The New Guardians

 

 

From what seems like a galaxy of ideas, suggestions and options Cleveland’s baseball team has selected“Guardians" as its new nickname for the 2022 season.

Inspired by the Guardians of Traffic statues on the city’s Hope Memorial Bridge, the club will retain it’s blue and red color scheme with logos inspired by the Guardian statues’ headgear.

Reaction to Friday’s announcement on social media was instant and in many cases extreme. Fans either really like the new layout, or really don’t. Below are a few instant Twitter posts on what fans like and dislike about the new team name.

The Cleveland Indians are changing their name next season to the Cleveland Guardians, the Major League Baseball club announce Friday morning, after the old moniker drew criticism for decades from Native Americans.

"You see, there's always been a Cleveland -- that's the best part of our name," actor Tom Hanks says in a video announcement he narrated for the team, which posted it on Twitter "

 

And now it's time to unite as one family, one community, to build the next era for this team and this city."

 

The move is part of a larger cultural shift across the US as corporate brands reexamine their use of racist caricatures and stereotypical names.

 

Get ready for merchandise in the form of The Guardians of the New Galaxy !

 

Behind the plate , AL East style

 

 

The American League East is shaping up to be one of baseball’s most exciting divisions in 2021 and beyond with the Rays, Yankees and Blue Jays looking to return to the postseason as the Red Sox and Orioles work to rebuild after sub-.500 seasons in '20.

 

There’s been plenty of change in the division, most notably with Tampa Bay dealing lefty Blake Snell to the Padres and Toronto signing outfielder George Springer to a six-year deal, but not much has changed behind the plate, where these clubs will have plenty of talent to carry over into 2021.

Here’s a look at what we know, and what we don’t, about the catching position in the AL East.

 Blue Jays
The known:
Toronto has five young catchers on its 40-man roster in Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk, Gabriel Moreno, Reese McGuire and Riley Adams. Given the value of young catching across baseball, this could be a group the Blue Jays eventually deal from, but they’re in a good place entering 2021. Jansen is the presumed starter, and while he’s coming off a .183 average with a .671 OPS in '20, that’s a sample size of just 43 games. The club expects Jansen's numbers to improve in '21. Kirk generated plenty of buzz in just nine games last season and hits everything. Moreno is the club’s number 8 prospect with Adams at number 23 prospect, giving Toronto a variety of talents and styles behind the plate. It’s a great problem to have.

The unknown:
The name to watch from this group is Kirk. That’s not a knock on Jansen, either, who’s just 25, and at this point, potentially underrated. Kirk is the most unique player of the five, though, and one of the most unique players in the organization. The Blue Jays believe in him behind the plate, but he’ll need to prove that in both the short and long term. Kirk hadn’t played above Class A Advanced when Toronto promoted him to the big leagues in 2020, so this is a tricky development case. But Kirk’s bat is MLB-ready and development can still take place at the Major League level. It will be up to Kirk, though, to determine how big a share of playing time he receives, which will trickle down to everyone around him.

 

Orioles
The known:
Until top prospect Adley Rutschman arrives, at least, the Orioles appear set behind the plate with the platoon of Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco, who have more or less split catching duties in Baltimore for the past two seasons. Both Severino, 27, and Sisco, 25, are relatively young, bat-first players who have shown more flashes than consistency at the big league level. Their offensive strengths complement each other. Severino has big power (18 home runs in 144 games over the past two seasons) and a big arm behind the plate, but he can be overaggressive and consequently prone to slumps and defensive miscues. Sisco’s strong plate discipline (.345 on-base percentage since 2019) hints at more offensive upside, but he is viewed as the weaker defensive player of the two. Either would profile as potential trade chips with strong starts in ’21.

The unknown:
It’s all about when Rutschman will arrive. Rutschman has been considered as a generational prospect since the O’s made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, and nothing has happened in the past year and a half to alter that perception. The problem is Rutschman hasn’t played all that much, for reasons outside of his control: Only 37 games after he was drafted and then zero in '20 after the cancellation of the Minor League season. There isn’t necessarily a rush, either. Rutschman will turn just 23 in February and the O’s remain very much in rebuild mode, potentially several years away from serious contention. Still, there are some who think Rutschman could play in the big leagues right now. Will he in '21? 

 

Rays
The known:
Tampa Bay only has three catchers on its 40-man roster: Mike Zunino, Francisco Mejía and 23-year-old prospect . It'll have non-roster depth options, but Zunino and Mejía seem set as its top two.

The Rays brought back Zunino, who will turn 30 in March, by re-signing the veteran to a $2 million contract with a club option for next season. Zunino is a quality defender who is familiar with Tampa Bay’s pitching staff, and capably handling that deep group of arms is the foremost responsibility for any Rays catcher.

Tampa Bay acquired Mejía, 25, from the Padres as part of its return in the Snell trade. Mejía was once a highly regarded prospect, ranked No. 28 overall by MLB Pipeline in 2018, known for his ability at the plate as exemplified by a historic 50-game hitting streak in the Minors in '16.

The unknown:
Mejía spent some time in the outfield for Cleveland and San Diego as a way to get his bat in the lineup, and general manager Erik Neander admitted, “There’s parts of his game behind the plate that he’s going to need to continue to develop.” But his bat produced a .225/.282/.386 slash line in 128 games the past four years, so it’s fair to wonder what kind of player they have on their hands here.

The knock on Zunino, meanwhile, has always been his offense. In 118 games with the Rays over the past two years, he hit just .161/.233/.323 with a 36.2 percent strikeout rate. But he was clearly the club’s top choice last October, starting each of their last 10 games and all but two overall in the postseason.

Do the Rays view Mejía as a good hitter who can still develop into a potential front-line starting catcher, or is he merely a backup with long-term club control? Will they platoon the right-handed-hitting Zunino with the switch-hitting Mejía, or hope one of them claims most of the playing time? How will the Rays balance their desire for more offense with Zunino’s experience and savvy behind the plate?

 

Red Sox
The known:
The Red Sox could have one of the best catching duos in the league with starter Christian Vazquez and backup Kevin Plawecki. Two years ago, Vázquez came into his own offensively by belting 23 homers in his first season of getting over 500 plate appearances. In last year’s shortened season, he was less consistent, but the overall numbers likely would have been the same over 162 games. Vázquez also cleaned up what was a major weakness in his game in ’19 -- blocking balls in the dirt. Plawecki had a seamless transition to the Red Sox in ’20 and hit better than anyone expected while playing the strong defense he’s been known for throughout his career.

