Weekend SSG Baseball Update
So much for calling it an off-season. It was actually a pretty busy week in baseball, especially for early January. Several big signings, a couple of trades and a handful of trade rumours. Here are some thoughts on a few things that you might have missed this week.
Problems in the Motor City?
Word out of Detroit is that the SSG Tigers could be dealing with a very disgruntled Jose Iglesias heading into spring training. Iglesias is said to be fuming at being forced to accept a qualifying offer from Detroit rather then getting a multi year deal from the Tigers or being allowed to test free agency. A Detroit insider says the Tigers certainly don’t want to deal the 30 year old but if his attitude does not improve Detroit might just be open to the possibility of moving the 5-time Gold Glove winner.
SSG National Resign Gomes
The Washington Nationals got business done with Yan Gomes, locking the 32 year old catcher up for 3 years at an average of $5 million per season in a deal announced earlier this week. Gomes came over to the nation’s capital from Cleveland in a deadline deal last July. It was an important signing for Nats, who with Jonathan Lucroy’s exit to Miami, would have been down to just A.J. Jimenez as the only catcher in the organization with any major league experience had they let Gomes leave as well. While some might feel the price tag was steep, the Nationals can almost look at it like they are $10 million a year ahead now that they are out from under the $15 million they paid Lucroy each of the past two seasons.
Gomes, who hit .240 with 17 homers last season and looked fully healed from an MCL injury that cost him much of the 2018 campaign, was really the best option available to the Nationals. Russell Martin is still out there in free agency but Martin is now 36 and is said to be looking for at least a couple of million more per season then Washington paid Gomes.
Pedroia Signs Minor League Deal with SSG Braves
Nice to see Dustin Pedroia getting one more chance as Atlanta has signed the 36 year old to a minor league deal. It has been a rough couple of years for Pedroia, who hasn’t been the same player since a torn calf muscle ended his season midway through the 2017 campaign.