Snake Bytes 10/29: Rejection

Diamondbacks News

[MLB Trade Rumors] Bryan Price, Kirk Saarloos Each Decline To Become Diamondbacks Pitching Coach - Former Reds manager Bryan Price turned down an offer at a second stint as the Diamondbacks’ pitching coach, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). The 57-year-old Price managed the Reds from 2014-18 and spent the 14 previous seasons as a pitching coach in Seattle (2000-06), Arizona (2007-09) and Cincinnati (2010-13). That Price even took the interview obviously suggests that he’s open to coaching again, though it’s possible he’s holding out hope of landing a role with a different organization or simply didn’t feel that a return to Arizona was the right fit after sitting down with the current regime... The D-Backs also struck out when they offered the gig to TCU pitching coach Kirk Saarloos, according to Zach Buchanan of The Athletic (via Twitter). Saarloos, a seven-year MLB veteran, will evidently stay on for a seventh year at Texas Christian.

[Forbes] Arizona Diamondbacks Likely To Decline Flores, McFarland Options - (Wilmer) Flores has a $6 million option with a $500,000 buyout for 2020, and his return will hinge on a couple of things. Will Marte play to center field again? Will the budget permit $6 million for a role player who had never hit better than .267 or had an OPS above .800 in his previous five years? The Diamondbacks have other options. Middle infielder Ildemaro Vargas showed flashes in his first extended look last year, when he slashed .269/.299/.413 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 201 at-bats. Vargas is considered a better defender, and with five years of control remaining, he certainly would be the economical choice.

World Series

[CBS Sports] World Series: Nationals’ Dave Martinez takes high road after some calls go against his team in Game 5 - The Washington Nationals lost Game 5 of the 2019 World Series on Sunday, dropping a boat race to the Houston Astros that puts them in a 3-2 hole as the best-of-seven series shifts back to Minute Maid Park in Houston. Although the final score doesn’t reflect it, there were moments during the game where home-plate umpire Lance Barksdale’s strike zone may have cost the Nationals a chance to get back into the mix. One call that stood out the most occurred in the seventh inning, when Victor Robles was called out on strikes to end the inning and strand Ryan Zimmerman at first base in a 4-1 game. Had Barksdale called the pitch a ball, the Nationals would have brought the tying run to the plate. The call looked bad in real time, and fared no better in hindsight.

[Sports Illustrated] MLB Bans Two Women for Flashing Astros’ Gerrit Cole in Game 5 - The two women who flashed their breasts from behind the backstop during Game 5 of the World Series have been banned from major league ballparks. Major League Baseball sent the women a letter shortly after their escapade Sunday night. Julia Rose and Lauren Summer identified themselves on social media. Popular on Instagram, they lifted their tops and exposed themselves as Houston Astros ace Gerrit Cole was set to pitch to Ryan Zimmerman of Washington in the seventh inning at Nationals Park.

Around the League

[MLB.com] Will Dodgers pursue Lindor? Sources say yes - Sources say the Dodgers are expected to pursue a trade for Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor as one possible addition to an offense that managed only a .303 on-base percentage during this month’s National League Division Series loss to the Nationals. The Dodgers’ 2020 planning remains in the early stages, but the team is said to be more open-minded to a shakeup than in recent offseasons. Lindor, coming off a fourth consecutive All-Star selection, would bring star power, on-field energy and consistent production at shortstop. Incumbent shortstop Corey Seager would become a trade candidate -- though perhaps not to Cleveland -- if talks between the Dodgers and Indians gain momentum. Seager, 25, has yet to replicate the offensive numbers from his NL Rookie of the Year Award season in 2016, partially due to injuries. Seager spent nearly one month on the injured list this season with a strained left hamstring after missing almost all of ‘18 after Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.