The unknown:
What happens if Vázquez or Plawecki suffers an injury? Last year, the Red Sox had a veteran in Jonathan Lucroy waiting in the wings at the alternate training site. While they have no such luxury at the moment, Connor Wong could have what it takes to fill the void if an injury occurs. Wong was the third player the Red Sox acquired in the trade for Mookie Betts, and the club has optimism of the player he can become. Wong advanced to Double-A for the final 40 games of his final season in the Dodgers organization and had a strong showing, hitting .349 with nine homers and 31 RBIs. But with no Minors season last year, it’s hard to know if Wong is ready yet. 

 

Yankees
The known:
Gary Sanchez will enter the spring aiming to reclaim his role as the starting catcher, coming off a season in which he batted .147 and started only two of the Yanks’ seven playoff games. Sánchez earned plaudits from the organization by volunteering to play winter ball, believing that he needed to pick up at-bats after the pandemic-shortened season. Sánchez will continue to work with catching coach Tanner Swanson to hone his pitch framing, including the one-knee-down approach he tried in 2020.Kyle Higashioka is entrenched as the backup.

The unknown:
The Yankees considered non-tendering Sánchez in December, a move that would have been unthinkable as recently as 2019, when he earned selection as an All-Star before fading in an injury-marred second half. Sánchez burst onto the big league scene as the fastest player in American League history to slug 100 homers, but he has been approximately a league-average player over the past three years, posting a .200/.296/.453 slash line.. Which one is the real Sánchez?

Spring has arrived

 

The Blue Jays have agreed to a six-year deal with star outfielder George Springer, a source confirmed to MLB.com.

The deal, which is not yet official and has not been confirmed by the Blue Jays, is pending a physical. It will be worth a reported $150 million over six years, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, making it the largest in the organization's history. Brendon Kuhn of bluejaysnation.com was first to report the agreement earlier Tuesday.

Springer has been the Blue Jays’ No. 1 target all offseason and, while they pursued other notable free agents, all roads eventually led back to the 31-year-old center fielder. When finalized, this deal not only represents a significant upgrade to a team that returned to the postseason in the shortened 2020 season, but a message to the rest of baseball that the young Blue Jays are no longer developing. They are officially in win-now mode.

 

The Blue Jays and Mets have been the two finalists for Springer for much of this offseason, but New York’s additions of star shortstop Francisco Lindor and others put the Blue Jays in the driver's seat, where they could use the payroll flexibility that comes with such a young team. According to Feinsand, the Mets’ final offer to Springer came in around six years, $120-$125 million.

This is similar to what the Blue Jays did last offseason with ace left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu: They eventually jumped out in front of the rest of the market by giving him a fourth year for a total of $80 million.

 

Springer is coming off seven excellent seasons with the Astros, where he has hit a career .270 with an .852 OPS. The Blue Jays were attracted to Springer not just for his positional fit -- they’ve coveted a star center fielder for years -- but for how he fit their specific lineup and vision. With a career on-base percentage of .361 and the power to flirt with 40 home runs, Springer has the ability to change the game with one swing of the bat while also hitting near the top of the lineup.

This signing also gives the Blue Jays something that most young clubhouses lack: postseason experience. Springer, who won a ring in 2017 as a member of the Astros, has appeared in 63 postseason games with numbers that fall comfortably in line with his regular-season performance, hitting .269 with an impressive 19 home runs and an .895 OPS.

 While a move to a corner outfield spot is possible in the latter half of Springer’s deal, he is fully expected to take over as the everyday center fielder, leaving the Blue Jays with the good problem of also having Randall Grichuk Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel, jr. in their outfield group. The Blue Jays have plenty of options there, from a corresponding move to using their available DH reps, but there is still plenty of time between now and Opening Day to sort that out.

 Given that the Blue Jays built much of their offseason around the pursuit of Springer, the rest of their plan can now come into focus. The club has also agreed to deals with relievers Tyler Chatwood and Kirby Yates recently, shoring up their bullpen, and they are expected to further explore the starting pitching market, too.

Not since Devon White patrolled the outfield, has Toronto has both a defensive presence and an offensive weapon such as George Springer.

Spring has finally arrived in Toronto..

The Mets have won the off season,so far, but Padres have scored

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Mets sent a jolt through the baseball world by trading for shortstop Fransisco Lindor and right hander Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland on Thursday. The move came exactly a week after the completion of a three-day wheel-and-deal whirlwind of seismic proportions out west by the Padres.

The two clubs have lit up the Hot Stove, and they’ve been the biggest stories in baseball. So the question is: Who’s winning the offseason so far?

Let’s break it down into two categories: potential impact on the field, and overall shock value.

 We had the privilege of watching a Dodgers-Padres National League Division Series last October, and you’re not alone if you got the feeling these two clubs will be battling at the top of the NL West for years to come. The Dodgers showed why they're the defending eight-time division champs. But fast-forward a couple of months and add former American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and 2020 NL Cy Young Award runner-up Yu Darvish to San Diego’s rotation. Oh, and we can’t forget that the Padres also won the Ha Seong Kim sweepstakes. 

How much closer does this bring the Padres to the World Series champs? We obviously can’t know until the 2021 season plays out, but if we’re already talking about a club that had a legitimate shot last year to become the first team other than the Dodgers to win the NL West since 2012, it’s pretty clear these teams are not far apart. Last season, San Diego swung a deal with Cleveland to acquire Mike Clevinger for the stretch run, but he’ll be out for the 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Well, the Padres certainly made up for that loss and then some with their recent moves.

After his Cy Young Award campaign in 2018, when he posted a 1.89 ERA and 32 percent strikeout rate, Snell struggled to a 4.29 mark in an injury-shortened ’19, when he had to undergo elbow surgery. But he bounced back in the abbreviated ’20 campaign, finishing with a 3.24 ERA and 31 percent K rate over 11 starts. He then worked in and out of trouble through the first three rounds of the postseason before turning in a sterling performance in Game 6 of the World Series, yielding one run and striking out nine Dodgers over 5 1/3 innings for the Rays. And Snell just turned 28 last month.

 

Darvish was as good as he’s ever been in 2020, pitching to a 2.01 ERA  while fanning 31 percent of the batters he faced over 12 starts. The right-hander owns a career 3.47 ERA in eight MLB seasons, and there’s no reason to think he won’t pick right back up where he left off when he takes the mound in a Padres uniform.

Kim can play all around the infield, but was mostly a shortstop in seven Korea Baseball Organization seasons (he’s still only 25 years old). He had a huge 2020 with the Kiwoom Heroes, slashing .306/.397/.523 with 30 home runs and 23 steals in 138 games. Acquiring Kim was, of all things, a very Dodgers-esque move -- he’s likely going to be deployed as a super-utility player.

