The on-again, off-again chatter surrounding the Braves and Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto has left an uncertain situation. While the Atlanta organization already seems to have a palatable situation behind the dish, with Brian McCann rejoining the org to pair with Tyler Flowers, it’s also one that is susceptible of improvement. In any event, the stalemate seemingly continues, though Craig Mish of MLB Network does tweet that the teams have been in contact of late regarding Realmuto. It’s far from clear that any progress has been made, though, as he says the Braves “appear to be waiting [the] Marlins out.” The Rays also “remain a possibility,” says Mish, though at this point it’s really anyone’s guess how things will turn out with regard to Realmuto, who’s a valuable enough asset that any number of other teams could conceivably still enter the picture or circle back if other offseason pursuits don’t pan out.
Some more notes on the trade and free-agent markets…
Some more notes on the trade and free-agent markets…
- The Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sagas are holding up the markets for many remaining free agents, even left-hander Dallas Keuchel, per MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal (video link). Rosenthal suggested on MLBN’s Hot Stove this morning that Keuchel is waiting to see where the market’s top two free agents land, presumably knowing that a suitor who misses out on Harper or Machado will have money to spend elsewhere. The Phillies, for instance, have been connected to all three players, so it’s not all that difficult to see them making a more serious run at Keuchel should their top two targets sign elsewhere.
- Another would-be blockbuster situation that may now be fizzling is the Indians’ oft-discussed negotiations on top starters Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer. Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer discusses the situation, suggesting it may be time for the Cleveland organization to ask for final offers and otherwise move on from the marketing process. Of course, it’s far from clear that the team is taking that stance. And as Hoynes goes on to discuss, it’s also still not apparent how (or even if) the Indians will go about improving a roster that looks quite a bit different than it did just a few months ago. It’s still possible that Cleveland could add an outfielder from the free-agent market, but there’s no indication that they’re in line to make a significant splash on that front.
- Meanwhile, talks between the Braves and the Tigers regarding outfielder Nicholas Castellanos have gone nowhere since the two sides talked at last month’s Winter Meetings, Morosi tweets. The Braves are, of course, still looking far and wide for a corner outfielder and are “active” in their pursuit of that key need. With many options seemingly still on the table, though, the club appears to be content not to push hard for any particular player, which might increase the acquisition cost.
- Veteran southpaw Robbie Ross is preparing to throw for scouts in mid-January as he looks for a new opportunity, MLBTR has learned. Ross spent time with the White Sox organization in 2018, but struggled with his command as he worked back to health following back surgery in August of 2017. He’s now said to be at full strength, though he’ll certainly need to show that to the talent evaluators who take a look. The 29-year-old has generally been quite effective as a big-league reliever, with a 3.52 ERA in 270 2/3 career innings in that capacity.
1. Dallas Keuchel (31, 3.69 ERA, 3.2 WAR) -- Keuchel doesn't have the ceiling of 
2. Gio Gonzalez (33, 4.39 ERA, 0.8 WAR) -- He has averaged 31 starts over the past nine seasons, but he had his lowest strikeout rate in that span in 2018 and his highest walk rate since 2010. Steamer forecasts some sort of injury and only 92 innings.
3. Wade Miley (32, 4.36 ERA, 1.0 WAR) -- He had a fluky 2.57 ERA with the Brewers in 16 starts but was bad in 2016 and 2017 (5.48 ERA). He has generally been healthy (though he missed time in 2018 with a strained groin and oblique).
4. Drew Pomeranz (30, 4.73 ERA, 0.8 WAR) -- He was in line for a big payday after posting a 3.32 ERA in 2016-17 with 9.4 K's per nine innings. In fact, he outpitched Corbin those two years. In free agency, however, what you did most recently matters the most, and Pomeranz struggled through an injury-plagued 2018 and might have to take a one-year deal to rebuild some value and show he's healthy. Could be a good buy-low candidate.
5. Clay Buchholz (34, 4.73 ERA, 1.0 WAR) -- He signed with the Royals in late March, was released May 1, signed with the Diamondbacks and posted a 2.01 ERA and 3.47 FIP over 16 starts and 98⅓ innings. His injury history is long, but he's sometimes good and sometimes very good. The Diamondbacks traded for 
1. Craig Kimbrel (31, 2.79 ERA, 1.4 WAR) -- Everybody is down on him after his shaky postseason, but he held batters to a .146 average and fanned 96 in 62⅓ innings. No, he's not as dominant as he once was -- he allowed a career-high 18 extra-base hits after seasons of four and six with the Braves earlier in his career -- but he still projects as a dominant closer, at least for the immediate future. He's not, however, going to get that nine-figure deal he was reportedly seeking at the outset of the winter.
2. Adam Ottavino (33, 3.63 ERA, 0.6 WAR) -- After a dominant season with the Rockies -- 2.43 ERA, 112 K's in 77⅔ innings -- I like him to beat that projection.
