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2018-19 Market Snapshot: First Base

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This is the second installment in our Market Snapshot series. Previously, we covered the catching market. Today, we’ll turn to the first base position.

Teams In Need

Quite a few organizations went without regulars at the first base position in 2018, seemingly content with timeshare situations. That could again be the case, though it’s also possible that a few tantalizing trade targets might lead to a re-thinking on the part of some clubs.

Among likely contenders, only the Rockies jump off the page with an opening — assuming, at least, that they will move Ian Desmond to an outfield or utility role of some kind. Teams like the Mariners and Twins could arguably stand to add at the position, but also might address it by shuffling existing players.

Of course, others could free up space if they see an opportunity to improve. The Yankees, for instance, will have to decide how much they wish to rely upon Luke Voit (while also considering how their DH and catching situations will play out). The Red Sox, Nationals, and Angels are among the clubs that’ll at least be looking for complementary pieces capable of spending some time in the first base mix.

Free Agents

Likely Regulars: Frankly, there don’t appear to be any in this group — making the trade candidates listed below all the more tantalizing.

Top Timeshare/Reserve Options: Steve Pearce has hit a ton in 2018 and deserves a significant role, though he has long been dogged by heath questions. Mark Reynolds proved he can still do damage, while Hanley Ramirez is a wild card. On the left side of the plate, a trio of veterans returns to the open market. Matt Adams collapsed down the stretch but was productive earlier in the year; Lucas Duda did the opposite; Logan Morrison will be looking for a bounceback chance after an injury-plagued campaign. It seems unlikely that Joe Mauer will play anywhere other than Minnesota, but perhaps that can’t be ruled out entirely.

Depth: Pedro Alvarez, Adam Lind, Danny Valencia

Trade Targets

Likely Regulars: The most intriguing name that could be on the market has to be Paul Goldschmidt (1/$14.5MM). It stands to reason that the D-Backs will put him on the block early, seeing whether offers reach a sufficient level to make a move. Another player entering his final year of team control, Jose Abreu of the White Sox ($16MM projected), is perhaps still as much an extension as a trade candidate. Switch-hitter Justin Smoak sustained the better part of his 2017 outbreak this year and will earn a reasonable $8MM in the final season of his contract (his club option value was boosted by escalators). Trading him could offer the Blue Jays a chance to pick up some young talent while clearing the deck for existing young players to get some chances at the MLB level.

There are also some larger contracts worth considering. Wil Myers arguably doesn’t fit the roster puzzle for the Padres, though his deal (4/$64MM plus option) is just about to ramp up in cost. Though the Giants’ remaining obligations to Brandon Belt (3/$48MM) outstrip his present value — particularly after another season in which he missed time and didn’t hit to his typical levels — he’d still represent an interesting target for some clubs, potentially opening the door to some off-the-wall trade concepts. Speaking of which, the Phillies could seek to bail on Carlos Santana (2/$35MM plus option), depending upon how untold other possibilities play out, though they likely won’t find a terribly receptive market. And while an offseason trade remains hard to fathom, it’s still worth remembering that the Tigers could try to move some of their remaining obligations to Miguel Cabrera (5/$162MM plus options) at some point.

Top Timeshare/Reserve Options: Despite a strong year at the plate and still-palatable salary, C.J. Cron ($5.2MM projected) seems not to be in the Rays’ plans following the acquisition of Ji-Man Choi. Jose Martinez of the Cardinals (pre-arb) is another quality righty bat that might hold appeal, though his struggles to handle first base defensively may make him a DH-only target.

Teams considering lefty sluggers could take a look at the Phillies’ Justin Bour ($5.2MM projected) or Brewers’ Eric Thames (1/$7MM plus option), depending upon how those organizations proceed. Greg Bird of the Yankees ($1.5MM projected), Dominic Smith of the Mets (pre-arb), and AJ Reed of the Astros (pre-arb) could represent upside plays for the right team if their current orgs decide it’s time to move on.

