fan base with no problem. The Tampa Bay Lightning also managed 5th in attendance and continue to thrive. There’s somethings they are doing promotionally that the Rays are not. But this problem, mark my words, does not resolve by the Marlins or Rays staying in Florida. They burned their bridges down many years ago with their fans and Tampa has made the Rays lives miserable. Its time to move. Not sure where, but I think they’d even do better up in Canada then they do in Tampa.
And don’t get me started on how great the Golden Knights are doing promoting their team in the desert. The Rays or Marlins could have succeeded. I just think there’s too much bad vibes at this point for them to regain their ground in Florida.
Don’t compare Tampa to Las Vegas, An MLB team would kill it in Las Vegas. It is very much a baseball town.
Florida is for spring training, move them somewhere where fans will appreciate what they have.
Montreal
Nobody appreciates baseball less than Montreal.
Agreed
Yep
Move the Rays to Charlotte, Montreal or Nashville
Nashville please.
Rays doing the same thing Cleveland did — make it smaller to look fuller.
Machado, divisive superstar? The guys numbers are amazing. I understand Harper puts more people in the stadium, but Machado’s defense and offense are superior to his.
Why?
Machado was an awful shortstop. As far as 3b, Fangraphs had him as the 4th best defensive 3rd baseman in 2016, but he slipped to 13th in 2017.
Harper isn’t a CF. Just like Machado isn’t a shortstop.
You’re wrong about this. Look into it a little more.
Tell me how fangraphs is wrong.
Last year the fielding bible didn’t give Machado a single vote at short.
They ranked him 3rd at third in 2017. The Fan Poll ranked him second. Half the votes were 5th or worse.
Did fangraphs say Machado was an awful shortstop?
You are really just showing the limitations of scouting using annual stats. Do you feel like you really made a case for anything with that presentation?
A minus 11 drs and minus 6.5 UZR career tells you he is an awful SS.
Only if you’re too lazy to look deeper.
….this is where you enter info you have to back up your statements easymac
As soon as someone has the stones to post more than full year or career stats I’ll waste some time..you’re barely worth being pointed in the right direction.
The O’s suck and once he was in LA his defense improved dramatically just due to proper positioning.
In looking into this, I came across this strange website called fangraphs.com. It has a lot of fielding data on it which proved helpful.
Machado’s career shortstop UZR/150 is -4.7 (not good); however, even more increminating is looking at the rolling 3 year pattern in his 3B UZR/150, his defensive skills are quickly declining, adjusted for innings.
2012-2012 = 14.8 (20)
2012-2013 = 19.8 (21)
2012-2014 = 17.7 (22)
2013-2015 = 13.5 (23)
2014-2016 = 8.7 (24)
2015-2017 = 5.6 (25)
2016-2018 = 6.0 (26)
There’s also the thing where few MLB teams believe Machado is a legitimate shortstop and that both the Orioles and Machado were trying to maximize value in the final year of his contract leading to 2018 being the only year Machado has played a significant portion of his time at SS.
Machado was a great shortstop 8 years ago in the minors. But that was 8 years ago when he weighed 180lbs. Even after his crash diet to prepare for 2018, his defense still didn’t rebound to prime numbers, and I doubt teams expect Machado to keep the weight off after his gigantic payday given his tarnished reputation.
His offense is NOT superior and we need to stop with that narrative.
.279/.388/.512 w/ a .900 OPS w/ 188 hrs in 3,306 PA (Harper)
.282/.335/.487 w/ a .822 OPS w/ 175 hrs in 4,074 PA (Manny)
Harper has a career OBP 50 points higher and has 13 more homers in 700 fewer PA.
When at SS Manny gives you elite offense from that position which might mean more than what Harper does as an OF. However, Harper is a much better hitter than Manny and it’s not really that close. Add to the fact the Manny probably isn’t a full-time SS anymore.
From the Yanks perspective, Harper is a much better fit in NYS since it favors left-handed pull hitters.
The Yankees better not try to fill their ss hole with bargain basement junk like this because there are cheap now.
The Yankees are trying to buy time until Gregorious comes back.
I wonder which prospects the Tigers are asking the Indians for in a Castellanos trade.
If I were them I’d ask for catcher Noah Naylor or lefty Sam Hentges. One of those and probably a lower ranked prospect. But considering what they got for JD, it’ll probably be a couple much lower prospects.
Tigers could include Niko Goodrum. Indians have Max Moroff as a bench player. Goodrum is much better. Tigers could send a couple relievers to help the Indian pen. Hardy and Greene. Tigers could then possibly get two higher prospects and maybe a couple lower ones. Maybe even more if they take on Kipnis contract.
