Other Teams Archives - River Avenue Blues

Frustrated with the Yankees’ offseason? Just look at the competition

February 7, 2019 by Steven Tydings

Have the Yankees closed the gap with these two? (Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

Are you tired of discussing the Yankees’ offseason?

Why did they sign DJ LeMahieu over Manny Machado? Are they really going to pass on Bryce Harper? The arguments have been exhausting, even with the clear merit to the discussion.

While the Yankees have passed on the generation talents, they’ve filled the obvious holes in their roster going into the offseason. They needed three starters, two relievers and a stopgap at shortstop. With James Paxton, Adam Ottavino, Troy Tulowitzki and the re-signings of CC Sabathia, J.A. Happ and Zach Britton, they’ve done just that. Add in LeMahieu as insurance for the entire infield, and the Yankees have addressed their immediate issues while going over the luxury tax.

Is that enough? We’re not going to know for a while. There’s plenty of injury and performance risk in their winter acquisitions and I’d be lying if I said that Harper or Machado wouldn’t alleviate much of those concerns.

When you look at the Yankees’ competitors, their offseason improves immensely. The Bombers don’t deserve a gold medal for doing the perceived minimum to upgrade its roster, but the other American League contenders certainly deserve demerits.

The Red Sox won last offseason with the signing of J.D. Martinez and that led directly to a World Series title in the fall. You can try and rest on your laurels after a season like that. The Red Sox have done just that.

Boston re-signed Nate Eovaldi and Steve Pearce and … I’m at a loss here. Maintaining a good roster is one step to an offseason, but the Red Sox have allowed their bullpen to atrophy, seeing Joe Kelly leave (less of a concern) and Craig Kimbrel sit on the market, leaving a giant question mark at the back-end of the bullpen. With a handful of low-risk relief signings (Brian Ellington, Jenrry Mejia, Dan Runzler, Colten Brewer and Zach Putnam), they’re bound to hit on someone, but that doesn’t replace the Kimbrel-sized hole in their bullpen.

With about $240 million in committed salary, Boston sits right near the third tier of the luxury tax and appears ready to forego further improvements to stay under. Unlike the 2018 Astros, which added Gerrit Cole to a World Series champion, they’ve taken a clear step sideways.

The 2019 Astros also look to have taken a step sideways. Their big offseason move was to add Michael Brantley, which was undeniably smart. He shores up left field, a revolving door for Houston at times, and gives them a lefty bat with plenty of contact at the top of their lineup. Combine that with some more health on their infield and the Astros’ offense should take a step forward.

However, they’ve also seen Charlie Morton leave while Dallas Keuchel and Marwin Gonzalez are likely following him out the door late in this offseason. Add in Lance McCullers’s Tommy John surgery and they’re experiencing significant turnover in their rotation. Wade Miley is … fine. But four of Houston’s five starters will be free agents after the season and the fifth starter has all of 27 2/3 MLB innings under his belt, including the postseason.

Houston’s young talent in the pipeline gives them a wild card for this upcoming season. Top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley should be ready for a call-up by midseason and could supplement the rotation. With a bullpen that may need a deadline upgrade, they have the MiLB players to pick that up via trade.

Beyond those two teams, it’s not like there’s a clear elite contender to rise up. The Indians have done nothing but hemorrhage talent from their roster, seeing multiple relievers, Brantley and Edwin Encarnacion leave with Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers as the only additions thus far.

The Athletics remain injury-riddled in the rotation with their bullpen losing their veteran reinforcements from the 2018 deadline. The Angels didn’t address their rotation or lineup holes in any significant way. The Twins … meh.

Tampa Bay represents the only other competitor to improve by bringing in Morton, though it remains to be seen if they can recreate the opener’s success in 2019. The Rays also boast a top-five farm system to tap into for MLB talent or trades if they compete yet again.

All of this is to say Yankees have had a strong offseason by comparison with other teams standing pat or letting holes open up. Did they bridge eight wins with the Red Sox and close the talent gap with the Astros? That’s up for interpretation, but they seem neck-and-neck at worst. Fangraphs projections have the Yankees at 96 wins, ahead of Houston and just one game behind Boston. Furthermore, Paxton has been the best outside acquisition of any AL contender and Ottavino likely sits in third behind Brantley.

No one signing would guarantee a division title or a World Series title. Still, the Yankees have spent much less than they can and there are perfect complements to the team’s core available in free agency. However, the Yankees aren’t the only team failing to jump at the opportunity and while that could change at the drop of a hat, the American League’s collective inactivity gives the Yankees a leg up in early February.

