For Rangers fans curious about Kohei Arihara, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News suggests that Colby Lewis could be a decent comp for the newly-signed right-hander in terms of eating innings and a similar ability to record outs without the help of a big fastball. The Rangers would certainly be more than pleased if Arihara were to duplicate Lewis’ numbers (4.27 ERA and an average of 166 innings per year) from 2010-16, and GM Chris Young told Grant and other reporters that the team was hopes Arihara can “stabilize the rotation” in terms of covering innings, at the very least.
“Durability is a highlight,” Young said. “We think there is upside here, in terms of his curiosity and his willingness to learn and improve, but the durability component is a very appealing aspect of this signing….We’re hopeful for 150-plus [innings].”
More from around baseball…
- The Red Sox were known to be the runners-up in the race to sign Tommy Kahnle, and The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham reports that the Sox were open to making the kind of two-year contract that Kahnle received from the Dodgers as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. After ducking under the luxury tax threshold in 2020 and resetting their tax penalty limit, the Red Sox are now “exploring other creative ways to use their payroll flexibility,” Abraham writes, suggesting that the Sox could look to acquire prospects from another team by also agreeing to take a big contract off that team’s books.
- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks right-hander Kodai Senga is no closer to making his desired move to Major League Baseball, as per a Kyodo News report. The Hawks are the only NPB team that has never posted a player to the majors, and according to general manager Sugihiko Mikasa, “I can’t say there is any big change to our policy” coming in the near future. Senga, who turns 28 in January, has established himself as one of Japan’s top pitchers, with a 2.69 ERA, 2.98 K/BB rate, and 10.5 K/9 over 860 1/3 career innings for the Hawks from 2012-20. Senga can be a full free agent after the 2022 season, and while the Hawks are working out a multi-year contract extension, it doesn’t seem like Senga would accept a deal beyond 2022 given his longstanding interest in North America.
Is NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ policy of not posting players for MLB a strategical decision, or is it a pride thing?
Probably both.
Sox really need to sign Sugano, no ifs and or buts. And I sure do miss Nick Cafardo, he was ten times better than PeteAbe.
it’s a crap shoot based on past players’ success once coming over. I want pitching and getting him depends on cost and comparisons as to other options. This is an example as to why good scouting will always be important.
SUGAR SUGANO
They are a perennial contender with a (relatively) massive payroll. The financial incentives for posting their best players just are not quite there. They might as well hold onto them to boost their record.
Granted, it could be a pride thing as well at this point.
Colby Lewis, there’s a name no one’s thought about since 2016
Boy Rangers fans all remember Colby Lewis. Not a spectacular pitcher but so importent during our good years. He even had some really clutch starts in the playoffs a few times. If Kohei plays like that Rangers fans will love him.
What’s the going rate for taking on a fat contract nowadays? What’s the last good comp… Touki Touissant? Although at the time that seemed like an overpay if I recall. And I imagine Sox wouldn’t want to take on term, probably just 1-2 years which may complicate things.
I wouldn’t want the Red Sox taking on a 3 or 4 year commitment to a player who’s so overpaid, he can only be moved with.prospects. In this climate, taking on an aging vet with 45mil left on a two year deal should get you a very good prospect or two.
Agree I wouldn’t want a term commitment either. Maybe some mediocre well overpaid reliever with 1-2 yrs would do. Someone rosterable would be nice vs a pure money dump.
The Braves paid $10 million (taking on Arroyo’s last contract year) to get a top 40 prospect. That isn’t an overpay.
You’re right I had my take backwards. That was a Dave Stewart special wasn’t it.
Doesn’t necessarily need to be a fat contract… just one that doesn’t have value to it where a team could save 10-15m bucks.
This is the kind of move I’ve been deriding bloom for not making since LAST offseason. The fact they’re talking about it now is a mixed bag.
On the one hand, it’s great they’re considering finally DOING something with that cbt space.
On the other hand, it’s a year behind and it signals that this club won’t be gong for it (again) in 2021.
Teams work through 4 or 5 year losing rebuilds to accumulate the talent Boston has scattered through its club. Instead of building around that, they’re squandering roster slots and money on lots of not even has beens but demonstrated failures.
