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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Nov 3, 2019 15:58:28 GMT
 2020 OFFSEASON BEGINS
While the Detroit Tigers continue their never-ending party in the Motor City after winning the first Turtle Ball World Series, the other twenty nine owners and their front office staff around the league enter the offseason seeking to make the correct moves to bring a championship to their own respective franchises. Without question, the offseason leading up to the 2020 Turtle Ball campaign will be one packed with blockbuster trades, league shifting free agent signings and surprise moves from contenders and rebuilding teams alike. In addition, the Rule V draft and FYPD draft provided an opportunity for new prospects to join new franchises who may make a significant splash during the upcoming 2020 campaign. The Times will keep track of all the free agent signings, prospect draft picks and trade rumors as the offseason progresses by bringing in-depth analysis into how a free agent signing or trade changes the landscape of the Turtle Ball league. For now, welcome to the offseason and let the games begin.
- Turtle Ball Times Staff |
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Nov 8, 2019 17:12:12 GMT
AND THEY’RE OFF! A FLURRY OF TRADES KICK OFF THE 2020 OFFSEASON
 Like the opening bell on Wall Street each weekday morning, the 2020 offseason has begun with a blitz of teams buying and selling players. Nearly twenty trades have been executed since the calendar flipped to November. Star players and highly touted prospects have switched franchises across the league and have brought into focus the strategy of certain front offices as they prepare for the 2020 campaign. Among the teams most active thus far include San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, Houston and Boston. The Times analyzed and assessed the impact of the early offseason trades made by each franchise thus far and how each move shifts each individual teams’ standing in the league as well as the balance of power for 2020.
 Boston Red SoxBoston’s front office must be in the business of creating and naming constellations with all the star players they have aligned thus far via the trade market. Boston has executed three trades all of which have brought with them three notable star players. Boston shipped out three prospects, Kevin Smith (SS), Delvin Perez (SS) and Tucupita Marcano (2B) for powerhouse hitter Khris Davis from the Minnesota Twins. Afterwards, Boston packaged two more prospects, Chris Rodriguez (SP) and Jeremy De La Rosa (OF), to the San Diego Padres in return for veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Boston was not finished there however as they then went on to execute a blockbuster trade with their divisional rival the Baltimore Orioles. In that blockbuster trade, Boston packaged five prospects which include Forrest Whitley (SP), Triston McKenzie (SP), Sam Huff (C) , Jaxx Groshans (C) , and Chris Seise (SS) and their catcher James McCann for platinum shortstop Xander Bogaerts and veteran catcher Mike Zunino from the Orioles. After a disappointing 2019 campaign, it is not surprising to see the Boston Red Sox among the most aggressive teams in the league on the trade market to kick off the offseason. All in all, the Red Sox are better positioned now after this series of moves to be more competitive in 2020 than they were in 2019. SImply put, the Red Sox have found their marquee batter in Xander Bogaerts and they have surrounded him with two quality teammates in power slugger Khris Davis and Kevin Kiermaier. Losing a promising young catcher in James McCann and a top catcher prospect Sam Huff could hurt their future outlook at the catcher position but the massive upside which Bogaerts brings to the table should cancel out such a loss. Boston now touts one of the better outfield groups in the entire league with Khris Davis, Josh Reddick and Kevin Kiemaier and their farm system is deep with outfield prospects who will be making their major league debuts in 2020 or 2021 which will add to a solid rotation. Impressively, none of the moves Boston was able to pull off required them to relinquish any of their blue chip pitchers. However, Boston did have to surrender highly covetable pitching prospects Forrest Whitley and Trevor McKenzie to acquire Xander Bogaerts. Player health and durability across a long regular season was a question for the Red Sox on both sides of the ball which produced a negative result in 2019. Outside of Bogaerts, the Red Sox shipped out a wave of its youth movement for older veterans who do carry with them some concern of injury. Nonetheless, Boston has made the biggest overall splash in the offseason and have recreated their offense which they hope will produce a solid compliment to their elite pitching staff.
 Houston Astros Early into the 2019 campaign, Houston’s front office staff represented that their approach to building their franchise would be through a “soft rebuild”. As the offseason enters its early stages, Houston’s “soft rebuild” seems to be continuing to take shape. A series of small scale moves appear to be in an effort to bolster an already deep farm system. Veteran players Drew Smyly, Cedric Mullins and Joey Votto were shipped out of Houston in return for several minor league players. However, Houston sent out top prospects Jojo Romero, Joe Gray and Danny Diaz for thirty-five year old first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Houston may not have moved the needle when it comes to the league wide balance of power, but Houston may not need to do so with how deep their farm system is becoming. Star player Jose Altuve could use a legitimate right hand man type teammate and perhaps Houston is eyeing free agency to provide the blue chip talent with just that. With that being said, it would appear that Houston will jump on any opportunity to continue to compile prospects for their farm system.
 Baltimore Orioles San Diego Padres
The reigning NL West champions have come out swinging in the trade market as the offseason kicks off. Despite advancing all the way to the NLCS, the Padres have traded away a few big names from their starting lineup thus far in the offseason. Kyle Schwarber is now a New York Yankee, Julio Teheran plays for the Twins, Kevin Kiermaier is with the Boston Red Sox and Mike Leake has relocated to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The multitude of moves made by the Padres shipping starting talent out and bringing prospects in can be explained by a glance at the Padres farm system which is among the shallowest in the entire league. The Padres still have a talented roster despite packaging away several of their 2019 starters. Adding to their farm system is not a bad decision for the franchise as they are predicted to be competitive in 2020 while also keeping a prudent eye on the future going forward.
 Colorado Rockies
Although there is still a ways to go until we arrive at the outset of the 2020 campaign, the Colorado Rockies have made the biggest move of the offseason which will most likely not be surpassed. Possessing one of if not the deepest farm systems in the entire league, the Rockies pushed several of their top chips to the center of the table to cash in on a top five player in baseball; Christian Yelich. In a blockbuster deal, Colorado parted ways with marquee prospects in Aristedes Aquino, Francisco Alvarez, Luisangel Acuna, Jose Devers, Trevor Larnach and Matthew Liberatore for superstar outfielder Christian Yelich from the St. Louis Cardinals. Having recently gone through a changing of the guard in their front office, St. Louis declared itself to be open for business at the outset of the 2020 offseason. Having the biggest budget to work with when it comes to assets, the Rockies decided to pounce on an opportunity to acquire on Yelich which materialized into a formal deal quickly. Without question, the acquisition of Yelich will put the Rockies in contention for 2020 and beyond. While the Rockies parted ways with a dearth of prospect talent, the upside Christian Yelich brings as a baseball player far outweighs the potential of any of the prospects they chose to part ways with as individuals or combined. In addition, Colorado still possesses a very deep farm system which touts several big name prospects who are going to be making their major league debuts next year or in 2021. Colorado followed up their acquisition of Yelich with a few other moves by dishing Wilmer Flores and Mike Brosseau to the Diamondbacks in exchange for veteran first baseman Yonder Alonso, trusted relief pitcher Cody Allen and three prospects including coveted first base prospect Pavin Smith. Afterwards, the Rockies made a move for top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley from the Orioles in exchange for starting outfielder Raimel Tapia and infield prospect Ryan Mountcastle. Undeniably, the acquisition of Christian Yelich will put the Rockies in a much more competitive position for 2020 than the position they were in 2019. The Rockies now have a blue chip superstar whom they can build around as their top prospects develop. Although they reside in a crowded division, the Rockies transactions so far have indicated the team is prepared to be competitive and make some noise in the NL West in 2020.
