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Free-agent pitcher Doug Fister saw a down 2015 season with the Washington Nationals have him removed from the starting rotation and into the bullpen. This offseason, he is looking for a new team. 

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Detroit Showing Interest

Wednesday, Nov. 18

According to ESPN The Magazine‘s Buster Olney, the Tigers are one of the known teams that have expressed interest in Fister. 

Before his stint in Washington, Fister spent three seasons with the Tigers from 2011-2013, when he went 32-20 with a 3.29 ERA. Detroit traded him after the 2013 season to the Nationals for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and Robbie Ray.    

His first season with the Nationals was the finest of his career. He went 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA before his tough 2015 that included a forearm injury that sidelined him for over a month. 

An arm of his caliber, though, is something to be coveted for teams in need of pitching. And Detroit general manager Al Avila has expressed his desire to add arms, per the Detroit Free Press‘ Anthony Fenech.

The Tigers have already done so in the bullpen, picking up reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com. Now they can set their sights on Fister. 

After dealing David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, Detroit lacked any sort of threat in its pitching staff—especially with a struggling Justin Verlander, who went 5-8 with a 3.38 ERA after starting his season in June because of injury. 

The rest of the starting rotation fared much worse, as the lowest ERA from a pitcher who started more than 10 games not named Price or Verlander was 4.99. In fact, Tigers pitching was ranked third from the bottom of the league with 746 runs allowed in 2015.

Verlander will most likely be Detroit’s ace in 2016, but adding Fister to the rotation would add a nice one-two punch to the Tigers’ starters. Fister has proved he can succeed in Detroit, and his presence in the rotation could help turn things around for the Tigers come next season. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The Toronto Blue Jays and starting pitcher Marco Estrada agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract Friday, according to Shi Davidi and Mike Wilner of Sportsnet. 

Estrada saw his one-year, $3.9 million deal expire at the end of the 2015 season, per Spotrac, and had the option to accept a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer or test free agency, per Davidi and Wilner. 

Sportsnet’s Greg Brady seemed happy about the deal:

The 32-year-old Estrada had the best season of his career in 2015, going 13-8 with a 3.13 ERA during his first year in Toronto. Only David Price and Marcus Stroman, who made just four starts, had lower ERAs among the starters on the Blue Jays staff.

But with Price testing the free-agent market, the Blue Jays faced the possibility of losing their two best starters. No one else who made at least 25 starts had an ERA lower than 3.81 for Toronto in 2015. 

Stroman, one of the brightest young stars on the staff, was excited about the news:

The Blue Jays can now focus on trying to retain Price for next season and further build their staff. On an offensive juggernaut of a team that featured Troy Tulowitzki, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, pitching largely kept the Blue Jays from securing a World Series berth as they fell to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.

If they can find a way to sign Price, though, the Blue Jays would have a good-looking top three for next season.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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First baseman Chris Davis is starting to garner interest on the free-agent market after his one-year, $12 million contract expired at the end of the 2015 season, according to Spotrac.com. 

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Davis’ Options Starting to Show

Thursday, Nov. 12

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Baltimore Orioles met with Davis’ agent, Scott Boras, on Wednesday. Heyman noted “there’s still work to do there.”

But the Orioles, who have had Davis for the past five seasons, look to have some competition this offseason.    

Per Heyman, Davis has been linked with the Los Angeles Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Angels look like they’re preparing for a busy offseason, as Heyman reported they have also shown interest in left-handed free agents Daniel Murphy, Alex Gordon and Jason Heyward. Obviously some lefty pop at the plate is a priority for Los Angeles next season.   

Of the Angels’ starters in 2015, right fielder Kole Calhoun, who hit 26 home runs and drove in 83 runs as the team’s best left-handed option, is the only one they received a solid contribution from. 

Picking up Davis and playing him at first base could keep Albert Pujols fresh as a designated hitter. Pujols recently underwent foot surgery that could sideline him for the start of the 2016 season, according to the Los Angeles Times‘ Dylan Hernandez. 

St. Louis seems like a team that needs Davis more. Despite winning 100 games last year, it received limited production from its first basemen in Mark Reynolds and Matt Adams. Last season, the two combined for a .235 batting average with 18 home runs and 72 RBI. 

While that combination isn’t terrible, it holds nothing to Davis’ 47 home runs and 117 RBI. 

But it is ultimately going to come down to the almighty dollar.

The Angels have done some serious spending over the past few years with a team payroll of $129.3 million, fourth in the majors, according to Spotrac.com. So they would have to be the front-runners if he is looking for a max deal. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The Seattle Mariners announced Thursday they acquired relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit from the San Diego Padres.

In return, the Padres obtained a pair of minor leaguers: right-handed pitcher Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward.

The 38-year-old Benoit spent the past two seasons with the Padres in one of the most successful stretches of his career, posting a 1.96 ERA in 119.2 innings.

