MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

yeah, a lot of time nothing happens at the gm meetings
more of a time for guys to plant seeds in each other's brains prepping for the dec meetings

 

they should send us madbum

 

fwiw, howard cole...

Possible exit strategies for Dodgers with Adrian Gonzalez
by Howard Cole | Forbes — 17 hours ago

With the general managers meetings underway in Phoenix today, I can promise you one thing: Farhan Zaidi is not coming home with Giancarlo Stanton.

The Dodgers' GM is returning to Los Angeles with his extraneous first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, however, because there's little to be done about the situation in the second week of November.

For now, L.A. is stuck with the former All-Star player, once beloved but who disappointed many in the organization with his choice to leave the club during the postseason, and who may have seen his last days as a productive National League player. And in case you missed it, one who has been replaced in the starting lineup by this year's NL Rookie of the Year award winner, Cody Bellinger.

Sure, Andrew Friedman said in last week's press conference that he expects Gonzalez to report to Camelback Ranch for spring training "strong and healthy," but what else was he going to say? "Nah, he's done, we're done with him, and we're going to move on any way we can"?

The way I see it there are three exit strategy possibilities for Friedman and Zaidi to ponder between this afternoon and Opening Day next year.

1. AGon stays
You wouldn't expect a team with a more outfielders than it knows what to do with to have an early-season need to employ Bellinger in left field, but it happened in 2017 with Andre Ethier, Franklin Gutierrez and Andrew Toles injured and unable to play. If a number of outfielders were to go down for the count in February, however, and if Gonzalez were to recover from his debilitating back problems during the winter, and if he was absolutely ripping the baseball in camp and in some early spring games, then I suppose it's possible.
Likelihood: Don't count on it.

2. Traded
Well, if the above scenario were to occur, with Gonzalez coming in to camp refreshed and ready to play, that would be incredibly helpful to all concerned. But he has to lift the baseball. The little singles beyond the reach of the second baseman will not do. An OPS some 200 points below his career .847 will not do. If Gonzalez is hitting with authority in exhibition play -- and yes, I realize it's just pretend games we're talking about here -- he is movable. Some team will have a need, and if the Dodgers pick up enough of the $22,357,000 salary for 2018, a trade is a possibility. With Eric Hosmer and Carlos Santana testing free agency as we speak, there may be vacancies at first base in Kansas City and Cleveland. Same deal with Logan Morrison, Mike Napoli, Mark Reytnolds and Lucas Duda, with the Rays, Rangers, Rockies and Mets, respectively. While Gonzalez reached five-and-10 rights in August, I do not expect that to be problem. If he’s healthy, he’s going want to play. If he’s not healthy, and the Dodgers were to kick in a worthy minor leaguer or two in a multi-player trade, it’s conceivable that another club will take on a portion of AGon’s contract and simply release him, as the Dodgers did with Michael Morse and Bronson Arroyo in the 13-player trade which brought Alex Wood to L.A. in 2015. The A's traded Yonder Alonso last summer and rookie left-hand hitting Matt Olson proved capable with a .259/.352/.651, 24 home run mark, primarily in the second half. Oakland also has first baseman/designated hitter RHB Ryon Healy, who managed a .271/.302/.451 line, with 25 bombs, but put up only a .287 on base percentage versus right-handers. Both are young players, the type you'd expect the A's to want to play regularly, but who could be prone to long slumps after a promising start (a la Joc Pederson). An extra bat at the right price -- especially one who can DH, hit right righties and play a little first base -- and it's not all that difficult to see happen. Billy Beane loves to deal, and he really loves taking a flyer on a player he can flip to a desperate club mid-season for prospects. If L.A. were to cover $15 or 16 million, leaving Oakland on the hook for only 6 or 7 mil, with a fair portion of that amount unloaded elsewhere at the trade deadline ... well, I'm grasping at straws, but it could happen.
Likelihood: A lot of ifs there, certainly, but it's possible.