The Dodgers, for their part, have been rumored to be in the mix for some big names, but have yet to make a major move this offseason. Of course, they are the defending champs, and the Friars’ aggressiveness isn’t necessarily causing anyone to lose sleep in L.A. Still, San Diego has moved significantly closer to Los Angeles, and we’re not talking geography.

Mets: The Braves have won three consecutive NL East titles, and the Nationals are only a season removed from winning the World Series. But they’ll be stepping right up to greet some new Mets in 2021, specifically a pair that may very well shift the balance of power in the East. Lindor is one of the best shortstops in the game, and Carrasco has the stuff to be a sleeper Cy Young Award candidate year-in and year-out.

They call Lindor “Mr. Smile,” and he just brought a smile to the face of countless Mets fans in Queens and beyond.The 27 year old shortstop is entering the final year of his current contract, but an extension to stay in New York certainly isn’t far-fetched, particularly if the club makes a deep postseason run in ’21. He’s won two Gold Glove Awards and a Platinum Glove Award, owns a career .833 OPS and hit 30-plus homers in each year from 2017-19 before launching eight in last year’s shortened campaign.

Carrasco joins a rotation that already features Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard (though he’ll be out until midseason due to Tommy John surgery) and Marcus Stroman. Outside a 2019 campaign in which he missed a big chunk of the season undergoing treatment for leukemia before making an inspirational return to the mound in September, Carrasco hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.63 since he became a full-time starter in 2015. He was stellar in 12 starts last year, finishing with a 2.91 ERA (157 ERA+) and 29 percent strikeout rate. With him in the fold, the Mets have bolstered a rotation that entered the offseason with a lot of question marks, now with three ace-caliber starters at the front.

Like the Dodgers and most other teams so far, the Braves have had a relatively quiet offseason, though they did make a big move to add veteran depth to a loaded young starting rotation by signing Charlie Morton.

Edge: Padres. This is a tough call because the Mets made big strides viz-a-viz the Braves in one fell swoop Thursday. But while New York added two impact players, including one to bolster the starting rotation, San Diego transformed its starting staff with two elite arms. Its rotation stacks up well with the Dodgers’ group -- we can’t forget about Dinelson Lamet (2.09 ERA in 12 starts last year) and Chris Paddack (a season removed from a 3.33 ERA over 26 starts as a rookie).

Last season, the Padres’ rotation was third in baseball with a 3.46 ERA, behind the Dodgers’ 3.29 and the Indians’ 3.17. But San Diego’s staff had a better FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), at 3.71 to the Dodgers’ 4.11. With the offseason additions, it’s not crazy to suggest San Diego’s group might even be slightly better than the defending World Series champs’.

Padres: General manager A.J. Preller had an incredibly prolific calendar year in 2020, right up through the very last day. Preller and company showed just how committed they are to winning, and winning now with their flurry of big splashes. San Diego was the first team to truly light the Hot Stove, so there are major points for that when it comes to shock value. And the Padres were already the darlings of the NL, a fun group of young players led by the most exciting player in the game -- Fernando Tatis Jr. Building even more around him and Manny Machado raised a lot of eyebrows and ramped up anticipation of the NL West race in 2021.

Mets: From Day 1 of new owner Steve Cohen’s administration in Queens, it was clear the Mets were going to be major players this offseason. And somehow Cohen and Co. still managed to send shockwaves across baseball with the acquisition of Lindor and Carrasco on Thursday. A big reason why may be that while it wouldn’t surprise us if the Padres were done with big moves this offseason, it certainly would surprise us if the Mets were. It is anticipated that Thursday’s blockbuster was just the beginning for the makeover taking place in Queens.

Edge: Mets. It’s the Big Apple. The lights are brighter and the stage is bigger. The Yankees have owned that town for several years now, and suddenly their brothers from another borough are flexing. The Mets-Yankees dynamic, combined with the first significant move of the Cohen era makes New York’s acquisition of Lindor and Carrasco of higher shock value than the Padres’ big moves out west, though that's not to take away from the significance of San Diego's aggressiveness.

It’s still early January in an offseason unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So there’s still a long way to go and many moves to come around baseball. That could certainly change the calculus here, and it’ll be fun to see what comes next.

The Mets are reportedly trying to stay under the luxury tax threshold this year, but haven’t ruled out big spending on free agents --George Springer has been the name that has popped up the most in connection with the Mets, but they’re a wild card in free agency with their new ownership, so anything seems possible.

While the Padres have already packed an entire offseason worth of activity into three days in late December, more maneuvers from San Diego aren't out of the question. Preller has surprised us too many times for us to count him out.

The San Diego Chicken was spotted trying out for the padres bullpen, but all he could muster was egg on his face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Diego trades for Yu

 

The San Diego Padres' whirlwind offseason continued Monday night as they reportedly acquired right-hander Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs as part of a seven-player deal.

The trade, which was first reported by MLB.com, comes one day after San Diego reportedly landed left-hander Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Padres' starting rotation now is set to include Snell, Darvish, Dinelson Lamet, Chris Paddack and MacKenzie Gore, with injured veteran Mike Clevinger is set to return from Tommy John surgery in 2022.

 

The Padres also acquired catcher Victor Caratini from the Cubs, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported. In exchange, the Cubs acquired right-hander Zach Davies and four minor-league prospects: shortstop Reginald Preciado, outfielder Owen Caissie, outfielder Ismael Mena and shortstop Yeison Santana.

Earlier in the day, San Diego signed free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, 25, to a multi-year deal worth around $7 million a season, according to MLB Network. Kim starred in Korea, where he has hit .307, slugged 49 home runs and swiped 56 bases since 2019. He start at second base for the Padres.

The main prize of Monday night's deal is Darvish, 34, a four-time All-Star who finished second in the voting for National League Cy Young Award in 2020. He finished last season with an 8-3 record and a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts, and he struck out 93 batters in 76 innings.

 

In eight big-league seasons, Darvish is 71-56 with a 3.47 ERA in 182 starts. He spent the past three years in Chicago after starting his career with the Texas Rangers and spending part of one season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"He's just at a point where he's really comfortable in who he is," Cubs manager David Ross said last season. "There's so much to be said for that."

Caratini, 27, gives the Padres depth behind the plate. He hit .241 with one homer and 16 RBIs in 44 games in 2019, following up on an impressive 2019 campaign in which he hit .266 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 95 games.

