The 2019 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

[stevenash]

I’m a former catcher, yes we do make good managers.

[koz-man]

Yanks don't give qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius


The New York Yankees have decided not to extend the $17.8 million qualifying offer to shortstop Didi Gregorius, making him a free agent.

The Yankees now will not get draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. New York still could try to re-sign him.
Gregorius, 29, was arguably one of the Yankees' best players before undergoing Tommy John surgery that limited him to 82 games last season.

From 2016 to '18, Gregorius averaged over 20 home runs per season. He drove in a career-high 87 runs in 2017 and 86 the next year.

In last season's Other big names did receive qualifying offers on Monday. Those getting it were Jose Abreu (White Sox), Madison Bumgarner (Giants), Gerrit Cole (Astros), Josh Donaldson (Braves), Jake Odorizzi (Twins), Marcell Ozuna (Cardinals), Anthony Rendon (Nationals), Will Smith (Giants), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), and Zack Wheeler (Mets). abbreviated campaign he still hit 16 homers and drove in 61 runs.

[Chi_archie]

Yanks don't give qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius


The New York Yankees have decided not to extend the $17.8 million qualifying offer to shortstop Didi Gregorius, making him a free agent.

The Yankees now will not get draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. New York still could try to re-sign him.
Gregorius, 29, was arguably one of the Yankees' best players before undergoing Tommy John surgery that limited him to 82 games last season.

From 2016 to '18, Gregorius averaged over 20 home runs per season. He drove in a career-high 87 runs in 2017 and 86 the next year.

In last season's Other big names did receive qualifying offers on Monday. Those getting it were Jose Abreu (White Sox), Madison Bumgarner (Giants), Gerrit Cole (Astros), Josh Donaldson (Braves), Jake Odorizzi (Twins), Marcell Ozuna (Cardinals), Anthony Rendon (Nationals), Will Smith (Giants), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), and Zack Wheeler (Mets). abbreviated campaign he still hit 16 homers and drove in 61 runs.

where will he land?

[JMobile]

Didi can go to Padres and play 2nd base.

[batt33]

Yanks don't give qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius


The New York Yankees have decided not to extend the $17.8 million qualifying offer to shortstop Didi Gregorius, making him a free agent.

The Yankees now will not get draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. New York still could try to re-sign him.
Gregorius, 29, was arguably one of the Yankees' best players before undergoing Tommy John surgery that limited him to 82 games last season.

From 2016 to '18, Gregorius averaged over 20 home runs per season. He drove in a career-high 87 runs in 2017 and 86 the next year.

In last season's Other big names did receive qualifying offers on Monday. Those getting it were Jose Abreu (White Sox), Madison Bumgarner (Giants), Gerrit Cole (Astros), Josh Donaldson (Braves), Jake Odorizzi (Twins), Marcell Ozuna (Cardinals), Anthony Rendon (Nationals), Will Smith (Giants), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), and Zack Wheeler (Mets). abbreviated campaign he still hit 16 homers and drove in 61 runs.

Yankees have any up and comers a short stop?

[EmpireMaker]

