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

[EmpireMaker]

The Brewers have reportedly engaged in “pretty serious” negotiations of late with closer Craig Kimbrel, who remains available even after the start of the season. Now, having lost closer Corey Knebel to season-ending Tommy John surgery, a union between the Brewers and Kimbrel looks even more plausible on paper. However, barring a massive drop in asking price, the Brewers aren’t in position to sign Kimbrel or the majors’ other big-ticket free agent, starter Dallas Keuchel, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Both Kimbrel and Keuchel rejected a $17.9MM qualifying offer from their previous team at the outset of the offseason. But even if they wind up settling for one-year contracts, odds are those deals will approach or exceed the worth of the qualifying offer. The Brewers, for their part, probably don’t even have half the value of the QO left in their budget, Haudricourt relays, as they’re already sporting a franchise-record Opening Day payroll. As a result, Haudricourt posits they’re more likely to rely on in-house reinforcements such as injured reliever Jeremy Jeffress and on-the-mend starter Jimmy Nelson than splurge on one of the two star free agents sitting on the open market.
More from around the game…

• Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is likely to make his season debut Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle suggests. Correa suffered a neck strain a week ago, which has left short to the error-prone Aledmys Diaz and elite third baseman Alex Bregman so far this season. Upon his return, the 24-year-old Correa will aim to rebound from a surprisingly pedestrian 2018 campaign, his second straight injury-limited season.
• Athletics catcher Chris Herrmann, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee toward the beginning of March, expects to miss eight to 10 weeks, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The recipient of a $1MM guarantee over the winter, Herrmann had the inside track on a season-opening roster spot before going under the knife. His injury opened the door for minor league signing Nick Hundley to join holdover Josh Phegley as the Athletics’ top two catchers. Hundley and Phegley have gotten off to slow starts in the early going.
• Nationals left-hander Vidal Nuno III decided not to exercise his March 27 opt-out clause, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post tweets. Nuno, who did not make the Nats’ season-opening roster, will have another chance to exit his minor league deal June 15 if he’s still with the organization. In the meantime, the 31-year-old is set to begin the season at the Triple-A level, per Dougherty. Nuno spent most of 2018 in Triple-A with the Rays, but he did amass 33 innings in the majors and pitch to a stingy 1.64 ERA (alongside an unspectacular 4.46 FIP and a paltry 28.6 percent groundball rate) with 7.91 K/9 and 2.73 BB/9.

[jrgum3]

The Brewers better sign Kimbrel they need more in the back end of their bullpen besides Hader especially now that Knebel is out for the season. I really hope he signs with them because I have him on one of my fantasy teams and it sucks having to bench him for now but it shouldn't be too long before he signs with someone.

[JaimeMiro]

Bryce Harper voted most overrated by players wouldn't mind if I was getting that kind of cash though

[cincinnatikid513]

The Brewers better sign Kimbrel they need more in the back end of their bullpen besides Hader especially now that Knebel is out for the season. I really hope he signs with them because I have him on one of my fantasy teams and it sucks having to bench him for now but it shouldn't be too long before he signs with someone.

somebody will sign him, he's too good to sit out the whole year

[JAKEPEAVY21]

The Brewers better sign Kimbrel they need more in the back end of their bullpen besides Hader especially now that Knebel is out for the season. I really hope he signs with them because I have him on one of my fantasy teams and it sucks having to bench him for now but it shouldn't be too long before he signs with someone.

he will sign with someone eventually

[Chi_archie]

Bryce Harper voted most overrated by players wouldn't mind if I was getting that kind of cash though

Very true

[koz-man]

Man severely hurt in incident at Dodgers game

A man was severely injured in an altercation at Dodger Stadium on Friday, with the Los Angeles Dodgers saying they are cooperating with the police investigation into the incident.

"Last night, an altercation occurred suddenly between two men who were leaving the stadium," the Dodgers said in a statement Saturday. "One of the men was injured as a result of the altercation. A witness immediately reported the incident to stadium personnel, and emergency medical technicians were promptly dispatched to provide medical assistance at the scene. The matter is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Dodgers are cooperating fully with the investigation."

