We’ll check out a few notes as we wrap up a quiet weekend around baseball.
- The Rangers are “definitely intrigued” by the idea of acquiring Miguel Andújar from the Yankees to fill their third base vacancy, hears T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The Yankees have gotten numerous hits on Andújar this offseason, with interested teams perhaps looking to buy low after a labrum tear ended the 24-year-old’s season in April. With Gio Urshela having supplanted Andújar at the hot corner in the Bronx, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up now looks like an interesting trade candidate. Free agency remains an option for Texas, too; Sullivan hears the Rangers are still interested in Josh Donaldson, whom the MLBTR staff guessed would end up in Arlington on a three year, $75MM deal.
- Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Haruki Nishikawa hopes the team will make him available to MLB clubs via the posting system next offseason, reports Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times. Nishikawa, whom Coskrey describes as a “speedy, left-handed hitter,” has a cumulative .284/.376/.393 line in parts of eight NPB seasons. 2019 marked a bit of a step back from the past few years for the 27-year-old, as he slashed .288/.393/.385 with 19 stolen bases. Every year between 2016-18, though, Nishikawa stole at least 39 bags with an OPS north of .790. Nishikawa’s entering his final year under contract with the Fighters, but he won’t qualify for international free agency. Thus, he will need the Fighters, whom Coskrey notes has historically been the most amenable NPB team to posting its top players, including Shohei Ohtani, to agree to post him if he’s to gauge MLB interest in 2020.
- The Giants are negotiating a deal with Indians’ infield coach/defensive coordinator Kai Correa, reports Andrew Baggarly of the Athletic (via Twitter). San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler is a “huge fan” of Correa’s, Baggarly adds. Correa has spent the past two years working with infielders in the Cleveland organization. He’d previously spent seven seasons coaching at the college level, including four at the University of Northern Colorado.
- The Orioles are nearing a deal with reliever Richard Bleier to avoid arbitration, reports Roch Kubatko of MASN (via Twitter). Bleier is projected for a modest $1.1MM award in his first foray through the process. The left-handed sinkerballer has consistently posted an elite ground ball rate and been particularly stingy with walks, helping to overcome one of the game’s worst strikeout rates. Unfortunately, Bleier’s 5.37 ERA last season was over three runs per nine higher than the 1.97 career mark he carried entering the year.
iang2424
For a team that already struggles defensively, I don’t think Andújar is the answer. Plus I’m not really sure what I’m getting if I’m the Rangers. What do they have that’s worth giving up to get him? Interesting yes if they are wanting to have a 1st base/DH upgrade but I don’t see this being the answer at 3rd long term.
NewYorkSoxFan
I don’t see them being a match for Andujar either for the reasons you mentioned but he’s definitely worth a look. Only a year removed from a great rookie year (offensively).
TheTrotsky
For real. I know Andujar’s trade value is down but the Rangers don’t have anything in the farm that the Yanks need. Now if they wanted to give up Lynn…
iang2424
Rangers want pitching so they won’t be giving it up. Agreed take a look but I just don’t see anything they match up on.
Pingleja
Yeah Lynn would be the lowest asset they have I’d accept. I could see interest in Crouse and Winn, but I doubt Texas would part with either of them. No way the give up Jung. Huff seems too risky.
billysbballz
Lynn???? Been there, done that. Not giving up Andujar and what his potential is for anyone on Texas.
justinkm19
Yeah, ok. You wouldn’t trade him for Gallo or Minor? Gotta love Yankee logic.
RockHard
These guys are clowns..
southbeachbully
@TheTrotsky
I thought Lynn had a decent half season with the Yanks but it didn’t seem he was appreciated. And although he had a great 2019 I think the Yanks need to aim higher than Lynn who hasn’t been a true #1 or #2.
yankees7448
@Southbeachbully, he was underrated but at the end of the day he’s not neither what the Yankees need nor what the Yankees would want if they are giving up on Andujar. Lynn has mid-rotation starter upside and back of the rotation floor. A lot of teams could use a guy like that. Not the Yankees. We need an Ace.