Latest On D-backs’ Offseason Plans

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With two of their best players, A.J. Pollock and Patrick Corbin, set to hit free agency while other key players like Paul Goldschmidt and Robbie Ray inch closer to the open market, the D-backs will at least gauge trade interest in their roster early in the offseason before plotting a course, GM Mike Hazen tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

Around the league, there’s an expectation that the Snakes could oversee a full-throated rebuild, Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests on Twitter. Within the organization, Hazen says the front office has already met with owner Ken Kendrick and CEO Derrick Hall, calling Kendrick “open-minded” as the offseason gets underway.

“I think one of the takeaways for us was just to get a feel for what the trade market would be for various guys, evaluate the free-agent market as it comes out and see what happens, and reconvene,” adds Hazen.

There’s been plenty of speculation about a rebuild in Phoenix, where the D-backs stand to lose both Pollock and Corbin this winter and will see Goldschmidt reach free agency following the 2019 season. Ray, meanwhile, is set to hit the open market after the 2020 season, as is outfielder David Peralta. The Arizona farm system is not considered to be particularly strong, and the team’s long-term payroll is weighed down by Zack Greinke’s record contract and the albatross deal for Yasmany Tomas — two remnants from the previous front office regime around which Hazen & Co. will need to navigate.

The D-backs also have a whopping 14 players eligible for arbitration this winter, including several key players who are up for sizable raises — as projected by MLBTR’s Matt Swartz earlier today. Peralta ($7.7MM), Ray ($6.1MM), Brad Boxberger ($4.9MM), Taijuan Walker ($4.825MM), Jake Lamb ($4.7MM), Steven Souza Jr. ($4MM), Nick Ahmed ($3.1MM), Archie Bradley ($2MM), Andrew Chafin ($1.8MM), T.J. McFarland ($1.4MM) and Matt Andriese ($1.1MM) all figure to be tendered contracts.

Add in Goldschmidt’s no-brainer club option and guaranteed salaries for Greinke, Tomas, Alex Avila, Jarrod Dyson and Ketel Marte, and the tab reaches $119.125MM — a hefty sum for a D-backs club that has only twice opened the season with more than $100MM in guaranteed contracts on the books. Even rounding out the roster with league-minimum players would push the Diamondbacks within a few million dollars of the franchise-record $131.5MM payroll they carried on Opening Day 2018. And if the team decides to tender contracts to any of Shelby Miller ($4.9MM projection), Chris Owings ($3.6MM) or John Ryan Murphy ($1.1MM), that financial outlook would only be further muddied.

With little help on the way from the farm, two of their best players hitting free agency, the face of a franchise a year from the open market, a near-record payroll and a miserable finish to the season, it’s not hard to see why the D-backs are at least considering a look to the future. A full tear-down wouldn’t even be necessary, as they could gauge interest in flipping some stars who are controlled for a relatively short period of time in exchange for some more controllable assets that could help at the MLB level either immediately or in the near future.

Goldschmidt would be the biggest piece they could put on the market, as the perennial MVP candidate rebounded from an awful start to post a characteristically brilliant .290/.389/.533 slash with 33 homers in 690 plate appearances. But Ray would also be one of the most in-demand assets on the offseason market for starting pitching, with few quality arms expected to be available in trades. The 27-year-old missed time with an oblique strain in 2018 and a concussion in 2017, but he’s averaged better than 12 strikeouts per nine innings over the past two seasons and a 3.34 ERA in his past 285 1/3 innings in that time. Peralta is only two years from free agency himself and posted a .293/.352/.516 line with a career-high 30 homers.

Certainly, there are avenues to additional payroll capacity down the line. The team inked a television deal reportedly worth more than $1.5 billion in Feb. 2015, but they’re only in year three of a contract that was said to be as long as two decades in length and included gradual increases in year-over-year television revenue. The Diamondbacks are also in the process of seeking alternatives to Chase Field, but a new stadium wouldn’t be a possibility until at least the 2022 season.