 

The Cubs have not announced a rebuild, but they have taken steps to break up the core of a team that captured the 2016 World Series title. Joe Maddon left as manager, Theo Epstein left as president and the team recently announced that it would not tender a contract to slugger Kyle Schwarber. Other players who could be moved include Kris Bryant and Javier Baez.

Davies, 27, figures to replace Darvish's rotation spot, and he could give the Cubs a trade chip at the 2021 deadline. He went 7-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 12 starts last season, which was his first in San Diego after five seasons in Milwaukee.

Preciado, Caissie, Mena and Santana provide depth to a Cubs farm system that had been depleted in recent years. The first three players are still teenagers, while Santana is the oldest of the group at age 20.

Go home, Snell you Later

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s nothing going on in the Oakland A’s world this winter, but something big happened in MLB over the weekend that will affect the entire American League in 2021.

The Tampa Bay Rays traded ace pitcher Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres for four young players led by top pitching prospect Luis Patiño.  The deal is still pending medical reviews before it becomes official.

The Rays are the reigning AL champions, and Snell was a big reason why. The 2018 Cy Young winner put together another nice campaign in the short 2020, and then was even better over six postseason starts. However, the lefty’s final memory in a Tampa Bay uniform is of him being pulled far too early in Game 6 of the World Series — he was dominating into the 6th inning and had thrown just 73 pitches, but got a quick hook and watched his bullpen immediately blow the lead and let the Los Angeles Dodgers clinch the championship.

• Snell, 2020 stats: 3.24 ERA, 50 ip, 63 Ks, 18 BB, 10 HR, 4.35 FIP
• Snell, 2020 post: 3.03 ERA, 29⅔ ip, 37 Ks, 14 BB, 5 HR, team went 3-3

The Rays also lost star righty Charlie Morton from their rotation this winter, after declining his $15 million option; he signed with the Atlanta Braves for the same amount. Snell is due to make $11 million next season and is under contract through the end of 2023.

Without these two heavyweights atop their pitching staff, the Rays will look much different in 2021. They still have a lot of talent in their rotation and pen, and they’re always a threat to identify new stars every summer, but they have two huge sets of shoes to fill immediately if they want to stay among the top AL contenders next season.

To that end, the highlight of their return package could be ready to contribute right away. Patiño is a Top 20 national prospect who made his MLB debut this year at age 20, and his arsenal features three plus-grade pitches including a fastball that averaged 97 mph in his stint in the majors. It would be a tall order to ask him to out-perform Snell right away, but at least the Rays replaced their ace with another premium, MLB-readyish arm.

Tampa Bay got three other players. Catcher Francisco Mejia is a former Top 20 prospect who hasn’t yet panned out in the bigs (in 128 games over four seasons), but he’ll only be 25 next season and still has time. Fellow catcher Blake Hunt hasn’t yet played above Single-A, and righty pitcher Cole Wilcox was a 3rd-round draft pick in 2020.

Baseball people likes the deal for the Rays, Patiño alone would have been nearly enough to match the surplus value of Snell’s three remaining years of control (for which he’ll be paid $41 million), and the whole package comes out around 19% higher than what Tampa Bay gave up.

On the field in 2021, though, this move almost certainly makes the Rays worse. No single subtraction ever fully eliminates a baseball team, but losing a superstar in his prime represents a downgrade even if Patiño has a nice rookie season to partially offset it. That’s relevant to the Oakland A’s, because it weakens one of their primary AL rivals as they try again to chart a path to and through October.

Quoting a Rays fan,

“Overall, this is a devastating loss for a team coming off a World Series appearance, and a possible death knell for a team that also was too poor to keep Charlie Morton despite having his contract option in hand. ... Without drastic, unexpected improvements this is not a World Series rotation, and a sad day to be a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays.”

Meanwhile, how bout them Padres. Their lineup was already ridiculous, and one of their other starters (Dinelson Lamet) finished fourth for NL Cy Young. They made the NLDS this year and clearly have their sights set even higher in 2021.

 Fans always say that, until their team starts winning at an alarming rate, then they hop back on the saddle, and ride their horse again.

Baseball Tidbits

 

 

After being traded from the Padres to the Rays in a multiplayer offseason deal, Hunter Renfroe  didn’t get much of a chance to hit against the AL East in 2020 for a variety of reasons.

He’ll get another chance to do so in 2021

Renfroe signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox on Monday. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe notes that he’s going to get a $3.1 million salary, and there are $600,000 in possible incentives. This is right around what the former first-round pick was projected to earn in Tampa Bay before the Rays decided to non-tender him right before the deadline.

On paper, this is a low-risk, (potentially and relatively) high-reward signing for the Red Sox. Yes, Renfroe was awful in 2020; awful is an understatement after he hit just .156/.253/.393 with a 37/14 K/BB ratio. As bad as those numbers are, it’s important to keep in mind that they came in just 139 plate appearances. The season before with the Padres, the 28-year-old hit 33 homers in 140 games, and he hit 26 roundtrippers in both the 2017 and 2018 campaigns. 

Power has never been an issue for the former Mississippi State star and the 13th pick of the 2013 draft. Hitting for average and getting on-base is another story. Renfroe owns a career .228 average in five seasons, and his .290 on-base percentage shows how little patience he’s shown at the plate going forward. He’s also a solid defender in the outfield, however, and while that won’t help a fantasy roster, it does help him stay in the lineup.

It would probably be a mistake to use a high draft pick on Renfroe because he’s essentially a one-category player, but he’s someone worth keeping an eye on, and when he’s in the lineup against left-handed pitching, he’ll be an intriguing DFS option in 2021. 

 

 

Holland comes back to Royals one one-year deal

The big-name relievers -- yes, there are such things as big-name relievers -- like Liam Hendriks and Kirby Yates remain on the market, but a few options have put pen to paper, and Greg Holland  joined them on Monday by re-signing with the Royals. 

Holland, 34, signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract to stay in Kansas City, with Alec Lewis of The Athletic adding that he can make $1.5 million in performance bonuses. After several years of struggling with injuries and not pitching well when he was able to pitch, Holland reminded of how good he was not all that long ago. He was able to save six games in the truncated campaign, and he registered a 1.91 ERA and 31/7 K/BB ratio over 28 1/3 innings. 

It’s a small sample, but Holland looked the part in 2020, and he should remain the stopper to begin the year for the Royals in 2021.