3. Cody Allen (30, 3.91 ERA, 0.3 WAR) -- I'm not a fan of homer-prone closers, and Allen has allowed 28 the past three seasons, including 11 in 2018, while also coming off a career-worst 4.70 ERA. The fastball was down to 94.0, 2 mph below where it sat in 2015. Looks like a risky bet.
4. Ryan Madson (38, 3.68 ERA, 0.1 WAR) -- He's old and coming off a 5.47 ERA, but he was very good the three prior seasons, and his peripherals and stuff remained better than the ERA indicates. Steamer predicts an injury and just 10 innings, thus the low WAR.
5. Brad Brach (33, 4.04 ERA, 0.1 WAR) -- He gave up a lot of hits with the Orioles -- 50 in 39 innings -- then pitched better with the Braves. I think Baltimore's defense might have had something to do with the high hit rate, although given his age and heavy workloads over the years, it's also possible the decline has started.
1. Yasmani Grandal (30, .237/.343/.444, 3.5 WAR) -- He's one of the better hitting catchers thanks to his power and walks. He's regarded as a good pitch framer and he's not old. He should be in demand given the shortage of quality catching, but his poor performance in the postseason, when he had issues with wild pitches and passed balls, might have hurt his ability to secure a long-term deal. His market might also have been affected by the 
2. Martin Maldonado (32, .225/.286/.362, 1.0 WAR) -- A defense-first catcher -- he won a Gold Glove with the Angels in 2017 -- who also struggled behind the plate in the postseason for the Astros. Not much value at the plate, but he's not in 
3. Matt Wieters (33, .239/.311/.388, 1.2 WAR) -- He hasn't been a league-average offensive performer since 2015, although he did bounce back some from an awful 2017. Strictly a backup at this point.
4. Nick Hundley (35, .232/.285/.387, 0.1 WAR) -- Still has a little pop, although his defensive metrics aren't good.
5. Devin Mesoraco (31, .232/.313/.414, 0.3 WAR) -- Injuries ruined what was once a promising career. Hit 10 home runs in 203 at-bats with the Mets. Could be a guy a lower-tier team signs and then flips if he plays well.
1. Manny Machado (26, .288/.356/.529, 5.2 WAR) -- We don't know if he'll be playing third base, shortstop or a combination of both, but we know he's good and we know he's going to get paid.
2. Marwin Gonzalez (30, .260/.327/.428, 1.6 WAR) -- He fell off from his big 2017 season but still produced a 2.5-WAR season, and I feel like that projection is a little light. He's a superutility guy, of course, who played primarily left field for the Astros in 2018 but also filled in at shortstop when 
3. Mike Moustakas (30, .257/.317/.474, 2.8 WAR) -- He didn't get a big deal last offseason, and it doesn't look like he'll get one this winter, either.
4. 
5. 
1. Jed Lowrie (35, .254/.335/.407, 2.3 WAR) -- He's up there in age but also coming off a career-high 4.8-WAR season (and 8.8 over the past two). The A's acquired 
2. DJ LeMahieu (30, .273/.336/.390, 2.5 WAR) -- A solid defender coming off a career-high 15-homer season, though concerns about how he'll hit away from Coors Field have minimized interest in him.
3. Brian Dozier (32, .235/.322/.427, 2.6 WAR) -- He had a terrible free-agent season, hitting .215 and plummeting from 4.5 WAR to 1.0. The projection splits the difference and expects a better 2019.
4. Asdrubal Cabrera (33, .264/.323/.436, 2.0 WAR) -- He's coming off a 23-homer season and has produced an above-average OPS+ four consecutive seasons. The defensive metrics continue to slide from "below average" to "terrible," even at second base.
5. Freddy Galvis (29, .244/.295/.370, 0.3 WAR) -- Aside from Machado, it's a weak group of shortstops, with Jose Iglesias and Adeiny Hechavarria providing OK defensive options and inept hitting.
1. Bryce Harper (26, .267/.399/.528, 4.9 WAR) -- Have bat, will sign for big money.
2. A.J. Pollock (31, .259/.326/.446, 3.1 WAR) -- He was maybe the best player in the National League in April before getting injured again. He's good when healthy, but does have a big home/road split in his career, and now he's 31. He's also the only good center fielder on the market.
3. Nick Markakis (35, .271/.349/.399, 1.1 WAR) -- In his 13th season, he made his first All-Star team, although he faded in the second half of 2018 (playing every game probably didn't help).
4. Adam Jones (33, .266/.307/.429, 1.2 WAR) -- He shouldn't be viewed as a center fielder anymore, and his power numbers dropped off last year. He might have to accept a role as a part-time player.
4. 
5. Carlos Gonzalez (33, .250/.314/.434, 1.2 WAR) -- He can still hit righties, although teams will be wary of the .663 road OPS he put up in 2018.
