The Mets won the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes when they acquired the star shortstop from Cleveland in a blockbuster trade earlier this week. It turns out that the Blue Jays finished second in the derby, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. While Castrovince isn’t sure which other players were involved in the teams’ trade talks, the Blue Jays offered “what is probably a higher ceiling,” he writes. The problem for Toronto is that the prospects it put on the table weren’t that close to being ready for the majors, so Cleveland accepted an offer that it expects to be beneficial in both the short and long term.
- The Red Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers have not discussed a multiyear contract to this point, agent Nelson Montes de Oca told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. For now, the focus is on agreeing to a salary for 2021 by next Friday’s deadline to file figures. The Red Sox renewed Devers for a near-minimum $692,500 heading into last year, even though he was coming off a tremendous campaign. The 24-year-old is now eligible for arbitration, where he’s projected to collect anywhere from $3.4MM to $6.3MM. Unfortunately for Devers, he’s going into the process off a down season in which he slashed .263/.310/.483 with 11 home runs in 248 plate appearances. Barring an extension, Devers won’t be eligible for free agency until after 2023.
- Back to the Mets, who seem primed to move right-hander Seth Lugo back to the bullpen in 2021, Jon Heyman of MLB Network relays. Lugo has been highly successful as a reliever in the past, but he had a tough time last year after the Mets moved him into their rotation. They’re now largely set there with Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman and David Peterson in line to comprise their top four when next season opens. They’ll also get righty Noah Syndergaard back from his Tommy John surgery sometime during the summer.
- The Blue Jays have signed hitting coach Guillermo Martinez to a two-year contract extension, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet relays. Martinez has been on the job since 2018. The Blue Jays’ offense finished seventh in the majors in runs and 11th in wRC+ under his tutelage last season.
Let’s go Mets
Let’s go Cleveland until the owners choose a stupid name to replace it Indians!
Cleveland Baseball Team
Cleveland NextManUps
I wonder what Cleveland will go with… the Cleveland Irons? Cleveland Hope (would be a pc win given Cleveland’s history with the underground railroad), Legends? Rockers? Cleveland 80’s?
Wild Things
Barons! A nod to the old NHL team
Rockers makes the most sense, but I did hear it was possible they could bring back the name Cleveland Spiders.
Cleveland Cleavers
Cleveland Cheapskates.
Cleveland Steam Engines
Cleveland Grovers
Cleveland Steamers. LOL
They should just call them Cleveland Rocks for the rock and roll hall of fame. Just think of all the marketing mullet hair caps!
Lol Jays going to get a silver medal this off-season.
NO ONE has been “interested” in more players Lol.
Why is that a bad thing? I don’t understand why everyone thinks thats so funny. The same posters also love to point out that given a choice between Toronto and another big market like Boston or New York most players would pick the US team. So doesn’t it therefore make sense given that argument that the Jays then have to cast a wider net when they are looking to improve?
I couldn’t agree more thank God someone else gets it.
The bad part is reading about the reporting. I still think mentions should only be made when the Jays aren’t interested in a player. Nobody is faulting them for wanting to improve, just how the public is being informed of it — with a steady stream of “Blue Jays are interested in _________”.
I root for them, but I don’t need reminders they are trying for anything good. That was made clear months ago, or 3,937 reports ago. I’m more interested in who they have no interest in at this point, or a couple thousand reports ago.
That is the problem with a “rumors” site. There are legitimate rumours and then you have made up garbage that some writer thinks a team should trade player A for B. Not all rumours are real ! I would prefer they wait until they can confirm that talks have become “serious” rather than stuff like the Pirates are interested in Mike Trout.
Ok but do you really think that the source in all these is the Jays front office???? Rumors are rumors, the source can be anyone. Most of these are agents ‘leaking’ info about teams being interested when half the time they are not…the agents are just trying to make the market for the player seem bigger then it is! Just seems that people blame the teams front office for this when its not them saying ‘yes we are looking at playerX’….lets be serious, no front office says that! This site and sites like it exist so we can hear all the rumors and if you dont understand that 90% of rumors are not true not sure what to tell you.
ThE jaYs WoN’T SiGn ANyOnE
Thank god Lugo is going back to the pen. There is a stark contrast between his production in the bullpen versus what he does in the rotation. I think part of it is the different process of being a starter versus coming into the game for an inning as a reliever. Great decision by the Mets.
