The Giants and Blue Jays are among the teams that are interested in free-agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna, per Jon Morosi of MLB.com (Twitter links: 1, 2). Ozuna spent a good portion of 2020 as a designated hitter for the Braves, so he seems an imperfect fit for the Giants. After all, there’s no word on whether the NL will retain the DH position next year. Ozuna would be a cleaner fit for the Blue Jays, though. The Jays don’t seem to need help in the corner outfield, where they have Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez, but Ozuna could be a DH solution for the club.
- The Mets interviewed Michael Hill for a front office job early last month, but they don’t appear likely to hire the former Miami executive. The team hasn’t spoken to Hill since president Sandy Alderson said Nov. 23 that it won’t hire a president of baseball ops, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports. The Mets are still on the lookout for a general manager, however.
- The Red Sox have shown interest in free-agent outfielder Eddie Rosario, Morosi tweets. The Twins non-tendered Rosario on Wednesday as opposed to paying him in the $8.6MM to $12.9MM range in arbitration. The power-hitting Rosario would join Alex Verdugo to form Boston’s tandem of corner outfielders.
- Yankees right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino has come up in trade speculation, though the 35-year-old unsurprisingly said this week he’d like to remain with the club (via Ken Davidoff of the New York Post). “I want to stay on the team. I want to prove my worth. I want to pitch well,” he told Davidoff. “I want to finish what we tried to start these last few years and win that title and all that.” Ottavino had a great first season with the Yankees in 2019 after signing a three-year, $27MM contract, but the former Rockie’s run prevention numbers took steps backward during the previous campaign. He wound up with a horrid 5.89 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, though Ottavino logged a 3.52 FIP (not far from the 3.44 mark he posted the prior year) and 12.27 K/9 against 4.42 BB/9.
Here’s your daily Blue Jays rumour! What a bunch of bull####.
I enjoy them.
Of course Connor Byrne is stuck like an old needle on a scratched record. Same thing over and over and over.
took the words right out of my mouth
No joke…enough already. How about one article titled “Blue Jays meeting with representatives of all free-agents”
Maybe the owners of this app are Canadian
Anyone intelligent realizes this many leaks has to be from the FO directly. You can’t blame MLBTR for citing stories people write
Y’all complain about the weirdest stuff
Complaining about rumors surrounding Major League Baseball on a site called MLB Trade Rumors. Makes sense.
Or from the agents who realize the Blue Jays are a solid bet for most of these guys that can drive up the price.
Needed my daily dose!
Well that’s not very cheery
Whooohooo! The Blue Jays are kicking the other rumors out of the nest… With all of these reported rumors one is bound to come true!
Indeed lol! Tell me about it. As a Jays fan living in Toronto, I’ve been seeing this for yrs. they are usually in on everyone, but alway walk away empty handed. Except last year for Ryu. That was it.
All these rumors about the Jays willing to sign all free agents avaliable are at 99,99% fake.
Hey, I’m the agent of bluejays92 and I’d like to announce that our camp has been in serious discussions with the Blue Jays. Expect more news as talks progress.
Despite him signing a five year max contract today with the Lakers, there are rumors that the Blue Jays are expressing preliminary interest in Anthony Davis.
I heard the Blue Jays and the Mets are in on Babe Ruth, Cy Young, and Josh Gibson.
I heard the same about AJ Preller. He’s also interested in Mickey Mantle.
I heard that within the next fifty years, there may actually be a day when @MarlinsFanBase ceases to be utterly obsessed with the Mets.
Why would the Marlins care about the Mets? One wins championships the other hasnt in forever.
One of them could also actually win a division for once…….
What’s winning the division matter when you bring home a championship? Mets fans wouldn’t know about either. Including going to the playoffs.
who cares about the division when you win championships? something the mets can’t do anymore.
That’s the kind of comment that turns people off with NYY fans. It reflects on us all. Thanks for that.
Ottavino is fine as long as you don’t use him in any high leverage situation
They’re not paying him 9M a year to mop up. In the immortal words of Bugs Bunny, “What a maroon!”
Ottavino will go down in infamy claiming “I would strike out Babe Ruth every time!” Guy is totally full of himself. He’s on the right team for big egos.
He’s with the Yankees, not the Rays or the Astros. Personally, I’d prefer that he were with the Rays or the Astros.
Haha yes like when he got torched by Toronto and accused them of sign stealing after the game.
No, Ottavino began tanking in Sept. 2019 and continued the same path in 2020. Not just a postseason thing. He’s a one pitch guy who can’t command his one pitch. Not worth 9 mil, that’s for sure.
What is a high leverage situation??? Does anyone here talk in terms other than trying to impress…
I’m assuming you have access to search engines like Google, so if you search “What is a Leverage Index” the result should take you to the MLB article by that name, which explains it in some detail. Simply stated, high-leverage situations are high-pressure situations when the game might be on the line; for example: bottom of the ninth, tie score, two outs, man in scoring position.
Rosario in Boston would be a great fit. Once you learn the wall, LF is pretty easy to play in Fenway. Benni can move to CF and keep the seat warm for Duran until he’s ready. Not sure what he’s looking for salary wise but a 2 year, $16M contract seems reasonable for his skill set. Maybe some of that can be in the form of incentives to ensure he delivers on expectations. The only problem is that Rosario bats left handed, so the entire Red Sox starting outfield would be left handed batters. They’d still need to a 4th OF (like Kevin Pillar) who bats RH and can play all 3 positions.
Hmm I’d like to see another right handed bat in platoon I guess, already lefty heavy. At 8mm you’re right, not a bad fit.
Actually Rosario being left handed balances the lineup as the entire bench is currently right handed also.
Right handed
C – Vazquez
1B – Dalbec
SS – Bogaerts
DH – JD Martinez
Left handed
3B – Devers
LF – Rosario
CF – Benintendi
RF – Verdugo
2B – TBD
Bench
Right handed
U – Chavis
OF/IF – Munoz
IF – Arroyo
C – Plawecki
Everyone keeps talking about AB in center. His arm is insufficient and haven’t people noticed in the small sample size, he just doesn’t look comfortable out there especially at Fenway? If Rosario is signed I see it as a replacement for Benintendi.
Yeah I just meant the outfield was all left handed bats. With JBJ it would be as well.
2b will most likely be right handed.
@looie typically centerfield is where a weaker arm would be. Remember Johnny Damon’s rag arm? JBJ is just one of those special guys.
Both Damon and Ellsbury. Speed, good range, bad arms.
Damon was a much better skilled outfielder. If you react quicker and take better routes you can handle it. Ellsbury also had a lousy arm. We got spoiled with JBJ and I realize how valuable his defense is.
