A BRAVE NEW WORLD

The biggest story of Opening Night was along the scroll bar.

The Padres made another blockbuster move.

New Friar general manager A.J. Preller acquired closer Craig Kimbrel, and OF  Melvin Upton from the fire sale Braves.

The Braves acquired veteran outfielders Cameron Maybin and Carlos Quentin,  pitching prospect Matt Wisler, outfielder Jordan Paroubeck and the 41st pick in the upcoming draft.
 

YahooSports reports that with Kimbrel, the Padres acquire arguably the most dominant reliever in the game over the past five seasons. The 26-year-old is coming off a season in which he posted a 1.61 ERA over 61 2/3 innings. He saved 47 games and struck out 97 batters. Kimbrel is under contract for at least the next three seasons. He's guaranteed $33 million over that period. Kimbrel also has a $13 million club option for 2018.

For Preller and the Padres, the move doubles-down on the all-in philosophy of the offseason. Kimbrel should combine with Joaquin Benoit, Kevin Quackenbush and Shawn Kelly to wreck havoc on opposing hitters in the late innings. 

The 30-year-old Upton has not performed well in Atlanta, and the move is perceived as a salary dump for the Braves. Upton hit just .208/287/.333 last season, and is still owed $46.35 million over the next three seasons. He'll likely be a fourth outfielder with San Diego.

On the Braves side, both Quentin and Maybin should provide outfield depth. Quentin isn't regarded as highly for his defense, and had been used at first base during camp. Freddie Freeman is firmly entrenched in that spot, so it appears as if Quentin will continue to play the outfield. It is possible that Quentin may be DFA'd.

Wisler, 22, rated as the top prospect in San Diego's system, according to Baseball America. His stats in the minors have been strong up until he was promoted to Triple-A last season. He considered relatively close to major-league ready, and profiles as a No. 3 starter, according to BA. 

Paroubeck was considered a minor-league sleeper to watch by Baseball America, but did not rank among the Padres' top-30 prospects. After being selected in the second round of the 2013 draft, Paraoubeck hit .286/.346/.457 over 157 plate appearances in rookie ball. He's just 20, and remains a few seasons away from the majors.

The Padres have been the most aggressive team this off season. Last year, Oakland's Billy Beane sold the future for a run at the present, and lost that bet. It should be an interesting year in the NL West.

ON THE MOVE

The White Sox have been making major moves this off-season. Two glaring needs have suddenly been met: right handed starter and bullpen closer.

The White Sox traded for ex-Cub Jeff Samardzija, sending the A's utility infielder Marcus Semien, right hander Chris Bassitt and a player to be named later. This was less than Oakland's initial asking price which included Alexi Ramirez and prospect Tim Anderson. Samardzija trade is a one-year rental since he really wants to explore free agency, his one and only time to get such a huge contract. However, as a Chicago icon, the Shark may be convinced to stay with the White Sox if things go well in 2015.

The trade for Samardzija does not upset the White Sox top prospects or starting line up.
Samardzija moved into the Cubs' rotation in 2012 and has gone 26-42 as a starter with a 3.86 ERA. He went a combined 7-13 last season with a 2.99 ERA with both the Cubs and A's. He was 5-6 in 16 starts in the American League, posting a 3.14 ERA. He is expected to make between $9 million and $10 million in 2015, his final year of arbitration eligibility.

The White Sox rotation gets seriously deep with this trade. Chris Sale, Samardzija, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and John Danks.

In addition, the White Sox signed former Yankee closer, David Robertson, to a 4 year, $46 million deal. Roberston went 4-5 with 39 saves and a 3.08 ERA after taking over the closer role in New York. The 29-year old has a 2.81 ERA over seven seasons.

The Yankees made a one-year qualifying offer of $15.3 million to Robertson for 2015, ensuring them draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team. Because the White Sox had among the top 10 initial picks in next year's amateur draft, they lose a second-round selection next June rather than their first-round choice, which is eighth overall. The Yankees receive an extra pick between the first and second rounds.

The White Sox had a 4.28 ERA from their bullpen this past season, 28th in baseball and only better than the Rockies and Astros.  The club's combined 36 saves were better than just five other major league teams. By adding Robertson and Zach Duke, the White Sox are putting veteran pitching on the back end of the pen. Nate Jones is expected to be back in late July, 2015.

No White Sox fan can complain that their team has not been making serious moves to win in 2015.

