Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: National Treasure
Friday, January 23, 2015
The Nationals boasted one of the strongest rotations in baseball in 2014. It will somehow be even better this year.
The fantasy season is over, but baseball never stops. For all the latest news and notes around the league, keep refreshing Rotoworld’s player news page and also be sure to follow @Rotoworld_BB and @Nate_Grimm on Twitter.
The Nats snagged the biggest fish on the free agent market when they finalized a seven-year, $210 million deal with Max Scherzer on Wednesday. The deal fell just short of the record for a pitcher, as Clayton Kershaw received a seven-year, $215 million extension from the Dodgers last January.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo offered an easy assessment of the club’s interest in the right-hander.
“We strengthened a strength,” Rizzo said. “Who wouldn’t want Max Scherzer?”
And for Scherzer, who wouldn’t want to pitch for the Nationals? All five Nationals starters reached double-digits in wins last season, the fielders play strong defense behind their pitchers and the club had one of the best bullpens in the league last year. There’s reason to believe the 30-year-old can actually improve on a 2014 season in which he went 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA and 252/63 K/BB ratio.
As for the Nats’ rotation, the loser in the deal appears to be Tanner Roark. While the possibility exists that the Nationals will deal one of Stephen Strasburg or Jordan Zimmermann, the more likely scenario is that the team will keep both starters with an aim on winning a championship in 2015 before Zimmermann and Ian Desmond walk out the door.
Valbuena Out; Bryant In?
The Cubs traded away a third baseman Monday. It’s unclear whether his departure will clear the way for the team’s top prospect.
The club dealt Luis Valbuena, who made 105 starts at third base last season, and Dan Straily to the Astros for Dexter Fowler. Fowler became expendable for the Astros when they acquired fellow outfielder Evan Gattis from the Braves last week. In Chicago, Fowler immediately becomes the team’s starting center fielder.
With Valbuena gone, the question becomes when top prospect Kris Bryant will make his debut. The 23-year-old mauled minor league pitching last season, batting .325/.438/.661 with 43 home runs and 110 RBI.
Despite the obvious potential for a chain reaction, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said the Valbuena move doesn’t necessarily impact Bryant’s situation.
“When Kris is ready, when we think he’s ready to come up to the big leagues, we’ll make that decision but certainly trading Valbuena will not speed up that clock at all,” Hoyer said. “It’s all dependent on Kris.”
Shields Watch
With Scherzer off the market, all eyes have turned to James Shields.
The 33-year-old is the cream of the crop among remaining free agents, and his suitors appear to be many. In the aftermath of the Scherzer signing, ESPN’s Jayson Stark was told a lot of teams were “jumping back in” on Shields. One of those teams is the Marlins, who Jim Bowden of ESPN said “are closely monitoring” Shields.
Where Shields ends up may be whichever team gives him the most money. Shields is said to be seeking a five-year, $125 million deal. While that may not be realistic — reports have teams hesitant to go much beyond $80 million for the veteran — if the right team offers him something close, it could get the deal done.
One thing is for certain — with pitchers and catchers reporting in less than a month, Shields will have a new home somewhere in short order.
Quick Hits: Scherzer wasn’t the only noteworthy pitcher changing addresses this week, as the Rangers acquired former Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo for a package of prospects headlined by infielder Luis Sardinas. Gallardo’s strikeout totals were already on the decline in Milwaukee, and the move to the American League and a homer-friendly park means the right-hander will have to continue to coax grounder after grounder to be effective in his new home … Ryan Vogelsong appeared close to a one-year deal with the Astros earlier in the week, but as of Thursday the Giants were working on a deal with the veteran to return to San Francisco. Vogelsong owned a 4.00 ERA as a member of the Giants’ staff in 2014 … The White Sox signed Geovany Soto to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Soto was unable to secure a major league deal after injuries limited him to 24 games last year … Jesus Montero, who was the recipient of an ice cream sandwich as part of a cruel joke last season, is down to 235 pounds in advance of spring training. Montero checked in at 275 pounds last season, so perhaps this shows he’s serious about trying to cash in on his vast potential as a hitter … Jurickson Profar (shoulder) will extend his throwing to 60 feet on Monday. Profar is trying to return to health after injuries wiped out his entire 2014 season … Jayson Werth (shoulder) said his goal is to be ready for the start of the regular season. Even if he isn’t, the 2-3 month recovery from AC joint surgery he underwent earlier this month should put him on course to return shortly after the season starts at the latest … The Braves further strengthened their case for weirdest offseason Thursday with the signing of Jonny Gomes to a one-year, $4 million contract. Gomes is exactly the kind of part-time player and clubhouse presence a team needs to get them from 80 to 82 wins.
