Manny moving to shortstop

Finally, Manny Machado is on the move!

No, the Orioles’ superstar hasn’t been traded, not yet at least, but he is moving around on the diamond. O’s manager Buck Showalter announced at the club’s FanFest on Saturday that Machado will shift over to shortstop for the upcoming season.

The 25-year-old is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Orioles and is primed to cash on in the free agent market after the 2018 season. This has led to rampant rumor and speculation that the O’s will deal him for the best return they can get, rather than letting him walk after the season and recuperating a mere compensation pick in return.

Machado has made it clear this winter that his desire is to play shortstop, his natural position. He has spent the majority of his first six seasons in the big leagues playing third base instead, and doing so as one of the best defenders in all of baseball. He has taken home the American League Gold Glove at the position twice already, once in 2013 and again in 2015.

By granting his wish and allowing him to play his desired position, perhaps it gives the Orioles’ front office a little more leverage when attempting to negotiate a long-term contract extension to keep Machado in Baltimore. It certainly can’t hurt their chances.

What the move will do for certain, is give a boost to Machado’s already sky-high fantasy value. On average, Machado has been the 19th player off the board in early NFBC drafts, behind only Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant at the third base position. That number will start to rise based on this announcement. Only one shortstop, Trea Turner, is being selected ahead of him in drafts. The fact that he’ll gain dual-eligibility early in the season (after 10 games in NFBC leagues, less through other fantasy providers), is mighty appealing.

While there’s no doubt that Machado has the skillset to handle the transition to shortstop, he isn’t the only player who is changing occupations with this news. Tim Beckham, who had been slated to open the season as the Orioles’ starting shortstop, will now shift to third base. Showalter talked to Beckham on Friday and discussed the move, and Beckham seemed receptive. How that transition will work though, is unknown. Whereas Machado has extensive experience at the shortstop position in his career, Beckham has logged just nine big league games at the hot corner.

Beckham told the O’s faithful at Fan Fest on Saturday, "I'm open to [moving to third base], especially if it helps the team… The end goal is to win ballgames and we don't want to lose sight of that. I don't want to make this a big deal. I'll just transition over there, continue to make the plays and be consistent."

As long as the move works from a defensive perspective for the Orioles, it’s an added boost to the fantasy appeal of both players. Beckham is already shortstop-eligible, which is the much more scarce and harder to fill position, but gaining eligibility at third base helps his cause as well.

Beckham’s early ADP sits at pick 272, which puts him in the 19th round of 15-team formats. Remember, he lit the world on fire after joining the Orioles in a mid-season deal in 2017, slashing .306/.348/.523 with 10 homers, 26 RBI and a stolen base in only 50 games. He’ll again get the benefit of playing his home games in the hitter-friendly confines of Camden Yards and there have been rumblings that he’s going to begin the season as the Orioles’ lead off hitter. He’s a player that I love heading into 2018, especially at that ADP.

Closer by Committee

Mickey Callaway is getting his first shot at a managerial job this year, taking the helm of the Mets after seven seasons of Terry Collins leading the way. Callaway made a name for himself, and earned widespread respect from around the league, for the way he developed and handled the Indians’ pitching staff as the Tribe’s pitching coach from 2013-2017.

Now, he could be changing the game by bringing with him a facet of bullpen utilization that he employed while in Cleveland.

Callaway told  Jon Morosi on Friday that he will use a closer-by-committee approach to begin the season. Specifically, the 42-year-old skipper said "I don't think we're going to name a closer to start the season. We want to make sure everyone is pitching when they have the best chance to be successful." It’s a strategy that worked wonders for the Indians, and frustrated many fantasy owners, when they split the closing duties between Cody Allen and Andrew Miller depending on matchups in the ninth inning.

From a real baseball perspective, it makes a ton of sense. Getting the final three outs of a ballgame, when beginning the ninth inning with a clean slate and no one on base, aren’t always the highest-leverage or most important outs to get in a ballgame. It’s a much more difficult spot for example, to come on in the eighth inning with a runner on second base and only one out, and to record two outs while stranding that runner.

In this mold, some forward-thinking coaches and organizations, tend to use their best relievers in those situations, rather than in the traditional closer’s role. While many managers have said in the past that they’ll utilize their bullpens in a similar manner, most don’t end up following through. It will be interesting to see if the first-time skipper sticks to his guns and rides it out for the entire season.

If that’s indeed the case, it hurts the fantasy value of Jeurys Familia, who was the most likely candidate to win the ninth-inning gig to start the season. As of Friday, his average draft position in leagues sat at 168, putting him 18th among closers. I expect that number to fall in the coming weeks based on Callaways declaration.

On the flip side, it should boost the fantasy stock of A.J. Ramos, as he’s the most likely to share the closer’s gig with Familia. Ramos has an early ADP of 368, a number that should jump considerably now that he’s going to be seeing occasional save chances. In 15-team leagues, saves are an extremely valuable commodity, and any shot at getting them is worth taking.

As if the waters weren’t muddied up enough though, Callaway went even further to say that Anthony Swarzak and Jerry Blevins could also get the ball with the game on the line. To me, that sounds more like coach speak, and a guy wanting to let his bullpen know that he trusts and believes in each and every member. In reality, I expect Familia and Ramos to handle most of the chances, perhaps with one of them running away with the job if the demonstrate success early in the season.

The Diamondbacks made a low-risk signing to bolster the back-end of their bullpen on Sunday, agreeing to terms with Neftali Feliz on a minor league deal that also includes an invitation to spring training.

The 29-year-old hurler had been pursued by several clubs in recent weeks including the Giants, Cubs, Braves, Angels and Reds.

He struggled to a 5.48 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 37/23 K/BB ratio across 46 innings with the Brewers and Royals in 2017 and was diagnosed with ulnar nerve palsy in his right arm in late August.

He received a clean bill of health from Dr. James Andrews in early December though and by all accounts looked good in recent mound sessions.

Archie Bradley is expected to open the season as the team’s closer, with Brad Boxberger and Yoshihisa Hirano slated to work in setup roles. Feliz owns 107 saves in his career. Should he regain the form that saw him close out 40 games for the Rangers during his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2010, he could work his way into a high-leverage role in the D’Backs bullpen.