It is crazy Minnesota nontenderd him. $8 to $13M for a guy who hits about 280/25/80 the last 3 full seasons is a steal. 2 years at $19M with a $12M 3rd year option and a $1M buyout should do it.
Exactly. I was hoping the Padres would grab him and DFA Pham or Allen. Rosario is sneaky good.
Benni scares me in CF with his injuries over the last couple yrs. What bout JBJ?
I’m not sure they are wanting to pay him what he can get in the open market.
The market will play out. Until JBJ signs elsewhere he’s my first choice in center. Everyone including me complained about his bat but boy will we miss his glove if he leaves. Three lefties in the OF is not ideal but JBJ to me is everything good about a player. Quiet, family man who gives back. Without fanfare, the man just brings back the word “professional” to me. I’ve been pissed at ownership since the team won in 18. Bringing back JBJ would be all good.
Looie- if the RS can not get Bradly, i think someone like Rosario will be signed. The 4th outfielder would be Munoz who the RS seemed to like last year. He would cover for the inevitable injuries that occur (or trade Munoz and sign Pillar which i would like even more).
Currently the bench includes Plawecki, Arroyo, Chavis, Munoz (all right handed). Chavis is not a good defensive fielder at second or left field, and he is redundant to Arroyo, and i see him being traded. The RS need a left handed bat off the bench which might end up being Moreland who can back up Dalbec.
Agreed in much of what you said. Chavis should be traded before he has zero value. I realize 2020 was unique but Him and Dalbec are redundant. Munoz I like but also a small sample size. I want Moreland to groom Devers at 1B.
Right on loose
Loose I think Devers at first is great idea
Only if he has someone to learn from. He needs to be off third and can’t DH while JDM man’s the position. Risky move is to play JDM in left anfpd DH Devers. I don’t like the idea which is why I want Devers moved to first now. That way if he’s a flop there too, we know he’ll replace JDM when that deal ends (assuming JDM is not resigned and neither are traded).
Ozuna can be a good add to the current list of BlueJays 1B/DH types:
1. Hernandez
2. Vlad Jr.
3. Rowdy Tellez
4. Marcel Ozuna
Sarcasm heavy.
What a great idea.
This has got to be misdirection, despite it’s obviousness. The Jays need for Ozuna is like the Angels need for Jackie Bradley
Ozuna at 1B now? Lol
Mets need to hire Mike Hill. Then certain Mets fans can talk about a change from Miami will make him perform better. It will be the same way that Jets fans said Adam Gase leaving Miami for NY would make him better.
Make it happen Mets!
No Jets fan on earth thought Gase was a good hire or that a change of scenery to New York would make him better. Even at the time, and viewing through the most rosiest-colored glasses, it was viewed as a head-scratcher. Jets fans hated that move from Day 1.
Your Mets obsession is an A+, but your burgeoning Jets obsession needs some work.
Shocking…yet another awful assumption showing you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Omg Ottavino is crying!!! Omg he needs to man up! I never cared fir him, RS fan but an admirer of the Evil Empire. This is something you don’t wanna hear from a player in print! Better he say nothing!
As far as Rosario goes……what about JBJ?
He’s just saying he wants to stick around and possibly turn things around, as well as finish off October. Problem is, I don’t see really any New York team winning a World Series for a while. Sorry East coast
Toward I liked what you said but seriously Ottavino was crrrryyyying. Lol. Can you have faith in a player that’s whining?
Did you read the article linked? He says he wasn’t consistent enough this year, needs to improve, and that he doesn’t pay attention to things out of his control. I am no Yankees fan, but they have nothing to be upset about.
Player aims to be more consistent, positively impact the team with better play on the field, and win a World Series. I’d love a team full of crybabies if that is what defines one.
Just player talk.
And Ottovino WAS consistent. Consistently bad.
He gave up half of his total runs for the year in one outing. If he hadn’t shown up for work on September 7, his numbers would have been just fine.
I read n he was a cry baby, seriously do not come on n beg to stay on a team when you hear they want you gone, take it like the HOFer Eck did take the heat but do not whine to stay on a team! That’s pathetic.
pasha2k Not sure what your problem is with what Ottavino said. It’s just normal professional player talk. Of course he’s going to say he wants to rebound, be better for his team again, and help them win it all next year. Almost any player will say something along the lines of what he did. I don’t know how that’s ‘crying’.
Right on man! Pasha ignores all the crying he/she did over in his/her mind…the beloved Brockstar….a mediocre baseball player who Pasha adored and wrote about each and every time possible….maybe Pasha should “man up”!
Yeah n I’m happy the Brockstar found a home, but I am not the pro player whining cuz he maybe dumped. Sheesh put on your glasses Rockstar, lol!
All the talk (from me) regarding Holt was simply he was the best option at the time and could have been resigned for basically the same money as what they spent on his replacement. I realize Holt was older but at the time the team was still in win now mode.
Can you read, buddy? No one here is whining except you, troll.
Sign Rosario. Sign Kluber. Two professionals. Great for the young core. Hopefully a bounce back from Kluber and he can give you 120+ innings as like a 3 or 4. Hopefully similar production from E-Rod. Wouldn’t mind a six man rotation next year. Give guys opportunities, rest the arms coming back from injury. Two years down the road hoping to compete, stay healthy. Not particularly excited for this high draft pick. No one has played ball to be scouted – a lot of uncertainty.
I like your post n you are right prolly.
College baseball will be back this year and teams will have plenty of time to scout the best prospects. The Red Sox will most likely go pitcher with the #4 pick. I like the kid Hill out of LSU; he has nasty stuff. He just needs to pitch more this year to prove he’s the real deal. There’s a good chance that the 2 Vanderbilt pitchers go 1-2 (Kumar & Leiter) unless they have a bad season or get hurt. Unlike you, I’m really excited about Boston having such a high draft pick and Bloom being there to help with the pick is exciting too.
Good comment Dorothy. I don’t know the college game but you sound prepped. To me, Bloom’s value is finding cheap prospects with real upside. The early draft slot is a bonus.
Great work, Conner
Sorry dude. Connor
Even as a Giants fan, I don’t see Ozuna fitting in the orange and black. He is a great power hitter and all, but he just doesn’t fit with the Giants. He’s too expensive and doesn’t play much outfield. This year he was pretty stuck at DH, so I say Zaidi passes on him. I also think Zaidi passes on most expensive free agents for the 2020-2021 offseason, and then gets agressive from 2021-2022 when some major contracts are off the books. If those guys have good seasons I say resign them for cheap, but Posey is a no-doubt returning veteran for 2023.
Also, did you see him the run the bases during the postseason? Woof. Dude has a great hit tool. That’s it. His glove and base running do a lot to negate the hitting he does do.
What is really crazy is he was the 6th fastest guy on the Braves and actually ever so slightly above average in sprint speed. Most of his career he’s been decent on the base-paths beyond just speed.
