Dylan Bundy (forearm) and Hunter Harvey (elbow) both appear on track for 2016. At this point it seems likely that Hunter will begin the year in the low minors operating as a starting pitcher. Bundy? He might make the big league team as a starter, or a reliever, since he is out of options and cannot be sent back to the minors which will force the O’s hand. Even if his stuff isn’t upper echelon elite as it used to be, Bundy knows how to pitch and should have a long and successful career if he can only stay healthy…
Wei-Yin Chen is in deep negotiations with the Marlins and has reportedly agreed to a 5-year, $80 million deal. The lefty is 30 years old, and has been a very good hurler the past couple of seasons in particular for the Orioles. It’s not easy to pitch in the AL East, but the last two seasons Chen has posted ERAs of 3.54 and 3.34 and WHIP marks of 1.23 and 1.22. It’s fair to surmise that a move to the NL, especially if it’s to a bigger park like the Marlins home yard, would allow Chen to improve upon those ratios. Chen doesn’t beat himself, 2.19 walks per nine over the course of 117 career starts, but the homer has been an issue (1.24 per nine for his career). The NL is calling you Wei-Yin…
Seung-Hwan Oh has been signed to a one-year contract, with a club option, with the Cardinals. He should slide into the setup role in front of Trevor Rosenthal in St. Louis. “Stone Buddha” struck out 772 batters in 646.1 innings during his time in Japan and Correa.
Why do I keep using ellipses today?
Gerardo Parra has apparently signed a 3-year deal with the Rockies worth a reported $27.5 million. Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve got in Parra heading into 2016. Parr hit 14 homers and stole 14 bases last season. That’s the second 10/10 season of his career which began back in 2009. He could easily go 10/10 again, but 15/15 is his upside. Why? He just doesn’t drive the ball. Only twice in seven seasons has he reached 10 homers, and only once has he had a SLG over .430. He’s stolen 14 bases three times and is about a bazillion times more likely to steal 20 bases than he is to hit 15 homers in 2016, even in Colorado. He’s just a guy with decent skills in those two cats. He did hit .291 in 2016 but that comes from a guy who is a career .277 hitter. He’s not a big average option hitting .275 only one time in four seasons. He’s just a moderate talent but if he plays every day in Colorado, the Rockies need to deal an outfielder, he is an intriguing OF4 option in mixed leagues.
Brandon Maurer will come to spring training as a starting pitcher according to San Diego GM A.J. Preller. "One of the things is he wants to do it," said Preller. "You put a lot of stock in that." His manager, Andy Green, said this. “"Brandon, in Seattle, was very young as a starter. "Brandon, in Seattle, was very young as a starter." So if he starts, who will the closer be for the Padres? Could it be Drew Pomeranz? He, Jon Edwards or Kevin Quackenbush appear to be the three top options. Quackenbush seems like the top option as a guys with more than a K per inning through two seasons out of the Padres pen (he has a 3.28 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 112.2 innings). This story is nowhere near settled.
We did the first mock draft Monday night for the Fantasy Alarm 2016 MLB Draft Guide. Love doing those. My first selection was Bryce Harper. You’ll have to check when we post the Guide as to what pick overall that he was.
Yaisel Sierra, a 24 year old Cuban starting pitcher, has signed a 6-year deal with the Dodgers (reports suggest the contract could be for $30-35 million). The right hander could start, but with the Dodgers rotation seemingly full (Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda, Brett Anderson, Alex Wood, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy), it’s seems likely that Sierra could end up in the bullpen. Here’s a link to a little scouting report on Sierra.
Michael Wacha has a 3.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP for his career. He also owns a 7.95 K/9 rate. Over 353 innings. He has to prove he can throw 200 innings, he tossed 181.1 last season, but boy is he an intriguing name.
I just cannot get enough of the S. Potty.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 8 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).