Quick Hits: The Phillies signed former All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp… The Cubs signed Efren Navarro to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training… 

 Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Chase Anderson, Zach Davies and Jhoulys Chacin are all locks to make the club’s Opening Day rotation… Counsell also said that Josh Hader will begin the season in the club’s bullpen… According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Ryan Braun is “highly unlikely” to serve as the Brewers’ second baseman during the upcoming season… Dodgers’ general manager Farhan Zaidi indicated that the team has continued to have conversations with Chase Utley about a possible return…

 Jon Heyman  reported that the Brewers are one of the teams that has inquired with the Diamondbacks about the availability of Patrick Corbin… Julio Urias is reportedly on track in his recovery from shoulder surgery and could help the Dodgers during the second half of the 2018 season… Zach Britton (Achilles) is ahead of schedule in his recovery as well and is tentatively scheduled to rejoin the O’s after the All-Star break… The White Sox inked Xavier Cedeno to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training… Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reported that Amir Garrett received platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections in his hip following the 2017 season.

Something's a brewing in Milwaukee

The Hot Stove was trudging right along before the Brewers sent a wakeup call to the rest of MLB early Thursday evening while revamping their outfield in a major way. In addition to landing Christian Yelich from the Marlins in exchange for prospect outfielders Lewis Brinson and Monte Harrison, infielder Isan Diaz, and right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto, the club has reportedly brought home free agent Lorenzo Cain with a five-year, $80 million contract. That qualifies as going for it.





We’ll start with Yelich, the latest high-profile name traded by Miami this offseason. After seeing the deals involving Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna, Yelich’s agent, Joe Longo, recently said that the outfielder’s relationship with the team was “irretrievably broken” and that a trade was the best outcome for both sides. While you can certainly criticize the overall plan of the new Marlins ownership, this deal qualifies as a win-win.

Trading Stanton was primarily about money and opinions on the Ozuna haul were mixed, but the Marlins managed to leverage Yelich into their best return package so far. Brinson immediately becomes the Marlins’ top prospect and should be starting in center field right away. Strikeouts are concern, but he’s an excellent defender with intriguing power and speed. Harrison is coming off a breakout season in the low minors while Diaz still carries plenty of promise even after a down year.

Yelich is an excellent player, but the key component in this deal is his contract, which includes $44.5 million guaranteed over the next four years. The Brewers could potentially have him for five years if they pick up his $15 million club option for 2022. It was going to be some rough sledding with a diminished supporting cast in Miami, but Yelich got his wish to play for a contender and now finds himself in one of the better ballparks in the game for left-handed hitters. His value in fantasy leagues just took a nice jump.

Entering Thursday, Carlos Santana’s three-year, $60 million contract with the Phillies was the richest deal handed out this offseason, but Cain has topped it in his reported deal. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports wrote on Wednesday that Cain was weighing several four-year offers, but the Brewers were willing to add a fifth year in order to get a deal done. He’ll be 32 in April, so this contract might not look good on the back-end, but the Brewers will worry about that later. In the meantime, they have improved their offense while putting together one of the best defensive outfields in the game with Cain, Yelich, and Ryan Braun.

The Brewers probably aren’t done dealing, as they now have more outfielders than spots available. Coming off a breakout season, Domingo Santana could be a valuable chip as they attempt to make a deal for a starting pitcher. Keon Broxton could also find himself on the trade block. The Brewers still have some work to do to build upon their surprise 2017 campaign, but they just got a lot more interesting.

Reyes Returns

If a return to the Mets wasn’t in the cards for Jose Reyes this winter, it was fair to wonder whether he would be done in the majors. Putting aside the fact that he’s not the player that he once was, his domestic violence arrest understandably makes the possibility of a signing a non-starter with most teams. Fortunately for Reyes, the Mets apparently aren’t concerned about the P.R. hit involved.

As first reported by Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, Reyes will return to the Mets with a new one-year contract. According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the deal carries a $2 million guarantee with an additional $500,000 in performance-based incentives. The plan calls for him to function in a utility role while the club continues to monitor the free agent and trade markets at second and third base. Asdrubal Cabrera still projects to be a starter (either at second or third base) while Wilmer Flores will be a backup infielder or platoon player.

Reyes, 34, got off to a miserable start last season before turning things around near the end of June. He batted .294/.357/.496 with nine homers over his final 69 games. And while he doesn’t have the speed he once did, he went 24-for-30 in stolen base attempts on the year. Reyes finished the year on a high note, but it would probably be bad news for the Mets if they are forced to rely on him for a semi-regular role again.


 
Quick Hits: According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Nationals are among the teams trying to acquire catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins … Charlie Blackmon said he’s willing to move out of the leadoff spot if it helps the team … Tigers general manager Al Avila said it’s “hard to predict” a potential trade involving Miguel Cabrera, citing his massive contract as a hurdle … Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Rangers remain in contact with free agent outfielder Carlos Gomez … Tigers general manager Al Avila expects Michael Fulmer (elbow) to be at full strength for spring training … Carlos Rodon (shoulder) has yet to begin a throwing program and isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the 2018 season … Jordan Zimmermann will receive another precautionary nerve-blocking shot in his neck prior to spring training … Recent Rays acquisition Christian Arroyo, who required surgery on his left hand last July, hit off a tee Monday and Wednesday at Tropicana Field … Hisashi Iwakuma (shoulder) has been cleared to resume throwing, though he is expected to miss the start of the 2018 season … Alex Wilson will be given a chance to compete for a rotation spot with the Tigers in the spring … The Royals signed infielder Ryan Goins to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training …

Hall of Fame Voting

Below are the results of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote to elect the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018, with vote totals and percentages. A total of 422 ballots were cast, with 317 required for election.




Chipper Jones: 410 votes (97.2%)
Vladimir Guerrero: 392 votes (92.9%)
Jim Thome: 379 votes (89.8%)
Trevor Hoffman: 337 votes (79.9%)
Edgar Martinez: 297 votes (70.4%)
Mike Mussina: 268 votes (63.5%)
Roger Clemens: 242 votes (57.3%)
Barry Bonds: 238 votes (56.4%)
Curt Schilling: 216 votes (51.2%)
Omar Vizquel: 156 votes (37.0%)
Larry Walker: 144 votes (34.1%)
Fred McGriff: 98 votes (23.2%)
Manny Ramirez: 93 votes (22.0%)
Jeff Kent: 61 votes (14.5%)
Gary Sheffield: 47 votes (11.1%)
Billy Wagner: 47 votes (11.1%)
Scott Rolen: 43 votes (10.2%)
Sammy Sosa: 33 votes (7.8%)
Andruw Jones: 31 votes (7.3%)
----------------------------------
Jamie Moyer: 10 votes (2.4%)
Johan Santana: 10 votes (2.4%)
Johnny Damon: 8 votes (1.9%)
Hideki Matsui: 4 votes (0.9%)
Chris Carpenter: 2 votes (0.5%)
Kerry Wood: 2 votes (0.5%)
Livan Hernandez: 1 vote (0.2%)
Carlos Lee: 1 vote (0.2%)
Orlando Hudson: 0 votes
Aubrey Huff: 0 votes
Jason Isringhausen: 0 votes
Brad Lidge: 0 votes
Kevin Millwood: 0 votes
Carlos Zambrano: 0 votes

All candidates who received less than 5 percent of the vote on ballots cast will be removed from future BBWAA consideration.