That playoff gaffe coupled with the fact he looks like he’s running full steam through a bowl of oatmeal (personal opinion) don’t help his case.
I would have never guessed Ozuna is faster than Hechavarria, Inciarte, and Camargo. Or that those three have pretty below average speed.
Ozuna glove and arm maybe be suspect, but his base running is alright. Even is he slows down at a similar or slightly greater rate, he will still have okay speed and decent base running. Now do I think an NL team should/will sign him without a DH? Mehhh wouldn’t bet on it but wouldn’t be all that surprised.
I agree, the Giants don’t want Ozuna. With Dickerson being injury prone, and whose defense isn’t great, we already have a DH type who just got tendered in Darin Ruf, whose defense is terrible. Ozuna would obviously drive in runs, but, Oracle Park demands solid to solid+ defense at a minimum and that ain’t Ozuna. If FZ wants to drop big coin on a high level FA, got get a starting pitcher who will still be around when we’re ready to compete in 1-3 years. Or bolster the BP.
Posey is going to have his option bought out next off season if he doesn’t start hitting again. You aren’t paying 22M for the type of player he has been the last few years.
@ted, I could see the Giants negotiate with Posey a two year “sun set” extension (declining the 2022 option) for something like $30MM for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. His defense and presence behind the dish is still “close to” elite and even if his bat keeps falling off, we need a solid presence there until Bart matures a bit more. Or,
If Bart doesn’t quite pan out
we have a few years before we’ll know about Bailey. If Bart doesn’t take a step forward this upcoming year, the Giants don’t want to go to the FA market for a catcher just as they’re heating up and looking to drop coin on a few impact players in 2022-23. Just my opinion……
I mean it seems like they are keeping their options open that if a dh shows up next season then he is a guy you want, but you may want to figure out Dahl instead who could be had a whole lot cheaper and has a pretty big upside if you get him right from 2020
I’ll probably catch some flack for this, but adding Ozuna to the SF lineup is a pretty good looking offense:
2B Solano
CF Yastrzemski
RF Dickerson/Slater
LF Ozuna
1B Belt
DH Flores
C Posey
3B Longoria
SS Crawford
Ruf, Dubon, and Dickerson/Slater first off the bench
Or, alternatively, Ozuna to DH, Flores to the bench, and Dubon to CF. I suppose that makes more sense.
That’s a 3rd pass lineup with or without Ozuna. You don’t sign Ozuna if you are a mediocre team. You sign him if you are a very good team who Ozuna can be the 3rd or 4th best hitter for. I know people in the giants bubble have a hard time hearing this, but the Giants are the very definition of mediocre right now. All Ozuna would do is help Giants pick 15th instead of 18th in the 2022 draft.
I think you mean 15th to 18th
Is that you again 27bitches? Your triggered once again.
Or… he might help them earn an extra $30M revenue by staying theoretically in the playoff race through August instead of through May. Whereas on a playoff-bound team the fans would’ve paid attention either way for negligible revenue difference. And on a long term contract he could be around when they’re good again.
MLB needs more teams to try to compete. Fans want to see competitive games and competitive divisions, not tanking.
@Howie, I don’t think it’s 27, as 27 doesn’t have enough of a brain to think thru such a post. I agree with @Boe. Signing Ozuna doesn’t make sense for the Giants in a year like this. We still have a year or three to go before we are truly competitive IMO. Thus,
FZ should fill in pitching gaps for now and save the $ for a big free agent(s) signing until next year or the year after. I’d be happy to post a .550 winning average in 2021 and Ozuna doesn’t really move the needle very much, at this time.
From what I have read, the Giants are mostly interested in Ozuna if the NL adopts the DH. Yeah, they definitely need a couple of rotation arms. The relief staff might surprise people by the end of next season.
I think people are selling the Giants offense short. They have 4 hitting coaches on the big league level. They emphasizing plate discipline over HRs through out their system, which makes sense at Oracle. It seems to be working. They improved by 2 runs a game over the preceding year.
If you drop off the 1st month, the Giants played at a .550 clip. Since the team will have a less turbulent start to the season, and they will be more comfortable with Kapler, 90 wins is not out of the realm of possibility.
How do you know the giants will have “a less turbulent start to the season”? What a completely ridiculous thing to say. Zero way you can say with any certainty if they get off to a hot or cold start. If the team is fully healthy or if injuries happen in the spring. I’m sure you are a smart person, but that’s a baffling statement.
“If you drop off the 1st months, giants played at .550 clip.” Cool, so they played at .550 clip for 1 month then. Very impressive. The giants in July of 2019 played like the best team in baseball. Were they? No, because any team can get hot for a month. Truly good to great teams put it together for six momths. Obviously, last year’s giants didn’t have the chance to do that, but with how the pitching was falling apart after two months, a similar record in 2019 was most likely in the cards for 2020.
You might be right, 90 wins might be possible with that offense… IF they had anything close to a decent rotation. But they don’t. Obviously, lots of off-season to address that tire fire, but if the rotation looks like it does now in April, only the giants homers like you will see a 90 win season as a possibility.
@Boe By turbulent, I mean they had a major shift in managing philosophies. Bochy is completely different from Kapler. Bochy was all pitching and defense. It was hard to watch all those close games. Kapler, and Zaidi, are really emphasizing plate discipline. The are using stats. Belt’s numbers went up last year because they limited his exposure to left handers. He also had a bad heel. The players are very confident that they can score at will. You couldn’t say that of Bochy’s teams.
I realize they need to add a couple of arms in the rotation this off season. I know there is not that much out there.
@Howie and @Boe, loving the discourse. I agree with Howie that the Giants are unlikely to be so horrid in the first month of the 2021 season, assuming they (all of MLB) get a normal spring training…..TBD. They committed so many errors at the beginning of last season that my son’s age 12 Little League from a few years ago looked better. I can’t assume it won’t happen again this year but it seems unlikely to me. Especially as the position players are likely to all be the same (no ILs at present and no unknowns as of yet). One thing I think we can all agree on is the disparate need for starting pitching. Good G*D FZ,
go get some pitching.
Wow look at that offense. Super intimidating. What a joke
Their offense was top 10 by just about every metric last season – arguably top 5 – without Ozuna
Not sure offensive numbers for 60 games mean much when heading into a 162 game season in 2021.
It’s a below average line-up, guys like Solano, Dickerson and Mike Yastrzemski have no track record of extended productivity. You can’t build a line-up around them.
All 3 of the names you mentioned also had successful 2019 seasons.
Yaz has been very productive since he came up last year. I don’t disagree about Solano and Dickerson, but Yaz is reliable.
