The 2018 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

[koz-man]

Pirates 'deeply concerned' after kidnapping of Elias Diaz's mother


The mother of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz has been kidnapped in Venezuela, according to multiple reports.

"We are all shocked and deeply concerned for Elias' mother, as well as for Elias and his entire family," the Pirates said in a statement Thursday. "We are using all of the resources available at the Pirates and Major League Baseball to support Elias and his family during this incredibly difficult time.

"As we work with authorities on his mom's safe return, we will withhold further comment and ask that you please respect the family's need for privacy."

According to the Venezuelan website Meridiano, Diaz's mother was kidnapped in San Francisco, in the state of Zulia, on Thursday afternoon. One of Diaz's brothers was in the home when the abduction occurred, according to the report.
Kidnapping has been a significant concern in Venezuela. Some baseball players have been forced to move their families from Venezuela, and many hire security to protect those still in country.

In 2009, the mother of pitcher Victor Zambrano was kidnapped, and that same year, Yorvit Torrealba Jr., the son of Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba, and his uncle were kidnapped. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped in 2011, rescued by commandos who swept into his captors' mountain hideout.

Last summer Tigers star Miguel Cabrera blasted the Venezuelan government and said he was tired of having to pay to protect his family from kidnapping.

Elias Diaz, 27, has played three years for the Pirates and became the regular backup to starter Francisco Cervelli in 2017. He hit .223 with one home run and 19 RBIs in 200 plate appearances but showed a strong arm and game-calling ability.

Pirates pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training Monday in Bradenton, Florida.

[EmpireMaker]

The Rays have agreed to terms on a one-year, Major League deal with right-hander Sergio Romo, reports Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (via Twitter). He can earn up to $2.75MM, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter link), though the amount guaranteed remains unclear. The deal is still pending a physical. Romo is a client of Meister Sports Management.

Romo, 35 next month, was cut loose by the Dodgers after struggling through 25 innings in Los Angeles last season but found new life when L.A. sent him to the Rays in a minor trade following a DFA. In 30 2/3 frames with Tampa Bay, Romo thrived, pitching to a minuscule 1.47 ERA with an excellent 28-to-7 K/BB ratio and a 38.8 percent ground-ball rate.
Though Romo’s average velocity on his four-seamer and sinker both checked in under 87 mph last season, his penchant for missing bats didn’t deteriorate whatsoever. While one wouldn’t think it when looking at the radar gun, Romo has averaged better than a strikeout per inning in all but two seasons of his career, and he averaged 9.5 K/9 on the season as a whole in 2017. That impressive mark was accompanied by a 14.9 percent swinging-strike rate that tied him with Cody Allen for 25th among 155 qualified relievers.
Romo will serve as an elder statesman in a young and rather inexperienced Tampa Bay bullpen. At present, Alex Colome projects as the team’s closer, though trade rumblings surrounding his name have persisted even as Spring Training approaches. The Rays are reportedly still under ownership directive to cut a bit more payroll, and that figures to be ever the more true after adding Romo on a one-year deal — even if it comes at a modest rate. Should Colome ultimately be moved, it stands to reason that Romo, formerly the Giants’ closer, could find himself in the mix for saves early in the season.
[Related: Updated Tampa Bay Rays depth chart]
Beyond Romo and Colome, the Rays’ bullpen, at least from the right side, looks somewhat undefined. Dan Jennings and Jose Alvarado should hold down spots as southpaws, while Matt Andriese figures to pitch from the right side in a multi-inning capacity (though Andriese could end up in the rotation depending on whether Jake Odorizzi, another trade candidate, is moved prior to Opening Day).
Other right-handers who could work in a middle relief or setup capacity include Austin Pruitt, Chaz Roe, Andrew Kittredge, Ryne Stanek, Chih-Wei Hu, Jamie Schultz and Diego Castillo — each of whom is on the 40-man roster. The Rays will also have some veterans with big league experience in camp on minor league deals, including righty Evan Scribner and lefties Vidal Nuno and Jonny Venters.

