CarterHud

Photo from Getty

           Forward Nick Schmaltz has signed a seven year extension with the Arizona Coyotes. The deal has an AAV worth $5.85 million.

           Schmaltz hasn\’t played in the 2019 calendar year because of a knee injury. He was acquired by the team in November from the Blackhawks for forwards Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini. He would have been an RFA on July 1st. He was drafted 20th overall in 2014, and is 13th in points among players drafted that year.

            Schmaltz, 23, has scored seven goals with 18 assists for 25 points in 40 games for the Hawks and Coyotes in 2018-19. In his three year career, he has scored 34 goals with 71 assists for 105 points in 179 games.

Kendrys Morales. Photo from The Athletic

            The Oakland Athletics have acquired DH/1B Kendrys Morales and cash from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Jesus Lopez and international signing bonus pool money.

            For the A\’s, first baseman Matt Olson needed surgery for a broken hamate bone. Morales, who has played just 30 games at first base over the last two seasons, is the short term replacement. The A\’s are opted to not go with Chad Pinder at first. Pinder can play left, and Morales and lefty crusher Mark Canha can platoon at first. Morales has hit at least 20 home runs in six of the last seven seasons.

            Morales, 35, had a .249 batting average with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs in 471 Plate Appearances for the Jays in 2018. Fun fact: he stole his first base since 2009, swiping two bags in \’18. In his 12 year MLB career for the Jays, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners, Morales has a batting average of .268 with 211 home runs and 728 RBIs in 5156 Plate Appearances.

             For the Jays, a player who doesn\’t play the field for them, hit just 21 home runs in 2018 and will turn 36 in June won\’t help their youth movement. Trading Morales and part of the $12 million he was owed this year, helps. He was the highest paid player on Toronto. This allows Rowdy Tellez to DH. Tellez hit .319 with a .943 OPS in 23 games last September, and hit five home runs with a .908 OPS this spring.

              Lopez, 22, hit .239 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs in 326 Plate Appearances for Single-A Beloit in 2018. In his minor league career, Lopez has hit .221 with 15 home runs, 111 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 1266 Plate Appearances.

Anthony Rendon

           The Washington Nationals lost a free agent this offseason that would break the record for biggest contract in MLB history. But, now without Bryce Harper, they are actually a better team. They added to their pitching, improved their catching and now have a very good and young outfield. The Nats could easily win the division.

           Offseason additions: LHP Patrick Corbin, C Yan Gomes, C Kurt Suzuki, 2B Brian Dozier, LHP Tony Sipp, RHP Anibal Sanchez, RHP Kyle Barraclough, RHP Trevor Rosenthal, LHP Vidal Nuno, RHP Henderson Alvarez

            Offseason subtractions: RF Bryce Harper, RHP Tanner Roark, C Matt Wieters, RHP Greg Holland, 1B Mark Reynolds, C Pedro Severino

             Rotation
The Nationals have one of the best rotations in the league, despite trading Tanner Roark to Cincinnati. Max Scherzer is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, with a 2.53 ERA and 300 strikeouts in 220.2 innings, finishing second in NL Cy Young voting. Stephen Strasburg was again hurt, and posted a 3.74 ERA in 20 starts. The team signed Patrick Corbin to a six year deal. Corbin had a 3.15 ERA with 246 strikeouts in 200 innings for Arizona last season. Anibal Sanchez comes from Atlanta after having his best season since 2013, with a 2.83 ERA in 136.2 innings. Jeremy Hellickson was strong in 91 innings for the Nats last season.

             Bullpen
Sean Doolittle converted 25 saves, but also had a 1.60 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 45 innings. The Nats are hoping for a healthy Doolittle. Matt Grace had a 2.87 ERA in nearly 60 innings in a breakout 2018. Justin Miller also had a breakout campaign. Kyle Barraclough has a career 11.5 K/9 rate. Trevor Rosenthal, the former Cardinals closer, is returning from Tommy John surgery. Tony Sipp had a 1.86 ERA for Houston last season. Jimmy Cordero and Wander Suero get the final two spots.

              Catching
The Nats had a measly catching trio of Matt Wieters and a mix of Pedro Severino and Spencer Kieboom. Wieters and Severino are gone, and Kieboom will be the AAA starter. The Nats signed Kurt Suzuki and traded for Yan Gomes to fill the hole. Combined, they hit 28 home runs in 2018.

               Infield
Entering free agency, Anthony Rendon is looking to improve on his really good 2018. He hit 24 home runs with a .308 batting average and .909 OPS. He is also a good fielder. Trea Turner stole 43 bases and hit 19 home runs. Ryan Zimmerman\’s home run total dropped by 23 to 13, and his batting average fell back to earth. Brian Dozier had his worst offensive season in 2018, but was signed to play second. He has 30 home run power.

