By Steve Rhodes
An occasional column featuring the whereabouts of ex-Cubs.
1. Jeimer Candelario.
The Cubs sent the Candy Man to the Tigers last season along with Isaac Parades and some cash in exchange for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. Parades is still just 19 and not expected in the bigs for a couple more years. Candelario could be Detroit’s third baseman of the future, though he has been as frustrating at times to manager Ron Gardenhire as heroic. He’s tallied 19 home runs and 53 RBIs this season, though his OBP is just .317.
2. Davey Martinez.
Joe Maddon’s former bench coach has had a tough go in his first year as Nationals manager, but the Washington Post reports he is “secure to return . . . at least for now.”
But does this sound familiar?
“Martinez has faced criticism over and over this season. The main and most-discussed critique to emerge has been his handling of the pitching staff, particularly the bullpen.
“Grumblings among big league relievers are the rule, not the exception, and most managers are asked to explain their pitching decisions on a nightly basis. But earlier in the season, Nationals relievers seemed extra worried about some of Martinez’s tendencies.
“A few veterans worried that he overworked his relievers, or that he was not receiving messages about how they were feeling each day. Some expressed concern that he warmed up far too many relievers on any given night, as if preparing for every possible scenario at the expense of their health.”
3. Tony Campana.
No. 1’s hitting .332 with a .375 OBP and 24 bases for Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.
4.Gleyber Torres.
GT recently became the 4th-youngest Yankee to reach 100 hits, behind Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Ben Chapman.
5. DJ LaMahieu.
Our old friend is “set to become a free agent at season’s end, and the club may have a successor on hand in prospect Brendan Rodgers. However, [Ken] Rosenthal floats the idea of the Rockies re-signing LeMahieu – who’s one of their ‘glue’ guys, he notes = and trading superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado in the offseason. Although Arenado’s obviously far superior to LeMahieu, the former only has another year of arbitration control remaining, during which he’ll rake in upward of $20MM. Thus, if the Rockies aren’t confident about extending Arenado, Rosenthal posits that it may make sense for them to move the NL MVP candidate for a package of players who’d ‘supplement’ their roster. That would enable them to re-up LeMahieu.”
6. Dan Straily.
Out for the season. (Oblique)
7. Arodys Vizcaino.
Back.
8. Aroldis Chapman.
Back soon.
9. Andrew Cashner.
“Cashner is underrated because he seems like he should be way better, but he’s been one of the most durable starters in baseball over the last 6 years (averaging 26 starts/season),” according to MLBTR’s Jason Martinez.
vs.
“[H]e’s just not very good, and it’s not like you can even say he’s an affordable source of 200 innings, because he’s not durable either,” according to MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
10. The A’s Triple Threat.
“[T]hanks in part to scrapheap pickups Edwin Jackson, Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill, the A’s own one of the majors’ best records and are now playoff shoo-ins.”
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Comments welcome.
Posted on September 19, 2018