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

[koz-man]

No Johnny Vander Meer distinction for Edinson Volquez, who allows a hit to Josh Harrison, the second batter he faced in his first start after his no-hitter.

Since the start of 2015, pitchers are 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA in the start immediately following a no-hitter (not including Max Scherzer's no-hitter in his final start of 2015).

[stevenash]

This is the first season in MLB history in which two players, Scooter Gennett and Anthony Rendon, drove in 10 runs in a game

You have to be fortunate enough to come up with men on to have those prolific RBI numbers in a game.

Lou Gehrig drove in 173 runs in 1927, what's incredible is Babe Ruth batting ahead of him hit 60 homers clearing the bases.

[Cross]

Volquez followed it up very well tonight.

[Andy117]

No Johnny Vander Meer distinction for Edinson Volquez, who allows a hit to Josh Harrison, the second batter he faced in his first start after his no-hitter.

Since the start of 2015, pitchers are 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA in the start immediately following a no-hitter (not including Max Scherzer's no-hitter in his final start of 2015).

Vander Meer's 2 consecutive no hitters are on the list of truly unbreakable records.

[yisman]

Cano tripled his error total today.

Wish he'd triple, or at least double.

[Cross]

He hit a nice bomb yesterday though.

[Chi_archie]

You have to be fortunate enough to come up with men on to have those prolific RBI numbers in a game.

Lou Gehrig drove in 173 runs in 1927, what's incredible is Babe Ruth batting ahead of him hit 60 homers clearing the bases.

Murderers row

[JAKEPEAVY21]

MLB draft next week..I'm hoping Hunter Greene slips to the Padres at #3 but it is unlikely..

[EmpireMaker]

Dusty Baker wants to continue managing the Nationals beyond the 2017 season, but ownership has yet to make him an extension offer, reports Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. According to Janes, GM Mike Rizzo made a strong recommendation to ownership that the team extend its relationship with Baker, but nothing has materialized. Janes spoke to Rizzo, Ryan Zimmerman and Max Scherzer about Baker, with each offering praise and voicing a hope that he’ll remain beyond the current season. Scherzer, in particular, spoke on behalf of keeping Baker at the team’s helm. “We love him,” said the two-time Cy Young winner. “We want him here. They [ownership] want to be patient, but I hope they don’t mess with this clubhouse.” Janes notes that the Nats have a history of underpaying managers, which may have cost them a chance at Bud Black two offseasons ago. Baker acknowledged that he knew what he was getting into, financially speaking, when joining the Nationals but also suggested that he feels his current two-year, $4MM contract is a bit light. “…I think I’ve earned more than I’m being paid,” he said.
More from the NL East…

• The Post’s Thomas Boswell further weighs in on Baker’s contract situation, expressing perplexity over ownership’s lack of urgency in extending Baker even through the 2018 season. Boswell adds further praise for Baker from Nationals righty Tanner Roark, who lauds Baker’s ability to connect with virtually anyone. Perhaps most interesting from Boswell’s piece, though, is a quote from an unnamed “key member” of the Nationals organization suggesting that ownership serves as a hindrance not only in managerial decisions but in roster construction. “When you’re this close to winning, you have to make the one move that your team really needs,” Boswell’s source said. “Right now, the Lerners are the problem. They won’t spend, even though it’s not much, compared to how close we are. [General Manager] Mike Rizzo and Dusty aren’t the problem [with the bullpen]. The owners just don’t get it.”
• Yoenis Cespedes somewhat quietly began a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday night, writes Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. The Mets didn’t announce the rehab assignment for Cespedes this time around, after his last rehab effort was shut down. Information from the team has been “pointedly vague” to this point, Ackert contends, noting that the team is becoming increasingly cautious with medical information after the myriad health controversies they’ve faced in 2017. Cespedes played left field with the Mets’ Florida State League (Class-A Advanced) affiliate Thursday.
• Relief prospect Jesen Therrien has put himself on the map for a 2017 call-up with the Phillies, manager Pete Mackanin told reporters (via CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury). Philadelphia brought Therrien over to big league camp a couple of times in Spring Training, and his slider caught Mackanin’s eye right away. His first two months of the season have done nothing to dissuade Mackanin’s interest; Therrien tore through Double-A opponents with a 1.26 ERA and a preposterous 39-to-3 K/BB ratio across 28 2/3 innings before being promoted to Triple-A. He’s tossed four more scoreless innings there with four punchouts and no walks. “For me, he’s on the map,” said Mackanin. “Especially out of the bullpen, if you have a good breaking ball and can command it, that’s half the battle.” The Montreal native was the Phillies’ 17th-round pick back in 2011.