Who should be the Blue Jays choice to be there 5th starter

Joe Biagini won't be the 5th starter for much longer.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Blue Jays have shown interest in free agent starter Chris Tillman.

Tillman is probably going to have to settle for a one-year contract -- maybe even a non-guaranteed minor league deal -- after struggling to a 7.84 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, and 63/51 K/BB ratio in 93 innings last season with the Orioles. The 29-year-old right-hander has also drawn mild interest from the Twins and Tigers this winter, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter suggested earlier this month that Baltimore could have some interest in bringing him back. Tillman held a 3.81 ERA in 844 2/3 innings with the O's between 2012-2016. 

 

 

 

According to Juan Manuel Moreno of La Prensa in Mexico, the Pirates are showing interest in free agent starter Jaime Garcia.

Garcia pitched for three different teams (Braves, Twins, Yankees) in 2017, posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 129/64 K/BB ratio in 157 innings. The 31-year-old left-hander could be a nice buy-low option for the cost-conscious Pirates, though he also had underwhelming numbers with the Cardinals in 2016 and he carries an ugly history of elbow and shoulder problems. 

 

 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Nationals have expressed interest in Lance Lynn.

Rosenthal notes that the Nats' pursuit of Lynn is complicated by the fact that they're already over the $197 million luxury-tax threshold. However, the club could use a fifth starter and Lynn would be reunited with former pitching coach Derek Lilliquist in Washington. The Rangers, Brewers, Twins and Orioles have also been connected to the 30-year-old right-hander. 

 

 

Yu Darvish has exemplified this reality. There's been plenty of reporting around the top free agent nationally, but ultimately little substance. Darvish has visited with multiple front offices, stoked his own rumor mill via twitter and has rec'd at least one 5year offer.

 

But with February rapidly approaching and spring camps less than a month away, Darvish remains unsigned. And, to an extent, it is fair to say he's holding up all of free agency.

Alas, the lead story in today's column is yet another hypothesis framed in speculation. But I feel fairly confident in saying this one has legs.

Fister Finds a Home

The Rangers entered the offseason with a plan to focus on upgrading their abysmal starting rotation. While it wasn’t a move of the game-changing variety, the Rangers did manage to improve their starting staff on Sunday with a low-cost addition.

Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reported that the club had reached an agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract with veteran right-hander Doug Fister. The deal reportedly also includes a club option for 2019.

Fister was left on the scrap heap last offseason after a pair of very disappointing seasons with the Astros and Nationals. He didn’t sign with the Red Sox until mid-May and didn’t make it back to the big leagues until late June.

After struggling to find his footing in his first month with the Red Sox, Fister settled in and posted a 2.79 ERA and 44/14 K/BB ratio over 48 ⅓ innings in a seven-start stretch from July 31 to September 6 before fading late.

All told, he registered a 4.88 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 63/38 K/BB ratio across 90 ⅓ innings.

It will be Fister’s fifth different club in the last six seasons, having toiled for the Tigers, Nationals, Astros, Red Sox and now the Rangers since the 2013 season.

Even when he was going well, Fister wasn't a very attractive commodity from a fantasy perspective, and a move to the hitter-friendly paradise in Arlington certainly isn't going to help his cause in 2018.

Despite the signing, the Rangers have made it clear that they are still in the market for more starting pitching help. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Sunday that the Rangers are showing “sustained interest” in free agent right-handers Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn.

Nexen Heroes collecting MLB talent

Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported this week that the Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization have signed ByungHo Park to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. A former MVP in the KBO, the 31-year-old hit a paltry .191/.275/.409 with 12 homers and 24 RBI in 244 plate appearances with the Twins in 2016 before spending the entire 2017 campaign stuck at Triple-A Rochester.

With his move back to the KBO, Park leaves $6.5 million on the table that he was still owed from the Twins over the next two seasons.

Yoo had reported earlier in the week that they had re-signed 29-year-old right-hander Jacob Brigham to a one-year, $650,000 contract. Brigham posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 98/26 K/BB ratio across 144 innings with the Heroes in 2017. He may have attracted some interest if deciding to return stateside.

The Heroes also re-upped with former top prospect Michael Choice on a one-year deal worth $600,000. The Brewers’ sold the 28-year-old’s rights to the Korean club in July, where he went on to hit .307/.390/.653 with 17 homers and 42 RBI in only 201 plate appearances. If he can put up similar numbers across a full season in 2018, it could open up some doors for him back in the United States.

 Matt Eddy of Baseball America reported Thursday that the Dodgers released Jose Miguel Fernandez, who had been signed out of Cuba last offseason. He hit well in the minor leagues, slashing .306/.367/.496 with 15 homers and 65 RBI between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, but didn’t appear in a game after July 29. The club has not released any additional information on the cause of his release… 

The Marlins inked J.B. Shuck to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training where he’ll have a chance to compete for a spot as a reserve outfielder… Former Phillies’ pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, 34, was killed in a traffic accident in his native Cuba… Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Bryan Shaw has a pair of multi-year contract offers in hand, though it remains unclear which teams they are from… Mike Puma of the New York Post reported Saturday that the Mets are interested in a possible reunion with second baseman Neil Walker… Evan Gattis is expected to function as the Astros’ primary designated hitter in 2018… 

The Rangers, Yankees and Twins are able to offer the two-way star the most money, though the Mariners and Dodgers are also expected to be in the mix for his services… Despite reports to the contrary, Andre Ethier confirmed Sunday that he plans on continuing his MLB career in 2018. The 35-year-old is healthy and indicated that teams have already reached out to him this winter… The Brewers signed right-hander Michael Brady to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. He has a legitimate opportunity to earn a spot in the Opening Day bullpen with the Brewers.

Shohei says goodbye

 Shohei says goodbye to Japan.

Los Angeles Angels-bound Shohei Ohtani bid farewell to fans of his former Japanese club on Monday as he sets off to join his new Major League Baseball team.