Don’tcha Know: Robinson Cano traded to the Mets

December 1, 2018 by Mike

Robinson Cano is coming back to New York. Just not with the Yankees.

According to multiple reports, the Mets and Mariners have (finally) agreed to a five-for-two trade that sends Cano and stud closer Edwin Diaz to Flushing for a combination of prospects and veteran salary offsetters. Here are the trade details:

Mets get: Cano, Diaz, and $20M
Mariners get: Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Gerson Bautista

Give new Mets general manager — and Cano’s former agent — Brodie Van Wagenen credit. This is the most creative move the Mets have made in a long time. Given the way the money works — including Bruce and Swarzak means this trade is close to payroll neutral in 2019 and 2020 — the Mets took on salary down the line with Cano to score four years of a top notch closer.

This trade makes the Mets significant better on the infield and in the bullpen, and they gave up nothing they’ll miss off their big league roster. The question now is will the Mets continue to add? This alone isn’t enough to get them into the postseason. The Mets went 77-85 this past season but have a strong rotation and the makings of a good lineup. They still need help behind the plate and in center field, in the bullpen, and with overall depth.

As for the Mariners, this trade continues their offseason fire sale, which has already seen Mike Zunino go to the Rays and James Paxton come to the Yankees. Using a player as valuable as Diaz to shed as much of Cano’s contract as possible takes a special kind of cheap, but it is what it is. Kelenic (sixth overall pick in 2018) and Dunn (19th overall pick in 2016) are two very good prospects, so it’s not like Seattle gave Diaz away. Bautista is an MLB ready reliever too.

The trade has some indirect impact on the Yankees. They’ve been connected to both Cano and Diaz this offseason, though a trade for either never seemed all that likely to me. The Yankees and Mariners talked Cano for Jacoby Ellsbury but the money was still an obstacle. Diaz would’ve been a great pickup. It’s just hard for me to see how the Yankees win a prospect bidding war for him if guys like Kelenic and Dunn were on the table.

Also, with the Mariners going into tank mode, it means one fewer team to compete against next year should the Yankees have to settle for a wildcard spot yet again. I count six (!) rebuilding teams in the American League: Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, and White Sox. More than one-third of the league is rebuilding. Geez. The Blue Jays and Twins aren’t looking so hot either. The AL is very top and bottom heavy right now.

2018 Offseason is Critical for Outlook of the Yankees

October 27, 2018 by Bobby Montano

The following is the first post from our newest writer, Bob Montano. You’ll see his work every Saturday morning here at RAB. You can follow Bob on Twitter at @mr_bobloblaw.

The Yankees face many significant questions as they prepare for what will be their most important offseason in recent memory. Not only are Bryce Harper and Manny Machado younger and more talented than any players to hit the market in recent years, but the Yankees have clear areas to improve the roster. The team will need to find solutions to new problems in the infield now that Didi Gregorius will miss considerable time and it will need to add starting pitching. But any strategy the Yankees have for the offseason is based on whether or not Hal Steinbrenner is willing to flex his financial muscles to augment one of the most talented cores in all of baseball.

Team brass has been open about their goals to get underneath the luxury tax threshold and they finally accomplished that goal in 2018 for the first time by shaving $50 million off of 2017’s payroll, bringing the payroll to a total of $192.5 million. This does more than just save the Steinbrenners money: it also resets the penalty for exceeding the threshold to the minimum 20 percent for each dollar over as opposed to the maximum 50 percent the team had been paying. In other words, should the team exceed the $207 million threshold in 2019 by $10 million, they’d pay a $2 million tax instead of $5 million. It goes without saying that these numbers are significant at the scale of MLB payrolls and it is not clear if the Yankees are willing to take the financial hit.

Hal has long said that teams do not need a $200 million payroll to win the World Series and that has technically proven to be true – but the reality is that the league has changed in recent years. Many MLB teams have been reticent to add salary, treating the luxury tax as a de facto salary cap, and many teams simply don’t appear interested in spending to win. This presents an opportunity for the Yankees that they should not squander.

Not only do the Yankees have a roster that is as well-positioned for success over the next five years as any in baseball, but they are an exceptionally wealthy franchise. If most other teams are unwilling to spend – and we’ll have to see if this offseason is a repeat of last year’s, but I don’t expect many surprises – then the Yankees simply have no excuse to waste their biggest competitive advantage.

