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

[JaimeMiro]

they are all protected.......

Don't get why this is still a story

[EmpireMaker]

After an offseason of trade rumors, the Indians still employ superstar Francisco Lindor. This is the time of year for extension talks and there are indications of mutual interest. But it’s far from clear there’s a match to be made.
Both Lindor and Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti addressed the shortstop’s contract situation today, with ESPN.com’s Alden Gonzalez covering. He’s slated to earn $17.5MM this year with one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining, though the only hope of him remaining in town for the long run would be a new deal of some kind.
Lindor left no doubt he sees Cleveland as “home” and expressed a strong desire to stay and win with his sole professional organization. The 26-year-old also suggested he thinks a long-term contract is possible — and not just in the perfunctory way we sometimes hear from players.
“If the negotiations or whatever makes sense, it’s gonna happen,” Lindor said of a potential blockbuster extension. “The team is not broke. The league is not broke. There’s money.”
So, if Lindor truly wants to stay and feels the economic bridge can be spanned … is there a chance? Antonetti was rather less sanguine, his comments leaving the sense that player and team may well be fated by broader forces to part.
While he says there have been “meaningful efforts” to reach a deal in the past and acknowledges Lindor’s sincerity, Antonetti struck a realistic tone. While the team would also “love for Francisco to be here long-term,” Antonetti explained, it just isn’t that simple.

“It’s not because of a lack of desire on our part, or not because of a lack of desire on Francisco’s part. But more when you look at the economics of baseball and the realities of building championship teams in a small market, it gets really tough. The interest is there, the desire is there, on both sides, to try to get something done. And whether or not that’s possible we just don’t know.”

That stance jives with prior comments of Indians owner Paul Dolan, who has made clear he doesn’t find $300MM+ contracts plausible in the near future for his organization. Dolan also has advised fans to enjoy Lindor while he’s still with the club.

[Chi_archie]

After an offseason of trade rumors, the Indians still employ superstar Francisco Lindor. This is the time of year for extension talks and there are indications of mutual interest. But it’s far from clear there’s a match to be made.
Both Lindor and Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti addressed the shortstop’s contract situation today, with ESPN.com’s Alden Gonzalez covering. He’s slated to earn $17.5MM this year with one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining, though the only hope of him remaining in town for the long run would be a new deal of some kind.
Lindor left no doubt he sees Cleveland as “home” and expressed a strong desire to stay and win with his sole professional organization. The 26-year-old also suggested he thinks a long-term contract is possible — and not just in the perfunctory way we sometimes hear from players.
“If the negotiations or whatever makes sense, it’s gonna happen,” Lindor said of a potential blockbuster extension. “The team is not broke. The league is not broke. There’s money.”
So, if Lindor truly wants to stay and feels the economic bridge can be spanned … is there a chance? Antonetti was rather less sanguine, his comments leaving the sense that player and team may well be fated by broader forces to part.
While he says there have been “meaningful efforts” to reach a deal in the past and acknowledges Lindor’s sincerity, Antonetti struck a realistic tone. While the team would also “love for Francisco to be here long-term,” Antonetti explained, it just isn’t that simple.

“It’s not because of a lack of desire on our part, or not because of a lack of desire on Francisco’s part. But more when you look at the economics of baseball and the realities of building championship teams in a small market, it gets really tough. The interest is there, the desire is there, on both sides, to try to get something done. And whether or not that’s possible we just don’t know.”

That stance jives with prior comments of Indians owner Paul Dolan, who has made clear he doesn’t find $300MM+ contracts plausible in the near future for his organization. Dolan also has advised fans to enjoy Lindor while he’s still with the club.

Pay the man

[batt33]

After an offseason of trade rumors, the Indians still employ superstar Francisco Lindor. This is the time of year for extension talks and there are indications of mutual interest. But it’s far from clear there’s a match to be made.
Both Lindor and Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti addressed the shortstop’s contract situation today, with ESPN.com’s Alden Gonzalez covering. He’s slated to earn $17.5MM this year with one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining, though the only hope of him remaining in town for the long run would be a new deal of some kind.
Lindor left no doubt he sees Cleveland as “home” and expressed a strong desire to stay and win with his sole professional organization. The 26-year-old also suggested he thinks a long-term contract is possible — and not just in the perfunctory way we sometimes hear from players.
“If the negotiations or whatever makes sense, it’s gonna happen,” Lindor said of a potential blockbuster extension. “The team is not broke. The league is not broke. There’s money.”
So, if Lindor truly wants to stay and feels the economic bridge can be spanned … is there a chance? Antonetti was rather less sanguine, his comments leaving the sense that player and team may well be fated by broader forces to part.
While he says there have been “meaningful efforts” to reach a deal in the past and acknowledges Lindor’s sincerity, Antonetti struck a realistic tone. While the team would also “love for Francisco to be here long-term,” Antonetti explained, it just isn’t that simple.