The star pitcher and hitter wore an Angels jersey to his news conference. He opened with an introduction in English, saying: "Long time, no see. I'm Shohei Ohtani. Welcome to my press conference. Please enjoy." The Sapporo Dome crowd erupted in laughter and applause.

For five seasons, Ohtani called Sapporo home, playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters. He intends to be a starting pitcher and everyday hitter with the Angels.

Ohtani, the reigning Pacific League MVP, threw one final ceremonial pitch from the Sapporo Dome mound.

He spurned other major league offers to join two-time MVP Mike Trout and slugger Albert Pujols. The Angels are coming off their second consecutive losing season and haven't won a playoff game since 2009.

Ohtani was 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA while slowed by thigh and ankle injuries. But those numbers don't indicate the potential for a pitcher whose fastball has topped 100 mph.

Scouts are more divided on Ohtani's ability to consistently hit big-league pitching. He hit .332 in 65 games with eight homers and 31 RBIs last season, occasionally unleashing the tape-measure blasts that captivated prospective teams.

In 2016, Ohtani hit .322 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs in 104 games. He also was 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA.

Ohtani will attempt to chart a rare career path, the majors' first regular two-way player in decades. He has drawn numerous, if unfair, comparisons to Babe Ruth, who excelled as a hitter and a pitcher early in his Hall of Fame career.

The Angels plan to use Ohtani as a hitter and a pitcher, and the 23-year-old player said Monday he is confident he can succeed in both in a more challenging environment.

Since joining the Angels this month, it was revealed that Ohtani injured the elbow of his pitching arm at the end of this past season. A leaked medical report sent to all MLB clubs showed a Grade 1 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament and he received a platelet-rich-plasma injection in October.

But the injury is not considered serious and Japanese media reports last week showed Ohtani taking batting practice and throwing long toss.

The Angels have said they are not concerned and they expect Ohtani to be ready for spring training.

Zach Cosart moving to Third Base

Okay, maybe it's not a big thing, but Zach Cosart is moving to third base.

On Friday, they signed longtime shortstop Zack Cozart to a three-year contract worth $38 million. They plan to play him at third base, where his defensive acumen should supply the club with one of baseball's best infields.

The strong-armed Ian Kinsler, acquired from Detroit on Wednesday, will man second base.
 Reigning American League Gold Glove winner Martin Maldonado will catch, and all-world shortstop Andrelton Simmons will anchor it all. After three year's of offseason moves, It has become increasingly clear: Angels general manager Billy Eppler values defense more than his counterparts across the sport.

The Angels did not announce the terms of Cozart's deal, per club policy, but a source confirmed the amount, which will be split evenly over the three seasons.

Cozart, 32, was a slick-fielding, poor-hitting shortstop for most of his career, and rival talent evaluators believe he should handle the switch with ease. His offense improved dramatically in 2015, and he surged to an All-Star campaign in 2017.

For his career, all spent with Cincinnati, he has hit .254 with a .716 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. But, since 2015, with his swing changed and his approach altered, he has hit .271 with an .820 OPS. He was one of baseball's best hitters in 2017 with a .933 OPS.

The Angels are convinced Cozart will continue on his recent course.

"There was some material changes and underlying data changes," Eppler said, "and they gave us a ton of confidence that Zack's the right player for us."

The Angels' run of moves that have impressed the industry started one week ago, with their surprise signing of Shohei Ohtani. In a weakened American League, they now appear to have an inside track on one of two wild-card slots. The World Series champion Houston Astros should still begin the season as the favorites to win the West.

As is often the case, the Angels' fate remains dependent on the health of their starting rotation, and many of the men they are counting on have an injury-riddled track record.

But if the likes of Ohtani, Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney can stay healthy, Eppler appears to have assembled a playoff-caliber club.

The Angels still must add bullpen talent. Eppler has said he expects to add at least one pitcher who can handle multiple innings.

The rest of the roster is set, with the exception of a reserve center fielder.

Cozart fills the team's backup-shortstop need. Some combination of C.J. Cron, Luis Valbuena, and Albert Pujols will split first base, while Pujols and Ohtani serve as designated hitters. The Angels also could seek to trade Valbuena, who is under contract for 2018 with an option for 2019.

The Angels' 2018 payroll will soon exceed that of previous seasons, already at an estimated $165 million. With Ohtani in tow, their expected revenues may increase enough to allow them to surge past that figure.

Cozart gained national notice last summer, when longtime teammate Joey Votto promised to purchase him a donkey if he earned his first career All-Star nod. After a publicity campaign that included Votto dressing in a donkey suit on national television, Cozart finished 86,000 votes ahead of the Dodgers' Corey Seager and started the game.

Once the season ended, he returned home and left the donkey in Cincinnati.

"Now that I can start looking for some land," Cozart said, "I'll officially be a donkey owner."

The Angels have settled the prominent pieces of their 2018 roster in striking fashion. On Friday, they signed longtime shortstop Zack Cozart to a three-year contract worth $38 million. They plan to play him at third base, where his defensive acumen should supply the club with one of baseball's best infields.

The strong-armed Ian Kinsler, acquired from Detroit on Wednesday, will man second base. Reigning American League Gold Glove winner Martin Maldonado will catch, and all-world shortstop Andrelton Simmons will anchor it all. After three year's of offseason moves, It has become increasingly clear: Angels general manager Billy Eppler values defense more than his counterparts across the sport.

The Angels did not announce the terms of Cozart's deal, per club policy, but a source confirmed the amount, which will be split evenly over the three seasons.

Cozart, 32, was a slick-fielding, poor-hitting shortstop for most of his career, and rival talent evaluators believe he should handle the switch with ease. His offense improved dramatically in 2015, and he surged to an All-Star campaign in 2017.

For his career, all spent with Cincinnati, he has hit .254 with a .716 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. But, since 2015, with his swing changed and his approach altered, he has hit .271 with an .820 OPS. He was one of baseball's best hitters in 2017 with a .933 OPS.

The Angels are convinced Cozart will continue on his recent course.

"There was some material changes and underlying data changes," Eppler said, "and they gave us a ton of confidence that Zack's the right player for us."

The Angels' run of moves that have impressed the industry started one week ago, with their surprise signing of Shohei Ohtani. In a weakened American League, they now appear to have an inside track on one of two wild-card slots. The World Series champion Houston Astros should still begin the season as the favorites to win the West.

