Catcher week continued Tuesday in Arizona as the Diamondbacks signed Stephen Vogt, 35, to a one-year, $3 million deal that could extend to two years and $7 million if Vogt reaches various threshholds during his first year in Phoenix. Vogt missed all of 2018 after fairly serious shoulder surgery undergone whilst with the Brewers, but performed credibly in 280 plate appearances for the Giants in 2019, hitting 10 home runs and posting a 107 wRC+.

Arizona, meanwhile, was in the market for a veteran catcher to replace Alex Avila, who seems likely to depart in free agency after spending most of the last two years mentoring the Diamondbacks’ young backstop Carson Kelly. Kelly, 25, finally got more than 75 plate appearances in 2019 after three disappointing campaigns with the Cardinals left his once-elevated prospect status in doubt.

He made the most of his chances, triple-slashing .245/.348/.478 while walking 13% of the time and posting a 108 wRC+. Those aren’t All-Star figures, to be sure, and I’m certain the Diamondbacks are hoping for a little bit more out of him, but it isn’t bad for catcher, given the state of the position, was presumably enough promise to allow the Arizona brain trust to feel comfortable passing on bigger-name catching options for 2020. I suspect, given Arizona’s aspirations for 2020, that a disappointing start for Kelly might push the D-backs into the trade market come July, but they don’t need to decide that now. Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier this month, the Cubs declined to pay $3 million to keep Kendall Graveman around and see if he’s recovered enough from a July 2018 Tommy John surgery to challenge for a rotation spot in 2020. That makes sense for Chicago, whose fourth starter is probably José Quintana. The Mariners, whose fourth starter is probably Justin Dunn, have more room to experiment a little and see what gives. They did just that this week, reportedly inking the 28-year-old Graveman to a one-year, $1.5 million deal (there’s a $500k buyout on a $3.5 million option for 2021, making the total guarantee for 2020 $2 million).

Graveman was moderately effective as a starter for the A’s from 2015 to 2017, posting a 4.44 FIP across 71 starts and 407 innings. That success ended in 2018, when a 7.60 ERA over seven early-season starts presaged the elbow injury that’s kept him off the mound ever since. He signed an incentive-laden deal with the Cubs last winter that promised substantial earnings contingent upon a successful return to the mound in 2019. That return never happened, despite two September minor-league rehab starts, and the Mariners were able to sign Graveman for only $1 million more in guaranteed contract dollars than the Cubs were willing to concede a year ago.

Graveman has a groundball-friendly profile (55.2% for his career) that will likely play well in front of Kyle Seager and J.P. Crawford and, if he is able to recover his pre-surgery velocity, he can be expected to pair a four-seam fastball thrown in the low 90s with a slider, a cut fastball, and an above-average changeup. There’s a well-traveled history of players adjusting their repertoires after returning from major arm surgery, of course, so I wouldn’t count on that mix (or, especially, that velocity) returning unchanged; know only that Graveman still likely has the raw materials to become the kind of pitcher who once so intrigued Jeff Sullivan. Read the rest of this entry »

The Tampa Bay Rays announced Monday afternoon that they have come to terms with catcher Mike Zunino on a one-year contract. Zunino will be paid $4.5 million in 2020 in what would have been his final year of salary arbitration eligibility. Tampa also holds a club option for 2021 at the same $4.5 million price.

It’s not the sexiest signing, but it’s one where both parties “settle” for something. Zunino struggled offensively in 2019, hitting .165/.232/.312, first splitting time with Michael Perez and then with Travis d’Arnaud. d’Arnaud’s healthy comeback season featured a healthier .263/.323/.459 in Tampa, resulting in him seizing the majority of the catching job from Zunino, with 80 starts in the 125 games the Rays played after acquiring him. Zunino remains a more-than-competent defensive catcher, but continuing a career-long streak of above-average framing runs isn’t quite enough when your wRC+ at the plate is 45. Read the rest of this entry »

