Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Walk in the Park
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The team that won the $12.85 million bid on the rights to negotiate with Korean power-hitting first baseman Byung-ho Park will be revealed on Monday. We do know a bunch of teams that are not in the running, and those include the Indians (per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian), Orioles (per the Baltimore Sun’s Dan Connolly), Rangers, Athletics, Padres (all per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports), Red Sox (Passan again), Royals (Passan), Braves (Passan), Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels (all per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports), Mariners (Heyman), Marlins (Heyman), Diamondbacks (per the Arizona Republic’s Zach Buchanan), and Rays (per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times).
For those keeping score at home, that leaves the Cubs, White Sox, Reds, Rockies, Tigers, Astros, Brewers, Twins, Phillies, Pirates, Giants, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Nationals. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo described this situation well, tweeting, “This whole ‘ruling teams out one by one on Byung-ho Park‘ thing is like the plot from the weirdest Agatha Christie novel ever.”
The team that won the bid has 30 days to work out a deal with Park. If the two sides are unable to come to an agreement, the Heroes would not keep the $12.85 million posting fee.
Park, 29, has posted Ruthian numbers over the past two seasons with KBO’s Nexen Heroes. In 2014, he hit .303/.433/.686 with 52 home runs and 124 RBI in 571 plate appearances. This past season, he hit .343/.436/.714 with 53 home runs and 146 RBI in 622 PA. The KBO has a lower standard of play compared to Major League Baseball – Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang hit 40 home runs there in 2014 – but the numbers are still impressive. Of course, Park’s eventual signing team and fantasy owners shouldn’t expect him to post power numbers into the ionosphere.
Sanchez wins AFL Fall Stars MVP Award
Yankees catching prospect Gary Sanchez shined in the Arizona Fall League’s Fall Stars Game, helping the West squad take down the East squad. Sanchez ripped a two-run home run in a 1-for-3 effort while nabbing two attempted base-stealers. The home run was one of three two-run jacks the West hit in an 8-3 victory on Saturday night.
Sanchez, 22, fell off global top-100 prospect rankings after the 2014 season but he rebounded to hit an aggregate .274/.330/.485 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 400 plate appearances between Double-A Trenton (254 PA) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (146 PA). Sanchez is also hitting well in the AFL, batting .328 with six home runs and 17 RBI in 64 at-bats.
In due time, Sanchez could become the Yankees’ everyday option behind the plate once current catcher Brian McCann transitions to first base or DH.
Dodgers Add Geren into the Mix
Newsday’s Marc Carig reports that Mets bench coach Bob Geren interviewed with the Dodgers for their vacant managerial position. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports that Darin Erstad also interviewed with the Dodgers late last week, but the favorites are considered to be Gabe Kapler and Dave Roberts.
Also in the mix for the opening are Kirk Gibson, Dave Martinez, and Bud Black. Among the seven names, Geren, Gibson, and Black are the only ones with prior managing experience at the major league level.
Geren was at the helm of the Athletics over five seasons from 2007-11, ultimately being let go 63 games into the 2011 season. Overall, the A’s played to a 334-376 record, missing the post-season in all five seasons. Since 2012, Geren has served as a third base coach and as a bench coach for the Mets.
Qualifying Offers Made
20 free agents received $15.8 million qualifying offers ahead of Friday’s deadline. They are:
Colby Rasmus, Astros
Marco Estrada, Blue Jays
Jason Heyward, Cardinals
John Lackey, Cardinals
Dexter Fowler, Cubs
Brett Anderson, Dodgers
Zack Greinke, Dodgers
Howie Kendrick, Dodgers
Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
Daniel Murphy, Mets
Ian Desmond, Nationals
Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
Wei-Yin Chen, Orioles
Chris Davis, Orioles
Matt Wieters, Orioles
Ian Kennedy, Padres
Justin Upton, Padres
Yovani Gallardo, Rangers
Alex Gordon, Royals
Jeff Samardzija, White Sox
Since the qualifying offer system was implemented, a player has yet to accept. Among the 20 who received QO’s this year, there are several candidates who might accept, including Estrada, Rasmus, Lackey, Anderson, and Kennedy.
Quick Hits: The Reds don’t expect starter Homer Bailey (elbow) back until mid-May … The Rays reportedly see Brad Miller, acquired in a six-player trade with the Mariners on Thursday, as a starting shortstop … Starter Ian Kennedy could potentially become the first player to accept a qualifying offer, but he is expected to turn down the Padres’ $15.8 million QO according to a report … The Angels hired former major league catcher Jose Molina as their catching coordinator on Saturday … The Cubs claimed reliever Ryan Cook off waivers from the Red Sox on Friday … Mets outfielder Michael Cuddyer underwent “core muscle” surgery on Thursday … The Athletics claimed outfielder Andrew Lambo off waivers from the Pirates on Friday … The Dodgers declined team options on second baseman Chase Utley, starter Bronson Arroyo, and reliever Joel Peralta on Friday.
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