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There are a lot more free agents today after Friday’s non-tender deadline
Saturday’s Say Hey, Baseball looks at a few of the many new free agents, some interesting tidbits in the new CBA, and LeBron James in a Cubs uniform.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
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Twenty-four hours ago, there were fewer free agents than there are right now. That’s because the non-tender deadline was last night. It’s the deadline for teams to decide who they want to tender contracts to, and those who don’t get contracts become free agents immediately. In all, the market has 34 new free agents. Some of them we knew about before, like Chris Carter, who the Brewers designated for assignment earlier in the week. They tried to make a trade, but one wasn’t expected to materialize so his non-tender is no surprise.
The Diamondbacks non-tendered Rubby De La Rosa and Welington Castillo, and while Castillo might be sad to leave his current team, he could be in for a pretty decent payday. The catcher market right now is pretty barren, and Castillo’s .264/.322/.423 batting line in 2016 — not to mention 14 homers — represents a significant upgrade for at least a few teams. Ben Revere, on the other hand, is paying for his one bad year. He was non-tendered by the Nationals after the worst year of his career — the worst by a MILE. Coming into 2016, Revere’s lifetime triple slash was .295/.328/.348. But in 2016, he hit .217/.260/.300. Yeah. He needs a rebound year badly, and he’ll get his chance with a non-Nationals team.
The Padres, though, they had a non-tender party. They decided to non-tender six players, and some of them are doozies. The two most notable are Tyson Ross and Alexi Amarista. Ross was the Padres’ 2016 opening day starter, so that’s relatively surprising. Even more surprising is Amarista, who is the Padres’ longest-tenured player. The Padres are probably cutting their losses on these players, who will make more than they want to pay in arbitration. Ross has been injured (thoracic outlet syndrome) and spent most of the 2016 season out of commission, and while Amarista had a middling season, his 2015 was pretty putrid. They’re both reclamation projects to an extent, but extremely attractive ones. With the ink on the CBA drying and executives and owners packing their bags for next week’s winter meetings, the hot stove is about to get really, really hot.
- The new CBA has been ratified, and the most interesting tidbits have been released. There’s stuff about player nutrition, health and dental insurance, and beefing up the nonhazing and domestic violence policies.
- Jaime Garcia has been with the Cardinals for his entire career, and he’s been a part of some incredible team history. But now he’s a member of the Braves.
- So the Royals have some frustrating payroll limitations, and they’ve already hurt at least one deal.
- Oh to be the Cubs, who have just too many talented outfielders.
- The Giants desperately need a closer, and preferably one that wouldn’t cost a huge amount of money. Anything to prevent a repeat of the 2016 season.
- Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang was charged with a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident in Korea.
- Pinstripe Alley says the Yankees lost the Nate Eovaldi trade, but it’s not the end of the world.
- The Red Sox have a decent player in Brock Holt, but should they consider trading him? Over the Monster asks that important question.
- The Mets would much rather trade Jay Bruce and keep Curtis Granderson, but there’s one guy that’s off limits, and that’s Michael Conforto.
- Dexter Fowler is going to have a whole lot of suitors soon, and the Tigers could definitely be one of them.
- LeBron James settled an important bet last night with his good friend Dwyane Wade and showed up to the Cavs-Bulls game in a full Cubs uniform. It looks good on him.
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