With a little over two months until Opening Day, here’s three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the day today around the baseball world:
1. Pham/Mets deal to be made official
Shortly after reports of Tommy Pham’s one-year, $6MM agreement with the Mets came in yesterday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the signing will be made official today. The Mets currently have a full 40-man roster, so in order to make Pham’s deal official, a corresponding move will be required. The acquisition of Pham likely rounds out a bench that already sports Luis Guillorme, Darin Ruf, and Tomas Nido, likely pushing center fielder Khalil Lee down to Triple-A unless an additional move such as a trade of Ruf clears space. Such a move isn’t strictly necessary, however, because while there are no center fielders on New York’s bench, both Starling Marte and Mark Canha have center field experience despite starting in the corner spots in deference to Brandon Nimmo.
2. Is the lefty relief market about to heat up?
A fresh batch of rumors made the rounds yesterday concerning the market for left-handed relievers. Just a day after the Marlins were reported to have interest in departing Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, the Royals and Padres were added to the list of teams interested in the lefty fireballer’s services. Chapman, 35 in February, is looking to bounce back from a career-worst 4.46 ERA (88 ERA+) in 2022. Last year’s was his first below-average ERA in a career that has only seen him post a mark above 3.50 one other time, when he posted a 3.60 ERA for the Reds back in 2011.
Andrew Chafin, the top remaining reliever on the free agent market follow two excellent seasons with the Cubs, A’s, and Tigers, is reportedly seeing his market begin to heat up, with the Mets among seven teams known to be interested in his services. Earlier in the week, both Chafin and Matt Moore were connected to the Cubs, who appear focused on adding another bullpen arm ahead of Spring Training, with a preference for a lefty. Zack Britton, Will Smith, and Brad Hand are among the most recognizable lefties also still available in free agency.
3. Will the run on right-handed outfield bats continue?
Just as the stage could be set for a run on left-handed relievers, we’ve seen quite a few veteran right-handed bats come off the board this week. Andrew McCutchen’s return to the Pirates kicked things off, and it’s been followed by Adam Duvall agreeing with the Red Sox, Brian Anderson heading to Milwaukee, Tommy Pham landing with the Mets and Kevin Pillar inking a minor league deal with the Braves. Options in this regard are dwindling, but switch-hitters Jurickson Profar and Robbie Grossman remain unsigned, as do pure righties Chad Pinder, Albert Almora and Stephen Piscotty. As this subsection of the market begins to move, those names could find increased interest. Meanwhile, the trade market offers names like Michael A. Taylor (despite a lofty asking price) and Ramon Laureano (who may not be moved this offseason).
Sorry, I was a little off…
$6M and a fantasy football draft party at Hooters.
could be a Ruf day in Flushing
I really see them pulling the chain on him. Had a horrible season last year, and Pham – while far from perfect – supplants him as a righty bench bat. I’m just waiting for the announcement.
It’s a slap in the face for Mets fans.
Duff should go but their is Eppler’s ego to deal with; he will not admit he made a mistake like he did keeping Lowly Rodriguez all year which cost the Mets the division
Ruf had a wRC+ over 140 in both 2020 and 2021. He had a bad 2022. He will go somewhere and rebound….
Many Met fans are impatient and worship anecdotal evidence. Ruf is forever garbage, until he moves on and has success. Then they will say “we should have kept him”. It’s embarrassing sometimes.
@mookie1 sorry Mets fans will nos say we should have kept him but only that like other players he couldn’t handle playing in NY
@Canosucks
Yes, 66 at bats absolutely proves that Ruf can’t handle New York. Thanks for proving my point.
My pleasure, I guess 66 at bats at a pitchers batting average of .152 works for you?
66 at bats for a rookie and I would agree with you but a 36 year old player, yes its enough
Are you related to Darin or just his agent?
in this case no, everyone questioned this deal at the time as it was an overpay and we were giving up the better player, younger, better hitter and more versatile player and additional pieces on top of that. This was eppler being eppler and making a trade for trade sake.
Vogel and Givens were explainable but Ruf there is no way it was justified. The only way this made sense is if you wanted to give at bats to the minor leaguers and you needed 40 man spots. Personally, I would have rather released them and saved the dollars in that case.
@Flyby
I don’t dispute that it was an overpay, but that doesn’t mean that Ruf can’t contribute in 2023. I’m not confident he will, but I think the Mets will give him a chance out of the gate. If he fails like Cano did last year, just cut bait at that point.
Never bet that a guy turning 36 who completely collapsed the previous year, will rebound. The Mets can hope, but failing to replace him was a mistake. That’s one sad bench for a contender with effectively unlimited money to spend. I guess we’ll find out: Will the Cohen-Eppler Mets ever NOT screw up a deadline?
The Giants FO is still high fiving over stealing four useful / promising players from the Mets for the great Darin Ruf.
