MLB Weekly Digest Feb. 5th Edition

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Kansas City Royals Acquire Starting Pitcher Jesse Hahn from Oakland Athletics

The Kansas City Royals have acquired starting pitcher Jesse Hahn and minor league pitcher Heath Fillmyer from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for designated hitter Brandon Moss, reliever Ryan Buchter, and cash considerations, per Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com.

Royals have traded LHP Ryan Buchter and DH/1B Brandon Moss to Oakland for right-hander Jesse Hahn and Minor League right-hander Heath Fillmyer. This could clear some payroll space for a certain free-agent first baseman you know.

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) January 30, 2018

This is the type of trade which benefits both parties involved, as The A’s get a hitter in Moss who has power, as he crushed 22 homers for the Royals and addition of Buchter upgrades their bullpen.

The left-hander posted a 2.86 ERA in 2016 with the San Diego Padres and compiled a 2.89 ERA in 2017 with the Padres and Royals.

Meanwhile, the Royals saved five million dollars by sending Moss to the Athletics. He is set to make $8.25 million this upcoming season, but the Royals sent $3.25 million to the A’s as part of the deal, per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

The Royals saved another $9 million earlier in the offseason when they dealt reliever Joakim Soria and Scott Alexander to the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team deal.

The savings from the two deals increases the likelihood the Royals can sign free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer to a lucrative contract and possibly third baseman Mike Moustakas.

This transaction didn’t benefit the team financially as they receive a solid arm in Hahn. He had a high 5.30 ERA in 2017, but that doesn’t tell the whole story, per Andrew Simon of MLB.com.

Of all pitchers with 60+ IP last year, Jesse Hahn had the 2nd-lowest strand rate (60.6%), 4th-largest gap between ERA (5.30) and FIP (3.62).

— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) January 30, 2018

Eric Hosmer Seeking Contract Over Seven Years

Eric Hosmer remains unsigned as is the case with many other free agents. However, the reason that Hosmer doesn’t have a contract are his demands.

Hosmer’s camp is looking for a deal that will eclipse more than seven years, per Jon Morosi of MLB.com.

Eric Hosmer’s camp has continued pushing for a contract of more than 7 years, source says. [He is a young free agent at age 28.] The #Royals’ need to re-sign him (and capacity to pay him) increased with this week’s Brandon Moss trade. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 31, 2018

It’s seemingly a two-team race between the Padres and Royals as both clubs presented seven-year offers to him in January, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Hosmer is coming off a fantastic 2017 campaign in which he posted a .318 batting average and .882 OPS in with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs in 162 games.

The Royals would seem to be the favorite as they’ve cleared some salary to meet Hosmer’s demands possibly.

It’s not a surprise there are only two teams going after the talented first baseman. The prospect of signing a player to a deal that stretches out to more than seven years is a risk most clubs would prefer to avoid.

Mookie Betts Wins Arbitration Case Against Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts has enjoyed his first trip through arbitration. Betts defeated the Red Sox in his arbitration hearing and will make $10.5 million 2018, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

betts will be paid $10.5M as he requested rather than the $7.5M suggested by the red sox

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 31, 2018

The salary for Betts in 2018 is a record for the most ever given to a first-year eligible player going through an arbitration hearing, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

Betts wins his salary arbitration hearing, with his $10.5 million salary representing the largest ever awarded through a hearing to a first-time arb-eligible player.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) January 31, 2018

Betts was sensational for the Red Sox last season, by compiling a .264 batting average and .803 OPS with 26 stolen bases, 101 runs scored, 24 home runs and 102 RBIs.

He finished sixth in the American League MVP voting and was selected as an All-Star for the second consecutive year.

The outfielder will play a prominent role in the Red Sox having a successful 2018 season.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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