Twins Notes: Sano, Mauer, Adrianza

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Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey addressed the traffic incident involving Miguel Sano today (subscription link via Dan Hayes of The Athletic), telling reporters that “what has been most recently reported is what we are aware of around the accident.” Sano is not facing criminal charges after inadvertently backing into a police officer with his truck, as Dominican police officials have issued a statement declaring the incident to be accidental in nature, adding that Sano has been cooperative and offered to pay the medical expenses for the officer, who was a childhood classmate of Sano. That issue aside, Falvey also acknowledged that Sano is “at an important crossroads in his career” following a disastrous 2018 season. As Hayes notes, Sano reported to Spring Training in 2018 out of shape after offseason surgery to insert a titanium rod into his shin last winter prevented him from going through a full offseason workout regimen. The organizational hope will be that a full offseason can help Sano be better positioned for success in 2019. Falvey indicates that the Twins will “put resources around [Sano] and create a certain level of expectations” that’ll be monitored throughout the winter.

More news and notes out of Minneapolis…

  • The Twins may not get a decision from Joe Mauer until after the conclusion of the postseason, writes La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Realistically, free agency doesn’t begin for a period of time here,” said Falvey of Mauer’s impending retirement decision. “We’re still in the window of playoff baseball. I think some time after that would be appropriate time to have any subsequent dialogue.” Still, Falvey said that the Twins have already discussed with Mauer what a potential return could look like, adding that the team made clear to Mauer’s camp that he would “certainly” be welcome back for a 16th season.
  • Utility infielder Ehire Adrianza underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, Levine announced Tuesday (Twitter link via Hayes). Rayner Rico of SportsVenezuela.com first reported that Adrianza would require surgery. The procedure comes with a projected recovery time of three to four months, which would put Adrianza in line to be ready for Spring Training. The 29-year-old Adrianza hit .251/.301/.379 this season in a career-high 366 plate appearances while playing shortstop, second base, third base, left field and first base. The switch-hitter has never contributed much from an offensive standpoint in the Majors, but he’s generally been regarded as a solid defender. He’ll be arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter and has a $1.8MM projected salary for 2019, per MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.

Anibal Sanchez Plans To Continue Pitching

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Late in the 2018 season, right-hander Anibal Sanchez said he wasn’t sure whether he’d continue pitching or retire, but the veteran righty now tells Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he hopes to pitch for multiple seasons beyond the 2018 campaign and would “love” to return to the Braves.

It’s the second straight offseason where a return to the Majors for Sanchez was somewhat up in the air, although the script has flipped substantially over the past 12 months. Whereas last October, the question was one of whether Sanchez had anything left in the tank, this winter it was merely one of whether he had a desire to return for his age-35 season.

Sanchez put to rest any concerns about his ability to succeed against Major League hitters, tossing 136 2/3 innings of 2.83 ERA ball with 8.9 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 0.99 HR/9 and a 45 percent ground-ball after joining the Atlanta organization on a minor league deal late in Spring Training. There was arguably no better bargain pickup last offseason than Sanchez, who played a significant role in helping the upstart Braves secure the NL East title.

Sanchez has never been a flamethrower, and this year’s 90.7 mph average on his fastball was largely in line with the velocity he’d displayed over the final few seasons of an ill-fated five-year deal in Detroit. However, he ramped up the use of his cutter, throwing that at a 23 percent clip, per Fangraphs, while also leaning a bit more on his changeup and relying less on his slider. It’s hard to argue with the results, as Sanchez posted his best swinging-strike rate and chase rate of the past half decade. Opponents seemingly had a difficult time squaring up that more prominently featured cut fastball; Sanchez’s hard-contact rate plummeted by nearly 10 percent, and his line-drive rate dropped from 24.7 percent to 18 percent.