The man, identified as Rafael Reyna by his wife, Christel, is in the hospital and on life support after he suffered a fractured skull among other head injuries. Christel Reyna told KABC that she didn't see what started the altercation as they left Friday's Diamondbacks-Dodgers game but that she heard Rafael Reyna arguing with someone and then a loud cracking sound.

"I was hearing the arguing happening and then I heard like a smack, a crack," Christel Reyna told KABC. "It sounded like a baseball bat, and then I heard him start moaning."

Police say they are looking for a person in their 20s who drove away in a white SUV.

In 2011, San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow suffered brain damage when he was assaulted outside Dodger Stadium on Opening Day by two men, who would later receive prison sentences of four and eight years, respectively. The Dodgers increased security outside the stadium following that attack.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Padres SP Chris Paddack makes his MLB debut today...remember the name, I think this guy is going to be really good. He has good velocity and command of the fastball, a lights out change up and a bulldog mentality.

[dudekid]

Padres SP Chris Paddack makes his MLB debut today...remember the name, I think this guy is going to be really good. He has good velocity and command of the fastball, a lights out change up and a bulldog mentality.

Very intrigued as well. Up against Shark today. Should be a good matchup

[Otters27]

Who will be the last team to lose. Mets?

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Very intrigued as well. Up against Shark today. Should be a good matchup

everything I have read and seen about this guy in terms of ability and mentality are really good ...he had ridiculous numbers in the minors...he has great stuff and high intensity..his workload will be watched closely this year as he is not far removed from Tommy John surgery..

[batt33]

Very intrigued as well. Up against Shark today. Should be a good matchup

Everytime I think the"Shark" has turned things around....he seems to slip. Here we go again........

[romecloneout]

Yelich is a beast

[BigSpoon]

Who will be the last team to lose. Mets?

Phillies by default now.

[JMobile]

Harper with 2 HR's so far now.

[EmpireMaker]

