This week's happenings:
- The first big deal of the off season dropped on Christmas Eve: 1B Josh Bell, 28, was traded to the Washington Nationals for minor league prospects RHP Wil Crowe and RHP Eddy Yean, both starters. Crowe, 26, was Nats' #3 prospect while Yean, 19, was #6 on the DC list. Bell was an All-Star who was en fuego during the first half of 2019, but faded badly in the backstretch, then hit just .233 in 2020, and his defense has left much to be desired. The Nats need a mid-order bat and decided to plug J-Bell in the spot. Crowe was considered a potential back-ender while Yean hasn’t worked beyond Low A ball and is considered an eventual mid-rotation arm. Looks like Colin Moran impressed enough to leave the FO comfortable with him at first base and leaving Phil Evans as the infield corner backup, pending future churn.
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- Gregory Polanco is out for the remainder of winter ball in the Dominican with a fractured right wrist. He's expected to recover in time to participate fully in camp.
- Jason Mackey of the Post Gazette did a great job of looking at Pittsburgh's black baseball roots, which still run deep in the city...except at PNC Park, per Brett Barnett of Bucs Dugout.
- RHP Nick Burdi, 27, who was released last month after TJ surgery and opted for free agency, has signed with San Diego. Though he's expected to miss the 2021 season, the Pirates had hoped to bring him back.
- IF Adeiny Hechavarría has agreed to a one-year/$970K deal with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for Atlanta last year and got a 15-game Bucco audition in 2018.
- The Phillies have signed RHP Neftali Feliz to a minor league contract with a camp invite. He tossed for the Bucs in 2016 and his last MLB job was with KC in 2017; he's been AAA fodder since.
"Back ender" is about the zenith for Crowe, I think, though if he can soak up some innings in a 5th starter role and not get killed while doing it, I guess that's okay. Yean is the real return in the Bell deal but he is too far away from the majors to know if the Bucs got anything in return.
ReplyDeleteI say "meh" to this trade. Bell's glove was obviously subpar, he hadn't done much at the plate since the first half of 2019, you never know when his balky knee will give out, and with his frame, he might be the kind of guy who doesn't age real well, though to this point he has certainly stayed in shape. All that plus he was starting to get expensive, so I get why they traded him at this time. I just think they could have gotten more in return if they were going to do it. Again not a terrible return given the circumstances, but also definitely nothing to write home about.
Agreed. Crowe looks like a depth piece; Yean is the lotto ticket. Dunno what Bell's value is, but I do have to think the Bucs did have feelers out; he was unfortunately a sell-low guy with a big payroll hit.
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