 Arizona Diamondbacks
While they finished at the bottom of the NL West, the Diamondbacks front office seems undeterred in their effort to make sure a disappointing finish does not become a trend. A roster which touts Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, two of the league’s best in the eyes of many, produced lackluster results in 2019. As a result, the Diamondbacks are seeking to get their star players some assistance for 2020. Arizona made a deal with Colorado to acquire two solid infielders in Mike Brosseau and Wilmer Flores while parting ways with top first base prospect Pavin Smith, a few additional prospects, relief pitcher Cody Allen and their first baseman in Yonder Alonso. The Diamondbacks also acquired outfielder Cedric Mullins and stalwart first baseman Joey Votto from the Astros while also dealing for shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez from the Twins. The Diamondbacks also shipped out outfield prospect Clint Frazier for veteran pitcher Jon Lester. On top of the moves to bring in assistance on offense, the Diamondbacks looked to shake up their pitching staff by bringing in veteran pitchers Cole Hamels and Kyle Gibson from the Marlins for outfield prospect Kyle Lewis and an additional prospect. The moves made by Arizona so far in the 2020 offseason appear to be a concerted effort to shakeup their roster and become more competitive in 2020. Arizona dealt more than a handful of prospect assets to acquire veterans like Votto and Flores but it appears that Arizona is comfortable dipping into their moderately deep farm system to bring in reinforcements for the aforementioned Machado and Harper. Arizona also needed help on the mound and the team appear content with bringing in older veterans like Lester, Hamels and Gibson who come to the club on single year deals in exchange for more prospects. While a team can never be faulted for trying to get more competitive, the NL West will begin the 2020 campaign as arguably the most competitive division in the entire league. Perhaps Arizona feels as though they are being left out of the conversation in the NL West as a team to watch out for in 2020 and are seeking to change that narrative. Would it have been a better idea for the Diamondbacks to sell their older players in exchange for more prospects and set their sights on the future rather than the immediate upcoming season? If the moves Arizona has made materialize in providing Harper and Machado, the bedrock players of the Diamondbacks, with the help they need then these moves will be viewed as a tremendously bold move for the franchise. However, should these moves fail to pan out and some of the prospects Arizona dealt away turn into solid players, Arizona may regret bringing in older players who do not have a long term future to fight for a division that is already a steep task to win. |
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Nov 14, 2019 18:40:16 GMT
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 9, 2020 2:38:20 GMT
Washington, Miami and Colorado enter free agency with the biggest team budgets
Hold onto your checkbooks folks. The 2020 free agent bidding period is upon us and it’s time for teams around the league to decide how much of their cap space they are willing to use during restricted and unrestricted free agency. The first offseason in league history is chock full of talent at multiple positions which could turn the tide in division races and league wide power rankings. Surprisingly, the team with the most cap room in the league is the Miami Marlins who were an NL playoff team in 2019. Following behind the Marlins are the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies who had less than stellar campaigns in 2019. All eyes will be on each of these clubs as they formulate and ultimately execute their strategy for the restricted and unrestricted free agency periods this offseason. The Times reached out to all three clubs for comments on their free agency strategy and what their plans are for this offseason. Miami Marlins
 2019 was a fairly successful season for the Marlins as they finished the season at 147-87-18 and were in a competitive NL East division race with the New York Mets. Ultimately, the Marlins succumbed to their division rival the New York Mets in the division race and lost to the San Diego Padres in the 2019 postseason. While they did not achieve their ultimate goal, the Marlins are in an intriguing position to enter the 2020 offseason with the most cap space in the entire league ($107 million). With the most cap flexibility in the league, the Marlins have a variety of options in free agency to strengthen a roster which made the playoffs in 2019. Notably, Miami has two players entering restricted free agency in third baseman Mike Moustakas and pitcher Tanner Roark. Tanner Roark had the second most strikeouts on the Marlins in 2019 and it is quite foreseeable that Miami attempts to keep a key piece of their rotation by matching any bid made on the veteran pitcher. The same can be said for Mike Moustakas who was a key utility player who provided depth to Miami’s offense and should Miami chose to do so they can outbid most teams to retain Moustakas. When the Times reached out for a comment, the Marlins front office staff stated the team is investigating all options to upgrade at any position in both restricted and unrestricted free agency. Additionally, Miami is not opposed to adding depth to a position of strength of their current roster. Despite making the playoffs, Miami is not fully content with its roster and has stated on the record there are holes they are seeking to fill in free agency to gear up for the 2020 campaign. Miami’s young offense led by Victor Robles, Rhys Hoskins and Javier Baez could use a veteran presence to supplement their output in 2020. However, it would be unsurprising to see Miami make a major push to sign a star pitcher in restricted or unrestricted free agency since the team lacks a starter or reliever with an ERA below 4. Miami is in a prime position to both retain their key restricted free agents and still lead the league in cap flexibility to make a huge splash in unrestricted free agency which could put their team over the top in the NL East and their conference overall. Washington Nationals
 Washington finished 2019 with a record of 57-117-18 but that is not deterring them from recalibrating their roster to be competitive in 2020. With nearly 88 million in their coffers to work with, Washington has the second most flexible cap space in the league and their front office is preparing to make serious moves in the 2020 offseason. “This offseason is is about adding quality MLB pieces to surround our young core of players” a member of Washington’s front office remarked to the Times. The source also went on to say that Washington is seeking to be more active in restricted rather than unrestricted free agency by using their immense cap flexibility to outmatch most teams in any bidding war over the league’s top free agents. Those rumored to be among Washington’s top restricted free agent targets include Tyler Flowers (C), Howie Kendrick (INF), Delino DeShields (OF), Ian Kennedy (RP), Lance Lynn (P), German Marquez (SP) and Will Smith (RP). Only one team in the league, Miami, can foreseeably outbid Washington in restricted free agency which leaves the Nats with great leverage to claim any player they see as a fit for their roster in restricted free agency. However, sources close to Washington’s front office have told the Times that they have yet to submit any bids to the league’s main office at this point. Washington’s entire roster undoubtedly will require a massive retooling effort if they are seeking to be a competitive team in 2020. Players like Lucas Giolito (P) and JP Crawford (SS) highlight the young core of this team but they will require major assistance in 2020 to make a difference in both the divisional and conference standings. Colorado Rockies
 By acquiring star outfielder Christian Yelich, the Rockies made the biggest splash on the trade market during the 2020 offseason. Having nearly $61 in cap space at their disposal, the Colorado Rockies are primed to follow up their Yelich acquisition with a bigger splash in restricted or unrestricted free agency. The mood in Colorado’s front office is excited but reserved. Colorado’s GM spoke directly to the Times about the impending free agency period and expressed the team’s strategy involves improving the teams overall depth both on offense and for their pitching staff. Colorado’s GM made it clear that the team is not interested in placing a high end Type A bid on any player in restricted free agency as they see such a move would not be in their team’s best interest. However, Colorado is focused on building around both Christian Yelich and Shohei Ohtani by providing both young superstar players with quality depth pieces to work with them. Colorado ended the 2019 season under .500 and did not qualify for the 2019 postseason. However, a team headlined by Yelich and Ohtani and who may add another big piece or two over the course of the offseason before opening day could change Colorado’s outlook on 2020 quickly. |
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 10, 2020 18:02:13 GMT
Several international players are entering the American big leagues and seeking a Turtle Ball team to call home for the 2020 season
As teams prepare to spend their resources on well known MLB players hitting the open market, there are several players who are inexplicably garnering less spotlight. Among the hidden gems in the 2020 off-season's unrestricted free agency class are several international players coming to play in the big leagues. After playing at the major league level overseas, an intriguing crop of international players are deciding to come to the United States to try their hand at the best major league baseball platform in the world. The insiders at the Times dissected this group of hitters and pitchers coming to the league of leagues this spring and what they can bring to the table as an individual talent.