The giants pitching at this point is not good. At all. Let’s look at their starting 5
1. Gausman
2. Cueto
3. Webb
4. Beede (maybe)
5. Emoji shrug.
Unless the offense mashes like the 27 Yankees, the giants aren’t doing anything. That pitching is just not going to hold up at all over a 162 game schedule. So yes, Ozuna would help that offense. Won’t matter.
You think the giants have a top 5 offense? Wow. You giants fans sure are hopeful and delusional about your current team.
2B Solano
CF Yastrzemski
RF Slater
LF Dickerson
1B Belt
DH Flores
C Posey
3B Longoria
SS Crawford
Who from this lineup starts on the dodgers or padres? It’s great the giants had a top offense last year. All of these dudes are over 30. All more likely to decline next year than they are to duplicate or improve off last year.
Belt and Posey are the big wild cards to me.
Is Belt really back?
His 2018 appendicitis and then playing through knee issues was a tough year after a very strong start seemed like he was over the 2017 concussions.
Likely rust and a bit of rebuilding confidence in 2019.
I’m liking him for 2021, not quite as strong as his 2020, but better than his 2019 seems very doable.
Posey rust? Mentor Bart? Catcher should be an upgrade in either event.
Flores was pretty productive as well.
But as Boe mentions, the pitching really needs help.
Looking at their future commitments and recalling they like to be seen as a big market team had me thinking they’d be a big wild card for Bauer or Tanaka.
Tough to justify in that division with that much salary tied up in aging vets but I like to daydream, what can I say!.
Top 5 in the division was my hunch.
But nope Lol.
They were 8th MLB in runs, which we can stretch to a 5th by just saying NL.
5th in avg, 7th in obp, 6th in slg, 6th in ops. That’s a top 10 offense, no matter how much you dislike the Giants.
Those numbers are true. Still, I’ll take the following lineups over the giants all day:
1. Dodgers
2. Yankees
3. Braves
4. Padres
5. Rays
6. Mets
7. Phillies
8. Angels
9. Astros
10. A’s
11. Twins
The giants have an old team with no youth beyond dubon. The other young players they have, like Bart and slater, have huge question marks at this point. It’s just not a lineup that you look at and worry about. It’s a nice lineup. But nothing about it says “playoff lineup”. At all.
I would agree with the sentiment in the Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, Padres, Mets, and Phillies.
Can’t say I agree about the Rays, Angels, Astros*, As, or Twins
Wait, you would actually take the current giants lineup over the rays, angels, astros, a’s, or twins? Is that the baseball fan in you talking or the giant fan talking? All of those lineups have a few holes, but the giants have holes too yet don’t have the legit stars those teams do. Those teams all have special special players or insane depth that the giants just do not. There is nothing special about the giants offense. They statistically did well last year. But there is zero chance that its a top 10 offense in a normal year. I just don’t see anything special about them. They don’t have a single bat that strikes any kind of fear in me. Especially in a division like the NL West, the giants lineup just is not the slightest bit imposing.
Yes, I would take the Giants offense over those. The argument that “sure their numbers are good but they just don’t pass the eye test” seems strange to me. I am self admittedly a Giants homer; but you can’t throw out 60 games of stats because they don’t fit your narrative. The Giants have been an above .500 team since May of 2019. Mike Yastremski has produced at an elite level the past two years. Are they the dodgers or Padres? No, not close. But the Giants are not the same bag of spare parts they were a few years ago (and yes I’m aware their rotation is still in shambles).
If the Giants are a Top 7 or 8 hitting team as you say then they should be going absolutely hard for Bauer and another arm. That or start dangling some of these vet hitters since they’ve pushed the Giants toward one of the best hitting teams in the league. Straddling the middle strategy will result in finishing middle of the pack (again).
And you are a bitter old man that is stuck in the past. You need to grow up.
And here is a new account from 227rings to add to ChangedName. Maybe start typing with your left hand only if you want to pretend to be more people.
Absolute loser creates multiple accounts to agree with his own posts. Probably never kissed a girl.
Mike Yastrzemski has played a total of 161 games in last two seasons due to Covid shortened season, minor injuries and a stint in the minors. His line:
31 hrs, 90 RBI, 62 bb, .281 average, .357 obp, .535 slg, .892 obs
Those are a good numbers. It’s a great find by Farhan and huge testament to the perseverance of Yaz to do all this after so long in the minors.
I think he’s an elite story. I don’t think those are elite numbers. “Elite” to me is what Soto, Trout, Acuna or Betts are doing. Seems like his “coming out of nowhere narrative” combined with how giants fans and Bay Area media value their players higher than rest of sport has made people think Yaz is elite.
I find it interesting that you say “you can’t throw out 60 games of stats because they don’t fit your narrative.” considering how many giants fans (not necessarily you) have pouted about how the dodgers championship isn’t legit because it happened in a shortened season. If the dodgers championship isn’t legit, neither is the giants offensive resurgence. Giants need to stop talking out of both sides of their mouthes. Again, not saying this necessarily applies to you.
Oh, and the only reason the giants are “over .500 since May 2019” is because they had a ridiculously hot July 2019 that clearly was an outlier and is not indicative of who they are. That’s a pretty lame attempt to cover up the fact that the giants are just a mediocre team at best.
Dodgers won the World Series fair and square. I think if it was a team like, say, the Marlins who won the WS this year, there would be a much more fair debate over sample size gremlins. But the Dodgers were going to be right there at the end of a 10 game season, 60 game season, or 162 game season – so I definitely have to hand out credit where it’s due.
As a bona fide Giants fan, I agree with you @Andy. The Dodgers win is 100% legit. They’re the best team in the game right now and the only reason they might have lost the WS this year would have been another meltdown the in the post season. They finally learned from their mistakes over the past few seasons and got it done this year. Irrefutable IMO
Glad we can agree on that.
@Boe, I agree with just about everything you’ve posted on this thread. I love the Giants and the last two seasons have been a bit more encouraging then the prior few. However, the rebuild continues, and you’re right, at this point in time “we” are mediocre. Hard to know if the offensive surge last year would have held over 162 games but, we have too many streaky hitters to believe that it would have. I have no confidence in the vets either. Belt got hot last year for 1/3 of a normal season. He would sustain another injury or regress over a full year. Even if the Giants offense stays “solid” next year, without starting and relief pitching upgrades, we’re a .500 team no doubt.
It’s refreshing to see a giants fan have a realistic and honest view of their team. Giants have a really good chance to be formidable in a few years once the terrible contracts are gone, the lineup doesn’t consist of mainly older players, and the farm produces real value.
@Boe The girly man stuff was directed at @enrico palazzo. It just bitches. I’ve experienced more heart ache with Giants than joy. If you compare the teams of the past 2 decades versus the ’70s, the Giants are a joy now. Even in bad seasons, which every team has, there is a reason for hope.
