MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand takes advantage of the break in World Series action to profile six upcoming free agents whose free agent values are “tough to define” heading into the 2019-2020 offseason. Cubs outfielder Nicholas Castellanos kicks off his list, with Feinsand noting that Castellanos’ defensive limitations may limit his market. On the more optimistic end, however, one unnamed NL executive is quoted as saying that “parallels” can be drawn to the profile of J.D. Martinez. As a formerly maligned outfield defender who showed pronounced growth at the plate after a few ho-hum early years in Detroit, Martinez netted a five-year, $110MM deal with the Red Sox back in 2018. Ironically, Castellanos and Martinez could be in direct competition on the open market this winter if Martinez opts out of his Red Sox contract and takes another spin through free agency.
More notes from around the senior circuit…
- Astros bench coach Joe Espada is using his day off between World Series games to travel to San Francisco for a meeting with Giants brass, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (link). Espada has already conducted a phone interview with San Francisco reps, so his decision to sandwich an in-person interview between Fall Classic contests could be viewed as a sign that interest between both parties is fairly serious.
- Tim Bogar’s previously reported second interview with Mets leadership is also expected to go down today, according to a tweet from Jon Heyman of MLB Network (link). Bogar, a coach with the Nationals, will also apparently be using his off day with an eye on securing one of MLB’s four remaining open managerial seats. As Heyman notes, Carlos Beltran, Eduardo Perez, Twins coach Derek Shelton, Mets coach Luis Rojas, and an “unknown bombshell candidate” are still in play for the New York position, with tongue presumably planted firmly in cheek on that last item.
- Heyman also relays that Phillies starter Jake Arrieta will not opt out of the last year of his contract (link). This is largely expected after the starter turned in a mediocre season marred by an arm injury that ultimately required surgery. As part of the three-year, $75MM deal agreed to prior to the 2018 season, Arrieta could have re-entered the free agency portal this offseason were he willing to forego the final year and $20MM slated for Philadelphia’s 2020 payroll. Instead, the 33-year-old will look to regain his form under the watch of new manager Phillies Joe Girardi. Arrieta pitched to a 4.64 ERA (4.89 FIP) in 24 starts and 135.2 innings in 2019.
I hope the Giants hire Espada
He or Kotsay are my 2 top picks as well.
IMO the CUBS missed on not hiring Espada.
Same.
Yap
Agreed. Ross was the “safe” choice for the front office. As a Cubs fan I hope they made the right choice. As a baseball fan, color me skeptical. Players seem to be satisfied, most fans seem to be satisfied (giving the front office cover in the process) and there’s nothing I can do about it, so I hope it works. Get to work, Theo.
They should’ve never fired Maddon.
Did you watch the Cubs in September?
Nothing’s official until CrewBrew announces it.
Since the regular season ended, the Royals, Mets, Giants, Padres, & Pirates are still seeking managers. The Angels and Cubs have replaced theirs. The Phillies are about to hire theirs. Doesn’t this mean that FIVE managerial positions are open, not FOUR as written in the article? Or did I miss something?
Okay. It’s four, because it was just reported that the Padres have made their selection.
Theo wanted Espada. But they wanted control more. Ross is their “YES” man.
BULL!
You know nothing
CubsRebs – you got that right
You’re kidding yourself if you think Castellanos can ever compare to J.D. on his best season. J.D. had far superior offensive numbers during his time in Detroit. Castellanos’ highest OPS+ season doesn’t even top J.D.’s lowest OPS+ season in Detroit.
So much for Dylan Chase’s contention that JDM’s first few years in Detroit were ho-hum! I wonder if he meant “…in Houston.”
I hope he meant Houston
What a terrible contract that Arrieta one was for the Phillies. Stupid money.
I mean yeah but it didn’t hurt them or prevent them from signing anyone else (yet). Luckily it was a 3 year deal, and he hasn’t been completely awful or unusable. Just worse than average/kind of average.
they needed a starter, and for better or worse he’s been their 3rd best starter the past two years.
A much worse stupid money deal was Orioles for Cobb
to be fair, i dont think anyone could have predicted that contract to be *that* bad. not only injury prone but downright terrible when actually pitching? im pretty sure they expected either better than a 5.00 ERA or at least a full season’s worth of work.
Mets are bringing back Bobby V!