Position: Junior Analyst

Department: Baseball Operations
Job Classification: Non-exempt
City/State: Oakland, CA

Description:
The Oakland Athletics are currently seeking a full-time Junior Analyst in the Baseball Operations R&D department. The Junior Analyst will have responsibilities that include performing statistical analysis and reporting, as well as in assisting in the creation of new analytical research and modeling to support Baseball Operations. They will also provide support and analysis for various tracking technologies. This position will work with members of the front office to provide analysis for the decision making process. This position will be located in Oakland, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Produce statistical analysis and reporting for the front office and coaching staff.
• Conduct research projects for various departments within Baseball Operations.
• Collaborate with the research and development team on statistical modeling techniques and projects.
• Assist with the capture and analysis of ball and player tracking technologies.
• Assist the staff with ad-hoc analysis and reporting.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in math, computer science, economics, statistics or related quantitative field
• Strong proficiency in SQL and R is required, Python experience preferred.
• Experience in Microsoft Excel is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Self-starter with an ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills including written and verbal; ability to present ideas clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work extended hours/weekends and travel as needed.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

The Oakland A’s are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Oakland Athletics.

Position: Short Season Hitting Coordinator

Department:Baseball Operations
Status: Regular Full-Time
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Position Summary:
The Arizona Diamondbacks are seeking a Short Season Hitting Coordinator who will work closely with the Minor League Hitting Coordinator and oversee coordinating and developing players at their Dominican Academy, Short-Season clubs, Arizona operations (including spring training), extended spring, Arizona League and Instructional League as well as special assignments. The ideal candidate will use analytical data and technology to create plans for players to maximize their development and will collaborate with players, staff and the front office. Spanish speaking is required for this role, as well as the flexibility to be on the road for weeks at a time, including international travel.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• An understanding of hitting technology and how it can be implemented
• Communicating hitting technologies including video and wearable technology with Spanish speaking players and staff
• Working with hitters in one-on-one environments
• Working with short season hitting coaches to implement philosophy
• Incorporating analytics as it relates to hitting
• Effectively communicating technical and analytical concepts to non-technical people
• Ability to carry out and create a hitting plan for players in conjunction with the Hitting Coordinator
• Ability to multitask and balance multiple projects at once
• Working and collaborating with players, staff and the front office
• Independently evaluate professional and amateur baseball players
• Flexibility to travel internationally and be on the road for weeks at a time
• Carry oneself in a respectful manner that positively represents the organization

Skills:

• Fluency in Spanish is required
• The ability to effectively communicate with and relate to people who have varying backgrounds and experiences working in and playing baseball, respecting and empathizing with both the human and analytical perspectives of the game
• Intellectual curiosity and creativity
• Experience working with Blast, K-Vest, force plates, slow motion video and Rapsodo
• Technical knowledge pertaining to statistical analysis
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Strong work ethic and attention to detail

To Apply:
Interested candidates should send a resume and supporting materials to bbopsjob@dbacks.com.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Title: Assistant, Amateur Scouting

Department: Amateur Scouting
Status: Full-Time, Seasonal
Reports to: Assistant Director, Amateur Scouting
Deadline: December 1, 2019

The Los Angeles Dodgers are seeking an Assistant in the Amateur Scouting Department. This role will focus on providing administrative and technical support throughout the year in preparation for the 2020 and 2021 Rule 4 Drafts, in addition to being exposed to both traditional scouting and analytically-based concepts related to player evaluation. The individual will work closely with the entire amateur scouting staff in order to gather, organize, and process all pertinent information prior to the 2020 Draft and assist with in-person data collection as needed throughout the season.