The Red Sox are a perfect illustration of why this is the case. Boston had a frustrating 2017, with a regular season that felt underwhelming — despite the team’s success on paper — and a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the eventual champion Houston Astros. A big reason it felt like the team was underwhelming was its offense, so the Red Sox aggressively pursued J.D. Martinez. They eventually signed him to a five-year, $110 million contract and he hit .330 with a wRC+ of 170 in 2018 alongside Boston’s formidable young core. Thanks in large part to JD’s exceptional season and Mookie Betts’ even better one, the Red Sox are poised to win the World Series after a regular season campaign netted them 108 wins. (For what it is worth, they have the league’s largest payroll by a wide margin.)

Boston was not the only team to follow this strategy to considerable success. The Milwaukee Brewers finished at 86-76 in 2017 and clearly saw an opportunity to improve, signing Lorenzo Cain to a 5 year, $80 million contract. The Brewers added $30 million in salary, and Cain hit .308 with a 124 wRC+ in 2018. Along with likely NL MVP Christian Yelich, Cain helped guide the Brewers to a 96 win season that ended in Game Seven of the NLCS. Much like the Red Sox, the Brewers aggressively added to their payroll and it paid dividends.

Mike estimates that the Yankees will have $50 million to spend after arbitration before surpassing the $206 million cap. That is a significant amount, but it will go fast – especially if the team pursues top talent like Bryce Harper, who is reportedly asking for a 10 year, $350 contract or Manny Machado, who will have similar demands. That is without the additional salary of a potential arm like Patrick Corbin or a lefty bat like Michael Brantley, let alone supporting depth pieces. It does not even consider the fact that key pieces like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino will get significant pay raises through arbitration over the next few years.

We’ve heard a lot about the need to cut salary in recent years, and the team has achieved that goal. Now, the Yankees are a very good team that is on the verge of being a great team — and spending on elite talent in the next few weeks might be the difference. But if they let this moment pass them by, they will have nobody to blame but themselves if they are sitting at home late in October again, watching their bitter rivals beating them at what was supposed to be their own game.

Athletics Wild Card bullpen primer: Finding cracks between Fiers and Treinen

September 28, 2018 by Steven Tydings

In five days time, the Athletics will come to Yankee Stadium for the Wild Card Game, armed with a cadre of relievers.

For sure, Oakland is defined by its lineup, which posted the second-best wRC+ in baseball and slugged .440 despite the spacious confines of the Coliseum. But the team didn’t win 96+ games just off its offense.

The team’s rotation, despite containing plenty of talent, has been ravaged by injuries and by all measures is mediocre. There’s a reason they’ve adopted an opener/bullpenning strategy to take up the back-end of their rotation in the last month.

Instead of winning with a strong rotation, the Athletics have been decidedly modern and turned to a strong bullpen. One has to figure Bob Melvin will follow that formula in the Wild Card Game, likely following a short stint from Mike Fiers with a series of their top relievers.

So where can the Yankees find cracks if they don’t get to the homer-prone Fiers?

Unlike last season with the Twins, the Athletics do have a pitcher to fear and that is All-Star closer Blake Treinen. Treinen has been good enough that he should earn some down-ballot Cy Young consideration. At age 30, the right-hander has finally figured out how to dominate with his electric upper-90s sinker.

Considering his 0.79 ERA (a 532 ERA+, not a typo), 0.832 WHIP and ability to go multiple innings, the Yankees basically need to get to the seventh inning with a lead or else Treinen likely finishes their season off. Treinen blew his last save, but that came on a pair of seeing-eye singles and a key error.

It would be one thing if the bullpen were just Treinen. However, the A’s have some standout rookies, a trio of former closers and a sprinkle of veterans in front of him, although each has their flaws.

Even better than Treinen in the first half was Lou Trivino, but the 26-year-old rookie has come crashing down to earth in the second half to the tune of a 5.86 ERA and a .280/.364/.449 line against him. The right-hander has been dealing with a neck issue to boot, but he still can fire the ball in the upper-90s easily.

Next up is Fernando Rodney. All I need to say is he’s Fernando Rodney. He walks way too many batters and the Yankees seem to own him. Luke Voit and Gary Sanchez certainly have.

For some reason, Rodney continues to get almost exclusively higher leverage innings. Someone, please explain this to me. Or don’t, and just make sure it happens on Oct. 3.

Another trade deadline acquisition was Jeurys Familia. A better and younger arm than Rodney to be sure, but he hasn’t been quite as sharp in Oakland compared to his Mets days. His peripherals have been better despite a rising walk rate. Like Rodney, the Yankees got to him in their one victory during their Labor Day series.

The other former closer is former Yankee Shawn Kelley, who’s been a mess in high leverage spots this year between the Nationals and Athletics. That likely has him lower on the totem pole for Wednesday’s clash.

