It's looking more and more likely that MLB will add a second wild card team to each league, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. He also has the latest rumblings from around the league; here they are:
- Clubs that have spoken to the Royals say Kansas City would only accept a bunch of front-line players for Zack Greinke. One of those players must be a pitcher with a Greinke-like ceiling, so GM Dayton Moore expects a lot for his ace.
- Clubs that have checked in with the Royals believe Greinke would veto a deal to any major market East Coast team. However, one official says the pitcher “would at least think about the L.A. clubs.”
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently suggested that the Yankees make Derek Jeter a Yankee for life with a 25-year contract that would keep him involved in the organization once his playing days end, but Stark hears that Jeter’s next deal will be “a baseball contract. Period.”
- A Phillies source summed up the chances of Jayson Werth returning to Philadelphia concisely: "No chance. None. Zero.
- "The Phillies are working aggressively to re-sign Jose Contreras, according to Stark.
- GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told Stark that he has been working the phones this week. "We've made contact with 40 free agents, predominantly bullpen guys." He said. "Left-handed relief is a priority for us."
- Teams that have contacted the Marlins about Dan Uggla see definite signs that if extension talks don’t go anywhere, the second baseman could soon become trade bait.
I would love to see Zach in a Chicago Cubs uniform but I wonder two things:
1. The asking price.
2. Would he wilt under the pressure of a big market?
KC probably has a better chance of being a contender than the Cubs
When? Next year or in the future? Both would be wrong. The Cubs play in the worst division in baseball. It is up for grabs every year by 5 of the 6 teams.
I wouldn’t, not for the price. It will cost the Cubs best prospects, and they are in kind of a rebuilding phase right now. I’m positive they would ask for Vitters and Jackson. Would Moore want Castro as well?
Either way I don’t see it happening.
I doubt they would want Vitters at this point. SPAN has it about right. Lee, Archer, Jackson and Cashner. Way to much from the Cubs standpoint.
“When you wish upon a star”
“Makes no difference who you are”
“Your inviting, fires igniting, pockets tightening”
“Your big deal’s to much too frightening, from afar…”
Greinke to Detroit? Anyone?
I would rather hold onto our prospects then sell the farm for Grienke. Verlander is a proven ace, Scherzer was phenomenal last season and Porcello deffinitly has ace potential. It would be a sick rotation but I’d rather hang onto our big pitching prospects (Turner, Oliver, Crosby, Furbish) who have high ceilings and are under team control.
Turner is really the only guy there I’d hesitate to give up. Crosby has a bum elbow and Furbish and Oliver have limited ceilings. If the Tigers could give up any three prospects not named Turner, they would probably pull the trigger.
the sort of package the royals are asking for made me think of the Rangers. Package centered around Derrek Holland and Julio Borbon, add maybe Alexi Ogando.
I was thinking Derek Holland/Martin Perez/Engel Beltre (a toolsy younger Borbon), and Jurrickson Profar.
their is not a chance in this lifetime i would give up both Perez(even if he regressed this year) and Holland for Grienke. and you are adding Beltre? i’m not familiar with Jurrickson and Profar but they have awsome names.
Jurrickson Profar is one person.
Even better, Jurickson Profar is one man.
I think he’s still a kid. I’m barely older than him he was born in ’93.
Touche. Lol
93? Yeesh…let’s just say I have a diploma dated 1993. Won’t tell you which diploma that is though. haha.
Law School diploma? Can’t imagine you’d say no to that one. But nevertheless, you definetly know your Baseball.
Ackley, Pineda, Franklin = No way
Ackley, Pineda = No way
Ackley= No way
Greinke is good but not the greatest pitcher ever, he´s not cheap, he has problems with the pressure…
Greinke is so ridiculously overrated which is why I would love the Royals to trade him this offseason. It seems like his value is really high right now and Moore setting the bar high drives up the price even more.
I see the Reds as a great place… Leake, Wood, and Stubbs.
wow! please let this package happen
You want two years of Grienke at $13.5M per for three players with good upside, all making league minimum, and 16 years of total team control? No thanks.
Reds need a solid left fielder to either leadoff or drive in 100 runs. Their pitching is not an issue, let their young staff develop
“Leake, Wood, and Stubbs”
Please no. It would have to be centered around Mesoraco and Hamilton.
