Hello again and welcome to the second Top 10 List Im making this week. Eat your fucking heart out Buzzfeed. I don't know if you heard, but the Yankees, Rays, and Diamondbacks made a three way trade the other day. While both the Rays and Diamondbacks did receive prospects from the Yankees, the main two parts of the trade was Steven Souza Jr, one of the Rays best players coming into 2018, heading to the dessert, while Brandon Drury heads to the Bronx. Both solved two big holes that each team had. The Dbacks were in search for another Outfielder to coincide with both AJ Pollack and the newly signed Jarrod Dyson. The Yankees, who were initially going to start the season with rookies at both 2nd and 3rd, add an underrated Drury to start the year with them, especially while they wait the three weeks for top prospect Gleyber Torres to join them. The Yankees are expected to do this so that they can add an extra year to his rookie contract, a common move by teams these days. The Yankees hole was a part of this list initially, but has since been removed. Still I have 10 of the biggest holes in MLB as of right now. Its important to know that with Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues starting tomorrow, this list is subject to change over the next month or so. So, if you are reading this after that point, its on you (but thanks for reading, love youuuuuuu). Also, I have excluded Starting Pitchers from this list. It can be argued that just about every team in the league has holes in their rotation. Thats another list for another day. Alright lets get it started:
10. The Entire Detroit Tigers Outfield: When the Tigers signed Ron Gardenhire on to be their next manager in December, it took me about 3 minutes to understand why. I couldn't wrap my mind around it. I mean, the Tigers are so bad now that saying they need a young manager hold the fort down is an understatement. Put a 5 year old in there. That whole "he needs to develop the young guys" argument doesnt really apply here as most of the prospects the Tigers (and its not many) are far away from their callup to the show. No better example of this is seen than their current outfield. Mike Mahtook, most famous for trying to fight the Yankees (lol) is expected to be in Left with veteran Leonys Martin, a career .247 hitter to be in Center. Right Field is the worst part, as there really isn't one. The Tigers have Nick Castellanos listed as their starter on their site's depth chart. Unless someone is willing to take old man Miggy, or give away a ton for Michael Fullmer, Castellanos is the most likely to be dealt come July. And considering the price tags for both Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson, and the fact that the 25 year old only commands $6 Million for 2018, he could be a steal. Not sure what the Tigers have planned the rest of the way, but its gonna be bad. But since they're expected to lose 100+ games, no one really cares. Thats why they're here at 10. 9. Chicago White Sox 3rd Base: Speaking of not caring, here are the Chicago White Sox. Wake me up in 2020, #amiright ? Well, kind of. But the main reason they're here is because of Mike Moustakas. Yes, the Free Agent who is still unsigned. After the Brandon Drury acquisition, its clear the Yankees aren't signing Moustakas. The remaining money they have will be used for something they need in July. Chicago becomes the only other realistic destination for Moose, unless he decides to give the Royals a discount. But he is going to want years and will want to compete. In 2020, despite my joke, the White Sox could find themselves competing. So its not farfetched to imagine this happening. In the meantime though, it looks like they'll go with 27 year old Matt Davidson, who in almost 500 plate appearances is hitting .224 but had a solid power hitting season, hitting 26 dingers in 17'. But this was mostly at DH, so a Free Agent signing could block him from getting into the lineup. 8. San Diego Padres' LF: Scott Boras said something pretty interesting during the Eric Hosmer press conference. In reference to the Padres' front office, Boras claimed that it was apparent that the team was committed to winning. But in 2018, this does not mean the same thing as it did 15 years ago. The Padres have quite a few holes on the mound, and quite a few question marks heading into the season. And with a deadly NL West, they're not expected to do much. Their Left Field spot is now the main eye sore, as Wil Myers will most likely move from 1st to Right. "Oh but Jon, what about Hunter Renfroe?! You forgot about him? Do you not know wtf you're talking about?" Well, little pain in the butt, I do. Hunter Renfroe, though a big part of this organization's future, is the main trade target right now, with both the Rays and the Braves being linked to the young Outfielder. Just think of why for a second. If the Braves get off to a solid start, they too will want a young, controllable guy to come in and add to the top of that lineup. Especially if they can replace Nick Markakis in Right. Of all teams in MLB right now, the Braves have the pieces to do so. As for the Rays, don't forget that they just traded their Right Fielder the other day in Souza. While they may not expect compete now, they're going to want to add soon. And if the Padres are serious about this build, they could look into Chris Archer and snag him away from teams who really need him with a guy like Renfroe. This will leave the Pads with Jose Pirela in Left........gross. 7. Baltimore Orioles' Closer: Zach Britton's injury, in my opinion, is the biggest letdown for this organization's season. Yes, even more so than that of Manny Machado leaving for a billion dollars. Why? Because a left handed reliever puts you over the edge if you are a postseason bound team. Teams will break their farm for a guy like Britton, who can command an ERA under 2. Not to mention, he's been a closer, something multiple teams almost always need. Just look at what the Yankees got for Andrew Miller and tell me otherwise. The problem with dealing Machado is that, unless a particular team needs that one guy to give them a major jolt, no one will break the bank for another hitter. Not to mention theres Josh Donaldson and the aforementioned Nick Castellanos that could be cheaper too (not sure how much cheaper Donaldson is but you never know I suppose). The current report is that, despite being initially thought to be out till June or July, Britton could return in May. But if you rush a guy back like that, his numbers could balloon, bringing his trade value down. Im not saying teams would turn away from him, but what the O's would receive back would be far less. Better to be cautious and let the next team(s) decide for themselves. And by the way, any little shot the O's did have of competing in 18' is virtually dead. It will be hard to battle with Boston and NY in late innings. Buck Showalter doesnt have too many weapons out in the pen. 6. Texas Rangers Closer: One of the least talked about holes by far is the Rangers' bullpen as a whole, but mostly their closer situation (or in this case, lack there of). Man, its an eyesore. I mean, who is in there?! Could the Rangers have the worst pen in the bigs? Two posts ago, I talked about the Rangers' chances of competing . How does one compete with the deadly Stros', surging Angels, and Wild Card fighting Mariners when you cant count on 4/5 starters to go over 6, AND THEN have a bunch of guys in the pen you don't know about. More important, if you do have a lead in the 9th, who is protecting it. Now, diehard Ranger fans, who are hiding somewhere deep in the heart of Texas will tell you that both Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman are both capable of handling it. But for how long? Claudio, a sinker ball pitcher, has an ERA that jumps over 3 with 2 outs. Not to mention his ERA is 7.17 with runners on base. As for Diekman, his ERA is over 5 with RISP, 13. 50 with a runner on third. If either or both wind up with the nod, it will either be part of a revolving door or a closer by committee situation. Neither rarely work out for teams heading to the postseason in October. 5. Washington Nationals Closer: From two teams that could compete but probably wont, to one that is expected to win the whole damn thing by some, the Nationals are the most susceptible to issues with their lack of guys late in the game. Its been their biggest knock for some time now, especially given their amazing core of guys in the rotation. Those that read my post from last week know that I am fully committed to seeing the Mets make some type of noise this season. This could be the Nats biggest issue, something GM Mike Rizzo should've addressed right away in the offseason. Zach Britton was linked to the Nats before and probably will be again when healthy. Aside from him though, the Nats will have to get creative. Otherwise, it could be much of the same come October (or even September #7LINE BABY WOOO!!.... jk.....kinda). 4. St. Louis Cardinals Shortstop: There are maybe 3 or 4 teams in all 4 major sports in the US that I never sleep on. One is the Cardinals, who really haven't given people too much to worry about in 2018. When GM Mike Girsch says he's always looking to add pieces so they compete, he means it. But their attention should be at Short, despite converted 3rd Baseman Paul DeJong current status. The Cards have been linked to Manny Machado, which could be a big issue for both the Cubs and Brewers this summer. As for now, its a hole that may be fine, but could be that little setback that puts them in the same position in the Central as they were last year. 3. Los Angeles Dodgers 2nd Baseman: Logan Forsythe is their guy right now, with manager Dave Roberts announcing over the weekend he'll command the majority of ABs over old timer Chase Utley. Either way, neither are solid options for a team that came a game away from winning it all in 18. The Rockies and Dbacks are now stronger, and holes like this are costly. Why run a career .224 hitter out there most of the time? I think the Dodgers should look into Starlin Castro, especially since they have made it clear they're not signing guys like Neil Walker right now. Actually, I think their massive payroll makes that clear enough, no? 2. Boston Red Sox 3rd Baseman: Well, its a hole that scare the hell out of me as a Yankees fan. Hey, why is Dave Dombrowski, one of the biggest spenders in baseball history, waiting to sign someone? Well, the Sox are going to compete either way. And their farm system is depleted. So why would you break the bank now for Machado or Donaldson? Just wait the extra year to put them at an advantage. The Dodgers don't have much wiggle room, and the Yankees are more likely to get one of the two. For now however, its an issue that could bring them down a peg, even with the signing of JD Martinez. Remember, if they lost to the Yanks in the East, they have a bunch of teams they are competing with. Most notably......... 1. Minnesota Twins DH: Wow, what a segway, Jon.....Yes Im well aware, no worries. Everyone loves discussing the Twins' pitching problems, which I think is more than justified. Odorizzi is a #3 at best, and the Twins didn't think of Berios enough to start him in the Wild Card game. But that signature DH hitter (outside of Miguel Sano) is going to be a problem. Look at the Wild Card game for any proof you need. The Twins jumped all over Luis Severino and scored a bunch of runs. But the Yankees came right back and kept the lead over the Twins late in the game. Its the epitome of baseball in 2018. I think its something that will hinder the Twins yet again, and I believe they need to go out an get a power bat. Jose Bautista is the easy answer, but he strikes out a ton and his numbers keep climbing down. The main issue is that the Twins have most spots on their roster covered, so the guy, whoever it may be, will have to be full time. Would the White Sox send Jose Abreu there if they were looking for my MLB ready talent this summer? Im not sure. But I cant see the Twins going any deeper than they did last year without this type of move. Now, barring an injury, the Twins could go get a position player to help. That would be fine I suppose. But its clear their top priority is pitching, so not sure if this is really a thing for them. It is for me though! Hope you enjoyed the list. Ill think of something to write for next week. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram . ~J~