If you take out Kelley, those are the tippy-top arms for the Athletics. But Melvin s plenty of tricks (or relievers) up his sleeve. I’ll break them down quickly since there’s way too many to go into detail.

Ryan Buchter is the matchup lefty. If Didi Gregorius is healthy, he’s the matchup for Buchter. Otherwise, he’ll be waiting for Neil Walker, Brett Gardner or Greg Bird to enter the game. Maybe he gets an inning against righties, but this seems unnecessary with Oakland’s depth.
Yusmeiro Petit is a jack-of-all-trades. He can take long relief, but he’s pitched in one inning bursts recently, likely due to the increased depth in the pen.
Trevor Cahill and Edwin Jackson are each part of the rotation, yet each has some experience in the bullpen and could take up a long relief or emergency role in the Wild Card Game. The Yankees historically have hit both pitchers extremely well, but neither has seen the Yankees often the last few years.
Along those lines is Daniel Mengden. He’s primarily pitched behind an opener in recent weeks, but he had the Bombers’ number on Sept. 4, carrying a no-hitter into the middle innings. Don’t be shocked if he’s on the Wild Card Game roster, but it’s tough to see him slotting into middle relief with the Athletics clinging to a lead.
The Athletics could also utilize the opener with Liam Hendriks. The Australian right-hander has allowed a run in just one of seven “starts” this season and would work alongside Oakland’s right-handed options to counter the Yankees’ lineup.
Lastly, rookie J.B. Wendelken has allowed one run over 15 2/3 innings this year and his fastball-curve combination could have him ticketed for a postseason roster spot. Still, he hasn’t been trusted with a late-inning lead.

There are a few other arms that the A’s could turn to, but expect the formula to be Fiers and Treinen with some combination of Familia, Rodney, Trivino and Buchter in between. Oakland is able to meet the Yankees’ righty bats with plenty of right-handed power in the their bullpen with Buchter to seek out other matchups. If I had to put anyone else in there, Petit would get an inning if Fiers or whichever starter is out quickly, but he might not have the Proven Closer™ feel to him that some of the others have.

The Rest of MLB [2018 Season Preview]

March 28, 2018 by Steven Tydings Leave a Comment

There’s some talent in this frame (Christian Peterson/Getty Images)

We’re just one day from the end of the offseason and the long-awaited beginning to the journey for the 2018 Yankees. That means it’s time to wrap up our season preview series. Shout-out to Mike and Domenic for their great work over the last month.

So for the final post in this set, take this as a chance to shake off the otherwise myopic focus on the everyday issues for the Bombers and an opportunity to look into the wider expanse of baseball as we check out the rest of the league.

NL East

Who will win? Nationals.
Who could surprise? Phillies (Maybe Mets?).
Who will disappoint? What’s left of the Marlins.
Players to watch? Bryce Harper and Ronald Acuna Jr.

There are two givens in the National League East: The Nationals will be good and the Marlins will be awful. The Nationals go into this season on the precipice of destruction yet perhaps also glory. All of that rides on the status of Bryce Harper, whose contract is up after the season and therefore makes the Nationals’ 2018 that much more important. The team doesn’t lack reinforcements around him with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and an actual semblance of a bullpen, not to mention Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon on offense.

On the flip side, the Marlins … ugh. If you aren’t a baseball glutton such as myself, please avoid watching this team. Sure, prospects and the Home Run Machine and a few former Yankees, but this team isn’t worth the time.

In between, the Phillies seem on the brink of opening their contention window, particularly after adding Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana this offseason. Add them to a young core of Rhys Hoskins, Scott Kingery and Aaron Nola and you really might have something if you can get past a lack of pitching depth.

The Mets have the talent to win 90+ games with their rotation mostly healthy for now, but we’ll see how long the crosstown rivals can put it together. As for the Braves, they’re waiting for their exciting crop of pitchers to reach the majors, which likely won’t be this season. In the meantime, enjoy Ronald Acuna and everything he could be (and Freddie Freeman if you haven’t forgotten about him).

NL Central

Who will win? Cubs.
Who could surprise? Brewers.
Who will disappoint? Usually the Reds.
Players to watch? Marcell Ozuna and Luis Castillo.

Count me as someone who was quite impressed by the Cubs’ offseason. They saw their main weakness in the rotation and bullpen and added Yu Darvish, Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek. You could do a lot worse. Their core from the 2016 World Series is still intact minus Arrieta, but Darvish and Jose Quintana make up for his absence.

