A few items from the National League…
- With the Mets likely to change hands soon, current owners Fred Wilpon and Jeff Wilpon held a Zoom call Monday “to award employees who had reached milestones for service,” Ken Davidoff of the New York Post writes. Jeff Wilpon, who thanked longstanding employees during that call, plans on leaving the organization when Steve Cohen takes over as the new owner, Andy Martino of SNY tweets.
- With Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson due to reach free agency shortly, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if he would be a good fit for the rival Giants. San Francisco’s president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, was previously in LA’s front office, so he’s familiar with Pederson. While Pederson should come at a reasonable price after a down regular season, Giants outfielders did hit well this year. With that in mind, it’s up in the air how much Zaidi & Co. will prioritize that area of the roster during the winter.
- Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Jake Irvin underwent Tommy John surgery last week, Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com tweets. He’s likely to miss the entirety of the 2021 season as a result. The 23-year-old Irvin, whom MLB.com rates as the Nationals’ 21st-best prospect, threw 128 1/3 innings of 3.79 ERA/4.13 FIP ball during his Single-A debut in 2019.
Giants have zero need for Joc with Yaz and Dickerson. They should be all over Springer.
Not sure about Springer, but definitely agree with you about Pederson.
I think a Jake Marisnick or Robbie Grossman makes more sense for them. If the Giants go after any big name FA I’d assume it would be Bauer, though I’d be opposed to that because of his career inconsistencies.
As a Mets fan, let me just say please take Marisnick.
Springer? Zaidi isn’t signing Springer or any any other Big ticket FA’s. Zaidi is in the beginning stages of a massive organizational rebuild. Adding missing pieces in the form of A list FA’s will be the LAST thing he does. The last component. And will only happen once he has established a core roster of young talented players.
Organizationally, The Giants are 3-4 years away from that.
Also, the Giants just laid off 10% of their workforce. They’re clearly having financial problems
mercurynews.com/2020/10/19/sf-giants-cut-10-of-job…
What’s funny is Zaidi said they were going to push for the playoffs this year so
A 10% (about 50 jobs, per the article) isn’t much, really. Large market teams lost a ton this year…the Red Sox likely lost the most since they not only had all the problems everybody else had, but they stunk on top of it. At least the Giants’ collection of has-beens and never-wases was entertaining and probably got some decent eyeballs on TV. Red Sox Nation watched infomercials about Emeril’s latest oven.
I can’t see Joc in SF, tho. Too expensive for a basically “meh” kind of guy. They’ll be cheaper similar players available with the deluge of non-tenders.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out Wilpons
BUH BYE JEFFEY!
Just something to add onto that I said yesterday, in the WS the team who has won game 5, has won the WS at an 80% rate over the past decade. The exceptions to this are the Astros (2019), and the Rangers (2011). Just another thing to keep in mind going into these next few WS games.
Okay… not really relevant whatsoever to this post but good to know… lol
Lmao.
Ha
Hmmm, so the Rangers and Astros are both Texas teams. This World Series is in Texas. That means the Rays will now win. Just something to add to my comment yesterday.
I guess nobody paid enough attention to your original comment.
Pederson is a really interesting player… in that his raw talent is really probably right up there with some of the absolute best hitters in the game. But he’s massively inconsistent and has never really hit for average. If he could put it all together he could be as good as Bryce Harper — but he’s been so up and down that there’s also the risk that he puts up another dud like this season where he’s actually a negative by means of WAR. My guess is he winds up signing a 1-year “show-me” deal this off-season to try and reestablish his value… and it could be a massive bargain for whoever gets him or he could also be a bust. I think he’s capable of putting up a .275/45HR/.375 OBP season… but for whatever reason he just hasn’t been able to even come close to those kind of numbers — at least not over the course of a full ML season.
I would add that he looks like he’s put on 20 pounds, and it appears he’s lost more than a step or two in the field. That doesn’t bode well for those who are hoping for a bounce-back year for him.
His big issue are his splits. They are truly ugly. The Dodgers have used him strictly platoon and PH for years as a result. In the right situation he’s of value but the inability to be an asset in the lineup every day limits his market a lot. Given what he can do and the modest contract he is likely to get, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Dodgers brought him back.
I wouldn’t be stunned if the Dodgers retained him, either. He is a platoon player due to his inability to hit LHP, but he’s on the strong side of the platoon.
Given where they are, I don’t see the fit in SF. The Giants aren’t near ready to contend and need pitching more than anything to get there.
If Joc leaves LA, I’d like to see the Braves get involved- depending upon what happens with Ozuna. Pederson would pair well with Duvall. Cleveland might also be a fit if the price doesn’t creep too high.
Cleveland is entering rebuilding. He’s not a fit there.
