The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed right-handed pitcher Louis Coleman to a one-year, $750,000 deal, a league source told Cover Those Bases on Thursday.
A corresponding move has yet to be announced, but today represented the first day that teams can open 40-man roster spots with the 60-day disabled list. It is possible that the Dodgers will be taking advantage of that. The 29-year-old Coleman has spent his entire career pitching out of the Royals' bullpen, and he appeared in four games in 2015. Coleman spent the majority of last season pitching in Triple-A Omaha, where he went 8-2 with a 1.69 ERA and a 63 to 23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 64 innings. Over his short Major League stint, Coleman did not allow a run, and struck out one while walking two in three innings. Coleman and the Royals avoided arbitration earlier this offseason to keep him in Kansas City. He reportedly would have made $725,000 this year. Just weeks later, the Royals designated him for assignment and subsequently released him. Now Coleman heads to Los Angeles and becomes the second bullpen arm they've added this offseason, after Joe Blanton. The Dodgers bullpen was collectively worth 4.5 fWAR last season, good for eighth in the Majors. They pitched to a 3.91 ERA, however, placing them at 19th. Their third-best xFIP was likely the reason for the high Wins Above Replacement total. Coleman has been very solid over a five-year Major League career. He is 6-4 with a 3.20 ERA and a 186 to 78 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 177 1/3 innings pitched. According to FanGraphs, his career FIP is 4.30 and his xFIP is 4.05. Overall, he has been worth 0.3 fWAR. --Devan Fink
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The Oakland Athletics have acquired outfielder Khris Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers for two prospects, catcher Jacob Nottingham and right-handed pitcher Bubba Derby, they announced on Friday.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported the move. By adding Davis, the Athletics demonstrated their willingness to aim for contention in 2016. He boosts the middle of the order in Oakland, while also deepening their outfield. Alongside Davis are Josh Reddick and Billy Burns, who project to be the Athletics' right and center fielders in 2016, respectively. Reddick, in fact, led the 2015 Athletics in home runs, with just 20. Overall, the Atheltics' 146 home runs as a team were good for 12th (of 15) in the American League. The 28-year-old Davis is an up-and-coming slugger who should help add to that total in 2016. Last year, Davis hit .247/.323/.505 (122 OPS+) with 27 home runs and 66 RBIs in 440 plate appearances with Milwaukee. He ended the season on a real hot streak, homering 21 times after the All-Star break and 10 times each in the last two months of the season. According to FanGraphs, Davis was worth 1.3 Wins Above Replacement and should only continue to get better. The Athletics have the contractual rights to Davis through 2019. For the Brewers, the subtraction of Davis represents just another part of their teardown. Just this offseason, Milwaukee traded the likes of Adam Lind, Jean Segura, and Francisco Rodriguez as they attempt to rebuild after finishing 68-94 in 2015. As for their additions in this deal, Nottingham and Derby look to be legitimate pieces for the Brewers' next contending team. Both 20, the catcher Nottingham could be the heir to Jonathan Lurcoy's position at Miller Park. A catching prospect to perhaps replace the staple in their lineup was something the Brewers lacked until now. As for Derby, he's a little further away in terms of development, but posted a promising 1.21 ERA and a 47 to 10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 37 1/3 innings last season, his first as a professional. --Devan Fink
New York Mets' right-handed pitcher Jenrry Mejia has been permanently banned from Major League Baseball for a third failed performance enhancing drug test, the league announced.
Mejia is eligible to apply for reinstatement in one year, but he must sit out a minimum of two seasons even if his reinstatement is granted by MLB. Mejia is the first player in Major League history to be permanently suspended under the new Joint Drug Agreement, established in December 2011. Under the policy, a first-time offender is suspended 80 games. A second-time offender is suspended 162 games. Finally, a player suspended a third time will be placed on MLB's Restricted List. Mejia's first suspension came on April 11, 2015, when he was barred 80 games for the use of stanozolol. On July 28, it was announced that he failed a test for stanozolol and Boldenone and received a 162-game suspension. The 26-year-old Mejia was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent in 2007 and was rushed to the big leagues in 2010. He came into his own in 2014, going 6-6 with a 3.65 ERA with a 98 to 41 strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.73 FIP) in 93 2/3 innings pitched. Mejia saved 28 games in 31 opportunities. Over his career, Mejia went 9-14 with a 3.68 ERA and a 2.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 183 1/3 innings pitched over five years with the Mets. --Devan Fink
The Baltimore Orioles are close to signing right-handed pitcher Yovani Gallardo to a three-year deal, according to various media reports on Wednesday. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first mentioned that the sides were gaining momentum on a contract.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, if (and when) Gallardo's deal with the Orioles does get completed, the deal would be worth about $40 to $45 million. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN notes that the deal still needs some "tweaks" before it can be completed. Gallardo, who turns 30 later this month, spent 2015 with the Texas Rangers. He went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA (124 ERA+) and a 121 to 68 strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.00 FIP) in 184 1/3 innings pitched. According to FanGraphs, he was worth 2.5 Wins Above Replacement. The Orioles had been one of the teams connected to Gallardo this offseason, with the Rockies and Astros also showing interest at different points. Baltimore's rotation could use some upgrades if they want to contend in 2016, but at what cost? Because he was given a qualifying offer from Texas, Gallardo has draft pick compensation attached to him. If the Orioles do sign him, then they will lose their 2016 first round pick (No. 14). As of now, the Orioles' projected 2016 rotation includes: Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman, and Mike Wright. Last year, the unit posted a 9.3 fWAR, 18th in the Majors. Gallardo would be a definite upgrade there. If the Orioles do sign Gallardo, that could lead them to pursue other available free agents. This could include Dexter Fowler, as the team would only have to give up their second round draft choice if they signed the outfielder. The possibility of a deal there remains to be seen. --Devan Fink
The Chicago White Sox announced the signing of right-handed starter Mat Latos to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com first reported the deal.
Latos will make $3 million in 2016, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports. He can also earn an extra $300,000 each for winning the Cy Young, MVP, and World Series MVP awards, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, though that appears unlikely. The 28-year-old Latos would have thought to have earned more money in his first career free agency, but an array of issues led him to take a one-year deal. Latos is notorious for having a rough personality and is not known for being the greatest teammate. He has publicly called out different members of organizations he has pitched with in the staff, like the training staff and front office. Plus, Latos is coming off of a down season. In 112 2/3 innings in 2015, Latos went 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA and a 97 to 31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which was just a tick above his career average. According to FanGraphs, he was worth 1.5 Wins Above Replacement. He spent last season with three teams, starting the year with the Marlins before being dealt to the Dodgers, where he was released after six outings. Latos was then signed by the Angels and finished out the season there. The White Sox are taking the upside that Latos offers, as not too long ago he was a very good pitcher, posting a 3.16 ERA in 210 2/3 innings back in 2013. Chicago is teetering on contention, and the addition of Latos, if it works out, could help lean them toward a successful 2016 season. As it stands, their projected starting rotation includes: Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, John Danks, and Latos. Last season, the group posted a 4.12 ERA, 14th-lowest in the Majors. However, they also posted a much-better 3.87 xFIP, suggesting that their rotation was undervalued due to poor luck. --Devan Fink |
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