We’ll kick off the weekend with a few notes from the AL East:
- The Blue Jays are likely to enter 2020 with Randal Grichuk as their top option in center field, GM Ross Atkins confirmed (via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). That’s not terribly surprising, as the always-sparse free agent market for center fielders has been almost completely picked over. Grichuk is coming off a disappointing 2019, the first season of a five-year extension he inked last April. Despite a career-high 31 home runs, he managed only a .232/.280/.457 line (90 wRC+) over 628 plate appearances. That at least seemed to open the door for an outside addition for the Jays, who have made some improvements around the roster this offseason. Between Grichuk’s right-handed pop and favorable Statcast ratings defensively, it seems he’s earned another opportunity to improve upon his lackluster plate discipline.
- Brendan McKay is entering 2020 with a slightly more aggressive pitching plan than he had previously, reports Juan Toribio of MLB.com. McKay will work every fifth day this spring in hopes of carrying that schedule into the regular season, Toribio notes. Last season, he was limited to mound work every six days as he worked up to a career-high 122.2 innings across three levels. A two-way star at the University of Louisville, McKay will continue to see some action at DH and perhaps at first base, Toribio notes, although that’ll be worked in judiciously around his pitching schedule to keep him fresh. From the outside, Tampa’s rotation looks to be spoken for by Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yonny Chirinos and Ryan Yarbrough. Teams can’t rely on the same five starters to take them through an entire season, of course. So while an initial bullpen role or demotion to Triple-A Durham is still on the table for McKay, Toribio notes, the southpaw seems a good bet to start for manager Kevin Cash at some point next season.
- Orioles reliever Richard Bleier is at full strength entering spring training, reports Roch Kubatko of MASN. The 32-year-old was sidelined by shoulder soreness early in 2019, perhaps contributing to his career-worst 5.37 ERA in 53 appearances last year. Kubatko unsurprisingly characterizes the soft-tossing ground-ball specialist as an essential lock to make Baltimore’s Opening Day roster. If Bleier can regain the form that saw him post a sub-2.00 ERA in both 2017 and 2018 (albeit with less inspiring peripherals), he’d be a solid trade chip for the rebuilding club. Bleier is making just $915K this season and comes with two additional years of team control.
Mick1956
I’d love to see McKay in the majors with his potential.
krillin89
Did you not see him last year?
lamars
Did you see his potential last year? I didn’t nor did the Rays. Hopefully, we see his potential this season.
turner9
Wouldn’t it be something amazing if both Alford and Fisher could beast through spring and crack the roster to make Grichuk expendable.
Stranger things have happened
flippinbats79
Fisher and Alford will likely crack the roster anyways. Both are out of options and Alford is an ideal 26th man. He’s very toolsy but is made of glass. Have him pinch run, play some D a few times a week.
turner9
We would have way too many OF only players on the 26 man tho.
Lourdes (can play SS in a pinch or 1b/2b)
Grichuk (better in a corner spot)
Teoscar (not a natural CFer and likely DH)
Alford (good CF D needs his bat woken up)
Fisher (same as Alford)
McKinney(Corner OF)
Drury (not OF only, 2b 3b 1b)
Davis (longshot but prob best CF D)
Wall (longshot and out of options?)
You can really only carry 5 of those guys so Drury would have to make it as the utility guy or cut bait on McKinney
Plus you have the 1b battle with Shaw and Tellez. So DH time is going to need to be cycled thru alot of players just to keep bats from going cold
bigdaddyt
Think Rowdy makes the team as they need lefty mashers and they try to use Shaw and Drury as super utility men. Teoscar splits DH time with rowdy and Shaw, Grich shares time in CF with Alford, Mckinny plays right field against righties Lourdes is everyday LF. Fisher is on the bench along with Tejada. Unless they break out in spring or run into injuries Wall and Davis don’t make the team. 1B, CF and all those random pitchers are certainly going to make spring training interesting
its_happening
McKinney still has options and will probably be in Buffalo unless there is an injury. If Grichuk plays CF that means Teoscar goes to DH and Tellez may be back in Buffalo.
turner9
But I feel like you’re forgetting Fisher, he’s almost a lock considering we just traded for him and it was for Sanchez.
