As of now, the bulk of the MLB offseason activity is complete. The majority of the major free agents have signed. And if a blockbuster trade was going to take place, chances are it would have happened by now.
Five weeks remain between now and some of the most optimistic words in baseball:
“Pitchers and catchers report.”
Before then, there are some things that still need to sort themselves out. While most of the MLB offseason is over, these storylines still need some sort of resolution.
With the clock ticking down to the beginning of Spring Training, General Manager Jack Zduriencik and the Seattle Mariners continue to search high and low for ways to improve their roster.
To recap, GM Z has made a slew of minor moves including the acquisition of Robert Andino, re-signing Hisashi Iwakuma and Oliver Perez, and bringing in veteran outfielders Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay.
To date Seattle has made only one “big” move, trading Jason Vargas to the Los Angeles Angels for 1B/DH Kendrys Morales.
With questions still remaining on how the Mariners will improve their roster, GM Z and the rest of ownership have a bevy of options still available to them.
Here’s a look at the top five ways the Mariners can improve before spring training.
The Seattle Mariners need more offensive production if they are going to compete in the American League West.
They need Michael Bourn—preferably now before he signs somewhere else.
There have been a few rumors of late regarding the speedy outfielder, and one has to wonder where the supposedly coveted Bourn may eventually land.
Has the market played out to the point where Bourn will be forced to accept a lesser offer?
Moves have been made by the Mariners, such as the acquisition of Kendrys Morales and the free-agent signings of Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez, and something tells me that the Rangers, Angels and A’s are not scared by these transactions.
Bourn is not the type of player who can solve all of the needs of a historically weak-hitting Mariners lineup. However, he would certainly help.
Consider what Bourn would bring to the lineup. He would be a true leadoff man, which is something that Seattle currently lacks in its lineup. Dustin Ackley could theoretically bat first, but that is not necessarily a guaranteed solution.
Given that the Mariners batted .234 as a team in 2012, it would be nice to add a player with a .272 lifetime average.
Granted, a 30-year-old is not necessarily going to improve his hitting in the future, but Bourn did hit .274 in 2012, and one would hope that Bourn would not decline too quickly.
The Mariners would also benefit from Bourn’s base-stealing ability, as he swiped 42 bags in 2012 and 61 in 2011.
Seattle may not be very interested in a player like Bourn, simply because he would not necessarily provide a great deal of power. Bourn’s nine home runs in 2012 were a career high, but he only has 22 dingers since breaking into the majors in 2006.
You can understand why the Mariners might be a bit hesitant to throw big money at someone like Bourn. His age is a concern, and his asking price might be beyond what the Mariners want to spend.
If Bourn signs a four- or five-year deal and hits .240 in his first year, Seattle could be facing another Chone Figgins-like situation.
Signing Bourn would add to the logjam in the outfield, but the reality is that Seattle does not really have a bevy of proven commodities in the grassy areas of Safeco Field.
Franklin Gutierrez could continue to struggle with health issues. Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez may not have much left in the tank.
Michael Saunders, Casper Wells, Alex Liddi, Carlos Peguero and Eric Thames may struggle mightily to hit .250 for the season.
Translation? It is not hard to argue that none of the outfielders’ jobs are safe.
Supposedly, the Mariners offered Josh Hamilton a four-year deal worth $100 million, though, according to The Seattle Times, Hamilton downplayed Seattle’s pursuit.
Seattle clearly should not offer that much money to Bourn. If anything, it would be prudent to offer less than half of that amount. If Bourn wants to sign for five or more years, walk away.
Three years would probably be best.
At this point, the Mariners may only be part of the conversation because they always seem to be in need of an upgrade in their lineup. However, this may still be a good move.
Go get him, Mariners.
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What was anticipated as being a big offseason for the Seattle Mariners has been anything but. To this point, Seattle has re-signed pitchers Oliver Pérez and Hisashi Iwakuma, traded for Robert Andino and Kendrys Morales, and signed free-agent outfielders Jason Bay and Raúl Ibañez.