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said in his season-ending press conference today that the team is attempting to work out a new deal with veteran righty Adam Wainwright. It seems Wainwright wishes to return to the fold and that the Cards would like to have him.
This doesn’t come as a surprise, given Wainwright’s strong bounceback showing in 2019. MLBTR predicted just yesterday that he’d return again to the St. Louis organization — with the only real doubt being whether he’d decide to suit up once more at 38 years of age.
Mozeliak indicated that there isn’t a deal in place at present, but discussions are expected to take place over the next week or two, with the hope being that the sides will line up for yet another campaign. That’d mark a 15th big league season for Wainwright, who has spent his entire Major League tenure with the Cardinals. The three-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young runner-up has amassed 2103 2/3 innings along the way and pitched to a 3.39 ERA with averages of 7.6 strikeouts and 2.5 walks per nine innings pitched. He’s also given the Cards 105 2/3 innings of postseason work, notching a 2.81 ERA in that time.
While there was some question at the end of the 2018 season as to whether Wainwright had much of anything left in the tank, he once again proved his mettle with a solid 2019 campaign. The elder statesman of the St. Louis rotation logged 171 2/3 frames — his most since 2016 — and worked to a 4.19 ERA with a 153-to-64 K/BB ratio.
Wainwright may not be the staff ace that he once was, but the Cards no longer need him to function in that capacity (not that they’d complain about an unexpected return to 2009-10 form). Rather, burgeoning star Jack Flaherty has stepped up as the staff leader alongside the durable Miles Mikolas and another up-and-coming righty, Dakota Hudson. Assuming a new deal with Wainwright does indeed come to fruition, that he’ll join that trio and perhaps Carlos Martinez, Alex Reyes or an outside addition in rounding out the Cardinals’ starting staff next season.
Another one-year arrangement seems likely, given Wainwright’s age, but he’ll surely be in line for a larger base salary than the modest $2MM he took on last year’s “prove-it” deal. Wainwright ultimately maxed out his incentives package and took home a $10MM total — and something closer to that range seems more plausible this time around.

[ApricotSinner32]

Orioles 1000-1 to win it all next year?????

[jrgum3]

I’m a former catcher, yes we do make good managers.

I played Catcher as well growing up. Granted it was Little League but Catchers make good managers imo because they're typically the smartest guy on the team.

[Otters27]

I’m a former catcher, yes we do make good managers.

You call the pitches or the coach?

[Chi_archie]

Orioles 1000-1 to win it all next year?????

get some

[stevenash]

You call the pitches or the coach?

Depends.
i caught one of the best fastball pitchers in the region I had free reign when Dennis pitched my main job was putting the glove down in certain locations.

When I caught multi pitch specialists and when we faced advanced hitting teams, no.
I’d look to the pitching coach (not the manager) he’d flash me the sign as to what he wanted (for instance a 3 finger followed by a 1 finger would be a curve (3-1=2 2 being a curve.....)

The catcher, the only player that plays in foul territory.

[BigSpoon]

Yankees have any up and comers a short stop?

They could just play Torres at SS and move LeMahieu to 2B if they don't resign Didi.

[Cross]

Gleybar at short seems to be the plan, right?

[koz-man]

Gleybar at short seems to be the plan, right?

That would be my guess. He's only 22 years old.

[JMobile]

4 .5 months until Catchers and Pitchers go to Spring Training.

[EmpireMaker]

• The 2019 season was surprisingly pedestrian for Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter, a normally excellent producer who fell flat after the team signed him to a two-year, $39MM extension in April. Carpenter stepped to the plate 492 times and hit a mediocre .226/.334/.392 with 15 home runs, giving him the lowest wRC+ (95) and fWAR (1.2) he has posted over a full season since debuting in 2011. But Carpenter, who will turn 34 later this month, seemingly hasn’t lost the confidence of Cardinals brass. ”‘Carp’ obviously will have a better season, we expect. He’s highly motivated,” chairman Bill DeWitt said this week (via Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). President of baseball operations John Mozeliak echoed that sentiment, saying the Cardinals’ confidence in Carpenter is “high” and calling this year “an outlier.” Of course, the Cardinals don’t have much choice but to publicly show faith in Carpenter, whom they’re likely stuck with because of the money left on his contract and his no-trade clause.
• As of last week, Royals quality control coach Pedro Grifol was reportedly one of the finalists to become the Giants’ next manager. That no longer seems to be the case, though. Grifol is now completely out of the race, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea, who names ex-Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, current Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as the last candidates standing. Grifol, Kapler, Espada and Quartaro make up four of 10-plus candidates who have interviewed with the Giants, per Shea. There’s no deadline to hire a new skipper, however, and with the Giants one of just two teams without a manager, there’s seemingly no reason to rush.
• The Mets negotiated with relievers Daniel Hudson and Jake Diekman when they were free agents a year ago, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. The club ultimately didn’t land either, instead watching Hudson sign with the Angels on a minor league contract and Diekman land with the Royals for a guaranteed $2.75MM. Hudson then wound up with the Blue Jays and finished the season as a member of the Nationals, with whom he emerged as one of many key cogs during their improbable World Series run. Diekman concluded the campaign with the Athletics, who traded for him in July. Now that Hudson and Diekman are back on the open market, the Mets – who remain in need of competent relievers – could again push for one or both, though there’s no indication they plan on doing so.

