Jonah Keri takes a flier on how the rest of the MLB free agent jam might break out now that the Yankees have signed Masahiro Tanaka. I agree with about two-thirds of it.
David Price will be traded to somebody during the season. The Rays
have seen Clayton Kershaw's, now Tanaka's contracts; they know that, if he has a
good year, he's going to get $20M that final arbitration year, if not more. I can
see Arizona as a possible landing spot, yes. However, other teams could push themselves in the mix, too. Boston wouldn't be a total surprise, nor would the Dodgers.
On the fly balls and Ubaldo Jimenez, hmm, yeah, he might not be a bad fit in Anaheim, and yes, it
is a bit at least on the pitcher friendly side. 3/$45 could be "fair" on
both sides.
I am less certain than Keri about future landing spots on either Kendrys Morales or Nelson Cruz. The Prince Fielder-Ian Kinsler trade let the Tigers upgrade their D, and this would be a definite step backward for a declining asset. Where Cruz does go, I'm not sure. But, Detroit doesn't dazzle. He, like Boston shortstop Stephen Drew, could wind up settling on a one-year pillow back with the home club.
And, per Keri's
analysis, I could see Morales there, but just barely. You hesitate to offer a
longer-term deal, but, with the comp picks, short-term deals aren't
good either, anymore. If I'm the Rangers, I'd prefer to cut a one-year deal with Cruz, I think.
If I'm the Rangers? I see them chasing Bronson Arroyo
before going after Morales. No, he's not Tanaka, but he's a cheap
"filler" without a tender offer from the Reds, so the Rangers don't lose
a draft pick.
Interesting possible on the Rays, on Ervin Santana. Wouldn't be a bad deal if the price is right.
I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Mariners make a run at any of the pitchers on the list.
I also expect sidebar fallout
in, say, 2016. The Cards will start looking at their young guns and
seeing about Allen Craig type contracts on one or two of them -- buying
up not just arb years but, say, 1 or 2 free agent years. So, somebody in the mix of Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and Michael Wacha could get some nice extensions in 2016; maybe Trevor Rosenthal in 2017.
A skeptical leftist's, or post-capitalist's, or eco-socialist's blog, including skepticism about leftism (and related things under other labels), but even more about other issues of politics. Free of duopoly and minor party ties. Also, a skeptical look at Gnu Atheism, religion, social sciences, more.
Note: Labels can help describe people but should never be used to pin them to an anthill.
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