There’s an argument to be made that the Braves have enough pitching depth to get by even without Sanchez and should either target a more definitive front-of-the-rotation upgrade or spend more heavily in the bullpen, in right field or at catcher. But Sanchez was an invaluable depth piece who also played a significant role in the Atlanta clubhouse as a veteran leader on a young pitching staff. He’s spoken to Burns in the past about his desire to work as a coach after his playing days are done, and the young Braves staff gives him ample opportunity to impart some of his experience on younger pitchers.

Sanchez originally inked a non-guaranteed Major League deal with the Twins last spring, but Minnesota cut him loose upon signing right-hander Lance Lynn — a sequence that seemed logical at the time but, in retrospect, certainly didn’t work out in the Twins’ favor. Minnesota’s loss was Atlanta’s gain, but this time around in free agency, Sanchez won’t have to settle for a non-guaranteed deal. At the very least, he seems poised to command a solid salary on a one-year deal, and his success could potentially even make a two-year deal plausible.

Adrian Gonzalez Hopes To Play In 2019

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Veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM (Twitter link) that he is “preparing to play next year.” If he does end up playing, though, he says that’ll likely be the end of his career.

Gonzalez opened the 2018 campaign with the Mets, who promised him only the league-minimum since the Braves (via the Dodgers) were already carrying the rest of the tab on the remainder of his contract. He ended up being cut loose after appearing in just 54 games. All told, the former star has struggle mightily over the past two seasons, producing a cumulative .240/.292/.363 slash with nine home runs in 439 plate appearances.

Needless to say, that recent track record suggests that Gonzalez will not be in significant demand this winter. It probably does not help that he has also dealt with back troubles and did not play again after being released by the Mets. Of course, the veteran will now be coming off of a lengthy rest.

Gonzalez says he did have options to put on another uniform in 2018, but elected not to since what was available “didn’t make sense.” Just what he’ll be looking for in the coming offseason isn’t quite clear, but it’s at best questionable that he’ll be offered a 40-man roster spot.

Beyond his lack of defensive versatility and limited baserunning capacity, Gonzalez’s limitations at the plate will be a major factor. Even those teams that think there could still be a spark will assuredly only see him as an option to hoist the bat against right-handed pitching. Gonzalez has, after all, struggled badly against southpaws over the past several years.

Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2019

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As explained here, Matt Swartz and MLB Trade Rumors have developed an accurate model to project arbitration salaries. This is the eighth year we’ve done these projections, and I’m proud to present the results for 2019. Official service time is in parentheses next to each player.  The Super Two cutoff has been announced as 2.134.

Angels (8)

  • Tyler Skaggs (4.135) – $3.6MM
  • Andrew Heaney (3.150) – $2.8MM
  • JC Ramirez (3.139) – $1.9MM
  • Luis Garcia (4.006) – $1.7MM
  • Cam Bedrosian (3.153) – $1.7MM
  • Nick Tropeano (3.068) – $1.6MM
  • Hansel Robles (3.119) – $1.4MM
  • Tommy La Stella (4.057) – $1.2MM

Astros (10)

  • Gerrit Cole (5.111) – $13.1MM
  • Roberto Osuna (3.097) – $6.5MM
  • Collin McHugh (5.085) – $5.4MM
  • Carlos Correa (3.119) – $5.1MM
  • Lance McCullers (3.140) – $4.6MM
  • Will Harris (5.102) – $3.6MM
  • Ryan Pressly (5.039) – $3.1MM
  • Brad Peacock (4.165) – $2.9MM
  • Jake Marisnick (4.132) – $2.4MM
  • Chris Devenski (3.000) – $1.4MM

Athletics (9)

  • Khris Davis (5.104) – $18.1MM
  • Marcus Semien (4.118) – $6.6MM
  • Blake Treinen (4.065) – $5.8MM
  • Sean Manaea (2.157) – $3.8MM
  • Liam Hendriks (4.164) – $2.1MM – signed for $2.15MM
  • Mark Canha (3.092) – $2.1MM
  • Ryan Buchter (3.010) – $1.3MM
  • Josh Phegley (4.087) – $1.2MM – signed for $1.075MM
  • Ryan Dull (2.143) – $900K – signed for $860K