3. DFA
In a perfect world, AGon recovers miraculously from his wounds, a trade becomes tenable after an inspiring December of winter ball with Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican Pacific League, and the 35-year-old Dodger is dealt by the end of the calendar year. Alas the world isn't perfect, and while the club may prefer closure sooner rather than later, Gonzalez is probably going to get another chance with Los Angeles. He'll no doubt be given a fresh start following the postseason controversy, he'll get a chance to show that he can produce in Spring Training, with a happily-ever-after ending within the realm. But that's a lot of moving parts, and if the Dodgers have to eat the entire $22 mil to move on from the player, they will.
Likelihood: Probably.

 

Twins prioritizing Darvish over Arrieta
by Ryan Chichester | MLB Daily Dish — 4 hours ago



The Twins appear to be in the mix for almost every available starting pitcher this offseason, including top tier free agents like Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta. According to Jon Heyman, the Twins prefer to make a run at Darvish over Arrieta to bolster the top of their rotation.

Twins GM Thad Levine was an assistant GM in Texas back when Darvish was brought over from Japan, and could be looking to orchestrate a reunion and have Darvish slide ahead of Ervin Santana to lead the starting rotation.

Both Darvish and Arrieta are 31 years old, and each carry postseason experience, which the Twins desire. Darvish was an All-Star in 2017 but struggled mightily in the World Series with the Dodgers, allowing four earned runs in both World Series starts while failing to make it out of the second inning both times.

After a somewhat disappointing regular season, Arrieta was much better in the postseason, capped off by a nine strikeout performance in game four of the NLCS against the Dodgers. Arrieta finished his postseason having allowed just one earned run over 10 2⁄3 innings.

After a surprising turnaround in 2017 that led to a Wild Card berth, the Twins are looking to build themselves into a legitimate contender this winter, with their priorities set on pitching. They also have been looking for bullpen help, and have reported interest in top free agent relievers Wade Davis and Greg Holland, according to Heyman.

 

lol padres
due diligence?
idiots

Padres showing interest in the free agent All-Star Hosmer
by Cristiana Caruso | MLB Daily Dish — 3 hours ago



The Padres finished last season with both their spirits and record well below .500. So it would only make sense for them to sign an exciting and energizing player to shock the franchise back to life this season, correct? It looks like they’re attempting just that. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Padres have been in discussion with power hitting free agent Eric Hosmer.

The 28-year old is coming off of an award winning final year with Kansas City, locking down a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. That’s a ridiculous amount of elements. Hoz slashed .318/.385/.498 in 2017, hitting 25 home runs and 94 RBIs.

But let’s not forget who Hosmer’s agent is, the unsinkable Scott Boras, who will probably be trying to swing a deal in the same neighborhood as the $200M one he’s asking for J.D. Martinez. The Padres don’t have the checkbook to cut that contract with. San Diego is already bucking down for a serious payroll skyrocket in 2019, right about when their farm system will be ripe for picking.

Wil Myers is already San Diego’s first baseman, under contract through 2022 via his six-year, $84M contract with a team option for 2023. In a long-shot scenario barring that the Padres win the ensuing bidding war for Hosmer, the team could try Myers out in the gapping shortstop vacancy that they can’t seem to fill. Stranger things have happened in baseball. But for now, the Padres dreams of Hosmer will probably end right there: as dreams.

 

i think we're going to be in it to listen
but not much more than that
that said, if we can somehow shed the $26.8MM annually and not get completely raped out of our top prospects...
more concerned with the tail end of that 11 yr deal when he's approaching his late 30's
then again, by then $26.8MM will probably be like $12MM is now
bottom line... love the player, hate the (length of) contract

 

Jon Morosi ✓@jonmorosi
Source: #Dodgers now in the mix for Giancarlo Stanton.
#SpankyDSP • #RubeDSP • #irishDoesn'tKnowShit
3:25 PM - 14 Nov 2017