Before we get started with the post, let me just say I have never been able to keep Alex and Travis Wood straight in my mind. Just too many similarities. So if you see me slip a Travis in here and there, just transpose it in your mind to Alex and we're good.
The Giants made a move yesterday which a lot of folks had been predicting all Hot Stove season. Seems FZ just can't quit Alex Wood and maybe vice-versa? Wood is a LHP with a funky delivery who started out in the Braves Organization. He was a second round draft pick out of Univ. of GA in 2012. He made his MLB debut in 2013. FZ stole Wood from the Braves in a 3-team/13 player blockbuster. The Braves apparently badly wanted Hector Olivera 3B who was ultimately a bust. Wood was also involved in another blockbuster swap from the Dodgers to the Reds along with Matt Kemp OF and Yasiel Puig OF with the Dodgers gaining prospects Jeter Downs SS and Josiah Gray RHP. Wood struggled with the Reds in 2019 and re-signed with the Dodger in 2020. He saw very little action in 2020 due to shoulder inflammation but looked terrific in 2 innings of shutout ball in the deciding game of the World Series.
The key for Wood and the Giants is health. If he stays healthy, he is very likely to put up strong numbers and be at least a #3 SP. The deal is 1 yr/$3 M with incentives. The incentives are interesting in that they reward appearances in which he records at least 10 outs or 3.1 IP. He is versatile and can work in the rotation or out of the bullpen. This is another low risk/high reward signing with the obvious aim of rebuilding Alex Wood's market value, which several pitchers have done in 1 season stints with the Giants.
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Yesterday was the beginning of the international signing period which was pushed back from July 2, 2020 due to COVID-19. The Giants were active, signing one million dollar bonus baby in Diego Velasquez SS out of Venezuela. Velasquez was the #22 international prospect per MLB Pipeleline. He is whip-thin with wiry strength and athletic looking actions. The frame looks projectable. He switch-hits. He trains with former MLB'er Ronny Cedeno.
The Giants signed a total of 34 international prospects yesterday which should fill up their 2 DSL rosters in 2021.
A few years ago I recall an interview with I believe Scott Boras and he was asked about International FA's being a part of the draft. If I recall correctly, the question was posed because there was a possibility it would be considered at the next CBA and the interviewer seemed to think Boras would be in favor of it. Boras's response was unexpected and he basically said that he preferred every amateur player enter free agency just like international players not the other way around.
ReplyDeleteThe international FA market is the real gold mine until either they are folded into the draft or vice versa. The impact that these players have had over the last 60 years has been instrumental throughout the league but over the last 10-20 years more than ever. This is where the Giants should be investing most of their resources and quite possibly are if they signed 34 prospects on Friday.
Hey Doc, Ken Rosenthal reported that the Giants inquired about Francisco Lindor before the Mets traded for him. The interesting part is the Indians brought up Joey Bart in trade discussions, we will never know how far the discussions went and other players involved. My reaction is although Lindor is a star shortstop, the Giants should not trade a top prospect like Bart for 1 year of Lindor. Rosenthal also said the Giants are not shopping Joey Bart to other teams. At least FZ is inquiring about trades for star players at the right price. Although Giants farm system is improving, maybe it doesn't have the depth yet to pull off a big blockbuster trade just yet. If the right free agent comes along, I'm sure that FZ will put in a competitive bid with ownership approval of course. He did it with Bryce Harper.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the only way a Lindor trade makes sense for the Giants is as part of a longterm agreement. I think you have to talk to the player to at least gauge longterm interest beforehand. Lindor does fit the profile of THAT GUY who would be worth a longterm 9 figure contract, so maybe FZ pursues him in free agency if the Mets don't lock him up?
DeleteLuciano is the Giants SS of the future (8 years younger than Lindor) so why spend big FA $$ or high-end prospect capital on Lindor? Crawford and Solano make a nice SS bridge to Luciano, both hit very well in 2020. Why tie up the salary cap $$ on Lindor at all.
ReplyDelete1. Lindor is already what you you hope Luciano will become. 2. Luciano has never been a lock to stick at SS. 3. If Luciano's bat is what everybody seems to think it is, it will play at 3B or 2B or any of the OF positions.
DeleteTalk's cheap but some of the talk is VERY expensive:
ReplyDeleteIt is said that he is asking for $390 million over 10 years.
That's from Yank4Life, so how could it be bad?
To put that — $39 million per year — in perspective from age 28 to 37, Buster and BB will get $39.38 million combined next year.
That much money is North of Betts or Trout or Harper or Machado or the Pole itself!
Without some significant changes in the MLBPA agreement, I would not want to see the Giants spend that much on any single player or for that long, but if you are going to do it, Lindor is probably as good a bet as any for prolonged production.
DeleteFor a long time, teams operated under the assumption that the total coming into baseball would increase, so long terms deals where the player performance inevitably decrease towards the end would not be as painful as we fear with inflated numbers. I am not sure that is the case any more. I expect the teams to be more conservative for financial flexibility.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this.
DeleteProjected rotation:
ReplyDeleteGausman, Cueto, DeSclafani, Wood, Webb.
What could go wrong with that?
Besides, they are backed by:
Menez, Banda, Hjelle, Beck, and Garabito.
Is there anything in this that anyone finds encouraging?
Although reporting dates (for pitchers) aren't cast in stone, some teams have dates as early as February 16th — less than 3 weeks away!
Thanks and credit to Grant Brisbee.
I am cautiously bullish on Gausman, DeSclafani and Wood. I feel like Cueto is most likely done, so definitely bearish on him. Webb could be a AAAA pitcher or take a step forward. 50-50 on that bet. IMO, FZ needs to sign at least 1 more pitcher deserving of a MLB contract and a couple more minor league deals.
DeleteRodon is still my white whale minor league deal reclamation project.