He’s on the right side of the splits though as there are many more ABs against RHP versus LHP. He clearly came in out of shape this year and had a terrible season, but now he’s raking in the playoffs. He’s clearly a north of 0.800 OPS guy and north of 0.900 OPS against RHP in 2018 and 2019 combined. I think a team with a RH leftfielder platoon guy is perfect for Joc. His defense is not good but if there is a DH next season it adds even more to his value.
Pederson has the capability of being a well-rounded player, and he always has. Unfortunately for him, the Dodgers, and his next team he fell in love with the long ball early on. Joc never cuts down his swing no matter the situation or the count. LAD has never attempted to extend him, and you’d think that fact alone would motivate him to make adjustments, but it hasn’t.
I think you’re pretending it’s way easier to hit major league pitching than it really is
Or pretending Joc is way more consistent than he really is. He’s a streaky hitter. You’re asking a 240/35-40 HR bat to be a 300+ hitter. He’s just not that guy
I Don’t think any team is going to make him into that guy either
Not quite true. Early on Pederson would swing so hard at nearly every pitch he often came right out from under his helmet. Management was so determined to cut down his swing they offered him a token bonus for every ball he hit to the opposite field. Not sure how long that went on (the beginning of one season I think) but it did seem to change his mindset somewhat. He’s still a big swinger but not as much as when he first came up. In all, Pederson has probably reached his ceiling as a player. The Dodgers have been tinkering with him for years and this is what he is.
I don’t think the Dodgers are asking players to cut down on swings. It’s a different game today. The analytics tells you that strikeouts are okay as long as you mash and get on base. They’re more concerned about grinding at bats, not chasing out of the zone, but they want you getting on base and hitting home runs. Pederson swings big, but he gets paid to hit HRs. He needs to slim down a little bit though if he wants to continue to play OF. Are they telling Bellinger to cut down on his swings? Clearly not. Or if they are he’s clearly not listening.
It’s not asking players to cut down on their swings, it’s asking them to shorten it. And I think every team is asking players, whose swing are too long. to shorten it. A shorter swing does not mean a guy won’t mash. The best hitters in baseball have short swings direct to the ball. A short swing means just as many HRs, with fewer Ks, and conversely a long swing means more Ks and not necessarily more HRs. Until Pederson shortens his swing he’s mot going to be any better than he is now.
Same difference. Any batter with a big swing has the potential to get long. If Bellinger shortened his swing I guarantee you that he would be less productive in the power department. He’s not that strong to take smaller swings.
I’ll take Pederson’s 2018 and 2019 production anytime. He can hit 0.240-0.250 as long as he gets enough walks and slugs the way he does. He doesn’t need to get better. When you OPS over 0.900 against RHPs you don’t need to get better. Nobody is saying Pederson is ever going to come close to being one of the best hitters. He is who he is.
No it’s not the same. Cutting down means swinging less hard, and shortening your swing is about the route the bat takes to the ball. You may be fine with Pederson’s production, but with a better, more compact swing, he would be a much better hitter. And the Dodgers wouldn’t be questioning whether they want to bring him back.
I think Bellinger’s swing is back problems waiting to happen. I could be wrong. And, not saying it is, but it’s possible that his sub-par 2020 season is pitchers finding holes in that violent swing of his. Whatever, Bellinger is still a former MVP, and I’d have a lot more confidence in him rebounding, and having a HoF career, than I would in Pederson fixing his swing.
Bellinger clearly over swings. If he didn’t there is no chance he ever hits over 40 HRs any season. He’s a skinny guy. Pick your poison. I don’t think he’ll ever come close to that mvp season again. But he does other things very well. Joc doesn’t really have a long swing. He’s a strong guy. Does he over swing sometimes? Absolutely. Bellinger is the one with the long swing if you want to nitpick. Pederson is never going to be more than what he is. And he’s just fine.
He reminds me of Jeromy Burnitz, dude could mash and turn on one in a hurry or just look ridiculous and be headed back to the dugout after 3 pitches.
When he’s at his best and locked in, he’s tracking pitches. But if you throw 95+, screw tracking he’s looking cheese.
I can’t say I know Fersure, maybe he feels he misses a fastball too often when he’s trying to track every pitch. When he’s off, he can miss anything. I can’t say I know 100%, But Like it or hate it, that’s just who he has been for most of 6 years now. It’s a mindset
Harper is not a great player. Inconsistent w temper tantrums
Seems to me he’s outgrown the tantrums?
Seems that way to me too, but some players will never live down a bad rep.
He has cut down the tantrums, he just isn’t a 30 million dollar player. Good, not great (aside from 2015).
