Non-NYM winter 22/23 comings and goings

[Frayed Knot]

Been meaning to start this one for the last week or two -- tracking stuff such as Rizzo re-upping w/the Yanx, etc*. -- but just getting to it now with the news overnight

that the Dodgers have non-tendered 2019 MVP Cody Bellinger making him a FA.



After he OPS'd his way to a 1035 OPS (167 OPS+) season in 2019 where he was also simultaneously LAD's best defensive CF and their best 1B (and maybe their best

base-runner not named Betts), in exactly 900 PA across the 2021/2022 seasons the still just 27 y/o Bellinger put up a slash line of: .193/.256/.355 // 611 (64 OPS+)

w/244 Ks in 819 ABs.



That's not a downward slide it's a cratering, one that really started the very next year as he fell from that 1035 OPS in '19 to 789 in '20 which points to the idea that

he maybe never really recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained during an over-the-top celebration in the '19 playoff series vs Washington.











* although, as always, if you think something deserves its own thread then give it its own thread

[smg58]

I don't even know if "cratering" does Bellinger's fall sufficient justice.



Other than Bellinger, not a whole lot of noteworthy names that I could see. One name I could see the Mets looking into is Jarlin Garcia, who has been a serviceable lefty out of the pen over several years for the Giants. 65 IP with a 3.50 or so ERA from any reliever would be worth the $2.5M the Giants weren't willing to give him.

Edited November 19, 2022 by Guest

[smg58]

In an odd trade, the Twins trade Gio Urshela to the Angels for a mid-teens prospect. I would think a .285/.338/.429 third baseman who wouldn't kill you at short making $8M could get a lot more than that. Perhaps the Twins were in a hurry to free a roster spot or had their eyes on that particular prospect, but I don't get this one.

[smg58]

There was another interesting non-tender. Alex Reyes got the boot from St. Louis. He has all kinds of talent, but he's missed multiple whole seasons (2022 included).

[smg58]

I don't even know if "cratering" does Bellinger's fall sufficient justice. Other than Bellinger, not a whole lot of noteworthy names that I could see. One name I could see the Mets looking into is Jarlin Garcia, who has been a serviceable lefty out of the pen over several years for the Giants. 65 IP with a 3.50 or so ERA from any reliever would be worth the $2.5M the Giants weren't willing to give him.

[Edgy MD]

The Blue Jays/Mariners trade* of Teoscar Hernandez for Erik Swanson and lefthanded pitching prospect Adam Macko is Met-relevant because it reportedly sets up the Blue Jays jumping feet-first into the Zimmo market.



* They probably made the deal after bumping into each other at the Class of '77's 45th Anniversary Reunion.

[smg58]

That one makes no sense at face value either; Swanson had a really good year, but the Mariners sold him very high. Even if the Jays do sign Nimmo, they'll be paying a huge premium for a defensive upgrade. And obviously, I hope they don't sign Nimmo.

[MFS62]

The Los Angeles Angels acquired power-hitting outfielder Hunter Renfroe in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for three young pitchers Tuesday night.



Milwaukee received right-handers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero, and minor league lefty Adam Seminaris.

Renroe is good. The pitchers seem to be nothing special.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

How good can someone named "Junk" be?

[Edgy MD]

Famed scout Astro Jetson is very high on Renroe.

[Frayed Knot]

Reconstructive elbow surgery for Bryce Harper.

Likely out until the ASB in '23 and slated as the full-time DH when he does come back with a possible return to RF towards the end of the year.

A partially torn UCL, along with a broken thumb due to a HBP, kept him sidelined and/or DH'ing for much of '22

[smg58]

Well if anybody can afford to think long-term, it's Bryce Harper.



It probably helps the Phillies long-term as well, but they might have some ground to make up next year by the time he gets back.

[TransMonk]

Any reason for waiting so long to perform the surgery? Seems like they could have done it a few weeks ago and gotten the jump on the recovery period.

[MFS62]

Any reason for waiting so long to perform the surgery? Seems like they could have done it a few weeks ago and gotten the jump on the recovery period.