The Cardinals and Brewers are prime wild card candidates. Each, like the Yankees, acquired a member of the Marlins’ 2017 outfield with Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, respectively. The Cards have a rotation that can carry an average-ish offense and make up for a below-average bullpen and should be wild card favorites. I’m less sold on the Brewers with their rotation, but they should be exciting despite projections.

The Reds and Pirates remain mired at the bottom of the division. The Reds’ rotation remains a brutish hellscape, though now it has a glimmer of hope with Luis Castillo. No, not that Luis Castillo. The one who can throw 100 mph and drop some nasty offspeed stuff. Pittsburgh has plenty of issues after trading Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole and it will be tough to round back into playoff form. A lot rides on the development of Tyler Glasnow and his towering frame.

NL West

Who will win? Dodgers.
Who could surprise? Padres? This division doesn’t have too much surprise in it.
Who will disappoint? Giants. Definitely the Giants.
Players to watch? Jon Gray and Archie Bradley.

Fresh off making it to Game 7 of the World Series, the Dodgers appear ready to book another run this year before spending big after getting under the luxury tax. However, there are some red flags, namely starting Matt Kemp in left field (why!?!) and a little less pitching depth than last season. Still, Clayton Kershaw is there and Cody Bellinger could provide a thunderous encore to his rookie season.

There’s a clear middle class to this division, the two participants in the 2017 NL Wild Card Game. The Diamondbacks replaced J.D. Martinez with Steven Souza Jr. and are doubling down on a rotation that carried them to the NLDS. Archie Bradley still anchors the bullpen and Paul Goldschmidt remains wildly underrated. Colorado will have to make up for surprisingly meh offense at Coors Field with a young pitching staff. They added to their bullpen, though it will be up to Jon Gray and co. to really make this team go.

At the bottom, there’s the Giants and Padres. The Padres are on the upswing with Eric Hosmer in tow and a boatload of prospects set to debut in the next few seasons. The Giants? In a post-Madison Bumgarner injury world, it’s time to recalibrate expectations. Their offense is old and hardly world-beaters, but it’s their rotation that concerns me. Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija are hurt and they couldn’t afford that. Derek Holland is in the initial rotation for them and Ty Blach is facing Kershaw on Opening Day. Good luck with that!

The future and present of second base (Bob Levey/Getty)

AL Central

Who will win? Indians.
Who could surprise? White Sox.
Who will disappoint? Tigers, Royals.
Players to watch? Byron Buxton and Yoan Moncada.

This appears to be the weakest division in baseball, but it’s strong at the top. Don’t overlook the Indians! In our Yankees-centric bubble, the Red Sox and Astros are the most talked about competitors, yet the Indians remain formidable. That entire pitching staff is still legit and their offense is nothing to sneeze at. In that division, they should ride to 95+ wins.

The Twins shouldn’t be a surprise, but they’re a prime wild card contender. Their pitching staff got a needed boost with Lance Lynn and Addison Reed, though it’s hardly great. What’s notable is their offense, which added Logan Morrison and still has Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano.

And then there are the three rebuilding teams. The White Sox’s pitching staff is a series of question marks, prospects and has-beens, but their prospect pool is either on the cusp or in the majors. Grab the popcorn and get ready to watch Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. The Royals are a shell of their 2015 selves and would be an easy choice for last place if you couldn’t say the same thing about the Tigers, a team set for many years of rebuilding. I guess Miguel Cabrera can still hit some?

AL West

Who will win? Astros by a lot.
Who could surprise? Athletics.
Who will disappoint? Rangers.
Players to watch? Shohei Ohtani (duh) and Dee Gordon (Matt Olson too!).

The Astros are going to be so freaking good. So so good. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander, George Springer. Ugh, so much talent there and that’s just the tippy top. The only thing as exciting as the Astros is the potential Shohei Ohtani in Los Angeles. I know he’s had a rough spring. Even so, watching someone venture into two-way territory is must-watch and he’s doing it on the same team as Mike Trout and Andrelton Simmons. I’m in!

The Mariners have an aging core and a team that, if fully healthy, could peak as a wild card team. But Erasmo Ramirez and David Phelps are already hurt (yes, they were/are counting on both) and Felix Hernandez has a lot of innings on his arm. I’m still down to watch Dee Gordon try centerfield and get my fix of age-35 Robinson Cano.

The Athletics have some interesting pieces, namely Matts Olson and Chapman. Olson hits the ball a mile and Chapman plays some gnarly third base and should be a Gold Glove favorite. Their rotation is weak/young, but I’m excited by the team’s offensive potential. The Rangers, on the other hand, just don’t have too much that interests me. However, I will sign up to watch all the Joey Gallo dingers and Adrian Beltre-ness the team will provide.

