Astros release one-time World Series champion
minor league deal last month after he was released by the Athletics, adding him to their roster shortly thereafter. He got hardly any playing time at all in Houston, with four plate appearances in almost a month on the roster. He went 0-for-4 in those, striking out twice.
There was no real cost for the Astros in grabbing Díaz for that stint on the roster. The A’s are still on the hook for his salary after releasing him earlier this year. Oakland signed him to a two-year, $14.5M deal going into 2023 and got very little in return for that investment.
Díaz has hit .216/.265/.313 since the start of 2023 for a wRC+ of 60, which prompted them to cut him loose earlier this year. He’ll return to the open market in the coming days and perhaps will garner attention based on his previous track record. With the A’s still on the hook for most of his salary, it would essentially be a no-cost pickup for any club that has interest.
From 2016 to 2022, Díaz hit .266/.320/.443 in 582 games between the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Astros. That production translated into a 105 wRC+, indicating he was 5% better than league average during that seven-year stretch. He did that while providing plenty of defensive versatility, lining up at all four infield positions as well as the outfield corners.
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Insider explains Patriots keeping Bailey Zappe amid Joe Milton III hype
Fans and pockets of analysts are wondering why the New England Patriots continue to hold onto backup quarterback Bailey Zappe through the preseason even though sixth-round draft pick Joe Milton III seems on track to earn a roster spot along with fellow rookie Drake Maye and veteran
Jacoby Brissett. Patriots insider Chris Mason of MassLive touched upon that subject ahead of New England’s exhibition matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. “Right now he’s a security blanket,” Mason said about Zappe. “I don’t think the coaching staff trusts the backup offensive line at all — with good reason —
and that’s why Zappe played seven series in the preseason opener after the starters departed. They’re not trying to get Drake Maye pulverized but didn’t want to overwork the first-team offensive line in the opener. Thus, just one series.” Much was made earlier this month about the fact that Milton allegedly outperformed Maye, the third overall pick of this year’s draft, in a
couple of training-camp practices. Milton then showed some promise in New England’s preseason opener last Thursday, causing some to essentially demand that the club show Zappe the door. Mason acknowledged that he thinks Maye and Milton will “earn enough trust” between now and the end of the month for the Patriots to name one of them as Brissett’s primary backup for the Week 1 game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept.
8. As NESN’s Ricky Doyle mentioned, however, former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick pointed out earlier this week that rookie quarterbacks usually see “basic” defenses that aren’t “showing too much” during joint practices and preseason games. In short, it’s possible and maybe even likely that first-year head coach Jerod Mayo would start Zappe over Maye and Milton if the
Cincinnati game was held this weekend and Brissett wasn’t available for some reason. Maye is widely viewed as a project for the future who shouldn’t face a live defense in a meaningful game anytime soon. “If Maye and Joe Milton don’t appear ready to backup Jacoby Brissett when Week 1 rolls around, perhaps Zappe sticks around as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option,” Mason added.
Zappe probably has no real trade value as of the middle of August, and there’s no rush to get him out of New England’s quarterback room as Maye and Milton continue to develop. Mayo and Co. will eventually have to make a Zappe-or-Milton decision, but such conversations can wait until the last week of August.
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NHL
Doug Armstrong Has Stirred the Pot, but He May Lick the Spoon
St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong tendering offer sheets to two players was bold. It now makes him a marked man. Armstrong Stirs the Pot Armstrong tendered offer sheets to Edmonton Oilers defenceman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway. The Oilers have less than seven days to match the offer. If they do not, Broberg and Holloway will be Blues.
Both Broberg and Holloway are restricted free agents. They are not under contract, but their rights are still retained by the Oilers. The only way a team can acquire them is either via trade of an offer sheet. It is a bold, but rare, strategy.
Armstrong’s bold move certainly puts newly-named general manager Stan Bowman in a tough spot. Bowman already had much to do with the reigning Western Conference Champions, but things are now more complicated. For the Blues, it is a chance to add youth to team at a reasonable price. Furthermore, Armstrong has the draft picks needed to compensate the Oilers if needed. But, will Armstrong have to pay the price for his choice? Is Armstrong Doomed to
Repeat History? Recent history of offer sheets suggest retaliation could be coming. In 2019, the Montreal Canadiens tendered an offer sheet to budding-star Sebastian Aho. The Carolina Hurricanes matched the offer. As a result, Aho remained a Hurricane. However, that was not the end of the saga. Two years later, the Hurricanes tendered an offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Canadiens did not match, and the Hurricanes got Kotkaniemi. Was this revenge by the
Hurricanes? Well, Kotkaniemi was given a signing bonus of $20. Coincidentally, or perhaps, 20 is the number worn by Aho. If the Blues are successful in acquiring at least one of either Broberg or Holloway, Bowman may look for ways to return the favour. Offer Sheet Candidates For Bowman Bowman may not have to wait long if he does want revenge. After this season, forward Jake Neighbours and goaltender Joel Hofer are unrestricted free agents. Both are coming off breakout seasons and have a future with the Blues. Neighbours could be a great
complimentary piece alongside Connor McDavid. In addition, a goaltending duo of Stuart Skinner and Hofer would be a solid tandem. Would Bowman do this? Well, he has nothing to lose if he does and everything to gain. Neighbours and Hofer are in better spots in their careers than Broberg and Holloway. It may cost them more money and higher draft picks, but it would be a price worth paying. Quite frankly, it would be a price worth paying for most teams in the NHL.
Should Armstrong Be Proactive? Yes, he should. Even before this situation, Neighbours and Hofer were already deserving of contract extensions. Extending Neighbours helps build a core for the Blues. Furthermore, extending Hofer would give the Blues a solid tandem and a possible starter down the road. The case was already there to extend both, but now the case is even stronger. The Blues have the cap space to extend both. In fact, the salaries would not even go into effect until the 2025-26 season. By then, Armstrong will have had more time to work on the Blues salary cap. For all intents and purposes, the cap is not a factor in possible Neighbours and Hofer
extensions. We could play the long game and say Bowman may then just target young prospects like Zachary Bolduc or Zach Dean. If we played the long game, we would be here all night. Even the, by the time the young players are ready for contracts, the Blues cap would have improved dramatically as big contracts come off the books. An Eye For An Eye Time will tell what becomes of this situation. What we have is so rare that it is certainly something to keep up with. Armstrong has stirred the pot, now we wait to see if he will have to lick the spoon.
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