In the Mariners’ announcement, executive vice president and general manager Jerry Dipoto spoke of his new acquisition: “Joaquin is a proven late-game presence who brings both stability and impact to the back end of our bullpen. We value his experience, track record of durability and consistently high-end performance.”

Benoit’s presence will be a welcome sight for the Mariners, whose bullpen ERA ballooned from 2.59 in 2014 to 4.15; that ranked 25th in the league, according to ESPN.com.

Seattle will part ways with De Los Santos, who went 6-0 with a 3.47 ERA in the Northwest and Arizona leagues, and Ward, who batted .278 in multiple levels of A-ball in 2015.

The Mariners are the first team to take advantage of what looks to be a busy offseason for the Padres. San Diego has already been linked to Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, per Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Gaining a veteran bullpen arm in Benoit to help close out games can only help the Mariners, who blew 24 saves this past season, per ESPN.

Minor league stats courtesy of MiLB.com.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons is one of the smoothest fielders in the game and possesses a productive bat. But his time in Atlanta has run out, as he is reportedly on his way to the Los Angeles Angels.

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Simmons Traded to Angels

Thursday, Nov. 12

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported the move. According to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman, the Braves received top pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis, along with shortstop Erick Aybar and “about” $3 million. 

Buster Olney of ESPN.com, citing sources, previously reported the Angels were “among the teams” talking to Atlanta regarding Simmons, adding that Erick Aybar is under contract for only one more season.

Rockies Did Not Pursue Simmons

Thursday, Nov. 12

Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported the Colorado Rockies were not involved in trade discussions for Simmons.

Braves Asked for Top Starter from Mets

Thursday, Nov. 12

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported New York inquired on Simmons, only to be told it would take either Matt Harvey or Jacob deGrom in return. Sherman added there was “no way” the Mets would meet those demands. 

Dodgers Had Interest in Simmons

Thursday, Nov. 12

Sherman reported on the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ interest, adding that talks are at “very early stages.”

Padres Expressed Interest in Simmons

Wednesday, Nov. 11 

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s Dennis Lin, the San Diego Padres called the Braves about Simmons but were nowhere near a deal.

Simmons Has Developed Into One of Baseball’s Best Defensive Players

The 26-year-old batted .265 with four home runs and 44 RBI in 2015, but it’s his play in the field that has left the biggest mark. On Wednesday, he was named the 2015 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year for all position players, according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

O’Brien delved into Simmons’ fielding prowess:

Simmons, widely regarded as the best defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel, has won the Fielding Bible and Wilson awards as the majors’ best shortstop in all three of his full major league seasons. He had won consecutive National League shortstop Gold Gloves before the surprising announcement Tuesday that the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford had edged him out for this year’s award.

Simmons has the range to make any grounder look like a possible out and a cannon of an arm to gun down even the speediest of runners. MLB on Twitter highlighted one of his finest plays in the field:

With the kind of play Simmons has shown over his first four seasons, the Braves might be getting a few more offers for their shortstop. While it might be difficult dealing one of the team’s brightest stars, getting multiple assets may address more glaring problems within the Braves roster. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg is recovering after undergoing surgery to remove a growth in his back, per Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi. 

Continue for updates.

Scott Boras: Growth ‘Caused Discomfort While Pitching’

Wednesday, Nov. 11

Scott Boras confirmed the back issues affected Strasburg’s performance during the season and that the pitcher is feeling better following the procedure, per Morosi.

The injury saga continues for Strasburg, who has made 30-plus starts in a single season just twice in his six-year career.

After a slew of injuries in 2015 that included neck tightness and an oblique strain, he most recently returned from a back issue that forced him out of an August 30 start against the Colorado Rockies that sidelined him for 10 days. 

With the timing of the back procedure, Strasburg will have plenty of rest to recover before spring training begins.

There’s no question it will be imperative that Strasburg has a big season—both for his own career and his team’s benefit.

Washington still has the pieces to win right now, and hiring Dusty Baker showed the franchise’s commitment to competing for a World Series in 2016. If the Nationals lose Jordan Zimmermann to free agency this winter, Strasburg will be a key piece of the starting rotation.

The 27-year-old also has a lot on the line since he has just one more year of arbitration left before hitting the open market. The right-hander is in line for a massive payday should he pitch well and remain healthy next year. Given his recent history, those are both big question marks.

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Washington Nationals reliever Drew Storen went from one of the most reliable relievers in the league to a bullpen liability as the Nats failed to meet preseason expectations in a lackluster 2015. Now, the right-hander finds himself the subject of trade rumors.

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Nationals Interested in Trading Storen

Tuesday, Nov. 10 

It looks like Storen won’t be a member of the Nationals bullpen for much longer. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team is “considering deals” for the former closer who had previously asked to be traded. 