But why are you resorting to “girly man” insults? They aren’t funny. They aren’t witty. They are potentially harassment depending on the person’s orientation and identity. Whether someone hates or loves your baseball team, it doesn’t give you a right to resort to such things. I’ve flagged all your comments and frankly I’m surprised you still allowed access to the comments. Be a better human being.
I disagree about Dickerson, he was injured a lot in 2019 so 2020 was more representative of regular Dickerson, solano has to come down to earth this season though
I disagree about Solano. 3 straight seasons of putting up strong hitting doesn’t suggest a regression is imminent. It doesn’t mean he will get better. It looks like he will have similar numbers in 2021.
He has put up strong seasons but I expect a regression from 2020, he will still be good but not competing for the batting title good
Why will Donovan Solona regress in 2021.I don’t get you people. Please offer up detailed reason as to why Donovan Solona can’t replicate his 2019 numbers.
They are not all over 30
Not sure about the mets, and the Giants beat the Angels
Too expensive, and Bauer isn’t a very good clubhouse presence
So?
Id like the jays to take a shot at Jose Urena
On a cheap 1-yr deal, sure.
I don’t want to be a Jays fan anymore.
I need a time machine.
Just embezzle a few funds here and there…
And maybe the running joke would never have existed.
Just what the No pitching pretty good hitting Giants need… more hitting.
Otto first year was before the pitcher rule was in effect. After the rule change for the pitcher he became hittable since he couldn’t get 3 batters out which is sad. They need to trade him with one of their guys on their roster for make it interesting. Or sell him for a low level prospect because he can’t pitch in big games for ny
Uh.
I’m not sure about that. He gave up 8 of his 12 runs in two outings in Buffalo (including a disastrous appearance of 6 earned *no* outs – that’ll wreck an ERA!). Meaning he gave up 4 runs over his other 22 outings.
His FIP was about the same as the previous year. As noted in the article. His slider is still a cartoon pitch. He – also – was never a “roogy”, or whatever.
The guy has his own pitching lab in NYC. He had a down year, but I see him bouncing back. Besides, if nobody will take Brad Hand at 10 mil, I don’t see Ottavino generating much interest at 9.
Let Blake help him figure stuff out. I think the biggest thing for him will just be not pitching in Sahlen Field anymore, though.
I’d much prefer Brad Hand to Ottavino.
Last year, according to Fangraphs’ pitch values, only Otto’s slider had a positive value. In the previous three seasons that wasn’t the case. His cutter has always been sub-par (why he persists in throwing it, I don’t know; maybe purely as a setup pitch for the slider), but his fastball had positive value.
2017-2019, his fastball velocity averaged 94.7 MPH. In 2019 alone it averaged 94.3 MPH. In 2020, it dropped to 93.4.
2017-2019, his Zone Contact percentage was 82.9%. In 2019, it was 80.9%. In 2020, it was 85.1%. He’s 35 years old. Maybe Blake can rebalance his arsenal away from the fastball. But then, what does he rely on besides the slider?
Thanks for the nuanced and intricate response.
First; yeah, I’d prefer Hand, as well.
In ’19 he (Ottavino) seemed to wear down. He wasn’t particularly sharp in September & didn’t look very good in the postseason, either.
I hadn’t thought to look at his average FB velo. Perhaps he can gain some back? Seems a sketchy thing to bank on, though.
Maybe he just takes a Sergio Romo approach & basically slings nothing but sliders. The problem with that is due to how much his moves he doesn’t really have command of it. Oftentimes, he doesn’t seem to even have any control of it.
My thoughts with him are to turn him into a right handed specialist of sorts. I think he can sort of be “protected” – if you will – & remain a somewhat useful (though expensive) bullpen piece. I’d like him if he were…man…5th or even 6th in the pecking order.
Right now, he’s probably 4th. Like to see the Yanks snatch a couple arms out of this fantastic reliever market.
Ya know?
I know a lot of Yankee fans are sick of it. But I still think that the Super Bullpen is a good formula to follow.
It was tough watching Chapman, Britton, & Greene get overworked in the playoffs. *Again*. Dellin’s departure was never addressed. Tommy Tightpants is out with TJS. Cessa is Cessa. Johnny Lasagna hasn’t – ya know – panned out, though in his case I remain hopeful. Yanks kept Heller over Holder yesterday so maybe there’s something there.
Still…all these good relief pitchers out there looking for work, man.
@MLBTR mods.
Why has my comment been “awaiting moderation” for ~ 9 hours now? It was on topic, used absolutely no cursing or profanity, & was part of an actual baseball dialogue.
Makes no sense, man.
Meanwhile, that jonnydubz guy is posting homophobic comments, that creamandclear person is doing nothing but harassing Darkside, & even on this thread you don’t have to look far to see a number of violations of Roberts rules of order.
Yeah.
Why don’t you just go ahead and hit me up for some money again, guys.
Ducky, someone may have flagged an earlier comment of yours. The only plausible explanation. If you had a run-in with someone they may have been the one.
I think the super bullpen idea is swinging too far and we will see teams shift back. Super bullpens and openers lead to overuse and every game you need more people to be on that day in close games or you are in trouble. Really good bullpens that can be properly used to support strong rotations is the optimal in my opinion.
I get it.
And:
Strong Starters >> Strong Relievers
But it’s really hard to put together 4 (or more) quality starting pitchers on a single roster. I mean look at the rotation the Yanks had *on paper* last season. Tanaka was their #4!
However.
2 of those guys didn’t even make it through the season, man.
Ya know?
I think the super bullpens are kind of a pitching staff cheat code. Five or six good relievers is much easier to assemble (& less expensive) than 3 or 4 good starters.
It’s worked in the postseason, too.
I can see the allure.
Not really, look how many relievers have a great year or two and flame out. Overuse and abuse makes relievers a bigger wildcard than established starters.
I hear what you’re saying.
Who doesn’t want to have great starting pitching? Good starters make winning a lot easier.
Here’s maybe a way to explain what I’m getting at. A team will more than likely have been able to sign May, Hendricks, Hand, & probably another second tier reliever for less than what Bauer will cost.
I’m not asserting that it’s *better* to have a good pen then to have good starters.
Merely that it is easier.
&,KC won a World Series with Edinson Volquez as there ace. Along with a deep & ferocious bullpen. So teams *can* & *have* won that way.
Everyone wants four Max Scherzer’s – or whomever – in their rotation. There are just simply not that many pitchers like that in baseball. & they’re *really* expensive to acquire.
I get you but wouldn’t say easier, you went back to KC as an example and had to skip Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Houston, and Chicago Cubs to get there and all of those teams had stronger rotations. Sure you can get 4 relievers for less total contract than Bauer and that’s because the new model fails to develop real starting pitching so it is more valuable. How many relievers are available because they were let go at their cost? Guys like Hand get released because teams realize relievers aren’t where you should spend big for a group of guys who give you 50-70 innings usually.