Agree. But the article mentions 4 starters plus Noah coming back mid season. So who’s number 5? Is it Matz? He was looking bad as a starter and as a reliever last year. That’s why I think the Mets have to get another starter. Certainly doesn’t have to be Bauer. Maybe Kluber, maybe Walker
I agree with you here. Matz was horrible last season and Peterson is far from a safe bet to replicate his 2020 success. They need one more solid innings-eater to challenge those two.
#5 is currently Lugo.
I don’t trust Matz at all. His downfall is not “sudden” if watch him pitch regularly. Until he figures out how to locate his off speed pitches, teams will continue to tee off on his fastball.
I definitely don’t want Lugo in the rotation, but I agree with you on Matz. They need to add one more starter.
I have said this before – Mets should sign Odorizzi to round out the rotation. They could also sign JBJ as a defense-first CF.
deGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, Odorizzi, Peterson, Matz with Syndergaard back at some point.
Signing the cheaper alternatives to Bauer and Springer would also give them more financial flexibility to sign Lindor long term.
I expect them to sign someone cheaper than Odorizzi. I think the Red Sox, Rangers, or Blue Jays should be the front runner for him, and I think that he ends up in Toronto when it’s all said and done. Expect someone cheaper than that to eat innings at the bottom of the rotation. The most they’ll spend on a five starter is Kluber, and if they don’t get him then you can expect Rich Hill.
I agree with the JBJ comment because I think the only other team that should really be in on JBJ is the Astros. The Mets are obviously more aggressive than the Astros right now, and I see that move coming to fruition 110%.
The Mets are closer to the luxury tax then some might think right now, but even signing Kluber and JBJ isn’t a bad thing. The Mets are still a very scary team this season. Watch out.
(BTW, despite them being close to the luxury tax, I still expect them to go over it for a little bit, but not until they are taxed 50% of their payroll. Maybe two years above the luxury tax at most, and I think they can avoid that this season by going a little cheaper to fill out the rest of the team.)
bring back Colin Mc
The Red Sox are still in on JBJ, as well as Odorizzi and Kluber. I think they are their primary targets, plus a couple of arms for the bullpen.
They have to think about not only Lindor but also possibly extending/re-signing/replacing Conforto, Syndergaard, and Stroman.
Remember that Cano comes back on the books next year for the Mets. That will be an extra $2o million, so I really don’t see them signing anyone to a big contract.
Replacing Nimmo with JBJ is a wash. What you make up on defense, you lose on offense. It’s Springer or bust!
Not at all true. Assuming there’s a DH in the NL, which would be very surprising if there isn’t. They currently have Guillorme as their 3B with Davis at DH and Dom Smith in Left. Adding JBJ would move Nimmo to Left, Dom to DH, Davis to Third and Guillorme to the bench, where he belongs. This isn’t a wash, it makes their lineup better and faster
Guillorme over davis? Right now it should be
C, mccann
1b alonso
2b mcneil
3b davis
Ss lindor
Of, conforto ,nimmo, smith,
Can even resign todd frazier if he cant find a starters job and wants to be here.
Were in January no dh this yr.
DH not expected this year.
JBJ wouldn’t be replacing Nimmo, he’d be replacing Smith, thus improving the defense at two positions. If there is a DH, Smith fits back into the lineup.
I think we can let Stroman and Syndergaard walk. Maybe get Stroman back on a short contract, but Syndergaard is going to be looking for a Wheeler type deal.
Familia, Matz and Betances I think also come off the books.
I’m sure we try to lock up Lindor, but ultimately the choice is his. By then, Story might even be an option.
The Redsox just don’t get it, do they? Renewing Devers that low? He’s gone first chance he gets.
That is exactly what they did with Mookie which led to his refusal to resign in Boston. John Henry just does not want to pay any decent salaries which is why he hired Mr Bloom to SLASH THE PAYROLL and hunt through the BBB for bargains !!
That funny, now Red Sox fans think John Henry is cheap.
If I remember right, Boston offered Betts 300 million and he turned it down, requesting over 400 million. Not exactly “low balling”, he was emphatic about leaving Boston.
