The 2017 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

**EmpireMaker** · 09-22-17, 01:46 AM

The Yankees are once again striving to get under the luxury tax threshold, though there’s added incentive for them to do so this time around, writes Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Getting under the luxury tax barrier (which is set to rise to $197MM next year) will reset the Yankees’ luxury tax hit just in time for the 2018-19 mega-class of free agents that features the likes of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Clayton Kershaw (assuming he opts out of the final two years on his deal), Dallas Keuchel, Josh Donaldson and Charlie Blackmon, among many others. As Heyman notes, achieving the goal is more realistic than ever for the Yankees as well, with commitments to CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and quite possibly Masahiro Tanaka coming off the books (in addition to recent veteran pickups Matt Holliday, Todd Frazier and Jaime Garcia).
More from the division…

Chris Tillman isn’t making excuses about his poor season and is maintaining that he’s 100 percent healthy, writes Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun. Schmuck spoke with Tillman for a lengthy and candid interview that readers will want to check out in full, as it’s rife with frank, harsh self analysis from Tillman, who is his perhaps his own biggest critic. “I’ve been here before,” said the longtime Orioles right-hander. “Before 2012, I was god-awful. I was just as bad as I was this year, if not worse. We were able to figure it out.” Tillman attributes his early-career struggles to a “horrible” delivery and states that he’s had significant difficulty in repeating his delivery in 2017 as well. He also speaks fondly of the Orioles’ clubhouse and suggests that he’d be open to a return, though as Schmuck notes, the Orioles figure to be seeking some certainty in their rotation this winter.
Teoscar Hernandez’s trade from the Astros to the Blue Jays gives him the opportunity to become a potential replacement for a player he grew up idolizing, writes Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star. Jose Bautista’s 54-homer breakout came the year before Hernandez signed as an amateur with Houston, and the 24-year-old tells Griffin that his countryman and childhood idol has already been an invaluable mentor. “The day that I got here (Sept. 2), Bautista came to me and told me a lot of things,” says Hernandez, who credits Bautista with giving him advice on his hitting as well as his off-field routine. “For me, he’s one of the awesome guys that I ever met. He’s every day telling me something new.” Per Griffin, the Jays plan to give Hernandez “every opportunity to earn an everyday role” in 2018 and beyond.

**Otters27** · 09-22-17, 06:50 AM

Twins looking like they are going to get this. Who knows with Rockies, Brewers and Cardinals.

Cardinals could steal it.

**JAKEPEAVY21** · 09-22-17, 08:24 AM

indians only 1 game behind dodgers in overall record

I wonder what the odds would have been a month ago for Indians having the best record in MLB?

**koz-man** · 09-22-17, 03:22 PM

Magic number update:
The Red Sox have clinched at least a wild-card spot while their magic numbers to win the AL East remains at 8. The Red Sox play at Cincinnati this weekend while the Yankees head to Toronto.

Other magic numbers: Dodgers: 1 (to win NL West)
Cubs: 6 (to win NL Central)
Yankees: 2 (to clinch wild card)
Diamondbacks: 3 (to clinch wild card)

**yisman** · 09-22-17, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by JAKEPEAVY21

indians only 1 game behind dodgers in overall record

I wonder what the odds would have been a month ago for Indians having the best record in MLB?

astronomical

with LA and Houston way ahead

**stevenash** · 09-22-17, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by yisman

astronomical

with LA and Houston way ahead

That's the beauty of baseball.

**Cross** · 09-23-17, 12:15 AM

Cubs going back to back this year, team of destiny. Baez is best shortstop in baseball, so ridiculous every night w his plays.

**EmpireMaker** · 09-23-17, 12:15 AM

ROSTER MOVES BY TEAM (9/18-9/22)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

[*=left]CHICAGO CUBS | Depth Chart
- - [*=left]Back In Action: SP Jake Arrieta (hamstring) made his first start in 17 days on Thursday (5 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 2 K)

CINCINNATI REDS | Depth Chart | Team Payroll
- [*=left]Contract Extension: C Tucker Barnhart agreed to four-year (2018-21), $16MM contract with a $7.5MM club option for 2022.
  [*=left]Activated from DL: OF Billy Hamilton
  - [*=left]Hamilton did not start on Wednesday or Thursday, but he played CF and batted first in Friday’s game.

