Daily Baseball Chatter – Hot Stove 12-10

Chris Sale struck out 11.8 batters per nine innings in 2015, and 9.3 batters per nine innings in 2016. His average fastball velocity dropped from 95.64 MPH in 2015 to 93.64 MPH in 2016, which is concerning.

The Yankees and the Red Sox haven’t finished first and second in the A.L. East since 2009.

Adam Eaton‘s 6.2 WAR was mostly as a right fielder in 2016. Eaton had a WAR of 3.9 as a center fielder. Dexter Fowler’s WAR playing center field in 2016 was 4.2

The Nationals tried to get the White Sox to include David Robertson in the Adam Eaton trade

Rumor has it that the Padres have been inquiring about available shortstops, including Jose Iglesias.

The Mets are looking for relievers with some closing experience who can take over the seventh inning role but they will not trade two outfielders for a top reliever and their payroll will likely be lower on opening day than the current $146 million

The Angels asked the Cardinals about Kolten Wong this week, but the Cardinals ‘greatly prefer’ to keep Wong and his defensive skills.

The Angels are unsure of where Cameron Maybin in the batting order, but he is under consideration to serve as the team’s leadoff hitter

Chad Kuhl might have an ‘inside track’ to one of three spots available in the Pirates rotation

Glen Perkins is making “solid progress” in his return from shoulder surgery and it’s not unreasonable to think that he may be ready to pitch in spring training games

General manager Neal Huntington said he’s focused on deploying Josh Bell at first base

 

The Tigers have not been involved with in talks with Ben Revere either, even though they have a hole out in center field.

The Braves used 16 starting pitchers last year, the most in the majors. They had the league’s third-highest ERA for starters. They have addressed the issue by adding three veteran starting pitchers so far this offseason

Colarado needs to improve the bullpen, which ranked worst in the major leagues last season with a 5.13 ERA. They have reportedly “looked at just about every free agent reliever, including Mike Dunn and Brad Ziegler.

The Tigers payroll is still at $200 million, putting them at risk to also owe $10 million in luxury-tax fines in 2017. Also, there is even less market than most big-league analysts imagined for expensive, aging players, even when they’re named Justin Verlander, or Ian Kinsler.

Amed Rosario’s name was hardly mentioned in Mets trade talks over the last week. However, they have reiterated that the 21-year-old shortstop, also the organization’s top prospect, is unavailable.

The Rangers and Blue Jays – two teams the Mets thought were legitimate suitors for Jay Bruce – are showing minimal interest. The Orioles are interested in Curtis Granderson, but the Mets are reluctant to trade him given the versatility he brings to the outfield and lineup, as somebody who can play center field and hit either leadoff or in the middle of the order.

The Tampa to-do list also includes adding an outfielder/DH type — or both — from a glutted market that could yield some interesting leftovers, maybe even a big bat such as Jose Bautista.

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