Blue Jays (9)

  • Marcus Stroman (4.148) – $7.2MM
  • Ken Giles (4.113) – $6.6MM
  • Kevin Pillar (4.113) – $5.3MM
  • Randal Grichuk (4.033) – $4.8MM
  • Aaron Sanchez (4.069) – $3.8MM
  • Devon Travis (3.163) – $2.4MM
  • Ryan Tepera (3.008) – $1.7MM
  • Brandon Drury (2.165) – $1.4MM
  • Joe Biagini (2.134) – $1.0MM

Braves (8)

  • Kevin Gausman (4.151) – $9.2MM
  • Mike Foltynewicz (3.163) – $5.5MM
  • Arodys Vizcaino (5.168) – $4.8MM
  • Adam Duvall (3.096) – $3.1MM
  • Dan Winkler (4.000) – $1.6MM
  • Jonny Venters (5.159) – $1.5MM – signed for $2.25MM
  • Sam Freeman (4.066) – $1.5MM
  • Charlie Culberson (3.084) – $1.4MM

Brewers (10)

  • Travis Shaw (3.088) – $5.1MM
  • Corey Knebel (3.151) – $4.9MM
  • Jimmy Nelson (4.107) – $3.7MM
  • Hernan Perez (4.079) – $2.7MM – signed for $2.5MM
  • Junior Guerra (2.155) – $2.7MM
  • Zach Davies (3.020) – $2.4MM
  • Domingo Santana (3.024) – $2.0MM
  • Manny Piña (3.046) – $1.8MM
  • Erik Kratz (4.156) – $1.7MM – signed for $1.2MM
  • Tyler Saladino (3.053) – $1.0MM – signed for $887.5K

Cardinals (4)

  • Marcell Ozuna (5.124) – $13.4MM
  • Michael Wacha (5.062) – $6.6MM
  • Dominic Leone (3.123) – $1.3MM
  • Chasen Shreve (3.167) – $1.2MM – signed for $900K

Cubs (7)

  • Kris Bryant (3.171) – $12.4MM
  • Kyle Hendricks (4.081) – $7.6MM
  • Javier Baez (3.089) – $7.1MM
  • Addison Russell (3.167) – $4.3MM
  • Kyle Schwarber (3.086) – $3.1MM
  • Mike Montgomery (3.089) – $3.0MM
  • Carl Edwards Jr. (2.134) – $1.4MM

Diamondbacks (11)

  • David Peralta (4.120) – $7.7MM
  • Robbie Ray (4.007) – $6.1MM
  • Taijuan Walker (4.142) – $4.825MM
  • Jake Lamb (4.053) – $4.7MM
  • Steven Souza Jr. (4.072) – $4.0MM
  • Nick Ahmed (4.054) – $3.1MM
  • Archie Bradley (3.112) – $2.0MM
  • Andrew Chafin (4.020) – $1.8MM
  • T.J. McFarland (4.164) – $1.4MM
  • Matt Andriese (3.071) – $1.1MM
  • John Ryan Murphy (3.043) – $1.1MM

Dodgers (10)

  • Joc Pederson (4.028) – $4.3MM
  • Enrique Hernandez (4.054) – $3.2MM
  • Chris Taylor (3.037) – $3.2MM
  • Josh Fields (5.083) – $2.8MM
  • Tony Cingrani (5.088) – $2.7MM – signed for $2.65MM
  • Corey Seager (3.032) – $2.6MM
  • Pedro Baez (4.059) – $1.8MM
  • Yimi Garcia (3.149) – $900K

Giants (3)

Indians (7)

Mariners (1)

  • Roenis Elias (3.069) – $1.0MM

Marlins (5)