[*=left]LOS ANGELES DODGERS | Depth Chart
- [*=left]Activated from DL: P Brandon McCarthy
  - [*=left]McCarthy is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.
  [*=left]Placed on 60-Day DL: RP Josh Ravin (groin/hip discomfort)

MIAMI MARLINS | Depth Chart
- [*=left]Activated from DL: P Chris O’Grady
  - [*=left]O’Grady is pitching out of the bullpen (IP, 0 R on Wednesday) after starting six games prior to his injury.

SAN DIEGO PADRES | Depth Chart | Team Payroll
- [*=left]Contract Extension: SP Clayton Richard agreed to a two-year (2018-19), $6MM contract.
  [*=left]Injuries: OF/INF Jose Pirela (sprained finger) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. His last start came on September 10th.
  [*=left]Promotions: C Rocky Gale (contract purchased), 3B Christian Villanueva (contract purchased), OF Hunter Renfroe, OF Travis Jankowski, RP Tim Melville
  - [*=left]Gale hit his 1st MLB HR in his lone start on Wednesday
    [*=left]Villanueva is 4-for-12 with 2 HRs since his call-up
    [*=left]Renfroe is 4-for-14 with 4 HRs since his call-up, including 3 in Wednesday’s game
- Designated for assignment: INF Dusty Coleman (cleared waivers; outrighted to minors), RP Jose Valdez (cleared waivers; outrighted to minors)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | Depth Chart
- [*=left]Acquisitions: RP Pierce Johnson claimed off waivers from Chicago Cubs.
- Transferred to 60-Day DL: 1B Brandon Belt

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | Depth Chart
- [*=left]Activated from DL: P Adam Wainwright (story)
  - [*=left]Wainwright is working out of the bullpen. He has not pitched since being activated on Tuesday.
  [*=left]Back In Action: RP Seung Hwan Oh (hamstring) made his first appearance in 13 days on Wednesday (IP, 0 R).
  [*=left]Promotions: INF Aledmys Diaz, INF Breyvic Valera, RP Josh Lucas
  [*=left]Role Change: P John Gant has been moved to the rotation in favor of P Jack Flaherty, who moves to the bullpen. Gant will start on Sunday.

—
AMERICAN LEAGUE

BALTIMORE ORIOLES | Depth Chart
- [*=left]Injuries: RP Zach Britton (knee discomfort) is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Brad Brach is the team’s closer with Britton out of action.

DETROIT TIGERS | Depth Chart
- - [*=left]Back In Action: SP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) made his first start in 19 days on Thursday (4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K)

HOUSTON ASTROS | Depth Chart
- - [*=left]Back In Action: SP Lance McCullers (arm fatigue) will make his first start in 18 days on Sunday.

TAMPA BAY RAYS | Depth Chart
- [*=left]Activated from DL: RP Xavier Cedeno
  [*=left]Promotions: INF Daniel Robertson, RP Chih-Wei Hu
  [*=left]Outrighted: INF Danny Espinosa (story)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS | Depth Chart | Team Payroll
- [*=left]Contract Extension: SP Marco Estrada agreed to a one-year (2018), $13MM contract.
  [*=left]Injuries: OF/INF Steve Pearce (back discomfort) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. His last start came on September 6th.

FUTURE EXPECTED MOVES

[*=left]NYM: Noah Syndergaard will be activated from 60-Day DL on Saturday September 23rd. He’s scheduled to start the game and will pitch one inning, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

**koz-man** · 09-23-17, 04:34 AM

Tommy Lasorda enjoying some champagne after the Dodgers beat the Giants to win the NL West on his 90th birthday.

