The 2020 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

[koz-man]

Giants, IF Wilmer Flores agree on multiyear deal

Infielder Wilmer Flores and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a multiyear contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Flores, 28, hit .317/.361/.487 with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year and could be in line to play second base or a utility role with the Giants.

[stevenash]

Cubs are very interested in Jason Kipnis I see.

[yisman]

MLB



@MLB















Dodgers reportedly acquire Mookie Betts and David Price from the Red Sox, per @JeffPassan
.

[Stallion]

I wonder who is going to the Red Sox...

[JaimeMiro]

I wonder who is going to the Red Sox...

No one, seems the Dodgers are still out shopping lol

[BigSpoon]

Dodgers definitely the favs in the in NL.

[jrgum3]

Dodgers definitely the front runner for the NL crown this year but time will tell just how much they mortgaged their future to win it all this year...

[EmpireMaker]

Kris Bryant’s long-running service-time grievance against the Cubs finally came to an end last week. Bryant lost the hearing, meaning he’ll remain under team control for two more years instead of one. As you’d expect, the players’ association isn’t enamored of the results. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark issued a statement on the matter Tuesday:
“The Players Association disagrees with the decision issued today in the Kris Bryant service-time grievance. While we respect the finality of that decision, we will continue to pursue any and all measures that incentivize competition, discourage service-time manipulation and ensure clubs field their best players. We applaud Kris’ courage and determination in challenging the Cubs’ actions and seeing the grievance through to the end.”
Although Bryant understandably fought the Cubs over team control after they delayed his rookie promotion, he said last week he harbors no ill will against the club. While there doesn’t seem to be bad blood between the two sides, that doesn’t mean Bryant will be a Cub for much longer. The Cubs have had a modest offseason after last year’s dud of a finish, and if they’re as focused as getting under the luxury tax as, say, the similarly deep-pocketed Red Sox (who traded Mookie Betts and David Price on Tuesday), Bryant might not stick around for much longer. Bryant has been the subject of trade speculation for months, after all, and the fact that the $18.6MM man is controllable for two years instead of one should only help his value on the market.
A 28-year-old former NL MVP, Bryant has a pair of suitors in the Nationals and Phillies, who have shown “at least exploratory interest” in him, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. This isn’t the first time either team has been connected to the 28-year-old Bryant this offseason, though, and it’s unclear whether they’re more inclined to trade for him now that the third base market has all but emptied out in free agency. The Nationals re-signed Asdrubal Cabrera, who figures to hold the position down until prospect Carter Kieboom’s set to take the reins, while the Phillies have the versatile Scott Kingery as their projected starter and Alec Bohm waiting in the wings.
The Braves, yet another NL East team, are in questionable shape at the hot corner, where they look prepared to roll with Johan Camargo and Austin Riley in the wake of Josh Donaldson’s exit in free agency. Nevertheless, the Braves have not been discussing Bryant with the Cubs, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, so it continues to look unlikely that he’ll end up in Atlanta.

[Chi_archie]

Dodgers definitely the front runner for the NL crown this year but time will tell just how much they mortgaged their future to win it all this year...

They look strong

[Otters27]

Dodgers definitely the front runner for the NL crown this year but time will tell just how much they mortgaged their future to win it all this year...

They should get it. Kind of like when LeBron beat the Thunder with the Heat

[koz-man]

Angels acquire OF Joc Pederson from Dodgers, sources say


The Los Angeles Dodgers, shortly after acquiring star right fielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox, sent outfielder Joc Pederson to the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Tuesday.

Pederson, 27, hit .249 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs last year for the Dodgers.

Pederson, like Betts, is a free agent after this season. But for one season, at least, Pederson will join superstar Mike Trout in an Angels outfield that also includes Justin Upton.

Rengifo, 22, batted .238 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 108 games for the Angels last season, splitting time between second base and shortstop.

The trade could signal additional deals for both clubs. Pederson is headed to an Angels team with a talented outfield group that includes Trout, Upton, Brian Goodwin and, eventually, top prospect Jo Adell.

Rengifo joins a Dodgers team with plenty of middle-infield depth, including Corey Seager, Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez. Trading Pederson -- who will make either $9.5 million or $7.75 million in his final year of arbitration, depending on the results of an upcoming hearing -- could help the Dodgers get under the 2020 luxury-tax threshold.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report

[stevenash]

Marlins sign Sean Rodriguez

[ApricotSinner32]

Angels acquire OF Joc Pederson from Dodgers, sources say


The Los Angeles Dodgers, shortly after acquiring star right fielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox, sent outfielder Joc Pederson to the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Tuesday.