Josh Lindblom (P) A former major league reliever, Lindblom had stints with several major league clubs before deciding to play in the Korean major leagues for the past two years. With the Doosan Bears, Lindblom has reinvented himself as a starter by starting all fifty-six games and earning high honors of best pitcher in the Korean league in 2018 followed by league wide MVP in 2019. Statistically, Lindblom has posted an ERA below 3.00 in 2018 and 2019 with a strikeout to walk rate of 8 to 2. Scouts have noted that Lindblom’s progression as a starter has been his ability to add a splitter to his repertoire and becoming more reliant upon his four-seamer fastball rather than his two-seamer. At 32 years old, Lindblom has decided to try American major league baseball again by returning with a new found confidence and a refined set of skills as a pitcher. Teams here in the Turtle Ball League who are shallow at the starting pitching position could pursue Lindblom as a low-risk high-reward free agent signing. While he may be older and exiting his athletic prime, Lindblom’s success in Korea cannot be overlooked and the Times predicts Lindblom will be joining a Turtle Ball club’s starting pitching staff for the 2020 campaign.
 Shogo Akiyama (OF) Collect $200 when you pass Shogo? Should I stay or should I Shogo? Puns aside, Shogo Akiyama is coming to the big leagues this season as a highly touted jack of all trades outfielder from Japan. In Japan as a member of the Seibu Lions, Shogo had a batting average of .319 paired with a .392 on-base percentage. Shogo has been described as a “high contact guy” who puts the ball in play consistently which makes up for the fact he only hit 20 homers last year in Japan. Shogo’s ability to play in left, center and right field could be an invaluable asset to any Turtle Ball club who is weak at the outfield position or any Turtle Ball club seeking more depth in their outfield rotation. Akiyama will be 32 years old by the end of 2020 but still could have a long stint in the major leagues should his efficient hitting game transfer to big league ball in America. If a team is seeking a pilot light for their offense in 2020, they should give Shogo major consideration as a relatively affordable option.
 Yoshitomo Tsutsugo
(INF/OF) In 2019, Tsutsugo was described by several scouts as changing the future of Japanese baseball. Tsutsugo, 28, stands at six feet tall, weighs in at 205 pounds and is undoubtedly one of the best sluggers coming out of Japan this year. From 2016 to 2019, Tsutsugo batted for the DeNA Baystars at .293 along with a .594 slugging percentage and 139 home runs. Notably, Tsutsugo in his career over in Japan had 116 doubles. Tsutsugo bounced around from third-base to first-base to left field for the DeNA Baystars. Scouts predict that Tsutsugo will serve as a designated hitter or start at either hot corner in the major leagues. You may be wondering with Tsutsugo isn’t a more household name coming into 2020 like his contemporary Shohei Othani who has been moderately productive in the big leagues. The answer to that question may be that 2019 was the “weakest” of Tsutsugo’s career with the DeNA Baystars. Regardless, Tsutsugo is only 28 years old and has the prototypical physical dimensions of a big league slugger who can post gaudy numbers in the major leagues. Turtle Ball teams seeking to boost their home runs and batting average could give Tsutsugo major consideration but they may be in for a major bidding war that will take place for the Japanese star.
 Joely Rodriguez
(P) 2020 will be a homecoming for Joely Rodriguez. Nearly two years ago, Rodriguez, 28, was struggling both as major league and minor league reliever. In 2017, Rodriguez decided to head overseas to Japan to join the Chunichi Dragons baseball club. After posting an ugly 5.4 ERA as a major leaguer, Rodriguez rebounded with the Dragons by pitching at 1.85 ERA and logging a 10 to 2 strikeout to walk rate in relief. A change of scenery appears to be what was needed for the reliever in 2019 and now he is set to make his re-debut in the American major leagues for this upcoming season. Rodriguez can best be described as a “late game bridge” reliever who appears to have refound his ability to guide a team to the ninth inning to produce quality holds. Turtle Ball teams who are lacking in the holds department could take a cheap flier on Rodriguez and could be rewarded mightily should Rodriguez’s second stint in the American major leagues prove to be fruitful.
Kwang-Hyun Kim
(P) Korean baseball will be losing one of their best closers to American major league baseball in 2020. Kim, 31, is known as one of if not the best closers in Korean Baseball. Since 2007, Kim has taken the mound as the go to closer for the SK Wyverns. In his 10th season, Kim, then 29, had Tommy John surgery after sustaining a serious elbow injury. Surprisingly, after missing all of 2017, 2018 and 2019 were two of the best for Kim. In 2018, Kim posted a 2.98 ERA with a 23% strikeout rate. In 2019, Kim bested his 2018 stats by compiling a 2.51 ERA with a 23% strikeout rate. Impressively, Kim in 2019 allowed only a 0.6 homerun rate per nine innings. Kim’s ability to produce such sparkling stats during his career in Korean baseball can best be attributed to what scouts call the best slider in all of Korean baseball. Additionally, Kim has focused on adding a mean curveball to his arsenal and perfecting his control on the mound as well. Kim reminds many scouts of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Matthew Boyd both of whom are two of the best pitchers at the major league level. Turtle Ball teams seeking a productive closer who will provide both holds and saves will most likely actively pursue the Korean southpaw in the 2020 free agency period.