So youd have to be sending McKinney down to AAA as he has an option if you want both Alford and Fisher
We have too much pitching for a change as well, any SP from last year with options is likely staying in AAA this year (Thornton, Kay,Wags,Zeuch) Plus Pearson needs some starts
We have plenty of RP (never enough) but nothing elite outside of Giles
But my main concern is exactly that the Big 4 kids are good and all but no one else is grabbing the bull by the horns and taking the choice away from managment. No ones really forcing their way on the roster. Especially in the OF. To the point I’d be happy to hear if we signed Puig
Hopefully this spring is different , I’ll be cheering regardless
thekid9
Thank you for your concerns
its_happening
Gurriel-Fisher-Grichuk OF puts Alford on the bench and Teoscar at DH
Shaw 1B
Biggio 2B
Bo SS
Vlad 3B
Jansen C
So the bench would be Alford, McGuire, Drury. If Gurriel is the backup SS then Tellez might be on the team. If not, the backup SS is the 13th man. McKinney goes to Buffalo.
turner9
You’re so very welcome lil guy, here’s your lil pat on the head, now go outside and play
turner9
I think if you’re keeping Alford and Fisher you might as well trade Grichuk for whatever lotto ticket A ballers you can get and just keep McKinney on the roster
Ride or die with them this year while the pitching shakes out and focus on OF additions in FA next year if they dont pan out with a full season
Why we haven’t signed brock holt yet as our 26th man is beyond me
its_happening
I agree, and that’s what I’ve been saying for months. The Grichuk extension was brutal. But, that means a decision between Tellez and McKinney. I’d rather have Tellez starting at 1B/DH and move Shaw around. McKinney can get at bats in Buffalo and if he performs he comes up. if McKinney were a better defender I would be pro-McKinney making the team.
Fisher can go. I’d rather see Alford be the backup and start against lefties. Tellez would make the team and start at 1B or DH.
jaysfansince1977
Wall has never been called up so he is not out of options
filthyrich
The Jays didn’t give Alen Hanson much of a chance and he was part of the Kevin Pillar return.
Ridiculous statement right?
Using Sanchez to justify keep Fisher around is also ridiculous.
Nobody wanted to give up value so they could pay over a million bucks for 2 months (at best!) of a pitcher with no control?!
Teams don’t seem to wanna pay Sanchez a million bucks for 6months (at best!) just a half year later.
The return was a fringe OF with no options.
Hopeful to see Fisher get a fair shot myself, but a slow next few weeks will start to make a Puig or Holt signing look very attractive.
Enough other players on the roster have options that I feel like Fisher and Alford can both stick around but they will need to catch fire sometime in the next month to justify the 40man spot. Roster crunch starts to get tight if any non-roster invites have a hot next month.
thekid9
Thank you Johnny Superscout
Marius
Alford is a solid athlete, not a great ballplayer though.
coldbeer
The only way Grichuk gets traded is if he outperforms everybody and if he does that then what’s the point in trading him? The return would be weak.
its_happening
Salary relief in 2022-23 when the team needs it. Vlad goes to arbitration in 2022 and Bo/Cavan in 2023. Will need to alleviate cash flow. Get rid of Grichuk as fast and soon as possible.
ericl
I’ve watched Alford in the minors the past 3 seasons & he simply isn’t a major league hitter. He couldn’t hit AAA pitching consistently. He’ll be ice cold for 2 months, hotnfor one & then ice cold again. His streaks are extreme.
filthyrich
Alford is a super interesting case due to his attempt to make it as a football player first.
25 years old but developmentally he’s more like 22. Essentially lost 3 years trying to be a quarterback.
That’s like 900 AB if he went straight to MILB from high school, or 600 AB if he went the college path. Instead he got 100 AB in those 3 years trying to do both.
Either way he lost some key development time, and has been on a somewhat accelerated path due to his age and athleticism.
His 2019 Buffalo stint turned out better than his 2018 so there is a chance that his hot streaks become more frequent as his developmental gap starts to shrink down to a negligible amount.
Beachbummer
What an abundance of pitching wealth. McKay is poised to have a great season. The Rays front offices stockpiling of talent allows them to really prepare their pitchers for starting roles and really puts them in the best situation to succeed. Honeywell and McKay are two possible aces that are ready or will be ready to assume starting roles. No staff goes all season without injuries and the Rays encourage these little breaks to keep their starters fresh. The rest of the league can’t compare to the way the Rays prepare their prospects to be mlb regulars and stars. The Rays may literally run away with this thing. Adames is going to turn into a bona fide superstar this year and every other player on the 40 man roster has the potential to be elite.
dimitrios in la
Some good sense here and then your last three sentences….