[yisman]

He hit a nice bomb yesterday though.

he almost won the game last night

Had Cano in DFS and bet Mariners

two men on, Cano drilled one, Buxton made a ridiculous catch

[koz-man]

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will throw a simulated relief outing in Tampa on Saturday. The goal is return to the Yankees Friday in Oakland. Chapman is on the DL with shoulder

[stevenash]

MLB draft next week..I'm hoping Hunter Greene slips to the Padres at #3 but it is unlikely..

He'll go number 1 overall.

[Cross]

Chapman is hurt, didn't even know.

[EmpireMaker]

Entering the season, the Phillies would’ve been on the short list of clubs that were near universally expected to be deadline sellers in 2017. Philadelphia’s rebuilding efforts have been well documented, and while there was plenty of promise thanks to young pieces such as Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Aaron Nola, Vince Velasquez, Jerad Eickhoff and Zach Eflin, that rebuilding effort was all but certain to continue.
Fast forward two months, and things in Philadelphia are more dire than nearly anyone could have predicted. At 21-37, Philadelphia has baseball’s worst record. They went 6-22 in the month of May. Their collective ERA is an MLB-worst 5.02, and they rank 26th in both runs scored and OBP. Suffice it to say, the 2017 season isn’t going well, and for a rebuilding team, that can only mean more trades to stockpile young talent. With that in mind, here’s a look at what the Phillies have to offer other clubs…
Rentals
Pat Neshek, RHP (reliever) | Salary: $6.5MM
Acquired in what amounted to a salary dump this offseason, Neshek has been the Phillies’ best reliever in 2017. Through 22 innings, he’s pitched to a pristine 0.82 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 1.6 BB/9 and a 35.8 percent ground-ball rate. He’s always been a buzzsaw against right-handed opponents, but lefties have posted a woeful .143/.194/.176 batting line against the 36-year-old Neshek in 37 plate appearances this season. That’s obviously a small sample, but Neshek’s control against both lefties and righties has been markedly better in 2017 than in previous seasons, so some of the improvements against lefties could be legitimate.
Joaquin Benoit, RHP (reliever) | Salary: $7.5MM
Another bullpen stopgap, Benoit has pitched reasonably well when healthy enough to toe the rubber. He’s been on the disabled list since June 1 due to a knee sprain, but there’s no indication that the injury is serious in nature. Assuming he returns and demonstrates his health, Benoit should draw some interest for teams in need of middle relief and/or setup help. The 39-year-old veteran has totaled 22 innings of 3.68 ERA ball, averaging 7.8 K/9 against 4.9 BB/9 with a 30.9 percent ground-ball rate. Those numbers, of course, aren’t exactly outstanding, but virtually all of the damage against Benoit has been confined to two outings in 2017. He served up five runs in an epic meltdown on May 10 and another three on April 16. Benoit had tossed eight scoreless innings prior to his injury.
Jeanmar Gomez, RHP (reliever) | Salary: $4.2MM
The Phillies couldn’t drum up much interest in Gomez at last year’s trade deadline despite the fact that he was sporting a 2.77 ERA and 27 saves at the time of the trade deadline. Given his dismal 7.13 ERA and the loss of nearly one full mile per hour off his fastball through his first 17 2/3 innings this year, it’s not likely that Gomez will generate much intrigue. He’s posted a more encouraging 17-to-6 K/BB ratio (two of the walks being intentional) and a solid 52.8 percent ground-ball rate, though, so there’s at least some hope of a turnaround.
Jeremy Hellickson, RHP (starter) | Salary: $17.2MM
Like Neshek, Hellickson was acquired more or less as a salary dump — just one offseason prior. The former Rays top prospect had a rebound campaign with Philadelphia last year, tossing 189 innings with a 3.71 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and a 40.7 percent ground-ball rate. However, Hellickson was somewhat surprisingly not traded at last year’s deadline and, in another surprise, accepted a $17.2MM qualifying offer rather than seeking a larger guarantee on a multi-year deal in a weak market for starters. His strikeout rate has absolutely plummeted, as he’s punched out just 28 hitters in 66 innings (3.8 K/9). Hellickson is still showing good control, and his 4.50 ERA is at least respectable, but metrics like FIP (5.82), xFIP (5.88) and SIERA (5.77) all scream regression.
Howie Kendrick, LF/RF/2B/1B | Salary: $10MM
Yet another low-cost pickup for GM Matt Klentak, Kendrick has been on an all-out tear since returning from a DL stint for an abdominal strain. The versatile 33-year-old (34 next month) is hitting .333/.378/.522 on the season. That production comes with a ridiculous and unsustainable .422 average on balls in play, but Kendrick has a pair of homers, five doubles and a triple on the season thus far to go along with three steals. With his versatility and experience, he could appeal to a vast number of contenders if he can sustain some of this production.
Michael Saunders, RF/LF | Salary: $9MM
With a .213/.262/.377 batting line through his first 195 plate appearances on the season, Saunders looks more like a release candidate than a trade candidate. But he’s not far removed from an outrageously good first half in 2016, and if he can rebound at the plate, the Phils could find a taker to absorb a bit of his salary. There’s an $11MM club option with a $1MM buyout attached to Saunders’ deal, but it’d take a remarkable turnaround for the Phillies or any other team to consider exercising it.
Daniel Nava, RF/LF/1B | Salary: $1.35MM
A minor league signee that has paid dividends thus far, Nava is sporting a high-quality .306/.429/.452 triple slash through a modest sample of 77 plate appearances. Nava’s not going to command much of a return even if he continues to hit well, but the veteran switch-hitter could be a nice bench piece for a contending club.
Andres Blanco, SS/2B/3B/1B | Salary: $3MM
Blanco was a quietly productive bench piece for the Phils from 2015-16, but he’s not going to draw much interest with a .180/.268/.260 line. He’s tallied just 56 plate appearances this year, so he can turn things around in a hurry. The switch-hitter crushed lefties in 2015 and hit righties well in 2016. If he turns it on before July 31, he, like Nava, could be a bench piece elsewhere.
Controlled Through 2018
Freddy Galvis, SS | Salary: $4.4MM
Galvis posted the worst OBP in baseball in 2016 (.274) and was still worth better than two wins above replacement due to sensational defense at shortstop and a surprise 20-homer season. The 27-year-old switch-hitter is showing some power once again and playing good defense as well. With a .245/.297/.420 batting line, he’s not an elite shortstop, but that triple slash paired with his glove and baserunning could help a club both this year and next. Unfortunately for the Phillies, there aren’t many contenders in need of a starting shortstop. However, injuries can change the marketplace in a hurry, and some clubs may like the idea of Galvis as a defensive-minded bench piece with some pop.
Longer-Term Assets
Cameron Rupp, C; Tommy Joseph, 1B ; Cesar Hernandez, 2B ; Hector Neris, RHP (reliever) | All pre-arbitration
None of this bunch stands out as especially likely to be moved, but the Phillies do have promising alternatives in the minors that could take their place if a rival club makes an enticing offer. Andrew Knapp and Jorge Alfaro both represent potential long-term options at catcher. Rhys Hoskins has 52 minor league homers dating back to Opening Day 2016 and could step in for Joseph at first base. Second base prospect Scott Kingery is having a monster season in Double-A. The Phils have a number of enticing young arms that could slot into the ninth inning, with Edubray Ramos already in the Majors and several promising arms in the upper minors.
Rupp and Hernandez are controlled through the 2020 season, while Neris is controlled through 2021 and Joseph all the way through 2022.

