Morning Rundown: Non-tendered hitters to watch, Andy Haines finds new role, Interest in Aroldis Chapman
Non-tendered hitters to watch, Haines hired by Cubs, teams interested in Aroldis Chapman
According to Francys Romero, more than six teams have serious interest in left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman, who pitched for the Pirates in 2024.
Chapman, 36, posted a 5-5 record with 14 saves with Pittsburgh. He also put together 98 strikeouts in 61.2 innings pitched with a 3.79 ERA.
One of the best left-handed relievers in recent history, Chapman has put together a career 2.63 ERA while striking out 1,246 batters in 760 innings.
He took over as the closer down the stretch with the struggles of David Bednar.
MLB Trade Rumors looked at some hitters that were non-tendered that could generate plenty of interest around the league.
The Pirates non-tendered two hitters at the deadline—Connor Joe and Bryan De La Cruz—and could be in the market for a free-agent outfielder.
Three of the five names listed play the outfield—Mike Tauchman, Austin Hays, and Ramon Laureano.
Tauchman played for the Cubs in 2024, hitting seven home runs in 350 plate appearances also posting a 111 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR.
Former Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines has landed with a new organization. He was reportedly hired by the Chicago Cubs to be their minor-league hitting coordinator.
Haines was hired as the Pirates’ hitting coach in November of 2021 after serving in the same role with the Milwaukee Brewers. In that time Pittsburgh was one of the worst offensive teams in all of baseball.
They recently hired Matt Hague to fill Haines’ former role as hitting coach.
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Good to see Haines stay in the Central.
Being a Hitting Coach for an MLB Team has to be a real treat. Part knowledge, part cheerleader, and part psychologist. If any of you have coached at a competitive, travel ball level, you probably know of what I speak. Kids and that counts for kids into college age are constantly finding different ways to be better hitters. They watch all of the kids on their team, the other teams, MLB hitters, and everything they can find online. And, if they don't, their parents do!
These kids who are in our minors have probably experienced many, many different hitting coaches as they climbed to becoming draft picks. And, guess what? You can work with them during the season, but then the season ends, and they all go off in different directions to whatever gym somebody else recommended is very good for hitting. Then, they come back with all of those "Unique, New" methods that you have to spend the time it takes to get them back on the track you had them before the season ended.