At the end of the day I don’t see a good matchup for the two teams. The Yankees want to win the series and the Rangers just want to make the playoffs. There really isn’t much on the current Rangers roster that would really help us get where we want to go without hurting the Rangers and what they want to do. The one name that jumps out to me is Jose Leclerc but he would just be strengthening the Yankees strongest group rather than adding a missing ingredient.
Johnny Baseball
The Rangers could trade RHP Crouse, LHP Palumbo & C Florentino for Andujar..
yankees7448
Johnny Baseball, playing devil’s advocate if we’re doing a straight minors deal (assuming Jung is off the table) then I would want to replace LHP Palumbo and C Florentino with RHP Winn and either 3rd Davis Wenzell or SS Osleivis Basabe. Biggest problem with Palumbo and Florentino is that they are at the point where if they don’t already need to be on the 40 man roster they will be next year. Since the Yankees always have a roster crunch before the Rule 5 draft I would want a little more time with the guys before we had to make that kind of decision assuming of course that their play doesn’t force the issue.
RockHard
And even that’s to much..
madmanTX
Sign and trade the Yanks Josh Hamilton. They always coveted him while he was a Ranger.
toomuchpie
lol
puddles
Don’t really think the rangers have much I’d be interested in anyway if i’m the yankees tbh
tsc32
The Rangers system is arguably better than New York’s though.
Begamin
Maybe then an Urshela trade makes more sense. The Yankees should hold onto Andujar anyway
teddyjackeddy
I wouldn’t count on Urshela matching anything close to last season.
luclusciano
The Yankees don’t really need him to match the offensive season he had. Defense with a .280 and ops of like .710 – 15-20 home tuna would be about the right expectation for. Urshela.
Spare Tire Dixon
If the Rangers filled 3B with Andujar, perhaps they could spend big on pitching.
Phiilies2020
No live chat tonight?
Anthony Franco
Not today, sorry. Mark Polishuk typically hosts them on Sunday nights but we switched up schedules for the holiday. I believe Mark chatted Thursday evening instead.
lanceparrishporvida
Sad that this is big Giants news. Sigh.
DodgerNation
Hey y’all did win 3 rings this decade things could be worse…
talking baseball
Ya, You could be a DODGER fan !!
dandan
Give it time, I’m confident the Giants will be back to being competitive sooner than people think.
Jerryred
I would rather want the rangers to go after kris Bryant if they are in the trading market for 3rd base
Pingleja
They must really believe in Josh Jung.
Johnny Baseball
Pirates trade Bell, Kela & Gonzalez to the Rangers for C Huff, LHP Burke, SS Ornelas & 1B/OF/C Hernandez. Bell fits at 1B/DH, Kela fits right in their pen & Gonzalez is SS depth until Basabe or Acosta are ready. Pirates get a promising catcher, needed LHP, SS & utility piece for the farm.
steven st croix
Pretty sure TEX doesn’t want Kela back.
vtadave
Please don’t post again.
Johnny Baseball
again
southbeachbully
How do Ranger fans feel toward Nick Solak? Is he there everday 2B/LF? He’s the one Yankee prospect that Cashman traded that might make us regret losing him, Loved his bat before but now he’s developed some pop too.
RunDMC
Caleb Smith is making Jeter look competent, which is monumental.
bucnole31658
You realize that Jeter has absolutely killed it with what he has done right? They are loaded with phenomenal young pitching and good defense. In just two years he has flipped a roaster completely over, moved players and contracts they couldn’t afford from previous ownership and created excitement in Miami. He did exactly what Houston did about a decade ago, look at them now
stratcrowder
I couldn’t agree more on the assessment of what Jeter has done with the Marlins. It’s a real shame that the city still won’t support the team.
Pingleja
Giving up that yelich contract has to be seen as selling short, no?
yankees7448
The city won’t support the team because they’ve been burned multiple times.
teddyjackeddy
Did the Marlins got to the WS while I wasn’t paying attention? We will see if they are “loaded” or “phenomenal”.
AllinTX
He should play 70 percent of the time at second and the other 30 on the outfield. Manager shouldn’t be stubborn sticking with Odor if he isn’t performing liken he’s expected. Maybe send him to the minors to work on his batting and try center field again. Dream scenario would be a trade but right behind that is that maybe he can play average defense in center and platoons with Santana while Santana plays the rest of the games at 1B.