As is often the case, the Angels' fate remains dependent on the health of their starting rotation, and many of the men they are counting on have an injury-riddled track record. But if the likes of Ohtani, Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney can stay healthy, Eppler appears to have assembled a playoff-caliber club.

The Angels still must add bullpen talent. Eppler has said he expects to add at least one pitcher who can handle multiple innings. The rest of the roster is set, with the exception of a reserve center fielder.

Cozart fills the team's backup-shortstop need. Some combination of C.J. Cron, Luis Valbuena, and Albert Pujols will split first base, while Pujols and Ohtani serve as designated hitters. The Angels also could seek to trade Valbuena, who is under contract for 2018 with an option for 2019.

The Angels' 2018 payroll will soon exceed that of previous seasons, already at an estimated $165 million. With Ohtani in tow, their expected revenues may increase enough to allow them to surge past that figure.

Cozart gained national notice last summer, when longtime teammate Joey Votto promised to purchase him a donkey if he earned his first career All-Star nod. After a publicity campaign that included Votto dressing in a donkey suit on national television, Cozart finished 86,000 votes ahead of the Dodgers' Corey Seager and started the game.

Once the season ended, he returned home and left the donkey in Cincinnati.

"Now that I can start looking for some land," Cozart said, "I'll officially be a donkey owner."

Yanks Hopes

Will the Yankees go young in the infield?

That’s the way things stand right now, with Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar potentially opening the 2018 season at second base and third base.

Asked if he was intrigued by that exact scenario, Brian Cashman responded: “Intrigued? I mean, it’s kind of the plan right now. We certainly could deviate from that at any point if we want to buy us some more time. But when we made the decision to move (Starlin) Castro and (Chase) Headley, it was obviously gravitating to the use and upside — including growing pains — of Tyler Wade, Torres, Thairo Estrada, Andujar and Ronald Torreyes.” The GM also included recent non-roster invite Jace Peterson in that mix.

It is believed the Bombers want to give Torres, 21, every opportunity to win a starting job while Andujar, who turns 23 in March, may not be ready for that chance just yet.
Pirates trade Andrew McCutchen to Giants, impacting Yankees, Mets

 
Torres, considered the second-best prospect in baseball behind Shohei Ohtani by MLB.com, has completed his rehab from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. But given that he hasn’t played in a game since suffering the season-ending injury in mid-June, Cashman has left open the possibility that Torres, who hit .448 last spring, could ultimately start next season in the minors.
“It’s easier to kind of expect that he’ll need more time because he didn’t have a full season in Triple-A and he hasn’t played since June 17,” Cashman said. “But I think when you have a lot of ability, you have a chance to change that storyline rather quickly.

“But he hasn’t played in a while, so it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s some rust that needs to be knocked off. Still, he’s talented, so we’ll see.”

What's in this brew ?

Reports from Yahoo Japan came out on Sunday night indicating that the Milwaukee Brewers had made a formal contract offer to free agent right-hander Yu Darvish. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic later confirmed those reports.

The length and financial terms of the offer have yet to be disclosed.

The 31-year-old hurler recently took to Twitter, claiming that his list of potential suitors had been narrowed down to six teams. He listed those as the Cubs, Astros, Rangers, Twins, Yankees and a mystery team which had been believed to be the Dodgers. It looks like that club could be the Brewers.

Of those teams, it’s hard to envision the Astros still going after Darvish after trading for Gerrit Cole last week. If they acquire another upper-echelon starting pitcher, they’d have to bump Lance McCullers or Charlie Morton from their starting rotation, which doesn’t seem likely.

The Yankees are also believed to be firmly in the mix. They may have even preferred Darvish over Gerrit Cole, who they were in talks with the Pirates to acquire before he was eventually dealt to the Astros.

The Twins have maintained consistent interest since the offseason began, and of the suitors they’re the team that most desperately needs an upgrade at the top of their rotation, though it remains unclear if they can compete on price with the large market clubs in the mix.

As far as the Brewers, they seemingly fit in the same class as the Twins. A smaller market club in the upper Midwest, but one that has a tremendous need for a top of the rotation starter to lead a young staff. They aren’t typically big spenders in the free agent market though, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of offer they have put on the table.

The 31-year-old registered a 3.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 209/58 K/BB ratio across 186 ⅔ innings between the Rangers and Dodgers during the 2017 regular season before struggling in the postseason. He was, however, reportedly tipping his pitches, which is an issue that he should be able to correct heading into 2018.

To the Great White North

The Cardinals, faced with a logjam of outfielders, made a deal to send Randal Grichuk to the Blue Jays on Friday. In return, the Cardinals received Dominic Leone and Conner Greene.

For the Cardinals, Leone should function in a middle relief role, but could work his way into higher-leverage situations if he pitches well. He was outstanding for the Jays in 2017, posting a 2.56 ERA and 81/23 K/BB ratio over 70 ⅓ innings. He’s still just 26-years-old and under team control through the 2021 season.

Greene is a bit raw and was hit hard at Double-A in 2017, but the 23-year-old can touch triple digits with his fastball and is an intriguing talent if the Cardinals are able to refine him. It’s hard to envision him making meaningful contributions at the big league level in 2018 though.

The real winner of this deal, from a fantasy perspective, is obviously Randal Grichuk. The 26-year-old has tremendous raw power and has clubbed 63 home runs in 357 games over the past three seasons. His power should play even better in the friendly confines of the Rogers Centre.

The struggle with Grichuk has always been consistency. When he’s hot, he’s a force in the middle of the lineup and can carry a team on his back. When he’s bad, he’s awful, which has led to demotions to Triple-A in each of the last two seasons.

As currently constructed, it looks as though Grichuk should see fairly regular playing time in right field for the Blue Jays. He’s going just inside the top 400 in early drafts and his stock should rise considerably now that he’s in a much better situation.

He isn’t going to hit for a high average, and could even wind up being a drain in the category, but the power is legit and definitely makes him worth a look in the later rounds of mixed league drafts. He also swiped six bases in seven attempts last season, so he isn’t a complete one-trick pony.

Proven Closer

Twins’ manager Paul Molitor confirmed Friday that veteran right-hander Fernando Rodney would open the 2018 season as the team’s closer.

After all, most managers seem to lean towards veterans who have proven to be effective in the ninth inning before, and Rodney has racked up 300 saves in his big league career. He survived the 2017 season as the man in the ninth inning for the Diamondbacks, securing 39 saves in 45 attempts while compiling a 4.23 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 65/26 K/BB ratio across 55 ⅓ innings.