[koz-man]

Mike Foltynewicz and Braves hold hearing over smallest gap since 1994

PHOENIX -- Pitcher Mike Foltynewicz went to salary arbitration with the Atlanta Braves over a difference of $100,000, the smallest gap in a hearing since 1994.
The 26-year-old right-hander asked Gary Kendellen, Mark Burstein and Walt De Treux for a raise from $544,000 to $2.3 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The Braves argued for $2.2 million during Friday's hearing.


Oakland pitcher Kendall Graveman also went to a hearing, asking James Oldham, Margaret Brogan and Jeanne Wood to lift his salary from $545,000 to $2.6 million instead of the Athletics' $2.36 million offer.
Players have a 7-4 record with three decisions pending and nine hearings scheduled for next week. The case involving Cleveland pitcher Trevor Bauer, which was heard Thursday, will not be decided until late next week. That will be after hearings for Baltimore's Kevin Gausman and Toronto's Marcus Stroman, pitchers who also have at least three years of major league service but less than four.
Foltynewicz was selected by Houston with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft and was dealt in January 2015 as part of the trade that sent Evan Gattis to the Astros. He was 10-13 with a 4.79 ERA last year in a career-high 28 starts and one relief appearance. He is 23-25 with a 4.87 ERA in parts of four major league seasons.


The previous case involving a gap that small was when New York Yankees first baseman Kevin Maas was awarded a raise from $225,000 to $425,000 rather than his $490,000 request.
Graveman, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 6-4 with a 4.19 ERA in 19 starts, going on the disabled list due to a strained right shoulder from April 15-25 and May 26-Aug. 2. He was 10-11 with 4.11 ERA over 31 starts in 2016.

[Otters27]

They kidnapped Diaz mom. Why don't these guys pay for their family to come live in the US. Jeeez

[batt33]

Romo to the Rays? Kinda hard to believe he is still going....

[ApricotSinner32]

This is an interesting thread boys

[JMobile]

Pitchers and Catchers show up for Spring Training this week. Can't believe baseball is here.

[BigSpoon]

This is an interesting thread boys

[BigSpoon]

Yu Darvish to the Cubs for 6 years, $126M.

[Andy117]

Yu Darvish to the Cubs for 6 years, $126M.

A bit more than I think he's worth. Cubs going hard for another WS.

[yisman]

six years for a 31 year old Japanese pitcher?

[BigSpoon]

It makes the Cubs better for the next few years at least. Contract will be ugly for the last 2-3 years I think.

[EmpireMaker]

While it’s been somewhat of a surprise to see some large market teams not spending the way they usually do, this offseason isn’t different from any other for small-market teams like the Athletics. As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, low payrolls have long been “modus operandi” for the A’s, and now much of baseball is under fire for following suit. “I can’t speak for other teams, but I know for us, this scenario is not much different than it’s been for a number of years as we push for a new stadium,” Oakland Vice President of Baseball Operations Billy Beane said. He added that the scenario is individual for each team, but for the A’s it comes down to simply not having the resources. While some are accusing MLB clubs of a “race to the bottom,” Slusser notes that youth-centric rebuilds with focus on prospects and the draft helped lead the Royals, Cubs and Astros to World Series titles in the past three seasons. Indeed, Beane said, “I’m sure that’s part of it. Sports is very copycat: Whatever succeeds, people will try.” The Athletics signed Yusmiero Petit to a two-year, $10MM contract this offseason, and also made offers to Brian Duensing and Austin Jackson before they ultimately signed with other clubs. Now, says Slusser, the A’s offseason spending is “essentially done.”
Other notes from teams near the country’s Pacific coast…