[Otters27]

Would you say the Rockies are a lock to make the playoffs.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

He'll go number 1 overall.

a right handed high school pitcher has never gone #1 overall(only 3 high school pitchers have ever gone #1 overall all lefties) and from what I've read the Twins will take a college arm at #1 and the Reds will likely take him at #2 overall.

[koz-man]

*The Red Sox have 58 HR, fewest in the American League. Their 4.7 runs per game rank 7th in the AL. They led MLB in runs per game last year

*Cubs: 30th loss of season. Didn't lose 30th game until July 3 last season.

*Ervin Santana (MIN): 3rd shutout of season (most in MLB)...Yankees: 20-9 at home this season, best in AL..

[mr. leisure]

Would you say the Rockies are a lock to make the playoffs.

No , too many games left to play .

[Chi_archie]

*Cubs: 30th loss of season. Didn't lose 30th game until July 3 last season.

[stevenash]

Wind blowing out at Wrigley, two meatballs on the mound, both lineups stacked, the total is juiced -120 over 12.5 runs.

Watch this turn out to be a pitchers duel.

[stevenash]

I can leave or take the Yankees, don't like 'em nor dislike 'em, (I did like Torre's teams though, I can't stand Girardi) but wow, can this team rake, what they are doing to Tillman is criminal.

[yisman]

every day two more guys on the 10 day DL

[El Nino]

Rockies just keep on rolling. I'd have thought they'd come back to Earth by now.

[EmpireMaker]

Heading into the 2017 season, the Pirates looked like a potential contender, as it wasn’t hard to imagine scenarios in which Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole bounced back, Jameson Taillon built on a strong rookie season, Josh Bell and Tyler Glasnow emerged as solid contributors and an offensive core built around McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco gave pitchers fits. Not much of that has happened, though, and the Bucs have also dealt with Jung Ho Kang’s **** limbo, Taillon’s unexpected testicular cancer diagnosis and Marte’s PED suspension. They’re now 26-35. While there might still be an outside shot they’ll contend, since no other club has yet run away with the NL Central, it looks increasingly likely they’ll consider selling as the summer progresses. If they do, here’s what they’ll have to offer.
Rentals
Tony Watson, LHP (reliever) | Salary: $5.6MM
Watson at one point might have been a good trade chip, but the Pirates recently bumped him from the closer role, and he’s posted a 6.00 ERA since the start of May. Watson is still left-handed, can touch the mid-90s, and has a good overall track record, however, so there’s still a chance a team could part with a real prospect to get him, particularly if he can reemerge over the next six weeks. He did pitch a scoreless inning yesterday against the Marlins, which is perhaps a good sign.
Juan Nicasio, RHP (reliever) | Salary: $3.65MM
The hard-throwing Nicasio appears to have finally settled in as a key contributor to the Pirates’ bullpen this season, posting a 1.35 ERA, 8.4 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. That low ERA probably unsustainable, but he’s a good bet to continue to be successful. A team could also conceivably use him as a starter, but since he’s almost completely scrapped his changeup and tends to fare better as a reliever, it’s likely teams will pursue him as a bullpen asset. He could further boost his stock by pitching well in any save chances he gets in the wake of Watson’s demotion from the closer role.
Antonio Bastardo, LHP (reliever) | Salary: $6.5MM
Bastardo is currently on the DL with a quad strain (though he’s close to a return) and pitched miserably in April (allowing 12 runs and six walks in 6 2/3 innings). One team, the Mets, has already essentially dumped his contract when they shipped him to Pittsburgh for Jon Niese at last August’s non-waiver deadline. It’s unlikely Bastardo will have much value this summer, although he’s perhaps worth watching as a possible addition to the lefty reliever trade market if he returns and pitches reasonably before then.
John Jaso, 1B/OF | Salary: $4MM