  • J.T. Realmuto (4.038) – $6.1MM
  • Dan Straily (4.126) – $4.8MM
  • Jose Urena (3.040) – $3.6MM
  • Miguel Rojas (4.043) – $2.6MM
  • Adam Conley (2.147) – $1.3MM

Mets (7)

  • Jacob deGrom (4.139) – $12.9MM
  • Noah Syndergaard (3.149) – $5.9MM
  • Zack Wheeler (5.098) – $5.3MM
  • Michael Conforto (3.043) – $4.4MM
  • Travis d’Arnaud (5.044) – $3.7MM
  • Steven Matz (3.099) – $3.0MM
  • Kevin Plawecki (2.167) – $1.3MM

Nationals (7)

  • Anthony Rendon (5.130) – $17.6MM
  • Tanner Roark (5.055) – $9.8MM
  • Trea Turner (2.135) – $5.3MM
  • Michael Taylor (4.010) – $3.2MM
  • Kyle Barraclough (3.059) – $1.9MM
  • Joe Ross (3.067) – $1.5MM
  • Sammy Solis (3.061) – $900K – signed for $850K

Orioles (3)

  • Jonathan Villar (4.113) – $4.4MM
  • Dylan Bundy (3.026) – $3.0MM
  • Mychal Givens (3.069) – $2.0MM

Padres (6)

  • Kirby Yates (4.021) – $3.0MM
  • Austin Hedges (2.166) – $1.8MM
  • Travis Jankowski (2.169) – $1.4MM
  • Bryan Mitchell (3.049) – $1.2MM – signed for $900K
  • Robbie Erlin (4.078) – $1.1MM
  • Greg Garcia (3.083) – $900K – signed for $910K

Phillies (9)

  • Cesar Hernandez (4.154) – $8.9MM
  • Aaron Nola (3.076) – $6.6MM
  • Maikel Franco (3.170) – $5.1MM
  • Vince Velasquez (3.086) – $2.6MM
  • Hector Neris (3.068) – $2.0MM
  • Jose Alvarez (4.035) – $1.7MM
  • Jerad Eickhoff (3.045) – $1.7MM
  • Aaron Altherr (3.028) – $1.6MM
  • Adam Morgan (3.017) – $1.1MM

Pirates (3)

  • Corey Dickerson (5.101) – $8.4MM
  • Keone Kela (4.000) – $3.2MM
  • Michael Feliz (3.026) – $900K – signed for $850K

Rangers (4)

  • Nomar Mazara (3.000) – $3.7MM
  • Jurickson Profar (4.165) – $3.4MM
  • Delino DeShields Jr. (3.116) – $1.9MM
  • Alex Claudio (3.114) – $1.3MM

Rays (4)

  • Mike Zunino (4.165) – $4.2MM
  • Tommy Pham (3.107) – $4.0MM
  • Matt Duffy (4.059) – $2.6MM
  • Chaz Roe (3.094) – $1.4MM

Red Sox (12)

  • Mookie Betts (4.070) – $18.7MM
  • Xander Bogaerts (5.042) – $11.9MM
  • Jackie Bradley Jr. (4.150) – $7.9MM
  • Eduardo Rodriguez (3.130) – $4.8MM
  • Brock Holt (5.052) – $3.4MM
  • Tyler Thornburg (5.057) – $2.3MM – signed for $1.75MM
  • Sandy Leon (4.149) – $2.3MM
  • Matt Barnes (3.110) – $1.5MM
  • Brandon Workman (4.051) – $1.4MM
  • Steven Wright (4.087) – $1.4MM
  • Heath Hembree (3.106) – $1.2MM
  • Blake Swihart (2.164) –  $1.1MM

Reds (5)

  • Yasiel Puig (5.102) – $11.3MM
  • Scooter Gennett (5.071) – $10.7MM
  • Alex Wood (5.123) – $9.0MM
  • Jose Peraza (2.141) – $3.6MM
  • Anthony Desclafani (4.062) – $2.1MM
  • Michael Lorenzen (3.159) – $1.9MM
  • Curt Casali (2.151) – $1.3MM