 

 

LeMahieu, Yankees long ways apart on potential new deal

In terms of just pure offensive ability, there might not be a better bat on the market than DJ LeMahieu . After being underpaid -- relatively, before anyone screams -- for two years with the Yankees while putting up elite numbers, LeMahieu is looking to take advantage, and while a reunion with New York is the most likely landing spot, it might not be happening anytime soon.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Yankees and LeMahieu are more than $25 million apart currently. The specifics of what both parties want are unknown, but this is obviously not an insignificant number. The 32-year-old led baseball in average last year with a .364 clip -- the second time he finished in the top spot in his career -- and in his two seasons in the Bronx, the former Colorado infielder slashed .336/.386/.536 with 36 homers, 129 RBI and eight steals over 195 games.

While LeMahieu re-signing with the Yankees has been the most likely outcome, it’s not due to a shortage of suitors. The Blue Jays and Mets have both been mentioned as potential landing spot, with the former being slightly more likely than the latter based on 

Base Hits: Craig Mish of Sports Grid reports Adam Conley has signed a contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan … Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times hears the Rays have talked about a reunion with free agent right-hander Chris Archer … Alex Speier of the Boston Globe hears the Red Sox are interested in free agent left-hander Rich Hill and free agent right-hander Jake Odorizzi Both were with the Twins in 2020 … Royals re-signed OF Bubba Starling to a minor league contract … Buster Olney of ESPN reports that Corey Kluber  (shoulder) is expected to throw bullpen sessions for interested teams later this month … Ken Rosenthal reports that Kurt Suzuki "is a free agent of interest" to the Angels. The Angels were reportedly the runner-up for James McCann … Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports that Robert Suarez has re-signed with Japan's Hanshin Tigers on a one-year contract with a player option for 2022 … Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that the Phillies "drew numerous trade inquiries" on Vince Velasquez prior to their decision to tender him a contract … Red Sox president Chaim Bloom said Monday that Alex Verdugo  would likely be the starting center fielder if the season started today.

 More tomorrow, unless I get snowed in.☃

Cleveland Indians to change their name

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I never equated this logo with racism, but I was naive.

Cleveland will change its team name from "Indians" to another mascot as early as 2022, according to the New York Times, The franchise is expected to announce the change this week.

 A new nickname and logo has not been selected. Cleveland will reportedly keep its current mascot and the uniforms in 2021 before making a change ahead of the 2022 season. 

Cleveland announced in July it would consider changing the team's mascot. Its announcement came hours after the Washington Football Team announced it would undergo a thorough review of the team's name.

We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advocate social justice and equality," Cleveland's statement read in July. "Our organization fully recognizes our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community.”

Cleveland was one of the American League's first franchises after being founded in 1901. The team has used the "Indians" moniker since 1915. In 2019, Cleveland  announced it would discontinue the use of the Chief Wahoo logo on its uniform.

"Major League Baseball is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the game,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Over the past year, we encouraged dialogue with the Indians organization about the club’s use of the Chief Wahoo logo. During our constructive conversations, [owner] Paul Dolan made clear that there are fans who have a longstanding attachment to the logo and its place in the history of the team."

Cleveland has been one of the American League's best teams in recent seasons. 2020 marked the franchise's fourth playoff appearance in the last five years, though Cleveland has not won the World Series since 1948.

 

Say no more.

Richard Anthony Allen should be in the Hall of Fame

They booed him mercilessly in Philadelphia, they booed him in Chicago, but in the end, the fans respected his talent.
 

 In the long history of Major League Baseball, there’s not another player who was like Dick Allen, who passed away on Monday at the age of 78. 

The slugger -- who played for the Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, and A’s -- had a swing like no one else. His bat was like nobody's either. He carried a 40-and-change-ounce bat, one of the heaviest to ever be used (Babe Ruth swung a 42-ouncer early in his career). 

When Allen swung that massive lumber, he'd smash legendary home runs -- ones that might still be orbiting the planet as we speak.His most famous came on May 29, 1965, when he launched a home run an estimated 525 feet, over the Coke sign at Connie Mack Stadium:

Pirates slugger Willie Stargell -- who knows a few things about prodigious blasts --said, “Now I know why they boo Richie all the time. When he hits a home run, there's no souvenir.”

He was once caught mid-meal when White Sox manager Chuck Tanner needed a pinch-hitter on July 4, 1972.

 

 

"I was eating a chili dog when I heard Chuck wanted me to hit,"Allen said. "I had chili all over my shirt so I put on a new one and a pair of pants with no underclothes."

What did he do after that?

"Sparky Lyle threw me a slider and it wound up in the seats."

The stories are endless and Allen's numbers were solid -- he hit .292/.378/.534 and he bashed 351 home runs. He was one of the most feared sluggers to ever step to the plate.

But Allen was so much more than the stats on the back of a baseball card. He was also one of the coolest to ever play the game.

His look is iconic -- the large glasses, the mustache and sideburns, the nonchalance -- all combined to make him a symbol of ‘70s cool.

Well, there goes the Hall of Fame

 

In an announcement with significant implications on both Robinson Canó’s career and the Mets’ near-term future, Major League Baseball revealed Wednesday that Canó has received a 162-game suspension without pay for testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance. Canó will miss the entire 2021 season.

“We were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson’s suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. “The violation is very unfortunate for him, the organization, our fans and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB’s efforts toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the game.”

Canó previously served an 80-game suspension in 2018 after violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for the first time. Playing for the Mariners at that time, Canó tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic better known as Lasix, which is often used to help mask banned substances in urine tests.

“I understand that everything that goes into my body,” Canó said in a prepared statement following that suspension announcement. “I’m responsible for that.”

 

 

According to a source, Canó did not plan to release a statement following his latest positive test.

Brodie Van Wagenen had been the Mets' general manager for about five weeks when he acquired Canó, his former client, in a December 2018 trade that also brought Edwin Díaz to New York for top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, among others. Canó struggled throughout '19, but he rebounded in '20 to hit .318/.352/.544 over 49 games as a 37-year-old. Canó credited his success to an offseason workout program that allowed him to keep his legs in peak shape.

“If I had any concern about what Robby’s physical state or performance ability going forward is, I would not have made the deal,” Van Wagenen said shortly after the trade. “This guy has huge ambition to be able to be great in the coming years. All of us have great confidence that a bat as consistently good as Robinson Canó has been over the years, he’s not going to lose that skill set. And if he continues to work as hard on his body and his defensive mobility, there’s no reason he can’t be a productive defensive player for us as we go forward, too.”

Canó will forfeit the entirety of his $24 million salary in 2021, but he is still due $48 million from '22-23. The Mets are responsible for approximately $40 million of that total, with Seattle picking up the rest.

