Latest news with #Escogido
New York Times
02-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Albert Pujols will manage Dominican Republic in World Baseball Classic, sees path to MLB
TEMPE, Ariz. — In past years, when Albert Pujols came as a guest instructor to Angels camp, he was in the more immediate aftermath of his playing career. One of the greatest all-time players, he was still a novice to the game's teaching element. This time, however, he arrived as his coaching career has taken off, and he's hoping to take the next steps of leveraging his legendary playing career into the role of a big league skipper. Advertisement More immediately, Pujols confirmed reports that he will manage the Dominican Republic, his home country, in the World Baseball Classic next year. The move comes after Pujols won a Dominican Winter League championship this year, leading Escogido to a title over Licey. 'I feel really proud, not just to be able to represent my country as a player, when I did it,' Pujols said of his WBC duties. 'But now to be able to lead a great group of guys, I'm really excited. I'm really pumped up.' Pujols, 45, has said he views these managerial opportunities as a chance to grow, with the ultimate goal of becoming a big league manager some time in the not-too-distant future. He left open the possibility of taking over the reins as a skipper somewhere, as soon as 2026. He already has a host of responsibilities, in addition to his winter ball and WBC gigs. He's also a special assistant to Commissioner Rob Manfred, an MLB Network analyst, and is paid $1 million annually by the Angels as part of his 10-year personal services contract. A big league managerial role would likely supersede all of that for Pujols. 'If the opportunity is right and they open the door for me, I always say openly that I want an opportunity here in the big leagues,' he said. 'I think being in Winter League and doing it this year, it gave me the experience that I needed. I think it prepared me for the big job.' Pujols retired from playing after the 2022 season, which he spent back with the Cardinals. He hit 703 home runs and won two World Series rings during his 22-year legendary run. He'll be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, but clearly hopes to be leading a club well before that. Angels manager Ron Washington lauded Pujols as a great presence in camp, given his experience and accomplishments. 'It won't be long before he has a managing job, that's for sure.' Advertisement 'Time will tell, whenever the opportunity comes,' Pujols said. 'If there is some team knocking this year or next year, then why not? Right now, I have a job, which is focusing on the World Baseball Classic. But if there is any club knocking on the door, I would be open to hear that.' Pujols arrived in Tempe on Sunday to spend several days at Angels big league camp before going to work with the organization's minor leaguers in Scottsdale. He said he also spends some time every year at their complex in the Dominican. The soon-to-be Hall of Famer spent 10 seasons with the Angels, where he made the playoffs just once and did not win a postseason game. When asked how close he felt the organization was to putting a winning product on the field, Pujols lauded his former club. 'I think they put a winning product (on the field) every year,' he said. 'I think the problem is injuries. When you've got the guys that you're counting on getting hurt, it's hard to replace those guys. The biggest things is that, I think if the organization is able to keep guys healthy, guys being on the field and produce, I think we have a pretty good chance to win a championship.'
New York Times
30-01-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Reds, White Sox couldn't find common ground on Luis Robert Jr. trade, plus more MLB notes
The Cincinnati Reds were the busiest team in baseball the past two days, reaching an agreement with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, signing veteran left-hander Wade Miley to a minor-league deal and trading for lefty reliever Taylor Rogers. Until Sunday, Cincinnati was working on something even bigger: A trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. Advertisement The teams could not find a middle ground on players or dollars, prompting the Reds to turn to Hays on a one-year, $5 million contract, pending a physical, according to sources briefed on the discussions. Robert, 27, will earn $15 million in 2025. His contract also includes $20 million club options for both '26 and '27, each with a $2 million buyout. So he is guaranteed at least $17 million, a steep price if he endures another subpar, injury-marred season. Robert has appeared in more than 100 games only once — in 2023, when he hit 38 homers with an .857 OPS. The teams did not resolve how much of Robert's salary the White Sox would have paid, sources said. Reds infield prospect Edwin Arroyo, who missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, was one player under discussion. But ultimately, the Reds could not get comfortable with the total cost. The San Francisco Giants also expressed interest in Robert earlier this offseason, but those talks, too, failed to produce a trade. The White Sox now appear likely to carry Robert into spring training. They did the same last spring with potential free-agent right-hander Dylan Cease and ultimately traded him to the San Diego Padres on March 13. From Ted Williams to Frank Robinson, Ryne Sandberg to Paul Molitor, the evidence is clear: Great players do not always make great managers. In some cases, but not all, Hall of Famers find it difficult to accept the shortcomings of players less talented than themselves. Albert Pujols, if he becomes a major-league manager, seemingly will not have that problem. 