Using Hand as an example seems a bit disingenuous. He was released because Cleveland. He wasn’t picked up because Covid.
But, yes.
I never claimed relievers aren’t fickle. They are. As you point out, performance can vary widely year to year.
What you keep seeming to not acknowledge is the dual point I keep making in regards to cost & availability. Those are very real factors. I don’t think they should be blithely skipped over.
Ya know?
I’m not sure what “new model” you are talking about. Do you mean the max effort delivery stuff? Analytics? The use of technology to help pitchers develop? Pitch counts & inning limits? I cannot say.
Also, it’s not like there are suddenly less good starting pitchers, man. That’s *always* been the hardest spot to fill on a ball club for as long as I’ve been a baseball fan.
I’m honestly not sure what exactly you are arguing about here. I never asserted that bullpens > starters. Nor would I.
If you are trying to convince me of the importance of a strong rotation…well, I’ve acknowledged that a couple times.
I am just saying relievers are cheaper and more available because they aren’t as valuable.
We are seeing weaker and weaker starting pitching because of how players are developed, how they are “protected” and the minimal expectations that are set for them. There is a greater “need” for bullpen as a result.
Not arguing with you at all, in general we agree, I’m just saying a super bullpen isn’t a winning strategy (minus outliers) and there are more relievers not because it is a strength but because baseball lacks quality starting pitching so it is even more of a premium.
Yeah, we both agree there.
I’ve heard things like that before. I’m not sure about that. And, that’s not an internet snarky “I’m not sure about that”.
Ya know.
I legitimately have wondered about this stuff & can’t seem to come to an actual, firm decision/take.
The one thing that always impedes me from fully embracing what you’re saying is that good starting pitchers have always been rare. I don’t really think there are less of them. Although, I do agree that they are asked to do less – in general – than they were in the past.
It seems like we’re pretty much saying the same things here. Baseball today certainly looks different than it did when I was a kid. I don’t think that’s necessarily all that bad of a thing. And – of course – I don’t think that’s necessarily all that *good* of a thing, either.
It’s merely just how the game is being played currently.
Starting pitching was undoubtedly better 20 years ago and beyond. There were plenty of SPs who regularly went 6,7,8 innings and gave their teams a chance to win. That’s quality starting pitching and every team had 4-5 guys they counted on to do that regularly and no worthless openers. No team hoped the starter would give them 2-5 innings and ask the bullpen to pick up the slack even from their #5. Pitching gets weaker and weaker despite modern ideas of how to develop pitching.
Ottovino has struggled for a while now. Body language is awful.
Has no long track record of success.
Does anyone have a logical explanation of how Ozuna won a gold glove the year before joining the Cardinals? Now everyone talks about how poor of an outfielder he is. Very peculiar to say the least imo.
Seems like he stayed on the field and the only capable competition didn’t.
Ozuna and Duvall played much more innings in LF than the rest of the field that year.
2017 NL chances in LF:
Ozuna, Duvall, Braun, Schwarber, Kemp.
Then Pham. Graded 2nd, in 5-600 innings less than Ozuna/Duvall.
Some years LF is just a game of survivor.
Hernan Perez graded 3rd apparently, played 337 innings.
Chris Taylor 4th, 405 innings.
Duvall 5th.
Maybe it’s a bunch of crap.
Since 2017, Ozuna is credited with 13 Defensive Runs Saved in left field. That puts him in the seventh tier with David Peralta among all left fielders with at least 1,000 innings. He’s ninth in that group in UZR/150.
In 2020 he was taxed with -1 Outs Above Average. That was better than a slew of players with good defensive reputations, including Alex Gordon, who won this year’s Gold Glove in left field.
Some smart GM might take advantage of the negative hype and get a bargain on a substantially underrated player.
SDI: SABR Defensive Index
sabr.org/sdi
They make it so complex that you can’t easily criticize?
If I’m going to put blind faith into a source, it’s going to be this one though.
They had Alex Gordon tops in AL for LF.
Tucker, Gurriel, Rosario, Grossman being the only other AL LF posting positive ‘SDI’ stat.
For other positions if anyone curious:
sabr.org/sdi/2020-final
At a glance, the names seem to line up with what I’d expect for the most part.
The top name doesn’t always get the Gold Glove.
Pretty consistent in general though.
Thanks for the links.
According to SABR, Ozuna ranked first by that measure in left field in the NL in 2017, seventh in 2018, and sixth in 2019.
Doesn’t sound like the defensive ineptitude that’s being bruited about.
Somebody’s going to score big with an under the radar pick – Garrett Richards.
Garrett Richards is coming to Boston this year…book it!
Wow!! It really looks as though Ozuna is all but done in Atlanta, and Rosario to the Red Sox seems a very logical fit. Alex Anthopolus is seeing his options dry up. For the money does anyone believe that David Dahl would be an option to replace Duvall in LF?
You read that from SF and TOR interest in Ozuna. TOR has been connected to everyone that has ever played organized call this offseason. Breathe.
@braves4life. No. Duvall absolutely should’ve been tendered a contract. They might just as well trade Freeman now. No playoffs without picking up at least 2 power bats.
If Boston signs Rosario, does he play RF?
Angt222 – Rosario is not a good fielder and right fielder in Fenway is one of the hardest in the mlb, so it is presumed that Rosario would play LF.
Rosario is almost like Mookie Betts that’s all that needs to be said about him RF & Pillar CF combo would be awesome The Sox must resign Pillar no matter what.. he’s been one of the best if not the best defensively outfielder.. Plus Pillar’s offensively above average.. Rosario & Pillar will both if in with the Redsox perfectly…
Rosario is nothing like Mookie Betts
The Jays are also in the running for Mike Hoffman and Matt Barzel
Swing and a miss, funny man
Jays have lots of options now. Now that this non tender deadline is over there will finally be some action.
Jays can make MLBTR headlines again if they drop Fisher.
MLBTR’s, stop with the “Ozuna should only be a DH”, garbage. Hes decent as a left fielder. National league teams will play him in left.
Didnt you learn anything with nick castellanos?
We’ve learned plenty from the last couple of years. Ozuna should only DH and should be banned from baseball if he’s caught purchasing a glove.
Doesn’t look like you learned anything… Ozuna hardly played the field in 2020… but in 2019 he was a pretty decent fielder. Ranked higher than Trout. Should Trout be DH only?
Doesn’t look like you pay any attention because anyone who enjoys watching baseball would not say Ozuna is a pretty decent infielder. Nobody cares that you went to some flawed stat geek website to make a poor judgement on Ozuna’s bad fielding. Balls he’d drop called base hits do not count in your UZR or whatever crap stat sheet you are looking at. Use your eyes and watch Ozuna closely; he’s crap in the OF.