Although Jack Zduriencik hasn’t signed any marquee free agents this winter, several big names are still on the market. Among ESPN’s top 50 free agents, two in the top 10 are still available: outfielder Michael Bourn and pitcher Kyle Lohse.
Any of the aforementioned star players would be a valuable and welcomed addition to the Pacific Northwest, but here’s why the Mariners’ front office should focus all their attention on two-time Gold Glove winner and All-Star Michael Bourn.
It was rather shocking to see Michael Bourn‘s name linked to the New York Yankees this winter.
It’s shocking because the Yankees already have their outfield all set for the 2013 season with Brett Gardner in left, Curtis Granderson in center and the recently re-signed Ichiro Suzuki in right.
However, in a story done this week by Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Yankees were “quietly” in on the center fielder, but only if the price tag dropped.
According to Wallace Matthews of ESPN, that will not be happening, as a source has told Matthews that there is “no chance” the Bombers pursue Bourn.
For those who were hoping for the Yankees to go after Bourn, I’d hate to be the one to tell you this, but it makes sense that the Yankees aren’t interested.
Why? Because the Yankees already have that kind of player on their roster in Gardner.
Both are known for their tremendous speed in the outfield and on the basepaths, neither are any resemblance of a power hitter and have geared their games toward being a leadoff hitter and both are left-handed.
And that’s exactly what the Yankees have a lot of in their outfield and lineup, lefty hitters.
Right now, they are currently searching for a right-handed outfield bat and both Scott Hairston of the Mets and Vernon Wells of the Angels have been linked to the Yankees as possibilities for that spot.
Because Bourn is the last top center fielder on the free agent market, he has become a prime target for teams like the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers; both teams who lost out on Josh Hamilton.
And if you asked me right now where Bourn lands, I’d say either one of those spots depending on who is willing to pony up a little more dough for the soon-to-be 30-year-old.
Most people like Matthews are waiting for the Yankees to “make their big splash” of the winter.
That’s something the Yankees haven’t done yet, but there’s still a lot of winter offseason left before pitchers and catchers report.
However, it looks like Bourn just won’t be that “big splash.”
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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Many of MLB‘s top 2013 free agents have made some surprising moves in the last week, but there still are a few great players left on the major league market.
The list is shrinking at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace, and these players are sure to find homes soon.
Michael Bourn is at the top of the list, with rumors coming from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports that the Dodgers might even consider getting rid of Andre Ethier for the speedy center fielder.
Bourn is coming off of his second All-Star season and his most productive since he entered the league. Last year, the journeyman hit nine home runs and 57 RBI, but was a productive defender and aggressive on base.
It would be a surprising move, but at this point any place Bourn lands would be shocking, considering deals with the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals went sour after they looked elsewhere.
Nick Swisher is still available and was also mentioned in the report about the Dodgers shopping Ethier.
However, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweeted that talks between Swisher and L.A. haven’t progressed:
i’m sure nick swisher, who lives in LA, wants to be a dodger. but source close to team says 1 talk w/ NS came “weeks ago”
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 18, 2012
The Indians just unloaded right fielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Reds in a three-team deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, landing center fielder Drew Stubbs and pitcher Trevor Bauer. Though the trade has potential to pay off for the Indians, they need a power hitter to replace Shin-Soo Choo in right field.
Swisher is coming off a 24-home run, 93-RBI season, hitting .272/.364/.473. Many criticisms of Swisher came in the postseason when he failed to hit his stride with the New York Yankees. But Swisher is productive and a hard worker whose hitting would benefit any clubhouse he joins.
One of Swisher’s fellow Yankees remains a free agent, too, with no reported offers coming in for pitcher Rafael Soriano.
Rumors of the Detroit Tigers’ interests were all but squashed when they re-signed Anibal Sanchez to an $80 million contract, leaving little money for the type of deal required for a closer of Soriano’s caliber.
Though there are questions of Soriano’s durability after his injury in 2011, he has a good track record when he’s healthy. He stands at a career 2.78 ERA with 132 saves, and threw 2.26 with 42 saves last season with the Yankees.