I don’t think you can trade a player the year after they were drafted.
They can, but it would be labeled a PTBNL and he can’t officially move to his new team until a year after he was drafted.
“I don’t think you can trade a player the year after they were drafted.”
JARRED KELENIC
Dansby Swanson
You have to wait until the offseason to be able to trade them. For example, Kelenic wasn’t eligible to be traded during the season, but once it entered the offseason, he was available to be traded.
That rule was changed with the whole Turner situation. You can’t trade a guy until the offseason.
Goodrum was one of the bright spots last year. Why would the Tigers trade their starting 2B as a throw in?
Tampa Bay should try lowering ticket prices to put more butts in seats instead of reducing the number of seats in the stadium.
The first logical post I’ve seen on any rumors thread. I only wish you were a team owner or the commissioner.
Does anybody know the price of a ticket to the stadium?
The problem is the stadiums proximity to the population of fans able to go to the games or willing to go to the games. St Pete area is a retirement area. Most if not all residents are on fixed incomes. Also 70 year old ppl are more than likely not trying to go to games that start at 7 pm. Most residents come from other parts of the country and have deep routed interests in teams from other places.
Tampa needs to get a stadium closer to the city of Tampa where they will have the ability to build a fan base. Maybe even in an area where Orlando residents have the ability to get to games even if it’s just on weekends.
If MLB really cared about the bottom line and these teams weren’t all making money they would set up some fund to help get stadiums built. If taxpayers are expected to foot the bill for parks the owners & mlb should be forced to open their books.
It’s ridiculous look at what has been reported about what the newest Nats offer to Harper.
They don’t even have a TV contract established yet they have that offer and the ludicrous contract Corbin signed.
Tired of hearing bout mid market/small market teams. All these owners make money wherever they are located. They make more money off the national TV contracts that covers payroll 10 fold.
As a matter of fact attendance means absolutely nothing to the owners. They would rather the blue collar fan that lives and dies with the teams to watch at home to boost up ratings to charge advertisers moore.
They want the white collar guy who goes to the game as an event and really doesn’t care bout the outcome of any game because they spend their money on food, drinks etc
They would rather price out the hard working family man so they can’t go to buy a handful if their lucky games a year but will watch everyone on TV. And keep the prices that rich fans can only afford but don’t want to attend because either it’s not convenient for them to get in and out of the park or the team is not good enough to make the game a must see event they have to go to.
The time thing is true and I think it could be good across baseball..
Interesting sidenote, but this year, in a move to shore up a younger fanbase, the Cardinals are starting their games 30 minutes earlier (645 instead of 715) during the school year to allow kids to watch the ends of games. I think it’s a brilliant move, and heck, it’ll allow me to watch the ends too lol.
Wish the Braves would do that but with the traffic down there it would never happen ppl would never make 1st pitch.
I know they are starting a little earlier this year 7:35 was killing me.
The traffic hasn’t been that bad at all, dude. It’s annoying at times, sure, but it’s better than it was at Turner, especially because everything is at least more coordinated now.
Lower?
Rays offer Flex Vouchers 6 for $100.
Stu did offer a free game way back and more showed up than the stadium holds.
Rays are in the bottom 10 of pricing in MLB.
Rays need about 700k to get to 2 million tickets sold so the biggest problem the Rays face is not enough walk up fans. That is the city of St. Pete/where the Trop is located.
I buy a yearly mini game plan
Agreed. Prices are much better than Toronto. Seen many Rays games in great seats that are quite affordable compared to other stadiums.
Location, location, location. Big problem for the Rays and their fans.
To announce the stadium is 60% filled vs. 45%; sure make thing smell Rosy
Way to further alienate the fans, Tommy Pham….I’m sure he’s going to be loved in Tampa. Anyway….As a lifelong Yankees and Reds fan, I feel for the fans of the Rays. My pre-franchise spring training days around the Tampa Bay/St. Pete area were very encouraging for MLB. Had the Giants actually moved there, it would be a different story. The fan base was duped into building that stadium (by the Giants ownership and management), when all it was that the Giants wanted their own stadium in SF and used the TB/StP area as leverage. Tampa should have taken a step back and found a better location for a stadium to reel in an expansion team rather than what they did. They went on ‘maybes’ and made a huge mistake along the way. The Giants weren’t the only ones to blame.
This franchise will end up in Montreal.
or vancouver!
Vegas and Nashville!
Pham has a large chip on his shoulder and very little tact.
Pham will neither be loved nor hated in Tampa because both of those feelings require fan engagement.