**koz-man** · 09-23-17, 04:35 AM

Chris Iannetta has a career-high eight RBI tonight. He is the only player with multiple seven-RBI games this season and joins Jonathan Lucroy (2012) as the only catchers with multiple seven-RBI games in a season in MLB history. 15 of his 42 RBI have come in two games.

**Otters27** · 09-23-17, 05:05 AM

Originally posted by Cross

Cubs going back to back this year, team of destiny. Baez is best shortstop in baseball, so ridiculous every night w his plays.

Watched a bit last night that diving stop throw out from the knees was unreal

**El Nino** · 09-23-17, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by koz-man

Tommy Lasorda enjoying some champagne after the Dodgers beat the Giants to win the NL West on his 90th birthday.

**JAKEPEAVY21** · 09-23-17, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Cross

Cubs going back to back this year, team of destiny. Baez is best shortstop in baseball, so ridiculous every night w his plays.

please dude, just stop

he is a good player but give me a break

**Chi_archie** · 09-23-17, 01:55 PM

Russell>Baez at SS

**stevenash** · 09-23-17, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by koz-man

Chris Iannetta has a career-high eight RBI tonight. He is the only player with multiple seven-RBI games this season and joins Jonathan Lucroy (2012) as the only catchers with multiple seven-RBI games in a season in MLB history. 15 of his 42 RBI have come in two games.

Iannetta is a stud, Lovullo loves to put him in the two hole.
He's only played half a season, if he played every game he's be 30/90 .260

Speaking of Lucroy, three years ago he hit a granny and another homer against the Diamondbacks.
I know he and Shoemaker (pitcher Angels) won me a major DFS tournament that night.
I love Lucroy.

**stevenash** · 09-23-17, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by Chi_archie

Russell>Baez at SS

Yeah, I agree, but Baez is versatile, so he's a good bench guy to have.

**EmpireMaker** · 09-24-17, 12:56 AM

Third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s reunion with the Giants this season has been a disaster from a statistical standpoint, as the former franchise linchpin has batted just .213/.253/.346 in 146 plate appearances in his return to the Bay Area. Nevertheless, the Giants seem primed to keep Sandoval on their 40-man roster into next spring, Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News reports. Factors working in Sandoval’s favor include his inexpensive price tag – the 31-year-old has a club option for 2018 worth the league minimum – and manager Bruce Bochy’s favorable opinion of him. Bochy said Saturday that the Sandoval experiment has “gone well,” and he praised the former member of the Red Sox for his defensive work at both corner infield positions. Because injuries frequently kept Sandoval out of action during his nightmarish stint in Boston from 2015-17, he’ll play winter ball during the upcoming offseason in an effort to make up for some of the missed time. After that, it appears he’ll have an opportunity in spring training to earn a spot on San Francisco’s 25-man roster.

The Tigers announced that reliever Alex Wilson suffered a broken right leg (a non-displaced fibular fracture, to be exact) in their game against the Twins on Saturday. The injury occurred in the eighth inning when a 103.8 mph line drive off Joe Mauer’s bat struck Wilson. Wilson’s now facing a three-month recovery, giving him plenty of time to work back to full strength by next spring, Jason Beck of MLB.com tweets. The 30-year-old right-hander logged 60 innings of 4.50 ERA ball and posted 6.3 K/9 against 2.25 BB/9 in 2017. Wilson, who earned $1.18MM this year, is scheduled to make his second trip through arbitration over the winter.
Royals manager Ned Yost tells Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com that the team will consider using the athletic Raul Mondesi in center field next season. Mondesi has only played the middle infield in the majors since debuting last year, but he could help the club fill impending free agent Lorenzo Cain’s void should the standout center fielder depart in the offseason. It may be wishful thinking for the Royals, though, as the 22-year-old Mondesi has batted an ugly .178/.224/.265 in 206 plate appearances in the majors. Mondesi did provide some reason for hope at the Triple-A level this year, however, with a .305/.340/.539 line, 13 home runs and 21 stolen bases across 357 PAs.
Separate stints on the disabled list have kept Mariners ace James Paxton out for approximately two months this year and limited him to 124 2/3 innings. In an effort to ward off injuries in 2018, Paxton will undergo body and blood testing in the offseason to find diet and workout regimens that suit him, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweets. Paxton has pitched to a 3.03 ERA and registered 10.25 K/9 against 2.67 BB/9 this year, which are the type of numbers that could make him a Cy Young contender over a full season of work.