Your example of Trout should give away that your source sucks.
*Outfielder
“Doesn’t look like you pay any attention because anyone who enjoys watching baseball would not say Ozuna is a pretty decent infielder.”
Whoops, my bad… I stand corrected. Marzel Ozuna would make a terrible infielder. You are correct. But he’s pretty decent in the outfield.
It’s okay… just like MLBTR’s insisted Castellanos was “unplayable in the field” and national league teams will avoid him… then he’s signed by a national league team. Then, even though they had a DH… Castellanos still played the field.. they will be just as quiet when Ozuna plays regularly in the field in 2021.
Nobody except you brought up Castellanos. You had to scrape the bottom of the barrel which is where your baseball viewing is.
Yes I typed infield instead of outfield and made said correction. Maybe you should do the same by lying to everyone saying Ozuna is a decent outfielder. Maybe in MLB The Show but not in real life where some of us live.
MLBTR’s pulled this same thing with Castellanos… “he can’t field so he has to be a DH”. Castellanos proved he can play in the field. So can Ozuna. It’s just very difficult when you have guys like Acuna, Markakis, and Inciarte in the outfield. Those three are very good fielders.
I didn’t see your correction until I posted my comment… so don’t be so sensitive..
But, cool story Brah.
I’m good kid. You took your swings. I went barrel. Ozuna misjudged that ball too. You should’ve seen it.
Swing and a miss… Ozuna doesn’t need to worry. You couldn’t hit it that far anyway.
Actually UZR does count base hits that he dropped against him. UZR compares that contact with comparable historical instances of similar contact and determines if that players performance on the play was better or worse than the “average player”. These stats are essentially a standardization of the “eye test”.
Ozuna is not as bad in the field as many people think. He has had arm/shoulder problems and does take questionable routes at times, but he’s not unplayable.
I’ll admit watching Ozuna in the field or on the base paths aren’t pretty, but he is decent in both aspects.
UZR also measures error runs, and if the call on the field is not an error there is a problem. Missing cutoffs also not part of this equation. Teoscar Hernandez did it constantly and yet his UZR was somewhat favorable in 2020. I watched every Blue Jays game. He’s a terrible outfielder.
Sorry, decent should at least be average. Ozuna is not that. Otherwise he would have played more than 21 games in the Outfield. It’s somewhat irresponsible to call him decent when his own team showed little confidence in his ability out there.
21 out of 60 when you have 3 starting outfielders like Markakis, Enciarte and Acuna out there… Adam Duval started quite a bit too… Duval has a better arm.
Even if the play is not an error UZR would account for him not getting to the ball and adjust accordingly. Also I don’t think anyone is worrying about Ozuna muscling up to gun a runner and skipping the cutoff, with his arm.
If UZR quantified the hitting the cutoff you would have to assess the negatives and positives of hitting the cutoff. Hitting the cutoff slows down the time the ball takes to get to the base. Was the cutoff man positioned well? Did the cutoff man field it cleanly and get it out of their glove fast? Should the player have even hit the cutoff?
Decent means in the range of average it means satisfactory by definition, which he is. The others Braves outfielders were good defensively so why would they even try to out him in the outfield often (even though he did play a decent number of games in the OF).
It’s not irresponsible at all. If I have 4 open spots in my lineup and 3 must play defense, you put the one that isn’t as good defensively at DH. Putting your better outfielders in the field is not the team saying “this persons defense is unplayable”. They also signed him before the NL DH so I think they were fine with his defense. I’m not saying he’s good defensively but there is quite an area between terrible and great.
The SABR SDI stats use UZR/DRS/RED as well as DRA/TZR to really cover some ground on the defensive stats.
Tough to find much bias or flaw with so many sources being factored.
But I get this feeling you will find the flaws.
Teoscar 14th in RF, Grichuk 16th in CF (right ahead of Trout).
Rawlings seems to really value this matrix of stats when choosing their awards. Sometimes their choices are headscratchers. Ozuna 2017 being the case study of the moment.
LF is the land of Manny Ramirez, and converted infielders. Not a very high bar. Even RF isn’t a very high bar. And sadly CF bar seems to be dropping in a lot of cases. Anything to squeeze out some extra offense. Stick a glove on a Schwarber if power is shown.
Crap is what a lot of teams use in LF.
No reason to use such sirtainty when discussing who is worthy of owning a baseball glove.
Relying on numbers rather than judgement from actually watching is irresponsible.
Your entire post actually helps prove my point; that the measurements do not properly reflect the strength of a players defense accurately. All your questions are valid – and creates the doubt I am referring to.
Which brings us to the matter of opinion; Ozuna is not a decent defender. You say he’s decent, I think he’s not. I do it by watching him play the position, you and others judge the numbers on a website. Those numbers do not tell the full story. Again, doubt.
We will agree to disagree.
Filthy, it was a joke that I felt was funny. I guess you did not. But taking that comment serious is kinda weird on your part.
Do you judge him by seeing him featured on misplay clips? Or actually watch him?
Most games I watch have about 2-3 balls hit where a LF could make a play, and I figure about 90% are can-o-corn variety.
Agreed he’s not a decent defender.
But he is a decent LF because he has a strong bat and isn’t embarrassing himself out there at a ridiculous rate.
The bar at LF is to stay healthy and not mess things up. A couple teams have the luxury of putting a CF type in LF, but most teams don’t sacrifice offense like that.
Based on other players that get time in LF, he is satisfactory. Decent. Average.
If they did a skills test among all MLB outfielders, he probably wouldn’t finish in the top half. But he’s lucky enough to be placed in LF and even has a GG to show for it.
Condescending as though others don’t watch baseball as well is a bad look.
I’ll get back to watching Big Bang Theory. Try watching it sometime, might help your humour.
Kinda weird is a little short of what I aim for.
Full weird or bust.
Normal is boring.
And you speak of doubt, yet speak with such certainty.
It’s not the poor humour, it’s the tone that gets me fired up sometimes.
Smug is the super uncoolest of looks.
When I say decent… I am saying he’s not “unplayable” in left. Left is where you usually play your worst fielder. The outfielder/infielder (Happ/Bryant)… the aging veteran (Braun)… the guy who you want to get his bat into the lineup (Dom Smith).
Compare Ozuna to other teams left fielders… he’s not much worse.
Now THAT was funny filthy. You almost had me there with the whole tone part. Since tone is incredibly well-judged over internet posts. Thanks for the laugh.
BobG thank you but you don’t need to walk back your comment. You said Ozuna is decent, your words. But this doesn’t help when you are using very poor examples to make an even weaker case.
