Jeremy Guthrie finds throwing partner on Twitter

Royals fan and Kansas City resident Daniel Wesley had a pretty cool Friday. It played out on Twitter:

Does anyone in northern Kansas City want to play catch today out to 90 feet? Day 3 of throwing program.

— Jeremy Guthrie (@TheRealJGuts) December 13, 2013

@TheRealJGuts What part of Northern KC? I can be there in 20 minutes. — Daniel Wesley (@DanielSWesley) December 13, 2013

@TheRealJGuts I am 35 years young and played high school and junior college baseball. If I’m too old to qualify, I understand. 🙂 — Daniel Wesley (@DanielSWesley) December 13, 2013

@DanielSWesley Perfect, lets shoot for 3:30. DM me

— Jeremy Guthrie (@TheRealJGuts) December 13, 2013

The details were worked out over private direct message and then the two met up for a 40-minute throwing session. “I just kept telling myself to not act like I’m 12, and to make good throws,” Wesley told MLB.com’s Cut4. “I definitely didn’t wake up this morning expecting to play catch with an MLB pitcher.”

Wesley got a signed ball and bat from Guthrie, along with a really great memory …

So yeah, it was as epic as you’d think it would be. Thanks to @TheRealJGuts for a story to tell my kids and grandkids for years. #Royals

— Daniel Wesley (@DanielSWesley) December 13, 2013

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The Yankees appear to have moved on from free agent Manny Machado this winter, but could they be turning their attention to Rockies superstar Nolan Arenado? That’s the idea floated by Andy Martino of SNY, who hears that GM Brian Cashman has been involved in recent discussions concerning the third baseman. No official comments have been made to the press yet, though, and it’s not clear whether the Yankees would prefer to pursue Arenado prior to the 2019 season or partway through it.

The 27-year-old infielder earned his fourth consecutive All-Star nomination, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove award in 2018 after slashing .297/.374/.561 with 38 home runs, a .935 OPS, and 5.7 fWAR across 673 plate appearances. There’s no question he’s provided immense value to Colorado’s lineup over the last half-decade, and his consistency and incredible power at the plate helped form the basis of the record $30 million arbitration figure he presented to the team last week. The Rockies countered at $24 million, however, and in doing so may have jeopardized their chances of convincing the infielder to forego free agency in 2020 and take a long-term deal instead.

Assuming he declines to negotiate an extension with the Rockies, Arenado’s decorated résumé and career-best 2018 numbers should attract plenty of interest around the league — a reality that could put considerable pressure on the Yankees (or any other interested party) to finesse a deal sooner rather than later. For now, the club is prepared to enter the 2019 season with hot-hitting third baseman Miguel Andújar, whom Martino speculates would be the “centerpiece” of any trade with Colorado.