While he’ll be moving to a much more pitcher-friendly home ballpark in Minnesota, Rodney will be 41-years-old at the start of the 2018 season and you have to believe that the wheels are going to fall off at some point. With Addison Reed behind him as a viable replacement, job security could turn into a major issue if he struggles out of the gate.

To Rodney’s credit though, even at his advanced age he hasn’t lost much velocity on his fastball and he still has one of the best changeups in all of baseball.

Saves are a very valuable commodity in fantasy leagues, which means that Rodney will certainly be mixed-league relevant so long as he’s getting the ball in the ninth inning. His current price in early drafts looks to be fair, going around pick 250 in NFBC drafts to date. It’s not a pick for the faint of heart though, as there’s substantial risk of him losing this job.

Quick Hits: Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported Saturday that the Indians had discussed a potential Manny Machado deal with the Orioles last month, but are no longer actively discussing him… Jung Ho Kang has entered the Dominican Republic to apply for a United States work visa, though it seems getting it approved will be a long shot… Koji Uehara plans to retire if he does not receive a major league offer… Eduardo Nunez claims to be fully healthy and worked out in front of Red Sox’ representatives in the Dominican Republic… Anthony DeSclafani is fully recovered from his elbow injury and won’t have any limitations at the start of spring training… David Wright told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com that he still plans to continue his playing career… Mike Clevinger has his sights set on winning a spot in the Indians’ Opening Day rotation. To do so, he’ll need to beat out Danny Salazar or Josh Tomlin… Yandy Diaz won’t require surgery for the sports hernia that he sustained while playing winter ball in Venezuela… Hanley Ramirez wants to play another 10 seasons in the big leagues, which would take him through age-44. He also believes that he has 30 homers and 100 RBI in him this season… Drew Pomeranz indicated that he’s interested in a long-term contract extension with the Red Sox, but has yet to have any discussions with the club about it… Martin Perez (elbow) plans to be ready for Opening Day after suffering a broken elbow during a freak accident with a bull this winter… Josh Donaldson said Sunday that he has yet to talk to the Blue Jays’ brass about a possible contract extension… Devon Travis (knee) expects to begin running within the next month… Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reported that the Orioles have expressed interest in Jarrod Dyson… Rockies’ manager Bud Black said Saturday that David Dahl (back) will be a “full-go” at the start of spring training… Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reported Sunday that the Brewers are getting close on a trade. They have been shopping Domingo Santana this offseason and he could be involved… The Twins have yet to talk about a long-term contract extension with Brian Dozier, who is entering the final season of his deal.

Yelich Yuck

Nothing gold can stay. Or blue. Or pink. Or yellow. Or whatever other colors adorn the Home Run Sculpture at Marlins Park. It was reported this week that new Marlins owner Derek Jeter may secure help from the mayor of Miami-Dade County to remove the quirky ballpark fixture, but there could still be some more high-profile roster changes afoot this offseason.

With two-thirds of Miami’s outfield (Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna) already out the door, Christian Yelich is understandably interested in following. As we noted on Wednesday, Yelich’s agent, Joe Longo, told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN that the player’s relationship with the Marlins is “irretrievably broken” and it would be in the best interests of both sides for him to be traded before spring training. Interest has been widespread and it’s easy to see why.

Saving money was the main consideration in the Stanton deal and reviews were mixed about the haul in the Ozuna trade, but dealing Yelich might be their best chance to land a true impact youngster as part of their rapid teardown. The 26-year-old outfielder signed an extension back in 2015 which will keep him under team control through at least 2021. He’s guaranteed $44.5 million over the next four seasons and his contract also includes a $15 million club option for 2022. This is the sort of commitment which appeals to large and small market teams alike.

Yelich got off to a slow start last season, so he failed to duplicate his 2016 production, but he still turned in a fine .282/.369/.439 batting line with 18 homers and 81 RBI across 156 games. He also picked things up on the speed front by going 16-for-18 in stolen base attempts. Yelich looks like someone who should hit for more power and he has at least increased his fly ball rate over the past two seasons. He’s an excellent player as is, but it’s not crazy to think there’s still another level here.

The Braves are one of the teams who have inquired on Yelich, but the asking price is naturally sky high. Peter Gammons of MLB Network reported this week that the Marlins asked for top prospect outfielder Ronald Acuna in return. Hey, it's worth a shot. Given Yelich's contract, it's not an unreasonable ask. The Braves might not agree on that point, but it shows that Miami isn’t going to part with Yelich without netting a huge piece in return. Despite Yelich’s wishes, they have every right to wait things out, even if it means going into the season with him still on the roster.

Mets Musings

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said this week that Dominic Smith is the team’s first baseman of the future, but exactly when the “future” will become the “present” is unclear. That’s because the club finalized a major league deal with Adrian Gonzalez this week and plan to give him the first crack at the starting job during spring training.

Gonzalez, who turns 36 in May, was limited to just 71 games last season due to a back injury while posting an ugly .242/.287/.355 batting line. He was not active during the team’s World Series run and he was curiously absent for a large part of the postseason. His tenure with the Dodgers came to an unceremonious end in December when he was traded to the Braves in a swap of bad contracts. The Braves quickly released him before he latched on with the Mets this week.

There’s a decent chance that Gonzalez is cooked, but it’s not going to cost the Mets much to find out. While he’s owed $22.4 million this season, New York will only have to cover the major-league minimum salary of $545,000. That's music to the Mets' ears.

The chances of carrying both Gonzalez and Smith on the Opening Day roster are probably slim. They are both left-handed hitters and it wouldn’t do Smith any good to have a diminished role, so he could end up back in Triple-A to begin 2018. The 22-year-old batted just .198/.262/.395 during his first stint in the majors last season and looked shaky defensively at times, though he slugged nine homers in 49 games and posted a hard-hit rate well north of the league average. Things just got more complicated here, but Smith could quickly find himself back atop the depth chart if Gonzalez underwhelms and/or has more physical issues.

On the topic of physical issues, Alderson also stated this week that outfielder Michael Conforto is not expected to return until at least May 1 as he rehabs from shoulder surgery. This means that Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo project to share time in center field while Jay Bruce will be the regular right fielder. The Mets reportedly shot down dealing Nimmo to the Pirates for Andrew McCutchen, but he could still be a factor in talks regarding Josh Harrison. While McCutchen will be a free agent next offseason, Harrison comes with three years of team control (at $32 million) if both of his options are exercised.

