Good sign in Bronx
impressed the Mets brass with his sharp defense and solid arm. He impressed everyone else with his hands — and quick reflexes. Guillorme, the Mets’ 11th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, made a dramatic catch of Adeiny Hechavarria’s bat, which was sent hurtling toward the Mets dugout during a spring training game against the Marlins. The catch, which the 22-year-old Florida native made look easy, was caught on video and went viral. He became a spring training sensation. Now, Guillorme is hoping to make a bigger, more important impression with the organization going into 2018. On Monday, the Mets finalized their 40-man roster, adding four players to that list, protecting them from next month’s Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. Guillermo and right-hander Corey Oswalt were the obvious choices to protect in what is seen by the industry as a very thin farm system. The Mets also added right-handed pitchers Tyler Bashlor and Gerson Bautista. The Mets have one open spot on their 40-man roster. The other prospects are younger, further away from the majors. That just highlights yet again how few assets the Mets have going into this remainder of his 10-year, $252 million contract with the Rangers.
The Players Association, fearing a precedent that would undermine its powers, said nothing doing, no matter how much A-Rod wanted it to happen.
So instead of playing shortstop for the Red Sox, A-Rod wound up moving to third base to play for the Yankees after Aaron Boone tore up his knee playing pick-up basketball that same winter.
In this case, one person close to the situation said Monday night that the Players Association is not going to allow a team to take advantage of a player, even if Otani is not one of its members yet.
There is also the matter of coming up with an agreement that works for all players, not just Otani.
And, finally, even if a new agreement offseason as they look to improve their major league team and keep their payroll manageable.
Last week, at the GM meetings, Alderson said he felt that the Mets had the assets to make a trade if needed. Alderson added that the Mets most likely would have to deal from their younger, big league-experienced players to get any significant return. Three scouts who spent 2017 evaluating the Mets system said that just shows that the their minor leagues need a rebuild.
“They just seem to be at the down part of the minors,” said one National League Central scout who is familiar with the Mets prospects. “He’s the player they most likely will protect, maybe a few of the relievers they got this summer (in trades to reduce payroll) . . . There just isn’t much there beyond Guillorme.”
Guillorme, who is generously listed at 5-foot-9, seemingly would be among the players teams would be curious about. He was just named to the Arizona Fall League All-Star team and was considered the best defender in that league this year. He hit .283 with 43 RBI, a career-high 70 runs scored and 72 walks at Binghamton this season. That earned him a Sterling Award, given to the top prospects in the Mets system.
Primarily a shortstop, Guillorme’s getting more experience as a second baseman now that Amed Rosario is establishing himself at their shortstop of the future. The Mets rave about Guillermo’s glove, speed and natural instincts as a leadoff hitter. They hope to one day have a double-play team in Guillorme and Rosario. Scouts who watched Binghamton this season, however, are not convinced that will ever come to fruition. “He’s got a good glove, but the speed they rave about, it is average,” an American League a East scout said. “His bat is my concern, and he is small. He’s got to be faster at that size. To me, he is profiling right now as a utility infielder.”
Oswalt is profiling a little higher among scouts. A tall right-hander, Oswalt had a breakout season in Double-A. He posted a 2.28 ERA and won 12 games for Binghamton. is reached between the leagues, MLB will be watching carefully to make sure the team that signs Otani doesn’t entice him with some type of secret deal in which they would sign him to a longterm contract making up for the money he is losing by leaving Japan at age 23. t’s tricky because teams are free to lock up players who come up from the minors as they so desire, though it’s not like the Yankees are going to offer Aaron Judge a $200 million contract when he’s two years away from arbitration and five away from free agency.
So, as the exec said, it’s complicated, all right.
In the end, though, even a 24-hour extension in negotiations between the Players Association and Nippon Baseball felt like a first step toward Otani becoming a Yankee.
IWill Shohei Otani be MLB-bound in 2018?
It seems promising, but we’ll have to wait another day to find out.
The MLB Players Association announced Monday it has agreed to a 24-hour extension for a new posting agreement to be reached between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball, as the Yankee continued to stockpile money in an attempt to sign the Babe Ruth of Japan.
If an agreement can be reached, Otani — the 23-year-old, two-way star — would be eligible to play in the majors next season. The new deadline is Tuesday at 8 p.m.
In a Monday trade with Derek Jeter’s Marlins, the Yankees acquired $250,000 in additional international signing bonus pool money, adding to the $3.25 million they already had, giving them $3.5 million to spend on Otani. Only the Rangers, with $3.535 million, have more.
If Otani, a starting pitcher and outfielder, is posted, his Japanese team, the Nippon Ham Fighters, would receive a $20 million fee. But because Otani, who clearly doesn’t care about money, isn’t waiting until he’s 25, teams only have to pay him signing bonus money – anywhere from $300,000 to $3.535 million.
The Yankees are among a host of teams interested in Otani. The Bombers could give him DH days when he’s not starting on the mound, while also getting Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and others in the DH mix as well. His signing makes a lot of sense for the Yankees, who are intent on getting under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.
The Bombers have had previous success landing the likes of Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka, who could both be helpful in recruiting Otani as well.
Otani has hit 100 mph with his fastball in Japan. This past season, however, he was limited due to injuries to his thigh and ankle. In 65 games at the plate, he posted a .942 OPS. In five starts on the mound, he posted a 3.20 ERA. He underwent ankle surgery in October. The MLBPA had placed an arbitrary 8 p.m. Monday deadline to reach an agreement, but elected to give more time, which is a seemingly encouraging development, given that talks will continue.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently expressed optimism that an agreement would be reached.