The Rest of the AL East [2018 Season Preview]

March 28, 2018 by Domenic Lanza Leave a Comment

Future Yankee Manny Machado. (John Minchillo/AP)

The Yankees begin the 2018 season tomorrow, so it’s time to preview their division rivals. Here’s a look ahead at the rest of the AL East.

Baltimore Orioles

2017 Record: 75-87

Notable Additions: Andrew Cashner, Alex Cobb, Colby Rasmus, Danny Valencia

Notable Subtractions: Welington Castillo, Ryan Flaherty, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Miley, Seth Smith

The Buck Showalter Orioles had garnered a reputation as perennial overachievers over the last half-decade, finishing at or above .500 each year from 2012 through 2016, and making three playoff appearances along the way. They were a cumulative 16 games above their Pythagorean record, owing largely to their ability to roll out a strong bullpen each and every season, as well as a propensity for clutch hitting. That stretch of competence came to an end last season, though, as the Orioles finished last in the AL East for the first time since 2011.

What Went Right Last Year?

Not all that much, really. Dylan Bundy was healthy and mostly effective for a full season, Trey Mancini and Jonathan Schoop broke out, and the bullpen continued to turn anonymous journeymen into studs (see: Richard Bleier and his 1.99 ERA in 63.1 IP). That’s about it.

What Went Wrong Last Year?

The Orioles had arguably the worst rotation in all of baseball, with only one starter posting an ERA under 4.68, and only one starter averaging 6-plus IP per start – and it was the aforementioned Bundy who achieved both. They also had to deal with significant regression from Chris Davis, Manny Machado, and Mark Trumbo, which meant that they lacked the offensive oomph to bail out their shoddy starting pitching with any sort of regularity.

Oh, and Zach Britton missed two months, tore his Achilles, and is out until at least May.

A Potential Lineup

Tim Beckham, 3B
Jonathan Schoop, 2B
Manny Machado, SS
Adam Jones, CF
Chris Davis, 1B
Trey Mancini, LF
Colby Rasmus, RF
Danny Valencia, DH
Chance Sisco, C

Showalter and Co. are counting on bounce-back seasons across the board this year, as the majority of the lineup remains the same. Rasmus is the biggest offensive addition from outside of the organization, and he did quite well with the Rays last year (139 OPS+ in 129 PA). Of course, his season ended rather abruptly when he decided to walk away from the game. Valencia made the Opening Day roster, as well, and will likely DH for the time being, as Mark Trumbo is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

The Probable Rotation

Dylan Bundy, RHP
Alex Cobb, RHP
Andrew Cashner, RHP
Kevin Gausman, RHP
Chris Tillman, RHP

Cobb was a quality signing for the Orioles, even if they somehow managed to pay more than was expected for the 30-year-old even after the market collapsed. And Cashner, likelihood of regression aside, is an upgrade over the Wade Mileys of the world. This rotation doesn’t look much better than passable, but even that would be a massive upgrade for the team.

The Bullpen

The bullpen was a strength last year, and there’s no real reason to expect otherwise going forward. Britton is out until at least May, which isn’t great, but Brad Brach held down the fort when he was out last year, and he will be expected to do so again this year.

Ephemera

This might be the Orioles last hurrah, as Britton, Jones, and Machado are all free agents after this year.

Boston Red Sox

2017 Record: 93-69

Notable Additions: J.D. Martinez

Notable Subtractions: Fernando Abad, Doug Fister, Addison Reed, Chris Young

The Red Sox won 93 games, won the AL East, and lost in the ALDS for the second year in a row, affording them a nice bit of symmetry in Year One Post-Ortiz.

What Went Right Last Year?

Chris Sale and Drew Pomeranz were one of the best one-two punches in the game, Craig Kimbrel may’ve been the best closer in the game, and rookies Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers were as good as advertised. Their pitching staff was terrific as a whole, finishing tied for third in the majors in park-adjusted ERA.

What Went Wrong Last Year?

Dustin Pedroia and David Price got hurt again, and Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. regressed. And their designated hitters combined to hit an almost perfectly average .244/.327/.419, which represents a staggering drop-off from what was once their greatest advantage.