'He understands how hard the game is,' said catcher Martín Maldonado, who appeared in 10 games for Pujols' Leones del Escogido in the Dominican winter league. 'He knows that everyone is not like him.' Advertisement Pujols, 45, was back in the news this week, leading Escogido to its first Dominican league title since 2015-16 in his first managing job. A longtime National League special assignment scout, granted anonymity for his candor, called it, 'huge for his case to manage at the major-league level.' Pujols said last March, 'If the opportunity is right one day, I think I'll be ready for it.' His players believe he will be ready, too. 'He's gonna be a great players' manager. He understands the grind players go through,' said outfielder Tommy Pham, who appeared in nine games for Escogido. 'When I joined the team, we were in a bad stretch of losses. We couldn't catch a break. He kept telling us the process is right, you guys are playing the game the right way, just let us get in the (playoff) round robin because we have the best team. Sure enough he was right.' Escogido finished 24-25, losing eight straight games at one point, but claimed the last of four playoff spots. It then won a seven-game series against the Tigres del Licey in the final round to advance to the Caribbean Series, which begins Friday in Mexicali, Mexico. Escogido general manager Luis Rojas, the former New York Mets manager and current Yankees third base coach, said Pujols remained positive even in difficult stretches, made full use of his roster and excelled at handling players at different stages of their careers. Pujols' roster includes finale hero and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero, a top young player; infielder Jean Segura, who had career earnings of more than $100 million; and catcher Francisco Mejía, a seven-year veteran who is looking to get back to the majors. 'He's dealing with all those profiles you deal with in winter ball. Which for me makes it a lot tougher than being a big-league manager, just because all of the variables you have,' Rojas said. 'He has done a really good job handling himself through that.' Advertisement Rojas said Pujols grew on the job, learning along the way. A rival manager in the Dominican league, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Pujols was unafraid, made excellent use of his bench and showed very good feel for the game. The NL special assignment scout recommended a major-league team should hire Pujols as a special assistant immediately, just to bring him into its organization. Pujols, however, has a 10-year personal services contract with the Los Angeles Angels that began in 2023. He is expected to be in spring training with the Angels, who presumably would let him out of the contract if he landed a major-league managing job. 'Obviously, he's going to keep learning more if he chooses to do this again next year, or if he has a role with a big-league staff,' Rojas said. 'But I don't know that he'll ever take a (coaching) role before a manager's job. It would be great for him, just for him to see up close what the day-to-day is like, who does what, some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that as a player he didn't see, even though he was probably close to his managers, just because of who he was. But there are things (the Yankees) do as a staff that Aaron Judge doesn't know.' Still, Rojas said Pujols is 'on a path' to becoming a major-league manager. 'You can definitely see him handling it,' Rojas said. 'He's very confident. He has a lot of conviction in what he believes.' Caminero, 21, became eligible for the Dominican winter league draft after the 2023 season, his first full campaign as a professional. Rojas, serving as Escogido's GM, selected him with the first pick, and Caminero's go-ahead shot in Game 7 reinforced his status as one of the game's emerging talents. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" Junior Caminero sends this baseball into orbit to give Leones del Escogido the lead in the 9th! — MLB (@MLB) January 28, 2025 Good news for the Rays. Not-so-good news for Rojas' Yankees. 'He's going to be a problem,' Rojas said. Caminero, who grew up a big Escogido fan, hit a ball 120 mph during the winter season — 'Ohtani-Judge-Giancarlo territory,' Rojas said. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, he shows easy opposite-field power, and Rojas said he improved at third base, becoming, 'better than I ever thought he would be in a short period of time.' Advertisement Rojas liked something else about Caminero, too. 'He wants to lead,' Rojas said. 