“It’s not because of a lack of desire on our part, or not because of a lack of desire on Francisco’s part. But more when you look at the economics of baseball and the realities of building championship teams in a small market, it gets really tough. The interest is there, the desire is there, on both sides, to try to get something done. And whether or not that’s possible we just don’t know.”

That stance jives with prior comments of Indians owner Paul Dolan, who has made clear he doesn’t find $300MM+ contracts plausible in the near future for his organization. Dolan also has advised fans to enjoy Lindor while he’s still with the club.

they will string him along.... probably use him as trade bait if they are not in a pennant race

[BigSpoon]

Pay the man

Won't be Cleveland but some team will. He's too good.

[koz-man]

Wade Davis ready to regain closer's role with Rockies

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Wade Davis has again entered spring training as the Colorado Rockies' closer after a rough 2019 season.
Davis lost his ninth-inning role in the final two months last year, when he finished 1-6 with 15 saves and an 8.65 ERA in the least effective effort of an 11-year career.
"It sucks when you're not doing well at anything, anything in life," Davis said. "The biggest thing is to move past it. That's when you learn and grow. You work harder. You prepare and you are at ease with what happened and your struggles. That's why I feel good about where I'm at now, despite whatever."
Scott Oberg took over as closer and pitched well before a blood clot in his right shoulder forced him to miss the final six weeks of the season and required offseason surgery. Oberg is healthy this spring and will join Davis in the back end of the bullpen.

[Cross]

Strong words from Judge today!

[ApricotSinner32]

Wade Davis ready to regain closer's role with Rockies


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Wade Davis has again entered spring training as the Colorado Rockies' closer after a rough 2019 season.
Davis lost his ninth-inning role in the final two months last year, when he finished 1-6 with 15 saves and an 8.65 ERA in the least effective effort of an 11-year career.
"It sucks when you're not doing well at anything, anything in life," Davis said. "The biggest thing is to move past it. That's when you learn and grow. You work harder. You prepare and you are at ease with what happened and your struggles. That's why I feel good about where I'm at now, despite whatever."
Scott Oberg took over as closer and pitched well before a blood clot in his right shoulder forced him to miss the final six weeks of the season and required offseason surgery. Oberg is healthy this spring and will join Davis in the back end of the bullpen.

[Stallion]

Judge is right, 10000% right.

[jrgum3]

Won't be Cleveland but some team will. He's too good.

Yep Frankie will break the bank when it’s time to get paid.

[EmpireMaker]

The first season of the union between the Mets and infielder Jed Lowrie couldn’t have gone much worse. Signed to a two-year, $20MM contract after back-to-back terrific seasons with the Athletics, Lowrie appeared in just nine games in 2019 while battling multiple leg injuries. There’s at least some that hope he’ll be able to contribute in the second season of his deal, though.
Lowrie’s wearing a leg brace at the outset of spring training, but he’s facing “no limitation” and “is full go in practice,” according to manager Luis Rojas (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). However, there still isn’t a timeline for when he’ll be able to participate in regular-season games.
Even if Lowrie does wind up healthy enough to take the field for a sizable portion of 2020, it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll receive. The switch-hitting 35-year-old has spent most of his career in the middle infield, but the Mets already have second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Amed Rosario as up-the-middle starters. Likewise, Lowrie won’t get much of any time at first base because of the presence of Pete Alonso. He does have over 1,000 innings of major league experience at third, but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there, and they’re not giving up on J.D. Davis as an option at the hot corner.

[JaimeMiro]

The first season of the union between the Mets and infielder Jed Lowrie couldn’t have gone much worse. Signed to a two-year, $20MM contract after back-to-back terrific seasons with the Athletics, Lowrie appeared in just nine games in 2019 while battling multiple leg injuries. There’s at least some that hope he’ll be able to contribute in the second season of his deal, though.
Lowrie’s wearing a leg brace at the outset of spring training, but he’s facing “no limitation” and “is full go in practice,” according to manager Luis Rojas (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). However, there still isn’t a timeline for when he’ll be able to participate in regular-season games.
Even if Lowrie does wind up healthy enough to take the field for a sizable portion of 2020, it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll receive. The switch-hitting 35-year-old has spent most of his career in the middle infield, but the Mets already have second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Amed Rosario as up-the-middle starters. Likewise, Lowrie won’t get much of any time at first base because of the presence of Pete Alonso. He does have over 1,000 innings of major league experience at third, but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there, and they’re not giving up on J.D. Davis as an option at the hot corner.