[ApricotSinner32]

• The 2019 season was surprisingly pedestrian for Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter, a normally excellent producer who fell flat after the team signed him to a two-year, $39MM extension in April. Carpenter stepped to the plate 492 times and hit a mediocre .226/.334/.392 with 15 home runs, giving him the lowest wRC+ (95) and fWAR (1.2) he has posted over a full season since debuting in 2011. But Carpenter, who will turn 34 later this month, seemingly hasn’t lost the confidence of Cardinals brass. ”‘Carp’ obviously will have a better season, we expect. He’s highly motivated,” chairman Bill DeWitt said this week (via Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). President of baseball operations John Mozeliak echoed that sentiment, saying the Cardinals’ confidence in Carpenter is “high” and calling this year “an outlier.” Of course, the Cardinals don’t have much choice but to publicly show faith in Carpenter, whom they’re likely stuck with because of the money left on his contract and his no-trade clause.
• As of last week, Royals quality control coach Pedro Grifol was reportedly one of the finalists to become the Giants’ next manager. That no longer seems to be the case, though. Grifol is now completely out of the race, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea, who names ex-Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, current Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as the last candidates standing. Grifol, Kapler, Espada and Quartaro make up four of 10-plus candidates who have interviewed with the Giants, per Shea. There’s no deadline to hire a new skipper, however, and with the Giants one of just two teams without a manager, there’s seemingly no reason to rush.
• The Mets negotiated with relievers Daniel Hudson and Jake Diekman when they were free agents a year ago, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. The club ultimately didn’t land either, instead watching Hudson sign with the Angels on a minor league contract and Diekman land with the Royals for a guaranteed $2.75MM. Hudson then wound up with the Blue Jays and finished the season as a member of the Nationals, with whom he emerged as one of many key cogs during their improbable World Series run. Diekman concluded the campaign with the Athletics, who traded for him in July. Now that Hudson and Diekman are back on the open market, the Mets – who remain in need of competent relievers – could again push for one or both, though there’s no indication they plan on doing so.

Hm thanks for posting this information for me.

[koz-man]

Giants narrow manager search to 3 finalists, per reports

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants have narrowed their search for a new manager to three finalists, according to multiple reports.
Former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro are the final three vying to replace Bruce Bochy.
Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi is taking his time making the hire. He has known since February that Bochy would retire.
Others who had been considered were Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren, Giants coaches Ron Wotus and Hensley Meulens, and Athletics coach Mark Kotsay.
The 44-year-old Kapler was fired Oct. 10 after two seasons in Philadelphia and a 161-163 record. With Bryce Harper their blockbuster acquisition, the Phillies finished 81-81 for their first non-losing season since 2012.

[Chi_archie]

I don't like any of those guys

[Cross]

I need some hot stove action, getting cold here.

[BigSpoon]

I don't like any of those guys

Too soon to convince Bochy out of retirement?

[stevenash]

I don't like any of those guys

I'm OK with Kapler.

[JMobile]

Gave Kapler sucks.

[JMobile]

Braves trying to get MadBum.

[Stallion]

I hope the Jays make some moves to get some pitching this offseason

[mr. leisure]

I hope the Angels get some pitching .