A Potential Lineup

Mookie Betts, RF
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
J.D. Martinez, DH
Rafael Devers, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Eduardo Nunez, 2B
Christian Vazquez, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

Dustin Pedroia (knee) is out indefinitely, as he’s still at least a few weeks away from extended Spring Training. The lineup nevertheless looks quite strong, particularly if you buy into a few bouncebacks and continued growth from Benintendi and Devers. And Martinez really ties it all together, giving them the middle-of-the-order presence that they desperately missed last season.

The Probable Rotation

Chris Sale, LHP
David Price, LHP
Rick Porcello, RHP
Hector Velazquez, RHP
Brian Johnson, LHP

Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Steven Wright will all open the season on the disabled list, and Wright will serve a 15-game suspension for domestic violence once activated. That means that Velazquez – a 29-year-old rookie signed out of Mexico last year – and Johnson will be in the team’s rotation for at least a couple of turns. Both were solid in limited duty for the Red Sox last year, but this is serious test of the team’s depth early in the season. If the rotation is going to be a strength as many are predicting, these guys need to get healthy and stay healthy.

The Bullpen

Kimbrel is back as the team’s closer, and I’m sure the Red Sox are looking forward to a full season’s worth of Carson Smith. They acquired him from the Mariners in December of 2015 with the hopes of forming their own version of the super bullpen, but he has thrown just 9.1 IP around injuries since then. If Smith is healthy and pitches like he did in Seattle, this team will be in good shape in the late innings.

Ephemera

Alex Cora is just the eleventh Latin American manager in baseball history, and the second Puerto Rican to hold that position.

Tampa Bay Rays

2017 Record: 80-82

Notable Additions: Christian Arroyo, C.J. Cron, Carlos Gomez, Daniel Hudson, Denard Span

Notable Subtractions: Alex Cobb, Corey Dickerson, Lucas Duda, Evan Longoria, Logan Morrison, Jake Odorizzi, Steven Souza Jr.

Last year was quietly the fourth year in a row that the Rays finished below .500, and their reputation for being one of the smartest organizations in the game has faded into the background. They’ve made some puzzling moves in the last few years (no doubt with the financial bottom line in mind), and that was taken to something of an extreme this off-season, as people questioned their returns (or lack thereof) for Corey Dickerson, Jake Odorizzi, and Steven Souza Jr. And, while the Evan Longoria deal made some sense as he deals with his decline, this team is in search of a new face.

What Went Right Last Year?

Logan Morrison broke out in a big way, combining with Dickerson and Souza to give the Rays a potent heart of the order, Alex Cobb performed quite well in his first full season post-TJS, and Jake Faria and Blake Snell looked good in their first full big league seasons. And the Rays actually bought at the trade deadline, adding Lucas Duda and others in late-July.

Morrison, Dickerson, Souza, Cobb, and Duda are now playing for other teams.

What Went Wrong Last Year?

Kevin Kiermaier suffered a fractured hip and missed about forty-percent of the season, Chris Archer continued to be frustratingly average, Brad Miller regressed heavily, Matt Duffy missed the entire season, and Longoria had the worst offensive season of his career.

A Potential Lineup

Denard Span, DH
Matt Duffy, 3B
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Carlos Gomez, RF
Brad Miller, 2B
Wilson Ramos, C
C.J. Cron, 1B
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
Mallex Smith, LF

The first thought that pops into my head is that this is probably a damn good defense. Unfortunately, my intent here is to talk about the offense – and there doesn’t appear to be much hitting to be had here. ZiPS only projects Miller (103) and Kiermaier (100) to finish with an average or better wRC+, and it’s difficult to come up with a good argument against that. And their best offensive prospects, Jake Bauers (1B) and Willy Adames (SS) don’t profile as middle-of-the-order types.

The Probable Rotation

Chris Archer, RHP
Blake Snell, LHP
Nate Eovaldi, RHP
Jake Faria, RHP
¯\_(?)_/¯

Injuries to top prospect Brent Honeywell and former top prospect Jose De Leon have forced the Rays to be creative with their pitching, which means they’re going with a four-man rotation. The fifth slot will still exist, but it will be a bullpen game. That’s how the playoffs shook out to some degree, so there’s some precedent, but its viability in a full season remains to be seen – especially when one of the four starters is Eovaldi, whose last regular season start was August 10, 2016. Barring some miraculous success, prospect Anthony Banda will probably be up sooner rather than later to take that fifth spot.

The Bullpen

With the exception of the addition of Daniel Hudson, this group is the same as it was last year. Alex Colome will close, Sergio Romo will set-up, and they’ll probably have a rotating cast of seventh, eight, and maybe even ninth relievers.