Job Functions:

• Provide administrative, logistical, and technical support to the Amateur Scouting and Baseball Operations Departments, mostly in preparation for the Rule 4 Draft.
• Assist with the collection of biographical, medical, and statistical information on Draft-eligible players.
• Manage the daily in-flow of information through various internal and external data sources, implement detailed tracking processes to organize all information, and effectively communicate information needs throughout the department.
• Assist with the planning and execution of various department meetings and events—including Preseason and Pre-Draft workouts, Post-Draft Mini-Camps, and several department-wide meetings throughout the year.
• Provide in-person player evaluations, in-person video collection, and ad-hoc data collection and analysis, on an as-needed basis.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Willingness and ability to relocate to Glendale, AZ or Los Angeles, CA
• Fervent passion for baseball and a career in player evaluation
• Strong to excellent organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel with experience or exposure with SQL being an advantage
• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs
• Willingness and ability to work weekends, holidays, and open to travel, as needed

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mariners have reportedly signed first base prospect Evan White to a six-year, $24 million deal with three club options that, if exercised, mean the deal will max out at nine years and $55.5 million.

White, who will turn 24 in April of next year, was ranked fourth in the Mariners system and 77th in baseball overall on our midseason 2019 prospect list. When we wrote the Mariners list, we described White by saying:

We now have a full season of data to help us figure out whether Evan White’s weird profile is going to play. A plus-running, backwards guy (he bats right and throws left, a generally unfavorable combination due to the defensive limitations and platoon issues caused by both) who plays plus defense at first base, White was slugging .391 at the start of August, which is rather uninspiring for a college hitter in the Cal League. By the end of the month, however, White had 30 hits in 90 plate appearances and was slugging .763.

He has made subtle changes to his lower half, drawing his front knee back toward his rear hip more than he did at Kentucky, and taking a longer stride back toward the pitcher. White is more often finishing with a flexed front leg, which has helped him go down and lift balls in the bottom part of the strike zone by adjusting his lower half instead of his hands. White looked good during the Arizona Fall League, too, squelching some concern that he was just a polished college hitter beating up on Cal League pitching. He’s one of the more bizarre players in the minors.

We’ve been down this road a number of times lately, with varying amounts of guaranteed money, length, track record, and quality of player. This site wasn’t crazy about the Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies extensions last year from a labor perspective; last offseason, Eloy Jiménez signed another big deal, albeit one that was slightly more player-friendly. A number of clubs have offered deals like this to top prospects just before or after their major league debuts over the years, with Evan Longoria, Matt Dominguez, Jon Singleton, Brandon Lowe, and Matt Moore all coming to mind.

Scott Kingery’s six-year, $24 million extension, which also had three options, before he had reached the major leagues seems like the closest comp, but Kingery’s max value was $65 million. He had also reached Triple-A, while but for a brief four-game stint in Tacoma in 2018, White hasn’t played above Double-A. Both Kingery and White had the issue of signing out of college and reaching the big leagues three years later, likely at age 24 for both. That Kingery is a speedy second baseman and White is a backwards first baseman without huge power could explain the difference, though GM Jerry Dipoto recently indicated that White had the second-highest average exit velocity among Mariners minor leaguers this season, and Eric and I have been told similar things about White’s hard hit rate outstripping his traditional raw power.

Both players gave up all of their prime years — and potentially, their entire careers — to one contract before they were able to establish their market value with major league play. Trading the promise of your career for an up-front payday obviously makes sense for a lot of people. We’re happy for White if he’s happy about this deal. And it’s a good day for the Mariners to have a potential core piece locked in for the foreseeable future. But the decision players face isn’t just one of taking the money or go year-to-year and assume massive risk. With a strong year or two, the guarantee on a theoretical early extension could almost double, and possibly entail fewer options. I got texts from industry people about this deal last night, and they were not pleased. One agent summarized the thoughts from the labor side: “Been dealing with about five big leaguer clients talking my ear off about this awful deal and how someone needs to talk to these young kids.” The vomit emoji made an appearance earlier in the exchange.

The White Sox announced Thursday that they agreed with free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal on a four-year contract worth $73 million.

Grandal was an easily recommendable hire by virtue of being almost certainly the best catcher available in free agency, with an argument for either Jason Castro or Travis d’Arnaud a rather tough one to make in this writer’s opinion. On our list of the Top 50 Free Agents for 2020, Grandal was ranked sixth overall. As J.D. Martinez decided not to opt-out from his deal with the Red Sox, Grandal is the first top 10 free agent to sign this winter.