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While most eyes will be focused on where Josh Hamilton winds up this offseason, Michael Bourn may actually be the best outfielder on the 2012 free-agent market.
At just 29 years old, Bourn has slowly developed into one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball. Initially an extremely raw prospect, he has become an increasingly smart hitter and a brilliant center fielder over the past few years.
Bourn had perhaps a career-best performance last season with the Atlanta Braves, hitting .274 with nine home runs, 57 RBI and 42 stolen bases while setting a career-high 6.0 WAR. Though the Braves gave their star outfielder a qualifying offer, nearly all signs point to Bourn signing elsewhere in the offseason.
The only question remains is where he will end up. With that in mind, here is a look at a few rumored destinations for Bourn, along with the likelihood that he winds up there.
Cincinnati Reds
Despite a season that saw the club finish with the second-best record in the majors, there are a few glaring holes the Cincinnati Reds must fix this offseason.
Of those deficiencies, leadoff hitting has to be at the top of the list. Last season saw the Reds have quite easily the worst leadoff men in baseball, as a rotation of hitters finished the season with a .254 on-base percentage.
On paper, that makes Bourn a perfect fit and is likely why the team has made him a target, according to CBS Sports’ Danny Knobler.
Unfortunately for the Reds, that excellence is also what will almost certainly keep Bourn out of the club’s price range. After breaking the bank to give first baseman Joey Votto a 10-year, $225 million contract in April, the team won’t be able to afford another huge contract without sacrificing something else.
With a closer also on the wish list this offseason, Cincinnati will probably go with a cheaper free agent to fix its leadoff woes.
Verdict: Highly Unlikely
Philadelphia Phillies
A midseason purge of contracts leaves the Philadelphia Phillies with some money to spend this offseason and Bourn could be one of their top targets.
ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the team “loves” the outfielder, but he also noted that general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. may be hesitant to pull the trigger on another huge deal. Despite the discarding of salaries, the Phillies are still obligated to first baseman Ryan Howard and their trio of aces in the rotation.
Still, if the price stays somewhere in the $15 million per season range, you cannot discount Philly from making a run. Bourn fills a deficiency in center field and would reinvigorate a lineup that was stagnant for much of 2012.
At the very least, Bourn would serve as a massive upgrade from Shane Victorino, who was one of the contracts purged during the season.
The Phillies aren’t the favorites, but they are the most likely second option for Bourn at this point.
Verdict: In the Running
Washington Nationals
Fresh off bringing playoff baseball back to the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals seem destined to make at least one big splash this offseason.
The team will only have Davey Johnson for one more season and the team will do almost anything possible to have its manager leave the game on top.
Based on everything we have heard this offseason, the Nationals view Bourn as the missing piece for World Series glory. According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the team has had its eye on Bourn for a long time. What’s more, all signs point to Washington being willing to spend the money necessary to make it happen.
Obviously, there is the Bryce Harper problem. The 19-year-old phenom was fantastic in center field last season, but most evaluators view him as a great corner outfielder in the future. Bringing in Bourn allows the Nationals to move Harper to a corner spot, all while giving them one of the best fielding outfields in baseball.
It also affords the team an opportunity to move Harper or Jayson Werth further down the lineup, where they would get more chances with runners in scoring position.
Barring a mystery team walking in and wowing Bourn, Washington feels like the most natural destination.
Verdict: Favorites
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The plan was for Turner Field to still be filing in nearly 50,000 Braves fans for the postseason. Unfortunately, the lasting images remembered are the cleanup crews picking up debris from angry Atlanta fans after the infield fly call made by Sam Holbrook and Chipper Jones walking off the diamond for the final time. It wasn’t suppose to end that way.
Nonetheless, decisions have to be made about the 2013 club. Who will replace Chipper at third? Will they re-sign gold-glove center fielder Michael Bourn? Do Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm fit into their plans next season? Will Martin Prado and Jason Heyward receive long-term contracts? Who are free-agent and trade targets?