In 2014, Storen was unhittable at times, recording a 1.12 ERA in 56.1 innings. Things changed in 2015, when Storen allowed 23 runs in 55.0 innings, including a pair of appearances in which he allowed the division-rival New York Mets to come back or take the lead in the late innings during the final months of the season. 

When the team acquired closer Jonathan Papelbon, Storen didn’t seem too thrilled about the move, as he told Chris Johnson of MASN:

Really, all I’m gonna say is that obviously I’m aware of the move. I’ve talked to (Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo) about it. I’ve talked to my agent. We’ve had some ongoing discussions. Until those have progressed, I’m just gonna leave it at that and no comment for now. But as the situation goes, I’ll keep you guys posted.

It’s apparent his relationship with the organization has been strained over the past few months, and it might be beyond repair, especially if the team decides to hold on to Papelbon, whom it’s also receiving calls for, according to Heyman.    

Teams who are looking for back-end help in their bullpen should take a good look at Storen. Immersing him in a new setting and new culture could do wonders for a reliever who is still capable of dominating. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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On Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired utility man Chris Herrmann from the Minnesota Twins for minor league outfielder Daniel Palka, according to Diamondbacks commentator Steve Berthiaume. 

Herrmann appeared in 43 games for the Twins during the 2015 season, batting .146 with two home runs and 10 RBI. At 27 years old, he has never appeared in more than 57 games in a single major league season. 

A versatile player, Herrmann appeared at catcher, first base and right field this past season and added an extra, somewhat experienced bat on the bench. 

In return, the Twins received the 23-year-old Palka, who completed just his third season in the minor leagues. This year, in which he played for the Visalia Rawhide of advanced A-ball, Palka launched 29 home runs and 90 RBI in 129 games. 

Palka was hitting .362 in the Arizona Fall League entering Nov. 3 and ranked as the Diamondbacks’ 29th-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. 

With Palka’s recent successes in the minors, ESPN Sweet Spot’s Jeff Wiser thinks the Diamondbacks could have gotten more:

For now, though, the Diamondbacks receive a bat that is ready for the majors, though he might not provide much of a punch. Herrmann can come off the bench in Arizona to provide relief for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and catcher Welington Castillo. 

The true impact of the deal, though, won’t be fully realized until Palka makes the jump to the majors. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The Detroit Tigers‘ July trade of closer Joakim Soria to the Pittsburgh Pirates isn’t working out too well at the moment. According to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, the prospect the Pirates dealt to Detroit, shortstop JaCoby Jones, was suspended Thursday for 50 games because of a second positive test for a “drug of abuse.”

Jones, who played his college baseball at LSU, is the 10th-rated prospect in the Tigers’ farm system, splitting time between Double-A and advanced Single-A ball during 2015. He hit .257 with 16 home runs and 80 RBI in 133 games combined this season. 

He wowed fans upon his arrival to the Tigers organization, hitting three home runs during his third game with the Erie SeaWolves of Double-A ball. MiLB has the replay of his third home run, where his strength was on display:    

While he has shown promise in the power department, he has plenty of work to do just putting the ball in play, as Tigers assistant general manager David Chadd told Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: “We’d like to see him cut the strikeouts down and be more patient at the plate. It’s hard to do. It’s hard to ask a young power hitter to have knowledge of the strike zone this early in his career.”

The 23-year-old’s chances are running out, as many organizations will not likely have patience for such offenses.

Stats courtesy of MiLB.com.

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No matter how great the thrill of winning a championship might be, sports are a business. Reserve outfielder Jonny Gomes found that out the hard way on Thursday as the Kansas City Royals announced they have declined their club option on the veteran, making him a free agent. 

According to Spotrac.com, the option was for one year worth $4 million. 

Gomes played just 12 games with the Royals, none during their postseason run to their first World Series title in 30 years. He was traded to Kansas City from the Atlanta Braves at the beginning of September as the Royals became his fourth team in the past two seasons.

While his play was limited during his time in Kansas City, he’ll be best remembered for his speech during the team’s World Series parade, per ESPN:

The Kansas City Star‘s Andy McCullough has an idea for Gomes now that he is a free agent:

At 34 years old, Gomes holds a .242 career batting average with 162 home runs in 13 seasons and also won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. While his numbers have never jumped off of the page, he has been a veteran presence on winning teams over the past few seasons. 

He indeed made his presence felt during this Royals World Series run. Christian Colon, the player who delivered the game-winning hit in Game 5 against the New York Mets, spoke about Gomes’ impact to Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews (h/t Pat Bradley of NESN.com). 

“Jonny Gomes, he was just taking me under his wing, letting me know what I needed to do in certain situations,” Colon said. “That’s why you bring a guy over (in a trade).”

For many teams, that is the kind of player they wouldn’t mind having on their roster. Expect organizations with a plethora of young players, especially in the outfield, to make a move for Gomes and bring him on to help guide them in the big leagues.     

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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