                 Outfield
At age 19, Juan Soto was called up. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, hitting 22 home runs with a .923 OPS. He even hit a major league home run before his MLB debut. Victor Robles, the Nationals\’ top prospect, is the center fielder. Adam Eaton hit .301 in 95 games last year. He\’ll move over to right field.

                   Bench
Whoever isn\’t starting from the Gomes/Suzuki tandem will backup the other. Howie Kendrick can play second base and corner outfield, but he\’ll start the season injured. Matt Adams can hit 20 home runs as a bench player. Wilmer Difo is a speedy backup infielder. Michael Taylor, last year\’s center fielder, will move to the 4th outfielder role.

                     Lineup
SS Trea Turner
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Brian Dozier
CF Victor Robles
C Yan Gomes
RF Adam Eaton

                      Rotation
Max Scherzer (R)
Stephen Strasburg (R)
Patrick Corbin (L)
Anibal Sanchez (R)
Jeremy Hellickson (R)

                       Bullpen
Sean Doolittle (L)
Matt Grace (L)
Tony Sipp (L)
Kyle Barraclough (R)
Justin Miller (R)
Trevor Rosenthal (R)
Jimmy Cordero (R)
Wander Suero (R)

                        Bench
C Kurt Suzuki
INF Wilmer Difo
OF Michael Taylor
1B Matt Adams

                        Additional Information
Ballpark: Nationals Park
Manager: Dave Martinez
GM: Mike Rizzo
World Series Championships: 0
2018 record: 82-80

                         Steal of the Decade
As part of a three team deal with the Rays and Padres, the Nats sent outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to the Rays, and the Padres gave Washington Trea Turner. While Souza has had injury issues and was traded to Arizona, Turner has hit .289 with 122 stolen bases since 2016. Turner is a key part of the Nationals\’ success.

                          Prediction
The Nationals are a good team. But, in a strong division, nothing is guaranteed. They\’ll have to fight for a playoff spot.

Teoscar Hernandez

             The Toronto Blue Jays failed to finish over .500 for a second consecutive season in 2018. Their run to the ALCS in 2015 and 2016 didn\’t work out, and they never won 90 games in a season. In October 2015, six Blue Jays players and manager John Gibbons were on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Now, all seven are gone. Those players were David Price, Troy Tulowitzki, Rusell Martin, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Now in a youth movement, the Blue Jays are hoping for exciting young talent to sell tickets. It helps having baseball\’s top prospect.

               Offseason additions: RHP Clay Buchholz, RHP Matt Shoemaker, INF Freddy Galvis, LHP Clayton Richard, RHP Daniel Hudson, RHP Bud Norris, INF Eric Sogard

               Offseason subtractions: C Russell Martin, INF Aledmys Diaz, INF Yangervis Solarte, RHP Marco Estrada, RHP Tyler Clippard

               Rotation
Both Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, the top two Toronto starters, were hampered by injuries and finished with just over 100 innings pitched and ERAs around or above 5.00. Stroman was lights out in 2017, with a 3.09 ERA in 201 innings, but rebounded with a 5.54 ERA in 102.1 innings. Sanchez, the AL\’s ERA champion in 2016, has made just 28 starts combined since. Matt Shoemaker and Clayton Richard will start the season in the rotation. Both pitched for California teams in 2018. Ryan Borucki impressed as a 24 year old rookie. An elbow injury will have him miss a start or two, but not enough to keep him off the projected lineup. Also in their projected rotation is Clay Buchholz. Buchholz had a 2.01 ERA in 98 innings for Arizona last season. He won\’t start the season with the team, as he signed late in Spring Training. But, he will be called up shortly. Borucki being healthy and Buchholz being called up could kick Richard out of the rotation.

                Bullpen
Ken Giles had an ERA over four, but was perfect in 14 save chances after a trade from Houston. Giles has a lot of potential. The good news is that Joe Biagini pitched in 72 innings. The bad news is that he had a 6.00 ERA. Ryan Tepera and Bud Norris could both be out to start, but will be key bullpen parts when returning. Danny Barnes has pitched in 107 games over the last two seasons. The bullpen\’s lefty is Tim Mayza, who allowed 13 runs in 35.2 innings. Daniel Hudson, recently signed to a MLB deal, will be a part of the pen. Rule 5 pick Elvis Luciano is winning the final spot over Sam Gaviglio.

                  Catching
Danny Jansen, the Jays\’ top catching prospect, hit .247 with three home runs after a late big league call up. He is the starting catcher. Backing him up is Luke Maile, who is entering his third season in that role with Toronto.