Rockies (8)

  • Nolan Arenado (5.155) – $26.1MM
  • Trevor Story (3.000) – $6.4MM
  • Chad Bettis (4.096) – $3.2MM
  • Jon Gray (3.062) – $3.2MM
  • Tyler Anderson (3.065) – $2.9MM
  • Chris Rusin (4.092) – $1.7MM – signed for $1.6875MM
  • Scott Oberg (3.063) – $1.2MM
  • Tony Wolters (2.161) – $1.1MM

Royals (3)

Tigers (6)

  • Nicholas Castellanos (5.029) – $11.3MM
  • Shane Greene (4.075) – $4.8MM
  • Michael Fulmer (2.157) – $3.0MM
  • Matthew Boyd (2.136) – $3.0MM
  • Daniel Norris (3.073)  -$1.4MM
  • Blaine Hardy (3.108) – $1.2MM

Twins (10)

  • Jake Odorizzi (5.042) – $9.4MM
  • Kyle Gibson (5.039) – $7.9MM
  • C.J. Cron (4.097) – $5.2MM – signed for $4.8MM
  • Eddie Rosario (3.120) – $5.0MM
  • Max Kepler (2.152) – $3.2MM
  • Miguel Sano (3.066) – $3.1MM
  • Ehire Adrianza (4.131) – $1.8MM – signed for $1.3MM
  • Taylor Rogers (2.145) – $1.6MM
  • Byron Buxton (2.160) – $1.2MM
  • Trevor May (4.012) – $1.1MM

White Sox (5)

  • Jose Abreu (5.000) – $16MM
  • Alex Colome (4.118) – $7.3MM
  • Yolmer Sanchez (3.134) – $4.7MM
  • Carlos Rodon (3.168) – $3.7MM
  • Leury Garcia (4.025) – $1.9MM – signed for $1.55MM

Yankees (9)

  • Didi Gregorius (5.159) – $12.4MM
  • Sonny Gray (5.061) – $9.1MM
  • Dellin Betances (5.078) – $6.4MM
  • Aaron Hicks (5.041) – $6.2MM
  • James Paxton (4.151) – $9.0MM
  • Luis Severino (2.170) – $5.1MM
  • Austin Romine (5.045) – $2.0MM
  • Tommy Kahnle (3.131) – $1.5MM
  • Greg Bird (3.053) – $1.5MM

Padres To Replace Hitting Coach Matt Stairs, Infield Coach Josh Johnson

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The Padres are slated to make at least two modifications to manager Andy Green’s coaching staff in the offseason, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hitting coach Matt Stairs and infield coach Josh Johnson will not return to their posts.

Stairs, a long-time MLB slugger, joined the Friars after serving in the same capacity with the Phillies in 2017. He lost that job when the Philadelphia organization made broader changes to its field staff. Prior to that point, Stairs had served mostly as a broadcaster after wrapping up his playing career in 2011.

As for Johnson, not to be confused with the former starting pitcher of the same name, he too will be bumped from the mix after just one season. The former third-round draft pick never made it to the majors as a player. His only prior coaching experience came in one season as the skipper of the Nationals’ Gulf Coast League affiliate.

Despite these changes, it does not appear that the San Diego organization will be embarking on a full hiring search. Rather, per the report, the club intends to promote existing personnel to fill the openings.

NL Notes: Correa, Arenado, Suzuki, Mattingly

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If you haven’t yet come across this recent profile of former Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa, via SI’s Ben Reiter, then you’ll certainly want to give it a read. The analytical guru ended up in federal prison after impermissibly accessing the computer systems of the Astros. While he’s still mostly remaining silent on details of that stunning episode, Correa offers a fascinating glimpse into his time behind bars.