Pederson, 27, hit .249 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs last year for the Dodgers.

Pederson, like Betts, is a free agent after this season. But for one season, at least, Pederson will join superstar Mike Trout in an Angels outfield that also includes Justin Upton.

Rengifo, 22, batted .238 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 108 games for the Angels last season, splitting time between second base and shortstop.

The trade could signal additional deals for both clubs. Pederson is headed to an Angels team with a talented outfield group that includes Trout, Upton, Brian Goodwin and, eventually, top prospect Jo Adell.

Rengifo joins a Dodgers team with plenty of middle-infield depth, including Corey Seager, Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez. Trading Pederson -- who will make either $9.5 million or $7.75 million in his final year of arbitration, depending on the results of an upcoming hearing -- could help the Dodgers get under the 2020 luxury-tax threshold.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report

[jrgum3]

Giants, IF Wilmer Flores agree on multiyear deal


Infielder Wilmer Flores and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a multiyear contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Flores, 28, hit .317/.361/.487 with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year and could be in line to play second base or a utility role with the Giants.

Not a bad signing for the Giants. Good batter who can play multiple positions and isn’t a rental.

[EmpireMaker]

The Yankees’ rotation took a serious shot Wednesday when it was announced that they’ll go without left-hander James Paxton for three to four months on account of back surgery. General manager Brian Cashman discussed the news with Joel Sherman of the New York Post, saying Paxton first complained of back discomfort in his final regular-season outing Sept. 27. That didn’t stop Paxton from making three playoff appearances, though, and Cashman noted surgery was a “last resort.” The timing of the procedure’s not ideal, but the Yankees didn’t want to rush into a decision, according to Cashman.
One of Paxton’s fellow Yankees lefties, J.A. Happ, was a trade candidate earlier this offseason, but Cashman revealed Paxton’s injury “certainly” played a part in the team’s decision to keep him. However, there was trade interest in Happ, Cashman told Sherman. “There was a lot of knocking on our door about it,” he said.
Here’s more from the American League…

• Angels infielder Luis Rengifo appears to be on the verge of going to the Dodgers in a trade for outfielder Joc Pederson. It’s not the first time Rengifo’s name has come up in trade talks this offseason, though. Rengifo was part of the discussions between the Angels and Indians when the two teams were weighing a Corey Kluber swap back in December, per Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com. The two clubs couldn’t come to an agreement, and the Indians ended up trading Kluber to the Rangers a few days later.
• Twins righty Jake Odorizzi decided to forgo free agency this offseason in favor of the team’s $17.8MM qualifying offer. Odorizzi may have done better on the open market – MLBTR predicted a three year, $51MM payday – but he doesn’t regret his choice to stick with Minnesota on a short-term deal. “Not a bit,” he told Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. “I made my decision based on the best knowledge we had at the time. Money started flying around pretty quick, and the market got pretty hot, but nobody predicted that.” Indeed, there has been far more money distributed in free agency than many anticipated when the offseason began. Odorizzi’s now left to hope the cash will continue flowing next winter if he gets to free agency, though Miller writes that he remains “open to” a long-term pact with the Twins.
• Rays outfield prospect Josh Lowe underwent right shoulder debridement surgery in November and “likely” won’t return to action until late May, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. The 22-year-old Lowe, a 2016 first-round pick and the younger brother of Rays first baseman Nate Lowe, ranks as the team’s 11th overall prospect at MLB.com. Josh Lowe enjoyed a strong season at the Double-A level last year, when he slashed .252/.341/.442 with 18 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 519 plate appearances.

[JaimeMiro]

They should get it. Kind of like when LeBron beat the Thunder with the Heat

Except Dodgers will be the Thunder -- too talented and still find a way to lose

[koz-man]

Longtime supporter Hank Aaron has school complex named in his honor at Atlanta Technical College


ATLANTA -- Dozens of students dressed in blue excitedly welcomed Hank Aaron to their Atlanta college campus Wednesday as the school named a building for the baseball icon on his 86th birthday.

Atlanta Technical College renamed a building for the former Atlanta Braves slugger, christening it the Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron Academic Complex. Aaron, a longtime supporter of the college, donates thousands of dollars to the school every year and his Chasing the Dream Foundation awards scholarships to several students.

As the legend arrived, there was cheering all around. Aaron looked calm and smiled as students, teachers and several big names from baseball honored him on his birthday. Even former President Bill Clinton sent a video message.

"I don't feel like I'm 86," Aaron said, "but I am 86."