We as fans dealt with the austerity year to reset the cbt and were led to believe that by now they would’ve made some shrewd moves with all that extra cbt money trading price freed up. That after the one belt tightened year they would finally fix the bullpen and replace any departed players’ production.
Maybe they’ll try to do something in 2022… or maybe there will be more excuses about erod leaving and being too far from contention, the trust the process bs, all the same song and dance. Meanwhile the core does get another year older, and the window tightens to where you legitimately DO need to full on reset.
Just keep Arihara away from those boomsticks at the concession stands.
Anyone know if Kahnle is any good? I don’t think I’ve seen him pitch
He is strikeout machine and typically puts up good numbers you’ll like him
He can reach home plate on the fly. Quite the arm.
I can see Will Myers in Fenway as a real possibility. SD will have to kick in some money, but it gives the Sox some RH thump.
At this stage signing Puig would give a better RH hitter in RF at less cost
No it wouldn’t.
YES, PUIG’S THE WAY TO GO FOR THE RED SOX.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET PUIG FOR 1 OR 2 YEARS AND SHORT MONEY.
The Red Sox literally have nothing to offer the Padres other than salary relief and its doubtful the Red Sox are interested in spending $40 million on Myers when they already signed Renfroe and could bring in another Outfielder at a much cheaper rate
If you think signing Renfroe solves anything, I don’t know what to tell ya…..
Not a BAD sign by any means; they have the money, and need the body. But he’s basically a non-entity.
What makes Myers better than Renfroe. Renfroe has more power and a better attitude. Myers makes $20 million and has openly stated he has no interest in playing everyday.
Reminds of a line from Major League: “i didn’t know you had any high priced talent?” “Forget about Dorn, he’s just high priced”
“I forgot about Dorn, cause he’s just high priced”
I would much rather see them re-sign Jackie Bradley Junior then Will Myers
We went all over this Myers talk last offseason. SD is not willing to give up any of their top prospects. Sox have no need for Myers but they are trending it wouldn’t shock me if they took some scrub SD prospect and the Myers contract
Last off season we didn’t have Covid. It would take more than “scrub” prospects to take on Myers’ contract. No, not talking Gore here…but a couple of 5-15 bodies, rankings wise.
The Red Sox used SD to get more out of LA! They were never going to take on Myers as they would not have been able to reset CBT (and SD was trying to shove Margot down the Red Sox throat which was never going to happen).
Not with his contract. Lot better players out there than Myers! He’s not worth taking on that money.
I’m not a myers fan.
That said, people forget a couple things:
1) his CBT hit is much less than actual salary because the contract was backloaded;
2) with the CBA expiring and labor relations where they are, who knows what form, if any, the cbt will take going forward;
3) we don’t know how SD sees him at this point. They may feel 2020 rebuilt his value to where he isn’t as underwater and this isn’t really the type of swap contemplated.
Remember, the stated reason the mookie deal with SD fell apart WASN’T bloom didn’t want myers… it was how much $ changed hands and if price would be included. Myers did better in 2020 than in years prior, but, as always, asterisk that with the small sample tag. And Boston could still use someone else in the OF.
I doubt SD gives up multiple prospects from their 5-15 to move myers. They wouldn’t do that in a myers deal with mookie Betts coming back before the 2020 results. No way they consider it now.
Seems kinda mental the senga can’t just opt out and come stateside. His team is holding him hostage, when he clearly wants to face greater competition in mlb. As a team why receive nothing in return and watch him walk in 22’ for free…
It’s a real bummer for Senga, but that’s just part of the business of baseball in Japan just like it is in America. No matter how good of a player you are, your team ultimately owns your rights for most or all of your career.
As for the Hawks keeping Senga, you have to consider how much of an impact player a guy like this is in Japan. They’re not giving up a him up for nothing, they’re giving up control of one of the best pitchers in the league for only cash considerations. Factor in that he’s close to irreplaceable on the open market over there, the Hawks would have to expect a very high posting fee for it to be worthwhile.