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Ahh Spring Training. What a time to be alive, #amiright? The early portion of the MLB season leads to many talks for teams. In particular, how does everyone look? For many teams, its a chance to see who is playing where. Can certain guys win jobs over others? Competition for jobs is best in March. But some of these guys are making comebacks. So much so that we forgot about them! As such, I give you the Top 10 guys everyone has forgotten about in MLB. A few ground rules for this list:
- The player must be on the 40 man roster - The player must be in some type of competition at some point this season -The player must be someone that we've heard of before -The amount of success this player has had previously is (mostly) irrelevant Alright enough, lets get started: 1. Jorge Soler: Yeah, get the picture now? A man once in that crop of dudes in the Cubs system with Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, and Addison Russell, Soler was supposed to be the power guy that teams feared late in the games come October. But a weak 2016 lead to a trade to the Kansas City Royals, a team that will now be desperate to find some bats. Soler struggled in 2017, hitting .144 in just 97 ABs. This is one of those classic cases of former top prospects running out of chances. 2. Yangervis Solarte: 2014 was an interesting year for those pesky Yanks of mine. After spending almost a billion dollars in free agents, the team began competing but struggled offensively. One of the (many) moves Brian Cashman made during the offseason was trading Solarte to the Padres for Chase Headley. This was just 3 months after the Yanks DFA'ed future All Star Eduardo Nunez in favor of Solarte at 3rd. With a string of bad teams out in San Diego, Solarte was able to start and put up solid numbers for the Pads. But alas, the Pads dealt him to Toronto on January 6th for prospects, after requiring Chase Headley in a trade with the Yankees. The Jays have a pretty good guy at third named Josh Donaldson (or something like that), along with a crowded outfield. So Solarte stands in right now as a guy competing for a roster spot come April. 3. Rex Brothers: Potentially the least known player on this list (unless you're a Rockies fan or a former fantasy baseball owner) , Brothers is a reliever now with the Atlanta Braves. His best season came when he was closing for the Rockies in 2013, pitching in 67 innings to a 1.74 ERA, saving 19 games. The Braves will be one of those teams with a revolving door of relievers in 2018, but Brothers will be one of the vets helping the kids out. He could return to the closer role too, should something happen to Arodys Vizcaino. 4. Martin Prado: Ahh yes, back to those 2014 Yankees. At the time, Robinson Cano was in his first year with the Mariners. The Yankees were in a free fall at 2nd, with guys like Brian Roberts and Stephen Drew stinking up the joint. As a part of the slew of deadline moves, Brian Cashman traded power hitting prospect Peter O'Brien to the Dbacks for Prado. In 37 games, he hit .316, and became a huge reason why the Yanks were in the Wild Card race until Mid-September. They then dealt Prado to the Marlins in the offseason. With two solid seasons in 2015 and 16', the Marlins gave him a 3 year extension. But he suffered a hamstring injury during the WBC and was limited to just 37 games in 17'. Though his Opening Day status is up in the air, Prado should have an easy time competing for playing time with this weak Marlins team in 2018. 5. Ivan Nova: More former Yankees?!? Yes, and we ain't done yet, either! When people discuss Nova's career, they always seem to reference that he is a former 16 game winner. Which he was, in 2011. But since then, its been tough for Nova. He now finds himself competing with several guys for a spot in the Pirates' rotation. Though expectations aren't set too high for the Buckos in 18' , a comeback by Nova could certainly help 6. Shin-Soo Choo: I still cant wrap my brain around Choo being on this list, but here we are. In fact, Choo would be on a similar list for 2016 as well. Notice I skipped 2017, where Choo actually played in 149 games and had a pretty good season. But people really forget his 7 Year, $130 Million contract that the Rangers gave him in December of 2013. Hard to believe that the 35 year old still has 3 years left. But the Rangers may need him, especially if they're going to compete for a Wild Card this season . Choo should get a decent amount of ABs, mostly as a DH. 7. Home Bailey: I think if I had ranked these individuals based on how much we had actually forgotten about them, Bailey could be argued as the top guy. Once upon a time, the Reds were actually competitive. Homer Bailey helped a couple of Dusty Baker's teams out. But ultimately, Bailey was always supposed to be the guy. Not to mention he hasn't been able to stay on the field much since 2014. In 2017 Bailey looked like he was going to finally start anew....except that he pitched to a 6.43 ERA in 91 Innings. I cannot believe the Reds keep running this guy out there, especially after 10 years of not getting much. But realistically, how many guys do the Reds have to offer these days? Bailey is listed by MLB.com as a projected number TWO starter in their rotation this year. Yikes. 8. Nathan Eovaldi: Oh so you were looking for more former Yankees huh? Well, that Martin Prado trade with the Marlins we mentioned brought in Eovaldi (among others), so it all comes full circle I suppose. Eovaldi had a solid 1.5 years in the Bronx. His 14-3 record in 2014 was a bit of a misnomer, as he had one of the best lineups for run support in the league. You can tell this from his 4.20 ERA in 154 IP. This is including his summer, where he went 8-0 with a 2.43 ERA. Eovaldi struggled in 2016 before tearing his flexor tendon, forcing him to receive Tommy John surgery. The Rays signed him in the offseason to a 2-year deal. Kevin Cash said over the weekend Eovaldi is being penciled in for a rotation spot for a depleted Rays squad. Eovaldi is known for his power pitching, but TJ surgery may change things a bit. He's definitely become even more of a project to say the least 9. Phil Hughes: Cue the Boys II Men, because we've finally reached the end of the road for former Yankees on this list. And boy is it a big one. Once thought to be the next Whitey Ford for the Yanks, Phil Hughes had a topsy turvy (spelling?) career in the Bronx before heading to Minnesota in 2014. Though his first season was pretty solid (16-10, 3.52 ERA in 32 games), the last few years have not been too kind. He had ERAs close to 6 the last two seasons, being limited to just 12 and 14 games respectively. Now entering his age 32 season, Hughes is looking for a spot in the Twins' rotation so he can try and revitalize a tough career to look at. 10. James Shields: Remember when he was "Big Game James"?? Remember when there was a circus to acquire him? Remember when the Padres got him and everyone viewed them as World Series bound? Remember....okay thats enough. After the Padres' failed attempt at being a contender, Shields struggled in the early part of 2016. The Pads dealt him to the White Sox, where he's been extending his struggle ever since. He ended 2016 going 4-12 with a 6.77 ERA. He spent 2017 with an ERA over 5 Luckily for Kenny Williams and company, the White Sox are rebuilding. But now that they have an elite farm system, it may not be for much longer. Shields, thought to be the current "Ace" of the staff, should go out and have a great 2018, so maybe he can finish his career helping the team with their future. Thats it for now, here are my shameless plugs for ya: (Twitter) (Insta) Cheers, ~J~ 2/15/2018 0 Comments Springing into SpringPitchers and Catchers are reporting. Pitchers and Catchers are reporting. Pitchers and Catchers are reporting. Hey, are you reading? I said PITCHERS AND CATCHERS ARE REPORTING!!! The unofficial start of the unofficial start to the season is upon us and Im just a tad excited. As such, my mind is running rampant on predictions for this season. The way I see it, Major League Baseball will feature 3 different types of teams this season: "Contenders", "Re-Builders", and "Question Marks". So far, I think I have the first two groups down pat:
Contenders: Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Twins, Astros, Nats, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rockies Re-Builders: White Sox, Tigers, A’s, Braves, Phillies, Marlins, Reds, Padres, That leaves 12 teams that are Question Marks. 3 of which, Ive recently covered (Blue Jays, Giants, Pirates). Feel free to check those posts out, I think I did a pretty decent job on each *pats self on back*. So really there are 9 teams that I would like to briefly touch on today. Each team COULD be a contender or…..a pretender (*sigh* I didn’t want to use the phrase—sorry). Some are more likely than others, sure. But they’re not exactly in a re-build, even if it looks like they’re headed that way. And given the contenders ahead of them, their 2018 outlook comes into question (get it, so they're question marks!! #Imagenius). AL:
