The Cleveland Baseball Team.
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Hunter Renfroe got a 1 year contract with BostonComment -
american league ohio baseball teamComment -
Major League 1 by a landslide for me. I was actually disappointed in the sequel.Comment -
It was reported last week that the Yankees and Pirates have discussed Bucs right-hander Jameson Taillon and first baseman Josh Bell. It turns out the Yankees initiated those talks in an “intelligence gathering” effort, according to Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic. Even though he’s still recovering from August 2019 Tommy John surgery, it seems Taillon would be the more difficult player for the Yankees or any other team to pry from Pittsburgh. The club “would have to be blown away to deal” the 29-year-old, writes Biertempfel, who notes that Taillon is on a cheap salary ($2.25MM) and under control through 2022.
- The Mets made their choice at catcher with the signing of James McCann, whom they added on a four-year, $40MM contract. Before picking up McCann, though, the team had “great conversations” with the best catcher in the game – free agent J.T. Realmuto – president Sandy Alderson told Tim Healey of Newsday and other reporters Monday. However, with other needs to address, the Mets didn’t want to wait around for Realmuto. Alderson noted (via Steve Gelbs of SNY) that the top of the free-agent market is moving at a glacial place.
- The Athletics “have been in touch with Tommy La Stella’s representatives,” Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. A’s executive vice president Billy Beane and general manager David Forst have made it clear in the past they’d like La Stella back, but this is the first indication they’re making an effort to re-sign him. The 31-year-old infielder made a good impression on the A’s after they acquired him from the Angels over the summer, wrapping up a very productive two-season run between the teams. La Stella appeared in 55 of 60 regular-season games in 2020 and batted .281/.370/.449 (129 wRC+) with five home runs in 228 plate appearances. And with 27 walks against a mere 12 strikeouts, he ranked first in the majors in K rate and BB/K ratio.
- Tigers manager AJ Hinch discussed some of the team’s offseasons plans with MLB Network Radio on Monday, per Jason Beck of MLB.com (Twitter links). As you’d expect, one of the Tigers’ priorities is to “enhance” their pitching staff by adding at least one more starter. The Tigers have already been connected to righty Taijuan Walker in the rumor mill, but he’s far from the only affordable starter they could target in free agency. Likewise, the Tigers could choose from any number of free-agent hitters to improve their offense. “The players have to want to come to Detroit,” Hinch said of potential offensive additions. “It has to fit in our budget. We’re being patient, but we’re also being opportunistic when the time comes.”
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I completely forgot there was a sequel to Major League.Comment -
Mo Vaughn turns 53 today.Comment -
The Mets have signed right-hander Jerad Eickhoff to a minor league contract, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Eickhoff will earn a $1.25MM salary if he makes the majors, and he could pull in another $700K in incentives.
This deal means Eickhoff could get another crack at the National League East, where he has pitched his entire major league career so far. As a member of the Phillies from 2015-19, Eickhoff combined for 440 innings of respectable 4.15 ERA/4.39 FIP ball with 8.1 K/9 and 2.58 BB/9. During his best full season, 2016, Eickhoff put together a 3.65 ERA/4.19 FIP and 7.62 K/9 against 1.62 BB/9 over a career-high 197 1/3 frames.
Unfortunately, injuries – including carpal tunnel syndrome – have hampered what once looked like a promising big league tenure. Eickhoff threw just 5 1/3 innings in 2018 and followed that with 58 1/3 frames in his most recent season, in which he struggled to a 5.71 ERA/6.51 FIP. The 30-year-old spent some time last year with the Padres and Rangers (who drafted him in 2011), but he didn’t return to the majors with either club.Comment -
So no more Fighting Sioux, Redskins, or Indians. I’m betting Fighting Illini are next.Comment -
That was good, there were a dozen piss in your pants funny scenes, almost all of them involving Bob Eucker.
"Just a reminder, fans, comin' up is our "Die-hard Night" here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won a pennant."Comment -
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Man Ram joined a baseball team in Australia.Comment -
:06pm: The Giants have announced the signing. The deal comes with up to $250K in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. 3:27pm: The two sides have agreed to a one-year, $6MM contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets. That comes in north of MLBTR’s one-year, $4MM prediction for DeSclafani.
3:08pm: The Giants and free-agent right-hander Anthony DeSclafani are nearing a deal, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. DeSclafani is a client of VC Sports Group.
This figures to be a buy-low pickup for the Giants, who are set to add a starter who has gone through an up-and-down career since it began in 2014. DeSclafani was a member of the Marlins during his first season, but he moved on to the Reds after that in a trade that sent fellow righty Mat Latos to Miami.
