Email a copy of 'AL East Notes: Mirabelli, Bautista, Kiermaier, Lohse' to a friend
Loading ...
By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'AL East Notes: Mirabelli, Bautista, Kiermaier, Lohse' to a friend
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
hide arrows scroll to top
start_wearing_purple
I was actually at the game where Mirabelli made his return. One of my favorite times in Fenway ever. Also I’m fairly certain it’s the only time in baseball history when a back up catcher appeared he was met with a standing ovation. Meredith at the time was considered a potential closer. But even so he was well worth the price to get back someone experienced enough to catch Wakefield.
jmgara
Doug Mirabelli also has a very unique distinction in Giants history. He is the first player to hit a triple in a game at (then) Pac Bell Park in “Triples Alley” — the distinct 421-foot right-center power alley. He did this in the first Spring exhibition game there (which I attended). I had always hoped that since it was so quirky that a slow-footed catcher was the very first to hit a triple in competition there that it would be known as “Mirabelli Alley”. The name didn’t catch on and only the very diehard Giants fan will know what you mean when you refer to it as “Mirabelli Alley”.
willreily
Call me crazy, but If I’m the Rays, I would maybe think about shopping Kiermaier. I know, I know… Rays fans are probably too happy with that idea. But hear me out. The Cardinals traded Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins for Heyward, a Gold Glove OF, with offensive potential. Kiermaier is sort of the same, in a general sense. The Angels traded Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis for Andrelton Simmons. Like Kiermaier, Simmons is a Gold Glover with offensive potential, but still not a great hitter.
My point is, the Braves got three really good prospects, (and MLB ready talent), for players who were average offensive players, but elite defensively. Given Kiermaier is 26, and the Rays may not compete this year, I wonder what interested teams would give up for him? Controlled for another 4 years, and has the potential to hit for power and has speed. Add in his G.G defense, his value would be worth exploring.
Also a selling point could be that this upcoming offseason doesn’t have a good selection of hitters, and the acquiring team wouldn’t have to dish out a big contract to get Kiermaier. The Rays probably really want to keep him, but why not take advantage of a trend?
madmc44
It amazes me the Rays don’t use their main chip, Longoria, to get some added bats. They have a nice player that teams know is their “go to” guy that could probably provide a haul of young bats and positional players to go along with their deep arm talent.
Ex, reuniting him with his former manager in Chicago or his former GM in LA might result in 3 really good young players.
Lance
Longoria seems to be on the backside of his career. Not bad numbers the last few years but hardly the big producer he was the first few years.
baronbeard
The Cubs have no use for him with Rizzo and Bryant at the corners. And Longoria made remarks that he was done with Maddon’s club house antics. Plus, there would be no reason for the Rays to trade away a proven asset for minor leaguers who haven’t proven anything on a major league field.
Silverman is operating a different way than Friedman did. But he still operates trades the way they have before. Trade from a position of power. They don’t have too many top notch offensive prospects, but have a glut of pitchers. This could probably be one of the reasons we never saw them make their trade this off season with the Cubs.
Arjonn
Trading major leaguers for prospects hardly seems out of character for the Rays.
Vedder80
Why in the world would the Cubs trade for an infielder? Do you really think Longoria and his contract are a fit? That is an expensive utility guy. Either that or blocking the young talent they are so excited about up there.
jkim319
You are totally right (re both the Cubs not needed longoria and the value Epstein/Maddon put on chemistry and clubhouse).
Theo/Jed have been amazing at how they have built the 25 and 40 man rosters and ‘not’ touching (other than starlin Castro) their prospect pool.
With the Cubs (hopefully) drafting low for years to come, theo/Jed understand the importance of being diligent, short term smart and long term smart with the prospects (I do think they will make a move before 8/1, but they won’t give up (3) for anything (unless we are talking a Kluber, archer or sale kind of controllable top of rotation kind of pitcher)
(I think) from a position player perspective, they can get most anything they need from a ‘older veteran’ (i.e. Lower cost) perspective … I would look towards how the Cubs match up against the mets (pitching), Washington, Pittsburgh (hitters) and St. Louis (hitters/starters (Martinez/wacha/Garcia)) to identify what gaps the Cubs might want to close