UPDATE: The deal included 6 players; with the Sox sending catcher Josh Phelgley to Oakland and the A's sending a Class A relief pitcher.

A NEW CLOSER

The Cubs made a consensus positive signing late yesterday.

The Cubs signed reliever Jose Veras for a two year contract. He will be paid  $3.85 million base salary for 2014 with a $150K buyout on the 2015 $5.5 million option, giving him $4MM guaranteed, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Veras can earn an additional $750K based on games

The 33-year-old Veras posted a 3.02 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 with a 41.8 percent ground-ball rate in 62 2/3 innings between the Astros and Tigers, collecting a career-high 21 saves along the way.

Veras has pitched 8 years in the majors, and the Cubs will be his 8th team.  For his career, he has gone 19-22, 3.84 ERA, 1.310 WHIP,  9.3 K/9, 2.00 K/BB ratio, and 26 saves in 133 GF. His career WAR is only 4.0. Based on his average WAR, the Cubs slightly overpaid for his journeyman services.

But this does speak to the Cubs bullpen issues, much was to the team's own making.

In 2012, the Cubs signed Japanese pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa to a $9.5 million, two year contract with a $5.5 million option, to be the Cubs closer. Fujikawa pitched in 12 games for the Cubs in 2013, going 1-1, 5. 25 ERA, 2 saves in 12 IP, 1.083 WHIP with a negative 0.2 WAR before he got hurt.

So the signing of Veras to be the closer signals that Fujikawa's injury is more severe and that he is no longer in the Cubs closer plans. It also shows that the pattern of signing pitchers, some with existing arm issues, continues to haunt the Cubs.

Just recently we had the Cubs 2014 bullpen as:

Closer: Fujikawa, coming off his own lost season due to injury.
Set-Up: Strop, who some believe could be the heir apparent closer.
8th: Vizcaino, if he is truly healthy.
LHP: Russell, who was overworked last season
LHP: Wright, who is a true LOOGY.
RHP: Parker, who fell into a long reliever by default last season.
Long/Spot Starter: Villaneuva, who could get a shot at the 5th starter role this spring.

Now, if we use just healthy players, and the fact it looks like Villaneuva will get a chance to be the 5th starter because of the Cub inactivity on that front and the persistent rumors that Samardzija will be traded, the 2014 bullpen will probably look close to this:

Closer: Veras
Set-Up: Strop
8th: Parker
LHP: Russell, unless he is traded in a package deal
LHP: Wright
RHP: Cabrera
Long/Spot Starter: Raley or Grimm

Starters if Samardzija is traded would be E. Jackson, T. Wood, Arrieta, Rusin, and Villaneuva.



 

MEDIC!

Giants closer Brian Wilson will have to have Tommy John surgery. He will be lost for at least 18 months.

The Giants have spent a fortune on starting pitching, some analysts believe it is the best rotation in the NL.

But a loss of a closer so early in the season can blow up a championship run right out of the gate.

The Giants organization is the most budget conscious group in the majors. They refuse to add any big money to the payroll during the season. With Wilson gone, it appears that the team will try to bandage the bullpen closer role from within the team and minor league system.

There really is only one known free agent closer. Mike Gonzalez is available, but he has lost his status the last few years. He split time between Baltimore and Texas last season in more of a mop-up role.

The other prospect would be trading for a known closer.  The only teams that would give up a closer are teams that know that they will not be in the race.  Astros closer Brett Myers is going to be shopped at the trading deadline. Houston is in the midst of new ownership and a tear down of the roster. The team is looking to add depth at all positions and Myers is the best chip on the team to trade. However, his $11 million salary will put off most teams.

The Cubs Marmol may also be available. He also has a high salary. But Marmol has known command issues at times which may scare off teams in the heart of a pennant race more than his salary.

For whatever reason, the closer (9th inning) role has taken on more significance in recent years due to the sabremetric specialization of all baseball roles. There are some excellent 8th inning relievers who mentally cannot handle a "promotion" to the closer role.

It will be interesting to see how the Giants will mend their broken bullpen, especially when the Dodgers have had their best opening record in franchise history (9 wins one loss).

UPDATE:
Giants Manager Bruce Bochy has told the media that he would handle the Wilson loss with his current bullpen. The Giants had the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the National League in 201. Returning veterans Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez will handle the closer's role by committee.