If players get upset about what they make per-arbitration, that is on them. It’s a business. Teams do not have a pay a player a penny over the minimum if they choose not to and players cannot do anything about it. Hate the process and negotiate something different next CBA.
Also, if you have a problem with Betts being gone, blame Dombroski and not Henry, it was Dombroski who gave an injured Chris Sale a massive contract extension and then Eovaldi 17 million per.
Exactly. It’s not about Henry being cheap, the Red Sox have paid the luxury tax penalties for years, on top of paying Pablo Sandoval to play for the Giants and eating the remainder of Hanley Ramirez contract. The Sox have literally thrown away extra money while winning their division three years in a row and winning a championship. They need to reset, they will be competitive sooner than later
Just because Bloom was tasked with trying to get below the CBT last year to reset the luxury tax doesn’t mean that the Red Sox will suddenly stop spending. My bet is that they get close to, if not above, the CBT for ‘21 once the finish adding to the rotation and bullpen.
Or maybe be a little bit more patient? This is how arbitration works. Perhaps they are interested in working out an extension, but that’s clearly not the priority right now. It’s fine if you wish to criticize Bloom, but don’t pick things that every GM in baseball does
I know nobody is crying for the owners but people are forgetting that baseball lost a ton of money last year and who knows if fans come back, and at what capacity, in 2021.
Owners are not “being cheap”. Owners really are not being smart. Owners face another season with uncertainty about fans being allowed into stadiums, if they are at what capacity and even if they are, will they show up? After 2021 they have to go to war with the players over a new CBA and with the struggles of 2020 and the ice cold free agent market of 2021, there is a good chance players will strike.
Meanwhile, stadium upkeep needs to continue, scouts and front offices need paid, the minor league system needs paid and so on and so forth.
Posters that call owners “cheap” have never run a substantial business in their life and have no clue how difficult it is to be profitable. My goodness, it’s difficult people. Your utopian fantasies are just that, fantasies.
Whiff I agree. Exception, however, is the Toronto Blue Jays.
Whifff exactly and then there’s the problem of Devers not proving his worth. Everybody so high on him but what has he done really? He’s all about potential and he’s maybe had what, one good season? He could easily hit 240 or 320 on the year? We don’t know what we have there yet besides a work in progress in the field. We know that for sure !!
If the teams were being cheap they would employ 26 AAA players in the mlb and play them all minimum.
Jays offseason: Ray and Cole for less money, Anthony Castro on a waiver claim, five prospects added to the 40-man to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, and no successful trades or big free agent signings. An unmitigated disaster so far.
Their lineup can hang in any game. It is their pitching that will let them down.
still most of the better FA are unsigned and most of the big players (NYM, SD) seem to be rounding things out already. they could strike soon and strike big.
The Jays are wisely letting the market develop and the fact that it is slow is good news for them. Would you rather have them jumped the gun like the Giants and Braves and over pay guys like Drew Smyly or Gausman?
I mean it’s great to “get your guy” and all but free agent asking prices are still remarkably high, sit and wait like the rest of the league and wait for players to get a little nervous. Why sign Springer for 25 million if you can wait and get him for 20? Or why give Bauer 30 million at all? He’s just as likely to throw a 4.5 ERA than a 3.5.
You forgot to say Fisher is still on the team.
“Fisher is still on the team”. I am still laughing.
As a jays fan I’ve never felt such hope going into this offseason that this was our time to shine. How naive and wrong was I
Too soon to call it. Let this play out and then re-assess. Less teams vying for big names. Pathway for Jays is more clear after Lindor, but only if they choose to take it.
You poor dear! Such a victim. Let the toys fly!
I totally agree im super pessimistic now. Sense the lindor trade tho ive been wondering would the tribe also trade Ramirez. He would be a great 3b for the jays but hes on a good deal (35 over 3yrs) so the tribe may hold on to him. I think springer and bauer want too much, JTR makes sense depending on contract because im sure a catcher trade will follow. I wonder if a trade with cinncy for Castillo and moose may work, with Grichuk going the other way, maybe Thornton and Kay aswell plus a couple prospects like a catcher +
Exactly how Mets fans was feeling until the Lindor/Carrasco trade, I’m sure the jays would make a big pick up, they already hyped up their fan base to the point of no return lol, they will get chewed up if they don’t
The Jays need 4 big pick ups. So far they have none.