 Pierce Johnson
(P) Back in 2012, Pierce Johnson, now 28, was drafted to the big leagues out of college as a 6’ 2” 200 pound reliever with flashes of a major league pitching arsenal. Unfortunately, Johnson’s major league career from 2012 to 2018 was marred by inconsistency and mediocre performances on the mound. In 2019, Johnson shipped out to Japan’s Nippon Baseball League to focus on turning his career around and getting a fresh start. In Japan, Johnson flashed the greatness scouts way back in 2012 saw in him by posting a 1.38 ERA in 58 games while pitching in relief. After an impressive turn around in 2019, Johnson is seeking to return to American big league ball with a new purpose of transitioning his success in Japan to the MLB. Johnson’s rebound professionally can be best attributed to his hard work refining his curveball and his fastball which now caps out in the mid nineties. Johnson also fanned 14 hitters per nine innings and allowed just 2 home runs over the course of 58 games last season. Turtle Ball teams who are seeking to bolster their relief staff could take a look at Johnson who is preparing to make a name for himself back in the American major leagues.
 Shun Yamaguchi (P) Last but not least, Japan’s best known baseball club, the Yomuiri Giants, is losing their best starting pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi, to the American major leagues in 2020. Yamaguchi, 32, began his professional career in Japan with the Yomuiri Giants as a reliever but over the past few seasons has made a name for himself as a member of their starting rotation. In 2018, Yamaguchi pitched in 156 innings and posted a 3.69 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a 22.4% strikeout rate. In 2019, Yamaguchi blew away his 2018 numbers by creating a gaudy stat line of a 2.78 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and a 26% strikeout rate. As a starter, Yamaguchi rarely allowed an opposing batter to take him long in 2019 as he only allowed a very low 0.4 home run rate per 9 innings. While Yamaguchi may not be a very hard thrower, his splitter has been revered as the best in Japanese baseball and his off-speed pitches have been increasingly effective for him over the course of his career. It is worth noting that Yamaguchi was suspended in 2017 for an off the field incident involving drunken antics which Yamaguchi has since apologized for and has not been involved in any discipline actions since then. Yamaguchi best compares to major league pitchers such as Mike Fiers and Masahiro Tanaka who both are refined pitchers who lull batters asleep and then take them out with their own specialty pitches. For what it’s worth, the Yomuiri Giants have produced many successful Japanese gone American big league players most notably Hideki Matsui nearly a decade ago. All in all, Yamaguchi can provide to any Turtle Ball club quality starts and a high strikeout rate if he is successful in America which will most likely lead to a bidding war over the Japanese star pitcher. |
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 14, 2020 20:08:39 GMT
EDDIE ROSARIO SECURES THE BAG
SOURCES: Eddie Rosario (LF) RFA of the Chicago White Sox signs four year $82 million dollar deal with the Texas Rangers
Restricted free agency began with a bang this afternoon as sources close to the situation are telling the Times that the Texas Rangers have secured the services of outfielder Eddie Rosario for the 2020 campaign. Rosario, 28, was one of the better restricted free agent options available and a high stakes bidding war commenced on the coveted outfielder almost instantaneously. The Minnesota Twins struck the first bid but the Texas Rangers placed a subsequent steeper bid and came out on top after the back and forth bid-out between the two clubs. In the end, Rosario will be joining the Texas Rangers on a 4 year $82 million dollar deal. Additionally, Rosario will be joining a team in the Texas Rangers who finished the season at 137-96-19 and made the ALCS before losing to the eventual champion Detroit Tigers. When asked for a comment about the signing, the Rangers front office indicated that this signing was made in an effort to get another “extra impact bat” which will assist the Rangers go farther than the club got last season. In addition, the Rangers front office source stated to the Times that the club had enough cap coming off their payroll for the upcoming season to invest a high amount in a player such as Rosario. With a batting order which already touts high end names such as George Springer, Tommy Pham and Alex Bregman, the Rangers are banking on the idea that Rosario will complete their lineup and be an instant impact player for their organization. Only time will tell whether or not such a steep investment will produce better results for the Rangers in 2020. |
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 15, 2020 16:56:04 GMT
"WE WILL OUTBID YOU"
The Washington Nationals issue an ultimatum to the New York Yankees as the teams duke it out for the services of Mike "Moose" Moustakas
An all out bidding battle has broken out between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals over Miami’s versatile infielder Mike Moustakas. As of Wednesday, Moustakas received a four year, $22 million dollar deal worth an estimated $88 million from the Yankees. Moustakas’ deal is poised to become the richest deal in this offseason’s restricted free agency phase surpassing the $82 million dollar deal Eddie Rosario recently inked with the Texas Rangers. Lines have been drawn in this bidding duel and the two teams could be dug in to a point where the price for Moustakas' services could become even steeper in price. The Times is monitoring the situation closely and reached out to both teams involved in the bid battle for comment. When asked about the bidding negotiations for Moustakas, a source close to Washington’s front office stated over the phone to the Times that the Nationals are prepared to outbid the Yankees. The Nationals are in a position where their organization is flush with cash in their coffers and can out-bid nearly every team in the league in either restricted or unrestricted free agency and may very well win the “Moose sweepstakes”. However, the Miami Marlins, who own Moustakas’ rights, are monitoring the situation closely and could be preparing to match any offer the Washington Nationals settle on for Moustakas. Miami’s front office opined that they are in a position with their own cap flexibility to work on their own bidding scenarios while also entertaining the idea of retaining Moustakas for the 2020 campaign. Overall, the “Moose sweepstakes” could be foreshadowing how the remainder of restricted and unrestricted free agency works out with teams like the Washington Nationals flexing their muscles on teams who have less cap flexibility to nab the free agents they want on their team for the 2020 season.
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 16, 2020 17:03:44 GMT
DOMINOES CONTINUE TO FALL
 Several key restricted free agents have their bids matched or ink new deals with new teams
Restricted free agency has been off to a roaring start with teams across the league entering into bid offs on this year’s offseason crop of restricted free agents. Thus far, the high stakes negotiations for outfielder Eddie Rosario and infielder Mike Moustakas have stolen most of the attention for Times readers. However, several key names have come off the board and are set to return to their original teams in 2020 or move on to a new chapter in their respective careers with a new team next year. Below is a list of restricted free agents who have signed new deals and a brief analysis of how the signing will affect their team’s, or their new team’s, upcoming season.