Okay, time for the NL: 7. The New York Mets: Overall, I hate the Mets, lets start there. But I cant lie to you all, the Mets can very easily contend in 2018. For me, this comes down to 2 people; Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler. You pretty much know what you're getting from most of the roster. I think Adrian Gonzalez can go either way, but thats about it. Okay, maybe slip in one or two nice surprises as well. But those two guys are the keys, man. I actually think Matt Harvey will be amazing, feel free to draft him in your fantasy leagues now. Why? Its a walk year. The guy is fighting for his career, this is pretty much it for him. But before most Mets fans knew about Thor or maybe even DeGrom, there was Zach Wheeler, the future! He needs to make his comeback, to the point where he (literally) wins Comeback Player of the Year. So 15 or so wins for Wheeler, with a return of the Amazing Dark Knight ( lets say 17) wins. Combined thats 32 wins. To put things in perspective, Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo had combined for 15 of the Mets' 70 wins in 2017. Harvey and Wheeler therefore give you 17 more wins this year (87), IN ADDITION TO a healthy Noah Syndergaard, who can very easily win 18-20 games. That is more than enough for a Wild Card, maybe even a DIVISION TITLE depending on how the Nats perform. Remember, the Braves, Phillies, and god awful Marlins give the Mets a chance at quite a few W's by themselves. I, being the Yankees boy that I am, love Todd Frazier. I think his presence is going to help in the clubhouse. Convinced yet? But hey, this is still asking for a lot. So you could only see a 79-80 win Mets team too. But you know what? Fuck it. All aboard the hype train, 7 Line! (see what I did there)? 8. The Milwaukee Brewers: Hopefully by now you've realized that Im not discussing teams' lineups too much. Look, teams are gonna mash the ball. Chances are, if you're a team on this list, the lineups aren't really the problem. Or, at least, you're not that main problem. The Brewers are the team I associate this theory with the most. All I want is someone who covers baseball to tell me how the Brewers are going to surpass the Cubs and the rest of the Wild Card teams now? Just look at what I just told you about the Mets. Are you saying the same about Jhoulys Chacin and Yovani Gallardo, who hasn't had a playoff pitcher-type season in over 5 years?! NO. I know I know, they were super close last year, blah blah blah. But now the Cubs have Yu Darvish you guys. And the next team on this list is back, healthier than 2017 by far. 9. The St. Louis Cardinals: Yes, the Cards are back. Their plethora of pitching is here. Marcel Ozuna is here. Of all the teams on this list, the Cards are the easiest to explain. They have to beat the Cubs and cant let the Brewers beat them either. Thats it, thats all. You pretty much know what you are getting out of everyone. So why are they not "contenders"? The bullpen is going to be a big issue, so I see them as buyers in July for relief help. But that really depends on if they take my advice by July..... which could depend on how the bullpen does......................see the problem?Otherwise, they'll stay put. If they cant do those two things, expect a repeat of 2017. The talent is there, they have to execute. Idk why, but this was exhausting. Could not be more excited for the season though, more.... stuff to come soon! In the meantime, follow me on Twitter AND/OR Instagram ~J~ Hello again readers and welcome back to this ever so amazing blog! We're now MLB Carve Up! Some turd wrote a book called Millennial Baseball so a name change was in order. Nonetheless we're back and with a vengeance! The last post was about this year's Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that is going to turn some heads in the National League (even if they don't wind up being competitive). Today however, we're going to flip the script a bit and talk about the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays are not being looked at in a positive light right now. With the Yankees and Red Sox both blocking any chance at a division title, and a crowded AL West, the Blue Jays may wind up with a 2018 similar to that of last year. But that doesn't mean they're not capable of doing better.
Lets start by saying that 2017 was a bit of an anomaly. A slew of injuries from players including Tulo', Devon Travis, Aaron Sanchez, JA Happ, and (a couple) from the aging Russell Martin. We've just taken out a chunk of the rotation and lineup. And those are just the bigger names. All of which are returning in 2018. Of course everyone's projections of the Jays, including that of the list of players above, are expected to be lowered. But the Starting 5 really isn't too bad, with the first 4 (Stroman, Happ, Sanchez, Estrada) being capable of winning between 10-15 games. The number 5 slot is a question mark but could have a few people potentially win between 8-10 games. If we give all 5+ pitchers the benefit of the doubt, that could be a projected 60 wins. Its expected that a Wild Card winner wins between 86-90 games. This means Toronto is going to need to win between 26-30 games from their offense and their bullpen, the biggest issue surrounding the team as of right now. Lets ignore the offense for just a second and take some time to look at that bullpen because you know John Gibbons is. Roberto Osuna is a terrific closer. He held 39 saves in 2017, but a WAR of only 1.5. This is not very good for a closer like him, especially since he has a career 5.3 WAR. His ERA is projected to balloon (3.52) and his number of saves are projected to go down in 2018 (23). But for the sake of this blog post, Im going to hover his WAR to about 3, which puts the Blue Jays at around 63 wins. Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, and Danny Barnes can all be held to 1 a piece (66). The rest of the relievers are a crapshoot as of right now, so we'll say 1 for now (67). With 76 wins in 2017, the Blue Jays offense will have to account for about 20-25 wins in order to be a playoff contender. This is tough given that everyone outside of Josh Donaldson is a huge question mark. Not to mention, if the Jays are out of it by June-July, or if the injury bug comes back early, you can expect Donaldson to be (arguably) the biggest target of the trade deadline. The big issue with the Jays last year if that they got off to a horrific start. The team was 8-18 in April and could never come close to keeping pace with everyone else. The team is going to have to play at least .500 ball in April. The offense is going to have to act as a catalyst, and everyone is going to have to play (at least) decent ball. This is how the Opening Day lineup is projected as of right now according to SportsNet: Devon Travis Josh Donaldson Justin Smoak Kendrys Morales Troy Tulowitzki Randal Gritchuk Curtis Granderson Kevin Pillar Russell Martin Starting from the top, Travis is a career .292 hitter. This could be closer to .300 but he was injury plagued in 17', hitting just over .250 in 50 games. He'll have to bounce back, so you take the under with him and assume him at .275-280. Donaldson is a monster so Ill just make the assumption for us that he'll continue that trend. Justin Smoak was outstanding in 2017, but is a career .232 hitter and is known for his injuries, which you know will come back to haunt him soon enough. Morales has had a great career (including a great 17') sure. But his war was actually -0.2. He'll be 35 in June and hasn't been the healthiest of players either. Then there's Tulo, speaking of injury plagued guys. Tulo almost never stays on the field, but is tremendous when he does. Baseball reference gives him a .256 Avg in 384 ABs this season, which sounds about right, especially depending on how the season goes overall. Gritchuk and Granderson can both go either way. With Gritchuk, the potential is always there. Toronto's view is the "change of scenery" theory, which is fine. I think Granderson cant go for a full season and will need to be a part-timer in order for him to be valuable. But the Jays have plenty of Outfield talent, including down in the minors. I wouldn't trust Russell Martin either. A very rough 2017, and potentially an unhelpful 2018 too. I think overall, the lineup can be given a WAR around 8, especially given the potential for a few negatives and a lot of 0's all around. That now puts us at about 75 wins, right next to last year's 76. Remember, this team will have to do battle with a number of frontline Starting Pitchers. The Yankees have Tanaka, Gray, CC, and Severino, while Boston has Sale, Porcello, Pomeranz, and a returning David Price. It also looks like Chris Archer isn't going anywhere either. Not to mention the guys in Cleveland and Houston, as well as potential Wild Card contenders in Seattle (King Felix, James Paxton), Anaheim (Richards, Heaney), and Texas (Hamels). They'll also do battle with the NL East, which includes a deadly Nats team and a couple of guys from Queens. All this sounds bad, but I did write "Toss Up" in the title. Why is that? First, I think the Jays can make some noise early and become buyers in the summer. I think if they are that competitive by the All Star Break, they see what they can do with Donaldson and trade an outfielder or two to acquire a couple of relievers. This can add 1-2 wins to the projected 75, putting them at 76-77. We can hypothesize that someone in the rotation will projected over 15 wins (most likely Marcus Stroman, who is due for this type of season). We can be generous and put him at 17, which now puts you at 78-79 wins. The offense, which is projected to be the biggest question mark, can remain healthy and add between 4-8 wins, especially if they wind up acquiring another big bat somehow. This now gets you pretty close to the wild card, especially heading into September. It would be up to them to beat on the Red Sox, Yankees, Indians, and Astros, all of which are on the schedule in September. But hey, if they wind up playing as well as this ginormous fantasy is telling us they will, that should be no problem! So yeah, there's your toss up. Is it a bit farfetched? You betcha'. But hey, what else is there to write about heading into Super Bowl Weekend? Yeah, exactly. Just our two cents here, no need to get upset. Thats it for now, fam. Make sure to follow on Twitter (Now its @MLBCarve_Up) AND HIT US UP ON IG TOO!!! (@MLBCarve_Up) Okay, Ciao ~J~ 1/22/2018 0 Comments The 2018 Pirates After expressing interest in leaving Pittsburgh, Clint Hurdle told Josh Harrison “We need to honor the past, own the present, and create a future”. Even though he’s just committing to his job, Clint Hurdle doesnt expect his team to rebuild in 2018. This is despite the major trade from this week that made Andrew McCutchen the newest member of the San Francisco Giants and the subject of the baseball world. The Pirates traded McCutchen, their star player for the last 8 years, to the Giants for Kyle Crick, Bryan Reynolds, and $500,000 in International signing money. This is without question a huge blow to Pirates fans everywhere. After trading Gerrit Cole to Houston, Neal Huntington and his team have made it clear to fans that they believe it was time to make a change. After all, the Pirates and their fans have seen this all before. Some are so upset that they started a petition to get their owner, Robert Nutting, to sell the team. And look, who the hell can blame them!?