Jaso boasts a good eye at the plate and has gamely attempted to be versatile in the field. Unfortunately, his abilities to hit for contact and power seem to be fading (he’s batting just .236 this season and has only three homers in 140 plate appearances), and he isn’t really an outfielder. He might attract limited interest from a team interested in a veteran left-handed bat off the bench.
Controlled Through 2018
Andrew McCutchen, OF | Salary: $14MM
McCutchen has a team option for 2018 worth $14.5MM, with a $1M buyout. The former MVP once appeared to be a significant trade asset, of course; even after a down 2017 season, the Pirates appeared last winter to be on the verge of trading him to the Nationals for a package that included Lucas Giolito and Dane Dunning. McCutchen’s even worse hitting performance in 2017 (.237/.319/.411), though, makes his mediocre 2016 season look like less of an anomaly, leading to questions about whether the Pirates would even exercise his option if they were to keep him beyond this summer. McCutchen seems to have gotten back on the right track in the past few weeks, batting .350/.449/.525 over the past 14 days. Another month or so of that kind of hitting would go a long way toward solidifying his market.
Daniel Hudson, RHP (reliever) | Salary: $5.5MM
Hudson is also under contract for 2018 at $5.5MM. He has not pitched well in 2017 (5.33 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, although he’s fared decently since a five-run blowup against Miami in late April), and the Pirates, who believe in their ability to boost the stock of struggling pitchers, might be inclined to keep him and hope he benefits from their coaching.
Wade LeBlanc, LHP (reliever) | Salary: $750K
LeBlanc has a $1.25MM option or a $50K buyout for 2018. He has fared reasonably well this year (3.89 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 1.7 BB/9 over 37 innings), although he wouldn’t be an exciting pickup, given his modest pedigree and limited velocity. He could still attract interest from a team in need of a reliever capable of pitching multiple-inning stretches, although he would continue to be useful for the Pirates thanks to that ability, particularly if they were to trade other pitchers.
Jordy Mercer, SS | Salary: $4.325MM
Mercer has been a steady but unspectacular regular shortstop throughout his career and would have only modest trade value despite a solid .347 OBP this season. Particularly with Kang still on the restricted list, the Pirates don’t yet have an obvious replacement for Mercer. They might therefore be inclined to keep him.
Chris Stewart, C | Salary: $1.4MM
Stewart also has a $1.5MM option or a $250K buyout for 2018. The backup is currently on the DL and would have very limited trade value even if he were healthy.
Longer-Term Assets
Righty Gerrit Cole is controllable through 2019 through the arbitration process. Connor Byrne recently examined Cole’s trade candidacy, noting that the problem with Cole as a trade asset is that he hasn’t pitched well recently — he’s given up a total of 23 runs over his last four starts. The Astros have reportedly had interest in Cole, and they’d surely join a long list of teams making calls about Cole should be the Bucs make him available (which they reportedly haven’t). The Pirates, though, might be reluctant to part with him given the years of control they have remaining and the possibility that they could be selling low. Of course, teams might be willing to pay high prices for him anyway, given his stuff, solid peripherals (7.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 45.7 GB%) and unsustainably high home-run rate. Cole could be an interesting player to watch as the summer unfolds.
Other longer-term assets who could potentially come up in trade discussions include Ivan Nova (controllable through 2019), Francisco Cervelli (2019), David Freese (2019) and Josh Harrison (2020). None of those players seem terribly likely to be traded, although it’s possible to imagine Cervelli or Freese heading elsewhere under certain circumstances. Cervelli is currently on the 7-day concussion DL, and youngster Elias Diaz has hit well in limited opportunities. Perhaps Cervelli could be dealt should the Pirates choose to rebuild more aggressively than it currently appears they will. Freese has batted .273/.376/.432 this season and would undoubtedly be an attractive trade candidate, although with Kang out, the Bucs can certainly still use him.