Just so you understand better….the Rays have a growing fan base of which I’m one. That same base cringes at the thought of going into THAT stadium. I’ve been to several stadiums and the Trop has absolutely no energy outside or inside. The ownership has zero ability to connect with that fanbase. Marketing is abysmal.
I lived in St. Pete a couple years and then in Dunedin… I enjoyed watching spring training more than the regular season because that ballpark was terrible. Terrible to park. Terrible location. Terrible building.
Yep….yep….yep. I’m amused how much those outside of the area tell us we don’t deserve a team. What we deserve is engaged ownership. Look how the Lightning was floundering until new ownership showed up. The NHLs best record and a packed house every night.
What MLB needs to do is to move the team to Jacksonville, give the team a new owner like Khan, and have him build his own team from the ground up. It will give the Jaguar fan base another team to root for. Right now, Khan is working in the wrestling business to unseat some wrestlers from WWE.
Sorry, you lost me at hockey.
“Pham will neither be loved nor hated in Tampa because both of those feelings require fan engagement.”
^^This.
You can’t be a lifelong Red/Yankee fan pick a damn team. There is no sharing in fandom !!!!
I’ve managed quite well for 57 years. There’s also the AL/NL thing. As a 15 year old stitch head in 1976, I was treated to the rare win-win in the World Series. Love them both dearly. There’s that.
There’s just not enough loyal support for anything but Spring Training baseball in Florida. A large percentage of the population are transplants that already have fan affiliation to teams in areas where they came from.
I just can’t see how both the Rays and Marlins can coexist in Florida.
Have you ever watched a WBC game down there? I’m guessing no. That park gets filled up and is louder than any other stadium in the world when there’s an exciting team playing. It has nothing to do with the fans. It’s the team’s fault for not putting a product out there worth showing up for. Same thing will happen no matter where they go
Marlins had a couple World Series teams and they still couldn’t sell out. Tampa was the same.
Marlins problem selling out is that the true Miami baseball fan can’t afford to go to a regular season game nonetheless a WS game. The ticket prices are built around the white collar fan that just wants to attend a game. And then think about a night in Miami and how many things there is to actually do in that city as a rich person other than attending a game. I am tired of hearing how bad the economics of baseball is when they get 100s of millions if not more on national TV contracts and internet site deals. I mean damn just to have the mlb likeness on video games pays the teams how much money.
I feel bad for the die hard fan base that loves their teams and are being priced out because the owner wants them to watch on tv.
The Marlins have never won a division title.
Nut they’ve won two world series.
The exciting team is the Dominican Republic national team.
You’d be guessing wrong.
It has plenty to do with the fans. A WBC game is different. It’s a limited tournament and has players from all ML teams participating. 2 years ago the Marlins had stars and still didn’t draw.
They won 90 games last year. It’s not the product… it’s the location. The stadium itself does not help but ultimately the ballpark is not convenient to get to. Different sport, but the Tampa bay lightning gets amazing support so it could be done.
Hockey also has half the crowd size and half the home games.
Half the seats available but not half the crowd size. Lightning draws more fans than the rays, about 5k more per game. I know it’s not apples to apples but to show they can be top 5 attendance in the NHL and bottom 5 in the MLB.
I agree that the Rays were/are “not” marketed well in our area as the Lightning shows us how easy it can be done!. Nurture the young families with ticket and group travel packages to the stadium along with group rates to the 1000s of retirement facilities we have in the Tampa area which are full of baseball first fans. That would be my first programs! The Rays have a choice to put up half the $s for a Tampa stadium or 1/4 the price for a St Pete Stadium. Those are very generous options! It Question weather the Rays are proposing to deal with either city in good faith?
It helps that the Lightning play in an arena that was payed for with over 60% of public funds. The county also has been splitting the cost for improvements and less than a year ago agreed to give another $60+ million towards Amelie Arena. I wonder how the perception of fans would change if the local Tampa media would praise Sternberg for his multiple out of pocket improvements to the Trop, instead of bashing him for being greedy in wanting a new stadium. As opposed to how they continually praise Vinek for improving Amelie Arena, even though the vast majority of those improvements have come using public money.
Well lets get right down to the cheapness of Stu! Why didn’t he offer that 40% to the city of Tampa instead of 12%!!!! Another thing, St Pete was generous enough to offer the Rays to move to Tampa for almost free. I live in St Pete and I’m aware that we will build a new “Retractable roof stadium” with only about 20% investment from the team. That was not good enough as well.! My hope is Stu sells the team to a local investor, However if he won’t, please tell him to stop trying to leave Tampa-St. Pete for free without paying ST Pete for the lease commitment that is till 2027, since that is what this charade is all about.
he could have played next to the greatest shortstop for the angels. but then he chose to play ss for the yanks and will soon be replaced.