If I were the Dodgers I’d look to flip Pollock on a trade to capitalize on the great short season to see if there are any biters. Platoon Taylor and sign Pederson to a one or two year deal, hopefully team friendly, and then you’re set at LF. That will save you some bucks, and Pederson has a good chance to have a bounce back season. Will be interesting to see what they do about Justin Turner and Kike.
I’ve had this thought too, about seeing if someone would be interested in pollock. Friedman loves to rotate his roster and Pollocks value will never be higher
Wonder if the Angels go after Pederson as a free agent after they tried to trade for him earlier this year.
Although, I’m not sure if they were more interested in Stripling than Pederson when they tried to make the move given how badly they still need starting pitching.
Joc was a stud CF in AAA with plenty of range, but this year he looks fat. He did make a nice long running catch in LF last night, but his all or nothing approach scares me on anything over $8m per year.
Speaking of guys with range. The Dodgers are a completely different team without Bellinger at CF. The guy tracks down flyballs with such ease. As much as I don’t like Muncy at 1B, Bellinger needs to be at CF every day. The one he tracked down with ease in front of him the last game likely drops with Taylor at CF and absolutely drops with Pollock at CF.
He has definite upsides, but he’s going to have a hard time finding a multi-year deal if he’s essentially a platoon guy.
Joc can help a team but he’s not what SF needs.
They’re on record as wanting a left handed bat who can play the infield and they desperately need good pitching. Trevor Bauer and Cesar Hernandez should wrap it up then. Put a bow on it and stick it under the tree.
Trevor Bauer said he wants to go to a contender, so I’m pretty sure that rules out the Giants.
@dan, I agree. I’d love Bauer to become a Giant but I think he’s headed to a big market team who’s not rebuilding like the Giants.
Bauer? Bauer will never sign in SF. Haha .Bauer was clear in his comments about playing for a legit contender. The Giants are 3-5 years away from any possibility of that
Giants are also holding themselves back by refusing to embrace the rebuild and trade veterans for young assets. That keeps them in the middle of the standings too, hurting them in the draft order.
Their system is improving, but slowly and while eventually they may be able to speed that up by spending, its not like Bauer alone turns them into a contender. They’re years away.
Cnichols is Correct
Refusing… trade… veterans…. who on earth is going to trade for Longoria, Crawford, Belt, Cueto, et all? Not to mention that little thing called a ‘no-trade clause.’
Zaidi is caught there. He’s waiting out those contracts. After this upcoming season they will be free.
Yes, He refused to Trade Bumgarner and Smith last year. Nor is he willing to DFA guys or trade bad contracts +Cash for prospects. I believe his hands are tied. Ownership will not let him DFA or trade away fan favorites even if they suck. In LA Zaidi did not hesitate to eat 20-40m on DFA or Negative trades of Carl Crawford or Adrian Gonzalez. The Giants as an organization and their fans relentless need to hang on to the past has strangled this Franchise. I mean, The San Francisco Giants are such ‘non players’ in the NL West. The Dodgers and Padres are 5 years ahead of them. They’ve become completely irrelevant
I disagree its not Ziadi but Giant upper management that refuses to trade away old giants. They worry more about putting fans in the seats than rebuilding the team. When they had a chance to trade Smith and Bum Ziadi was told NO by Giant upper management because fans wouldn’t still be going to the games. They wanted a team that could contend that year.
Seriously, can the you turn down the volume on the constant fan bashing?
They don’t make the decisions!
Also, acting like Zaidi refused to do what’s right for the team is just an absolutely ridiculous accusation
His hands were tied by upper management and the fact the no one wanted to give equal value for most of their vets with large contracts ♂️
CN, I generally agree with what you’re saying. And there are some vet examples like Smith last year that I assume you’re more Referring to than Belt/Crawford/Posey etc… those guys, I just don’t think they had a lot of value
And imo, the giants ownership preferred the fan draw over the minimal trade return. Not sure it’s all Zaidi
“When they had a chance to trade Smith and Bum Ziadi was told NO by Giant upper management because fans wouldn’t still be going to the games.”
Do you have anything you can point to that suggests this was at all true, o are you just trotting out this baseless claim? Everything I read suggested that Bum and Smith simply weren’t going to garner more worth as deadline movers than they already had to a competing team.
Not my claim, but what you’re saying could be 100% true and his too
Compared to return package, their fan appeal+potential on field to make playoffs and getting into the dance for first time on half a decade, all of could work together
Pederson would be a good platoon player for a lot of teams. With revenue down for every team, I don’t know if a team can spend a lot of money.
