The Royals made some waves late Sunday when Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that the club was closing in on a four-year extension with second baseman Whit Merrifield.
Well, extension isn’t really the correct term here,
as they would be buying out his last pre-arbitration season as well as
his three years of arbitration-eligibility, but you get the drift.
The real head-scratcher of the proposed deal was the
total dollar amount, a reported $16.25 million guaranteed, with the
possible to earn an additional $2 million in incentives. The deal also
reportedly includes a club option for the 2023 season, which would have
been Merrifield’s first season of free agency. With the option, Morosi
notes that the total value of the contract could top $30 million.
While that’s a nice chunk of change for a 30-year-old
who earned only $569,500 during the 2018 season, it looks like an
extremely team-friendly deal for the Royals. While they’ll pay out a
little more up front than they would have via the arbitration process,
they gain cost certainty in the deal and also get to appease their new
franchise player.
There’s no denying why the cash-strapped Royals would
like to lock up Merrifield long-term, as he has been phenomenal since
taking over as their everyday second baseman early on during the 2017
season.
After bursting onto the scene by hitting
.288/.324/.460 with 80 runs scored, 19 homers, 78 RBI and an American
League-leading 34 stolen bases in 2017, Merrifield may have been even
better in his encore performance. Last year, he hit a monstrous
.304/.367/.438 with 88 runs scored, 12 homers, 60 RBI and a whopping 45
stolen bases that topped all MLB players. He also led the league with
192 hits.
Merrifield has amassed 8.1 WAR over the last two
seasons, including 5.2 in 2018, which was the 15th most among all MLB
position players.
While he could have likely held out for much more
guaranteed money, it’s also hard to fault Merrifield for setting his
family up for life. Remember, this is a player who logged seven seasons
in the minor leagues before getting his first taste of big league action
in 2016. He then spent more time in Triple-A to begin the 2017 season
and struggled through his first month with the Royals before he got hot
in late May and never looked back.
Friars in on Machado and Realmuto
We have been hearing all along that there were a mystery team, or teams, still involved in the Manny Machado sweepstakes other than the Phillies and White Sox, and now one of them seems to be coming to the forefront.
According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Padres
are interested in setting up a face-to-face meeting with Machado and his
representatives. We'll see what transpires.
Lin says the club may set up a meeting in Machado's
native Miami, and that the club wants to have an in-person meeting if
they're to get more seriously involved in talks for the infielder.
Though latest to the party, the San Diego club seems
to have some momentum right now and could be serious players in the
pursuit of the 26-year-old.
Machado isn’t the only superstar that the Padres may
be after either, as they have been in trade talks with the Marlins about
All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Trade talks regarding Realmuto have been intensifying
in recent days, with the Padres and Dodgers as the most serious
suitors. Jon Morosi of MLB.com adds that the Marlins have requested that
Francisco Mejia be included as a part of any return package for Realmuto, which makes sense as they’d have a major vacancy behind the plate.
The Padres, according to Morosi, have also requested
an exclusive negotiation window to discuss a contract extension with
Realmuto as a condition of any deal. The Padres have one of the best and
deepest minor league systems in all of baseball, so they certainly have
the talent to pull of this type of deal.
If they are somehow able to land both Realmuto and
Machado, it would go a long way to pushing up the Padres’ window to
compete in the National League West.
Risers and Fallers
Since the hot stove season continues to trudge along
at a glacial pace and we’re still waiting to see what happens with the
two biggest fish in the pond, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a
glance at the biggest risers and fallers in average draft position
since the drafting season began.
As you would expect, most of the significant movers
and shakers are due to either a change in role, landing in a situation
where they won’t be utilized, drop in playing time due to new additions
to his team or even free agents that are languishing on the market
without a team to call home.
Risers
Daniel Murphy - UP 31.62% (From 113.66 to 77.72)
That’s what landing at Coors Field will do for you.
Murphy has gone from going at the 7/8 turn in 15-team leagues to the 5/6
turn. If looking to acquire Murphy in current drafts, be sure to pay
attention to the recent trends, rather than trying to secure him at or
around his overall ADP.
Domingo Santana - UP 19.41% (From 318.26 to 256.47)
Santana benefits greatly from the trade that sent him
to the Mariners, as he’s now in line for full-time at-bats, rather than
stuck in a fourth outfielder role with the Brewers again. Even at his
current ADP, there’s plenty of room for profit if he can deliver
anything close to his breakout 2017 campaign.
David Robertson - UP 17.93% (From 253.71 to 208.21)
This one is interesting because Robertson hasn’t
officially been named the closer for the Phillies, but fantasy owners
are buying in. Manager Gabe Kapler
has indicated that Robertson "will be used as another late-inning,
high-leverage arm and not as a traditional closer”, presumably sharing
save chances with Seranthony Dominguez.
Yasiel Puig - UP 17.25% (From 109.95 to 90.98)
The fantasy public seems to love the move away from
Dodger Stadium and into the hitter’s haven that is the Great American
Ballpark in Cincinnati. The 28-year-old has all of the tools to be a
true five-category difference maker.
Carson Kelly - UP 12.37% (From 460.55 to 403.6)
With the move to Arizona, fantasy owners are buying the hype on the former Cardinals’ backstop and hoping that he can displace Alex Avila for the lion’s share of the at-bats. Unlike most catchers drafted this late, Kelly does have some tangible upside.