• Evan Grant of SportsDay dives into the questions that the Rangers will need to answer if they choose to implement a six-man rotation this season (or as manager Jeff Banister calls it, a “five-plus-one” rotation). The basic structure: have five starters who pitch regularly, and utilize a sixth pitcher as a swingman to pitch only when necessary to ensure that each pitcher gets five days off between starts. The ultimate hope is that such a configuration will keep all Rangers pitchers fresh and reduce late-season fatigue. “The schedule makes it challenging. Construction of your roster makes it challenging,” said Banister. “There is enough data that tells us there are pitchers who definitely benefit from an extra day’s rest or the routine of being on that five-day rest period or six-day rest period. You can point to ERAs. You can point to velocity. You can point to walk rates go down, strike out rates go up.” There are significant challenges in bringing this idea into reality, however. First, it’s a pretty radical change from what MLB pitchers are used to doing, and what they’ve been trained to do during their entire careers. Second, they’d need to find enough pitchers to make it a viable strategy, and the Rangers’ starting staff has more questions than answers at the moment.
• Giants GM Bobby Evans says that there haven’t been any contract talks between the club and postseason titan Madison Bumgarner, according to a tweet from John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bumgarner has long been the ace of the Giants’ pitching staff. He was drafted by the organization and has never played for another. MadBum’s posted a 3.01 ERA (3.34 xFIP) over the course of his eight-year MLB career with 8.84 K/9 against just 2.04 BB/9. The Giants own a 2019 club option over the towering lefty for a mere $12MM, so they’ll be able to control him through his age-29 campaign before he hits the open market during the 2019-2020 offseason (barring an extension).

[yisman]

It makes the Cubs better for the next few years at least. Contract will be ugly for the last 2-3 years I think.

The best thing I can say about it is it's better than the Heyward contract. Eight years, $184 million for one of the worst hitting outfielders in baseball (hard to find a full-time starter who's worse).

[Chi_archie]

Pirates 'deeply concerned' after kidnapping of Elias Diaz's mother


The mother of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz has been kidnapped in Venezuela, according to multiple reports.

"We are all shocked and deeply concerned for Elias' mother, as well as for Elias and his entire family," the Pirates said in a statement Thursday. "We are using all of the resources available at the Pirates and Major League Baseball to support Elias and his family during this incredibly difficult time.

"As we work with authorities on his mom's safe return, we will withhold further comment and ask that you please respect the family's need for privacy."

According to the Venezuelan website Meridiano, Diaz's mother was kidnapped in San Francisco, in the state of Zulia, on Thursday afternoon. One of Diaz's brothers was in the home when the abduction occurred, according to the report.
Kidnapping has been a significant concern in Venezuela. Some baseball players have been forced to move their families from Venezuela, and many hire security to protect those still in country.

In 2009, the mother of pitcher Victor Zambrano was kidnapped, and that same year, Yorvit Torrealba Jr., the son of Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba, and his uncle were kidnapped. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped in 2011, rescued by commandos who swept into his captors' mountain hideout.

Last summer Tigers star Miguel Cabrera blasted the Venezuelan government and said he was tired of having to pay to protect his family from kidnapping.

Elias Diaz, 27, has played three years for the Pirates and became the regular backup to starter Francisco Cervelli in 2017. He hit .223 with one home run and 19 RBIs in 200 plate appearances but showed a strong arm and game-calling ability.

Pirates pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training Monday in Bradenton, Florida.

that is really scary

[ApricotSinner32]

While it’s been somewhat of a surprise to see some large market teams not spending the way they usually do, this offseason isn’t different from any other for small-market teams like the Athletics. As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, low payrolls have long been “modus operandi” for the A’s, and now much of baseball is under fire for following suit. “I can’t speak for other teams, but I know for us, this scenario is not much different than it’s been for a number of years as we push for a new stadium,” Oakland Vice President of Baseball Operations Billy Beane said. He added that the scenario is individual for each team, but for the A’s it comes down to simply not having the resources. While some are accusing MLB clubs of a “race to the bottom,” Slusser notes that youth-centric rebuilds with focus on prospects and the draft helped lead the Royals, Cubs and Astros to World Series titles in the past three seasons. Indeed, Beane said, “I’m sure that’s part of it. Sports is very copycat: Whatever succeeds, people will try.” The Athletics signed Yusmiero Petit to a two-year, $10MM contract this offseason, and also made offers to Brian Duensing and Austin Jackson before they ultimately signed with other clubs. Now, says Slusser, the A’s offseason spending is “essentially done.”
Other notes from teams near the country’s Pacific coast…