A career .303 hitter with 2,624 hits and 334 home runs over 16 seasons with the Yankees, Mariners and Mets, Canó would be a borderline Hall of Famer by numbers alone. But voters have historically taken a strict line with players even suspected of PED use, let alone those with documented positive tests.

While Canó’s latest suspension will have a seismic impact on the Mets’ roster and payroll, the team is well-covered at second base in his absence. The simplest option would be to slide Jeff McNeil from left field back to his natural position at second base. That would allow the Mets to shift Brandon Nimmo to left field and sign a free agent -- George Springer and Jackie Bradley Jr. being the most prominent options -- to man center. It would also theoretically improve the Mets’ defense at multiple positions.

 

 

The Mets could also use Andrés Giménez full-time at second base, keeping their current outfield alignment of McNeil, Nimmo and Michael Conforto intact. They could acquire a free agent such as DJ LeMahieu to fill their hole at second base. Or they could move McNeil to second and sign a corner outfielder such as Marcell Ozuna to fill that hole. Without Canó’s money on the books, the Mets can spend up to $20 million more this winter without worrying about the luxury tax threshold.

Those decisions will occur in time, likely after the Mets hire a president of baseball operations to serve under Alderson.

No matter what the Mets choose, Canó’s long-term future is unclear. He remains under contract through 2023 at significant money. It is unknown if the Mets will welcome Canó back following multiple violations of MLB’s drug policy, or if they will move on despite their long-term financial commitment to him.

Welcome to the new management, time to clean up this mess.

 

The biggest move off the 2020 deadline was the Padres' acquisition of Mike Clevinger from Cleveland in a massive nine-player deal at the deadline. Unfortunately for San Diego, Clevinger was limited to just four regular season appearances and was only able to make one postseason start against the Dodgers because of an elbow injury.

We won’t see Clevinger at all in 2021. Unless you see him swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Then tell me.

On the same day that he signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract, it was also announced that Clevinger will miss the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. This will be the second time that the right-hander the operation, as he had the same procedure while a member of the Angels’ organization. 

The fantasy implications here are relatively obvious -- at least in terms of Clevinger’s value for 2021 in redraft leagues: there isn’t any. What’s (potentially) less obvious is the other ramifications. The Padres have some very intriguing young depth in their rotation, and barring a trade, Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies and Chris Paddack are locks to open the year in that role. That leaves two potential open spots, however, with Clevinger out for the year and Garrett Richards a free agent. That leaves opportunities for young hurlers like Adrian Morejon, but also top prospects like MacKenzie Gore and Luis Patino. Gore is arguably the top pitching prospect in the game, and Patino isn’t all that far behind. It’s certainly possible the Padres will be in the market for another starter on the trade or free agent market -- they might have been even without the Clevinger news -- but it’s much easier to see Gore making a larger impact in 2021 now.

The other question, of course, is what this means for Clevinger in the long-term. The right-hander will turn 30 in December, so the next time we’ll see him throw a competitive pitch will be as a 31-year-old, most likely. When healthy, he has some of the best stuff in the game; and the evidence comes in his 3.19 career ERA with a K/9 of 10.0 in 542 1/3 innings. The issue is durability, and this won’t do it any favors. Clevinger has thrown over 126 innings once, and that’s a troubling figure for a pitcher who is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off his second major procedure. The upside is palpable, but there’s just as much risk as there is reward going forward.

 

Smyly signs one-year, $11 million deal with Braves 

The Braves were among the first to strike in free agency in 2019, and they’ve made an early move for the 2021 campaign as well. 

On Monday, the Braves announced that they had agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with left-hander Drew Smyly. Smyly spent the 2020 season with the Giants, and he registered a 3.42 ERA in seven games -- five starts -- over 26 1/3 innings. A solid number, but the metrics suggest the 31-year-old was even better than that. He struck out a whopping 42 hitters in that frame against nine walks, and he finished the year with a Fielding Independent Pitching number of 2.01. 

The question with Smyly is the same as Clevinger; can he stay healthy? We haven’t seen him throw more than 150 innings since 2016, and he missed all of 2017-2018 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. That being said, there are things to like here. He’s going to pitch behind one of the best lineups in baseball -- with or without Marcell Ozuna returning -- and his stuff seemed to reach another level this year; posting vastly improved spin rates on his fastball and curve. 

The Braves might be creative in how they use Smyly in 2021 to ensure health down the stretch, but his ability to miss bats will give him some fantasy appeal this summer.

Marlins hire Ng as first female GM in MLB history

Miami filled their general manager position on Friday, and they did it by making history. Miami hired Kim Ng in the role, and she became the first woman GM not only in MLB history, but the first of a North American professional men’s sports team. Before taking this job, Ng has worked for the White Sox, Yankees and Dodgers -- she was a finalist for the Los Angeles job back in 2005 -- and she was MLB's senior vice president of baseball operations for the past nine years. In addition to interviewing for the position with Los Angeles, the 51-year-old was a finalist for several other openings, but she will get her first opportunity to run a club starting in 2021. It’s about time. 

Brewers ‘intend to listen’ on Hader offers

On Monday, Robert Murray of Fansided reported that the Brewers intend to listen to offers on left-handed reliever Josh Hader. Hader, 26, has been one of the best relievers in baseball over the past few seasons, and that is probably an understatement. While he posted a career-high 3.79 ERA last season, half of the runs he allowed came in one outing, and he’s still missing bats with the best of them with a career K/9 of 15.3. Hader also is becoming more expensive, however, and he’ll be paid a raise on the $4.4 million he made in 2020 in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The Brewers will likely need a substantial return in terms of prospects, but it wouldn’t be a shock if Hader was in another uniform this spring. Wherever he goes, the fantasy appeal is obvious, and Williams would see his stock jump up a not insignificant amount as the presumed closer for the Brew Crew in 2021.

 

Quick Bats: Luke Voit said he doesn't expect his plantar fasciitis to be an issue in 2021 … Peter Gammons of MLB.com has been told by Astros sources that Jackie Bradley "is a priority" for them this offseason … Giants outfield prospect Alexander Canario recently underwent surgery to repair a torn left labrum. 

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that Tommy Kahnle is considering "multiple" two-year offers. 

Kahne will miss the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early August. Mark Buehrle is among the additions to the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for 2021. He's one of 11 new names on the ballot, which also includes (in alphabetical order) A.J. Burnett, Michael Cuddyer, Dan Haren, LaTroy Hawkins, Tim Hudson, Torii Hunter, Aramis Ramírez, Nick Swisher, Shane Victorino and Barry Zito.