Nelson Cruz - UP 11.38% (From 111.22 to 98.56)
Fantasy owners were apparently on board with Cruz
regardless of where he ended up, because a spot in the middle of the
Twins’ lineup and in the pitcher’s paradise that is Target Field was far
from an ideal destination, yet his ADP shot up nearly two rounds with
the move. Here’s to getting 40 homers from your utility slot.
Anibal Sanchez - UP 11.32% (From 314.83 to 279.19)
The 34-year-old right-hander had a resurgence with
the Braves in 2017 and landed in as good of a spot as possible with the
Nationals. If you buy into the fact that he can stay healthy and repeat
even some semblance of 2018, there’s ample upside to be had at this
price.
Andrew Miller - UP 11.29% (From 281.81 to 250)
Even if he’s sharing the closer’s role with Jordan Hicks, fantasy owners will do anything to get a shot at saves.
Troy Tulowitzki - UP 11.13% (From 493.61 to 438.65)
Count me as among those who are intrigued with
Tulowitzi in the bandbox that is Yankee Stadium. With really no risk to
be had at pick 438, I’ll likely have some shares.
Blake Parker - UP 10.81% (From 441.55 to 393.84)
After surprisingly getting non-tendered by the Angels, Parker will now compete with Trevor May for save chances in Minnesota.
Kelvin Herrera - UP 10.70% (From 419.9 to 374.98)
Once again, the chase for the almighty save. Even with Alex Colome
likely to get the first crack at the ninth inning job with the White
Sox, Herrera holds much more fantasy appeal now than he did before he
landed in Chicago.
Fallers
Zach Britton - DOWN 31.39% (From 278.26 to 365.6)
Saves giveth and saves taketh away. Fantasy owners in
early drafts were buying up shares of the veteran left-hander in the
hope that he’d land a ninth-inning gig someplace. As the second or third
option in the Yankees’ bullpen, his value has dropped considerably.
Jeurys Familia - DOWN 24.92% (From 396.14 to 494.84)
Like Britton before him, fantasy owners in early slow
drafts were storing up shares of Familia with the thinking that there
would be a team willing to sign him and immediately insert him in the
closer’s role. Unfortunately, he wound up back with the Mets and behind
the top closer in the game.
Nate Jones - DOWN 22.91% (From 473.51 to 578.67)
Saves, saves, saves. Jones entered the offseason as
the favorite for save chances in the White Sox bullpen. That was before
both Alex Colome and Kelvin Herrera were added.
Jeff McNeil - DOWN 21.42% (From 273.26 to 331.79)
The 26-year-old had an extremely impressive showing
in 63 games as a rookie and was expected to open the season as the
club’s starting second baseman. That was before the Mets went out and
acquired Robinson Cano from the Mariners, forcing McNeil into a utility role and sapping his once-intriguing fantasy value.
Tyler Austin - DOWN 18.12% (From 493.45 to 582.88)
Austin began the offseason as someone likely to see
full-time at-bats as either the first baseman or designated hitter for
the Twins. That was before the acquisitions of both C.J. Cron and Nelson Cruz, rendering Austin an afterthought from a fantasy perspective.
Quick Hits: The Mariners officially announced their one-year, $1.3 million contract with Hunter Strickland. The right-hander is the favorite to begin the season as the M’s closer… Rangers' manager Chris Woodward officially announced Friday that Jose Leclerc will begin the 2019 season as the team's closer… They designated Max Povse for assignment in a corresponding move… Paul DeJong
appears to be the favorite to bat in the third spot in the Cardinals’
lineup… The Brewers are planning to roll with a combination of Hernan Perez, Tyler Saladino and Cory Spangenberg
at second base, that is provided they don’t sign or trade for an
established second baseman prior to Opening Day… Braves’ manager Brian Snitker is leaning towards having Ender Inciarte lead off in 2019, despite the success that Ronald Acuna had out of that spot in the second half of 2018… Dylan Covey and Manny Banuelos are currently the favorites to open the season as the White Sox’ fifth starter according to general manager Rick Hahn… Jimmy Nelson
(shoulder) said Sunday that he will enter spring training without any
limitations… Orioles general manager Mike Elias on Saturday did not rule
out the possibility of re-signing Adam Jones… Byron Buxton
said Saturday that he's gained 21 pounds of muscle this offseason, with
the goal of keeping him healthy throughout the 2019 season… The Rockies
are considering moving Charlie Blackmon to a corner outfield spot. If that were to happen, David Dahl would slide over to center field… The Blue Jays signed right-hander Javy Guerra to a minor league contract… Kenley Jansen (heart) threw off a mound Thursday for the first time since heart surgery in November… Mark Trumbo
told reporters that his surgically-repaired right knee is improving and
he has resumed taking batting practice… Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette reports that Jung Ho Kang has already been granted a visa for the 2019 season… The Astros are open to the possibility of re-signing starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel and super-utilityman Marwin Gonzalez… Cubs signed RHP Junichi Tazawa to a minor league contract… Athletics' general manager David Forst said Friday that they have continued talks with Khris Davis about a possible long-term contract extension.
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