It doesn’t help that most of the baseball world has written the Pirates off. A difficult NL Central, along with a (probably) crowded Wild Card race has everyone looking at them as potential losers. But not this random blog writer/ baseball fan/optimist. No, Im here to give some Pirates fans some hope. I believe that the Pirates current depth chart is not that of a "rebuilding team”. There will be plenty of talent heading into spring, leading to a potentially underrated 25 man roster by April, which would then lead to a better season than most of you may think: The Rotation: There are about 7 potential guys listed for the starting rotation as of today. Jameson Taillon is the clear frontrunner. He’s a tremendous talent and had a solid 2017 despite a 4.44 ERA. He thew 133 innings and struck out 125. The 2 and 3 slots will be held by either Ivan Nova, a former 16 game winner and new addition Joe Musgrove, who was 12-1 with a 1.88 ERA in 2015 for both Single and Double A. Musgrove’s minor league success hasn’t translated to the big league level yet. But that doesnt mean the potential isn't there. It was imperative that the Astros gave up something to obtain Gerrit Cole. Pirates scouts must have seen something with Musgrove. They may be confident that their guys can bring him back to where he once was. The 4 and 5 slots COULD be held by Trevor Williams and Chad Kuhl, but I actually LOVE either Steven Brault and/or Tyler Glasnow to have big spring trainings. Brault is a terrific athlete who held a 1.94 ERA in 120 IP for Triple A in 2017. He didn’t get as much of a chance as the Pirates wouldn’t have hoped because of the whole "Tyler Glasnow experience". Speaking of Tyler, I think we’re all forgetting how much potential he has. Remember, he’s only 24 and spent 2017 with a 1.93 ERA in Triple A, with the same in 2016 in both Double A and Triple A. This is not a prospect to forget all about right away. Throwing him in the garbage and suggesting that Clint Hurdle moves him into the bullpen to start the year is nonsense. Even if Im wrong and he does go there, he can very easily dominate in the 5th and 6th innings But lets assume Im a genius, so the rotation turns out like this:
Don’t forget about Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ number 2 prospect who had a terrific Fall League. Even if he starts in Double A, he could be a big piece as a September call-up if they’re in contention, or a mid-summer call-up barring an injury/ they are out of contention. I think Chad Kuhl becomes the fringe #6 guy, with Williams headed to the ‘pen (again—subject to change). Speaking of which, lets take a look at that next. The ‘Pen: Theres no debating a bullpen’s connection to wins for teams in 2018. The last several years saw the best teams with a stack of guys that can come in late in the game. And now, every team is starting to follow suit. The Colorado Rockies were the poster children for this in the offseason, snagging (what seemed like) everyone off the free agent market. The so-called “Super Seven” of MLB (Yankees, Cubs, Indians, Red Sox, Astros, Dodgers, Nationals) all spent their time rebuilding their bullpens to make themselves in contention (the Nationals not so much, but thats for another day). Are the Pirates THAT far off from these guys? Well, maybe. But that doesnt mean they don’t have the talent. Remember, 2 of the dudes from the above will (most likely) wind up here. The hope is that one of these guys turns into the next Chad Greene; a failed started who absolutely KILLS it in the pen (yes, theres my Yankee-boy line for the day). Outside of this though, you can start at the top with the re-signing of Felipe Rivero, who will most likely close games out for the Bucos in 18’. Rivero had a terrific 17’ and should do pretty well late in the game with an average fastball at 98 MPH, slightly above the league average. 88K’s in 75 IP is nothing to sneeze at. If the lineup doesnt pan out the way I think it will (we’ll get to that in a second), You may need him to be this type of guy late in the game. The guys after Rivero are up for debate. You figure it will be a revolving door for 4 spots. You can start with veterans George Kontos and Daniel Hudson, a closer in Arizona. Kyle Crick, who was the prize gem of the Mccutchen trade, is seen by most as an absolute beast that can come out of the pen. Crick struck out 39 in 29 IP in Triple A and held people to a .191 BA when coming up for the Giants. Scouting reports indicate he’s the perfect reliever for the later innings if he can get his changeup to the same level as his slider and four seamer. Ill let a potential 7th spot in the ‘pen be up for debate, but remember that teams tend to typically have one nice surprise throughout the course of the season, especially in their ‘pen. Around the Diamond: Ahh Alright, time to go around the diamond now. Ill start this by saying that the chart isn’t all wonderful. I cant stand Cervelli behind the plate. But he calls a good game, and I think given all of what I just told you with the pitching staff, they’re going to utilize him. Bell and Harrison are all prized possessions. They can stand toe to toe with anyone else’s 1st and 2nd Baseman combo in the division, with the exception to the Cubbies. I think Josh Harrison is going to have a monster year. Despite his recent comments, I don’t think he is the type of guy to pack it in before the season begins. Conversely, if he’s motivated to leave, and I’m completely wrong about everything with this team, he may be motivated to be traded in July. Jordy Mercer is a bit more challenging to predict.Im not sure he’ll be at the same level offensively, but you never know. Colin Moran is expecting to play at third. Moran is also nothing to sneeze at either. This is a guy who hit .300 in the minors last season. While he’s fallen within a crowded Astros system the last few years, Moran can be a guy that gets on base down within the 6-8 holes the lineup has. Worst case scenario, Jung Ho Kang can get the visa he is looking for and come back with a vengeance. Outfielders: Marte and Polanco are also prized guys and will be solid atop the lineup. I think Polanco especially will have a great season, similar to his 2016. Their outfield does have a hole in it, but I like Austin Meadows, MLB’s #17 prospect to come up sooner rather than later, especially if the Pirates are out of contention after the All Star break. Neal Huntington could also go out and get a guy in Free Agency if the money is right over the next few weeks. Now, does that sound like a bad roster to you? Im not saying they’ll win the World Series. Hell, Im not even going to tell you they can win a Wild Card. But that doesnt mean they cant get out of the gate and turn some heads. If they can make it to June with this roster, Neal Huntington can go out and grab someone if need be. And If there was ever a time for a “rental”, it would be this July. Here’s a little stat for you; 26 of the Pirates first 51 games (which is up to June 1st) are against teams that finished under .500 last season. These teams are at the bottom of MLB right now, ACTUAL rebuilding teams (Reds, Marlins, Tigers, White Sox). I would say the lack of power, especially in the NL Central is going to put them at a disadvantage. Not to mention, just about every pitcher I mentioned in this post is a question mark. And even if they fail, theres a lot of talent to make the team seem poised for a run in the near future. They could be the 2016 Yankees or even the 2017 Brewers. There’s got to be some type of “surprise team” anyway, so why not them? But hey if you’re still not convinced, well… boo you. Regardless, here’s Josh Bell’s Walkoff from last year anyway. Ciao for now. Here are my now TWO shameless Social Media plugs: ~J~ 1/19/2018 0 Comments Millennials and MLB in 2018 So I haven't had a post that has been Millennial-esque in a while. But the new year is a good time to bring one up! Theres been a lot of talk on how Major League Baseball is going to change the game to appeal to younger fans (us). Which is great! But they're completely off base (pun not intended). Im going to do the good people at Major League Baseball a favor today and list some things that I think would help the league appeal to young people, specifically my wonderful generation, the Millennials.