[EmpireMaker]

“The Rays were focused on” super-utilityman Jeff McNeil in trade talks with the Mets last offseason, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. McNeil’s multi-position ability and pre-arbitration salary status make him an ideal target for the Rays, making Sherman wonder if Tampa Bay could again target McNeil this winter, though the Mets’ asking price has surely gone up in the wake of McNeil’s outstanding 2019 season. Sherman’s piece floats some potential trades to help the Mets address their center field need, including his speculative suggestion of a Kevin Kiermaier/Yonny Chirinos for McNeil swap. The Rays would get their desired “low-cost Swiss Army Knife” of a player and also get Kiermaier’s contract off the books, with Chirinos involved to add a young arm to New York’s rotation and entice the Mets to swallow Kiermaier’s $36MM in remaining salary. Sherman looks further within the AL East to cite the Red Sox as another possible trade partners for the center field-needy Mets, as Jackie Bradley Jr. could be available, or there’s always the “pipedream” of a one-for-one swap of Mookie Betts for Noah Syndergaard.
More from around the East…

• The Yankees decided against issuing a one-year, $17.8MM qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius, leaving SNY.tv’s Andy Martino wondering if the shortstop’s days in the Bronx could be over. One industry source describes the chances of Gregorius returning to New York in 2020 as “a very close call,” especially since Martino notes that Gregorius and his representatives believe they can find a multi-year deal in free agency. Even after an injury-shortened down year, Gregorius is still the best shortstop option on the free agent market; MLBTR ranked him 12th on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents and predicted he’d land a three-year, $42MM contract. It’s worth noting that this deal would work out to less in average annual value than the one-year cost of the QO, so it isn’t out of the question that the Yankees could still try to bring back Gregorius for multiple years, though at a smaller hit to their 2020 luxury tax number.
• Blue Jays president/CEO Mark Shapiro discussed Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s offseason training regiment, baseball labor relations, and some hot stove business amidst a variety of topics in a radio interview with The Fan 590’s Scott MacArthur, Ashley Docking, and Mike Zigomanis (audio link). The Blue Jays are known to be looking for pitching this winter, with Shapiro saying “we’re going to have to be aggressive on every level of the free agent starting pitcher landscape.” This could mean at least checking into the top-tier names on the pitching market, though given Shapiro also noted that “if you look at the history of free agent pitching contracts, it is a really, really, really high-risk area to play in.” All things considered, the odds seem to be against Toronto landing an elite arm like Gerrit Cole at this point in their rebuilding process. “Dollars are not going to be our challenge, which hasn’t always been the case,” Shapiro said. “It’s going to be where we fit with Gerrit’s alignment of interests…same thing with every free agent we pursue. What I am confident is, that throughout the free agency process we’ll be able to get better this winter, and we’ll have the resources to do it.”
• There have been rumors about a possible extension between Shapiro and the Blue Jays since 2020 is the last year of the CEO’s deal, though he didn’t give any new details on that front. Shapiro did reiterate his desire to stay in Toronto and “I’ve received nothing but positive feedback from the people that I report to about wanting me to remain here.”

[batt33]

Braves trying to get MadBum.

more than a few people think he will sign with them

[JaimeMiro]

Braves trying to get MadBum.

Off-season is about 'show me the money'

[BarkingToad]

I hope the Angels get some pitching .

That would be nice for once, never seems to happen though

[jrgum3]

I'm OK with Kapler.

As a Giant fan I'm not sure I want Kapler. Not sure who I want as their next manager but whoever it is he'll have some gigantic shoes to fill obviously.

[koz-man]

Astros president Reid Ryan shifts to lesser role with team

HOUSTON -- The Astros reshuffled their front office Thursday, with president Reid Ryan being moved to a lesser role in the organization as owner Jim Crane's son joined the executive team.
In addition, Nolan Ryan, the father of Reid who served as an executive adviser to Crane, "will not be back with the club," the Hall of Famer told Fox 26 in Houston via text message. "Will leave it at that."
The moves were announced 11 days after Crane apologized to a Sports Illustrated reporter and retracted a statement by the club accusing her of trying to "fabricate a story."

[Otters27]

Depends.
i caught one of the best fastball pitchers in the region I had free reign when Dennis pitched my main job was putting the glove down in certain locations.