The Nationals boasted one of the strongest rotations in baseball in 2014. It will somehow be even better this year.
The fantasy season is over, but baseball never stops. For all the latest news and notes around the league, keep refreshing Rotoworld’s player news page and also be sure to follow @Rotoworld_BB and @Nate_Grimm on Twitter.
The Nats snagged the biggest fish on the free agent market when they finalized a seven-year, $210 million deal with Max Scherzer on Wednesday. The deal fell just short of the record for a pitcher, as Clayton Kershaw received a seven-year, $215 million extension from the Dodgers last January.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo offered an easy assessment of the club’s interest in the right-hander.
“We strengthened a strength,” Rizzo said. “Who wouldn’t want Max Scherzer?”
And for Scherzer, who wouldn’t want to pitch for the Nationals? All five Nationals starters reached double-digits in wins last season, the fielders play strong defense behind their pitchers and the club had one of the best bullpens in the league last year. There’s reason to believe the 30-year-old can actually improve on a 2014 season in which he went 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA and 252/63 K/BB ratio.
As for the Nats’ rotation, the loser in the deal appears to be Tanner Roark. While the possibility exists that the Nationals will deal one of Stephen Strasburg or Jordan Zimmermann, the more likely scenario is that the team will keep both starters with an aim on winning a championship in 2015 before Zimmermann and Ian Desmond walk out the door.
Valbuena Out; Bryant In?
The Cubs traded away a third baseman Monday. It’s unclear whether his departure will clear the way for the team’s top prospect.
The club dealt Luis Valbuena, who made 105 starts at third base last season, and Dan Straily to the Astros for Dexter Fowler. Fowler became expendable for the Astros when they acquired fellow outfielder Evan Gattis from the Braves last week. In Chicago, Fowler immediately becomes the team’s starting center fielder.
With Valbuena gone, the question becomes when top prospect Kris Bryant will make his debut. The 23-year-old mauled minor league pitching last season, batting .325/.438/.661 with 43 home runs and 110 RBI.
Despite the obvious potential for a chain reaction, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said the Valbuena move doesn’t necessarily impact Bryant’s situation.
“When Kris is ready, when we think he’s ready to come up to the big leagues, we’ll make that decision but certainly trading Valbuena will not speed up that clock at all,” Hoyer said. “It’s all dependent on Kris.”
Shields Watch
With Scherzer off the market, all eyes have turned to James Shields.
The 33-year-old is the cream of the crop among remaining free agents, and his suitors appear to be many. In the aftermath of the Scherzer signing, ESPN’s Jayson Stark was told a lot of teams were “jumping back in” on Shields. One of those teams is the Marlins, who Jim Bowden of ESPN said “are closely monitoring” Shields.
Where Shields ends up may be whichever team gives him the most money. Shields is said to be seeking a five-year, $125 million deal. While that may not be realistic — reports have teams hesitant to go much beyond $80 million for the veteran — if the right team offers him something close, it could get the deal done.
One thing is for certain — with pitchers and catchers reporting in less than a month, Shields will have a new home somewhere in short order.
Quick Hits: Scherzer wasn’t the only noteworthy pitcher changing addresses this week, as the Rangers acquired former Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo for a package of prospects headlined by infielder Luis Sardinas. Gallardo’s strikeout totals were already on the decline in Milwaukee, and the move to the American League and a homer-friendly park means the right-hander will have to continue to coax grounder after grounder to be effective in his new home … Ryan Vogelsong appeared close to a one-year deal with the Astros earlier in the week, but as of Thursday the Giants were working on a deal with the veteran to return to San Francisco. Vogelsong owned a 4.00 ERA as a member of the Giants’ staff in 2014 … The White Sox signed Geovany Soto to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Soto was unable to secure a major league deal after injuries limited him to 24 games last year … Jesus Montero, who was the recipient of an ice cream sandwich as part of a cruel joke last season, is down to 235 pounds in advance of spring training. Montero checked in at 275 pounds last season, so perhaps this shows he’s serious about trying to cash in on his vast potential as a hitter … Jurickson Profar (shoulder) will extend his throwing to 60 feet on Monday. Profar is trying to return to health after injuries wiped out his entire 2014 season … Jayson Werth (shoulder) said his goal is to be ready for the start of the regular season. Even if he isn’t, the 2-3 month recovery from AC joint surgery he underwent earlier this month should put him on course to return shortly after the season starts at the latest … The Braves further strengthened their case for weirdest offseason Thursday with the signing of Jonny Gomes to a one-year, $4 million contract. Gomes is exactly the kind of part-time player and clubhouse presence a team needs to get them from 80 to 82 wins.
Recommended article: Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.
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