Kevin Kiermaier (CF)
returns to BostonKiermaier will be returning to Boston in 2020. While the Dodgers and the Pirates vyed to sign the nifty center fielder, Kiermaier’s rights were picked up by the Red Sox and thus he will be returning to Beantown for the 2020 campaign. Kiermaier, 29, was acquired by the Red Sox via trade before the 2019 trade deadline and the Red Sox appear to have had significant interest coming into restricted free agency to keep their trade acquisition. Kiermaier’s signing for 2020 will keep the dynamic outfield group including himself, Josh Reddick, Justin Upton and Khris Davis intact. Kiermaier cooled off towards the end of 2019 but the Red Sox were not in the postseason mix and seem to value Kiermaier’s 2020 outlook to be a part of their revamped squad built around high profile trade acquisition Xander Bogaerts.
Tony Watson (RP)
returns to AtlantaThe Braves opted to match a bid placed by the Pirates for the services of veteran reliever Tony Watson. Watson compiled 50 strikeouts, 22 holds and a 3.75 ERA for the Braves in 2019 which appears to have been enough for the Braves to value his contributions to bring him back for 2020. Watson will be entering his ninth professional season as a relief pitcher and the Braces clearly believe that he can contribute to their future by providing veteran production for their pitching rotation in 2020 and perhaps beyond.
Jake Marisnick (OF)
signs with the New York Yankees for $4 million dollar dealVersatile outfielder Jake Marisnick will not be returning to the New York Mets in 2020 but rather will be relocating to the Bronx to play for the New York Yankees. The Mets declined to match the bid put in for the 28 year old valued at $4 million and decided to go in a different direction. Perhaps a dip in production from Marisnick made the Mets feel comfortable with parting ways with the combo outfielder. Regardless, the Yankees may have picked up some valuable outfield depth in Marisnick who may not play every game but may provide some quality at bats for their team in 2020.
Mychal Givens (RP)
to the Los Angeles DodgersGivens, 29, has been given a new team for the 2020 season and that is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays decided to part ways with the reliever and not make him a part of their 2020 strategy. Givens produced a modest stat line of 93 strikeouts and 18 saves on a 4.00 ERA in 2019. The Dodgers inked the reliever to a one year $7.1 million dollar deal. Givens could provide quality depth for the Dodgers who do not have a deep bench in their rotation and could be signing Givens to supplement their rotation by guarding against injuries that do happen which could hurt them in 2020.
Harrison Bader (OF)
signs $37.8 million dollar deal with Washington NationalsOut of Pittsburgh and off to DC, Harrison Bader is now a Washington National. Bader, 25, was offered a $37.8 bid by the Washington Nationals that the Pittsburgh Pirates declined to match. The Washington Nationals have one of the biggest budgets for this offseason and Bader represents their priciest signing thus far. However, questions remain as to the large amount of financial resources the Nationals chose to extend to Bader. In his third season, Bader took a major step back with a batting average of .205 and hitting the ball only 71 times on 347 at bats in 2019. Regardless, the Nationals are a rebuilding team and appear to be attempting to turn around their organizational woes by bringing in players who show some promise. A return to his form 2018 is very possible and it could make the Nationals bid pay off in the end should Bader rebound.
Matt Beaty (1B)
signs new deal with the New York YankeesVeteran first baseman Matt Beaty is on the move from Pittsburgh to the New York Yankees. Beaty, 26, is entering his second professional season and will be moving onto his second team as well in 2020. The Yankees had a need at first base and will be taking a chance on the second year first baseman by signing Beaty to a four year $24 million dollar deal. Pittsburgh chose to go forward with a veteran option at first base in Jesus Aguilar which gave them flexibility to part ways with their first base prospect in Beaty. In 2019, Beaty got his career off to a solid start batting .265 and driving in 46 RBIs.
Lance Lynn (SP)
off to Miami Marlins on two year $31 million dollar dealFrom the Rocky mountains to South Beach, Lance Lynn is on the move from the Rockies to the Marlins in 2020. The Marlins used part of their large offseason budget on acquiring Lynn by offering the veteran starter a two year $31 million dollar year. The Marlins are seeking to stay competitive in 2020 after making the 2019 postseason and an area of concern for the team was pitching. Over the course of 2019, no Marlins pitcher managed to record an ERA below a 4.00. Lynn, 32, threw a career high 246 strikeouts and finished the season with an impressive 3.67 ERA. Lynn will now join a contending team in the Miami Marlins and seek to repeat his impressive 2019 season in 2020.
Ian Kennedy
returns to the Baltimore OriolesKennedy will be staying put in Baltimore as the Orioles decided to match a one year $10 bid placed on the veteran closer for the 2020 season. In 2019, Kennedy redefined his career as a closer and recorded 30 saves to go along with 73 strikeouts with a 3.41 ERA. The Orioles made the postseason in 2019 and relied on their strong pitching staff to make the playoffs. However, the Orioles struggled in the saves department from start to finish in 2019 and the team made an effort to address that need by trading for Ian Kennedy from the San Diego Padres earlier this offseason. The Orioles had limited cap space to work with coming into the offseason but the organization decided matching any bid made for Kennedy in restricted free agency would be a high priority to have the closer suit up for the team in 2020. Barring any regression or health issues, Kennedy could be the missing piece for an already sturdy Baltimore pitching staff in 2020.
Tanner Roark
stays put in MiamiMiami plays defense to bring back one of their key restricted free agents as they matched an offer made by the San Franscisco Giants to Tanner Roark. The offer is worth $6 million for two years and Miami opened up their expansive checkbook to cut the veteran starter a new deal for the 2020 season. In 2019, Roark provided the Marlins with solid numbers compiling 148 strikeouts on a modest 4.28 ERA. Roark also provided the Marlins with 14 quality starts in 2019 and the team must figure more quality starts are on the horizon in 2020 for them to keep the veteran starter in his slot in their pitching rotation. With Lance Lynn joining the staff as the clear face of the pitching rotation, the pressure is off of Roark to carry the load for the Marlins pitchers and rather settle into his place in their starting rotation with ease.
Jose Peraza
signs 3 year $21 million dollar deal with the Boston Red SoxOut of the desert of Arizona and off to Beantown, Jose Peraza is on the move after the Arizona Diamondbacks declined to match an offer made to the second baseman slash shortstop in restricted free agency. Boston chose to extend to Peraza a three year deal worth $21 million. In his fifth season as a pro, Peraza hit .239 at the plate with 6 homeruns and 33 RBIs. Peraza’s numbers dipped across the board from 2018 to 2019 which makes Boston’s modest deal with Peraza a bit surprising to some insiders. Moreover, Boston pulled off a blockbuster deal for star shortstop Xander Bogaerts this offseason which makes an additional signing for another shortstop infielder redundant. Nevertheless, depth is never a bad move to make as injuries do happen and the Red Sox may be hedging their own bets to safeguard against a potential injury to Bogaerts which could leave a major hole in their roster with no replacement options without signing a player such as Peraza for 2020.