Joc would have gotten his numbers up to par if it was a full season imo. He didn’t even have 130 at bats. Someone could get him on a nice cheap deal. Tbh if money is similar, he may even consider coming back to LA on a pillow deal. They know how to get him 400+ at bats against RHP In a full year
He also has one impressive postseason resume. When you get to Oct, teams stop messing around with breaking balls. He doesn’t miss many fastballs. Regular year, teams will risk the walk going for the K, so he sees less high velo. I feel like that’s a major reason for his number discrepancy
Pederson is a platoon bat from the left side with a ton of pop. He’s also one of those unique professional athletes that gets better under the lights in high pressure situations. He belongs on a contender w/ depth .
The Giants are neither. They are a terrible fit. SF is 4-5 years away from fielding a team that will play deep into October
Oh yeah not saying he should go to SF haha
I do think he stays on the West coast, Sd, LAA, LAD. But sf likely won’t compete for his entire next contract and he’s a former dodger, not like fans are going to instantly love him
I’m going to throw it out before anyone else can. Joc to the White Sox. He will battle it out with Nomar Mazara and Adam Engel in right field but when it’s all said and done it will be a platoon between Joc and Adam.
I think he would look good in Ranger Blue. He could play LF in a platoon with White. He is still young enough and if Rangers could acquire a power-hitting RH DH/1b, it could make a nice middle of the order with Gallo.
Agreed that he’s not likely to go to the Giants. Joc to the Giants is a stale rumor from last offseason when Yaz still needed to prove he was for real. You might remember that the Giants were interested in Puig and came pretty close to signing him. But I don’t think the front office feels like the OF is a need anymore.
I could see the Yankees trade Hicks and another player, for prospects and bring in Joc. They need to add a left handed bat. His swing would work great at Yankees stadium.
Doesnt deal with the topic set forth on this thread…but just would like to know your guys thoughts on this possibilty
Yankees trade Voit for Merrifield.
Then they sign LeMahieu to play 1B
Sign Didi at SS..and move Gleyber to 2B
Try moving Hicks.
…….then GET Bauer !!!!!
With Merrifield they get a .300 bat., someone who steals a lot of bases and gets into scoring position….to lead off…..then move LeMahieu to number 2..and open him up to a lot more RBI chances….Putting Judge at number 3 where he belongs for a ton of RBI chances….
Plus Merrifield gives them the option of 2B or OF at any time
Voit weighs over 250 lbs and has Planter Fascitiis…..his trade value will never be higher…..
Not comparing Pujols to Voit by any stretch, but when Pujols was diagnosed with this many years ago…his career was drastically affected…especially his OBP ,SLG, and BA.
KC is not trading Merrifield. Also, the Yankees are going to try to get under the CBT this year so there’s no way they sign Bauer (plus Bauer hates Cole) and there’s a good chance they let DJL walk too. They need to sign at least 1 SP and that will get them very close to the CBT after all of their arbitration cases.
“plus Bauer hates Cole”
Interestingly, Bauer put the Yankees on his list. So it would more likely be that the bigger factor is Cole hates Bauer, if their relationship is an issue.
To your larger point, however, I agree, the Yanks are not shopping for a TOR SP this offseason. Heck, they may not acquire any SP this offseason. That would be a mistake but it might happen based on what we’ve heard.
Mo, whether you had any interest to sign there or not, would you intentionally eliminate one of the top 3 biggest spenders before free agency even started, because of a 10+ year old feud? I wouldn’t
That feud was very real in college. Maybe it’s water under the bridge now. But either way, I’d pretend it was. Haha
Bye Jeff!!!
Crawford, Belt, and Cueto will not be payroll deadweight by this time next year, plus, it’s not like the Giants have a SS, 1B, and starting pitcher in the wings being blocked by those guys. Having said that, the missed opportunities from last season’s trading deadline ended up hurting even more because Zaidi whiffed on getting any pitching with those QO picks that could be ready by ’23.
The one part of the team they can limp along with for the next 1-2 seasons until Luciano and Ramos et. al are ready is their hitting and positional players, so as Dubs and others say, it makes no sense for them to dabble right now in the FA market for a position player. What they need are another 1-2 Pomeranz’s that Zaidi can fill out the rotation with and flip at the deadlines the next two years for more pieces. And the next draft has to be all about pitching for them, end of story.
“Jeff Wilpon Will Reportedly Leave Mets After Sale”
For the love of god, if you’re Steve Cohen, why would you ever, ever permit the alternative?
Dodgers are probably going to let Turner and Pederson walk if they get decent offers.
I think turner had a QO before and doubt Pederson gets $18 million to hit righties without DH.
LA should extend or trade Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes.
I’d like Kike back on a cheap deal but his agent might want him getting more consistent reps going forward.
Rios, Beatty, and Lux are going to be ready to take bigger roles going forward.
Hey man you forgot to log out of the dubsuck account and log in to 27ringsloser account before posting the usual the giants lol. we all know you though and we accept your behaviors. its ok.