Before I get into my Buzzfeed-type list, I want to say that its not the pitching clock that will help me. And this is someone who watches about 120 or so games a year, including 3 or 4 live. The biggest issue with time is actually the pitching changes. It takes too much time, and I get tired of going to commercial. This makes things even worse during the playoffs, when managers go to their pen more often because of the shorter leash pitchers are on. Don't get me wrong, the clocks may help a bit, but not enough to warrant the change. The league is focusing on this too much, and need to instead focus more on the appeal of their brand(s). This includes the league itself, all 30 teams, and the big name players. Why do people love the NBA so much? Its the culture, the personalities on the floor. Why are rating down so much in the NFL? The product, the game itself, is becoming less marketable, especially given all of the CTE discussions. And then theres the lack of "good guys" that are being promoted. Instead, the NFL has all of the negativity with the Kaepernick .....stuff going on. So, without further adieu, here are a few things that I think MLB should look into for the youngins': 1. More accessible product: Picture this; you're trying to get into baseball. You see Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, maybe your local team every once in a while. Maybe you even play DFS or the "old" fantasy baseball. But how do you take that next step to keep you hooked? Whether or not you have a favorite team is irrelevant. You cant watch too many games outside of your market unless you have either MLB.TV or MLB Network. But not everyone has a sports package for cable or wants to spend $125 for games they might not even get to. Highlights are okay through the MLB AtBat app sure, but it takes a lot of effort. One commercial per highlight is included, and you're not really going to see much beyond a solid defensive play or a home run. We're looking at how to attract new fans, not talking about brief eyeballs. Fans that stay involved with the product from February to November. In a long season, it takes a lot of effort to keep up. By the way, the answer to this is NOT Social Media. Social Media, whether its image/video based or not, is for those with short attention spans. Its meant for those who already watch a ton of games (like me, the nerd with the blog) its not a tool to use for those coming into the league. 2. A Place to keep pace: MLB.com is a great website, don't get me wrong. But much like my previous post, its hard to understand what is going on throughout the league, unless you're doing some digging. It is here where I think some type of digital content that encompasses everything helps. If social media is utilized to showcase this, then thats fine. I love 12:25 Live with Alexa Datt, its a great product. But if its the middle of June and Im just coming into the season, its imperative to know whats gone on so far and what I should get excited for this summer; who is in the pennant race? Who is having a historic season? It takes some digging to really understand how the season is playing out. I think having something like this on the app, a centralized hub, especially where casual fans don't need to pick a team to follow and can get as much of a grasp on the season quickly and efficiently. 3. FREE STUFF: May I ask a question? Wtf happened to getting free stuff?! No, Im not talking about giveaways during certain games. At Syracuse, my alma matter, I was CONSTANTLY sought out for events or to promote something by being given a keychain or a pen. Are these stupid little things I don't need? Absolutely. But they go a long way. Its become such a cliche way of marketing, but it is still effective if done correctly. I know certain teams do some stuff, MLB does some contests on social media, sure. But remember, unless you're actively seeking this out, theres no way this attracts people. It winds up being the same fans getting involved. Also, players need to be more accessible. By the way, I want to stress the word FREE for you all. That means I don't include Card shows, who ask for $200 to take a picture. Id rather run into Aaron Judge on the street and snap a 'gram than have an autographed baseball. Thats how most young people are. Thats why the memorabilia business is slowly fading away. Who the hell wants to buy stuff? 4. Nostalgia: Hi Im a Millennial and I LOVE being nostalgic. Anything, a picture, a pendant, anything that is from a year before 1970, I eat up. Fun fact: The Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has THOUSANDS of items that they don't even use underground in their building. I LOVE seeing that stuff. A new fan just coming in would salivate at a history lesson. Look, we all love to travel. Unless you're going on a beach vacation, you're all site seeing. Many of us enjoy museums. Thousands of people go to Cooperstown every year. Don't tell me that those items are better off stuck in the basement! If you're a new fan coming into the game, learning about the history, you'll marvel at the items and thereby learn to appreciate the franchise, especially if its an older one like Cincinnati, Chicago (both), the Yankees, etc. How do you showcase these items? Well.... 5. Solve disconnects with teams in the Community: Ill be totally honest and tell you that I don't know what all 30 teams do to remain active in their respective communities. Im sure there are some great movements from each. But thats not really what Im talking about. How are the Milwaukee Brewers interacting with the state of Wisconsin? My guess is that they're not doing enough. In the early 1900's, teams used to do something called Barnstorming. This is where teams, or at least certain players on teams, would travel to local towns within their areas and put on exhibition games. This is such a personal interaction with fans. It builds a connection with people. The Yankees for example held an exhibition game at West Point a few years ago. Things like that go a long way, especially for those who may not be able to head to the ballpark for whatever reason. It gives people a feeling of importance. Who doesnt want to feel that? Especially us youngins', who have anxiety issues up the wazoo! And hey, not every young person lives in a city. That type of bond would go much further than yet another t-shirt giveaway on Twitter. 6. Showcase the Players: I mentioned the NBA before. There's no question that they are a player-centric league, meaning that their players are as much of a brand as the league or the 30 teams are. MLB should definitely be a team or league-centric league, but that doesn't mean putting Mike Trout/Bryce Harper/ Clayton Kershaw's face out there wouldn't help. . The only time guys are showcased are when they win the World Series. This does absolutely nothing, its another flash in the pan. With our society's short attention spans, we'll forget about it the next day (or the next week of if players from your team...you get my point). Obviously, players would need to be put into a positive light. Otherwise, the league suffers like the NFL. But thats what the team of marketers at MLBAM are there for (which doesn't include me....go figure-- hi guys from BAM reading this). Remember, the US is a football loving country. But Football is off for most of the MLB calendar year. There's just too many opportunities available. 7. Dip into Pop Culture: The stars of the NBA seem to always be involved in pop culture somehow, whereas the guys I just listed are nowhere to be found off the field. Thats where the NBA's new eyeballs come in. Bryce Harper can very easily become the Lebron or KD of Major League Baseball. But he keeps a relatively low profile during the offseason. Now, if thats how he prefers it, fine. But that doesn't mean he cant be put on TV or award shows, or be apart of social acts that he believes in. After all (assuming he stays) he's in the center for Politics in America. You cant tell me there's not something there. Again, you maintain a positive light for these guys. But to keep them away from everything is a wasted opportunity. The same can be said for teams! Certain brands can be put out there more. Pop culture is built for young people, so why not at least try and be a part of it? * Bonus: MLB Influencers: Okay this one is a little different. Influencers are everywhere. But the best ones tend to be involved in the limelight, which is why I think this could be a big deal. All of the above will have to be encompassed into creating an influencer that is likable ("marketable"). But that doesn't mean it cant be done. Maybe these people trigger a brand association of some kind. In my mind, these aren't establish celebrities. Im not going to make the Kardashians LA Angels influencers for example (I think we have enough of that family already anyway). In fact, i would take it a step further and say that the league itself should have these people instead of the teams specifically. What are young people watching? Outlandish, fun people doing weird stuff on YouTube, people like Jake Paul, who has almost 9 Million followers on YouTube because he does crazy stuff and films it. You cant tell me that couldn't be done by the league thats so good at Digitizing sports that it helps the NHL and WWE. (For anyone at MLB reading this-- I totally volunteer as tribute) SO thats my list. Hopefully you enjoyed it. And if you didn't...well screw you. Just kidding....but seriously. #Shamelesstwitterplug ~J~ 1/17/2018 0 Comments The 2018 San Francisco Giants Hi, what's up, hello. Happy New Year and welcome to 2018, specifically with MLB, MORE specifically with the San Francisco Giants. Yeah, its pretty boring here in the offseason. Unless of course you are a San Francisco Giants fan. Brian Sabean and his crew not only took one franchise guy from little Tampa Bay in Evan Longoria, but have now taken the guy from Pittsburgh in Andrew McCutchen. With a tough NL West to deal with, the Giants are trying to stay relevant. These moves reflect that, but at a tough price. Is it going to be enough? Oh look, a topic for a blog post!
The boys by the Bay lost 98 games in 2017 so there was a reason to be concerned heading into this offseason. I mean, think of the success the Giants have had! How many franchises have been this consistent with winning over the last decade? Not many. Some may argue not any! So its clear that they are looking to make 2017 an aberration. Which is great! Its always good to shoot for the moon in life, right? Now the NL West is a stacked division. Its worst team, the San Diego Padres (or I guess now the Giants...lets keep reading, folks) is on the rise with a solid crop of dudes coming up to the show soon. Plus they may sign Eric Hosmer given the slowing of the market this last month. 