Ephemera

Jonny Venters had a 0.00 ERA in 7.0 IP this Spring before being sent down to the Rays minor league camp. Why is this interesting? Venters hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2012, and has had, by his reckoning, three and a half Tommy John surgeries. It’s a great story.

Toronto Blue Jays

2017 Record: 76-86

Notable Additions: Tyler Clippard, Aledmys Diaz, Jaime Garcia, Curtis Granderson, Randal Grichuk, Seung-Hwan Oh, Yangervis Solarte

Notable Subtractions: Darwin Barney, Jose Bautista, Dominic Leone, Miguel Montero

The Blue Jays followed-up back-to-back trips to the ALCS with their first losing season since 2013, in a year that was all but defined by regression and injuries. They’ve quietly completed a low-key reload this off-season, though, so they may be worth keeping an eye on.

What Went Right Last Year?

Justin Smoak broke out, Josh Donaldson continued to be a superstar, Marcus Stroman pitched like an ace, and Roberto Osuna secured his place among the brightest young relievers in the game.

What Went Wrong Last Year?

Where to begin? Jose Bautista had, by far, the worst season of his career, with -1.7 bWAR; Donaldson, J.A. Happ, Russell Martin, Steve Pearce, Aaron Sanchez, and Troy Tulowitzki all missed significant time with injuries; and Marco Estrada had a 4.98 ERA.

A Potential Lineup

Curtis Granderson, LF
Devon Travis, 2B
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Justin Smoak, 1B
Russell Martin, C
Kendrys Morales, DH
Randal Grichuk, RF
Kevin Pillar, CF
Aledmys Diaz, SS

Tulowitzki is out with bone spurs in his ankle, and his return is still up in the air. The Blue Jays have solid depth at short, though, with Diaz likely to start and Solarte on the bench in a pinch. With health and a bit of luck (mostly with Smoak), this can be a potent lineup from top to bottom.

The Probable Rotation

Marcus Stroman, RHP
J.A. Happ, LHP
Marco Estrada, RHP
Aaron Sanchez, RHP
Jaime Garcia, LHP

Stroman is dealing with a nagging injury, and won’t be starting on Opening Day; he won’t hit the DL, though, and is expected to start the fourth game of the season. The rotation looks strong on-paper, and an optimist could see a great deal of potential here. Sanchez was ace-like before blisters doomed him, Estrada was really good in 2015 and 2016, and Garcia is among the best fifth starters in the game. This could be a real strength for the Blue Jays.

The Bullpen

Osuna is a terrific closer, and there is a good amount of depth behind him, too. Seung-Hwan Oh was a smart addition, and low-risk moves for veterans John Axford and old friend Tyler Clippard could help out a bit more than we suspect. I don’t know that the bullpen will be anything more than solid, but it doesn’t profile as bad.

Ephemera

This is Donaldson’s last year under contract, and he could be a difference maker in Toronto, or for some other team after the deadline if they’re stumbling.

Update: Astros, Pirates not finalizing Gerrit Cole trade

January 10, 2018 by Mike Leave a Comment

1:10pm ET: Jeff Passan says there is “no deal” and this is a “false rumor.” Maybe the Pirates leaked the rumor to try to get Brian Cashman to panic include Gleyber in a trade package? That’d be kinda funny.

12:09pm ET: Looks like we can cross one pitching trade target off the Yankees’ list.

According to Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal, the Astros and Pirates are close to a trade sending Gerrit Cole to Houston. There’s no word on the return yet, though I imagine it’ll be a package of prospects. Here is MLB.com’s top 30 Astros prospects list, if you want to skim that.

The Yankees have been connected to Cole for weeks, and at one point it seemed the two sides were inching closer to a trade. That didn’t happen, obviously. The Yankees tried to build a trade package around Clint Frazier, but the Pirates reportedly insisted on Gleyber Torres, which was a sticking point.

As I said a few weeks ago, I wasn’t super hot on Cole as a trade target. He’s obviously talented, but he’s been trending in the wrong direction the last two years, and I’ve grown tired of the “better stuff than results” profile. If the Yankees are going to trade a big prospect package, I’d prefer someone they don’t have to fix, you know?

In addition to Cole, the Yankees have also been connected to other young-ish starters like Michael Fulmer, Chris Archer, and Patrick Corbin this offseason. They even made offers for Fulmer and Archer at some point. I don’t think it was Cole or bust. They’re going to keep looking for another starter. That’s what they do.

The Yankees have five starters (Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray, CC Sabathia, Jordan Montgomery) for five rotation spots at the moment, so they’re not desperate for a starter. They figure to sit back and see if anything falls into their laps before Spring Training.