 According to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, the Mets are among the teams showing interest in free agent slugger Marcel Ozuna as well there should be, guys a game changer.  Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times believes that Kevin Kermeier is a candidate to be traded this offseason. Topkin cites the financial impact of the pandemic-delayed 2020 season as well as the uncertainty heading into 2021 as to why the Rays may be looking to shed payroll his winter ... Buster Olney of ESPN reports that four teams are showing early interest in free agent right-hander Jake Odorizzi Those four clubs: The Blue Jays, the Giants, the Mets and the Twins … Orioles acquired RHP Miguel Padilla from the Astros to complete the Hector Velazquez trade ... Rays right-handed pitching prospect Nick Bitsko "is likely to soon have surgery to relieve shoulder discomfort," according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times .

 Athletics signed RHP Zac Reininger to a minor league contract . According to Robert Murray of FanSided, free agent right-hander Chase Anderson is drawing interest from "several teams." Why, I don't know, cause the guy can't throw stikes.

 

Kim Ng is the first female GM in North America

 

 

 The Marlins have pledged to build as diverse an organization as possible. On Friday morning, they made history by announcing Kim Ng as their new general manager.

Ng is the first woman to become an MLB general manager. She is also believed to be the first woman hired as a GM by any major professional men's team in North American sports.

 “All of us at Major League Baseball are thrilled for Kim and the opportunity she has earned with the Marlins," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Kim’s appointment makes history in all of professional sports and sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball. The hard work, leadership, and record of achievement throughout her long career in the National Pastime led to this outcome, and we wish Kim all the best as she begins her career with the Marlins.”

Ng, who turns 52 on Tuesday, has an extensive background as an executive. She has more than 30 years of experience in Major League Baseball, including 21 in the front offices of the White Sox (1990-96), Yankees (1998-2001) and Dodgers (2002-11).

 With the title of general manager, Ng (pronounced ANG) becomes the highest-ranking woman in baseball operations in the Majors. She also is the fifth person to hold the general manager title in Marlins history.

Ng is also the second person of Asian descent to lead an MLB team, following Farhan Zaidi, the former Los Angeles Dodgers GM and current president of baseball operations for the Giants.

“On behalf of principal owner Bruce Sherman and our entire ownership group, we look forward to Kim bringing a wealth of knowledge and championship-level experience to the Miami Marlins,” chief executive officer Derek Jeter said in a statement. “Her leadership of our baseball operations team will play a major role on our path toward sustained success. Additionally, her extensive work in expanding youth baseball and softball initiatives will enhance our efforts to grow the game among our local youth as we continue to make a positive impact on the South Florida community.”

 The Marlins began the reshaping of their baseball operations department after parting ways with Michael Hill as president of baseball operations on Oct. 18.

 “I entered Major League Baseball as an intern and, after decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins as their next general manager,” Ng said in a statement. “We are building for the long term in South Florida, developing a forward-thinking, collaborative, creative baseball operation made up of incredibly talented and dedicated staff who have, over the last few years, laid a great foundation for success."

 Hill, who is African American and Cuban, had served in that capacity since the end of the 2013 season, and he had been an executive with the Marlins since ‘02, including being promoted to GM in ‘07. Hill recently interviewed for the Mets’ open GM position.

The Marlins’ decision-making landscape has changed since the ownership group headed by Sherman and Jeter took over after the 2017 season.

Many voices are involved in the process, and the Marlins weren’t looking for someone necessarily to make the final call. Ng will oversee the department and work in unison with Jeter, vice president of baseball operations and scouting Gary Denbo, as well as the pro, amateur and international departments.

 A graduate of the University of Chicago, Ng broke into baseball as an intern with the White Sox in 1990, later advancing to assistant director of baseball operations. She then became the Yankees’ assistant general manager from 1998-2001.

Jeter has helped break the standard of hiring just men.

LaRussa stains the Sox

 He has disgraced himself one too many times, and he should be terminated, immediately.

He has stained one of the oldest franchises on this planet, at least bringng back memoriesof the 1919 Black Sox scandal.

 

Manager Tony La Russa flashed a ring at a police officer arresting him for driving under the influence and said "I'm a Hall of Famer baseball person" while being placed into the back of a cruiser, according to an incident report obtained by ESPN.La Russa, 76, was charged in late October with DUI by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Arizona after blood and breath tests taken the night of his February arrest showed his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of .08.The White Sox said they were aware of La Russa's pending charges, which were filed one day before the team officially hired him on Oct. 29. It is the second drunken-driving arrest for La Russa, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI in Florida in 2007.

While initial details of the arrest were provided in an affidavit from the arresting officer, the incident report by the Arizona Department of Public Safety fills in gaps and shows La Russa appearing incoherent, referring multiple times to his Hall of Fame credentials and expressing mistrust in blood-alcohol-level tests.

When the officer approached La Russa's car, which was blocking the right-hand lane on State Route 143, La Russa said he had a flat tire. "I hit something once I got on the 43," he said, according to the report.

La Russa said he was returning from a dinner with "friends with the California Angels baseball team." (La Russa was a special adviser for the Los Angeles Angels before the White Sox hired him to manage after a nine-year absence from the dugout.) When the officer asked for identification, according to the report, La Russa continued instead to talk on the phone to a AAA representative. The officer repeated the command, and La Russa tossed cash and cards onto the passenger's seat but did not furnish a driver's license. The officer asked him to hang up his phone and provide the license.

While shuffling through his money and cards, La Russa twice passed over the license before finally handing it to the officer, according to the report.

The officer asked La Russa to exit the car for field sobriety tests. La Russa said he had undergone a hip replacement four weeks earlier and asked: "Why are we doing the tests?" The officer said there was an odor of alcohol emanating from La Russa. When the officer discussed administering a portable breath test, La Russa said: "I don't trust it."

According to the report, La Russa then asked: "What makes you think I don't have control of my facilities?"

He agreed to take the breath test "if it gets me out of here," according to the report. The test registered a BAC of .090.

The officer placed La Russa under arrest for DUI. When read his Miranda rights, La Russa said: "I don't know my rights because you told me once I blow into that thing we'd be done," according to the report. The officer asked if La Russa had any drinks, and he replied that he had one glass of wine at dinner, the report said.

 

Before the arresting officer placed him in a vehicle, La Russa said: "Do you see my ring?" When asked what he meant, La Russa answered: "I'm a Hall of Famer baseball person." He continued: "I'm legit. I'm a Hall of Famer, brother. You're trying to embarrass me." WTF.

Once at the highway patrol station near the incident, La Russa requested a phone call. At 1:07 a.m., around 90 minutes after the arrest, he asked to speak with a supervisor, according to the report. He declined to submit a blood sample to test his BAC, the report said.