8
Hell just give them Andujar for nothing at all as a thank you for the AROD trade.
Begamin
Rangers went in over their head and couldnt/didnt want to afford the contract. Yankees owe them no thank yous.
southbeachbully
@D0m
Would you believe the Rangers wanted Soriano and a minor leaguer named Jaquan Arias over some guy named Robison Cano.
AllinTX
2B/3B Apostel, P Hernandez and P Hearns for Andujar. If they want more send Palumbo instead of Hernandez.
RockHard
No thanks on this.. Signed rangers fan
yankees7448
AllinTX, that’s a straight up trash offer. Hearns low upside arm the likes the Yankees already produce regularly but better and we’d be required to protect him on the 40 man to protect him from the Rule 5. He’s a Rule 5 upside play and not an attractive trade piece for Andujar.. Apostel, has some good upside but is years away and already has to be on the 40 man or risk losing him in the rule 5 for nothing. No thanks. Hernandez, a hard throwing right handed pitcher whose control issues might relegate him to the bullpen. Yankees produce these kinds of pitchers all the time. And like the other 3 guys we’d have to protect him on the 40 man to keep from losing him in the Rule 5. No thank you.
Complete doo doo low ball offer.
mpmks
I would think that Andujar still has options. Yankees are not going to sell cheap
jbigz12
Nobody should be happier than seeing Villar go than Richard Bleier. If we can get a SS that can field ground balls he’ll be in a lot better shape. Getting Martin and Villar out of the MIF should help those numbers.
yanks48 2
With all the injuries this past season, selling low on Andujar is def not something the Yankee should do given how cheap he still is and the unpredictability of needing an immediate replacement
Yankee Mike
They won’t sell low on Andujar. I am not sure they are convinced that Urshela will hit long term and perhaps 2018 was a product of the juiced ball. If Urshela plays well, Andujar plays 1st base. Luke Voit, Mike Ford, are not long term solutions. Miggy is a middle of the order bat, that is young and cheap and doesn’t strike out like others. It would take a top of the line starter with years of control, that is young (not Lynn) for the Yankees to consider.
Old User Name
I’m curious. Why are so many turning on Voit? Up until his injury, he played great. He had something like a 43 game on base streak. I just don’t get it.
yankees7448
Because Yankee fans are amongst the most fickle people imaginable. Voit is solid. He battled injuries all year but he’s no Greg Bird.
FattKemp
Is anyone better than AAA depth going to be posted this year from overseas, and if not, can they be left out of all articles until they make a 25 man out of spring training?
Louiebeans
So what are the Yankees waiting for? They gonna go out and grab 2 SP or the gonna just sit on their butts again all off season long and give Yankees fan excuses,
Michael Brantley – Yankees sitting on their butts
Pactrick Corbin – Yankees sitting on their butts
Charlie Motron – Yankees sitting on their butts
AJ Pollick – Yankees sitting on their butts
Zack Greinke – Yankees sitting on their butts
Matt Scherzer – Yankees sitting on their butts
Gerrit Cole – Yankees sitting on their butts
José Abreu – Yankees sitting on their butts
yankees7448
You just pulled a lot of random names out there without even questioning whether or not they were good fits or the right moves.
Michael Brantley-Quality addition for Houston. But we didn’t need a starting outfielder at the time. When injuries mounted we got plenty of quality production out of Gardner,Tauchman, Frazier and Maybin,
Patrick Corbin-got a longer contract than we wanted to give. It happens. Easy to critique when it isn’t your money.
Charlie Morton-I agree that we missed on him but he never really seemed to have an interest in coming here.
AJ Pollock-Why would we have gone after him? We didn’t need a starting outfielder at the time. He would have been a more expensive option than Brantley with even less of a role.
Zack Greinke-Cost a lot of money. Had no trade clause. Questionable mental toughness. We did well against him in the playoffs.
Gerrit Cole-I hope we get him. We tried to get him from Pittsburgh but they accepted peanuts from Houston after demanding Miguel Andujar and Clint Frazier from us.
Jose Abreu-Who cares? We didn’t need him.
Old User Name
Pay no attention to that troll.
fitsiqis65
Need a 3rd team in andujar deal as the rangers have nothing we want/need…