Thanksgiving week tends to make for a sluggish one in the case of sizzling range season. Nonetheless, the day after the vacation is more likely to restore some from their slumber, leading to a brand new inflow of rumors, information, and notes. With that in thoughts, you will discover all of the highlights from Friday under.
Rays pursuing Nimmo
Rely the Rays among the many groups with curiosity in free-agent middle fielder Brandon Nimmo, based on Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman additionally mentions the Giants, Blue Jays, and Mets as events.
Nimmo is, by far, the highest center-field possibility obtainable in a barren market. CBS Sports activities ranked him because the seventh greatest free agent, writing the next:
Juan Soto. Freddie Freeman. Bryce Harper. Aaron Choose. Paul Goldschmidt. What do these 5 gamers have in widespread? They’re the one batters with no less than 1,000 plate appearances throughout the Pandemic Period to achieve base extra steadily than Nimmo did. He is greater than a reasonably on-base: he is made enhancements each as a middle fielder and as a platoon-disadvantaged hitter, because the final two seasons have represented two of his three greatest single-season performances versus southpaws. If there’s a stain on his T-shirt, it is his durability. Nimmo has appeared in additional than 100 video games simply twice (thrice if you happen to prorate his 2020 marketing campaign over 162 video games). The physique would not are likely to develop extra sturdy as one ages, however Nimmo’s top-of-the-order bat and middle-of-the-field glove ought to internet him a profitable long-term deal anyway.
The Rays, who bid adieu to their long-time centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier earlier this winter by declining a membership possibility, would however look like an unlikely candidate to land Nimmo. They seldom hand out the sort of long-term deal that Nimmo appears in line to obtain, and a loaded short-term deal would presumably be matched (or toppled) by a kind of larger-market groups additionally within the operating for his providers. But the Rays have been reportedly certainly one of the finalists on Freddie Freeman final offseason, so who is aware of.
Padres concerned about shortstops, Bogaerts included
You’ll be able to by no means depend out Padres common manager A.J. Preller from making a splash. That is why it should not come as too large of a shock that Jon Heyman of the New York Publish reported on Friday that Preller and the Padres are concerned about including a shortstop, with Xander Bogaerts rising as a possible candidate.
CBS Sports activities lately ranked Bogaerts because the fifth greatest free agent obtainable this offseason:
Bogaerts is the Max Martin of shortstops, a constant hitmaker with a glowing trophy case. In every of the final 5 seasons, he is appeared in no less than 84 p.c of his staff’s video games and has produced an OPS+ north of 125. He can hit for common, he can stroll, and he is largely hit for energy. This season proved to be an exception on that final be aware, although a late Could collision with Alex Verdugo that resulted in wrist and shoulder discomfort could be in charge. Defensively, Bogaerts has been a number of years away from transferring off shortstop for, oh, a decade now. Statcast knowledge confirms that he nonetheless would not have top-end pace or arm energy relative to his friends. It isn’t straightforward to persuade a big-league staff you are playable on the six for this lengthy except you are doing one thing proper. Even when Bogaerts is requested by his subsequent employer to shift elsewhere, you need to give him credit score for the laborious work he put into bettering his protection. Do be aware that Bogaerts opted out of his contract with three years and $60 million remaining, suggesting he is seeking to enhance on an AAV of $20 million. He ought to, simply.
The Padres would appear to be an unrealistic candidate for Bogaerts. In spite of everything, they already make use of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim. San Diego might slide Tatis to the outfield and Kim to a reserve position, in Heyman’s estimation. In fact, the most probably end result has the Padres ending their pursuit as soon as bidding ticks up, or after they make one other notable addition. San Diego has already been linked to José Abreu.
Adames, Brewers have mentioned extension
Shortstop Willy Adames, two seasons away from free company, had broached the extension subject with David Stearns earlier than the latter stepped down from his place on the prime of Milwaukee’s baseball operations division, based on MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.
“We have had conversations about that, and I allow them to know that clearly I wish to keep,” Adames mentioned. “I prefer it right here. I simply must do my job and let my brokers deal with that.”
The Brewers have already lower ties with Hunter Renfroe and Brent Suter this winter, resulting in hypothesis they might proceed to disassemble their roster to chop payroll. Adames, then, would make for an apparent commerce candidate given his monitor file of efficiency and his comparatively low price versus the highest free-agent shortstops.
Presuming the Brewers stay concerned about extending Adames, although, it appears extra possible than not that he would stay on the town till the completion of these talks.
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