The Morning Report 11.12.2015 | Cespedes' Strike Zone Problem, Boras Flip Flops on Harvey and Pisses Off Marlins, Mets in the Market for RP

Brian Mangan | The Read Zone- If you were watching the Mets play in the postseason and you thought Yoenis Cespedes was swinging at everything: you were right. And it might cost him tens of millions of dollars in free agency. Many observers want to lay blame for this poor performance on his shoulder, but there another obvious culprit as well. Pitchers simply stopped throwing Cespedes strikes — and he couldn’t lay off. Whether it was the pressure of the playoffs or a general problem with discipline, Cespedes’s control of the strike zone was nonexistent for a month.

(Chris Soto: Highly recommended read here folks. I am a huge fan of Mangan's work and this article is a wonderful display of why, me personally, I am willing to let Cespedes walk away from the Mets via free agency. The amount of money that would be required in order to sign Yeonis would be better served elsewhere.)



Kristie Ackert | NY Daily News- Uber agent Scott Boras is now happy with the way things worked out. “I think there was a misunderstanding,” said Boras, who made his annual appearance at the GM Meetings on Wednesday. “Matt never, ever said anything about not throwing in the playoffs. He was always going to throw in the playoffs and our plan included him throwing in the playoffs. “We were all baseball players, we know you pitch in the playoffs,” Boras continued. “The Mets came to us and Dr. (James) Andrews with a plan to pitch in the playoffs, it was executed and turned out well.“

(Chris Soto: HAHAHA.....this guy is just something else. Eventually, both players and General Managers are going to get to so frustrated with him that it becomes detrimental to his clients. We already saw it during the off-season last year when multiple Boras clients ended up still being unsigned going into January and even February. Generally, when a player waits that long, the market dries up and the amount of money available is greatly reduced. We're even beginning to hear rumblings of a potential divorce between Boras and SP Matt Harvey, though both were quick to squash those rumors.)



Associated Press | New York Times- The Miami Marlins' feud with agent Scott Boras escalated Wednesday, and the team said he'll be left out of any future talks regarding ace Jose Fernandez's workload. "My strong suggestion to Mr. Boras is that instead of resting on his 5 percent that he collects from his stable of players, he write a check and buy a team," Samson said. "Then he would have the opportunity to run a team that he claims to be so able to do. Until that time, he is in no position to comment how any Major League Baseball team is operated."


(Chris Soto: See.....what I say :)....After the whole Matt Harvey fiasco occur within their own division and having their own problems with Mr. Boras in regards to another client of his, Marcell Ozuna, the Marlins are not going to let Boras bully them around in regards to Jose Fernandez's 2016 workload.)



HOT STOVE REPORT (courtesy of mlbtraderumor.com)

• According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Mets are showing interest in RHRP Joakim Soria. In 67.2 innings this past season split between the Tigers and Pirates, Soria posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 64 batters.
• According Joel Sherman of the NY Post, the Atlanta Braves are heavily shopping star SS Andrelton Simmons and are in contact with 3 separate West Coast teams. 
• Korean RHCL Seung-hwan Oh is scheduled to travel and spend 10 days in the USA speaking with teams about a possible jump to the MLB. "The Final Boss", as he is called in Korea, compiled a 1.69 ERA in 9 seasons in the KBO followed by a 2.25 ERA in 2 seasons with the Japanese Nippon League.

(Chris Soto: As much as I would love for the Mets to go after Andrelton Simmons, I cannot see the Braves trading him within the division unless they got a high upside, high control SP like Steven Matz or Noah Syndergaard in return. To that I say, "No Thanks." I must admit though.....I am highly interested in Seung-hwan Oh. In the offense heavy Korean League, the guy amassed 277 saves! That could be very valuable behind Juerys Familia. There is a bit of concern though with Oh, he's had Tommy John surgery twice in his life with the most recent operation occurring in 2010. He is not subject to international posting rules though, so he is treated just like any other Free Agent.)

Baseball: Houston Ownership Deal, Brett Pill, Joakim Soria, Roger Clemens

Jim Crane is becoming impatient at how long it's taking Major League Baseball to approve his purchase of the Houston Astros. The Houston businessman told the Houston Chronicle in his first interview since the news conference to announce the sale that his contract with current Astros owner Drayton McLane has a deadline. He said in the story posted Thursday night that the $680 million deal with McLane announced May 16 goes through Nov. 30. - http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/6946057/jim-crane-waiting-mlb-approval-buy-houson-astros  

San Francisco Giants rookie Brett Pill blasted a Home Run in his first two major league games. As a result the baseball card market for the career minor leaguer who turns 27 on Friday all of a sudden his previously worth very little baseball cards were selling at levels that match the best in the game. Check out the insane prices people have paid for some of his rarest cards. - http://topprospectalert.com/2011/09/08/giants-rookie-brett-pill-baseball-cards-blow-up  

Joakim Soria - $6 million option vests with 55 appearances. - “The Mexicutioner” (quite possibly the coolest nickname EVER) has already made 58 appearances, allowing the Royals to have another year of an elite closer at a discount price. Soria has had a down year when compared to his first four seasons, but his value is still evident. He has an $8 million team option for 2013 and $8.75 million in 2014, each with $750,000 buyouts. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to be dealt by the deadline next year, especially if Aaron Crow stays in the bullpen and becomes closer-worthy. - http://thebaseballhaven.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/2012-mlb-vesting-options  

Last Friday, Judge Walton ruled that Clemens must stand trial again and set April 17, 2012 as the trial date. Lawyers for Roger Clemens argued vehemently that he should not have to stand trial again since his trial had already begun (causing double jeopardy). But Judge Walton, stating that the holding of the Supreme Court of the United States is that the defendant has to show that the prosecutors intentionally showed the jury the evidence (and while, in this case, even questioning the prosecutors’ motives), would not go so far as to say that they did act intentionally. Thus, Judge Walton did not dismiss the case. Indeed, he stated that he could find no case where a defendant was successful, on this fact pattern (mistrial at the start of a trial), of getting an indictment dismissed.As a result, Roger Clemens will be tried again. Clemens did have to waive his right to a speedy trial (Judge Walton would have set the retrial for a date earlier - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/09/09/kallas-remarks-updates-on-the-roger-clemens-and-barry-bonds-cases