Cincinnati received rather impressive production from DeSclafani from 2015-16, during which he accrued 308 innings and notched a 3.74 ERA/3.79 FIP with 7.48 K/9 and 2.48 BB/9. DeSclafani missed the next season because of elbow problems, though, and didn’t return until June 2018. His production from then through 2019 was fairly respectable, but DeSclafani fell on hard times last season. Despite posting a career-high 94.9 mph on his fastball, the 30-year-old logged personal worsts in ERA (7.22), FIP (6.10), K/9 (6.68) and BB/9 (4.28) across 33 2/3 innings. He also had a rough year by Statcast’s standards, ranking closer to the bottom of the league than the top in most of its categories.
Although last season was no doubt a disaster for DeSclafani, the Giants have done well recently in signing starters to low-risk contracts. They added one of DeSclafani’s former Reds teammates, Kevin Gausman, on a one-year, $9MM pact last offseason. That couldn’t have worked out much better for the Giants, who were so impressed that they issued Gausman a qualifying offer a few weeks back. Gausman accepted that $18.9MM offer and will be atop their rotation in 2021. Along with picking up Gausman a year ago, the Giants signed Drew Smyly to a $4MM guarantee. Smyly also exceeded expectations, though he left for a raise with the Braves earlier this winter.
Assuming DeSclafani is part of the Giants’ rotation next year, he should join a group that will include Gausman, Johnny Cueto and likely Logan Webb. The other spot will probably be up for grabs, especially with Andrew Suarez nearing an agreement with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization.Comment -
Hopefully the Giants get something out of Desclafani despite his struggles last season. Could be a decent pickup if he returns to his production from 2015-16.:06pm: The Giants have announced the signing. The deal comes with up to $250K in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. 3:27pm: The two sides have agreed to a one-year, $6MM contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets. That comes in north of MLBTR’s one-year, $4MM prediction for DeSclafani.
3:08pm: The Giants and free-agent right-hander Anthony DeSclafani are nearing a deal, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. DeSclafani is a client of VC Sports Group.
This figures to be a buy-low pickup for the Giants, who are set to add a starter who has gone through an up-and-down career since it began in 2014. DeSclafani was a member of the Marlins during his first season, but he moved on to the Reds after that in a trade that sent fellow righty Mat Latos to Miami.
Cincinnati received rather impressive production from DeSclafani from 2015-16, during which he accrued 308 innings and notched a 3.74 ERA/3.79 FIP with 7.48 K/9 and 2.48 BB/9. DeSclafani missed the next season because of elbow problems, though, and didn’t return until June 2018. His production from then through 2019 was fairly respectable, but DeSclafani fell on hard times last season. Despite posting a career-high 94.9 mph on his fastball, the 30-year-old logged personal worsts in ERA (7.22), FIP (6.10), K/9 (6.68) and BB/9 (4.28) across 33 2/3 innings. He also had a rough year by Statcast’s standards, ranking closer to the bottom of the league than the top in most of its categories.
Although last season was no doubt a disaster for DeSclafani, the Giants have done well recently in signing starters to low-risk contracts. They added one of DeSclafani’s former Reds teammates, Kevin Gausman, on a one-year, $9MM pact last offseason. That couldn’t have worked out much better for the Giants, who were so impressed that they issued Gausman a qualifying offer a few weeks back. Gausman accepted that $18.9MM offer and will be atop their rotation in 2021. Along with picking up Gausman a year ago, the Giants signed Drew Smyly to a $4MM guarantee. Smyly also exceeded expectations, though he left for a raise with the Braves earlier this winter.
Assuming DeSclafani is part of the Giants’ rotation next year, he should join a group that will include Gausman, Johnny Cueto and likely Logan Webb. The other spot will probably be up for grabs, especially with Andrew Suarez nearing an agreement with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization.Comment -
Agree big time on Wesley Snipes as Willie Mays Hayes! Runs like Mays, hits like Hayes!Comment -
Mat Latos, forgot about that guy. Out of MLB since 2017 but still been pitching in the independent leagues.Comment -
Chase Utley turns 42 today.
I remember his MLB debut.
He was supposed to be the next big thing at 2B turns out he was just a dirty ass cheap shot player.Comment -
they could do worse... worth a shot:06pm: The Giants have announced the signing. The deal comes with up to $250K in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. 3:27pm: The two sides have agreed to a one-year, $6MM contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets. That comes in north of MLBTR’s one-year, $4MM prediction for DeSclafani.
3:08pm: The Giants and free-agent right-hander Anthony DeSclafani are nearing a deal, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. DeSclafani is a client of VC Sports Group.