Aaron had 755 home runs over a career that ran 1954 to 1976. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Now, he serves many roles with the Braves, where he spent most of his playing career.

He also has lobbied for efforts to encourage more young African-American athletes to choose baseball.

"I would like to see more blacks in baseball," he said, "and it's just a matter of them going out and playing."

He said Major League Baseball can contribute by making more resources available.

"They can build more baseball fields," he said. "No. 1, they can have more baseball equipment; 2, they can teach coaches in them and learn how to play the game."

[batt33]

Not a bad signing for the Giants. Good batter who can play multiple positions and isn’t a rental.

This is the first multi-year deal given out by Farhan Zaidi since he took over as president of baseball operations in November of 2018.

[Chi_archie]

Wow hammering Hank is old

[Cross]

Wow, 86 years old, time flies, hank is old.

[Fred The Hammer]

Excited about my Reds! Great rotation if Trevor Bauer can get it back and added Castellanos and Moustakas to the lineup! I think that really hurts the Cubs and Brewers. Who's protecting Yelich now? Nick C. was also raking for the Cubs and seemed like a leader for them. Can't believe they didn't pay him? I think they're in the playoffs!!

[Stallion]

Reds look good on paper.

[stevenash]

Except Dodgers will be the Thunder -- too talented and still find a way to lose

And piss of a billion person fan base yet again

[ApricotSinner32]

Kris Bryant’s long-running service-time grievance against the Cubs finally came to an end last week. Bryant lost the hearing, meaning he’ll remain under team control for two more years instead of one. As you’d expect, the players’ association isn’t enamored of the results. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark issued a statement on the matter Tuesday:
“The Players Association disagrees with the decision issued today in the Kris Bryant service-time grievance. While we respect the finality of that decision, we will continue to pursue any and all measures that incentivize competition, discourage service-time manipulation and ensure clubs field their best players. We applaud Kris’ courage and determination in challenging the Cubs’ actions and seeing the grievance through to the end.”
Although Bryant understandably fought the Cubs over team control after they delayed his rookie promotion, he said last week he harbors no ill will against the club. While there doesn’t seem to be bad blood between the two sides, that doesn’t mean Bryant will be a Cub for much longer. The Cubs have had a modest offseason after last year’s dud of a finish, and if they’re as focused as getting under the luxury tax as, say, the similarly deep-pocketed Red Sox (who traded Mookie Betts and David Price on Tuesday), Bryant might not stick around for much longer. Bryant has been the subject of trade speculation for months, after all, and the fact that the $18.6MM man is controllable for two years instead of one should only help his value on the market.
A 28-year-old former NL MVP, Bryant has a pair of suitors in the Nationals and Phillies, who have shown “at least exploratory interest” in him, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. This isn’t the first time either team has been connected to the 28-year-old Bryant this offseason, though, and it’s unclear whether they’re more inclined to trade for him now that the third base market has all but emptied out in free agency. The Nationals re-signed Asdrubal Cabrera, who figures to hold the position down until prospect Carter Kieboom’s set to take the reins, while the Phillies have the versatile Scott Kingery as their projected starter and Alec Bohm waiting in the wings.
The Braves, yet another NL East team, are in questionable shape at the hot corner, where they look prepared to roll with Johan Camargo and Austin Riley in the wake of Josh Donaldson’s exit in free agency. Nevertheless, the Braves have not been discussing Bryant with the Cubs, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, so it continues to look unlikely that he’ll end up in Atlanta.

sweet

[stevenash]

The Dodgers have signed Max Muncy to a 3-year, $26 million contract that would buy out his three arbitration years, as first reported by The Athletic. There is a fourth-year club option for what would be his free-agent year worth $13M.

[EmpireMaker]