3 of the 5 teams went to the postseason in 17', so it is going to be extremely difficult to win the division or even compete for a Wild Card Spot. The front office had to take a careful look into the mirror and find ways to improve. The "holes" the Giants had included a 3rd baseman, 2 Outfielders, another starter, maybe another reliever. Which is a long list for a club to deal with in one offseason. Currently, the team holds a $181 Million payroll, $60 Million of which will come off the books after the season ends (Pence, Mccutchen, and Nick Hundley). They are also 1 of 6 teams paying a Luxury Tax this year ($3.4 Million). This is important when you look at how the organization justifies doing what they are doing. And then of course, we have to mention why the team lost in 17'. Part of it was that they just weren't very good. Another part was that they had a ton of injuries. Neither of these bode well for them, considering that most of the team is back again! Look, the Giants are definitely going for it in 2018. No one can doubt that. What it really scary is what they are doing beyond that. With the exception to an irrelevant Anaheim farm system and a depleted Kansas City and New York Mets farm system, the Giants are have (essentially) the worst future ahead of them in the game. MLB.com ranked them 26th towards the end of last year, but the Miami Marlins, who were previously 27th, could now be seen ahead of the Giants (despite what you may think about the Ozuna trade). Not to mention they have both JT Realamuto and Christian Yelich (who we'll get to in a bit) that may be gone before Pitchers and Catchers report next month. The Giants have no MLB Top 100 prospects from 2017. Their top guy, Chris Shaw may not be ready in 18' or even at the start of 19', making the Giants look for another Outfielder in a hurry. And while Im sure there are some well-scouted talents down in their farm, there aren't any guys that can be counted on to come up and have a major impact (including Shaw). Some may argue that this isn't necessary given their current depth chart. But remember, Hunter Pence is a free agent to be, as is McCutchen. Even if you sign one, or even both for a hometown discount, your payroll fluctuates where you go back to being taxed. Given the state of the game, Im not sure this is a probable scenario. This is despite the fact that next year's free agent class is so stacked, where both Pence and Mccutchen may be even cheaper than we currently think of them. It could also be said that Bryce Harper's deal, especially if he doesnt sign an extension with the Nats', maybe balloon the market value for Outfielders. Now the Giants have even more holes to fill and may be coming off another tough season in 18'. There are two pieces of good news to all this. One is that most of the other guys on the roster are controllable assets. The second is that many could be tradable if the season doesn't go according to plan by July. Despite the current notion that there are 7 deadly teams in the game, you can expect many others in both leagues to shoot for a Wild Card. Toronto, Minnesota, Seattle, Texas, Milwaukee, St. Louis are just a few that come to mind. Then of course theres the ever- so -popular surprise team that inevitably shocks us all. The Giants could theoretically answer one, if not several of their roster issues in the summer and look for cheaper options in free agency come fall. They may also take the more patient route like many other teams do and completely start anew with talent that may not be ready for a couple of years. You're going to have to keep in mind that the Giants were 3rd in attendance this year at 3.3 Million people (An average of 40,000 per game). This is only down slightly from both 16' and 15', but fans have short attention spans. I understand that this is a great fanbase, theres no question about that. But at some point you get tired of it. There are countless examples of this. One in particular that comes to mind was Philadelphia, who was #1 in attendance in both 2011 and 2012. This past year they were 25th, with a little less than 2 Million attendees. You're probably wondering at this point "Okay big shot, so what would you do if you were them". Well, theoretical reader of this blog, Ill tell ya'. Since its clear you're going for it in 18', id really go for it. What do you do with a month left of the offseason? Id acquire guys that are controllable for 2 or more years. This gives the Giants some leeway into 19'. Now, at this point, these guys cant be too costly. For after the 19' season, you're going to have to pay Madison Bumgarner, who will be 30. Lets go back to the list I gave before: 1. A Final Outfielder: Oh yay, its that time in my blog post where I get to be a Yankees fan. TAKE JACOBY ELLSBURY! It could not be more clear now. He wants to pay close to home (Washington), he has 3 years left on his deal, he wants to contend, and the Yankees are willing to eat half (probably a little more than that if you really pushed for it) of his salary. Ells still has at least another year or 2 of solid play left in him, which sets you up. Worst case, he's the 4th outfielder for you on the last year of his deal. Another option similar to Ells is Shin-Soo choo. A 35 year old with 3 years and $54 Million owed. Texas may look to keep Choo to compete, but would be relieved to move this contract. Eating half would probably not be too bad. But if you're San Fran, the question becomes whether or not you want to invest in someone coming off an injury at 35. Remember, this outfielder will be playing Center and will need to be in at least 120-130 games. After this, there are quite a few guys out there on the Free Agent market that I think would bode well. The names that have been thrown around are both Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain. Both may prove to be guys that lower their price tags AND accept a 1+ deal at this point, maybe 2+. I think this would be better than the Ellsbury deal, as much as I want him out of the Bronx. But realistically what type of production are you getting from those two? Lets keep in mind that, the Giants are starving for power and neither would help. Aside from JD Martinez, there aren't too many power hitting guys that will give you over that 120-130 game threshold. In fact, Im not sure theres really anyone. And yes, I know Ellsbury isn't really a power guy either. But he can get on base and utilize AT&T Park to his advantage. Im not sure if Dyson or Cain would be better at the top of the lineup than Ellsbury. Is there anyone else the Giants could acquire? Good question, wow you're on fire. The answer is actually no. Remember, teams in contention are not going to trade guys, even if they are in contract years. the top offensive OUTFIELDERS (after Bryce Harper) next year are Charlie Blackmon (who is in the same division, Rox are going to be even better in 18'), and Nelson Cruz, who is 38, doesn't really do much outside of DH, and is on the Mariners who are more desperate to reach the postseason than any other team in sports now (thanks Buffalo Bills). The only other option would be Christian Yelich (told ya Id bring him back). He clearly wants out of Miami now, and it may behove the Giants to at least take a look. He has a couple of year left on his deal and had a tremendous year in 17'. The issue is that Miami is going to want a lot back for him, especially now that they really haven't come away with much from the Stanton and Ozuna trades. They would be better off keeping him, along with Realamuto. If anything, they could wind up being a big seller in July, when teams become more desperate. Not to mention they have already said they want to keep him. 2. Another starter (they checked off 3B and OF already, duh) Im actually surprised this one isn't talked about more. After MadBum, the Giants are relying on Johnny Cueto, who was injured and had a 4.52 ERA in 17', and "Sharky", Jeff Samardzija, who was also injured, had 15 L's in 17' with a 4.42 ERA. Pitching wins ballgames, folks. Unless everything goes perfectly for these three, thats not nearly enough to compete with anyone out West or any of the other teams looking at those two Wild Card Spots. Another starter could really help things. You can obviously cross guys like Darvish and Arrieta off the list. Id even take Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn off, because they're going to get more money elsewhere. You're then digging into the farm again to acquire someone, unless theres a guy that allows for a salary dump, similar to Jacoby Ellsbury. That won't be Chris Archer because the Rays are going to want big time farm guys for him. The same could be said for Michael Fulmer with Detroit. The only person I can think of here is Danny Duffy. Fresh off his DUI arrest, the Royals may look to trade Duffy. But his situation may be similar to Yelich's in that the Royals could wait to do this for July since he is controllable for FOUR MORE YEARS. This would be different from a guy like, say, Matt Harvey, who would be a free agent to be. This may lead the Giants to go after someone like Andrew Cashner. But Cashner has had interest too, so the Giants may have to shell out some money for him, or go even cheaper and run the gambit with guys like Brett Anderson, Jaime Garcia, or Ubaldo Jimenez. Another Reliever Im not sure how much of a necessity this is right now, but if they are really THAT serious about competing, AND they obtain someone from above, this could be a potentially helpful move to make. Francisco Liriano is a solid "swing man" for them, and could be a nice spot starter. After him, guys like Jason Motte, Huston Street, Drew Storen, and maybe even a reunion with Sergio Romo could (maybe) help. These are all huge gambles though. The Giants don't know even their potential value, let alone their actual value. So, there you have it....I guess? The Giants are the interesting bird right now. You're not sure what is going to happen. Kind of like MadBum hitting (how bout' dat' picture doe'?). Im interested to see where this goes just like the rest of you. My gut feeling tells me its not good, but thats the beauty of the game, you just don't know. And hey, its an even year again, remember? ~J~ 12/13/2017 0 Comments Digesting Day 2So Day 2 happened and well.... its starting to get a little cray up in here! And I don't say that lightly. Here are some thoughts:
Manny Machado If Orioles fans are wondering where their franchise is headed, look no further than what Peter Angelos orders Dan Duquette to do the next couple of days. Duquette, whose contract expires at the end of the season like most of their top guys AND Buck Showalter, is shopping around the Orioles prize possession, Manny Machado. Machado to the Yankees WILL NOT happen because Angelos has ordered Duquette not to orchestrate the trade. Plus I think many fans will feel cheated, and this is not the time to do so. With that said, the Yankees possess the prospects needed to rejuvenate a very tired Orioles farm system. The Phillies and Cardinals are said to be the two teams that would look into Machado. If Im the Giants, I would try and lock it up as well. The issue is that the NL West may now be the toughest division in baseball, and Im not sure the Giants compete in 18'. So Brian Sabean would only make that trade knowing that he can lock Machado up beyond 18' before the season begins. The Chase Headley trade Speaking of those pesky Yanks', they trade Chase Headley and Brian Mitchell to San Diego. The Pads' take Headley's $13 Million for 2018, putting the Yankees further below the luxury tax threshold. This frees up a ton of money for a starter (or two) and they could go out and resign Todd Frazier if they want to give Andujar a little more time to work on his defense. Frazier is said to want a multi-year deal, but you have to wonder if he would overlook that for another year in the Bronx. Given how close the Yankees are to a World Series title, he may not mind too much. He may also ask for a player option (and may get it). If after 18' you get rid of Gardner and Ellsbury, Frazier could be the veteran bat off the bench/DH. But it may be his last chance at a multi-year deal, so its really up to him. As for that SP, the Yankees are in contact with CC but he has had talks with both the Jays and Angels. So he may be trying to grab a bit more money from the Yanks despite wanting to come back to them all along. Bullpen Dominos Someone had tweeted that once the 2nd tier bullpen arms get signed, the 1st tier would follow. At first glance, you would think that this doesnt make any sense whatsoever. But it does! Look if you're a team that can find solid help at a cheaper price, then you'll do it! Agents will then be forced to lower their price given that the market dictates that they do so. This process was started yesterday, as both Tommy Hunter (Phillies) and Brian Shaw (Rockies) were signed to deals. Both are solid relievers, but not in that upper echelon that others may be, whether they come from free agency or via the trade. Look for most to be signed by New Year's Eve. The Big Names Hosmer, Martinez, Arrieta, Darvish, Santana... the big names that we've all discussed are all starting to gain traction. While there's a ton of talent out on the market via trade, these guys are actually set to command solid deals. It is believed that no one other than (maybe) Hosmer will go for a deal that will exceed $200 Million. And look, if you need a power bat, you look at Martinez. If you need a 1B, you're looking at Hosmer. And if you need a top SP, you're looking at either Arrieta and/or Darvish. JD Martinez is reportedly at the Winter Meetings to meet with teams in person. Now is the time! Zack Greinke?!? Yeah, didn't see this one coming. I get its a big contract, but I view Arizona as one of those teams that maybe need one or two more pieces to really