Jose Bautista back to the Blue Jays on a 2-year deal seemed to be what we were hearing Monday night. Tuesday morning we’re still waiting, and according to Jon Heyman it may not be anywhere near close to being a done deal. Heyman suggested that the Rays and Indians might still be in the race to add Bautista giving the Jays some competition. He won’t get the $150 million he wanted. He won’t get the five years he was shooting for. Seems like he won’t necessarily have to go back to Toronto with his tail between his legs though as he apparently has options (finally).
NOTE: Bautista did indeed sign with the Blue Jays on what could end up being a 3-year deal.
Talked about Keon Broxton on the show yesterday. Here is some of the audio from that discussion. Are your thoughts in line with mine about the Brewers wanna be fantasy star?
Danny Duffy had a good season last year. Still hasn’t thrown 180-innings in a campaign and has only two good major league seasons. His reward was a five-year, $65 million. I wish my Dad had made me throw left-handed like he did. This seems like an awful lot of coin to give a guy when his home team is the Royals. It’s not like that small market club can afford to pay their 4th starter that much. Wait, they signed Ian Kennedy to a 5-year, $70 million deal and then proceeded to complain about his effort while contemplating trading him last year. Kennedy posted a 3.68 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 184 strikeouts over 195.2 innings by the way. Meanwhile, Duffy posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 188 strikeouts over 179.2 innings. See much difference there? I don’t. For more on Duffy get geared up for his soon to be released Player Profile. The Player Profile Series is in full swing in the 2017 MLB Draft Guide. There are articles and videos in there at present with a total of 10 profiles already posted as the section continues to grow daily. The latest additions are Jon Gray, Rick Porcello, Dallas Keuchel & Adam Duvall.
The Hall of Fame vote is about to be released. I wrote about the current class and my thoughts in 2017 MLB HOF Ballot.
Josh Hamilton has signed a minor league deal with the Rangers for the minimum ($535,000). If his knee, or any other part of his body breaks, Hamilton can ask for his release on April 1st. Hamilton turns 36 this season and is attempting to come back from a blown up knee that he had surgery on in June 2016. The 2013 season was the last time he was relevant, and even then he wasn’t all that impressive (.250-21-79-73). Seems like the years of hard living have rendered him a 46 year old in a 36 year old’s body.
Wil Myers has agreed to a six-year deal with a seventh-year option to remain with the Padres. The contract is worth $83 million. Wow. Have one good year, after a couple of injury plagued, disappointing season, and here comes the money truck. I will be breaking down Myers in the aforementioned Player Profile Series. I think that’s a lot of coin to be sending Myers way given a relative lack of upper level production. #PlayItForwardPadres
The Player Profile Series, in the Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide, is up and running. We will have videos and articles on players like: Rick Porcello, Jake Arrieta, Danny Duffy, Felix Hernandez, Andrew McCutchen, Randal Grichuk, Adam Duvall, Gary Sanchez and so many more. To gain access to the profiles, and the rest of the Guide, click on the link that will take you to the on-going greatness.
Michael Saunders agreed to a 1-year, $9 million deal with the Phillies (the contract has a second year that is a club option at $11 million). The data. (1) Saunders went .298-16-42-49 in the first half with a .923 OPS last season. (2) Saunders went .178-8-15-21 in the second half with a .638 OPS. (3) He appeared in 140 games overall, a career best. It was his first effort in three years of more than 80-games played. (4) Saunders has stolen four bases his last 227 games. (5) Saunders is a career .235 hitter with a .711 OPS. Saunders is an NL-only play on draft day. Don’t pay attention in mixed leagues.
Jorge Soler is now with the Royals. A talented fella, reports are now circulating that he was benched on many occasions last season for a lack of hustle with the Cubs. This is simply unacceptable. You learn as an eight year old to hustle. I was taught, by my Pony League coach at 13 years of age, that once my foot stepped across the chalk line I was to run. If I walked on the field I would be benched. How is a professional in need of constant reminders of that? You would think when a guy was failing to match expectations that he would at least be hustling to make it look like he cared. This makes me nervous with Soler. I don’t know if he can stay healthy. I don’t know if he can be anything more than what he’s shown, but I do know that if he doesn’t change his attitude it won’t matter how talented he is. The Royals will give him every chance to excel. I’m not sold he will in 2017.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).