Just hope the man can stay healthy

[Chi_archie]

The first season of the union between the Mets and infielder Jed Lowrie couldn’t have gone much worse. Signed to a two-year, $20MM contract after back-to-back terrific seasons with the Athletics, Lowrie appeared in just nine games in 2019 while battling multiple leg injuries. There’s at least some that hope he’ll be able to contribute in the second season of his deal, though.
Lowrie’s wearing a leg brace at the outset of spring training, but he’s facing “no limitation” and “is full go in practice,” according to manager Luis Rojas (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). However, there still isn’t a timeline for when he’ll be able to participate in regular-season games.
Even if Lowrie does wind up healthy enough to take the field for a sizable portion of 2020, it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll receive. The switch-hitting 35-year-old has spent most of his career in the middle infield, but the Mets already have second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Amed Rosario as up-the-middle starters. Likewise, Lowrie won’t get much of any time at first base because of the presence of Pete Alonso. He does have over 1,000 innings of major league experience at third, but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there, and they’re not giving up on J.D. Davis as an option at the hot corner.

bounce back for Jed

[batt33]

The first season of the union between the Mets and infielder Jed Lowrie couldn’t have gone much worse. Signed to a two-year, $20MM contract after back-to-back terrific seasons with the Athletics, Lowrie appeared in just nine games in 2019 while battling multiple leg injuries. There’s at least some that hope he’ll be able to contribute in the second season of his deal, though.
Lowrie’s wearing a leg brace at the outset of spring training, but he’s facing “no limitation” and “is full go in practice,” according to manager Luis Rojas (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). However, there still isn’t a timeline for when he’ll be able to participate in regular-season games.
Even if Lowrie does wind up healthy enough to take the field for a sizable portion of 2020, it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll receive. The switch-hitting 35-year-old has spent most of his career in the middle infield, but the Mets already have second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Amed Rosario as up-the-middle starters. Likewise, Lowrie won’t get much of any time at first base because of the presence of Pete Alonso. He does have over 1,000 innings of major league experience at third, but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there, and they’re not giving up on J.D. Davis as an option at the hot corner.

just needs to play his way in, Seems like someone always gets hurt.....

[koz-man]

Camps are open, with one player noticeably absent


We have been arguing about Yasiel Puig as long as we have known Yasiel Puig. He was screamed at by retired players just a month into his career. He had opponents throwing at him before they even knew his name. He drove Madison Bumgarner so nuts that Bumgarner basically started a fight every time their two teams played. I understand if it has been exhausting; I’ve been inundated by so many Yasiel Puig hot takes over the last seven years that I’ll confess just hearing his name makes me instinctively want to mute my television.

But I think I’d still be sad if he were gone. Even if Puig wears you out or annoys you, it’s hard to argue he’s somehow a bad guy. His teammates tend to love him like a little brother (even if they’re younger than he is), he has apologized for some of his early antics in Los Angeles and his Wild Horse Children’s Foundation is one of the most respected and beneficial in the sport. If you truly hate Yasiel Puig, I suspect this says more about you than it does about him. The sport would be lesser if it didn’t have him.

Which is a problem because, right now, the sport does not have him. Puig, as Spring Training games begin next weekend, still does not have a team, the highest-profile free agent remaining on the market. Though a late start likely wouldn’t affect him as much as it did, say, Craig Kimbrel last year, you’d like to see him get out there and get going. There aren’t that many shopping days until Christmas

Now, I know what you’re thinking: I might not want Yasiel Puig to be out of baseball, but I’m not sure I want him on my team. And, to be sure, Puig has not been the player the last few years that his promise once suggested. His best-ever OPS came in his rookie year, a stunning .925, at the age of 22, fresh from Cuba, that made us all believe we might be looking at an all-time great. It hasn’t turned out that way. He has steadily fallen since then, and after he put up bounceback years in 2017 and 2018, the Dodgers finally decided to move on by trading him to Cincinnati. Reds fans seemed to enjoy him, but he had one of the worst 50-game stretches of his career for them and ultimately was shipped to Cleveland, where he was good, but not great, and certainly not enough to push them to the playoffs. His defense has fallen off, he’s striking out too much and he still gets under opponents’ skin enough to get involved in bench-clearing brawls even after he has already been traded. He can be a lot to take on. I get it.