compete. Aside from maybe the Dodgers, they can go toe to toe with everyone in the National League. Grienke is owed over $170 Million over the next 4 years, his age 34-37 season. And while this is a huge risk, its still one worth taking. Id give it another year or two maybe before looking at this trade. The Texas Rangers are said to be the team looking into this. Texas is in need of a number 1 or 2 starter. The issue is that Arizona would probably have to take Shin Soo Choo's huge contact in any type of exchange. And while yes, the Rangers could add Jurkison Profar or some prospects to it, its still not worth it. Its a slap in the face to their fanbase. Are they REALLY that far away from competing ? Maybe they feel like they will be fine without him. But I think you take a step back when you lose a guy like Greinke, no matter how much money you owe him. Other Rumblings: The Mets: Listen, even I get tired of pooping on the Mets, but they do it to themselves. First, they ignore the market for bullpen arms, despite what we just talked about. Then Sandy Alderson shops Matt Harvey. Then the only two other guys that care about the Mets (Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland the pitching coach) say "no we can fix him" so he takes him off the market. Then, despite all the guys out there, the Mets are looking at Addison Reed. But then Addison Reed talks with the Phillies on a 3 year deal. Not sure what to think with them anymore to be totally honest. And then of course is their 2B situation. They cry that they don't have the pieces to acquire anyone, but they are talking with Detroit for Ian Kinsler. Al Avila is looking to do a total rebuild, much like that of their AL Central counterpart the White Sox. So a guy like Kinsler wont come cheap. Not sure who you're moving. Jason Kipnis is another name thrown out there. Is Cleveland giving their former coach a discount? No! Starlin Castro would be the name to go after for them, but its said that neither side will talk to each other about it. To quote every basic white girl in NYC " I literally cant". The Rays: More talks about Archer, Longoria, and Colome are being talked about. Some bozo on Twitter challenged my questioning of their flailing farm system. Listen, if it was that good, you would keep your core guys and bring in some talent. But whatever talent they have left (which isn't much despite barely cracking the top 10) is not ready. And you're in the AL East, which wont be easy for a long time. Go for the full re-build. Not sure how long that fanbase will take it though. Without a new stadium its gonna be a tough re-build for that organization. Michael Fulmer: The idea of trading Michael Fulmer to me is confusing. On the one hand, he's controlled for 5 years and is a stud. Might as well get a big haul of Major League-ready talent for him now while you can. On the other, you're subtracting the one piece that you'll need to build around. The Tigers still have plenty of guys they can subtract to rebuild. I mentioned Kinsler to you before. But don't forget about Miguel Cabrera, who will still help a team despite his obvious decline. Victor Martinez, though a tough sell with his DH title, will still be a draw. But that will probably come next summer. And don't forget about Nick Castellanos, even though it is believed that the Tigers are contemplating locking him up and adding him to this rebuild. After that though, theres not much. And the guys I mentioned (aside from maybe Castellanos) are not young/exciting talent. I think this is why the Yankees are looking, because they have plenty of people they can give Detroit. One of which would be Clint Frazier, which I hope they don't do. Im a big "Red Thunder" fan, and would prefer him over both Hicks and Gardner. Not sure how well that will work out with the addition of Stanton, but Gardy is a free agent to be and the Yankees are going to look at getting rid of Ells. So, if Hicks gets hurt or isn't performing, it'll be time! With that said, he's not really a guy I would build around, though he's definitely a big piece. I also think Detroit would want either a few guys with him or a bigger name, like an Estaban Florial, who is supposed to be the next guy after Gleyber Torres that Yankees fans are going to salivate over. Thats it for Day 2. Keep a look out for all our retweets to keep you organized today! @GenYBaseball ~J~ Well Day 1 has come and gone and to say it was uneventful would be an understatement. It was pretty damn boring. Pat Neshek went back to Philly on a 2 year deal. But that was it. And that was inevitable! Everyone has got to dip their foot in the water. Remember that dominos metaphor though. The first couple have dropped, so the next few are coming! Those are going to be the free agents, as teams wont have to give up parts of their rosters/farm systems to acquire them. We've heard from a few of the big names yesterday:
Eric Hosmer: Reps have been meeting with teams. Seems like right now the Red Sox, Cardinals, and Padres are the three names being thrown around. Carlos Santana: Also has reps meeting with teams. Cleveland would like to bring him back. The Rockies were thrown around but their priority is the bullpen. The Angels, Phillies, and yes again the Cardinals are all teams that have thought about him as well. Jay Bruce: Jon Heyman tweeted that the Mets, Rockies, and Jays are all in on Bruce. I think Toronto is the most solid possibility, but Ross Atkins spoke at length on MLB Network about his love for the outfielders he already has. Bruce would most likely get a 1B/DH job. The Rockies are also interesting but I think thats if they can't commit money to a guy like Santana. Im not sure if Bruce would be interested in returning to a re-building team, so the Mets are a question mark as well. CC Sabathia: Said to be talking with Angels. I would imagine at least 2-5 more teams are interested. Brian Cashman playing it cool when discussing him, so I think the Yankees will make an offer and it'll be up to CC to take it. Trade Rumblings: Some solid names have been thrown around, but its just chatter (for now): - Matt Harvey: The idea of trading Matt Harvey both does and doesn't make sense. It makes sense because if you wait until July to get something for him, you run the risk of him being injured or not having a very good year. On the other, he has too much potential and teams may want to take a risk on it now. But the Mets wont be able to compete in 2018, so really whats the point in waiting? You're banking on someone who isn't who he used to be. He may be better suited elsewhere with the "change of scenery" theory in full effect. That scenery is apparently either in Baltimore or Texas. Its up to Sandy Alderson what will happen, but it wouldn't surprise me. Every competitive team wants pitching, but most starters worth having have a large price tag. Better to buy low and see what happens. -Manny Machado: Yet another guy whose team doesn't really want to trade him, Baltimore is apparently (at least) listening now. It was reported that Philly was interested because many of their top execs in the front office came from Baltimore. But he's really just a rental so Im not sure how many people would want that. Machado is a franchise altering guy, so teams would have to be desperate to trade for him. Sounds like a July trade to me. -Jackie Bradley Jr: Dave Dombrowski quickly refuting the report that Boston was looking to move JBJ. And to be honest it doesn't make much sense. I know Boston is looking for Power, but you don't subtract key guys. Okay now for the Jacoby Ellsbury Conundrum: Currently, Ellsbury has 3 years a $68 Million left on his contract. The Yankees claim that they would eat half of that (or $34 Million if you can't do math). Which really isn't bad for teams. The issue for the Yankees is that theres currently a saturated market for Outfielders. Certainly teams would like to upgrade, I think up to 10 to be exact. But there is also the issue of the no-trade clause Ells has. He is said to want to play for a contender. Technically, he already plays for the contender, as the Yankees are now 5/1 favorites to win the World Series in 2018 according to Vegas. But if you're going to be a 5th outfielder, why would you stay? Well he's said to be the guy that wouldn't mind being benched and collecting a large paycheck and ring. Wouldn't you be too? This means that if the Yankees do try and trade him, they'll have to look at the 10 teams Ive thought up. I think some may be more likely than others, but Brian Cashman will definitely at least make the phone call. Here they are: 1. The Minnesota Twins: While the Twins have money, that money is supposed to go to Starting pitching. Everyone says they want Arrieta or Darvish, but will they go to the frozen tundra that is Minnesota? Not sure. If they wind up with a cheap option like Alex Cobb, they could use that money to upgrade their lineup. Max Kepler was decent for the Twins, but Ellsbury would be a solid upgrade and a great veteran presence. His quiet demeanor would fit right in. 2. Cleveland Indians: Speaking of Right Field, the Indians could use an upgrade their as well. If they lose out on the Santana sweepstakes, they may want someone to come in and keep the engine going. Greg Allen, the Indians' next Outfield prospect, isn't ready yet and may need at least another year. Not to mention Michael Brantley's tendency to get injured. Ells would be a solid outfielder and DH and would be on a pretty damn competitive team. 3. The Seattle Mariners: They were the name that was thrown around ever since this discussion started. Mostly because they could use an outfielder still, even after trading for Dee Gordon (who will now be playing CF instead of 2B). Ells is a native of the area and Seattle is looking to compete right now. Jerry Dipoto stated he is now looking for Starting Pitching. If the Yankees could pair Ells with a pitching prospect that might help. I would imagine Dipoto would be looking for Chance Adams or Justice Sheffield. I don't think the Yankees want to part with either of them. Maybe Jordan Montgomery perhaps? 4. The LA Angels of Anaheim: Well hey if you're going for it, why not? The Angels can't half-ass this comeback of theirs, so adding pieces to compete is important. Its definitely a pretty crowded outfield and Pujols/Ohtani will take up most of the DH spot but It could be another solid option. Kole Calhoun hit just .244 so you can always trade him instead? 5. Chicago Cubs: If the Cubs are looking for that second run, why not add a veteran bat? The issue with this is they're looking to spend money elsewhere, but Ells could be a solid upgrade late in the offseason if you miss out on Plans A-H. 6. St. Louis Cardinals: The Cards are right in the thick of things when it comes to upgrading offense. Their name is associated with virtually every free agent. And they do have quite a few outfielders. But most of them look like future trade bait. If they want to keep pace with the Cubbies and the up and coming Brewers, they need some serious talent. Time to stop fooling around. 7. Milwaukee Brewers: Speaking of the Brew Crew, The Brewers are said to still be open to trading Ryan Braun. It difficult to imagine them getting rid of Braun and acquiring another veteran like Ells for 3 years, but they may want that veteran to come in and give some guidance. Its now do-able because of how much money they Yankees eat. But this is one of several lesser likely teams. 8. San Diego Padres: The Padres are probably the least competitive team on this list, but that doesnt mean they wont be soon. Its going to be a crowded NL West/Wild Card race in 18'. What if the Padres start out hot? You'll want someone to help keep the pace. That Left Field spot could be great for Ells 9. San Francisco Giants: Another team we've mentioned over and over again. Brain Sabean wants offense. We joke of "Giants Moves", well here you go. Its probably not their first choice, or really even their 5th or 6th. But this could be a late January trade if times get tough. 10. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Dbacks don't have much money to spend, so they'll probably lose out on JD Martinez. They too are in "Win Now" mode, so sticking Ells in Left could help. Thats it for now, time to gear up for Day 2!!! ~J~ Okay, its time for an "I Told You So".