8:43pm: Bogaerts’ option for 2026 vests if he makes 535 plate appearances in 2025, according to Speier.
7:43pm: The Red Sox and star shortstop Xander Bogaerts are closing in on a contract extension, WEEI.com’s Evan Drellich reports (Twitter link). Nothing has yet been finalized between the two sides, though WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford says an official announcement could come as early as tomorrow.
The deal is worth $132MM over seven years, as per ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan (Twitter links), though this counts the $12MM that Bogaerts is already earning for the 2019 season in his final year of arbitration eligibility. As MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand notes, the extension is really a six-year, $120MM deal covering the 2020-25 seasons. The contract also has a vesting option for 2026 according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman (Twitter links), with an opt-out clause after 2022. The option year vests based on plate appearances, as per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, and the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reports that Bogaerts would earn another $20MM in 2026. Bogaerts is represented by the Boras Corporation.
After signing Chris Sale to a five-year, $145MM extension last week, the Red Sox now appear on the verge of keeping another key cornerstone out of the 2019-20 free agent market. Bogaerts and the club had been in talks during the winter, and though both sides didn’t want negotiations to extend into the season itself, it seems things were close enough to the finish line that a deal was able to be struck just beyond Opening Day.
Bogaerts, who turned 26 last October, originally signed with Boston as a 16-year-old amateur out of his native Aruba, and quickly developed into one of baseball’s best prospects. He made a quick impact in his 2013 rookie season, helping solidify a problematic third base position for the Red Sox as the team went on to win the World Series. He didn’t fully begin to blossom until the 2015 season, and Bogaerts has gone on to generate 17.6 fWAR over the last four seasons, hitting .295/.354/.446 with 61 homers over 2588 plate appearances. This includes a career-best 23 homers, .883 OPS, and 133 wRC+ in 2018, as Bogaerts rebounded from an injury-marred 2017 campaign to help lead the Red Sox to another World Series title.
Defensively, Bogaerts has been something of a mixed bag at shortstop. The Defensive Runs Saved metric has never looked kindly on his glovework (-48 DRS) while his UZR/150 mark of -0.3 posits him as just slightly below average. There has been some speculation that Bogaerts could eventually move from shortstop, and while that change doesn’t look to be happening anytime soon, that decision could eventually hinge on Rafael Devers’ development as a third baseman, plus whether prospect Michael Chavis plays at second base, third base, or elsewhere around the diamond.
The pact between Boston and Bogaerts is just the latest in a precedent-setting number of extensions over the last few weeks, as multiple superstars (both near and far from free agency) have chosen to lock in guaranteed paydays with their current teams. Of this group, players who were going to be free agents after the 2019 season included Bogaerts, Sale, Nolan Arenado, Justin Verlander, Paul Goldschmidt, and Aaron Hicks.
It’s clear that the lack of free agent activity in the last two offseasons has influenced many of these decisions, and in Bogaerts’ case, he’ll forego entering the open market for his age-27 season. Keeping a young player who may just be entering his prime on a $20MM average annual value looks like a very solid deal for the Red Sox. Bogaerts also has the ability to opt out of the contract as he enters his age-30 season, if he feels he can top the three years and $60MM still owed to him.
For luxury tax purposes, Bogaerts’ new deal will add an even $20MM to Boston’s Competitive Balance Tax bill beginning in 2020. This is no small factor in the contract, given the rather onerous tax situation the Red Sox find themselves in, though some relief from at least the top level of the CBT structure could come as several contracts come off the books for the club next winter.
It also helps the Red Sox afford what would be their biggest extension yet — a pact with Mookie Betts before the reigning AL MVP hits free agency following the 2020 season. Betts has been firm in his desire to go year-to-year in arbitration rather than sign a long-term deal before getting his chance on the open market, so the topic of an extension could be moot, though Boston will surely continue to explore the possibility of keeping the star outfielder at Fenway Park even if a $300MM+ commitment is required. The Bogaerts and Sale extensions are evidence, if Betts needs any, that the Sox are serious about keeping this winning core of players together.

[Chi_archie]

Keuchel still out there?

[JaimeMiro]

Yelich definitely getting a stupid contract as his production has been off the charts. 7-years for $50MM is a huge steal for an MVP

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Does Bogaerts deserve that kind of money?

[Otters27]

Phillies only team -3-0

[dudekid]

everything I have read and seen about this guy in terms of ability and mentality are really good ...he had ridiculous numbers in the minors...he has great stuff and high intensity..his workload will be watched closely this year as he is not far removed from Tommy John surgery..

You hit the nail on the head here...had great stuff, great control, nice outing, but pulled after 5. looks like he could be a real solid contributor

[JMobile]

Kolten Wong with 3 home runs already.

[koz-man]

Yankees place Stanton on IL with biceps strain

NEW YORK -- The hits to the New York Yankees' outfield depth keep coming.
One day after losing their season-opening series to the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees announced Monday that they are putting outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day injured list with a left biceps strain.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Stanton will be completely shut down for the next 10 days. After that time, he'll be allowed to start his rehab.
"Hopefully we get him back at some point this month," Boone said.
Stanton is the third Yankees outfielder to go on the injured list this young season, joining Aaron Hicks (lower back) and Jacoby Ellsbury (hip/plantar fasciitis).

[batt33]

Padres SP Chris Paddack makes his MLB debut today...remember the name, I think this guy is going to be really good. He has good velocity and command of the fastball, a lights out change up and a bulldog mentality.

Pitched a good game......see if he keeps it up..of course it was against the Giants

[Cross]

Anybody else think the cubs showed up in Atlanta, drunk? 6 errors????

[EmpireMaker]

Padres SP Chris Paddack makes his MLB debut today...remember the name, I think this guy is going to be really good. He has good velocity and command of the fastball, a lights out change up and a bulldog mentality.

Great start for him, I'm happy that I took him in a bunch of leagues.