Wow, thats a great trade for the royals but not that good for reds
Why?
Because Hamilton is a switch hitting shortstop that stole nearly 50 bases in the Pioneer league. He’s flat out sick
Brilliant, so let’s not trade him for Grienke.
There have been rumors of the Red Sox talking about making a run at Uggla and trying to move him to third. Personally I wouldnt want to go that route, but you never know.
A second wild card team hmm… Cool, now the playoffs will consist of 60% of the AL east every year!
How would it work though, an extra team would throw off the balance? I’m confused.
The two wild card teams would play a best of three, I believe.
I was thinking that the team with the best record gets a bye. Thats the only way i can see it working with an extra wildcard team.
OT : Mariner announcer Dave Niehaus passed away today.
Just saw the news. Absolutely tragic. He was one of my favorite announcers. That really is a loss for the game of baseball.
Let’s have Matt Holliday for Grienke.
i hope your kidding, there is no way the royals take on his contract(considering its probably the size of their entire payroll)
No way I would want to take on Holliday’s contract.
What about the Angels that we would think about! Maybe a trevor bell,trevor reckling and joel pienero? or a trevor bell, trevor reckling, and kaz with (65%) of contract?
Please, please tell me your kidding…
That package would hurt the Royals before helping them.
How about pienero, Dillion baird, Trevor bell and Randal Grichuck
What are the Royals supposed to do with Joel Piniero?
its a rental for only cheap money and can spark something cuz i doubt the angels would give up santana and i can only see them maybe doing a trade for pienero or kaz. unless they do a three team deal to get rid of pienero or kaz
No. Conger/Bourjos/Martinez Mesa/Jimenez/Richards. 3 of the 5.
that works for me, just not bourjous and conger. The others could be in the deal and maybe trevor bell or reckling, but they would probably have to do a three team deal or find a way to give them or someone Kazmir
Not even that gets it done IMO. Royals would start that conversation with Mike Trout and then within seconds, Dayton Moore would be getting a dial tone.
Well obviously, but I think he’s staying out right? The Angels can NOT trade him. Maybe Jordan Walden gets in to the mix. Conger, Bourjos, Walden, and Jimenez. That’s really light and I don’t think Greinke is going to the Angels anyway. I like the idea of Hicks/Gibson/Morales/Waldrop
Greinke for wakefield dice k and paps???? Theo make it happen!!!
The Red Sox might have to add J.D Drew or Mike Cameron.
Maybe throw in Lou Merloni.
we can also throw in John Farrell
throw in YAZ too
No! He’s doing a signing on the 20th. I want to get my 1979 Yaz pennant signed.
Do it! LOL
Greinke has shown signs of being a great regular season pitcher. But once the playoffs start, assuming he goes to a team that makes the playoffs, how he reacts to that pressure is completely unknown. It would be hard as a Rangers fan to risk Holland, Beltre, and Perez for Greinke. Having said that…I am salivating over the idea of Lee, Greinke, Wilson, Lewis, Hunter…..I smell a repeat!
Jut to let some of you in on an unknown tidbit outside of KC apparently, In 2009 Kauffman stadium resembled a playoff atmosphere when Greink took the mound. That place errupted with every strikeout. It’s not like Greinke has pitched in only mild atmoshere.
Why is Greinke being so picky about where he is potentially traded to? Does he not realize he has been with Kansas City his whole career?
Ummm comfort. $26 mil and in two years he can say where he wants to go. I’ll give him credit. He understands whatever his mental/emotional issues are and doesn’t want to go places where that can be a problem for him. He’s in control of his destiny to an extent so what’s wrong with that? I’m 85% sure wherever he goes will be in a more competetive place than the Royals.
Would you want to repeat going to a shitty team with no future?
He’s being picky because he can be. If you have any amount of control and a desire to play for a potential world series team before you retire, you want to at least try and make a good decision.
dear kenny williams please please please please look into getting ugla….dude is young and has crazy good power, yes the whitesox have gordon beckham…but if you can get ugla without getting rid of sale or beckham please please do it, slot ugla into 1st…or keep hiim at 2nd, move beckham back to 3rd(he seemed more comfortable there) and either let morell get some conditioning at AAA or trade him along with a pitcher for the left handed power bat we NEED…pull off that deal for ugla..then trade floyd+quentin+morell for colby rasmus….eh?