By now you know the drill. The offseason is coming, its going to get crazy, yada yada yada. Yeah, because I TOLD YOU! Ohtani to the Angels. Giancarlo goes….to the Bronx?! Yes and yes. But guess what? This is only the beginning. So lets dive into whats next, shall we? The short answer to this question is the Winter Meetings. And that one starts TODAY (WOOHOO!!). What I refer to as "MLB Christmas" means that all 30 GMs have a ton of work on their plate. Aside from negotiations from free agents, several big names are on the trading block. MLB Network’s Dan O’Dowd believes that the following guys are available. I think most (if not all) of the 30 teams will be looking at these key guys. Here they are: Chris Archer: Chris Archer is a good starting point on this list. The Rays have dangled their star Starting Pitcher for quite some time now. But the iron is hot. Remember, (most) teams need Starting Pitching. The key Free Agents we’ve discussed (Arrieta, Darvish, Lynn, Cobb) will all be in play, and teams may lose out. Teams may also want a short term guy, one where they wont have to shell out a ton of money. And if you think there aren’t teams like this, think again. In the NL Central alone, the Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers will look for this type of trade. The Dodgers are always in play, especially now if they don’t resign Darvish. The Twins could be a huge player if they can’t land either Darvish or Arrieta. The Astros may need another starter to avoid a World Series hangover and may try and trim long term spending. The Mariners are competitive and will look to lock in a solid rotation to compete for a playoff spot. And the Texas Rangers, who weren’t far off from the postseason, will need to keep pace with both Houston and Seattle. Ill also throw in the Angels, although Im not sure Billy Eppler has the pieces to acquire a guy like that. Lastly, the Rockies, who I thought would get him in July. The Rays are going to want to get a lot back as their once amazing farm has kind of fallen a bit. Look for them to be busy this week. Danny Duffy: Duffy’s situation is intriguing. On the one hand, Duffy is fantastic and would help a club take that next step. Especially some of the clubs listed above that lose out on Archer (or some of the top free agent guys). He is also controlled until 2022 and is only owed $60 Million. But the injuries are always a question. Duffy has never started more than 26 games which is not what competitive teams want. Regardless, my best guess would be either the Brewers or Cubs. They have enough pieces to acquire him, wont want to spend too much. Not to mention they could lose out on Chris Archer. Both teams have some guys that they’re going to need to shell out money to keep the next few years. So we’ll see what happens. Andrew McCutchen: Another name thats been disscused for a bit now, Mccutchen may leave the once vibrant Pirates, who now need to shake things up a bi. I like a few of the teams that didn’t get close to both Ohtani and/or Stanton. I would first look at San Diego. AJ Preller has made moves like this before, and you’re going to want to surround the young kids that are coming with some type of veteran presence. The Mariners could also be big here. Theoretically they could give him a corner outfield spot, particularly Right. The Giants also seem to be an obvious choice, especially since its such a "Giants move". McCutchen isn’t much of a power guy, but you want someone who will help generate some type of offense. Very similar to Hunter Pence. I think the lack of power is the reason why I am ignoring a lot of the other teams. Gerrit Cole: Speaking of those Pirates, Gerrit Cole is the other big name Dan O'Dowd spoke about. He has two years left on his deal, which is why I find this one interesting. I think the Pirates would want the right price for him. Otherwise, he could be a better fit for the deadline in July. The issue becomes that the Pirates will be competing with those who have free agents to be. But that extra year is more intriguing, similar to Sonny Gray’s value this year. The Twins are here too. I also like the Braves as well, but that depends on how confident they are on their next couple teams. Yasmani Grandal: Ive been very skeptical about the current market for Catchers. But Grandal fits in nicely as a backup and somewhere, so there’s no need to pick a team that needs a starter. Still, I actually like the Mets here. D’Arnaud is kind of becoming a waste, so why not see what you can do for now with Grandal? Marcell Ozuna: My favorite of the list. I think teams are going to salivate now that he is the focus for Miami. After all, Its hard to live in the shadow of Giancarlo Stanton. Still, Ozuna had an amazing 2017 (.312 34 HRs 124 RBIs). Pretty much anyone in need of an outfielder will be looking at him. I think the Cardinals are atop this list, and the Giants may once again find themselves competing against them. I also like the Nats for this one, although I feel like their priorities should be elsewhere (aka the bullpen). Although Im not sure Miami would make that type of deal with the Nats. This also sounds like a Billy Beane vehicle. Too many times, he’ll take someone like this is and trade them by July. Wouldn’t surprise me either. Whew. Okay lets take a breath here. If you notice, I haven’t mentioned quite a few teams yet, but I told you most (if not all) will be busy the next few days. So what will they be up to? Alright, lets dive into that too. First, realize there are several teams that are “re-building”. And they are: Cincinnati: Out of all 30 teams, I expect Cincy to do the least next week. Im sure they’ll be in the market for some cheap trades, but nothing to crazy just yet. Most of their deals will come towards the end of free agency, when they can sign some guys for the short term and for no money. Remember, they wont want to commit too hard on anyone during a rebuild. The only major possibility for them is unloading Billy Hamilton. Not sure if they want to do that, but time will tell. There’s certainly a market for him. But teams will have to lose out on quite a few players (including the Outfielders we just spoke about) in order to turn their focus on Hamilton, no matter how many bases he steals. White Sox: Sometimes I think Im the only one that still believes in Kenny Williams anymore. But times are a changin' on the South side. Either way, I think the White Sox wont be silent this week, but they will certainly seem that way by the end of it all. The biggest talk is them moving Jose Abreu. The White Sox have since denied that they will do so. I think unloading Avi Garcia is a big deal to them however. But there can’t be too much of a market for him because he can’t defend. This could become another Billy Beane vehicle. It could also be another option for the Giants. But I think this wont have any type of interest until mid to late January. Tigers: Still in "Fire Sale" mode, Al Avila will be busy. Reports already indicate that Ian Kinsler is drawing interest. Others say that everyone is available, including Michael Fulmer. I think Kinsler could be the best bet for this week, and anyone else will only be noticeable after some of the dominos of free agency and some of the guys listed above have more of a clearer path. The Angels and Mets have been two teams linked to him, and I like both of them here. I think the Ohtani signing motivates the Angels more. Lets see if Billy Eppler can learn from Brian Cashman and work some magic. Orioles: Ahh yes, the Baltimore freaking Orioles. What a tough job Dan Duquette has these days. He pulls the trigger on a Chris Davis deal but winds up with no pitching like we thought. At this point, Baltimore is kind of backed into a corner here. They need to have big time, young guys come in, so the time to move Manny Machado is right now. Anyone who says otherwise is fooling themselves. Look, Baltimore is headed towards another tear down. A large contract for Machado will require too many years. Im sure keeping the fans happy is always a priority, but it can’t factor into this decision. Do whats best for the team and unload him now. Not in July in case he has a tough start to the season or gets hurt. If he’s not, I would look at Zach Britton. He commands an extremely large market. The team with the most need for him are the Nats, but I doubt Baltimore makes that deal. Other teams, such as Boston, Colorado (no I didn’t forget them, hold your horses), Texas, the Angels (potentially), Cubs, Twins, Indians, Houston, Arizona, the Mets, Milwaukee, and St. Louis are all options. I would also add the Red Sox but I think they’ll focus on Right handed options after this Giancarlo Stanton trade. Toronto: Much like the Orioles, the Jays are in a bit of conundrum. Truthfully, they’re not far off, but will still have to add a lot to even try and compete with both Boston and New York. Not to mention the laundry list of potential Wild Card teams from both the Central and the West. Do the teardown now! Josh Donaldson should be priority number one because he’s a third baseman. Marcus Stroman should also be an option, but I think he’s more like a Gerrit Cole because he is under control. Aaron Sanchez and Tulo’ should both be options as well. Im “Sorrey” Jays fans (also sorry about the sorrey, but I couldn’t help myself). Marlins: Ahh yes I know. TECHNICALLY we’ve spoken about them because I did a whole thing on Ozuna and casually bragged about the Yanks’ getting Stanton, right? WRONG! Actually, theres a lot more to the Marlins that needs to be said. For one thing, Christian Yelich is a huge priority. But that isn’t for this week because he’ll be Option G, H, I, or J rather than A or B for teams. The same can be said for Justin Bour, Martin Prado, and Wei-Yin Chen. Starlin Castro now becomes this week’s focus….after Ozuna (duh). I think Ian Kinsler and Jason Kipnis are better bets for 2nd Baseman, but Castro will have at least a few teams calling. Okay, now for the teams that ARENT going to be tough to watch next year: The Boston Red Sox: Its pretty obvious that Dave Dombrowski needs to do something after this Stanton business. I mentioned the need for a right hander, which is true! But truthfully, Boston needs one, if not two starters. The David Price deal is a mess. And although they’ll (most likely) make him a starter again and it will (most likely) be fine, you still have a shaky rotation after Chris Sale. It doesnt need to be a long term guy, but I would go after a Lance Lynn or an Alex Cobb right away. The Cleveland Indians: This is a toughie because they really were an amazing team. Truthfully I would look to sure up the pen a bit. I like the idea of Zach Britton like I mentioned before. I would also make a call to Toronto to check in on Roberto Ozone’s availability. You need a big name to keep yourself at the top. The Colorado Rockies: All Ive done is discussed pitching for the Rockies. This is no different. Pick and choose a pitcher Ive mentioned before. Anyone is better for the Rockies than what they have. The Arizona Diamondbacks: Aside from a Zack Britton suggestion, Ive been extremely silent on them. But here we are. Im not sure they resign JD Martinez, so any teams’ Plan B could be here. Normally Id recommend Marcell Ozuna, but I think they want someone of pure power. Manny Machado could be big here, but that would mean he moves to Short or 2nd (unless you move Jake Lamb there). Another starter wouldn’t hurt either. That was a lot, but thats MLB Christmas for ya!! A Merry (MLB) Christmas to you all, we'll be back to discuss soon. In the meantime, we'll live tweet for ya! @GenYBaseball ~J~ |