I remain ambivalent about the White Sox as contenders in 2020 based on the state of the pitchers currently on their roster, but Grandal is both an immediate and long-term upgrade behind the plate. James McCann was a significant contributor in 2019, hitting .273/.328/.460 for 2.3 WAR, but he’s hardly established that level of play as his baseline expectation.

And while I’m skeptical that there has been any actual collusion in free agency the last two winters, if I were searching for a contract that smacked of that kind of behavior, it would be hard to not pick Grandal’s deal with the Brewers. Coming off a .241/.349/.466, 4.7 WAR season in 2018, his fourth consecutive four-win season, it seems ludicrous that he only landed a one-year, $16 million contract with a mutual option and a buyout. There were reports that Grandal turned down multi-year contracts, but those inevitably would have been for even less money per year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday was the deadline for teams to protect players from the Rule 5 draft by adding them to the 40-man roster. But with those additions come removals. Oft-injured Jacoby Ellsbury was the most prominent roster casualty as he was let go by the Yankees. In a much quieter move, the Cardinals designated Dominic Leone for assignment. Leone was eligible for arbitration and the move wasn’t a complete shock as Leone struggled last season, but in a very important side note, Leone’s release ends the Kent Bottenfield trade chain, which began two decades ago and includes some of the most memorable moments and moves in Cardinals history.

For those unfamiliar with the Kent Bottenfield trade chain, or Kent Bottenfield himself, the big righty played for five teams from 1992 to 1997 bouncing between the rotation and in 364 innings accumulated 0.1 WAR. As a free agent after the 1997, the Cardinals signed him to a one-year deal with a team option. After putting up decent numbers between the bullpen and the rotation, the team moved Bottenfield to a starting role full-time in 1999 and he had his best season, putting up 2.3 WAR in 190.1 innings. Fortunately for the Cardinals and his trade value, Bottenfield’s average 4.75 FIP wasn’t known back then, and his 3.97 ERA and 18-7 win-loss record made him look great. Which led to… Read the rest of this entry »

Position: Inside Edge Baseball Operations Intern

Location: Bloomington, MN

About Inside Edge:
Inside Edge Scouting Services specializes in data capture and analytics down to the finest details of every Major League game. Major League clubs, media, and other clients subscribe to their real-time pitch-by-pitch data, custom-tailored reports, and advanced analytic tools to gain an edge on their competition. They provide a fun, fast-paced work environment and an opportunity to get started on a career in baseball and differentiate yourself from other job seekers. Past interns have gone on to positions with both Major League clubs and media organizations.

Position Title & Description:
Candidates filling this position will gain valuable experience with technologies and processes increasing their qualifications to work in baseball and the broader sports industry. Hires can expect to begin training March 5. Interns will need to make a commitment to working most nights, weekends, and holidays over the course of the season.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Participate in a rigorous training program before the season starts
• Use Inside Edge software to enter and crosscheck live pitch and scoring data
• Mark actions to be reviewed by supervisors
• Add, review, and update qualitative player notes
• Review video replay ensuring integrity of charted data
• Update internal Inside Edge logs and databases
• Generate end of game reports

Wages and term of employment:

• March 5th through the end of the 2020 regular season (September 27th)
• Starting at $10 per hour

Qualifications:
While in-depth training will be provided, candidates need a strong understanding of both the basics and subtleties of baseball games, and will be required to quickly and accurately recognize pitch types, locations, and scoring data.

To apply:

• Fill out Inside Edge’s online screening, which can be found here.
• Send an email with your resume to bobbygiller@gmail.com. Feel free to include supplemental information and a quick note on what you’re including. A cover letter is unnecessary.
• Depending on the results, Inside Edge will contact you for a resume and to set up an interview.

The timeline for the hiring process can be found here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by Inside Edge.