'I told (Rays manager) Kevin Cash that. He wants to be in the middle of it.' Last month, free-agent left-hander Wade Miley told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 'I'm not going to just sign anywhere. If I could draw it up, I would sign back in the (NL) Central, preferably wearing blue. Dark blue.' Instead, Miley will be wearing red. After spending the past two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, Miley agreed with the Reds on a minor-league deal that will pay him $2.5 million prorated once he returns to the majors from the hybrid Tommy John surgery he underwent last May. Which begs the question: Could the Brewers not afford that? General manager Matt Arnold did not respond to a request for comment. But the Brewers, coming off their third NL Central title in four years, have signed only two free agents to major-league contracts – right-hander Elvin Rodríguez, who spent last season in Japan, and left-hander Grant Wolfram, who at 28 has yet to make his big-league debut. Both deals are believed to be for less than $1 million. Miley, 38, is planning to return sometime in May, and has a June 1 opt-out clause in his deal. Assuming he eventually joins the Reds, he will reunite with Derek Johnson, his pitching coach during his first stint with the Brewers in 2018. The Reds also anticipate he will provide the same type of leadership for young pitchers that he did with Milwaukee. The Miley move might prove relatively inconsequential. But it further demonstrates how differently the Reds and Brewers — who play in two of the game's smallest markets — are approaching the offseason. In addition to Miley, Hays and Rogers, the Reds have added right-handed starter Brady Singer, catcher Jose Trevino and second baseman Gavin Lux. They also re-signed lefty reliever Brent Suter and retained righty Nick Martinez when he accepted their qualifying offer. Advertisement The Brewers, on the other hand, signed only Wolfram and Rodríguez, traded two-time Trevor Hoffman Award winner Devin Williams for left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. and infielder Chad Durbin and also acquired righty reliever Grant Anderson for minor-league lefty Mason Molina. The Baltimore Orioles, in their first offseason under new owner David Rubenstein, have spent nearly $100 million on free agents. But throughout the industry, questions persist about whether general manager Mike Elias can be as effective on the major-league side as he is with the draft and player development. To replace ace right-hander Corbin Burnes, who left for the Arizona Diamondbacks as a free agent, the Orioles signed righties Charlie Morton, 41, and Tomoyuki Sugano, 35. Their biggest expenditure was a three-year, $49.5 million deal on Dec. 10 for outfielder Tyler O'Neill, who can opt out after one year. Did Elias jump too quickly? By waiting until January, the Atlanta Braves signed Jurickson Profar to a lower guarantee, $42 million over three years. And the Toronto Blue Jays signed Anthony Santander, the outfielder O'Neill will replace, to a longer-term but lower AAV in present-day dollars, $14.3 million as opposed to $16.5 million. Two-thirds of Santander's five-year deal is deferred. He can opt out after three years. Profar, entering his age 32 season, is the oldest of the three; Santander is 30, and O'Neill turns 30 in June. And, while Profar is coming off a career-best season, he has yet to achieve success outside of San Diego. Santander, too, is flawed. His career on-base percentage is .307. He is a below-average runner. And his defensive metrics are poor. But over the past three seasons, he compiled 8.2 fWAR while Profar was at 5.1 and O'Neill at 4.4. O'Neill averaged only 94 games in that span due to injuries. The Orioles, perhaps mindful of O'Neill's history and seeking to bolster their outfield depth, took a low-risk flier Monday on Dylan Carlson, who agreed to a one-year, $975,000 deal that will increase to $1 million if he makes 200 plate appearances. Carlson, 26, is another player who has dealt with numerous injuries, making six trips to the injured list the past four seasons. But he is a switch hitter who, when healthy, excels against left-handed pitching. He also can play all three outfield positions, improving the Orioles' depth, and comes with minor-league options as well as an additional year of club control. Advertisement One more note on the Orioles, and it's of no small consideration to Elias: The team is well-positioned for the 2025 draft. The Orioles hold the 19th overall pick, and gained the 30th and 31st choices, respectively, for losing Burnes and Santander. The Mets talked with free-agent reliever Kenley Jansen's camp, according to sources briefed on the conversations. But Jansen's goal of 500 saves plus his likely price tag muddied the match, people familiar with the matter said. Jansen, 37, needs 53 saves for 500, and with the Mets would set up for Edwin Díaz rather than pitch the ninth inning. The Mets ended up agreeing to a one-year deal with Ryne Stanek, per league sources. Jansen may end up making approximately double Stanek's $4.5 million salary. FanGraphs estimates the Mets' luxury tax payroll to be $298 million, just $3 million below the highest luxury tax threshold. Jansen alone would have put them over — as would free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso, if he returns to the club. At this point, the Mets appear unlikely to add another reliever. (Top photo of Luis Robert Jr.: Matt Dirksen / Getty Images)