I’m still %100 against trading Colby Rasmus, but hey if a package of Rasmus and a couple of AA guys can get it done, I say do it. If the alternative to keeping Rasmus is watching him stagnate on the bench while in Tony’s Doghouse, might as well ship him out while the value is high, rather than low when he’s pissed off and tired of playing for a team where he’s not getting a fair shake (in his opinion at least, maybe not the rest of the baseball world).
I’ve been a big fan of Greinke’s and hope he continues to make progress with his issues. Having said that, its kind of a joke that he won’t consider all of the east coast contenders and he’ll “consider” the LA teams. Either don’t complain about being on a noncontender in KC or suck it up and try a big market. Telling KC you want to be dealt to a team that contends and has no media pressure doesn’t leave a lot of options.
by “the baggage that comes with Greinke”, I am sure you mean his Cy Young award, right? and not the social anxiety disorder he has been on medication for since he was diagnosed with, without further issue?
It’s ok…Boston made his no-trade list. I’m sure it would have something to do with the intelligence of the fans he’d have to go pitch in front of at home.
Whoa! A little hostile there buddy. Too bad a recent sports radio study ranked Boston as some of the most highly educated sports fans in the country. Same with New York, Chicago and San Fran. Don’t mistake passion for stupidity. Also somehow I think his anxiety level would be a little higher pitching in the AL East than in the black hole that is KC. Medication isnt a cure. Different situations cause different levels of reactions. Take it from someone who knows.
Here is an article from Forbes mag. Or are their writers not intelligent enough for you?link to forbes.com
One more for ya. thedailybeast.com/galleries/787/1/?redirectURL=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-04/americas-
Obviously if he is dead set against big market teams then obviously it is a issue.
Could be that the Boston fans are too humble and unassuming for his taste…?
Could someone please elaborate as to how MLB will add a 2nd Wild Card team into the playoffs? So now it’s going to be 5 teams in the playoffs from each League? How do you make that bracket? Does the team with the best record in that League get a bye for the 1st round, because it’s obvious that the only way to do a 5 team bracket is to give the team with the best record in that League a series off, but then at the same time that’s not fair to the other 4 teams as they won’t have a week off to rest all their players
If your adding a second wild card team I can only assume the team witrh the best record gets a first round bye.
Could someone please elaborate as to how MLB will add a 2nd Wild Card team into the playoffs? So now it’s going to be 5 teams in the playoffs from each League? How do you make that bracket? Does the team with the best record in that League get a bye for the 1st round, because it’s obvious that the only way to do a 5 team bracket is to give the team with the best record in that League a series off, but then at the same time that’s not fair to the other 4 teams as they won’t have a week off to rest all their players
What I’ve heard being thrown around, but not officialy is that the two Wild cards would play a single game elimination. The winner moves on as they do now, except that all the series’ would be best of seven. This is just to draw more fan interest and raise revenue
(How shocking!!)
I think a package of James Loney, Dee Gordon, and Russell Martin for Billy Butler and Zack Greinke gets the deal done.
That would be awesome if that was enough for greinke and butler. but i dont think thats enough to get both greinke and butler.
Heh that’s not enough to get Greinke alone. Loney and Martin are not valuable trade chips…they’re average players. Gordon’s stock is in the tank after his horrible season at AA.
That’s three complimentary trade chips with no blue-chip prospect. The only way the Dodgers get in the Greinke sweepstakes is to start the package with two of their young arms (Martin, Withrow, etc)
There is no way the Royal are going to get full value for Grienke. and here’s why.
With his no trade he can limit the amount of teams that can get in on the sweepstakes. The big market teams, like the yanks, red sox, detroit, chicago are teams he won’t go to, who are the teams who would be most willing to give up top prospects..
So the Royals have to find a ‘Grienke approved’ team, which will be a smaller market.. Not many small market teams will give up 2-3 top prospects, its not how you get better. I mean if the rays didn’t do it this year to get fielder or gonzalez, who probably would have be a deciding factor, why would they do it for a pitcher now? Makes no sense.