Those are just a few items on the docket for General Manager Frank Wren this winter.
The Braves have nearly $30 million to spend after the contracts of Chipper Jones ($14 million), Derek Lowe ($10 million) and Michael Bourn ($6.8 million) are erased from the books. Expect starter Jair Jurrjens, who made $5.5 million in 2012, to be non-tendered or released.
Atlanta is expected to pick up the options of Brian McCann ($12 million), Tim Hudson ($9 million) and Paul Maholm ($6.5 million)—as they should. All three are key components to the team’s success.
The Braves could re-sign David Ross because of McCann’s shoulder surgery, which will sideline him at least through the majority of spring training.
It may be the perfect time to look into long-term contracts for Martin Prado and outfielder Jason Heyward.
Prado was arguably the most valuable player for the Braves in 2012 with a .301 average. He also led the league in two-strike base hits (93). He can play a number of positions if needed. He is signed through 2013, and the organization can’t risk losing a high-caliber player like Prado after next season.
Heyward, 23, had a bounce-back 2012 campaign after a sophomore year in which he was plagued by injuries and constant struggles. The 2007 first-round pick set career highs in runs, homers, RBI, stolen bases and slugging percentage. He was spectacular in right field, as he made some big catches for Atlanta in key moments throughout the season. It will be cheaper to get a long-term deal done rather than going through the eventual arbitration process.
The starting rotation is likely to be set with Kris Medlen, Tommy Hanson, Mike Minor, Hudson and Maholm. Brandon Beachy is on track to re-join the rotation from “Tommy John” elbow surgery around the All-Star break.
The two biggest decisions facing the Braves in the off-season are at third and the outfield. The likelihood is Prado finds a home at third. The Braves have played the 28-year-old at multiple positions, primarily left field since the acquisition of Dan Uggla before the 2011 season.
The outfield could go a number of different ways: re-sign Michael Bourn and bring back Jose Constanza to play left or let Bourn go and find two cheaper options to play left and center.
Bourn is expected to net around $15 million a year from a club in the free-agent market. The Braves can afford it, but it wouldn’t be fiscally responsible. There are cheaper targets out there via free-agency or the trade market.
B.J. Upton, Shane Victorino, Angel Pagan and Cody Ross are all potential free-agent targets for Atlanta. None will command the level of money that Bourn will this winter.
Upton, 28, is looking for a fresh start after spending his entire career to this point with the Tampa Bay Rays. The center fielder hit 28 homers in 2012. The level of consistency may be a concern for him. Other than 2007 when he hit .300, the former first-round selection has a career average of .248.
Victorino, whom the Braves know well from his days in Philadelphia, could be an option, as the Dodgers may not see him as a fit with Carl Crawford’s eventual return from Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old has a career .333 average in 60 games at Turner Field, which is tops among national league ballparks.
Pagan is familiar with the N.L. East from his days with the New York Mets. The outfielder hit .288 with eight homers and 56 RBI in 154 games with the Giants. He would be a cheaper option for Atlanta, as he would command in the area of $5 million after making $4.85 million in 2012. Pagan hit .290 in 80 games as the San Francisco lead-off hitter this season.
Braves fans remember how Ross tormented them during the 2010 postseason. A big game-tying home run and a go-ahead single lifted the Giants to a 3-2 game four victory in Bobby Cox’s last game as Atlanta’s manager. The 31-year-old Ross played well in his second stint in the A.L, as he batted .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 130 games with the Boston Red Sox. Ross has a career .300 average at Turner Field in 31 games and would see regular time as the left fielder.
Josh Willingham is a perfect fit for the Braves via the trade market if they wish to pursue it. The 33-year-old, who is owed $14 million through 2014, hit 35 home runs and 110 RBI for the Minnesota Twins in 2012. The $7 million a year price tag combined with the level of production annually should garner the Braves’ interest.
The bullpen should be a strength for the Braves again in 2013 with the return of closer Craig Kimbrel, who has saved 88 games in his two full seasons in the majors. Top left-handed setup man Eric O’Flaherty will be entering into his final arbitration year and could make upwards of $4 million.