[EmpireMaker]

8:33pm: Andujar received a highly unwelcome diagnosis this evening, as manager Aaron Boone conveyed to reporters including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch (Twitter link). He has suffered a “small labrum tear” that could require season-ending surgery. While the club will first attempt non-surgical treatment, it’s clearly a significant injury that will need to be handled with care.
5:04pm: The club announced the move and labeled the injury a shoulder strain. It adds that “tests are pending.”
5:02pm: The Yankees are set to place infielder Miguel Andujar on the 10-day injured list, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network (Twitter link). He’ll be replaced on the active roster by Tyler Wade.
Andujar is said to be dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered diving into a bag. The extent of the problem isn’t yet clear; neither is there any indication as to how long he’ll be sidelined.
It’s the second injury-related loss of the day for the Yanks, who already put star slugger Giancarlo Stanton on the shelf. The organization does have some intriguing depth options, but it obviously would prefer to have its first-choice lineup on the field as much as possible in a highly competitive American League East.

[EmpireMaker]

2:45pm: Manager Aaron Boone tells reporters that Stanton initially felt discomfort following a swing in Sunday’s game against the Orioles (Twitter link via James Wagner of the New York Times). A postgame MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain. While an exact timetable isn’t known, Stanton will be out longer than the minimum 10 days. The YES Network’s Jack Curry tweets that Stanton will be shut down entirely for the next 10 days. The organization’s hope is that he can return before the end of April.
10:05am: The Yankees announced Monday that they’ve placed outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day injured list due to a left biceps strain. In his place, Clint Frazier has been recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. There’s no word yet from the team on the severity of Stanton’s injury or how long he is expected to be out of action.
There was no clear indication that Stanton was dealing with an injury early in the season. The slugger has a pair of hits in eight official at-bats so far but has also drawn a walk in seven of his 15 plate appearances on the young season, giving him a .600 on-base percentage through three games. The injury is a tough early blow to a Yankees club that already is already without Luis Severino, Aaron Hicks, Dellin Betances, Didi Gregorius and CC Sabathia to open the season. New York torched the Orioles in the season opener but dropped the next two games to lose the year’s first series. They’ll face the Tigers, the Orioles a second time (in Baltimore) and then the Astros (in Houston) over the next 10 days without Stanton in the fold.
With Stanton now shelved alongside Hicks and Jacoby Ellsbury, the Yankees will lean on Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge, Frazier and Mike Tauchman in the outfield mix for at least their next three series (barring any waiver claims or other additions). The injury to Stanton should allow the club to more easily work both Luke Voit and Greg Bird into the lineup at times, and it could also present some more at-bats for offseason acquisition DJ LeMahieu.
The 24-year-old Frazier, meanwhile, will get an early opportunity to rebuild some stock after a 2018 season that was marred by ongoing concussion symptoms. The longtime top prospect received only 41 plate appearances in the Majors, though he certainly held his own, batting .265/.390/.353. In 242 minor league plate appearances last season, Frazier posted an outstanding .305/.388/.562 batting line.

[EmpireMaker]

Strahm was horrible today.

[JaimeMiro]

Had gone against the Yankees cause of the injuries tonight... But they win a tough one 3 - 1. We go again tomorrow

[jrgum3]

Can’t believe the Giants cooled off the Dodgers 4-2 at Dodger Stadium. They may struggle this year but anytime the Giants beat LA it’s a good day.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Anybody else think the cubs showed up in Atlanta, drunk? 6 errors????

Cubs defense and pitching looks awful early on

Strahm was horrible today.

surprised he got hit that hard, he has great stuff

[ApricotSinner32]

Good luck today people I need a one timer.

[Otters27]

Can’t believe the Giants cooled off the Dodgers 4-2 at Dodger Stadium. They may struggle this year but anytime the Giants beat LA it’s a good day.

Almost took the Dodgers but held off . Phew

[Chi_archie]

Almost took the Dodgers but held off . Phew

yep

gotta count those as wins too

staying away is a skill