"I will not comply with your tests," La Russa said, according to the report. "I don't trust it, brother."

The officer received a warrant to draw La Russa's blood, and the test measured La Russa's BAC at .095.

When reached for comment on Monday night, La Russa told ESPN, "I have nothing to say," and hung up the phone. A message left Tuesday for La Russa's lawyer, Larry Kazan, was not returned.

Christmas may come early for the Blue Jays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic, rival executives have been anticipating that the Blue Jays would be among the big-spending clubs this offseason. The club made the first notable signing of the Hot Stove season when it inked Robbie Ray to a one-year, $8 million deal, and there could be more to come.

One potential target? Lindor, whom many expect will be traded before Opening Day. Lindor is in his final year of arbitration eligibility after earning a prorated portion of his $17.5 million salary in 2020.

As Rosenthal notes, Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins were the Indians’ GM and farm director, respectively, when the team selected Lindor with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.

The Blue Jays have Bo Bichette at shortstop, but they could move him to third base to fill their hole there if they can swing a trade for Lindor. Leaving Vlad jr at first base.

Jon Heyman: Yanks more likely to pursue FA shortstop than Lindor trade

 After shortstop Gleyber Torres struggled on defense in 2020, the Yankees have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Lindor, who is expected to be traded before Opening Day. However, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman said on Monday’s episode of the Big Time Baseball Podcast that Yankees officials have downplayed the possibility of a Lindor trade.Heyman thinks if the club does pursue a shortstop, it is more likely to be a free agent such as Andrelton Simmons or Didi Gregorius.

 Is the Indians trading Lindor a matter of "if," or a matter of "when"?

 A report Thursday from USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggests that Lindor will be in a new uniform on Opening Day 2021.

The Indians intend to trade Lindor by Opening Day and have informed several rival teams of those intentions, according to Nightengale.

That lines up with what MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi is hearing, too: A Lindor deal is looking likely this offseason -- but perhaps "unlikely to happen quickly."

One big reason? Cleveland wants as many suitors in play as possible, and the Mets -- who have a good mix of young, cost-controlled big leaguers like Amed Rosario, Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Andrés Giménez and others -- might be a potential landing spot.

Thing is, new Mets owner Steve Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson must set up a new office and that will take some time as they interview candidates

Lindor is only a year away from free agency -- he's set to headline what could be the best shortstop class ever in the 2021-22 offseason along with Javier Báez, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Trevor Story. But the 26-year-old would still command a high price on the trade market, considering the rarity of a superstar shortstop in his prime.

And, of course, anything could happen in the months between now and the start of the 2021 season. The Indians could always decide to hold onto Lindor, the face of their franchise. But if Lindor is indeed on the block, he'll have no shortage of suitors.While this year’s free-agent class has its share of big names, the highest-profile players to change teams this offseason might actually come via trade. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman lists Lindor, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado among his top five trade candidates, along with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and Mets shortstop Amed Rosario.

Lindor, Bryant, Arenado (opt out) and Correa all can become free agents after the 2021 campaign.

Of the five, Lindor may be the most likely to move, as the Indians appear to be cutting costs with revenues down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribe declined options on Brad Hand ($10 million), Carlos Santana ($17.5 million) and Domingo Santana ($5 million), choosing instead to pay $1.75 million in buyouts to the three players, though they did pick up Roberto Pérez’s $5.5 million option.

Cleveland listened to trade offers for Lindor last offseason, but ended up retaining him. In his final year of arbitration eligibility, the shortstop is due to receive a raise from his $17.5 million salary in 2020, when he recorded a career-low 102 OPS+.

Bryant and Arenado were also floated as trade candidates last offseason, but they ended up staying put. Like Lindor, Bryant (73 OPS+), Arenado (84 OPS+) and Correa (92 OPS+) didn’t perform up to expectations in 2020, but all four players have strong track records.

Lindor and Correa will be part of a superstar class of free-agent shortstops a year from now, as the Rockies’ Trevor Story and the Dodgers’ Corey Seager are also due to hit the open market.

Rosario is heading into his age-25 season and is under control through 2023, but he took a step back offensively last season and saw rookie Andrés Giménez emerge as a more productive option.

Heyman names the Mets as a potential landing spot for Lindor, with new owner Steve Cohen looking to make a splash right out of the gate.

Free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto is at the top of many Mets fans' wish lists, but another option for New York could be to sign outfielder George Springer, then Brandon Nimmo or Dominic Smith with Rosario in a deal for Lindor.

 

Vlad has slimmed down

 

 

 

Vlad junior is is ... in great shape? According to the Dominican newspaper El Caribe, it's true. There's even photo evidence.

It was evident during the 2020 season that Guerrero had put on some weight, but he told El Caribe he's already 32 pounds lighter compared to when he reported to Summer Camp, down to around 250 pounds. He shared that he felt the positive effects of refocusing on fitness during the season, and has slimmed down more since then. Meaning his mobility should be quicker.

"I finished the season more or less and put that in mind. I started with the slow swing and when I lost 20 pounds I started feeling better," Guerrero Jr. said.

Guerrero also said he regrets that he didn't show up to Summer Camp following the COVID-19 delay in better shape, and he has apologized to his teammates for not being as prepared as possible for the season.

"I learned after these months of the coronavirus that if you don't work hard, you can't be in the Major Leagues," he said. "Why do [Fernando] Tatis and [Juan] Soto put up good numbers? Because they work hard. I got the hits I got because of the ability that God gave me. But I knew it from the beginning. I know I did it wrong."

Guerrero said he is now eating differently, cutting out fatty foods and ingesting nothing but water after 7 p.m. He is also reportedly working out at the Blue Jays' Spring Training facility where he's hitting, taking ground balls and doing weight training.

The 21-year-old slugger, who is the son of Hall of Fame outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, made his highly anticipated Major League debut in 2019 and has shown his incredible raw power at the plate. But overall, his offensive performance has been somewhat underwhelming, compared to the hype that surrounded his promotion to the big leagues. So far, he has hit .269/.336/.442 with 24 home runs in 183 Major League games.

It's too soon to know if Guerrero's physical transformation continues to translate into better production on the field in 2021. But it's certainly remarkable that he has already shed so much weight and appears to be singularly focused on showing up to Spring Training far more prepared than he was for the 2020 campaign.

"I did not get to the second training well," Guerrero told El Caribe. "And I told myself that this cannot happen again."

If the Jays get a slimmed down Vlad at first, he can field better, run better, but will he hit better, better hope so.