The Mets are monitoring the Harrison situation, but Alderson acknowledged this week that he’d rather sign a free agent for second or third base than give up talent from an already-thin farm system. Mike Moustakas and Todd Frazier remain on the open market at third base while Eduardo Nunez, Neil Walker, and Jose Reyes are among the familiar names at second base. Depending on which way the Mets go, Asdrubal Cabrera will play either second base or third base this season.

Quick Hits: Agent Scott Boras said a report that the Red Sox made free agent slugger J.D. Martinez a five-year, $100 million offer is “not accurate” … Dustin Pedroia (knee surgery) has been cleared to begin running … Diamondbacks outfielder Yasmany Tomas was arrested Thursday morning in Arizona after allegedly driving 105 mph …The Nationals officially announced a two-year, $7 million contract with Howie Kendrick … Brad Ziegler, who could open 2018 as the Marlins closer, said on Fantasy Sports Radio on Wednesday that he tried to pitch through a rib injury last season … The Cubs re-signed left-handed reliever Brian Duensing to a two-year, $7 million contract … The Rangers inked catcher Curt Casali to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … The White Sox are expected to give Carson Fulmer a chance to win a rotation spot in spring training … The Blue Jays signed reliever Al Alburquerque to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Some (okay, well one of us) may know him best as Alberto Jose Alburquerque … The Giants claimed infielder Engelb Vielma off waivers from the Pirates …

Who plays in the middle ?

With Monday's blockbuster trade for Andrew McCutchen, the San Francisco Giants acquired the star hitter they badly needed. But while he might become the new centerpiece of their offense, Cutch won't be at the center of their outfield.

Manager Bruce Bochy said on Tuesday he plans to shift Hunter Pence over to left field and install the new addition in right. It makes sense, because McCutchen's range is declining here on the other side of 30, but leaves them without a legit option in center. Last year's starter, Denard Span, went to Tampa in the Evan Longoria deal earlier this offseason.

To that end, San Francisco continues to maintain interest in free agent Lorenzo Cain, but it sounds like Jarrod Dyson is next on their list. He'd be an intriguing addition, especially with the Giants infusing some power via McCutchen and Longoria. Dyson is of course a speed demon, having averaged more than 30 steals over the past six seasons despite sporadic playing time. In 2017, Eduardo Nunez (now a free agent) led San Fran in steals with 18, while Span and Gorkys Hernandez were the only others to reach double digits (12 apiece).

It remains to be seen how everything will play out, but this much is already clear: the Giants are going to have a much, much more interesting offense this year after ranking at the bottom of the NL in OPS and third-to-last in runs scored.

Harrison Hinting at Trade Request

Now that McCutchen and Gerrit Cole have both been shipped out within the space of a few days, it comes as no surprise that Josh Harrison is giving indications he'd like to be next in line.

In a statement released Tuesday, the 30-year-old infielder said he would prefer to be traded if Pittsburgh does not expect to contend in 2018 and 2019. Harrison, the club's lone All Star last year, hasn't put up amazing numbers at the plate by any means but he is a versatile defender who logged a career-high 16 homers in 2017. He also brings solid speed, with 10-plus steals in each of the past four campaigns.

Harrison has one guaranteed season left on his contract, plus team options for 2019 and 2020, and they're all at a reasonable rate so he's an appealing piece for almost any contender. It all comes down to whether GM Neal Huntington can coax an offer that makes it worth his while. If nothing materializes this winter, a midseason trade will be on the table once the Pirates are inevitably out of the running by July.

Grandy Lands in Toronto

Curtis Granderson isn't close to the player he once was, but at age 36 he still did two things very well at the plate last year: hitting home runs (26) and drawing walks (71). This enabled him to post a respectable .775 OPS for the Mets and Dodgers despite a career-low .212 batting average.

Now, he's taking his power and patience north of the border.

The Blue Jays signed Granderson to a one-year, $5 million deal this week, and moving to a reputedly hitter-friendly park ought to benefit him. There's no reason to expect much of a rebound in batting average, and the Jays might shield him from lefties more than he's used to, but the outfielder has notched at least 20 homers and 59 RBI in each of the last 12 years, outside of an injury-shortened 2013.

Quick Hits: Christian Yelich's trade request has turned into more of a trade demand because his relationship with the Marlins is irretrievably broken, according to Jerry Crasnick ... The Nationals reached agreement on a two-year, $7 million deal with Howie Kendrick, who figures to function in a utility role but should see significant playing time ... Justin Morneau will officially announce his retirement on Wednesday at Target Field, which will become his new office as he's transitioning into a special assistant role with the Twins ... The Mets finalized their three-year, $39 million contract with Jay Bruce ... It might come as small solace for Pirates fans after the team shipped out its best pitcher and hitter, but Pittsburgh did manage to lock up standout reliever Felipe Rivero with a four-year extension ... Lefty Brian Duensing inked a two-year, $7 million pact to return to the Cubs ... Yadier Molina said on Monday he plans to retire after his current contract with St. Louis concludes in 2020 ... The Twins officially announced their two-year, $16.75 million deal with Addison Reed, who – at least initially – will work in a setup role ahead of closer Fernando Rodney ... Jimmy Nelson is expected to begin a throwing program on Friday, putting him ahead of schedule since he wasn't initially expected to start throwing until spring training ... Ichiro Suzuki's agent indicated that the 44-year-old outfielder, undoubtedly encountering a chilly market in free agency, may consider a return to Japan.

It's been a tough week in Pittsburgh

Two days after the Pirates traded Gerrit Cole and a day after the Steelers were upset by the Jaguars in the NFL Playoffs, the Pirates made another big deal Monday when they agreed to ship franchise icon Andrew McCutchen to the Giants in exchange for reliever Kyle Crick and outfield prospect Bryan Reynolds.

We’ve seen McCutchen’s name pop up in trade rumors for a while now, and the Pirates finally pulled the trigger on a deal when the former MVP had just one year remaining on his contract. Pittsburgh will pick up $2.5 million of the $14.75 million Cutch is owed in 2018.

The return for McCutchen seems a little light on the surface, but it’s pretty clear at this point that he wasn’t in high demand with plenty of bats still available.

Crick is a former compensation round pick who made a full-time move to the bullpen in 2017 because he simply didn’t throw enough strikes as a starter. His control was slightly improved last year but was still bad (10.5 percent walk rate at Triple-A, 12.7 percent walk rate in the majors). However, Crick is just 25, does throw hard and could potentially be a late-inning reliever if he can find the strike zone more. Reynolds was ranked by MLB.com as the Giants’ No. 4 prospect after hitting .312/.364/.462 with 10 homers in High-A last season, although he was old for the California League given that he’ll turn 23 later this month. Neither player will have fantasy relevancy in 2018.