But c’mon. Puig still has otherworldly talent, he’s only 29 years old and a good case could be made that his struggles last year were because he was pressing rather than some sort of sudden dropoff in skill. There isn’t a team in baseball that couldn’t use Puig in some way, shape or form, particularly at the low cost he’ll likely bring in. Forget a multi-year deal: You could maybe get Puig for one year at, say, $7 million or so? Maybe less? Probably less!

Sure, you have to get your fans and clubhouse on board with Puig. But, again, there were positive reports out of both Cleveland and Cincinnati last year. Heck, he’s almost worth it for his Instagram itself. The man sumo wrestles!

[Cross]

Funny Puig is still available.

[ApricotSinner32]

After an offseason of trade rumors, the Indians still employ superstar Francisco Lindor. This is the time of year for extension talks and there are indications of mutual interest. But it’s far from clear there’s a match to be made.
Both Lindor and Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti addressed the shortstop’s contract situation today, with ESPN.com’s Alden Gonzalez covering. He’s slated to earn $17.5MM this year with one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining, though the only hope of him remaining in town for the long run would be a new deal of some kind.
Lindor left no doubt he sees Cleveland as “home” and expressed a strong desire to stay and win with his sole professional organization. The 26-year-old also suggested he thinks a long-term contract is possible — and not just in the perfunctory way we sometimes hear from players.
“If the negotiations or whatever makes sense, it’s gonna happen,” Lindor said of a potential blockbuster extension. “The team is not broke. The league is not broke. There’s money.”
So, if Lindor truly wants to stay and feels the economic bridge can be spanned … is there a chance? Antonetti was rather less sanguine, his comments leaving the sense that player and team may well be fated by broader forces to part.
While he says there have been “meaningful efforts” to reach a deal in the past and acknowledges Lindor’s sincerity, Antonetti struck a realistic tone. While the team would also “love for Francisco to be here long-term,” Antonetti explained, it just isn’t that simple.

“It’s not because of a lack of desire on our part, or not because of a lack of desire on Francisco’s part. But more when you look at the economics of baseball and the realities of building championship teams in a small market, it gets really tough. The interest is there, the desire is there, on both sides, to try to get something done. And whether or not that’s possible we just don’t know.”

That stance jives with prior comments of Indians owner Paul Dolan, who has made clear he doesn’t find $300MM+ contracts plausible in the near future for his organization. Dolan also has advised fans to enjoy Lindor while he’s still with the club.

[Stallion]

Puig is a headache nobody wants to deal with.

[jrgum3]

Thank goodness Spring Training is officially starting because they’ve worn out talking about the Astros cheating.

[Chi_archie]

Thank goodness Spring Training is officially starting because they’ve worn out talking about the Astros cheating.

That will not end the talk

[jrgum3]

That will not end the talk

Yeah you're right but at least it means we're getting closer and closer to Opening Day.

[batt33]

Puig is a headache nobody wants to deal with.

wonder if him and kaperfluke talk......

[EmpireMaker]

Finishing an even 81-81, the Phillies were a disappointment in 2019, in part because of their rotation. Their starting staff wound up 17th in the majors in ERA, 20th in K/BB ratio and 23rd in fWAR. The subpar production from the Phillies’ group of starters contributed to the team’s eighth straight year without a playoff berth, but the club has since since made a real effort to improve its rotation and better its chances of earning a postseason spot in 2020.
The Phillies’ biggest move of the winter was signing right-hander Zack Wheeler to a five-year, $118MM guarantee. He’s now near the top of a staff that’ll also include Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta from one through three. Right-hander Zach Eflin’s set to occupy the fourth position, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia, which leaves a handful of names vying for the last place in the Phillies’ rotation. Touted prospect Spencer Howard could make his debut this year, but the Phillies will bring him along slowly, so it doesn’t seem he’s in the running for a season-opening rotation spot. Here’s a look at those who are…

