MLBTR: AL Notes

[weams]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/al-notes-choo-rangers-bosox-ms-ichiro-orioles.html

 

Outfielder/designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo is a “luxury” the Rangers can’t afford, opines the Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant, who contends that the team should shop the 35-year-old in hopes of improving elsewhere. Choo has an onerous contract, though, as he’s owed $62MM through 2020, so the Rangers’ best hope might be flipping him for another team’s unappealing deal, Grant writes. With that in mind, Grant lists three right-handers signed through 2020 – the Tigers’ Jordan Zimmermann ($74MM remaining on his pact), the Royals’ Ian Kennedy ($49MM) and the Reds’ Homer Bailey ($49MM, including a $5MM buyout in 2020) – as players the starter-needy Rangers could potentially acquire in exchange for Choo. Notably, Choo spent the 2013 campaign in Cincinnati and thrived, which helped pave the way for him to sign a seven-year, $130MM pact with the Rangers in the ensuing offseason.

 

Quote

• Although Zach Britton, Richard Bleier and Donnie Hart remain on hand after seeing plenty of action in 2017, the Orioles are nonetheless on the lookout for left-handed relief help, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The top available free agents include Mike Minor, Jake McGee, ex-Oriole Brian Duensing and Tony Watson, though the club could instead opt for a low-profile addition on a minor league deal, Kubatko suggests.

2

 

[backwardsk]

I'd take a flier on Minor as a starter who can slide back into the bullpen if he fails.  No thanks on the rest.  

Is the plan really to have five lefty relievers when they also have ODay, Givens, and Brach?

[weams]

8 minutes ago, backwardsk said:

I'd take a flier on Minor as a starter who can slide back into the bullpen if he fails.  No thanks on the rest.  

Is the plan really to have five lefty relievers when they also have ODay, Givens, and Brach?

I don't see Britton on the team. One way or the other. 

[Tx Oriole]

3 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Can you expand on your thinking?

Keeping him was a bad deal. IMO

[weams]

14 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Can you expand on your thinking?

I think that if they do extend a tender to him, he will be traded. I do not see them paying him what he will cost with his health issue. 

[foxfield]

1 hour ago, weams said:

I think that if they do extend a tender to him, he will be traded. I do not see them paying him what he will cost with his health issue. 

Well that's not very realistic.  If they tender him they think he is healthy enough to help em win and they are going to keep him.  If they are concerned with the health issue still and don't think he is healthy.  They shouldn't tender him.

 

Now, If they think he is fine, but needs more time?  I might offer him a 2 year deal at say $20M...he knows until he is healthy he isn't getting a great deal and this gives him and the orioles a chance to have value.  I realize it isn't done this way either, but Id rather chase Britton than say...Tillman.

[weams]

I think that Dan believes in the "sign and trade" concept of not allowing a non-tender that you won't pay for. I do not believe that it really works though. 

I think he did it with Johnson and even Guthrie. 

[mdbdotcom]

2 minutes ago, weams said:

I think that Dan believes in the "sign and trade" concept of not allowing a non-tender that you won't pay for. I do not believe that it really works though. 

I think he did it with Johnson and even Guthrie. 

I suspect they will tender Britton and trade him in the spring, after he's had an opportunity to prove he's healthy. 

[tntoriole]

18 minutes ago, mdbdotcom said:

I suspect they will tender Britton and trade him in the spring, after he's had an opportunity to prove he's healthy. 

Although if he is healthy and looks like Zach of 2016, then how is trading him consistent with the "win it in 2018, all in"  idea.   I just do not think that Dan has an underlying philosophy in regards to this organization other than just season to season pragmatism...or if he does, it is incoherent or not discernible.  

[mdbdotcom]

9 minutes ago, tntoriole said:

Although if he is healthy and looks like Zach of 2016, then how is trading him consistent with the "win it in 2018, all in"  idea.   I just do not think that Dan has an underlying philosophy in regards to this organization other than just season to season pragmatism...or if he does, it is incoherent or not discernible.  

In other words, he is aligned with the owner, for whom having a plan is a waste of time.

[El Gordo]

2 hours ago, RZNJ said:

Can't argue with that.   Isn't Weams saying that Britton won't be on the 2018 Orioles though?     The O's didn't trade him at the deadline.   I can't see them getting a better deal now unless, maybe, he looks great in ST and they do it then.     I know they traded Johnson instead of paying him.    I don't see that happening.

If Britton is healthy they'll keep him until the TD; if they are out of it they will move him then, IMO.

[wildcard]

3 hours ago, weams said:

I think that if they do extend a tender to him, he will be traded. I do not see them paying him what he will cost with his health issue. 

Its an interesting thought.   I don't think Buck will be in favor of it.   He believes the league has changed with more emphasis on the pens.  He believes he needs Britton, Brach, O'Day and  Givens IMO.

[PaulFolk]

3 hours ago, backwardsk said:

I'd take a flier on Minor as a starter who can slide back into the bullpen if he fails.  No thanks on the rest.  

Is the plan really to have five lefty relievers when they also have ODay, Givens, and Brach?

The article doesn't say anything about them wanting five lefty relievers on the roster. I'd guess three at most -- Britton, Bleier, and a specialist type (Hart or a FA signing).

[backwardsk]

32 minutes ago, PaulFolk said:

The article doesn't say anything about them wanting five lefty relievers on the roster. I'd guess three at most -- Britton, Bleier, and a specialist type (Hart or a FA signing).

So no Tanner Scott in 2018?

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, wildcard said:

Its an interesting thought.   I don't think Buck will be in favor of it.   He believes the league has changed with more emphasis on the pens.  He believes he needs Britton, Brach, O'Day and  Givens IMO.

He’s certainly right that you need 4 reliable, above average relievers to have a good bullpen.   3 isn’t enough.