• Evan Grant of SportsDay dives into the questions that the Rangers will need to answer if they choose to implement a six-man rotation this season (or as manager Jeff Banister calls it, a “five-plus-one” rotation). The basic structure: have five starters who pitch regularly, and utilize a sixth pitcher as a swingman to pitch only when necessary to ensure that each pitcher gets five days off between starts. The ultimate hope is that such a configuration will keep all Rangers pitchers fresh and reduce late-season fatigue. “The schedule makes it challenging. Construction of your roster makes it challenging,” said Banister. “There is enough data that tells us there are pitchers who definitely benefit from an extra day’s rest or the routine of being on that five-day rest period or six-day rest period. You can point to ERAs. You can point to velocity. You can point to walk rates go down, strike out rates go up.” There are significant challenges in bringing this idea into reality, however. First, it’s a pretty radical change from what MLB pitchers are used to doing, and what they’ve been trained to do during their entire careers. Second, they’d need to find enough pitchers to make it a viable strategy, and the Rangers’ starting staff has more questions than answers at the moment.
• Giants GM Bobby Evans says that there haven’t been any contract talks between the club and postseason titan Madison Bumgarner, according to a tweet from John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bumgarner has long been the ace of the Giants’ pitching staff. He was drafted by the organization and has never played for another. MadBum’s posted a 3.01 ERA (3.34 xFIP) over the course of his eight-year MLB career with 8.84 K/9 against just 2.04 BB/9. The Giants own a 2019 club option over the towering lefty for a mere $12MM, so they’ll be able to control him through his age-29 campaign before he hits the open market during the 2019-2020 offseason (barring an extension).

[Cross]

Venezuela is fukin scary, what can you do if you don’t have enough money to pay for security?

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Yu Darvish to the Cubs for 6 years, $126M.

brutal signing for the cubs but I'm sure poster Cross will wax poetic about it!!

[koz-man]

They kidnapped Diaz mom. Why don't these guys pay for their family to come live in the US. Jeeez

That's what I was thinking!!

[koz-man]

Yu Darvish to the Cubs for 6 years, $126M.

This is Crazy...

[batt33]

This is Crazy...

agreed.....wow

[mr. leisure]

Yu Darvish to the Cubs for 6 years, $126M.

Yep ,TOO MUCH NONEY !

[JMobile]

Cubs should have used that money to resign Jake.

[batt33]

I think the giants will come to an agreement with mad bumm sooner rather than later

[yisman]

not the first time an athlete or a family member of an athlete has been kidnapped and held for ransom in South America, that's for sure

there was a story like this a few years ago

[EmpireMaker]

• The Twins made the Rays a trade offer involving Chris Archer “as recently as two weeks ago,” La Valle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The two clubs have often been linked in rumors this winter as Minnesota explores seemingly all free agent and trade options for starting pitching, with Archer and fellow Ray Jake Odorizzi both drawing attention from the Twins. Earlier reports stated that the Rays had interest in Max Kepler, and Neal notes that Kepler would be likely be targeted “as part of any package for Archer.” Of course, it remains to be seen if the Twins or any team can meet the Rays’ enormous asking price for the controllable young ace; Archer said last month that he feels that he’ll still be pitching in Tampa Bay in the coming season.
• Also from Neal’s piece, he lists several other free agent pitching options for the Twins, though Jake Arrieta doesn’t appear to be a likely candidate. “The Twins’ chances of signing Arrieta…are remote,” Neal writes. While Minnesota was willing to offer a five-year, $100MM+ deal to Yu Darvish, it doesn’t look like the club is willing to make such a splurge for Arrieta, and will instead look at less-expensive options.
• Major League Baseball’s investigation into assault accusations leveled against Miguel Sano isn’t likely to be completed before the Twins begin full Spring Training exercises, Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes. Past league investigations (as per the domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy) have varied in length, so there isn’t any clear timeline for when the results of the Sano case could be made public.
• With his career as a starting pitcher faltering in 2013, Zach Duke decided to embrace being a reliever after some blunt words from his wife Kristin, the newly-signed Twin tells Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “She kind of had to beat it through my head that I was done as a starter,” Duke said. “My wife just kind of said, ’Listen, nobody is interested in you as a starter anymore. They’ve seen it, babe. There’s nothing changing. They know what they’re going to get as a starter, and nobody wants it anymore.’ ” Kristin’s advice ended up turning her husband’s career around, particularly after a late-season run of success out of the Reds’ bullpen in 2013. Over the last four seasons, Duke has a 2.85 ERA, 2.62 K/BB rate and a 10.0 K/9 over 198 2/3 relief innings.