Sure why not. They are about grabbing headlines instead of winning championships. Bringing back Boby V will grab headlines away from the Yankees in NY and the Phillies hiring Girardi or the Nats in the World Series for the NL East headlines. Next, they’ll grab headlines by trading Cespedes to the Cubs along with McNeil and Noah Syndergaard to the Marlins in exchange for Jason Heyward and Wei Yin Chen and Jose Urena. That’ll grab headlines. Wins? Not so much.
Tony larussa
Will Bobby be wearing a disguise at his introductory press conference? (There was a time when Bobby was ejected from a game and was spotted in the runway below the dugout wearing a disguise. Geez, the Mets really need Bobby, don’t they?)
JD Martinez had a few ho-hum years in Detroit? Are you referring to the .912 OPS he had in 2014, the .879 ops (w/38hr) he had in 2015, or the .908 OPS he had in 2016 with the Tigers?
Maybe try referring to Fangraphs or Baseball Reference before writing a story, Mr. Chase.
JD didnt play for the Yankees, so they were ho hum years. Voit… oh let me tell you how he smashed the league. JD ho hum.
Wahh wahhh wahhh Yankees wahhhhhhh.
-Melchez’s daily contribution to MLBTR’s comment page.
id guess the author meant “Astros” there
Obviously referring to Houston, but the site fired their proofreaders?!
Im interested to see what a guy like Castellanos will get on the open market. He can absolutely mash lefties.
3/$40 million.
Sounds right.
Is Castellanos THAT much of a butcher at 3B? I honestly don’t remember either way, but my understanding is that he sucks in the OF. Why not offer to go back to 3B? Might widen his market unless he was putrid there too.
I believe he was the worst defensive 3b in the league one year, maybe every year he played there, I’m not sure. Part of the problem, however, is the Tigers never really gave him a chance to establish himself at a position. He played 3b in the minors initially, was switched to the OF when Miguel Cabrera moved to 3b, then was called up to play 3b when Prince Fielder was traded. He was a terrible defender there, so they eventually moved him back to the OF where he has been less than stellar. One thing about, Nick, however, is he isn’t a terrible defender because of a lack of effort. Dude apparently spends a lot of time during the off-season trying to improve.
Cubs need to re-sign Castellanos by any means necessary.. 5/85 with an opt out after year 3.
although hes a great hitter, I think hes more suitable for the AL because his defense is only going to get worse than it is now. I could see him going to a team like Tampa this offseason and being put in the middle of their order. I think he fits well there.
No money stuck with Heyward and Yu.
Would have to move Bryant and say no to Quintana
They have well over 60mil to spend after arbitration and other contract obligations. they can get castellanos a starter and 3 bullpen arms. Q is only a 10.5 mil options. Picking that is would be smart. They need starters not subtract them
Predict the bombshell candidate.
Lou Pinella.
Or, BVW will hire himself as manager.
Seems like something he would do
a truely analytical idea
In my observations, only NL fans still use the senior/junior circuit language, which, a century down the road, is just stupid beyond meaningless. It’s unfortunate to see MLBTR occasionally diving down into this pig trough.
If the AL weren’t junior, would it need the DH to measure up?!
The AL proved its mettle long ago in All Star Games, WS victories and interleague play. Junior is an insult without evidentiary support. The DH is simply an artifact of producing a more enjoyable product for the masses. Period. And it’s worked. Bozo. Lift yourself out of the pig trough. If you’re able.
The AL does not “need” the DH to “measure up.” The AL has beaten the NL in interleague play in all but one season since its inception. The NL is the one that needs to find a way to measure up. All NL arguments for claiming senior circuit status are shallow and dishonest. Grasping for relevancy that doesn’t exist. Find some intellectual honesty and grow up. Bozo.
Do not dis Bozo man.
He’s just a Bozo who makes lame arguments. He’s probably a sock puppet for Dylan Chase.
The senior circuit/junior circuit is in reference to the fact that the NL began 25 years before the AL …. why someone would be bothered by the use of those terms is silly…
Been an unwavering (maybe once) fan of the NY Mets since 1966. Who in their bright mind wants that managers job?
Tony DeFrancesco. You can look up his pedigree. Excellent record as AAA manager. Knows development AND analytics from cuttngn his teeth in the A’s then the Astros organizations.. Been Mets AAA manager in Vegas (2018) and Syracuse (2019), but got a mention. no older than Girardi (54) . His AAA managing record is >554, or what would equate to a 90- win season EVERY year over 16 years based on a 162 game schedule. I guess not just a sexy enough pick.