This figures to be a buy-low pickup for the Giants, who are set to add a starter who has gone through an up-and-down career since it began in 2014. DeSclafani was a member of the Marlins during his first season, but he moved on to the Reds after that in a trade that sent fellow righty Mat Latos to Miami.
Cincinnati received rather impressive production from DeSclafani from 2015-16, during which he accrued 308 innings and notched a 3.74 ERA/3.79 FIP with 7.48 K/9 and 2.48 BB/9. DeSclafani missed the next season because of elbow problems, though, and didn’t return until June 2018. His production from then through 2019 was fairly respectable, but DeSclafani fell on hard times last season. Despite posting a career-high 94.9 mph on his fastball, the 30-year-old logged personal worsts in ERA (7.22), FIP (6.10), K/9 (6.68) and BB/9 (4.28) across 33 2/3 innings. He also had a rough year by Statcast’s standards, ranking closer to the bottom of the league than the top in most of its categories.
Although last season was no doubt a disaster for DeSclafani, the Giants have done well recently in signing starters to low-risk contracts. They added one of DeSclafani’s former Reds teammates, Kevin Gausman, on a one-year, $9MM pact last offseason. That couldn’t have worked out much better for the Giants, who were so impressed that they issued Gausman a qualifying offer a few weeks back. Gausman accepted that $18.9MM offer and will be atop their rotation in 2021. Along with picking up Gausman a year ago, the Giants signed Drew Smyly to a $4MM guarantee. Smyly also exceeded expectations, though he left for a raise with the Braves earlier this winter.
Assuming DeSclafani is part of the Giants’ rotation next year, he should join a group that will include Gausman, Johnny Cueto and likely Logan Webb. The other spot will probably be up for grabs, especially with Andrew Suarez nearing an agreement with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization.Comment -
Still is.
Here's the first Steamer 2021 projections for 2B
Shallow indeed.
Name Team G PA AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB SO HBP SB CS -1 AVG OBP SLG OPS wOBA -1 WAR Gleyber Torres Yankees 149 625 548 148 26 1 32 86 95 64 121 6 6 3 0.27 0.35 0.498 0.848 0.354 3.8 Ozzie Albies Braves 150 641 578 160 35 3 26 87 84 48 105 6 14 5 0.278 0.337 0.483 0.82 0.342 3.7 DJ LeMahieu 150 683 615 181 32 3 19 92 72 53 94 5 7 3 0.294 0.352 0.45 0.801 0.341 3.4 Ketel Marte Diamondbacks 149 666 594 170 36 6 21 90 79 56 89 7 7 3 0.287 0.353 0.475 0.828 0.349 3.4 Jose Altuve Astros 150 673 600 168 32 3 23 94 82 58 110 6 11 4 0.28 0.347 0.455 0.803 0.34 3.3 Yoan Moncada White Sox 147 650 569 144 28 4 24 87 79 68 186 5 7 3 0.253 0.335 0.443 0.778 0.33 3.3 Jeff McNeil Mets 149 660 588 168 37 2 19 87 75 49 88 15 8 3 0.286 0.353 0.455 0.808 0.342 3.3 Cavan Biggio Blue Jays 149 663 551 131 27 2 21 90 69 97 167 6 14 5 0.237 0.354 0.406 0.76 0.33 3 Brandon Lowe Rays 133 579 508 127 25 3 26 76 77 56 158 8 6 3 0.25 0.331 0.466 0.797 0.336 2.9 Luis Arraez Twins 131 545 489 153 29 2 7 65 57 45 49 3 5 2 0.312 0.372 0.42 0.792 0.341 2.8 Nick Madrigal White Sox 146 565 515 158 29 3 7 69 60 35 37 7 20 8 0.306 0.356 0.416 0.772 0.331 2.6 Max Muncy Dodgers 143 615 508 119 20 1 29 85 81 92 160 8 3 1 0.234 0.357 0.451 0.809 0.344 2.4 David Fletcher Angels 150 666 602 169 34 2 8 81 59 50 73 4 8 3 0.28 0.338 0.386 0.723 0.312 2.4 Tommy La Stella 128 561 496 141 26 2 17 74 64 51 54 6 3 1 0.284 0.356 0.45 0.806 0.343 2.4 Javier Baez Cubs 150 646 601 154 32 3 30 80 95 32 180 6 12 5 0.256 0.298 0.471 0.769 0.318 2.2 Jake Cronenworth Padres 147 603 535 147 30 5 11 69 65 53 103 7 11 5 0.274 0.345 0.411 0.756 0.325 2.2 Whit Merrifield Royals 150 691 627 177 37 4 16 93 67 47 112 7 24 7 0.283 0.337 0.43 0.768 0.326 2 Jean Segura Phillies 147 638 582 163 30 3 16 76 73 43 93 6 10 4 0.281 0.334 0.428 0.762 0.323 2 Cesar Hernandez 146 630 551 148 28 2 11 73 58 64 119 6 7 3 0.269 0.349 0.386 0.735 0.319 1.9 Kolten Wong 120 509 445 116 22 3 10 60 49 46 83 11 13 5 0.261 0.343 0.39 0.733 0.316 1.8 Nico Hoerner Cubs 131 512 461 126 25 3 11 59 56 37 75 6 11 4 0.274 0.334 0.411 0.745 0.319 1.8 Keston Hiura Brewers 144 621 556 142 28 2 30 80 88 45 172 12 11 5 0.255 0.323 0.474 0.797 0.332 1.7 Comment -
Javier Baez eligible for 2nd baseman on that projection? Didn’t know this was 2018, lol.Comment -