• Vince Velasquez, RHP: The 27-year-old Velasquez throws hard (around 94 mph), but his ERA has hung around the 5.00 mark in recent seasons. He worked out of the Phillies’ rotation and bullpen last year, striking out just under 10 batters per nine (against 3.11 BB/9) from the team’s rotation. Problem is that Velasquez didn’t do well to prevent runs in either role. He ended up with a 4.91 ERA/5.21 FIP over 117 1/3 innings.
• Nick Pivetta, RHP: Pivetta was an effective starter for the Phillies as recently as 2018, but the wheels came off last season. He concluded the year with an ugly 5.38 ERA/5.47 FIP in 93 2/3 innings, some of which came as a reliever, though he did continue to post an average fastball upward of 94 mph.
• Ranger Suarez, LHP: The 24-year-old Suarez didn’t make a single start for the Phillies last season, but he did turn in a 3.14 ERA/3.89 FIP with 7.77 K/9, 2.22 BB/9 and a 55.1 percent groundball rate in 48 2/3 innings from their bullpen. Suarez does have quite a bit of starting experience in various levels of the minors, though. He owns a 4.02 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 87 1/3 innings in Triple-A ball.
• Cole Irvin, LHP: Irvin, 26, made his major league debut last season, mostly working from the Phillies’ bullpen. He tossed 41 2/3 frames of 5.83 ERA/5.06 FIP ball with 6.7 K/9 and 2.81 BB/9. Irvin was far better as a Triple-A pitcher from 2018-19, during which he logged a 3.07 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 255 innings.
• Damon Jones, LHP: Jones, 25, was an 18th-round pick of the Phillies in 2017 who hasn’t gotten to the majors yet, but he does rank as their 20th-best prospect at MLB.com. However, Jones had difficulty across a 34-inning Triple-A debut last season, when he walked just under seven batters per nine. Overall, Jones has issued free passes to a bit under five hitters per nine in the minors, so despite a lofty K/9 (11.1), it’s difficult to imagine him opening the season in Philly’s rotation if he doesn’t significantly improve his control.

[Cross]

Kris Bryant taking on the leadoff role this year. Pay him his money and extend him Ricketts, the guy is a stud and the ultimate team player. He might even get some starts in center field to help the team this year.

[BigSpoon]

That will not end the talk

It's going to be a story the entire season. Every time the Astros play on the road its going to be a circus.

[Otters27]

Bryant at leadoff interesting

[JaimeMiro]

Just one more day

[koz-man]

Yankees shut down Luis Severino with forearm soreness

TAMPA, Fla. -- The New York Yankees seem to have picked up where they left off last season on the injury front, with pitcher Luis Severino joining the list of players dealing with ailments this spring training.
Severino became the second pitcher shut down by the Yankees this spring after reporting right forearm discomfort, which apparently dates to last October.
The Yankees will already be without pitcher James Paxton through at least April after the lefty underwent a procedure to remove a cyst as well as a microscopic lumbar surgery. Outfielder Aaron Judge has also been dealing with shoulder discomfort and has not taken batting practice yet this spring.

[ApricotSinner32]

The first season of the union between the Mets and infielder Jed Lowrie couldn’t have gone much worse. Signed to a two-year, $20MM contract after back-to-back terrific seasons with the Athletics, Lowrie appeared in just nine games in 2019 while battling multiple leg injuries. There’s at least some that hope he’ll be able to contribute in the second season of his deal, though.
Lowrie’s wearing a leg brace at the outset of spring training, but he’s facing “no limitation” and “is full go in practice,” according to manager Luis Rojas (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). However, there still isn’t a timeline for when he’ll be able to participate in regular-season games.
Even if Lowrie does wind up healthy enough to take the field for a sizable portion of 2020, it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll receive. The switch-hitting 35-year-old has spent most of his career in the middle infield, but the Mets already have second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Amed Rosario as up-the-middle starters. Likewise, Lowrie won’t get much of any time at first base because of the presence of Pete Alonso. He does have over 1,000 innings of major league experience at third, but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there, and they’re not giving up on J.D. Davis as an option at the hot corner.

interesting stuff here

[stevenash]

Manfred's gotta go.
I'm sick of his wishy washy ass.

[Stallion]

Manfred should have stripped them of there title

[jrgum3]

Manfred should have stripped them of there title

Even though that’s the right thing to do it seems like something no commish would do. Maybe I’m wrong but that would be unprecedented.

[BigSpoon]

2017 Astros title will be forever tainted, a big asterisk next to it.

[jrgum3]

Got to love the + odds on Astros HBP in the SBR Sportsbook boys...

[JaimeMiro]

Taking the over in the first 4 games of the season...


Thank me later / not