[koz-man]

Chris Tillman allowed a career-high 9 ER in 1 1/3 IP today. Tillman's career ERA at Yankee Stadium rose from 6.34 to 7.94 after this start. It's now his highest at any park where he's pitched more than once.

The only other Orioles pitcher in the last 100 years to allow at least 9 runs in 1 1/3 innings or fewer was Kurt Ainsworth in 2004.

[koz-man]

The Royals scored 9 runs and hit 3 home runs in the 8th inning against the Padres. The last time Kansas City had 3 HR in an inning was May 27, 2011 (3 HR in 14th at Rangers). The last time they scored 9 runs in an inning was August 23, 2006 (scored 10 runs in 1st vs Indians).

[koz-man]

Brian McCann homer earlier off Ricky Nolasco was his 9th career HR off Nolasco. According to Elias, that's the most of any active hitter vs an active pitcher.

[stevenash]

Brian McCann homer earlier off Ricky Nolasco was his 9th career HR off Nolasco. According to Elias, that's the most of any active hitter vs an active pitcher.

How Nolasco still has a MLB players union card is beyond me.
(actually he is an innings eater, but that's about it)

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Rockies just keep on rolling. I'd have thought they'd come back to Earth by now.

Rockies are legit imo..Bud Black could be manager of the year and yet another good manager the Padres got rid of

[Chi_archie]

Rockies are legit imo..Bud Black could be manager of the year and yet another good manager the Padres got rid of

very solid team

[Otters27]

Arrietta looking to avoid the sweep

[mr. leisure]

How Nolasco still has a MLB players union card is beyond me.
(actually he is an innings eater, but that's about it)

Angels opening day starting pitcher .

[stevenash]

Arrietta looking to avoid the sweep

Fading the Cubs again.
Have to, fading the Cubs so far this year financed my new kitchen.

[El Nino]

Robbie Ray with another ho-hum 6 2/3 innings, 12 K's 3H 0ER guy is an early sleeper NL Cy Young candidate.

[Cross]

Time to stop fading cubs, they are going to get hot.