Maybe he doesn’t want to switch positions or play for a bad team.
He didn’t go to the Angels because he wanted a team with at least a chance at making the playoffs.
if yankees had to resort to tulo starting at ss it may not even be a competitive team anymore.
Trpoicana Field is the only stadium where I witnessed MULTIPLE grown men using the empty seats next to them as noise makers (raising and slamming it down) and this was in the seats a few rows from third base. It was a scarring memory from the 1999 season witnessed in an absolutely yawnstipating ballpark.
The Yankees signed Tulo in order to tell Machado that they don’t need him and won’t alter their negotiating position. Tulo is being used as a pawn in a negotiation, in other words. But a pawn that could also plug the SS hole briefly if Machado goes elsewhere. He can at least play some D.
Divisive?
🙂
Only because teams and fans bash him so other teams don’t sign him.
The idea of questioning the effort of a guy who plays defense that hard at such a tough position is a joke. The only people who are serious in questioning him in anything but choice of words don’t understand sports.
Castellanos to Braves makes sense
No it doesn’t his defense is horrendous
^You’re right. Adam Duvall is just a gem….
He catches what he gets to. His arm is not bad, accurate but not strong. He played the RF position for the first time ever last year, it will get better. At 3b he is the same way…no range, ok arm, make the routine play but much above that it’s not gonna happen.
Defense is 13% of the game. He has value as a 290/350/475 bat through his prime. Hits triples too so he isnt a lump on the bases.
Except he doesn’t, and has struggled even with routine plays. He has no idea what he’s doing in the outfield whatsoever (and arguing that it’s his first time fails because he did play outfield a good bit in the minors as well).
Ok you can say all that and it still won’t change the fact that since AA has gotten there he has emphasized defense. And he is not a fit with what he will cost in arb and the prospects it will cost to get him plus the fact he is only signed 1 year.
You can have Adam Jones or Nick Markakis cheaper in terms of all acquisition costs. If they can’t get Hanigar or Peralta I just assume bring Markakis back.
I would actually rather get a package deal of Archie Bradley & David Peralta but I guess Arizona is not going full rebuild yet.
As a Tigers fan Id like that. Atlanta has a good deep farm to chose from.
It doesn’t. He has a good bat, but he’s among the worst defenders in all of baseball, if not THE most. He played even worse defense than Rhys Hoskins, a first baseman who spent almost the entirety of the season playing out of position.
Tampa is reducing their seating to hide their vast oceans of empty seats. It’s rather sad, no matter how well they go they still cannot get a full house
“Tulo has nothing to do with Manny”
“Tulo has everything to do with Manny”
“Tulo may or may not have anything to do with Manny”
Any bases that we’ve not covered?
1st?
Yankees do not need Machado, Machado needs them. Machado wants all the money in the world and to play for a contender. Yankees are not the George Steinbrenner Yankees, these are the Cashman years, the dark & fun years, where you trade for a DH on a 10 year 300 million contract after the organization just rid themselves of of AROID’s contract and he still convinces everyone his SP will make it the entire season without multiple DL trips. Old ass SP not even a top 3 in the AL. Boston Houston Cleveland TB all have better starting pitching. Yankees are so overrated it’s hilarious!
Tampa just needs to get out of there you will have more of a following in orlando not only because of tourists but as well of a larger overall mlb fan base here jn orlando.
As for machado he would be a great pickup if its a short term contract with a player option after 3rd year if the yankees do not get him then it wouldnt shock me if yankees then go all out for mike trout when he becomes available. Yankees needs are more starting pitcher because of the health of their current SP.
The issue with Castellanos is much different than with Kinsler. Younger and entering free agency in his prime vs an aging player on his last contract year. And with Castellanos, the Tigers know what they will get next year if they elect to keep him and make him a QO. As a revenue sharing recipient, it will either be a pick following the first round, or following Competitive Balance B after the second round. In any event, it will likely be a top 100 pick. Makes it easier for Avila to set a higher bar and see if he can get it.,
The defense may be limiting, but his bat is certainly very good. And the lack of movement this winter is as much due to the lack of movement at the top of the free agent class as it is to his defense or the asking price. Once some of the big names sign expect some more interest in Castellanos.
That’s if he gets a QO AND he declines it. And there’s a good chance he would accept it, as DH-only players haven’t really done too well in free agency because of how one-dimensional they are (and let’s face it, that’s what he really is, despite the Tigers trying to parade him out in RF)
Can they just move Tampa to Portland already? Or Vancouver? Or Charlotte?