The Indians are reportedly closing in on a major league agreement with free-agent outfielder Domingo Santana, Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com relays. An announcement could take place sometime next week, but the deal’s pending a physical, according to Hoynes.
The Indians are in clear need of outfield help, but whether Santana will prove to be the solution is anyone’s guess. However, as recently as 2017 – a season he spent with the Brewers – Santana appeared to be a budding star. He slashed .278/.371/.505 with 30 home runs and 3.3 fWAR in 607 trips to the plate that year. Santana struggled the next season, though, and then the Brewers traded him to the Mariners in December 2018.
While Santana looked like an interesting pickup for rebuilding Seattle, he didn’t end up producing much in an M’s uniform. Although Santana’s season began well, a second-half elbow injury helped torpedo his numbers and limit him to an uninspiring .253/.329/.441 line with 21 homers in 507 PA. Worsening matters, Santana ranked as one of the game’s poorest outfielders, finishing with a minus-17 Ultimate Zone Rating and a minus-16.1 Ultimate Zone Rating. His combination of so-so offense and disastrous defense held him to a replacement-level WAR output.
To Santana’s credit, he was a good defender as recently as 2018 (plus-6 DRS, plus-2.7 UZR). He’s also still just 27, and the Indians or any other team that signs Santana will be able to control him via arbitration through 2021. The Mariners could have done the same, but they elected to non-tender Santana in lieu of paying him a $4.4MM salary this year.
Should Santana join the Indians, he’d make for yet another flawed corner outfield possibility for the team. Aside from Jordan Luplow, whose solid production may have flown under the radar in 2019, there’s little in the way of clear answers for the club there. Franmil Reyes (perhaps like Santana) is probably better off as a designated hitter; Jake Bauers and Greg Allen offered subpar production last year; Tyler Naquin suffered a torn ACL in August and will miss some portion of 2020; and Bradley Zimmer barely played last season as a result of shoulder troubles.

[batt33]

The Dodgers have signed Max Muncy to a 3-year, $26 million contract that would buy out his three arbitration years, as first reported by The Athletic. There is a fourth-year club option for what would be his free-agent year worth $13M.

aand they keep throwing money at trying to win a title....

[Chi_archie]

Good deal

[JaimeMiro]

Now is a good time for the Yankees to add some more pitching depth

[Chi_archie]

Marlins sign Sean Rodriguez

If healthy could be a good bench guy

[stevenash]

This is a good read from today's Baseball HQ








Dodgers | LA Dodgers to get Mookie Betts, David Price
Updating a previous report, Boston Red Sox OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price and cash considerations are expected to be traded as part of a three-team deal involving the Twins to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for OF Alex Verdugo and RHP Kenta Maeda on Tuesday, Feb. 4, according to a source. Verdugo will be sent to Boston, while Minnesota will acquire Maeta. The deal is expected to be finalized once medical records have been exchanged and physicals have been finalized. Source: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel

BHQ take: Some LA depth may have just cleared out, as Joc Pederson has also reportedly been moved to the Angels. But Betts takes over RF and likely the lead-off spot, with half his games in a friendlier HR venue and in a terrific offense.The ripples through the Dodger lineup project Cody Bellinger as the primary CF with Max Muncy at 1B—opening up 2B for uber-prospect Gavin Lux's claim this spring. Dodgers PT losers could be infield/OF utilities Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez, neither of whom look like 400 AB locks any more.
Price fills in for a rotation now down Hyun-Jin Ryu (free agency to TOR), Maeda and possibly Ross Stripling (to LAA)—but LA also owns a talented young LA SP contingent now about to be sorted out in March.
Price is 34 and coming off career-worst numbers (4.28/3.89 ERA/xERA over 107 IP) fueled by declining velocity and 46 more IL days. his 10.7 Dom (12% SwK) and 4.0 Cmd suggest he still has something left. If healthy, Price will join Alex Wood behind Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler in the Opening Day rotation. He's now averaged just 120 IP over his past three seasons and isn't expected to offer much more in LA, particularly given the Dodgers' depth. More moves are likely; to be continued. —Jock Thompson
Impact: High

[BigSpoon]

aand they keep throwing money at trying to win a title....

They have the money, why not spend it? Don't understand the Red Sox trading Betts.

[koz-man]

Chris Taylor, Dodgers agree to two-year extension


LOS ANGELES -- Utilityman Chris Taylor and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a two-year contract extension.

The sides avoided arbitration when they agreed to a $13.4 million contract that included salaries of $5.6 million this year, then $7.8 million in 2021, according to multiple reports.

Taylor hit .262 last year after overcoming a slow start to the season in which he missed over a month with a broken wrist. The 29-year-old plays many positions and his speed is valuable on the basepaths.

Taylor made $3.5 million last year. He had asked for $5.8 million in arbitration and the team offered $5,250,000. He is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.

Infielder Max Muncy agreed to a $26 million, three-year contract Thursday and outfielder Joc Pederson lost his case Friday and will get $7.75 million instead of his request for $9.5 million. The Dodgers have agreed to trade Pederson to the Angels.

Reliever Pedro Baez ($4 million versus $3.5 million) remains on track for a hearing.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report

[Stallion]

Is the Mookie Betts trade still on??

[JaimeMiro]

Is the Mookie Betts trade still on??

Dodgers management will find a way to get it done. All they have is $