The latest from the National League:

  • While it’s hard to see the 2018 campaign as anything but a success for the Rockies, the organization faces some tough decisions in the offseason to come. One of those involves franchise cornerstone Nolan Arenado, who is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility. As Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports, extension scenarios have yet to be discussed by team and player. Arenado’s arb salary will force the sides to the bargaining table, but it’s not yet clear whether there’ll be a clear path to a long-term deal. It is certainly possible to imagine a trade scenario, though that’d be a tough call to make for the organization. For his part, Arenado says he loves playing in Colorado and anticipates remaining with the organization, but does acknowledge that “things can get a little iffy because of the business side of it.”
  • As he wraps up his contract with the Braves, backstop Kurt Suzuki tells Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link) that he’d like to find a way back into the fold. The Atlanta organization has already struck a deal to retain Tyler Flowers, who has combined with Suzuki to form a solid and cost-effective duo. Continuing that situation surely holds some appeal, though it’s also quite reasonable to expect that the Braves front office will look into the acquisition of a top-tier option behind the dish. [RELATED: 2018-19 Market Snapshot: Catcher]
  • Even as the Marlins make some changes to their coaching staff, they haven’t given indication that they’ll replace skipper Don Mattingly in his post. That said, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets that there hasn’t been any effort on the part of the team to extend Mattingly’s contract, which is entering its final season. It’s certainly possible that’ll still come to pass, though it would hardly be surprising if the club preferred instead to maintain the status quo.

Rays Announce Extension With Manager Kevin Cash

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9:50am: It’s now official, with the Rays announcing the deal.

8:24am: The Rays have agreed to a long-term extension with skipper Kevin Cash, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. While not yet official, the deal is expected to be formally announced in short order.

It’s a lengthy new commitment for the Rays, who have now installed Cash through the 2024 season. The contract also includes an option for another year, per Topkin, with financial details still unknown. This pact replaces the prior deal that, according to the report, still included one more season and a two-year option. (Prior indications were that Cash’s deal was for five years in duration, but it seems the final pair of campaigns had not been guaranteed.)

Cash guided the Tampa Bay club to a 90-72 record this season, utilizing a variety of unorthodox means of deploying the roster. While that wasn’t enough to earn a spot in the postseason, the showing created quite a bit of optimism in the near future. It also obviously demonstrated to the front office that Cash is the right person to translate their theories into action.

While it has long seemed that Cash was in harmony with the higher-ups, the results had lagged over his first three years on the job. Hired in a 2014-15 offseason that saw massive organizational change — top baseball ops exec Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon both left town — Cash ended up overseeing a pair of middling 80-82 campaigns sandwiched around a brutal 2016 effort (68-94).

As the 2018 campaign approached, the Tampa Bay organization was under pressure. Panned by the media and pursued by the MLBPA for their cost cutting, the Rays were forced to defend their decision to sell off a series of still-controlled veteran players late in the offseason. The club ended up shipping out yet more veterans, with staff ace Chris Archer (link) following catcher Wilson Ramos (link), starter Nathan Eovaldi (link), closer Alex Colome and outfielder Denard Span (link) out the door during the course of the season.

Despite the exodus of MLB talent, the roster performed admirably. As late in the season as August 5th, the Rays sat at .500. But the team finished on a 34-16 tear. Cash, aided by a data-driven ops department, wielded a variety of emerging young players to excellent effect.

When the season closed, the Rays were left looking at an intriguing depth chart, largely blank future balance sheet, and lauded farm system. There’s even renewed hope of enhanced future revenues, as the organization pursues new ballpark plans, though that’ll certainly take some time and still faces hurdles. Further success on the field would no doubt be a welcome development from a business perspective.

Cash, then, will again be tasked with squeezing value from every corner of the roster. He’ll enter this new phase of his stint with a big vote of confidence and ample job security. Expectations, too, are raised. Much of his roster is set, though it’ll certainly be interesting to see what sort of additional tinkering is pursued over the winter to come.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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