I agree the Royals most likely can’t deal Greinke until his NTC expires. Middle and small market teams are not going to take on 27 million and give up their top prospects. I do think he would approve a trade to LA, since his wife is an aspiring actress/model, but the Angels don’t have room in their rotation and need a bat more than anything, and the Dodgers farm system isn’t in the greatest shape, unless they have a three-way deal with Kemp moving somewhere else (the Royals wouldn’t want him since his contract expires the same time Greinke’s does). Oh and if I’m Zack, I make sure the Nationals are on my NTC since they suck just as bad as the Royals and are oft rumored to have interest in him.
I don’t think his no trade clause consists of teams that suck. I think for Zack he’s more concerned of going to teams thats are popular with big markets..
AFAIK Greinke has not shot down any location but New York, and has said he’d consider the big West Coast cities so…you might be jumping the gun a bit.
I understand your point, but right now we only know he doesn’t want to play in NY.
Everyone is forgetting Dayton’s favorite trade partner in Frank Wren! I know the Braves have a lot of pitching, but they did inquire on him before the Derek Lowe signing. I could see the Braves giving up Minor and a couple other prospects.
Smaller market teams:
Cubs: Greinke/Coleman for Lee/Cashner/Archer/Jackson
Brewers: Odorizzi/Jeffress/Lawrie/Rogers
Twins: Hicks/Morales/Gibson
Dodgers: Gordon/Robinson/Jansen/Webster
Rays: Hellickson/Jennings
Rangers: Perez/Holland/Beltre/Profar
Nationals: Storen/Norris/Espinosa/Zimermann
Reds: Mesoraco/Robles/Hamilton/Leake
Yeah, I think the Royals are insane if they think anyone would offer anything close to that. Doesnt he have severe anxiety too. Way too much baggage if you ask me.
Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. Zach Grienke is a good pitcher no doubt, but is he worth trading all of your best prospects. I don’t think it is, and the aforementioned baggage is a definite con to trading for him also.
are those packages your proposing or just rattling off names? because their is now way Grienke is worth Jennings/Hellickson or Storen/Norris/Espinosa/Zimmerman(assuming your referring to the pitcher) or Hicks/Gibson.
cubs and dodgers are “smaller” market teams? since when?
and i don’t see the dodgers trading dee gordon in any package, or they might have had cliff lee or roy halladay by now. the dodgers value gordon so much, they’ve essentially got him penciled in as furcal’s replacement when his contract is up after this coming season, assuming his vesting option doesn’t kick in.
Why has no one called out this user for the most egregious error he or she made? Your actual trade proposals are bad, but let us look at these “smaller market teams” by their actual market sizes:
Dodgers – 2nd
Cubs – 3rd
Rangers – 5th
Nationals – 9th
The Cubs would be giving up way too much. Lee and Jackson could be All Stars and Archer just keeps getting better. I understand that’s what it would take, but Hendry would be ending the conversation free those names were given to him.
The Dodgers are a small market team? Only because McCourt is a cheapskate?
Not at all. I think all three are fair
and the Gibson/Hicks…Several writers approved that idea.
Perhaps you aren’t aware of Greinke’s value…Two years of an ace.
I might expect something like Rasmus straight up for Greinke.
I think you aren’t aware of Greinke’s value. It’s two years of a fringe time bomb. When he’s comfortable, he’s one of the best pitchers in the game, no doubt. However, deals like this aren’t exactly deals that allow you to grow on a fanbase, or a fanbase to grow on you. Large market teams aren’t going to risk their top prospects on a deal that could completely blow up in their face, and small market teams aren’t going to sell their farm, their means of competing, for two not-so-cheap years of Greinke. I’m not sure who your “writers” are, but I’d disagree with them as well. I can’t see any of those deals happening.
So you think the Nats are going to give up their future closer, an infielder that may have some pop AND is a switch hitter, AND their de-facto ace (at least until pitching Jesus returns and proves he’s healthy) for a guy that really has only posted a half-season (early 2009) of dominance? AND, is at least 3 years older than any of the guys in the Nats end of the deal? C’MON MAN!