Portland is looking for an expansion with Russell Wilson as one of the owners, don’t think the 2 would mesh.
I like charlotte as it would allow them to remain in the AL east, but the Charlotte Knights already reside in the best city location. Only holds 10k people as well which wouldn’t work for the MLB.
Why not Jacksonville, and let Khan be the owner of the team. The Jaguars full their stadium because Khan give them what they want, and he could do the same with the Rays.
Tulo @ league minimal acts as leverage and insurance in the Machado talks. My guess is the Yankees are balking at the number of years Machado wants, I could see the Yankees offering a shorter term deal with a high AAV. 45 million a year for 4 years may work for both sides. If Machado wants 7+ years the market is extremely limited for his services.
4 for 180, you’re tripping
Tulo at league minimum means nothing. You’re looking WAY to deeply into it.
Nobody in their right mind would take shorter contract on a higher AAV over a long term deal with opt outs. When you are dealing with that much money it is hard to bet on yourself like that. Career altering injuries happen all the time.
Doesn’t Tulo signing for the league minimum negate the claim that he “impressed enough in his December 16th showcase to draw genuine interest from as many as 16 major league clubs”?
If any team had genuine interest, wouldn’t they offer… more than the league minimum?
Because of the Blue Jays cutting him, they have to pay the remainder of his salary. Whatever contract he signs, the amount the new team pays him comes out of what the Jays pay.
He is owed 38 Million, if he signs for 500,000 then the new team pays half a mil and the Jays pay 37.5 mil. So if a team was so impressed that they were like “Here is an $8 million contract”, the jays would only have to pay 30 mil and Tulo would make the same amount of money.
So it would make zero sense to try to lure him to sign by offering more money, when Tulo doesn’t actually get more money. All it would do is lessen the burden the Jays have to pay.
Basically all any team will offer is league minimum, and Tulo gets to pick the team he wants to play for, knowing no matter who he signs with The Blue Jays will continue paying him the big bucks.
That’s all any team has to offer by my understanding.He still gets paid by Toronto. He is not double dipping. It basically comes down to where he wants to play at that point.
The powers that be in Baseball really ought to sit down and think about the problems in Florida. I know their first consideration always how much the taxpayers can pony up, but it didn’t work for the Marlins, it’s unclear how it will work for the Rays. Obviously, franchises are worth a fortune, and maybe all MLB cares about is that. But Florida is a huge market, and deserves a more intelligent approach before you give it up as just not a baseball state.
Tulo spurned the Cubs, now I hope the Yankees sign Manny and Tulo rides the bench. Even though I’m not a fan of his and I’m glad he didn’t sign with them. Harper is staying in Washington, I’m convinced now. I still think Machado lands in Philly somehow
One things many do not realize is that the Yankees spent one of the lowest percentages of profits on salaries the last few years. Among the 5 lowest percentages in all of baseball. Time to up that percentage.
The Rays attendance was pretty good when they were in the playoffs and had marketable players. Only player any real baseball fan knows well is Blake Snell and he’s on the hump every 5th game so they get to c him what 15ish home games a year of they r lucky. When they were running out the rotation of Price, Shields, Kazmir, Garza. Had Longo and B.J. Upton, Pena, Zobrist etc. real marketable players. Not the collection of has been “top prospects” who never panned out they put on the field now.
Sadly, they only drew 2M back then, with a team of home grown, young, athletic, exciting players….a ‘quirky” manager who was extremely media-friendly (even if his ability was assailable)….and they did, IMHO, an excellent job in making that mausoleum into at least reasonable place to watch a game.
I’m probably one of the few, but I think the problem is the Trop’s location more than anything else. Full disclosure: I live in New England, but get down there a few times a year. The ‘fan experience” at the Trop is INFINITLY better than at Fenway. Again, I’m not knowledgeable enough about the area to talk intelligently about the location, but I really think they’ve made a concerted effort to put some lipstick on that pig of a park.
Shrinking stadium size makes sense. Cut operating expenses while realizing that real money in the area is TV, where they’re reasonably successful.
MLB never should have expanded in TB or Miami, let alone both.
I am very glad to hear that the Pirates reportedly thought he was good enough at short to offer him the starting job. That means team leadership likely did what they could to sign him. Ultimately, it seems he wants the certainty of winning on his idol’s (Jeter) team. It’s difficult to fault him with that. Although, he could probably be the SS in Pittsburgh all season, whereas it’ll likely only be about half a season in New York.
Sweet, so we’ll only have to look at 20K empty eats at the Trop each night now ?