I don't know if the Giants are really in the running, after all the website is called MLBTR and the TR stands for Trade Rumors. But a tweet from Baggs sent me to an article by Sahadev Sharma who covers the Cubs for The Athletic and it had this:
Castellanos’ market is solid, but according to sources with knowledge of his priorities, he’s looking for a situation where “culture” and “environment” are more than just buzzwords.
Money matters, but all things being (nearly) equal, Castellanos is searching for a team ready to embrace him as a potential leader and one that is committed to building a winning culture. In his discussions with various organizations, Castellanos sees the Giants, Rangers and Cubs as three teams who value him for more than just his offense and that treat “clubhouse culture” as more than just T-shirts and talking points.This counters a bit of the talk about analytics and cost-benefit analysis ruining the team! At least one player out there seems to like what's going on in San Francisco. Players choose teams for a lot of reasons. We don't always know what the reasons are.
In any event, Castellanos would be strictly a corner OF, mostly likely confined to LF. But if he could deliver 120 OPS+ and 300 TB that would be great. Supposedly he has improved his fielding every season since becoming a full-time starter--he came up as a third baseman but was quickly forced to the outfield.
This could all be nothing, but it's worth taking a look at. I think we've talked out the Bum stuff.
--M.C.
11 comments:
Nick was Tiger’s regular 3B in 2014 until 2018 when he was moved to the out field. So he’s only had 2 seasons there. He also had to play half his games in huge Comerica park in Detroit until he went to the Cubs. He’s learned hitting from Miguel Cabrera, plus other good hitters like J D Martinez who’ve passed through Detroit over that time. Detroit’s been “rebuilding” over the last 2 seasons and gotten rid of all their good players. Nick was the last, except for Miggy. He’s about winning, situational hitting, forcing the pitcher to throw a lot of pitches, whatever strategy the manager wants. I believe he wanted to be a Tiger for life, but the days of dreams like that coming true are almost nil. Whoever gets him will have him for his best years of his career barring injuries.
Supposedly the giants have had him on their radar for the entire post season so far.
Ian Kinsler hangs 'em up.
Giants beat Kinsler's Rangers in 2010. He was a big star on that team--which was loaded, by the way. Hamilton, Lee, etc.
He hit a ball off Cain in Game 2 at home that shouldah been a homah, but got PacBelled or ATT&Ted and bounced off the top of the CF wall and right back to Torres. Kinsler got a double and never scored and the Giants won 9-0. The Texas Cainsaw Massacre!
Tremendous career: 14 years, 1888 G, 1999 H, 3268 TB.
Not many left from that 2010 contest.
3 yrs $55.5M for Keuchel (White Sox). That's $18.5M per year.
5 yrs, $85M for Bumgarner (D-Backs). That's $17M per year.
No way is Keuchel better than Bumgarner, but the shorter length of the deal probably allowed for a higher AAV.
Another way to look at it is that Bum signed with AZ on the cheap because he really wanted to go there.
or because the giants lowballed him. If your own team lowballs you, that has to hurt. Not saying it was totally bargain basement lowball, but they had the services of Bumgarner for quite some time on the cheap despite his loss of playing time due to freak injury. Will the giants some day, add Bumgarner to the statues they build around the park? Have they done one for Gaylord Perry? And Perry did not leave voluntarily. The question is, will Bumgarner be like Perry and continue to be good throughout his 30's, or will he fizzle like the majority of pitchers do as the progress though their 30's.
I'm wondering why no other team offered him $20M/yr. You'd think he would have commanded that kind of offer: 5 yrs/$100M. Why didn't that happen?
Bum was quoted as saying "he left money on the table" which suggests he was given a better offer. Or that he wanted to get it done and did not want to drag out negotiations, so he took the offer from AZ. It sure seems like he wanted to be there.
I don't put much stock in the "they didn't respect me" line. Makes Bum seem like a pouty little kid. Sometimes people mutually part ways--there doesn't have to be any "disrespect" involved.
Like I said before, money doesn't buy everything.
One of the things common to players who defy the aging curves and continue to be stars as they get older is the willingness to re-invent themselves, to change what they used to do for what they now have to do. They have to be open to new things, new ways of approaching their craft, and that can be hard for some. Not to mention some guys are just freaks and last longer because their bodies don't break down as fast.
No matter what happens Bum has already had an amazing career.
Hyun-jin Ryu gets 4 yrs, $80M from Blue Jays.
Age and injury history are red flags for Ryu, but he is certainly an ace-level talent. At least the Giants don't have to face him any more!
So Ryu received a better contract by some metrics than Bumgarner.
Pierce Johnson signs a 2-year deal (plus a third-year option) with the Padres for $5M. Giants took a chance on this guy in 2018 (waiver claim) but then cut him loose. He played in Japan in 2019 and was sensational and now has a multi-year deal. Former 1st-round pick (2012, #43) of the Cubs.
The number five pick in that draft? Kevin Gausman (Orioles).
Tony Watson renegotiated with the Giants for 2020 instead of picking up his option. He will earn $3M with incentives for quite a bit more. Last season was sub-par, especially in light of his outstanding 2018, so I'm a bit surprised. They must think he's fully recovered from his broken wrist and ready to return to his old form.
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