                   Infield
The top prospect in baseball, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., will be a key part of the 2019 Jays. But, he will not start the season with the team because of service time manipulations. Brandon Drury will play third until then. Drury is a natural third baseman acquired from the Yankees last July for JA Happ. He will move to second when Vlad is called up. Freddy Galvis, who played in 162 games for the Padres at shortstop last year, is the second baseman. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., the shortstop, hit .281 with 11 home runs in 65 games. Justin Smoak is back for what will likely be his final season in Toronto. Smoak had an amazing 2017, but fell back to earth in 2018, when his batting average dropped down to .242, which would have been a career high if not for \’17, and his home run total at 25, which also would have been a career high.

                    Outfield
Teoscar Hernandez beat out Billy McKinney for the left field job. Hernandez hit 22 home runs at age 25 in 2018. Kevin Pillar can hit 15 home runs and steal 15 bases. But, he doesn\’t walk much, which led to a .282 OBP despite a .252 batting average. Randal Grichuk hit 25 home runs in his first season north of the border. Like Smoak, he could be gone by July.

                    DH/Bench
Kendrys Morales hit 21 home runs in 2018, his lowest since 2014. At age 35, Morales\’ power might not return, but I wouldn\’t bet against it. Billy McKinney lost the left field role, but will take fourth outfielder as the consolation prize. Maile is the backup catcher. Both Rowdy Tellez and Richard Urena make the team after opening eyes at the end of 2018.

                    Lineup
LF Teoscar Hernandez
3B Brandon Drury
1B Justin Smoak
RF Randal Grichuk
DH Kendrys Morales
SS Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
C Danny Jansen
2B Freddy Galvis
CF Kevin Pillar

                     Rotation
Marcus Stroman (R)
Aaron Sanchez (R)
Clay Buchholz (R)
Ryan Borucki (L)
Matt Shoemaker (R)

                     Bullpen
Ken Giles (R)
Ryan Tepera (R)
Joe Biagini (R)
Danny Jansen (R)
Tim Mayza (L)
Daniel Hudson (R)
Elvis Luciano (R)

                     Bench
C Luke Maile
OF Billy McKinney
INF Richard Urena
1B Rowdy Tellez

                     Additional Information
Ballpark: Rogers Centre
Manager: Charlie Montoyo
GM: Ross Atkins
World Series Championships: 2
2018 record: 73-89

                     Steal of the Decade
The Blue Jays that went to the ALCS in 2015 and 2016 were built around Josh Donaldson. Well, not really. But, Donaldson was their best player. Acquired before 2015, the Jays sent Franklin Barreto, Brett Lawrie, Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin to Oakland. Nolin allowed 17 runs in 29 innings for Oakland in 2015, and hasn\’t returned to the majors since. Graveman will miss 2019 with Tommy John surgery, and is now on the Cubs, but for three seasons was a decent starter for a bad A\’s team. Lawrie played one season for the A\’s, hitting 16 home runs, and Barreto is currently a young utility infielder for the team. But Donaldson won AL MVP honors in his first season, and received votes in the next two. He hit 41 home runs with a .297 batting average in 2015.

                      Prediction
The Blue Jays will be fun to watch with Guerrero and their second best prospect, Bo Bichette, if Bichette plays in 2019. Stroman and Sanchez could have bounce back seasons, but in a strong division, the Blue Jays are better off selling this season.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Photo from Dallas Morning News

          The Texas Rangers had a period from 2015-2016 where they were title hunting. A Jose Bautista bat flip in \’15 and an embarrassing ALDS sweep ended the Rangers\’ run. Now, they are at rock bottom. Former face of the franchise Adrian Beltre retired, and out the door went budding second baseman Jurickson Profar, catcher Robinson Chirinos and reliever Alex Claudio. Former closer Keone Kela left last July. Engaged in a painful rebuild, the Rangers can do nothing but hope to be like the 2017 Twins, who went from terrible team to contender in a season.

           Offseason additions: RHP Lance Lynn, INF Asdrubal Cabrera, RHP Jesse Chavez, C Jeff Mathis, RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Shelby Miller, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Edinson Volquez, OF Hunter Pence, RHP Jeanmar Gomez, INF Logan Forsythe, 3B/P Matt Davidson, OF Ben Revere

            Offseason subtractions: 3B Adrian Beltre, 2B Jurickson Profar, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Bartolo Colon, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Yovani Gallardo, RHP Doug Fister, OF Drew Robinson, LHP Matt Moore

            Rotation
The four starters Texas brought in, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, Drew Smyly and Edinson Volquez, have all had Tommy John surgery before, with Miller, Smyly and Volquez just returning from it. Lynn is coming off the worst season of his career, but has a 3.57 ERA and a 3.67 FIP in his career, better than Dallas Keuchel, the best remaining free agent starter. Lynn had a 2.17 FIP after a July trade to the Yankees. Smyly hasn\’t pitched since 2016, his first full season as a starter, but also his worst. Volquez had a 4.19 ERA in 17 starts for the Marlins in 2017, and was a key starter for the 2015 Royals that won the World Series. The best returning starter, Mike Minor, was moved back to the starting role for the first time since 2014. He was a dominant reliever in KC in 2017, but didn\’t pitch in 2015 or 2016 because of major shoulder surgery. Miller was one of baseball\’s best young starters from 2012-15, but completely failed and was injured when traded to Arizona. Texas is hoping for the Miller that was on St. Louis and Atlanta.

