MLB 2020-2021 OFF-SEASON NEWS AND RUMORS

loved that fat SOB. Wish him all the best.

 

Based on what we heard today, sounds like they plan to keep all 7 starters, I like the idea of maybe only needing ~25 starts, especially from Kershaw.

 

Kolarek and Cody Thomas to the A's for the next under the radar guy?

 

2023 All Star Sheldon Neuse

 

ask guess after Kike and Max it was bound to be a Sheldon
or a Ruther or some shit

 

Interesting trade. Kolarek was likely the odd man out in our bullpen, but man was he still solid with us and he wasn't yet Arb eligible. Thomas was great last spring, but by all accounts he was still like 8th or 9th on the OF depth chart behind Reks, Raley, Peters and now Busch who can play LF. With Pages on the rise, the team must have felt he was expendable and I was shocked when I realized he wasn't even in our top 30 anymore.

On the other side, this is once again a play on potential. Neuse had fallen out of favor with the A's after he was one of their top prospects just a year ago. He has serious strikeout issues, but it is for pitches up in the zone and I believe that is something our development staff is pretty good at ironing out. I will be curious to see if he sticks around though since he is a 2B/3B and we have some solid depth there IN THE EVENT Turner returns since we have Taylor, Lux, Rios, Muncy and McKinstry that can man the position with more upside. For Varland, he is coming off of TJ, but saw a jump in velo at instructs upon his return. He was awesome before the injury and could be an interesting upside play. These are the A's #11 and #22 prospects, but from what is considered one of the worst systems in the game. I am just speculating here, but the more I look at this, the more I think something else is coming.

From BA:
Neuse 3B/2B
TRACK RECORD: The A's acquired Neuse from the Nationals at the 2017 trade deadline in the deal that also netted them Jesus Luzardo. Neuse made his big league debut in 2019 and was in the mix to be the A's second baseman in 2020, but he failed to win the job and spent the season at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse is mostly the same player he has been the past two years. He has aboveaverage raw power and impressive barrel control, but there are concerns about his strike-zone control after he posted a 31% strikeout rate in limited big league at-bats and a 32% strikeout rate at Triple-A Nashville in 2018. He chases fastballs up in the zone and has a hard time holding off on them. Neuse is a stocky athlete with surprisingly adequate athleticism defensively, where he's aided by a plus arm. His natural fit is third base, but he has moved around the diamond in an effort to boost his versatility.

THE FUTURE: Concerns about Neuse's consistency at the plate held him back in 2020. Tightening his approach and increasing his defensive versatility will be key as he vies to return to the majors in 2021.

Varland RHP
TRACK RECORD: The A's identified Varland as a breakout candidate in 2018 when he carved up hitters (1.04 ERA in 60 innings) across three levels after being drafted in the 14th round out of Division III Concordia-St. Paul. Elbow discomfort led the A's to shut Varland down at high Class A Stockton in July 2019 and he subsequently had Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound in 2020 during instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Varland's high-spin fastball induces plenty of whiffs or soft contact up in the zone and he commands it well. He threw just eight innings at instructs but his velocity crept up to 94-95 mph, which is a slight bump if he can sustain it. Varland also mixes in a tight-spinning, above-average slider and a below-average changeup that could use refinement. Varland pitches with deception because of some extra arm length in his delivery, although that has also caused additional stress on his elbow. The A's worked with Varland to add more flex to his elbow upon foot strike to alleviate strain. He showed above-average control prior to surgery but has to show it has come back.

THE FUTURE: The A's remain excited about Varland. He should rise to Double-A at some point in 2021 as long as he stays healthy.

 

Floro striking out Arozarena. Hero. Have fun in Miami, blow a few bags at LIV champ.

 

Three straight changeups from a pitcher that rarely threw it.

Huevos grande.

 

i liked Floro wtf is going on

 

Makin room. Kolarek and Floro are being replaced by May and Gonsilon. Probably means MGT is keeping Price and our rotation is Behuler/Kerahaw/Bauer/Price/Urias.

 

I think we are about to see the Friedman flurry where a bunch of moves start going down at once.

 

Shave a few hundred grand off the tax number to make room for a certain red head? Just a thought.

 

Trust the process

 

Easily an overlooked moment, and pound for pound the biggest strikeout of the game if not the series. That was the last time the Rays had 2 runners on base in the season, their best hitter (only hitter?) was up, and Floro threw the same perfect secondary pitch 3 times in a row. Dylan Floro should never have to pay for a drink in the LA area ever again.

 

Another weird trade as it doesn't free up a 40 man spot and this dude is intriguing enough that you will want to keep him around. Still Floro was fucking cheap and really good to boot. Pure reliever here and the dude was lights out in his 2 years in MiLB before 5 really bad MLB appearances in 2020

 

Yeah i will think Versa and Neuse are headed to the minors.