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 23, 2020 0:33:38 GMT
RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY WRAP UP
Eddie Rosario bids the Chicago White Sox faithful farewell in 2019. Rosario was signed by the Texas Rangers this month in restricted free agency. The dust has settled and the first phase of the 2020 free agency period is complete. Players who entered restricted free agency were either retained or allowed to sign off a new deal with a new team. There were some big names who entered restricted free agency such as Eddie Rosario, Nelson Cruz and Mike Moustakas. Other players like Will Smith, Howie Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez were names who teams targeted to bolster their rosters for the upcoming 2020 season. The Times wraps up restricted free agency by reviewing the remaining players who were either retained or let go and how they will affect their new team’s 2020 fortunes.
Mike Moustakas
(Re-signs with the Miami Marlins)
The Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees were all in on Moose and his services until the Miami Marlins dashed their hopes for landing the big name utility infielder. The Yankees offered Moose a four year deal for a whopping $23.5 million a year. The Miami Marlins were more than willing to open their checkbooks and cut their veteran star a matching brand new deal. Moose will be entering his ninth professional season and on a high note as he ended the 2019 season with 36 home-runs and 96 RBIs on a .271 average. In addition, Moose provides the Marlins with much needed depth should the injury bug strike at any infield position during the season. All in all, what Moose brings to the table as a veteran player was worth the lofty price tag to the Marlins. Moose rounds out Miami’s roster highlighted by young stars such as Victor Robles and Javier Baez who were no doubt elated that the Moose will be returning to Miami for the 2020 campaign.
Gio Gonzalez
(Signs with the Washington Nationals)
From the Brew Crew to the nation’s capital, Gio Gonzalez is on his way to the Washington Nationals for the 2020 season. Washington made another splash in free agency by extending a two year deal worth $13 million to the 11 year starter. Washington is on a mission this offseason to wash away their losing ways from 2019 and adding Gonzalez could go a long way to helping that cause become a reality. In 2019, Gonzalez appeared on the mound in 30 games and produced 120 strikeouts on a 4.07 ERA. A boost in quality starts and strikeouts is exactly what the doctor ordered for Washington to succeed in 2020 and signing Gio will go a long to changing Washington’s fortunes in 2020.
Nick Markakis
(Signs with the San Diego Padres)
The AL West champs are bidding a farewell to veteran outfielder Nick Markakis as the 13 year pro will not be returning to Oakland in 2020 but rather be headed off to the San Diego Padres. San Diego extended a one year $3 million dollar deal to the wily veteran outfielder which may be a very sneaky signing for the club. Markakis drove home 62 RBIs on a .285 average last season. While Markakis won’t move the needle for the Padres, he will serve a quality depth piece for their outfield group which is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Brett Gardner and Nick Markakis will form an interesting veteran outfield tandem coming off the bench for San Diego that could prove useful for this upcoming season as San Diego is primed to be competitive again.
Nelson Cruz
(Re-signs with the Detroit Tigers)
Mo-Town Cruz as he is affectionately called by the Detroit faithful will be suiting up for the Tigers again in 2020. Cruz was a huge part of bringing a championship to Detroit in 2019 making the club’s decision to bring back the long time veteran a no-brainer. Detroit’s front office remarked to the Times that they were going to do everything in their power to bring back Cruz for 2020 as they consider his value to their club to be invaluable. For one year at $14 million, Detroit managed to save a lot of capital by bringing back the veteran slugger on a very fair priced deal. Cruz’s veteran leadership and on-field clutch play provided Detroit with a valuable tool they needed on their championship run. Coming off a 41 home-run 108 RBI 2019 season, Cruz will attempt to reignite his team for another shot at the title in 2020.
Will Smith
(Signs with the Miami Marlins)
The Miami Marlins make another splash in restricted free agency by signing coveted reliever Will Smith from the Oakland Athletics. Miami offered Smith a three year deal worth $36 million and Oakland declined to match the offer. In making this move, Miami has plucked another valuable pitcher from the free agent market and has furthered its efforts to supplement its pitching staff. Signing Lance Lynn upgraded their starting rotation and adding Will Smith to their relievers will have a similar effect upon Miami’s relief staff. Smith threw 34 saves in 2019 and will look to build upon said production in 2020 when he suits up for the Miami Marlins.
Joe Kelly
(Re-signs with the Seattle Mariners)
Seattle opted to bring back Joe Kelly for the 2020 campaign by matching the 2 year $8 million dollar bid made on the veteran reliever. Kelly will return to a crowded field of pitchers in Seattle and may very well be a part of a trade package somewhere down the line in 2020 to clear the log jam at pitcher for the Mariners. Regardless, Kelly is a proven commodity at the relief pitcher position and will be a serviceable option for the Mariners to rely upon in 2020 should they decide to package him away in a trade or not to improve their overall roster.
Howie Kendrick
(Re-signs with the Baltimore Orioles)
Another Baltimore restricted free agent is staying put. Baltimore chose to match the 2 year deal worth $3 million dollars to keep Kendrick in Baltimore for 2020 and 2021. At 36 years old, Kendrick is still a very productive option at first base as he is coming off a season where he hit .344 at the plate and drove in 17 home-runs plus 62 RBIs. Baltimore acquired Kendrick from the Yankees via trade before the trade deadline in 2019 and thought it wise to keep their trade acquisition who could prove valuable for the club in 2020. Kendrick fills a true need at first base for the Orioles who will rely on him to hold down first base and provide productive offense.
Hunter Pence
(Signs with the Philadelphia Phillies)
Six pence for Hunter Pence. The Philadelphia Phillies signed Pence, 36, to a one year $6 million dollar deal in restricted free agency to which the Cincinnati Reds declined to match. Pence will be joining one of the better outfield crews in the league which touts AJ Pollock and JD Martinez. Pence may be past his prime but he still produced a solid stat line in 2019 batting for .297 and hitting 59 RBIs plus 18 home-runs. The Phillies may view Pence as the missing piece to their stout outfield crew which could lead the way offensively for the club in 2020 and beyond.
Freddy Peralta
(Signs with the Los Angeles Angels)
The Los Angeles Angels have claimed starting pitcher Freddy Peralta in restricted free agency. Peralta, 23, threw 159 strikeouts on a 4.24 ERA and a 1.293 WHIP for Tampa Bay’s starting pitching crew and was a significant part of Tampa Bay winning the American League East. Despite providing a competitive stat line for the Rays, Tampa Bay chose to move on from the 23 year old starter which allowed the Angels to sign Peralta to a 4 year $16 million dollar deal. Entering his athletic prime, the Angels long term investment in Peralta could provide the team with dividends for the club in 2020 and beyond.
