Morning Mound Visit: sabermetrics news - 11/27/19

FanGraphs | Rian Watt: The Cubs declined a $3 million option on Kendall Graveman, so the Mariners decide to take up the baton and agree to pay half that, taking the chance that he’ll have some upside as a fourth starter for them. He still has the raw stuff to possibly be a good starter, or even a decent reliever, if it all works out.

Baseball Prospectus | Jeff Wiser ($): The Marlins somehow lost 10% more games in 2019 than 2018, so what does that mean for the rebuild? They’ve acquired top talent in Sixto Sánchez, Jesús Sánchez, Jazz Chisholm, Jorge Alfaro, Austin Brice, and Ryne Stanek, some of which are already big leaguers. They drafted JJ Bleday fourth overall, further improving a good farm system. But, is it working? It’s really too early to tell, especially because even as good as these prospects are, none have reached the point where they have star-potential where it changes their long-term outlook.

The Athletic | Eno Sarris ($): The 2010s, like every decade, featured players who had a great year that could have predicted future success, but it seemingly led to nothing. A player like Yasmany Tomás could have been an elite slugger, but it wasn’t meant to be. Phil Hughes could have really flipped the page after his great 2014 in Minnesota, but it was really his final good year.