2021 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes

[flyers19rw]

Maybe they are willing to let him go back to Texas to end his career near home. Then again, maybe they know that he needs TJ surgery and is pretty much toast at this point between his arm and back.

[bkox]

Dodgers sign Free Agent Andrew Heaney to a 1 year 8.5M contract... not waiting for the new CBA.

[andyb]

Dodgers sign Free Agent Andrew Heaney to a 1 year 8.5M contract... not waiting for the new CBA.

The Athletic digs into why Heaney got decent money. Short answer is good stuff and K/BB rates and ratios. Teams figure they can teach command a little more if the raw stuff is there.

Sarris: In search of the next Robbie Ray, a bargain strikeout pitcher who could...

[bkox]

Sources: The Tigers are close to finalizing a multiyear deal with free agent LHP Eduardo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez had a 4.16 ERA and 3.32 FIP last season for the Red Sox. Finished sixth in Cy Young voting in 2019.

— Cody Stavenhagen ( @CodyStavenhagen ) November 15, 2021

Eduardo Rodriguez’s deal, once finalized, will pay him $77 million over five years, sources tell ESPN. Detroit gets the youngest starter on the market to add to its young-and-talented rotation. Tigers are on the come-up. @CodyStavenhagen had the deal in place first.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) November 15, 2021

[Philsmania]

A lot of teams are trying to get ahead of the CBA by making moves and signings now. This is the kind of thing which would caught Klentak flat-footed. Hopefully, Dombrowski will be able to effectively navigate this new--or at least current--normal.

[zambonir]

I wouldn't say a lot - there have been what, literally three signings until now? And this is the first one who is on anyone's Top 50 list.

I also wouldn't say Klentak was ever caught flat-footed, the Segura deals and Cutch/Wheeler/Didi signings were all done very quickly (in December) while the Harper and Arrieta deals had to play out slowly (and saved the Phillies money as a result.

But it will be interesting to see what the next two weeks bring. Is there "the guy" they're willing to try and lock up? If they're not intent on a shortstop I don't know that there is. Lots of bats out there. CF is tougher but I wouldn't go giving Starling Marte an extra year just because you're afraid of a more competitive environment in February.

[zambonir]

He inherited Klentak from DiPoto, but hey, you never know.

Mets offer Billy Eppler open general manager position: Sources

[bkox]

The Braves announced Monday that they’ve signed veteran catcher Manny Pina to a two-year contract worth $8MM.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/braves-sign-manny-pina.html

[andyb]

He is probably worth that, though if he is technically the backup it is a lot to pay for that even if he plays 40% of the time (and with the DH teams with a decent offensive catcher will often shoot for a 60-40 playing time split).

The Phillies do need a better backup but I can't see us paying more than $2 million because I imagine even under the broadest Realmuto at DH scenarios they still probably want JT starting 110-120 games at catcher, not 90-100 absent injuries).

[bkox]

BREAKING: Right-hander Noah Syndergaard and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a one-year, $21 million deal, pending physical, sources tell ESPN.

The Angels bolster their staff with the highest-upside arm on the market — and pay a heavy price, plus a second-rounder.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) November 16, 2021

Right-hander José Berríos and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a seven-year, $131 million contract extension, sources confirm to ESPN. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the fifth season and limited no-trade protection as well. @deplaymaker was on top of it.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) November 16, 2021

[zambonir]

Between losing Thor and the Eppler hire Mets fans are pretty cranky.

[andyb]

Losing Thor was probably the right move for the Mets. Getting a pick for a guy that signs a 1-year deal elsewhere is not a bad return. Kind of amazing the Angels would offer that without getting a longer guarantee from the player.

[zambonir]

I mean, maybe, but he's a beloved player and one year really limits the risk. And the pick is basically a third-rounder (since it's not a multi-year deal and comes after competitive balance round). I'm sure he wasn't willing to give the Mets that same deal though, whatever extension talks they might have had fell apart, but the way it feels for the fans right now is they could have just kept him for an extra $3 million.

Maybe he'll be on the Phillies come August

You gotta wonder how the new CBA will deal with the QO rules. Will there be two sets of rules, one for transactions before and one after?

[andyb]

You gotta wonder how the new CBA will deal with the QO rules. Will there be two sets of rules, one for transactions before and one after?

I would guess there is one set of rules. Since compensation from signing teams is pretty unpopular with the players it is probably one thing the owners will give on because I don't think the low end of the compensation free agents sets the market at all. It is the high end setting prices.

So I expect compensation to continue as some sort of sandwich pick based on the value of the contract signed (which will dictate where the sandwich pick round is).

Frankly I am not sure why they need compensation at all as it is another clear advantage to the large market teams over the small market teams. Shared revenues and luxury tax thresholds is really what the market needs, not compensation that is skewed towards wealthier clubs.

[andyb]

Brandon Belt is the only QO free agent to accept. Everyone else rejects the offer though Verlander is resigning with Houston.

Iglesias is a QO free agent which makes him less attractive as a closer. A trade for one now seems more likely (though I have mixed feelings about a Kimbrel for Segura deal that has been mentioned).

[Philsmania]

Losing Thor was probably the right move for the Mets. Getting a pick for a guy that signs a 1-year deal elsewhere is not a bad return. Kind of amazing the Angels would offer that without getting a longer guarantee from the player.

Until the Mets offered the QO, I was very interested in signing Thor to a pillow deal. Not so much after the QO.

[zambonir]

Does it count as a pillow deal when it's that big, especially considering the expectation that he can't go more than 150 innings? (I mean, I guess for the player it does, i.e. a very comfy pillow).

[Squire]

Wander Franco and the Tampa Rays have agreed to a 12 year/$223 million contract.

[California_Dreamin]

Squire...I have few real regrets in life but one of them is that I never got to meet you. I doubt that you remember it but we were both at a Phillies-Brewers game together in 2005 and actually talked on the phone and were trying to meet. This was during the height of the Jim Thome mania and I think he homered that day, I know the Phils won the game. Not sure why we didn't hook up, think we were on opposite ends of the stadium that day but I left town the next day and never got to meet you. Always thought it was my loss.

However, for those long time posters, I did meet and become friends with tgo, a true Phillie insider, who was friends with Ed Wade and would regularly and consistently post interesting and oft times prescient Phillie info. Believe he broke the Jim Thome and David Bell signings and even posted a "Phils sign Tom Glavine" thread. He was premature about that one and Glavine instead went to the Mets at the last minute.

[andyb]

That might be a good idea on JBJ. Looks like $11 million for 2022. Defense was still very good last year and one wonders if the offense will bounce back to something in the 650 OPS range. That becomes a 1-2 WAR player who now has negative trade value (in other words he comes for free to get a Hader trade done).

Kiermaier is owed $14.6 million and is a bit older. He is coming off a better but still very average year. I'd say the odds are 60-40 that Kiermaier is better next year but he would cost a prospect or two.

Frankly there is a case to add JBJ for free (or such a minor prospect nobody cares) independent of any Hader deal. 50-50 chance of solving CF for a year at a cost only of money. And if it does not work maybe internal solutions like Moniak or Haseley or Vierling or Muzziotti are looking better by midseason (recognizing we probably deal at least one of those in the offseason).