Christian Martinez, Luis Avilan, Jonny Venters, Cory Gearrin, Chad Durbin and Peter Moylan are all expected to be in the mix for spots again in 2013.
Important decisions will be made this winter, but the Braves should be at or near the top of the division standings again next season.
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Emptiness describes how the Braves feel after their 2012 season concluded in the wild-card playoff game October 5.
The best way for the organization and their fans to rid themselves of the heart-break is to look forward into the off-season. Important contractual decisions need to be made on some key players.
Michael Bourn will become a free-agent during the winter, and will command a lot of money on the open market. San Francisco, Washington, and Cincinnati could be possible destinations for the Scott Boras client.
The Braves have some financial relief as Chipper Jones’ retirement allows them to shave off at least $7 million from the 2013 vesting option. The Braves will shed themselves of the remaining $10 million owed to Derek Lowe (traded to Cleveland 2011, DFA in 2012, eventually picked up by the Yankees). Eric Hinske, David Ross, Miguel Bautista, and Ben Sheets will also be coming off the books.
It’s likely Bourn‘s next contract will net him at least $15 million a year, and the Braves aren’t willing to spend all their assets on one player. Atlanta is likely to pick up Brian McCann’s $12 million team option for next year, and are expected to pick up Tim Hudson’s $9 million option as well.
Atlanta will be looking to lock up Martin Prado as he will be entering his second year of arbitration. It could be cheaper to sign a long-term deal as the 28-year-old will be campaigning for a higher pay raise than the $4.75 million he received in 2012.
It’s easy to make a case that Prado was the organization’s M.V.P in 2012. A .301 average with 10 HR, and 70 RBI doesn’t even tell the entire story. He played multiple positions including left-field, third, second, shortstop, and even first base. The versatility that he showed on a daily basis is what every team covets. Prado is by far the Atlanta Braves‘ most important player and should be taken care of this off-season.
The Braves can move Prado to third to replace Chipper, and look for a cheaper solution in the outfield. Names who come to mind are Angel Pagan, Cody Ross, Jonny Gomes Shane Victorino, and B.J. Upton.
The likelihood of Upton walking is high as the Rays are not planning on bringing him back at an unreasonable price. The center fielder hit .246 with 28 homers and 78 RBI in 2012 with Tampa Bay. He won’t command the money Bourn will, so this option could make sense.
A trade option could be to match-up with the Minnesota Twins and acquire Josh Willingham. The 33-year-old outfielder hit 35 home runs and drove in 110 runs in 2012. He is owed $7 million each year through 2014.
The greatest need for the Twins is pitching and the Braves could center a deal around left-handed pitching prospect Sean Gilmartin.
The 2011 first round draft pick spent the majority of 2012 with Double-A as he made 20 starts and posted an ERA of 3.54. He finished the season with Triple-A Gwinnett and compiled a 4.78 ERA in seven starts (1-2).
Mike Minor has solidified himself as a starting pitcher in the big leagues with a 2.16 ERA in 14 starts in the second half. The Braves have the luxury of trading Gilmartin with top young arms Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado in the system.
General Manager Frank Wren, who was recently extended through 2014, has a lot of decisions to make in the off-season on how to strengthen the 94-win club. The best solution is to allocate the money to a number of different players, rather than give one player a mega contract.
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Technically, open season on MLB free agents does not begin until the sixth day after the World Series concludes.
But you could forgive most fans for feeling like free agent season really began Friday night, with Josh Hamilton being booed off the field in his last two at-bats as the Texas Rangers bowed quietly to the Baltimore Orioles in the one-game playoff between the two American League wild cards.
When Hamilton said it “doesn’t matter if I play here or somewhere else,” you figure he meant he’ll be playing somewhere other than Texas in 2013.
He won’t be the only one.
Other prominent players looking for huge dollars (and possibly new uniforms) include Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton and Zack Greinke.
These are just some of the players—who the likely active buyers this offseason—will be vying for.