**El Nino** · 09-24-17, 05:15 AM

6 games left. Looks like the Twins have the 2nd Wild Card in the AL all but wrapped up.

**JAKEPEAVY21** · 09-24-17, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by El Nino

6 games left. Looks like the Twins have the 2nd Wild Card in the AL all but wrapped up.

congrats

I'm hoping your dbacks play the dodgers in the playoffs...dbacks seem to be a good matchup vs them

**Chi_archie** · 09-24-17, 08:13 AM

man I just want to get down to the last few days of the season and soak in the drama! leading into the playoffs

**koz-man** · 09-24-17, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Chi_archie

man I just want to get down to the last few days of the season and soak in the drama! leading into the playoffs

Agree!!!

**Cross** · 09-24-17, 06:12 PM

Russell amazing too, but Baez is even better in the field. Best up the middle combo in MLB and not even close.

**EmpireMaker** · 09-25-17, 12:26 AM

The Pirates controversially parted with reliever Juan Nicasio in a money-saving move last month, but the now-Cardinal and impending free agent would be open to an offseason return to the Bucs, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. “Yes, I would consider it. I liked it there a lot,” said Nicasio, who joined Pittsburgh prior to the 2016 season. It’s unclear whether the Pirates will pursue Nicasio over the winter, but he has put himself in position to secure a nice deal from them or someone else with his output this year. In 69 innings divided among Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis, the 31-year-old has posted a 2.74 ERA with 8.74 K/9, 2.35 BB/9 and a 45.9 percent groundball rate.
More from Pittsburgh and two other NL cities:

The Nationals plan to activate right fielder Bryce Harper for their series opener against the Phillies on Monday, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post tweets. Harper left the Nats’ game against San Francisco on Aug. 12 after suffering a gruesome-looking knee injury, thus derailing an MVP-caliber campaign, but he’ll have a chance to be a major factor in October for the World Series hopefuls.
Giants right-hander Matt Cain sounded uncertain on Saturday when discussing whether he plans to continue his career in 2018, Chris Haft of MLB.com writes. What’s clear is that the Giants will buy out the former front-line starter’s $21MM club option in favor of a $7.5MM buyout in the offseason, ending a fruitful tenure in the Bay Area. While the 32-year-old Cain is in the midst of a fourth straight rough season, he has been outstanding for the majority of his career in San Francisco, where he has won three World Series and earned three All-Star nods since debuting in 2005.
Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang won’t need to come off the restricted list to participate in the Dominic Winter League, general manager Neal Huntington told Adam Berry of MLB.com and other reporters Sunday (Twitter link). Kang is already in the Dominican Republic and working out with his winter ball team, per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Their season begins Oct. 20, and playing for them will represent his first game action since the 2016 major league season. Kang hasn’t been able to secure a U.S. work **** since earning his third DUI charge in his native South Korea last winter. The Pirates will set an offseason deadline to decide whether they can count on Kang for 2018, according to Huntington. “We’ll get to a point in time where, if we still don’t know, we’ll plan as if he’s not going to be here,” he said. “If he is able to secure a **** to get into the country, we’ll have an extra really good player.”

**Otters27** · 09-25-17, 06:52 AM

6 games to go Rockies up 2 games for Wild Card

**Chi_archie** · 09-25-17, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by Otters27

6 games to go Rockies up 2 games for Wild Card

Gonna be fun

**Cross** · 09-25-17, 09:42 AM

Hopefully Rockies hold on, such a strong division this year.