It doesn’t matter what you and I think though because Greinke’s value is set and teams know what they have to give. If he stays out of a large market, he should do fine. The NL or a big ballpark shouldn’t hurt either. That’s why I like the Twins.
I would want Greinke+ in order to even think about parting with Hellickson. Though, Greinke should have no anxiety issues pitching in Tampa with their non-Yanks/Sox crowds.
That kind of package might be what they want for Greinke, but getting what you want doesn’t really work out. Look what happened with the Twins holding the Yankees and Sox feet to the flames over Johan. They got nothing in return for him instead of being reasonable.
or the dodgers.
I’ll tell you now then, with those deals, Greinke goes nowhere. Lol
Perhaps you have never heard of WAR, K/9, and he was dominant all of ’09.
No way can I see the Rangers giving up Neftali Perez, their closer, in a deal for Greinke. I would say that 5 years of Perez is worth more than 2 years of Greinke. Starters ARE harder to come by than closers but the Rangers don’t have a plan B and they are contenders in need of someone to close out important wins.
Yes I have and I also know that he was dominant in those categories in the first half of ’09, and not so much later on that year.
Are you serious?
Neftali Feliz is a different person than Martin Perez.
No. The Twins and Dodgers one isn’t crazy at all.
I hope you are right…I dont want him to be traded unless they are blown away…
if he has anxiety issues in KC…i think its not about the external factors…but his internal response. Tampa Bay has been a contender for 3 seasons straight now and dont appear to be going away any time soon. and they also play half the season away from TB. suppose the season is on the line and they are playing in Fenway or Yankee Stadium for a playoff spot…
They will get want they want or not trade him…Thats what people dont understand…They are going to get more than should because they dont have to move him…
Only the best ERA in Baseball from August 23/09-on
Greinke was 11th in Baseball in ERA this year so just stop.
I meant WAR. sorry
Maybe, the Dodgers offer is feasible. Maybe. You really think that the Royals would trade Greinke within the division to a top competitor?
Edited for my English fail. Lol
That’s a lot of haul for the Dodgers (I suppose it’d be for all of the teams) who shouldn’t give up the farm (literally) for him
He isn’t the prospect he was. He had a very not so good season.
Maybe the Dodgers value Gordon as such, but I’m not all that excited (and I’ve seen him play several times) about a shortstop version of Juan Pierre. Honestly, I think he’s quite overvalued by BP, BA, etc. That said, he has plenty of value, and if that value could bring in Zack Greinke, I have no problem pulling the trigger. I’d find a way to do the deal without Jansen though, as he’s their future closer.
i see what your saying but i don’t think hes going to be so great. i think we’re expecting too much from this kid. with that said, i would definitely be willing to give him up in a greinke deal.
If it means getting the right package.
Jim Callis thinks that the Twins would give one of these packages…Hicks/Gibson Hicks/Sano Sano/Gibson. I buy it and think that Greinke is worth two top 50 prospects plus a 150+ prospect. Can’t say that’s crazy.
Wow…you know what? Completely spazzed on that one. I saw Perez but thought Feliz. Oooops…..my bad.
We all make a booboo once in a while. It happens to the best of us. But you’re right in retrospect, Felix is staying in Texas.
They are not bad at all. Pardon me for wrong word usage though.
I just dont like Ugglas strike out numbers. Somewhere around 150. Im still a little iffy on Beltre though. He makes me nervous. I know he had a great year but Im not comfortable believing that he will continue that clip. I say move Youk back to 3rd, stop gap at 1st or have Lowrie play 3rd and make a run at Agon when he hits free agency.
….and he’s also staying in Seattle (FeliX) that is.
The crazy thing is, the irony of that is incredible. I really meant Feliz!!
ha that was amazing
what? crazy arguement. greinke has pitched in NY and Boston before. when was the last time they weren’t sold out and loud?
exactly, a person with anxiety issues will freak out in a game of MLB 2010
the show. the external factor really doesnt matter.
just give him his meds, order him a hot chinese or european model to massage
and give a happy ending before every start and dude could pitch with the
fate of the world on his shoulders.
i been to tampa trust me, they got some hot college girls down in FL…he
should be in “good hands” if he goes there
yup, i agree with you on everything you said.