As far as McCutchen goes, obviously it’s not an ideal landing spot for fantasy purposes with him going to the most pitcher-friendly home setting in the majors. He’ll especially lose a lot of opposite-field home runs at AT&T Park, and as you can see in the spray chart below covering the outfielder’s last three seasons, Cutch hit a decent number of dingers to right and right-center.



McCutchen is 31 now and has regressed at the plate over the last two seasons, posting a .807 OPS following a .926 OPS from 2012-15. His batted ball data has also been on the downswing the last couple years.

That said, McCutchen was much better in 2017 than he was in 2016, putting together a .279/.363/.486 batting line with 28 home runs, 88 RBI and 94 runs scored. His .849 OPS ranked 14^th among 51 qualifying outfielders. The 11 stolen bases were nice to see, too, after he fell off to just six in 2016. It’s clear that Cutch doesn’t run as well as he used to, but his fantasy owners would take double-digit thefts again in 2018 and he seems capable of providing that.

We also must talk about McCutchen’s durability. The veteran outfielder has averaged 155 games played over his last eight seasons and has never dropped below 146 during that span. He’s made only one trip to the disabled list in his career, and that happened in 2014 when he fractured a rib. He missed just two weeks.

It’s fair to expect McCutchen’s numbers to drop off some in 2018 from the previous season given his new home digs. However, we have every reason to believe he will still be a nice five-category fantasy outfielder, possibly pushing to be among the top-20 at his position. He’s entering his walk year and will be playing for what could be his final multi-year contract.

With Cutch no longer around, the Pirates will shift Starling Marte to center field, creating a hole in left. Top prospect Austin Meadows should eventually fill that hole, but he’ll begin 2018 back at Triple-A Indianapolis after two straight injury-shortened, disappointing seasons. For now Pittsburgh figures to go with a combination of Adam Frazier, Jordan Luplow, Sean Rodriguez and possibly Jose Osuna in left, although Frazier could take over at second base if (when) the Pirates deal Josh Harrison. Luplow is the most intriguing of that group after hitting .302/.381/.527 with 23 homers between Double- and Triple-A last season in addition to slugging three more bombs in his brief time with the big club. He might ultimately be more of a fourth outfielder but is certainly worthy of deep-league consideration.

A hand out

In a shrewd move that went somewhat under the radar on Saturday, the Padres signed closer Brad Hand to a three-year, $19.75 million contract extension. The deal also includes a $10 million option for the 2020 season.

The deal buys out Hand’s final two seasons of arbitration and at least his first year of free agency.

The 27-year-old southpaw has been one of the top late-inning relievers in all of baseball over the past two seasons, compiling a 2.56 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 215/56 K/BB ratio over 168 ⅔ innings spanning 154 appearances.

Hand assumed the closer’s role with the Padres in late July after Brandon Maurer was dealt to the Royals, and he continued to excel even with the added pressure of the ninth inning.

From July 23 onward, he posted a 2.15 ERA and .167 batting average against while successfully converting 19 of his 21 save chances.

From a pure baseball perspective, it’s a terrific move for the Padres. They lock up one of the best left-handed bullpen arms in the league at an extremely affordable rate. Even if they decide in a year or two that they aren’t ready to compete for a playoff spot, Hand could easily be flipped for an attractive package of prospects.

From a fantasy perspective, this is a player that I feel is being a bit undervalued in early drafts. He has been going off the board around pick 120, which puts him at the end of round 8 in 15-team formats. That makes him the 13th closer off the board on average.

Given his extreme security in the ninth-inning role in San Diego and his impressive performance over the past two seasons, I think Hand should be considered a top-10 closer option heading into 2018. I’d much prefer landing Hand in the eighth round as opposed to paying a premium to secure Ken Giles or Wade Davis nearly two rounds earlier.

John Harper of the New York Daily News reported Saturday that the Yankees’ interest in free agent right-hander Yu Darvish is “very real”.

The Yankees were in the mix to acquire Gerrit Cole from the Pirates before he was ultimately traded to the Astros on Saturday. With Cole off the board, Darvish seems to clearly be the top choice of the Yankees’ brass.

General manager Brian Cashman indicated on Thursday during an interview with WFAN that the club was pursuing Darvish. Cashman believes that since the free agent market has been slow to develop this offseason, there’s a very real chance that the Yankees could land Darvish at a “reasonable” price.

There have been reports that Darvish and his representatives are seeking a seven-year pact in the neighborhood of $160 million, but it’s hard to envision him landing that type of deal anywhere, not with clubs leery of handing out long-term deals this winter. If the price falls to the five-year, $90 million range, the Bombers are most definitely in play.

The prevailing wisdom around the league seems to be that the Yankees could have put together a much better package for Cole than the Astros’ ultimately did. Reading between the lines, the assumption there is that the Yankees’ had a fallback option that they preferred, rather than dealing away Clint Frazier to acquire Cole.

We’ll find out soon enough if that plan was to bring Darvish to New York all along.

Even at a reduced price though, signing Darvish would put the Yankees over the luxury tax threshold, something Cashman has indicated they will not do. That means they would need to shed significant salary elsewhere to make it work. The most logical candidate there would be to trade Jacoby Ellsbury, who is still owed over $60 million over the next three seasons.

Ellsbury owns a full no-trade clause though, so he would have to approve any deal the Yankees attempt to make. The Yankees would also have to eat a large portion of his contract in order to find a club willing to take him. If they are unable to move Ellsbury, they would have to explore shedding the contracts of Brett Gardner and/or David Robertson, two players that they seemingly do not wish to part with.

Quick Hits:  The Brewers inked Ji-Man Choi to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training… Brad Peacock is expected to function out of the Astros’ bullpen to begin the 2018 campaign, as the Gerrit Cole acquisition bumped him from the starting rotation… According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Cardinals’ trade discussions with the Rays have centered around Chris Archer, not Alex Colome… Goold also noted that the Cardinals’ interest in free agent closer Greg Holland has been mild at best, and the club seems content heading into the season with Luke Gregerson in the ninth-inning role… Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports that the Pirates are more receptive to the idea of dealing Andrew McCutchen now that Gerrit Cole has been moved… Luke Voit has been taking fly balls in the outfield in an effort to increase his versatility and his chances of cracking the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster… According to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Twins plan to enter the season with Fernando Rodney installed as their closer, even after Saturday’s signing of Addison Reed... The Pirates designated Shane Carle and Engelb Vielma for assignment...