Updating the Hottest Questions of the 2014-2015 MLB Offseason, Week 4
Major League Baseball's offseason is barely a month old, and already there are all sorts of rumors and speculation—and questions—around a number of free agents and trade candidates, as well as teams' objectives and plans of attack.
Some of the latest center on the fallout from the Boston Red Sox's spending spree, the possibility of Jon Lester being the first big-name pitcher to change teams and the impact of Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Having hit on a number of topics last time, what better way to continue taking the temperature of the hot stove than by running through a batch of the hottest questions to cover the latest potential transaction action across the sport?
See, that's a question in and of itself, although the five to follow are a bit more meaningful. Promise.
With Hanley Ramirez Gone, Who Plays Shortstop for the Dodgers in 2015?
1 of 5
After spending two-and-a-half years playing shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hanley Ramirez left for the Boston Red Sox this week, inking a four-year, $88 million deal.
Because of his declining defense and the presence of youngster Xander Bogaerts, Ramirez is going to play left field rather than short. But his departure still leaves the Dodgers sans a shortstop for 2015 at this moment.
The club appears to be aiming for a stopgap option at this point, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. The possibilities could include free agents Jed Lowrie, Asdrubal Cabrera and Stephen Drew, or Alexei Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins via trade.
The reason the Dodgers aren't necessarily feeling a need to land a long-term solution? New president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman thinks top prospect Corey Seager, L.A.'s top pick in 2012, has it in him to stick at short early in his MLB career.
Here's what Friedman told Gurnick after spending time watching Seager, the younger brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle, during the Arizona Fall League:
"I'm convinced that I would not move him off shortstop right now—his hands work really well, and we have a number of guys who think he has a real chance to stick there. The few number of games we got to see him, he had a number of different chances and completed plays from all different angles. ... It's a difficult thing to project but we're going to give him every chance; it's of significant value if he can play there. The little I've gotten to know him, I would not bet against him.
"
While the 20-year-old Seager, who hit .349/.402/.602 with 50 doubles and 20 homers across High- and Double-A in 2014, still needs more time in the minors, he could make a push to join the Dodgers in early 2016—or perhaps even late 2015—if he performs as well as he did this year.
What's Next for the Giants Now That Pablo Sandoval Has Bolted?
2 of 5
That Pablo Sandoval would up and leave the organization that brought him into the bigs and with which he won three World Series was at least mildly surprising, especially considering the San Francisco Giants did offer a similar contract to the five-year, $95 million pact he landed from Boston, per CSN Bay Area.
To fill the void at third base, the Giants likely will have to bring someone in, unless they want to wind up being stuck with the likes of Joaquin Arias, Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall at the hot corner.
"Knowing how [general manager Brian] Sabean operates," as Doug Miller of MLB.com writes, "it seems wise to assume that the Giants will prefer to look outside the organization to fill the significant void left by the Panda."
San Francisco does have some options, including Chase Headley, who now has become the top name at the position in free agency. Thing is, to get the switch-hitter, the Giants will have to compete with, among others, the New York Yankees, who would like to bring Headley back after trading for him midseason, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
Otherwise, the possibilities include lesser names like Alberto Callaspo and Mark Reynolds, or perhaps going after former shortstops Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera to put at third.
Regardless, losing Panda leaves a large hole in San Francisco, and not because Sandoval is a physically big dude.
What Do the Red Sox Do After Splurging on Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval?
3 of 5
The Red Sox dished out nearly $200 million to obtain Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval in one fell swoop earlier this week. That makes them a lot better on offense but also means they have plenty still to do, primarily to address their rather empty rotation.
The expectation is that GM Ben Cherington will remain busy given the glut of outfielders, corner infielders and designated hitter types that now populate the 25-man roster, especially since Ramirez will be moving to left field from shortstop.
Among Boston's movable pieces are (deep breath now) Yoenis Cespedes, Mike Napoli, Allen Craig, Shane Victorino, Jackie Bradley Jr., Daniel Nava, Brock Holt and Will Middlebrooks. And while the club would prefer to hang on to Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, it's not impossible that the two young stars-in-the-making could be swapped.
Again, the Red Sox need pitching that badly. The only pitcher with at least 50 big league starts on his resume is the enigmatic Clay Buchholz, who sandwiched 2013's 1.74 ERA with a 4.56 ERA in 2012 and a 5.34 ERA this past season.
"The Phillies' Cole Hamels, Padres' Andrew Cashner, Reds' Johnny Cueto and Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann are among the available," as Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes, "and the Red Sox are now arguably better positioned to land one (or more) than any other team."
A deep farm system could help, too, if prospects like Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Garin Cecchini, Matt Barnes and Anthony Ranaudo are on the table.
Expect the Red Sox to make one trade—at least—involving a major league bat in order to obtain a pitcher for their unproven, inexperienced staff.
.png?w=256)
What's the Latest on the Market for Jon Lester?
4 of 5
Of the three big-name free-agent pitchers—Max Scherzer, James Shields and Jon Lester—the latter one has had the most heat on him so far. To paraphrase Will Ferrell's Mugatu from Zoolander: "Lester...so hot right now...Lester."
The Red Sox have put an offer on the table, in the range of $110 million to $120 million over six years, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.
But the Chicago Cubs also apparently have presented Lester with an even larger chunk of change, at more than $135 million for six years, according to David Kaplan of CSN Chicago.
Then there are the Atlanta Braves, who have acquired right-handers Shelby Miller and Arodys Vizcaino already this offseason and met with the left-hander recently, as David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Also in the mix? The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, with a note from Jim Bowden of ESPN that Lester will meet with the defending world champions next week.
At this point, it looks likely that Lester will be the first big domino to fall in a pitching market that is loaded with talent, both free agents and trade targets.
What's the Impact of Yasmany Tomas Signing with the Diamondbacks?
5 of 5There's a lot to consider with the news that Yasmany Tomas, the next potential Cuban phenom to hit the majors, has agreed to a six-year, $68.5 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.
First off, this means the other teams who had been in the hunt for the slugging outfielder, namely the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves, now must turn their attention elsewhere, as Austin Laymance of MLB.com writes.
Second, the Diamondbacks' new front office needed to make a splash and bring in some talent after the club finished with the worst record in baseball. With Tomas and the No. 1 overall pick coming in next June's draft, mission accomplished.
Plus, now Arizona has trade chips among its outfielders, including Ender Inciarte, David Peralta and perhaps even A.J. Pollock, who is the likely starting center fielder between Tomas and Mark Trumbo.
That puts even more names in the trade market among outfielders for the Red Sox to compete with while trying to trade Yoenis Cespedes, Allen Craig and company.
Speaking of Boston, outfielder Rusney Castillo still holds the record for largest contract ever inked by an international free agent from Cuba at $72.5 million over seven years. Tomas, however, is getting more in average annual value than Castillo and Jose Abreu, who signed for six years and $68 million flat in October 2013.
Furthermore, with Victor Martinez staying with the Detroit Tigers, Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez going to Boston from the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, as well as Russell Martin leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates for the Toronto Blue Jays and Adam LaRoche heading to the Chicago White Sox from the Washington Nationals, Tomas represents the first big free-agent signing by a National League club this offseason.
Good to see the Senior Circuit actually getting in the game.
Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
