MLB Roundup 1/9: Giants relievers could be available

Angels talking trade with Giants for relievers

The Red Sox, as you may have heard, are in the market for relief help. Well, said market is starting to dwindle on the free agent side, with Craig Kimbrel, Adam Ottavino and Cody Allen remaining as the top three options. It continues to seem as though Boston has their sights set on bringing Kimbrel back, but that is all speculation at this point. One thing we haven’t heard is that they are looking at the trade market to fill their need rather than free agency, but that possibility is always open. We have heard that the Angels are looking in that direction. According to a report on Tuesday, Los Angeles has been in constant contact with the Giants regarding a pair of good left-handed relievers in Will Smith and Tony Watson. The Angels had been connected to a few different relievers in free agency, including Zach Britton, but haven’t been able to sign any. They clearly need relief help, so this rumor does make sense. It would also make sense if the Red Sox at least checked in on the price for both of these guys. Smith and Watson are both southpaws who have the talent to pitch in the late innings, a skillset that hasn’t been seen in Boston since Andrew Miller left. Granted, it seems all but certain that Dave Dombrowski prefers to stay in free agency as he tries to build this Red Sox farm system back up, but he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t at least check in on the asking prices.

Jonny Gomes gets a new job

Jonny Gomes was a fan favorite in his time in Boston, and while the other half of his platoon in left field (Daniel Nava) for 2013 never got enough credit for the work he did that year it was hard not to root for Gomes. He was fun all the time, even in the areas where he did not succeed. Said areas included both defense and on the basepaths, but that apparently doesn’t matter to the Diamondbacks. Gomes has been hired by Arizona to serve as their outfield and baserunning coordinator. That is truly amazing. What a time to be alive. Gomes had served as a minor-league hitting instructor for the Diamondbacks prior to this, so clearly Arizona liked the way he dealt with players and I can easily see him being very good at that. Teaching them defense and baserunning? Well, I suppose you don’t always need to be good at something to be able to teach it. Presumably this will also mean Gomes will be out of the rotation calling games at NESN, which seems like good news at first glance until you realize that likely means we’re in for more Steve Lyons games.