@JackStrawb
I agree it wasn’t a good deal, but it’s possible Ruf is an asset in 2023. If he’s not, they have Pham, Alvarez, Vientos or Escobar who can take those at bats. I don’t see the harm in giving Ruf a month or two at the start of the season.
The Cohen-Eppler Mets have had all of ONE deadline. It seems kind of ridiculous to draw conclusions based on that. What was I saying about patience and anecdotal evidence? Hmmm?
@mookie1 When last season came down to a 1 game difference giving Duff a month or two can and will cost you a season; are you a Mets fan or just trying to insult Mets fans on a post about the Mets?
@Cano
I am a Met fan, but I’m also objective. I’m not a homer that thinks everything Mets is gold. I’m also not a negative hater/complainer that rips apart every at bat, pitch or transaction.
The Mets lost the Ruf trade, and he sucked for 66 at bats. That doesn’t mean that he won’t be decent in 2023, or that he can’t handle New York. Like the original post mentioned, up until the trade he hit left-handers well. If he starts off slow, I’m all in to cut him loose.
METS ANNOUNCING PHAM DEAL
Cohen: Well I know we missed out on Correa but hey look what we got
Pham: Mike Trout hella bad he made me hit Joc
Cohen: I got a spending problem
Sooooo, where will Profar sign? Poll perhaps?
I know where but I’m not saying until you butter me up with cookies…
I’ll say the Orioles. Just a hunch. I’m a Tigers fan, but we don’t need him.
Chapman Texas Ranger
Royals. I wudda never guessed KC either So….
Ruf seems like a good candidate for the Rays hitting lab
He was The Rufino in Korea.
Tommy’s a Pham favorite but certain Jocs don’t much care for him.
lol… I was in the stands last year for Pham’s “homecoming” to San Diego after signing with the Reds. Padre fans gave him a pretty rough time, and he whined about it after the game.
I especially loved how Tommy wanted to fight Luke at his “friend’s” MMA dojo…
These dog days of the hot stove are rough man. Give us one big trade to salivate over! Dipoto… Dipoto… Dipoto…
Just like Betelgeuse, say his name 3 times and he makes an impulse trade!
I was really going for Bueller, but that works too!
I liked Grossman for the Tigers earlier and still do but even Almora. I realize neither move the needle for the 2023 Tigers but with their lefty outfield batters, one righty outfield bat would be a logical compliment. Neither would cost much. Maybe even a minor league deal. I realize Grossman is a switch hitter but historically hits lefties very well. Maybe both and hope they are trade deadline flippable.
It really would be good for baseball to see the mighty Tigers become a Midwest powerhouse competitor again, holding back the coastal domination lately (Houston excepted of course).
I’d like to see Andujar given an invite & see if he can still play 3B.
Almora’s an excellent defender, but has no bat. It’ll be Meadows, Greene and probably Baddoo/ Carpenter in the other corner. With Cabrera and whoever in the DH.
I predict a Buck vs. Pham showdown before July, the first major sign of dysfunction in the Cohen era.
Ha! You think it’ll take that long? They better have a personal driver around town willing to make sure he is where he needs to be. The great part is Queens will smell better on game day with all the apricot body spray rubbed on Tommy and there is a chance the opposing batters will be blinded by the reflection of the glitter on him. He’s on a hellacious ride that I believe will end badly, but he will have no one to blame but himself.
@FunkyD I take it you were in a coma during Cohen’s entire first season, with GMs getting drunk at stop signs, dealing a stud prospect for Javy (Thumbs Down) Baez, the last minute attempt to add Trevor Bauer, another GM fired for sending d pics to reporters, the inability to get good FO help, on and on and on?
My money is on during spring training.
This process looks pretty messy. They trade Davis and a couple of prospects that might have a little talent, for Ruf, who did nothing. Now they are paying $6M to Pham to replace Ruf, who might provide similar results as Pham. And that is in addition to the $3M+ they are on the hook for.
This feels like a solution without a problem.
@JoeBrady, Lets not say Pham to replace Ruf to early! You have ineppler’s ego to deal with, he may send someone down instead to protect his mistake
That’s certainly true, but I am trying to figure out the roster spots. Marte, Nimmo, Canha, Lee, Ruf and Pham are all outfielders. They can DFA a pitcher off the 40-man and presumably demote Lee. But that still leaves Ruf or Pham taking a roster slot with no playing time and no contribution.
Thanks Joe, makes sense as I did not dive that deep
Ruf will DH or play 1B with Alonso at DH against left-handed pitching. Pham will be the 4th outfielder. Just giving the starters rest will be 40 starts, but inevitably there will be injuries and Pham will get more playing time. Lee will most likely be AAA depth.
You have the wrong Will Smith linked. Your link leads to the Dodgers Catcher Will Smith. Great article though!
You are correct sir but Buck wasn’t around for that stuff. I’m looking forward to a dugout brawl like Reggie vs. Billy.
The Mets should sign Chafin or Matt Moore
As a Tigers fan, he’d be an absolute must if you’re a playoff team. He does his job. (Chafin)