[Chi_archie]

• The Twins made the Rays a trade offer involving Chris Archer “as recently as two weeks ago,” La Valle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The two clubs have often been linked in rumors this winter as Minnesota explores seemingly all free agent and trade options for starting pitching, with Archer and fellow Ray Jake Odorizzi both drawing attention from the Twins. Earlier reports stated that the Rays had interest in Max Kepler, and Neal notes that Kepler would be likely be targeted “as part of any package for Archer.” Of course, it remains to be seen if the Twins or any team can meet the Rays’ enormous asking price for the controllable young ace; Archer said last month that he feels that he’ll still be pitching in Tampa Bay in the coming season.
• Also from Neal’s piece, he lists several other free agent pitching options for the Twins, though Jake Arrieta doesn’t appear to be a likely candidate. “The Twins’ chances of signing Arrieta…are remote,” Neal writes. While Minnesota was willing to offer a five-year, $100MM+ deal to Yu Darvish, it doesn’t look like the club is willing to make such a splurge for Arrieta, and will instead look at less-expensive options.
• Major League Baseball’s investigation into assault accusations leveled against Miguel Sano isn’t likely to be completed before the Twins begin full Spring Training exercises, Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes. Past league investigations (as per the domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy) have varied in length, so there isn’t any clear timeline for when the results of the Sano case could be made public.
• With his career as a starting pitcher faltering in 2013, Zach Duke decided to embrace being a reliever after some blunt words from his wife Kristin, the newly-signed Twin tells Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “She kind of had to beat it through my head that I was done as a starter,” Duke said. “My wife just kind of said, ’Listen, nobody is interested in you as a starter anymore. They’ve seen it, babe. There’s nothing changing. They know what they’re going to get as a starter, and nobody wants it anymore.’ ” Kristin’s advice ended up turning her husband’s career around, particularly after a late-season run of success out of the Reds’ bullpen in 2013. Over the last four seasons, Duke has a 2.85 ERA, 2.62 K/BB rate and a 10.0 K/9 over 198 2/3 relief innings.

Duke has been around a long time

[Otters27]

Even though Cubs overpaid for Darvish still should have a chance to make a run with a solid staff

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Cubs should have used that money to resign Jake.

completely agree...much rather have Arrieta than Darvish.

[Cross]

I will miss Jake the Snake... Darvish better not be another Hayward!

[Cross]

Lester, Darvish, and Hendricks all had deep post season runs. Other Pitchers are going to have to eat some innings this year to keep these guys healthy and ready for another postseason run.

[Cross]

And JakePeavy, it is good to be a Cubs fan right now! Let me enjoy this for once in my life, LOL!

[BigSpoon]

Ex-MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza arrested with more than 20kg of drugs. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2...ilograms-drugs

Could be a story line in an upcoming season of Narcos on Netflix.

[JMobile]

Ex-MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza arrested with more than 20kg of drugs. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2...ilograms-drugs

Could be a story line in an upcoming season of Narcos on Netflix.

Wow, this guy should have just retired.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

And JakePeavy, it is good to be a Cubs fan right now! Let me enjoy this for once in my life, LOL!

lol, I'm just needling you for being one of the most shameless homers around...in fairness you have suffered a long time as a Cubs fan so I'm happy for you that they broke the schneid and Cubs nation got to enjoy...not holding my breath that my Padres will ever win one before I die although in a couple of years they could potentially be competitive with the stacked farm system.