Can’t argue that Jimmer. Good news is the 4 are still out there for the taking.
The Jays will end up with Springer the same way Boston ended up with JDM. They were first to offer him a contract and no one exceed it so JDM and his agent had no choice but to come back to Boston and sign their offer. With the Mets out on Springer, Toronto appears to be the only team will real interest in him. He’s going to have to ditch the idea of getting paid more than $150M. Looks more like 5/$120 will be his ceiling.
I don’t think the Mets are lit on Springer.
At this point he’d have to come down on his price, there’s cheaper CF options and they need to focus on extending/resigning Lindor, Conforto and Syndergaard, perhaps even Stroman
I bet dollars to donuts Springer signs somewhere else!
Ricky Bobby stares at Atkins and screams: if your not first, your last! And Toronto hasn’t been first on much this off-season. Maybe Dombrowski would have been a good hire this season instead of resigning Shapiro, he definitely knows how to put together a world championship team.
Springer, Bauer, Realmuto, LeMahieu, Odorizzi, Tanaka and countless trade opportunities are still out there.
Last year the Jays were patient trying to get a deal but the pitching market went insane… so they upped their offer and landed Ryu. This year it doesn’t look like things are going to get that crazy.
I think they are still getting someone and probably for a relatively good price.
Someone? They need 4 quality additions to even compete. Two starters, one elite one very good; a very good CFer with a bat; and a very good 3B.
They could definitely use all of these… but basically saying they need to land Bauer, Springer, LeMahieu and Oddorizzi/Tanaka to have a successful offseason is setting the bar a bit high. I can’t remember any team having an off season landing this many impact guys.
Jays snuck into the playoffs last year. They’ve lost very little from the roster and the young core should be better. They should add a couple good contributors and be competitive… if not perfect.
7th best record in the AL Dexx. Jays have placed in the Top 7 a bunch of times since the inception of the Wild Card. They need to add.
That need is Bauer. SP was weak and must be addressed. I believe 3B/INF is a bigger need than CF. If they add, at the least, a SP and INF that would be fine. Martin takes CF in a year, Jays chase arms next year via trade, good shape for 2022. But in 2022 I expect Boston to be strong again and Baltimore will be stronger.
ex-Red Sox Rusney Castillo signs with NPB Rakuten Eagles. What a huge sad waste the Red Sox made of him — of course, by giving him lots of money and trapping him in AAA for years. rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/00003478.html
May we all have the (mis)fortune of signing a $70 mil AAA deal.
Rusney could NOT hit for average, NOT hit for power, did NOT walk so he had a low OBP and thus a low OPS. He was never a MLB player.
The only misfortune was that the Red Sox ever sign him at all. Look at his stats. They were consistant, consistently bad.
Cleveland Mets or Cleveland Padres. Either new name, fits
Cleveland Indians sounds good
The problem with the Indians name is their inability to make a logo to represent “Indians” that isn’t wildly offensive like Chief Wahoo. They need a new name just so they can get a proper logo again instead of being yet another team with a C. And it’s obvious it should be Spiders for the history, the logo opportunities, and the chance to have promo nights where they release millions of spiders into the stadium during the 7th inning stretch.
Porcello was much better than his record showed..mets should resign him
There are much better options available that would still keep them under the luxury tax. And Alderson has already stated that they might go over the luxury tax number
Cleveland Wahoos! I think it’s a kind of fish. Like a marlin, that should work, right?
That sounds cool too.
The Cleveland Buckeyes? Or maybe the Cleveland River Fire?
I hope Steven Matz is taking notice of all this talk about the Mets starting pitching. He better be working twice as hard on his craft this winter or he will be passed up for 5th starter and maybe even for the pen. Suddenly Sam McWilliams and Jerad Eichkoff ( sorry if i misspelled) have as equal a standing in my eyes for that spot.
The Mets trade is incredible. The only reason to break it down and add the “what if’s” is because, week, it’s the Mets. By trading for a true superstar top 5 talent and giving up what they did, it’s highly unlikely that the talent they gave up could ever equal the return collectively, let alone one for one.
This was good. I’m hoping this sort of NYM behavior is something we all have to get used to.
Well*
That’s deep
Let’s go Bluejays!
The Cleveland Steamers…..
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