I'm not a Doctor but my mother aways wanted me to be one.

The only thing I can think of is he might have re-inured it by playing in the world series and they had to wait for swelling to go down before they could operate.



And I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express, either.





Later

[MFS62]

The White Sox have signed right-hander Mike Clevinger to a one-year contract worth $8 million. The 31-year-old made 22 starts for the Padres after returning from Tommy John surgery, turning in a 4.33 ERA/4.97 FIP (86 ERA+) and a 1.198 WHIP with 91 strikeouts in 114 1/3 innings (7.2 K/9).

Later

[ashie62]

Jose Abreu is said to be going to the Astros



Age 35 three years 50 million

[G-Fafif]

Self-styled Met villain heads back to NL.

[MFS62]

Kershaw back to LA on a one year deal.

Later

[G-Fafif]

We can stop harboring uniform-based disdain for ex-Brave Kenley Jansen.

[MFS62]

OF Masataka Yoshida signs a 5 year deal with the Red Sox.

Rats! There goes my sleeper pick in the FA contest.

Oh well, we didn't lose Mangum.

Later

[nymr83]

=MFS62 post_id=114265 time=1670458467 user_id=60]
OF Masataka Yoshida signs a 5 year deal with the Red Sox.

Rats! There goes my sleeper pick in the FA contest.

Oh well, we didn't lose Mangum.

Later

[MFS62]

=nymr83 post_id=114331 time=1670534764 user_id=54]
=MFS62 post_id=114265 time=1670458467 user_id=60]
OF Masataka Yoshida signs a 5 year deal with the Red Sox.

Rats! There goes my sleeper pick in the FA contest.

Oh well, we didn't lose Mangum.

Later

[The Hot Corner]

I would like to see a righthanded DH that could help out in the field (1st base, OF, third base or catcher) when necessaqry. I believe that to some extent, the Mets are likely figuring Alvarez as a possibility for such a role. He may not be ready defensively to assume the primary catching duties, but his power is legit and if he can hit .250 with power he will provide a substantial upgrade over what Ruf provided last year. I expect the Mets will give Alvarez every opportunity to show he can contribute at the ML level. Hopefully, he will be up to the task.



That said, I would not be surprised to see them obtain a right handed bat to help fill the role and lessen their potential dependence on the youngster Alvarez. If we end up with 2 dangerous righthanded bats, even better.

[MFS62]

According to Jeff Passan, the Braves have traded for A's catcher Sean Murphy.

No other details available yet.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

What does this mean for Travis?

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: What does this mean for Travis?

He's 33, has one more year (and one option year) left on his contract.

Murphy won a Gold Glove (grrrrr, shoulda' been Nido).

Their hitting stats were fairly similar.

Travis caught a little over 100 games last year.

Maybe they're afraid he's wearing down.

Later

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

It was a 3-catcher deal. A's get Milwaukee's Manny Pina. Milwaukee gets William Contreras, Braves get Murphy.



I think the A's get some other shit too

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: What does this mean for Travis?

Since it's a swap of catchers, it shouldn't really affect Travis at all.

William Contreras (younger brother of Willson who hopped from the Cubs to the Cards recently) was a 24 y/o All Star this past year w/the Braves and

actually out-HR'd and out-OPS'd TdA in fewer ABs (Braves catchers combined for 38 HRs in 2022).

Sounds like maybe the Braves are opting for defense over offense.

Murphy won a Gold Glove (grrrrr, shoulda' been Nido).

Even if I were to buy the idea that Nido's defense was so spectacular last year in his 86 starts behind the plate that his was robbed of a Gold Glove

(which I don't) you do realize that he and Murphy were in different leagues and therefore one player couldn't have stolen the award from the other, right?

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: you do realize that he and Murphy were in different leagues and therefore one player couldn't have stolen the award from the other, right?

Yes.

I should have written that as "As so should have Nido ".

Later

[The Hot Corner]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: What does this mean for Travis?

Likely he becomes the back up catcher with some time at DH against lefties.