They never reach free agency? I didn’t know that, that’s ridiculous
They do, but the period of control is very long, so players are in their late 20’s or early 30’s by the time they are unrestricted free agents.
I mostly know Japanese through OOTP so my details might be spotty, but I believe the period is 10 years and but that includes time on the Ni-Gun (minor league) squad.
that’s about the same age as most 1st time MLB free agents. yes they debut older in the US, but that’s more time to build up a track record and establish yourself.
It’s nine years for NPB players to reach free agency.
As opposed to the States, where players are usually in their late 20s or early 30s by the time they are unrestricted free agents.
he just has to wait until he’s a free agent. sucks but that’s how it works.
You have to remember, posting fees aren’t what they used to be. Now the posting team gets a relative pittance for giving up talent. If the guy has dominant stuff why would you sell him away for comparatively very very little rather than keep him around and try to win?
If the Rangers can get Colby Lewis type numbers out of Arihara then they’ve done all right for themselves with this one
if its ’10-’12 Lewis maybe. if its ’10-’16 Lewis then its little risk but little reward either.
17 game winner in ’15 so he wasn’t all bad during that time
he had an ERA over 4.50 that year. wins were probably more a product of luck then anything else.
And Drew Hutchison was a 13 game winner with a 5.57 ERA. Means nothing
ERA+ of 91, bWAR of 1.0, so, no, he wasn’t very good. Wins, as we know, mean very little in assessing pitcher talent.
Rangers fans loved Lewis. he got nocked around a few times but he also brought it big time in a few clutch starts
Yea, he was a roughly league average pitcher in ’10-’16. Not bad.
and its not bad to have a cheap guy posting those numbers, but in a Rangers rotation with several other midling pitchers he’s not making much of a difference. essentially, good as a backend starter, not great if he’s one of your top few starters.
I don’t think the Rangers intend to compete so having a stable of only 4-5’s that soak up innings is fine.
That is, essentially, a run-on sentence, please learn how to type the English language.
dude, who actually cares
they were trying to compete when they signed Gibson and Lyles.
If your number 5 SP avoids the IL all season, takes the ball for 6IP virtually every start, and puts up a 4.50 era at a cost of 2-3m per year that’s a huge win.
That #5 would be called a #3 in today’s MLB.
Abraham is doing what a lot of sportswriter do at this time of the year. They make stuff up. Anyone who thinks Chaim Bloom is going to take on an expensive, contract belonging to a deadbeat to get some prospects who may or not pan out has no idea what they are talking about, is writing sentences to fill up column space, or is smoking a newly legalized weed in Massachusetts.
I dont see how its that farfetched. not going to happen, but hardly crazy.
I think you might wind up surprised.
It may not be early in the offseason, BUT, I can see a couple pathways they might finally do it. Not taking on 30m/yr by any means mind you either.
Option one, an unlikely suitor for a big name FA needs to clear 15m or so in payroll. In exchange BOS takes back an underwater player David price style who has 1 or 2 years left at what becomes a palatable rate while the original club frees the space to afford their guy.
Option two, it’s nearer opening day, a team now has a handle on how many games will be played sans fans, and ran the number on their guaranteed payroll. They decide to dump a high priced asset with prospects attached due to cash flow concerns.
But if Boston does that, it means they are leaning more towards a full rebuild than a partial one. The Red Sox should be spending their money on 1-2 year deals for players who had a down 2020 but have a larger track record of success prior to that. Get 3 or 4 players like this and 2 are likely to pan out. If they take on a ‘dead’ contract for an exciting prospect, that prospect is probably 1-2 years away from debuting and even longer away from their prime. Boston needs to build a winner now and continue to restock for the future. In other words, they need the Friedman model. They have the front office personnel for it, they just need the players to help deliver the desired results. Easy enough, right? 😉
Anytime anybody starts off with “unlikely suitor” you know they’re just blowing smoke and not dealing with reality.
Got to agree 100%.
Take on expensive contracts?
Why not give up draft picks for the next 2 years too?
And inxpensive talented prospects for expensive ones?
LOL
Is Spring Training canceled yet ?