Finally some news to report! Two-way players and switch-pitchers are the new rage in baseball these days. Japanese star Shohei Ohtani is a two-way player. He can pitch and play the outfield. A switch-pitcher is even rarer. A switch-pitcher is a hurler who can pitch left handed and right handed. Most of them (there’s only a few in baseball) where a special six-finger glove that allows them to switch hands without using a separate glove.
Dodgers signed switch-pitcher Pat Venditte to a minor-league deal, source confirms.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) November 28, 2017
Chris Cotillo is reporting that the Dodgers have signed switch-pitcher Pat Venditte to a minor league contract. The 32-year old reliever was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2008 amateur draft. Venditte hails from Omaha Nebraska and made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Oakland Athletics. That year he appeared in 26 games and posted a 4.40 ERA with a 7.2 strikeout per nine rate.
In 2016 Venditte split time between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Marines. He tossed 22 frames, posted a 5.73 ERA and struck out 19 with 11 walks in 15 games. In 2017 Venditte spent most of the season with the Phillie’s triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley of the Independent league. He posted a 9-5 record with a 3.36 ERA and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings while recording 69 punch-outs in 69.2 innings pitched.
He has a 4.49 ERA in 50.2 MLB innings pitched. He’s allowed just 8 home runs in the majors and has struck out 7.5 per nine innings while walking 4.1 per nine in 41 appearances. In case you were wondering Venditte pitches better against left handers than he does against right handers. He’s limited southpaws to a .183/.242/.366 slash line with a .608 OPS against. Right handers are hitting .284/.380/.523 against him with a .903 OPS in 130 plate appearances.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2746567-giancarlo-stanton-reportedly-told-to-accept-trade-or-marlins-will-move-stars
Badger
I can’t see where threating him will cause him to accept a trade. If those guys stay or go, it will not make the Marlin’s better. The Marlins will probably trade Ozuna and Yelich anyway. They will never win with Stanton on the payroll. They might be a little worse but they will not win with or without Stanton. In Stanton’s behalf, what is the point of having a no trade clause if you don’t use it?? I think he will hold his ground. I think Stanton knew that it might play out this way. I don’t think he will be a Cardinal.
Perhaps. I think it likely the team is just sending a message. I get it. They want Stanton gone so they can get on with doing it the new owners way, which is obviously the way so many other teams are doing it. And not just the impecunious teams. Even the wealthy are moneyballing these days.
Stanton wants out, and I believe he will get out. I also think it’s possible FAZ might prefer one of those other players, though outfield doesn’t really appear to be a need. What they need is pitching. What they will need EVERY year is pitching. That said, I still hope Stanton does not end up in San Francisco. He wants to be a Dodger. I think it would be very cool if he was.
I think if that is true about the Marlins, that made it even easier for Stanton to go where he wants.
And the Dodgers may get a good deal on Stanton if this continues.
If the Marlins really want to get rid of Stanton bad enough, they will have to pay even more of his salary to make it happen, especially with the Dodgers.
Like I said yesterday, if our front office gets a great deal by today’s standards from the Marlins, they better take it!
It is to bad the Dodgers couldn’t get Stanton to agree to opting out for sure in three years, when his contract allows him to opt out!
Maybe that is a way Stanton can get to the team he wants.
The no trade part of his contract is another bad thing for the team.
That was a stupid threat by the Marlin’s owner’s, because it isn’t like Stanton is use to always winning!
Why would any player leave that much post 30 money on the table? I don’t see it happening. A creative restructure could sure happen.
Miami got what they wanted with that contract. Over the last three years Stanton was paid $6.5mm, $9mm and $14.5mm. Stanton agreed to that so the team could build a winner around him and Fernandez. Sadly, it didn’t work out. Now the money Giancarlo did not get paid for about 12 WAR is coming due. He can opt out right before he turns 31 and right before he would average $30 million for 6 years, taking him to age 37, with another $35 million sitting there for ages 37 and 38. Why in the world would he risk guaranteed money like that?
I think some of that money could be brought forward so he’s earning $30 million when he’s putting up 6.5 WAR, and some of it could be spread out later when he becomes conditioning coordinator and minor league hitting instructor in between movie and commercial gigs.
Badger
Bottom line is Stanton wants to be a Dodger. No way will the Marlins continue to pay that huge contract and try to rebuild. Remember Miami is not LA and they would really have it rough paying that much for one player. If he continues to play it out, he will be a Dodger or Friedman and Company will really look bad.
Stanton and Darvish have the same agent.
If someone made a threat to me like that, that would make me really want to dig in, until I got where I wanted to go, especially since an agent would be the one, dealing with the owners.
I think it’s an idle threat. They want to move him, he wants to leave, there are teams that are interested, it’s going to happen. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but soon enough. All teams want to get moving on the foundation moves, punch lists can be put off til Spring if necessary. Stanton is a foundation move for Miami, it would be for San Francisco as well. For LA? Obviously not as much but anytime you are thinking on making a move for a $30mm cleanup hitter, it changes the floor plan of your house.
Badger
It might be a ldle threat, but it isn’t a good way to get what they want.
Honestly don’t you think a top one or two pitcher, would do more for the Dodgers?
And it isn’t that I don’t like Stanton, I would love to see him in our line up, but he will be 29 in his next season, so he will be out of his prime years.
And as you know, his contact is going up every year, and he is another player, that will strike out a lot.
The Marlins may not get what they want, but they will get what they need – salary relief.
Yes, we would probably be just fine without Stanton. Yes, if I had to choose between a stud pitcher and Stanton I would probably take the pitching. But I don’t believe it’s either our. Our braintrust are alleged geniuses. They should be able to do both.