The Red Sox signed Hunter Renfroe to a one-year deal earlier this week, adding a power bat to pair with Andrew Benintendi and Alex Verdugo in the outfield. However, general manager Brian O’Halloran said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM this morning that the addition of Renfroe does not prevent the Sox from further adding to their outfield corps (Twitter link, with audio). “The door is definitely not closed on adding to the mix, and that could certainly be a traditional center fielder that has experience — a guy like Jackie Bradley Jr.” said O’Halloran. “We’ve said that Jackie remains on our radar, and nothing is foreclosed there.”
O’Halloran went on to note that at the moment, the likeliest in-house replacement for Bradley in center field would be Verdugo, not Benintendi. Presumably, the current group would line up with Benintendi in left, Verdugo in center and Renfroe in right. Bringing a center fielder into the mix could push the right-handed-hitting Renfroe into more of a platoon role, which could prove beneficial for Boston. Renfroe is a career .216/.268/.449 hitter against righties but has clobbered lefties at a .258/.339/.573 clip.
Some more notes out of Boston…
- The rotation remains a priority for the Sox, with Alex Cora telling reporters Thursday that Halloran and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom have been “relentless” in their exploration of the market for starting pitching upgrades (link via Christopher Smith of MassLive.com). It’s perhaps notable that Cora specifically referred to an “intriguing” crop of starters that are available on the international market. The Red Sox have already been connected to Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano, who has been posted for MLB clubs, and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have also posted righty Kohei Arihara. The Sox will hope to have a trio of Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez and Nathan Eovaldi healthy by this summer, but each has his own slate of health concerns and the organization is thin in terms of upper-level rotation depth.
- Speaking of the international market for players, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe lists Ha-Seong Kim as a fit for the Red Sox in looking through their need at second base. While the connection to Kim here is framed a bit speculatively, Speier writes that “in all likelihood,” he’s the only free-agent option at the position to whom the Red Sox would be willing to commit more than two years, as his youth and upside fit with the team’s long-term goals. Most other options are likely to be viewed more as stopgaps or bridges to prospect Jeter Downs. Via Speier, Bloom suggested that the Red Sox are open to adding an established, everyday option at second base but aren’t dead-set on doing so. A multi-position piece who could leave some opportunity for in-house options like Christian Arroyo and Michael Chavis to seize regular playing time remains a possibility as well. For what it’s worth, Cora spoke highly of Arroyo in today’s call with reporters, praising his “upside” and noting that he’d previously recruited him to play for team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.
- While Cora was reluctant to discuss specific roles for players, he called right-hander Matt Barnes someone the team “should consider” for the closer role in 2021 (link via Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald). Cora emphasized that it’s unfair to any player to speak as though he has a defined role now, with months of offseason transactions still to come, but he also praised the manner in which Barnes handled ninth-inning duties in 2020. “If the season starts tomorrow and we have the lead in the ninth inning and we haven’t used Matt in the seventh or eighth, I flip him the ball and I believe he can get the three outs and get us to the next day,” Cora said before going on to call Barnes one of the game’s best relievers over the past few seasons. Some may raise an eyebrow at that description, given Barnes’ 3.83 ERA since 2017. It’s worth noting, though, that of the 232 pitchers with 200-plus innings thrown over the past four seasons, only six have struck out a higher percentage of opposing batters than Barnes (34.1 percent), and only 22 have a lower FIP than Barnes’ 3.30.
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Yeah, he's 2B and SS eligible. Which makes him semi valuable.
