MLB: 2018 Baseball Winter Meetings Season Finale
The 2018 MLB Winter Meetings continue to underwhelm, but are the dominoes starting to fall? Here are the latest rumors to come out of Las Vegas.
While the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings haven’t brought us the record breaking deal or the blockbuster trade. Instead, it has been somewhat of a circus. So far, we’ve seen false reports, minor free agent signings (yes, there were some free agent signings), injuries, a heck of a lot of rumors, and a Death Star.
To start, let’s pick up with a story that was left up in the air all day yesterday. After several false reports floated around stating that J.A. Happ had agreed to a 3-year deal with the New York Yankees, Brian Cashman finally landed his man.
J.A. Happ: 17M in 2019, 17M in 2020, 17M vesting option in 2021. 34M guaranteed. #yanks
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2018
While the move solidifies the Yankees rotation, it does not exactly improve it by much. With guys like Sonny Gray and CC Sabathia still very much an integral part of the rotation, adding Happ still leaves a lot to be desired.
Look at things on the bright side, Yankees fans. If an arm doesn’t become available, you just landed yourself the best available SP.
So Long, Jimmy B.
Joe Kelly and Nathan Eovaldi played postseason Hero A and B for the Boston Red Sox in 2018. One of them decided to stay (Eovaldi), while the other has chosen to go (Kelly).
In 11.1 postseason IP in 2018, Kelly posted an 0.81 ERA / 1.09 FIP / 0.721 WHIP. Against the Dodgers in the World Series, in 6 IP, Kelly didn’t allow a run and struck-out 10 batters. It is because of this that the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately jumped on the flame throwing RP, offering Kelly a 3-year deal worth $25M, per John Morosi.
Joe Kelly established himself as a Red Sox Nation favorite when he debuted his alter-ego, a reporter from JWK, Punta Gorda named Jim Buchanan. He further solidified his place in Red Sox folklore when he exchanged punches with former Yankees 1B Tyler Austin.
One of the most complete teams in baseball, the Red Sox only question mark over the last two seasons has been their bullpen. Statistically, they rank among the top of MLB, but the eyeball test will tell you otherwise. They’re the type of bullpen that bends, but rarely breaks.
Losing Kelly might prove to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but that remains to be seen.
The Highest Paid RP Of All Time?
Craig Kimbrel has established himself as one of the greatest regular season relief pitchers of all time. In fact, since MLB first introduced the save (SV) stat in 1969, among all RP (min. 500 IP) Craig Kimbrel ranks…
- First in ERA (1.91)
- First in FIP (1.96)
- Second in WHIP (0.92)
- First among active RP in fWAR (19)
Kimbrel is the best reliever available, bar none, but is there such a market in which a relief pitcher is worth 9-figures? Especially, with the analytics revolution proving time an again how useless the SV really is?
Perhaps Kimbrel doesn’t get his 9-figure pay day in the form of a 5-year $100M deal. He still could become the highest paid closer in the game. All he needs is $20M per year to surpass Kenley Jansen’s yearly salary.
Welcome Back, Familia!
Jeurys Familia was for a period one of the best closers in baseball when he was with the Mets. In fact, according to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, “over the last four seasons Familia ranks 13th among full-time relievers with 6.2 WAR.
For his services, after a brief hiatus with the Oakland Atletics, Jeurys Famili will return to Queens to be the set-up man for Edwin Diaz. Here’s Brody Van Wagenen’s take on re-acquiring the 29-year old righty.
Here's Brodie Van Wagenen on the Jeurys Familia deal, which he can't fully discuss because it won't be official until next week: pic.twitter.com/zatXL5pebm
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 13, 2018
The deal is reportedly for 3-years, $30M and will not be made official until next week.
A Three-team Deal… From the Hospital
Jerry Dipoto has had quite a month. The busiest GM in baseball fell ill on Wednesday and landed in the hospital. That didn’t stop him from making the biggest deal of the day on Thursday.
In a deal which involved the Mariners, Indians, and Rays, the Indians get Carlos Santana, Jake Bauers, and cash; the Mariners get Edwin Encarnacion, a competitive balance draft pick (from Indians), and cash; and the Rays got Yandy Diaz, Cole Sulser, and a player to be named later (from Indians).
Here’s Joel Sherman with more details:
Money also moving in big trade: $5M from #Rays to Mariners then $6M from Mariners to #Indians. So even more $ saved by Clev
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 13, 2018
More, From the Winter Meetings
Just because the Winter Meetings are officially over, doesn’t mean that moves wont continue to be made. There still are plenty of unsigned big name ball players remaining and if history has taught us anything, it’s that most signings and trades don’t take place at the Winter Meetings.
For example, these are just a few of the dozens of deals completed around the famed winter event:
- Adrian Beltre signed a 6-year, $96M deal with the Rangers on 01/01
- Johnny Damon signed a 4-year, $31M deal with the Red Sox on 12/01
- Vladimir Guerrero Signed a 6-year, $85M deal with the Angels in 01/2004
At this point, the Winter Meetings are just a spectacle of rumors in order to appease overly anxious analysts and baseball fans foaming at the mouth for baseball. And, yes, I am 100% one of them.
There is good news, however. Pitchers and catchers report to their teams on February 13, 2019. That’s just 61 days away! The first spring training game is only eight days after that, and Opening Day is just 103 days away.
Next. The silence of the Cubs. dark
That’s 103 days for Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Dallas Keuchel, and every other top-tier free agent to find a new home. That’s 103 days for teams to evaluate and re-evaluate their talent in order to best build a championship level team.
103 days.