Josh Phegley
(Re-signs with the Baltimore Orioles)
Phegley will be staying put for the 2020 season. No teams bid on the 33 year old catcher and thus the Orioles opted to retain their rights to Phegley. Phegley was a pleasant surprise for Baltimore in 2019 as he was a hot bat over the course of the season until finally cooling off and dealing with nagging injuries at the end of the campaign. Depth is always a plus for any club and catcher is a particularly thin position around the league making Baltimore’s move to keep the veteran catcher in their reserves behind James McCann a prudent move. |
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Post by Baltimore Orioles (Vince) on Jan 24, 2020 16:25:31 GMT
NO HOLDS BARRED
Unrestricted free agency has arrived and teams are set to engage in all out no holds barred bidding battles with each other over this year's top unrestricted free agents
When the clock strikes noon on January 24th, unrestricted free agency will commence and the Turtle Ball League see hundreds of millions of dollars spent by clubs vying to sign this years top unrestricted free agents. Teams have assembled their big boards of their targets for free agency and have put the final touches on their overall strategy to put together a competitive team for the 2020 season. Hundreds of players will be released in the open market in a matter of days and their former teams will have no way of stopping them from doing so. While there may be a few players who return to their former team on a hometown discount “lets run it back” type deal, the majority of unrestricted free agents could find new homes for 2020 seeking a fresh start or to help a club’s championship aspirations. The Times highlights the top 20 unrestricted free agents before the all out bidding battle ensues over this years free agent class.
The list of the top 20 is in no particular order but rather is a list of the most high impact players at their respective positions available for teams to bid on in the open market when unrestricted free agency begins.
Craig Stammen
A reliever with a veteran edge, Stammen could be a serviceable option for most clubs in 2020. Over the course of 2019, Stammen pitched 82 innings in relief and produced a stat line of 73 strikeouts, a 3.29 ERA and 4 saves. At 35 going on 36 years old, Stammen is a low end reliever who will most likely see his opportunities decline in 2020 based on his age and past history of injury. However, Stammen will still see the mound between 74 to 82 times and could very well replicate his 2019 stat line in 2020. A team seeking relief help could target Stammen and bring the reliever in for a year or two on a team friendly deal that could bolster their strikeouts and holds categories.
Jason Castro
Castro is entering his tenth major league season and would like it to be better than his ninth. In 2019, Castro put forth a .232 batting average and hit 13 home-runs with 30 RBIs on 232 plate appearances. With such paltry numbers at the plate, one can only ask why Castro’s name is among the top free agents in 2020 unrestricted free agency. Simply put, the catcher position is very thin and teams would be prudent to have an extra catcher on their roster. An injury at a thin position such as catcher could derail any teams hopes and dreams in 2020. Castro may not be a needle mover or a game changer, but he is a valuable depth piece that could come at a relatively cheap cost for any teams strategizing to bolster their catcher ranks for the upcoming season.
Brett Anderson
Teams seeking a back-end starter should seriously consider Brett Anderson as free agency gets under way. In 2019, Anderson pitched 176 innings (31 games) as a starter and compiled 90 strikeouts on a 3.89 ERA. Anderson may not be the sexiest choice at starting pitcher but he is consistent and reliable. Adding a potential 90-100 strikeouts to any pitching staff could take any club’s starting rotation to the next level. Anderson will probably come at a modest price tag but he may pay dividends in 2020 if he has the same level of opportunity he saw in 2019 in the pros.
Tyler White
Entering his 4th professional season, White is a candidate to break out in 2020. After changing teams several times in 2019, White never found his footing as he was only able to muster a .208 batting average coupled with 3 home-runs and 23 RBIs. With more stable footing heading into 2020, White could impress a lot of teams in 2020 should a team take a low level risk on the young first baseman. An increase in plate appearances is a sure bet for White who has all of the requisite capabilities of being any every day first baseman but was deprived of such opportunities in 2020. Should White get off on the right foot in 2020, teams who invest in the 29 year old first baseman could be rewarded with a modest 2020 campaign from him.
Jason Vargas
Vargas is another veteran starter who is hitting the open market shortly. At 36 years old, it makes sense for most teams to predict that Vargas’ physical capabilities could take a step backwards in 2020. For those who are most optimistic, Vargas was a competitive starter in 2019 as he put together a stat line of 124 strikeouts on a 4.51 ERA. Similar to fellow unrestricted free agent Brett Anderson, Vargas is not a player who will move the needle or make any team an instant contender. However, Vargas and his style of pitching is the epitome of consistency and reliability. Teams seeking a back-end starter could give Vargas serious consideration should they want to invest a year or two into the 36 year old. A repeat campaign of 100-124 strikeouts in 2020 could prove fruitful for any team seeking depth in their starting rotation or one more starter to finish off their starting rotation.
Lewis Brinson
Everyone loves a good comeback story. Lewis Brinson is a prime candidate to write such a story for himself in 2020. Brinson only played in 75 games in 2019 and as expected he had a minimal stat line which is by no means an attention grabber. However, Brinson is only 25 years old and is just entering his athletic prime meaning he is a top candidate to perhaps have a mini breakout in 2020. A review of Brinson’s stat line reveals that when given more opportunity he plays a higher rate as is the case in 2018 (.199 and 42 RBIs) compared to 2019 (.173 and 15 RBIs). Teans could potentially buy Brinson’s services are a cheap going rate and invest in him as a project piece to their team who could pay dividends down the line either this season or beyond.
Brock Holt
The do-it-all utility player, Brock Holt is hitting the open market with an intriguing case to be made to interested teams. True utility players are hard to come by in the major leagues and Holt fits the category of a true utility player. Seeing as he is eligible to play at multiple positions both in the infield and outfield, Holt’s lack of a gaudy stat line is made up for the fact that he can provide valuable depth to any team with depth issues at most positions. Holt will most often not produce a game winning stat line but he can boost any teams batting average or provide a boost for any team who should lose a player to injury. Holt may have fallen off the radar of most teams as he is not the greatest of offensive weapons but teams seeking a cost effective depth piece should give Holt more than a glance for the upcoming season.
Derrick Rodriguez
Potential is the key when it comes to assessing Derrick Rodriguez. 2019 was a step back for the 27 year old pitcher as he had a less than stellar year on the mound (99 innings pitched, 5.64 ERA and 71 strikeouts). Regardless of his subpar 2019 campaign, Rodriguez is only 27 years old and is in a good position to right the ship of his young career and get back to his winning ways we saw back in 2018 (118 innings pitched, 2.81 ERA and 89 strikeouts). Rodriguez has all the tools to have a season where he can hang between a 3-4 ERA and toss close to 100 strikeouts. A modest investment in the young pitcher could provide teams seeking starting pitching help with a viable option to turn to in 2020 and who may develop into a trade commodity at the deadline this season to help improve their roster in other ways as well.