This is the ZIPS 2021 2B projections,
ZIPS has him rated higher than Steamer does,
Check out all the love for Torres, which is why NYY may not want to pay DJ
Name Team G PA AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG OPS wOBA WAR Gleyber Torres Yankees 149 611 544 159 27 1 44 97 121 55 130 6 0.292 0.357 0.588 0.946 0.386 5.4 Ozzie Albies Braves 151 660 604 178 42 9 27 106 87 49 100 15 0.295 0.35 0.528 0.878 0.363 5 Jose Altuve Astros 129 570 513 154 28 4 23 84 74 46 79 13 0.3 0.363 0.505 0.868 0.363 4 Yoan Moncada White Sox 137 592 531 145 28 4 27 83 78 52 166 12 0.273 0.342 0.493 0.835 0.349 4 Ketel Marte Diamondbacks 149 610 552 161 33 9 22 85 77 51 89 9 0.292 0.353 0.504 0.857 0.357 3.9 Gavin Lux Dodgers 133 593 535 148 27 10 24 84 86 55 128 10 0.277 0.344 0.499 0.843 0.351 3.8 Jeff McNeil Mets 129 543 492 144 32 5 19 74 69 33 68 7 0.293 0.354 0.494 0.848 0.356 3.7 Max Muncy Dodgers 133 505 423 109 21 1 29 78 90 73 123 3 0.258 0.372 0.518 0.89 0.372 3.5 Javier Baez Cubs 147 559 522 142 32 4 31 83 94 29 151 13 0.272 0.314 0.527 0.84 0.343 3.4 DJ LeMahieu 133 592 539 157 27 3 16 86 70 43 84 5 0.291 0.344 0.442 0.786 0.334 3.4 Luis Arraez Twins 151 622 557 173 33 3 6 81 45 60 46 6 0.311 0.376 0.413 0.789 0.341 3.1 Keston Hiura Brewers 139 592 532 145 34 5 28 83 87 44 155 15 0.273 0.343 0.513 0.856 0.356 2.9 Luis Urias Brewers 139 587 509 128 29 7 14 77 76 61 128 5 0.251 0.345 0.418 0.763 0.328 2.7 Cavan Biggio Blue Jays 131 559 472 105 21 3 19 73 65 78 161 13 0.222 0.335 0.4 0.736 0.318 2.5 Jonathan Villar 146 594 533 140 26 3 17 77 55 53 141 33 0.263 0.331 0.418 0.749 0.32 2.4 Kolten Wong 136 477 414 111 22 4 10 53 50 41 69 14 0.268 0.35 0.413 0.763 0.325 2.3 Whit Merrifield Royals 144 640 591 168 37 6 12 80 59 38 106 20 0.284 0.33 0.428 0.758 0.32 2.3 Nick Madrigal White Sox 119 516 467 131 23 3 6 55 37 32 26 22 0.281 0.338 0.381 0.719 0.311 2.2 Jurickson Profar 128 499 439 109 26 3 16 66 57 48 76 7 0.248 0.333 0.431 0.764 0.326 1.9 Adam Frazier Pirates 147 544 491 137 31 6 9 70 53 40 67 6 0.279 0.34 0.422 0.762 0.324 1.9 Ty France Mariners 136 551 488 124 26 2 20 69 72 37 112 2 0.254 0.332 0.439 0.771 0.328 1.9 David Fletcher Angels 140 602 555 150 30 4 7 70 47 39 67 9 0.27 0.321 0.377 0.697 0.3 1.8 Brandon Lowe Rays 112 458 410 98 23 3 18 56 62 41 138 6 0.239 0.314 0.441 0.756 0.319 1.8 Jonathan Schoop 128 515 479 127 26 1 24 67 69 23 109 1 0.265 0.309 0.474 0.783 0.326 1.7 Luis Rengifo Angels 131 550 489 122 24 7 12 64 52 51 107 10 0.249 0.326 0.401 0.727 0.312 1.7 Mike Brosseau Rays 112 438 396 98 22 2 14 51 50 28 98 4 0.247 0.311 0.419 0.73 0.31 1.7 Jean Segura Phillies 132 580 540 156 31 3 13 77 55 29 70 14 0.289 0.33 0.43 0.76 0.322 1.6 Starlin Castro Nationals 142 589 553 160 31 3 21 67 84 28 96 3 0.289 0.323 0.47 0.793 0.33 1.6 Danny Mendick White Sox 138 549 491 116 21 2 12 60 48 47 117 11 0.236 0.307 0.36 0.668 0.29 1.5 Comment -
I'm not sure Albies is a 5.0 WAR 2BComment