Mariners Moose Tracks, 1/15/21: Yusei Kikuchi, DJ LeMahieu, and Danny Hultzen
Our first major free agent signing of the offseason is approaching.
Good morning everyone and happy Friday! Here’s what you need to know today as things start to heat up.
In Mariners news...
- Matt Wallach at Pitcher List is optimistic about Yusei Kikuchi’s future.
- Brendan Gawlowski at Fangraphs talked about the Mariners big, Julio Rodríguez-based marketing push.
Around the league...
- Early this morning it was reported that the Yankees are closing in on a deal with DJ LeMahieu, which would make him the first major free agent off the board.
- Roger Cornier at Baseball Prospectus wrote about Dutch Rennert, an umpire who was known for his crazy antics. ($)
- In 1986, Reds left-hander Chris Welsh tried to pick off Vince Coleman 17 times before he eventually stole second base anyway. Matt Monagan revisited this strange occurrence with players who were present when it happened.
- Several Black MLB players, including J.P. Crawford, helped out hungry families in the Phoenix area. Zach Buchanan at The Athletic wrote about the event. ($)
- Theo Epstein couldn’t just take the year off, it appears.
MLB has made it official: Theo Epstein will serve as MLB consultant regarding on-field matters
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) January 14, 2021
From the press release: pic.twitter.com/kCG0qxMa3k
- Bill Bavasi is officially out of the game.
I am told that two superb execs will no longer be part of baseball. Laurel Prieb and Billy Bevasi are among the latest to "leave" MLB. Laurel ran the MLB Western Office before moving back to NY for MLB. Billy was my GM when I scouted for Seattle. He recently ran the Fall League.
— Bernie Pleskoff (@BerniePleskoff) January 14, 2021
- My dreams of a Big Three reunion (Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Danny Hultzen) in Seattle are dashed.
Local baseball: Danny Hultzen of Bethesda/St. Alban’s/UVa, who was the second pick in the 2011 draft, is retiring from playing. He will take a job in the Cubs front office, working as a pitching development assistant under Craig Breslow.
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) January 14, 2021
- Another reliever is off the board.
Archie Bradley has agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with the Phillies, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 14, 2021
- And a free agent starter signed a very cheap deal.
The Giants have signed LHP Alex Wood to a one-year, $3 million deal, per source. The deal includes another potential $3 million in incentives.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 15, 2021
- Meanwhile, the Dodgers bullpen continues to get stronger with the team agreeing to a one-year deal with Corey Knebel.
- A general idea on how expensive some of these guys are likely to be.
Asking around about SP asking prices, I’ve heard Corey Kluber is at $6M-$8M (plus incentives), James Paxton is around $12M and Tanaka’s is about $15M. Continue to hear the Yankees won’t go past the luxury tax so we’ll see how they address the rotation
— Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) January 15, 2021