StPeteStingRays
Nothing wrong with the last two sentences. Buckle up!
All American Johnsonville Dogs
Players like Ohtani and McKay would best be utilized out of the pen as two way players for longevity purposes.
Give then an inning or 2 every 3 or 4 days.
AssumeFactsNotInEvidence
The fat, nitrites, and sodium have not only caused you cardiovascular issues but they have also destroyed your brain.
coldbeer
Grichuk in CF is a scary proposition. Clearly this is a huge area of weakness that wasnt addressed. I think he brings more to the table than his less than stellar numbers but if he can even slightly improve his 2019 offense and provide consistent solid fielding itll be worth the cost. Seems like too much to ask though…
nentwigs
Prospects for the success of Robert Bleier sound kind of ROCKY.
jimmertee
For the Jays, if they were doing it correctly, McKinney would be in Buffalo and so would Tellez.
Fisher would be cut. In cf would be Alford. At first would be Vlad Jr and at 3rd would be Drury and Shaw. Hernandez is Dh and 4th outfielder. The last remaining spot is up for grabs.
AssumeFactsNotInEvidence
If the Jays knew what they were doing Bo Bichette wouldn’t be on the 40 man roster and we would vote Cavan Biggio into the strong wrist hall of fame.
JohhnyBets67
Let’s give up on Fisher after less than 200 ABS. But I’ll pencil in Drury after watching him flail around for nearly 600! #scoutseyes #smarterthanthefrontoffice #hireme
its_happening
Drury plays the infield, Fisher in the OF. Drury hits RH, Fisher LH. Not the same comparison.
AssumeFactsNotInEvidence
Can you talk with Jimmer’s balls lodged in your throat? You’d defend him for just about anything
filthyrich
Jays currently have more of a need in the OF.
And more of a need for LH bats.
Not the same comparison, but Drury is possibly more expendable.
All about that potential.
Drury seems so close to figuring it out sometimes.
619bird
Grichuk is what he is at the plate.
He’s around league average in center defensively.
dynamite drop in monty
Cool salad dressing
Orioles Fan
Baltimore is not going to finish last this year in the AL. You heard it here first folks.
StPeteStingRays
Maybe not, but definitely last in the AL East.
filthyrich
Cgoss:
Do they tie for last?
Or you have bigger dreams for the O’s?
I could see Tigers, Mariners, Royals as winning less than the O’s, but I can more easily see the O’s locking down 15th.
Means, Hays, Santander seems to be a decent start to a core. Baby steps.
Orioles Fan
I see them around 15 or 16. I truly don’t think they are bad as everyone talks about.
filthyrich
Haha 16 would be real bad in the 15 team AL.
Ended up 14th last year, did the Tigers gain 7 games on them?
Can the O’s improve by 7 games again?
Sisco, Nunez, Alberto, Mountcastle are some other interesting pieces on offense that may continue to grow.
Pitching depth still needed. Could be ugly again.
But a lot of teams are 1-2 pitching injuries away from being in the O’s position so kudos to your optimism.
coldbeer
If Inciarte is still available the Jays should pony up and get him. Not sure what it would take but he’d be worth the risk considering how weak the Jays outfield is.
brucenewton
Never understood the Grichuk extension. He’s always been a low average, low on-base hitter with bad plate discipline. He’s Kevin Pillar with less range.
coldbeer
Much more power than Pillar.
its_happening
At 2.5 x the salary.
coldbeer
Last year? Lol. Check your facts. This year…well let’s decide who’s going to have the better contract once they step up to the plate.
its_happening
Pillar far and away has the better contract, currently. One year versus another four, the longer contract costing 2.5 times as I pointed out. Pillar is a 4th OF taking on lefties, Grichuk is a 4th OF treated like a star. Pillar is a better defender, throw away the defensive stat crap because Grichuk can’t play CF close to the way Pillar can.
As for last year, well, you don’t have a leg to stand on with Grichuk’s season last year.
brucenewton
Hit 10 more homers than Pillar.
Rsox
Grichuk is a Right Fielder, he’s unfortunately the lesser of two evils in CF over Hernandez.
Jay’s aren’t going to trade Grichuk as he has little to no value right now.
brucenewton
They should set fire to Hernandez’ glove. He shouldn’t play LF, let alone CF.