The trade that sent Vernon Wells from Toronto to Anaheim was the “Holy Grail” of deals for the Blue Jays and the best move of the winter, writes Jon Heyman of SI.com. Jose Bautista's five-year, $65MM contract places second on Heyman's list of teams' top offseason moves. As Heyman says, Bautista could have been in position to earn $100MM or more as a free agent after the season if the Blue Jays hadn't signed him long-term. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- Royals GM Dayton Moore is pleased with Jeff Francoeur's production so far and says the outfielder does a lot of things well, though he “doesn't have a knack for getting on base.” As I showed last week, the Royals are getting lots out of their free agent acquisitions so far in 2011.
- Can Milton Bradley find another job? Five MLB executives expressed at least strong doubt about Bradley's future job prospects in the Major Leagues. His fading offense and poor defense don't make up for the distractions he creates, which led one exec to predict that the outfielder's “career is over” now that Seattle designated him for assignment. Others expect Bradley to get one last chance.
- It's early, but Heyman suggests the White Sox, Tigers and A's look like possibilities for Carlos Beltran this summer. Beltran has a no-trade clause and is impressing scouts early on this season.
- The Red Sox and Blue Jays could be interested in catcher Jordan Weems, a high schooler who is moving up some draft boards.
- Heyman hears that it's “highly unlikely” that the Red Sox would be willing to meet the Mets' asking price for Jose Reyes this summer.
I am so glad Bradley has been released by the Mariners, It was always a bad deal.
The Tigers need a third baseman a hell of a lot more than they need another outfielder. Corner outfield is our deepest position on the current roster and Dirks is knocking on the door at Triple A.
I would love to see Beltran in a sox uni but the question is where he plays? Dh is locked with Dunn and konerko. Center is all rips unless he and some serious cash are moved in that deal. I would think for now Carlos is off limits so unless the mets want Pierre( and cash) I can’t see it happening. But maybe Pierre+ cash+ prospects would do it then I’m all game. We could move Carlos to left and play Beltran in right. They could play Pierre in left and move bay to right.
yeah but who hits leadoff? ARam? Beckham? Rios?
alexi, he has experience at it and is a decent enough hitter all around to allow for that. If beckham was not slummping(time for a send down to figure it out) then he could as well. I would say the same for rios, it might spark him and get him going. but a line up of Alexi-rios-beltran-konerko-dunn-carlos-aJ-morell/teahan-beckham/lilibridge…could be decent,
u got a like for ur name
Why would the Red Sox even be considering Reyes? Don’t be me wrong he’s a great player and well above average SS but if they’re so high on Iglesias, what’s the point? He would essentially be a rental unless they moved Iglesias.
Yeah, I had the same thought. Lowrie has been playing well this season (although I don’t expect him to necessarily continue to hit over .300) and Iglesias is getting some big league time now and will probably be the full-time shortstop in a year or two. Maybe if the Mets have a fire sale and all players are half-off…
Jose Bautista has already been worth 3.2 WAR this year…after 2011 his contract is 4/56 with a club option for 14mill in 2016. This could turn out to be a steal. I really wonder what he could have gotten if he hadn’t signed the extension and played this year out.
Francoeur isn’t going to keep hitting like this all season. He’s going to come back to Earth as some point.
Great job Heyman….what exactly is the Mets’ asking price for Reyes??
Beltran in Oakland is a match made in heaven right now. God, do the A’s ever need like ONE player who can hit….
Jose Reyes for Jose Iglesias, Josh Reddick and Yamaico Navarro (to play 2B)
It’s time for Bradley to just stop. Now he can have that reality show where he and Jeff Kent sit and talk about motorcycles.
Any GM who signs Milton Bradley should lose his job. The man is clearly unable to control himself. If that was not the case, he would have done it at some point in his career. One more chance will just produce more of the same.
I can’t see Oakland (or CWS) trading for Beltran. A’s need offense, but not an OF. It’s the infield that cannot hit. Not to mention Beltran is a FA come November, he’s still a walking bandaid, and Boras is his agent.
Pass.