Chase Anderson
Another Anderson’s pitching services will be for sale in free agency but this time we are discussing Chase Anderson. In 2019, Anderson was a solid starting option as he took the mound in 139 innings and threw 124 strikeouts on a 4.21 ERA. Anderson’s level of opportunity is set to remain the same in 2020 which bodes well for his chances to replicate his 2019 performance for the upcoming season. Notably, Anderson also had a 1.261 WHIP which could be useful to any club lacking in the WHIP category among their starting pitchers. All in all, Anderson is a more than serviceable option at the starting pitcher position and could be bought at a modest price that will be more than worth it should he continue his 2019 success in the 2020 campaign.
Junior Fernandez
At only 22 years of age, Fernandez is one of the youngest unrestricted free agents and perhaps most of the most compelling. In 2019, Fernandez only got 11 innings to work with where he threw 16 strikeouts on a 5.40 ERA. There is more than meets the eye with Fernandez however as his combination of potential and raw talent makes him a standout player in this years unrestricted free agent class. Usually, prospect level players are not up for bidding but a stint in the majors a few years back puts Fernandez over the threshold to be bid upon here in unrestricted free agency. The intrigue in acquiring Fernandez could allure some teams to make a modest bid on the 22 year old and make him into a project to see if he can reach his true potential as a back-end starter.
Brian Goodwin
A multi-dimensional outfield talent, Goodwin will be a sought after commodity when unrestricted free agent bidding begins. Goodwin, 29, through 2019 had a solid season compiling 17 home-runs, 47 RBIs on a .262 batting average. Goodwin’s 413 at bat appearances were the most of his three going on four year career and he made the most of his chances. Ample opportunity to put the ball in play is in store for Goodwin in 2020 and teams searching for an answer at left or center field could invest in Goodwin to fill such on a hole on their roster.
Adam Kolarek
Another player coming off a career year is 4th year pro reliever Adam Kolerak. Kolarek, 30, is by no means a household name but he may be on the radar for several teams searching for cheap relief pitching help. 55 innings pitched was a career high for Kolarek and he produced a career year posting a 3.27 ERA with 45 strikeouts and a 1.164 WHIP. Kolarek is trending in the right direction heading into 2020 and could top his 2019 numbers if he is given another opportunity to show his stuff on the rubber in 2020.
Austin Voth
Voth, 27, is hitting the open market in 2020 on the upswing of his career. 2019 was Voth’s second year as a professional pitcher and he blew away his 2018 numbers in 2019. Voth saw a career high 43 innings and produced 44 strikeouts on a 3.30 ERA compared to the previous season where he threw an ugly 6.57 ERA with only 11 strikeouts in 12 innings on the mound. Voth is a sneaky free agent in 2020 as he can serve both as a starter or a reliever in most lineups. Voth’s combination of youth and lack of recognition could lead a team or two to be vying for the services of the 27 year old pitcher who has shown he has what it takes to be a serviceable option in the major leagues.
Eric Sogard
Eric Sogard and breakout player are usually not found in the same sentence but don’t let the lack of name recognition fool you into thinking Sogard isn’t a viable free agent for 2020 free agency. In 2019, Sogard put forth a career high effort across the board as he batting .290 from the plate and drove in 40 RBIs and 13 home-runs. Despite being 33, Sogard appears to be ascending in the latter part of his athletic prime rather than descending which is an interesting story to follow. Teams who are strapped for options at second base could give Sogard a serious look and apply for his services which are on the upswing to man second base for their club in 2020.
Tyler Duffey
Teams seeking to supplement their ERA category and holds category need to put Duffey on their rader before free agency begins. In 2019, Duffey, 28, pitched in relief on a sparkling 2.50 ERA with 82 strikeouts. 57 innings pitched is worth noting as Duffey was able to time and time again in 2019 consistently produce holds for his club on the mound. At just 28 years old, Duffey has the stuff to be a well regarded relief pitcher and could be a cost effective option for teams who are seeking to bring down their teams overall ERA and boost the amount of holds their relievers will produce over the course of 2020.
Homer Bailey
Bailey, 33, will be one of the most coveted free agents out of all the free agents in 2020 for his veteran prowess and his gaudy stat lines. In 2019, Bailey at age 33 continued his solid winning ways as he took to the mound in 163 innings and threw for an ERA of 4.57 with 149 strikeouts and a 1.316 WHIP. While some teams may balk at Bailey’s 2019 ERA, it cannot be denied that Bailey is a strikeout machine and has impressive WHIP production. The Times expects Bailey to be paid handsomely by a team seeking to complete their starting pitching rotation with a solid veteran like Bailey who will provide their pitching staff with an added edge for 2020.
Tony Wolters
Wolters, 27, does not have league wide recognition but that will not stop teams from bidding on the 27 year old who is eligible to play at either the catcher or second base position. 2019 was a career year for Wolters as he hit .262 at the plate to go along with 42 RBIs. Heading into his fifth season as a pro, Wolters ability to play at both the catcher and second base position will intrigue several teams enough to place a modest bid on the utility style player. Although he did have a career high in strikeouts, it appears by Wolters career stats that the more opportunities he receives the better he preforms and the 27 year old is in line to be on the upswing when the 2020 season gets under way.
Todd Frazier
The Toddfather may be turning 34 in 2020 but he is still a viable option at the hot corner. 2019 was an up year for the 33 year old third baseman as he hit .251 at the plate and drove in 67 RBIs which top his stats from both 2018 and 2017. Many are under the belief that Frazier is over the hill and cannot produce a high level any longer, but that would be a misguided view on the reliable veteran. Frazier will not make any team an instant title contender, but he would bring a potential suitor reliable at bat appearances and provide quality depth at third base for a relatively cost effective price. Taking a flier on Frazier in 2020 could prove to be a prudent choice for any team eyeing Frazier as they may be able to capitalize on the veteran’s final year(s) of his career while he is still an effective third baseman.
Seth Lugo
Lugo, 30, is another heavily sought after reliever as free agency gets underway. The 30 year old reliever had an impressive 2019 campaign as he took to the mound in 80 innings and threw 104 strikeouts with a 2.70 ERA. Lugo could finish any teams relief pitching group and potentially could take them to the next level in 2020. A high priced bid will most likely be the key to nabbing Lugo off the open market but the Times predicts that Lugo will be worth a large investment as he is in a position to have another career year in 2020 and beyond.
Joey Wendle
A jack of all trades type player, Wendle, 29, is an intriguing option for open market free agency. Eligible to play second base, third base and shortstop, Wendle’s versatility as a pro infielder has to catch the eye of more than a few teams during the free agency period. 2019 may have not been a stellar year statistically for the 29 year old (.231 BA, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs), but injuries nagged Wendle’s entire season and caused him to have an off-putting year. The Times predicts that 2019 was an anomaly for Wendle and not a concerning trend as a glance at Wendle’s 2018 numbers (.300 BA, 7 HRs, 61 RBIs) shows that when given the opportunity to produce Wendle will provide consistent results). The winning bid for Wendle could provide any team with much needed infield depth and a candidate to be the potential most improved player of the year in 2020. |
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