I said Ozuna should DH. We are here because you clearly disagreed and feel he should be a starting LF. And that Ozuna ranked higher than Trout based on a very flawed system. Congratulations. I’ll stick with Ozuna can DH and you can keep tap dancing.
Very flawed? UZR rating is very flawed? LOL
I will stand by my original comment, Ozuna is not unplayable in the field. I will also say he is decent in left.
Just like when castellanos was referred to in this way, I will be proven correct when Ozuna plays regularly in the field next year.
Guest, have you ever watched a baseball game?
The rating is flawed, yes. Because I watch games (that answers your question), I don’t have to use a flawed statistic to make an awful argument only to blow the same argument later on.
I don’t have to ask if you watch baseball. I know you don’t. Nobody with two working eyes would call Ozuna a decent defender. When you’re proven incorrect I know you’ll either run away or change your name.
Decent LF and decent defender aren’t the same thing.
Many teams put a questionable glove out there if the bat can play.
The land of Manny Ramirez.
Or let’s teach a catcher that can mash, Kyle Schwarber. Cubs won a WS with him in LF.
I don’t think anyone is saying wow, Ozuna is good at outfielding.
He has been used in CF before.
He has won a Gold Glove in LF before.
That can play in LF for many teams. He’s not aging or injury prone.
He’ll get 250-300 balls a year as a starting LF, and majority of those are can-o-corn.
It’s a close balance, but he will likely add enough to an offense to make up for any gappers he gives up or cutoffs he misses over the course of a long season.
The guys that would get to the balls and make the plays he wouldn’t, can’t quite hit well enough to start. Close balance, but in a week, there are more chances for LF to make a difference at the plate than in the field.
Next time you’re watching some games, make note of how many can-o-corn variety plays are made by these players. Or how often the worst misplays happen in games that the team still wins. Or how the pitching, baserunning and offense don’t usually help the case when the misplays happen in a loss.
The brutal misplays that stick more heavily in the memory are often diluted enough to be deemed acceptable (decent) by the end of a long season. Staying healthy and hitting is mainly what you want from a LF.
You know I won’t be running anywhere until the ‘man’ says I can play baseball again!
Enjoy your takes, even though I often debate certain points. Stay classy fella!
I will always be here. Watch Ozuna play LF, he will be there.
Jays love their DHs. Four years ago they went out and signed Morales, Pearce and then Bautista knowing they needed to give Donaldson and Tulowitzki some time at DH in 2017.
Now it’s Vlad, Tellez, Hernandez and sorry, Gurriel is still not a strong OF (great arm, no doubt). This has to be the Jays/Rogers trying to play a game with the other GMs to entice them into a trade offer while stirring up the fan base. Focusing on the important positions of-need Ozuna is not needed. Unfortunately the one rumor the Jays are not part of is the one important position to address: Blue Jays heavily pursuing Trevor Bauer.
The blue jays are interested in all free agents but sign no one
I believe that the only DH issue requiring a solution, is the Jays trying to figure which of the several DH players are going to hit, field or be benched.
I’d argue the jays don’t seem like a good fit because of how out of shape Vlady Jr. is and how good his bat his. I heard he lost a bunch of weight this off-season, like 40lbs. But truly, he needs to loose like 80-100lbs to have a long career
Off season is not over and anyway 40 pounds in a few months shows effort give him that he could take care of the rest next year
On a related note,Jesse Barfield was non-tendered in 1989,still has power to all fields.
They’ll sign Ozuna, and Springer too! Let’s just dream for a little bit. They get those two, plus Santana and Kluber.
1.Springer CF
2.Bichette SS
3.Vladimir Jr. 3B
4.Ozuna DH
5.Santana 1B
6.Teoscar RF
7.Biggio 2B
8.Jansen C
9.Lourdes Jr. LF
1.Ryu
2.Kluber
3.Pearson
3.Ray
5.? A whole bunch of candidates
No reason to sign Santana when Tellez is younger and probably better at this point in Santana’s career. Jays SP would still be bad if Ray is your #4. There is also no need for Ozuna if Springer is signed as Grichuk would slide to RF and Teoscar would DH.
1. Springer CF
2. Biggio 2B
3. Bichette SS
4. Hernandez DH
5. Vlad 3B (scary bad D)
6. Gurriel LF
7. Tellez 1B
8. Grichuk RF
9. Jansen C
Now go get pitching.
Both of those Ozuna reports are essentially “They have interest, but also have interest in other players and are only interested if they’re comfortable with the years and total dollars.”
I’m going to make a wild guess that you can put all 30 teams in that same category.
As a staunch Brave fan for many years ( 60 ) they almost certainly let Ozuna walk.
Freeman is due a big payday and long term deal.
They tied up 26 million on Smyly ( don’t ask me why ) and Morton ( solid )
They need a couple bench guys and if not a true closer something close.
They can let Ozuna walk and maybe get another one year miracle either at 3b or LF. , cheaper and without the 75 million 3year deal Ozuna will take to come close to signing .
AA can fill two or three needs with the Ozuna type money. They wouldn’t keep Gattis in LF and they won’t with Ozuna either. Ozuna could DH or play IB, neither will happen in Atlanta.
The Cardinals have released, lost players in Free agency, and traded away a worthy All-Star team such as with players like Ozuna.
Yet…… Even though it is so obvious on the outside looking in—— when are the Cardinals Owners going to wise up and understand their team needs new faces in the Front Offices????
You sign Rosario you also have to go get Pillar and trade Benni for a 2B. You give up way too many runs with Benni in CF and his bat has been lacking for corner outfielder. For whatever reason he hasn’t developed the way that the team needs and it’s always best to move a player a year or 2 early than late before the rest of the league figures out he’s a below average to average corner outfielder who is just an average hitter.
I’d love to see Marcel Ozuna as the DH in Kansas City. Man could e make the fountains in the outfield look like Old Faithful or what!
Won’t happen.
Great bounce-back candidate.
I’m referring to Ottavino of course. I’ll always take FIP over ERA anyway.
Everyone would love to have the top FA’s, but Toronto could also take a simple approach:
1. Vlad Jr. supposedly has himself in great shape and wants 3B, so give it to him.
2. Sign Carlos Santana and let him share 1B and DH with Rowdy Tellez.
3. Focus the available funds on a top SP like Tanaka or Bauer.
Any team would be made better with LeMahieu, Ozuna, Springer, et al, but Toronto would make the greatest jump by adding a top SP.
1. He has to lose more weight and has to earn the 3B position. Give him nothing.
2. Absolutely not. If Vlad is moved to 3B you sign an OF and move Teoscar to DH.
3. Yes and Yes. Bauer should be the Jays #1 and #2 target.
The Giants don’t need a OF who can’t play defense in the expanse of PacBell (At&t).