**yisman** · 09-25-17, 02:24 PM

Aaron Judge broke McGwire's rookie HR record.

Two home runs today, so now 50.

**koz-man** · 09-25-17, 07:22 PM

Dusty Baker says Bryce Harper suffered a "minor setback" in his comeback from a knee injury Monday. He's out with the flu.

**mr. leisure** · 09-25-17, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by yisman

Aaron Judge broke McGwire's rookie HR record.

Two home runs today, so now 50.

Great job Judge

**koz-man** · 09-26-17, 04:38 AM

The Dodgers reach 100 wins for the first time since 1974. The Cubs are one win away from the NL Central title. The Rockies fail to increase their lead on the Brewers and Rockies.

The magic number update:
Cubs 1;
Twins 2 (to clinch wild card);
Red Sox 3 (to clinch AL East);
Rockies 5 (to clinch wild card);
Dodgers 2 (to clinch No. 1 seed in NL);
Indians 5 (to clinch No. 1 seed in AL).

**Otters27** · 09-26-17, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by koz-man

The Dodgers reach 100 wins for the first time since 1974. The Cubs are one win away from the NL Central title. The Rockies fail to increase their lead on the Brewers and Rockies.

The magic number update:
Cubs 1;
Twins 2 (to clinch wild card);
Red Sox 3 (to clinch AL East);
Rockies 5 (to clinch wild card);
Dodgers 2 (to clinch No. 1 seed in NL);
Indians 5 (to clinch No. 1 seed in AL).

I could see Dodgers losing to any of the the other playoff teams. Diamondbacks will win 1 game playoffs

**Chi_archie** · 09-26-17, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by koz-man

The Dodgers reach 100 wins for the first time since 1974. The Cubs are one win away from the NL Central title. The Rockies fail to increase their lead on the Brewers and Rockies.

The magic number update:
Cubs 1;
Twins 2 (to clinch wild card);
Red Sox 3 (to clinch AL East);
Rockies 5 (to clinch wild card);
Dodgers 2 (to clinch No. 1 seed in NL);
Indians 5 (to clinch No. 1 seed in AL).

way to go Doyers

**Cross** · 09-26-17, 10:56 AM

Cubs are so stacked and going so well right now, it is going to take a lot for any team to upset them in the playoffs.

**EmpireMaker** · 09-26-17, 02:37 PM

Here are the latest health notes from around the game:

The Astros dodged a bullet tonight when star second baseman Jose Altuve left the game after being struck on the forearm by a pitch. Thankfully, as Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle tweets, x-rays came back negative. The diminutive 27-year-old is leading the American League in hits for the fourth consecutive year and in batting average for the third time in four seasons. He’s also pacing qualified batters with a career-best 168 OPS+.
Also departing with an injury tonight was Cardinals veteran Yadier Molina. The team announced that he’s undergoing testing as part of the concussion protocol after taking two consecutive foul balls off of his mask. His status for the rest of the regular season remains uncertain, but it could become a bigger issue if St. Louis can claw into Wild Card position.
Athletics slugger Matt Olson has been diagnosed with a grade 2 hamstring strain, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. He’s very likely to miss the remainder of the season, but it won’t put a damper on an exciting campaign. Olson, 23, has streaked to 24 long balls in 216 trips to the plate, with a robust .259/.352/.651 batting line. He’ll fall shy of a full year of service, too, so the A’s will control Olson for six more campaigns.
Things didn’t go quite as hoped for the Red Sox tonight. Lefty Drew Pomeranz was sitting in the high-eighties with his fastball, though he says that was part of a plan to save some gas for the later innings, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports. Star outfielder Mookie Betts left with a wrist issue, though there’s no reason as yet to think it’s significant. Of the greatest concern, perhaps, infielder Eduardo Nunez tweaked his injured knee. He suggested that he’ll sit out a few more games and try again to return, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald tweets.

**BigSpoon** · 09-26-17, 08:17 PM

Chris Sale's bad start tonight locks up the AL Cy Young for Corey Kluber I think.