When I caught multi pitch specialists and when we faced advanced hitting teams, no.
I’d look to the pitching coach (not the manager) he’d flash me the sign as to what he wanted (for instance a 3 finger followed by a 1 finger would be a curve (3-1=2 2 being a curve.....)

The catcher, the only player that plays in foul territory.

Cool. I liked it when my catcher had free reign. Felt like we could get more in a flow. And I was more confident to shake him off.

Got pissed at him once when I was pitching a shutout and in the top of 7 he keeps just calling fast balls because we were up 6-0. Guy hits a two run shot when I wanted to throw a curve

[Chi_archie]

“The Rays were focused on” super-utilityman Jeff McNeil in trade talks with the Mets last offseason, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. McNeil’s multi-position ability and pre-arbitration salary status make him an ideal target for the Rays, making Sherman wonder if Tampa Bay could again target McNeil this winter, though the Mets’ asking price has surely gone up in the wake of McNeil’s outstanding 2019 season. Sherman’s piece floats some potential trades to help the Mets address their center field need, including his speculative suggestion of a Kevin Kiermaier/Yonny Chirinos for McNeil swap. The Rays would get their desired “low-cost Swiss Army Knife” of a player and also get Kiermaier’s contract off the books, with Chirinos involved to add a young arm to New York’s rotation and entice the Mets to swallow Kiermaier’s $36MM in remaining salary. Sherman looks further within the AL East to cite the Red Sox as another possible trade partners for the center field-needy Mets, as Jackie Bradley Jr. could be available, or there’s always the “pipedream” of a one-for-one swap of Mookie Betts for Noah Syndergaard.
More from around the East…

• The Yankees decided against issuing a one-year, $17.8MM qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius, leaving SNY.tv’s Andy Martino wondering if the shortstop’s days in the Bronx could be over. One industry source describes the chances of Gregorius returning to New York in 2020 as “a very close call,” especially since Martino notes that Gregorius and his representatives believe they can find a multi-year deal in free agency. Even after an injury-shortened down year, Gregorius is still the best shortstop option on the free agent market; MLBTR ranked him 12th on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents and predicted he’d land a three-year, $42MM contract. It’s worth noting that this deal would work out to less in average annual value than the one-year cost of the QO, so it isn’t out of the question that the Yankees could still try to bring back Gregorius for multiple years, though at a smaller hit to their 2020 luxury tax number.
• Blue Jays president/CEO Mark Shapiro discussed Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s offseason training regiment, baseball labor relations, and some hot stove business amidst a variety of topics in a radio interview with The Fan 590’s Scott MacArthur, Ashley Docking, and Mike Zigomanis (audio link). The Blue Jays are known to be looking for pitching this winter, with Shapiro saying “we’re going to have to be aggressive on every level of the free agent starting pitcher landscape.” This could mean at least checking into the top-tier names on the pitching market, though given Shapiro also noted that “if you look at the history of free agent pitching contracts, it is a really, really, really high-risk area to play in.” All things considered, the odds seem to be against Toronto landing an elite arm like Gerrit Cole at this point in their rebuilding process. “Dollars are not going to be our challenge, which hasn’t always been the case,” Shapiro said. “It’s going to be where we fit with Gerrit’s alignment of interests…same thing with every free agent we pursue. What I am confident is, that throughout the free agency process we’ll be able to get better this winter, and we’ll have the resources to do it.”
• There have been rumors about a possible extension between Shapiro and the Blue Jays since 2020 is the last year of the CEO’s deal, though he didn’t give any new details on that front. Shapiro did reiterate his desire to stay in Toronto and “I’ve received nothing but positive feedback from the people that I report to about wanting me to remain here.”

I can't see Cole in Toronto

I guess we'll see

[BigSpoon]

I can't see Cole in Toronto

I guess we'll see

I can't see it as well, Jays would be lucky to get Odorizzi or Wheeler let alone Cole.