             Bullpen
Jose LeClerc, the closer after Keone Kela was traded to Pittsburgh, absolutely dominated in 2018, with a 1.56 ERA, with 85 strikeouts in 57.2 innings. He will keep the closer duties. Jesse Chavez, traded to the Cubs last July, was re-signed. He had a 2.55 ERA last year, a career best. Chris Martin returned from Japan, but didn\’t find much success. Lefty Jeffrey Springs was decent in a short amount of MLB time last year. Connor Sadzeck allowed just one run in 9.1 innings last season. Adrian Sampson had a good spring, and should make the team. Veterans Shawn Kelley and Jeanmar Gomez will also make the team. Combined, they have 18 years of MLB experience. Kelley is the better of the two. Mets Rule 5 pick Kyle Dowdy was picked up off waivers, and should make the team over either Sampson or Sadzeck.

             Catching
 Robinson Chirinos left after hitting 18 home runs. The Rangers signed defensive catcher Jeff Mathis to a two year deal. Mathis will likely back up Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a catcher and infielder, who made his rookie season in 2018.

             Infield
Replacing Beltre at third will be Asdrubal Cabrera, who hit 23 home runs in \’18. Sophomore first baseman Ronald Guzman hit 16 home runs. Injuries limited Roughned Odor to just 129 games, where he hit 18 home runs. But, his OPS improved dramatically from 2017, up to .751. Injuries limited Elvis Andrus to 97 games. He he hit six home runs, 14 less than his career high in 2017, five stolen bases, when his previous career low was 21, and a career low .256 average.

               Outfield
Joey Gallo hit 40 home runs again, but hit in the low .200s and struck out 200 times. Those numbers are what we\’ve come to expect from Gallo. His OPS dropped from .869 in 2017 to .810 in 2018. Delino DeShields Jr. is one of the fastest players in baseball, and it was a disappointment seeing him steal just 20 bases last year. He could work on his offense. He hit .216 with a .591 OPS in 2018. In each of his first three MLB seasons, Nomar Mazara hit exactly 20 home runs. Mazara will turn 24 at the end of April. This could be his breakout year.

                DH/Bench
Shin-Soo Choo has moved to a DH role. He hit 21 home runs with a .810 OPS last season. Hunter Pence made the team out of Spring Training as the fourth outfielder. Pence completely fell off in 2018, hitting four home runs, with a .226 average and a .590 OPS, all career lows by far. Logan Forsythe is the backup infielder. He had a .356 OBP in 50 games after a midseason trade to Minnesota. Mathis is the backup catcher.

                 Lineup
DH Shin-Soo Choo
2B Roughned Odor
SS Elvis Andrus
RF Nomar Mazara
LF Joey Gallo
3B Asdrubal Cabrera
1B Ronald Guzman
C Isiah Kiner-Falefa
CF Delino DeShields Jr.

                  Rotation
Mike Minor (L)
Lance Lynn (R)
Drew Smyly (L)
Edinson Volquez (R)
Shelby Miller (R)
                 
                   Bullpen
Jose LeClerc (R)
Jesse Chavez (R)
Chris Martin (R)
Jeffrey Springs (L)
Kyle Dowdy (R)
Shawn Kelley (R)
Jeanmar Gomez (R)
Adrian Sampson (R)

                    Bench
C Jeff Mathis
OF Hunter Pence
INF Logan Forsythe

                    Additional Information
Ballpark: Globe Life Park
Manager: Chris Woodward
GM: Jon Daniels
World Series Championships: 0
2018 record: 67-95

                     Steal of the Decade
The best Rangers trade this decade could end up actually being a bad one in years. Well, first, they acquired lefties Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman from the Phillies for six players. Hamels and Diekman were both key parts of the Rangers\’ runs in 2015 and 2016. The only two of the six players that can come back to hurt the Rangers are Jorge Alfaro and Nick Williams. But, Alfaro was traded to the Marlins and Williams is now a fourth outfielder because of the Bryce Harper signing.

                      Prediction
The Rangers don\’t impress anyone as a team. Their bullpen, outside of LeClerc, is really bad, their rotation is made up of guys that have missed at least a season, and their lineup isn\’t great. There shouldn\’t be postseason baseball in Arlington this year.