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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of '3 Remaining Needs: National League West' to a friend
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eaters
This is both an excellent write-up and a great bit of giving the “customer” what they want. This is why I love MLBTR and I will always forgive any struggles they have with rogue ads.
TargetTime_18
I second that great write-up as usual. You guys do a great job.
Jeff Todd
Thanks, glad y’all like it. Made sense with the lull in the market.
df08988
Will you be doing the same for the other divisions and the AL?
Dock_Elvis
Jeff…just a story idea Ive been tossing around…but is there a way of organizing various industry thoughts on Jose Quintana’s outlook. Mention of his “ace or not?” status lights a fire in the comment sections. It’d be interesting to hear how insiders feel. I’m sure the media sources are floating around. Anyway…just an idea…Happy New Year!
Jeff Todd
I thought about it, but he has been discussed so much already that I decided against it (for tonight, anyhow). See, e.g.: fangraphs.com/blogs/the-price-for-jose-quintana-sh…
Appreciate the thoughts from everyone. A happy new year to all!
Dock_Elvis
Quintana just creates such a response in some people. He ends up being everything from a true ace to some mediocre innings eater.
SuperSinker
He’s a difficult player to evaluate. So much of his performance relies on quality of contact and aversion to walks. Elite level production without the accompanying elite level talent creates uncertainty.
Dock_Elvis
For sure. But when do you call an anomaly an actual talent? Quintana has quite the track record with park factor and defense seemingly also working against him.
JrodFunk5
Agree! MLBTR is my favorite site!
CursedRangers
Cool idea on this type of article. Nice job!
angelsinthetroutfield
Yep. Great article and terrific suggestion!
arcadia Ldogg
Come on San Diego. Get one or two real starters through trades.
I thought the Angels had a hard time after they lost five starting pitchers through the year ( three gone after spring training.
Lorenzo
After Jettisoning all the veterans last year and calling up pieces of the future positional core in September, the Padres have set up 2017 to “see what the kids can do.” They have no trade candidates left that they don’t want to keep, so only FA bounce back starter candidates need apply.
They have three potential starters who are out of options in Friedrich, Clemens, and Cosart, and other unproven bodies available. It may well be that the Padres are about done making moves, and will go with what they’ve got. After all, the sports writers are all saying they’re tanking this year.
stymeedone
I could see a match with the Tigers. Iglesias and Boyd going to SD and Jankowski + a AAA pitcher coming to Detroit. It fills SS and provides a young SP for the SD rotation. It provides a CF and leadoff hitter for Comerica, plus depth for the pen.
tuner49
The NL-W seems to be a prime area for Avila to spend some time with on the phone. Pelfrey, Sanchez, JD and Kinsler could all find new homes out West.
Can’t see him giving up Boyd but maybe sending a minor league pitcher not named Manning, Burrows, or Jimenez plus Pelfrey with Iglesias for Jankowski and a prospect. They get a starter equal to or better than Chacin and Richard for the rotation now and could be flipped at the deadline if one of their kids seem ready.They also get another pitcher who could be ready by 2018. They have Ortega to field CF till they want to bring up Margot.
YourDaddy
I don’t think you are going to see Jankowski included in any trades, at least not trades that are for guys that are losing their starting jobs this year like Iglesias. Matt Boyd is basically a AAA pitcher, so that’s not a fit for us either. Maybe the Tigers get a couple of prospects for Iglesias. A couple of names I have seen floated are Ruddy Giron and Jean Cosme. Both are young high upside guys. That would be a fair trade.
tuner49
Um… Iglesias was an All Star in 2015 and led the league in least SO per AB in 2016. He is not losing his job. Boyd would be a top 3 SP on the SDP staff and is left handed. It doesn’t matter since Detroit will not trade him anyways.
If anyone is losing his job,it is Jankowski. Not because of his skills, but because the Padres have a great prospect in Margot taking over CF. Jankowski’s bat is too weak as a corner OF and will be pushed out of CF.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
No. Trading for Iglesias does not fill SS for SD. If the Padres trade for Iglesias they still won’t contend in 2017 or 2018, he’ll sign with someone else after 2018 and then they will be back in the same position they are now only without whoever they traded to get Iglesias.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Why would the Padres want Iglesias!?!?!?!?!? To make a run on the Diamondbacks and 4th in the division?
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
I’d rather keep Giron and Cosme and then just sign Iglesias two years from now. The Padres aren’t going to contend in 2017 or 2018 even with Iglesias and he’s going to sign with the highest bidder two years from now no matter who he spends the next 2 seasons with.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Jankowski still isn’t going anywhere unless the Padres get back something that will help them more than he will. Iglesias isn’t going to help the Padres at all being that he’s a free agent before they will realistically contend.
zippytms
All that means is that Jankowski moves to a 4th OF role, which makes a ton of sense given his profile. He’s excellent defensively and a threat on the bases, so a reserve role with pinch running duties is a nice fit. Plus his platoon splits match with Margot. He’s a keeper as long as the speed and defense play up.
socalbum
For Dodgers, adding Dozier significantly reduces the need for a corner OF’er whereas a lesser offensive threat at second base would likely result in Dodgers acquiring a corner OF bat who is effective against LH pitching. RH BP arm, I think Hatcher is on the bubble of even making the roster with Baez, Ravin, Stripling, Fields, Rhame, and Frias competing for spot. If LH’er Liberatore is healthy either he or LH’er Grant Dayton could be in the setup role for Jansen.
BlueSkyLA
Agreed, though any solid RHB at 2B serves the same purpose. Even so the lineup is still too LH heavy.
As for Baez and Hatcher, they are the other team’s answer to being behind. I’d entertain almost anybody else in the setup role.
dodgers805
I agree, 2b is the main need. I’d be satisfied going into the season with the incumbent Ethier/Van Slyke or Thompson platoon playing LF.
Frankly, I’d rather see an upgrade in the pitching depth over an above a LF pickup from the market.
doolittle
Thoroughly impressed with how quickly you put this together. Well done.
jdodson1822
Wrong Matt Duffy
vtadave
You da real MVP
JCurrie
Hey Jeff, love this article, I know you’ve been looking for some article ideas, and while you guys already do these occasionally, I really enjoy the transaction retrospects articles, and the “this day in transactions history”
petersdylan36
Love the article
I think the padres can afford to give Luis Sardinas the whole year at SS and see what they have in him.
YourDaddy
We don’t have any backups for Sardinas even if we do give him a shot to play full time. Sardinas has never had more than 180 AB in the majors in a season and he hit .244 in the majors and .253 in 182 ABs in AAA last year, so hard to put your faith in him to go out there for 600+AB. No matter what we need to pick up a shortstop.
petersdylan36
I think that’s exactly why we give him the full year. We have nothing to lose, no better option, and last year we sent out Alexi Ramirez for the first 3/4 of the year; if we can do that, we can do that with Sardinas too.
YourDaddy
We don’t have a backup, so we will be trading for a shortstop no matter what. May as well get a better one since Sardinas is a defense only type of player.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Jose Rondon says hi
zippytms
So does Allen Cordoba.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Why? What exactly do we lose by giving Sardinas the job for the next year or two? Unless you seriously think a shortstop is the only thing the Padres need to contend then there is no point in giving up anything with any value for a shortstop without several years of control at this point.
mrpadre19
Allen Córdoba is a rule 5 pick.
If we keep him he has to stay on the roster all season.
There’s our backup SS.
phillyphan3
Padres needs.
1. Talent.
Dock_Elvis
2. Free the brown uniforms.
chesteraarthur
3. Release Chris Sale on the camo unis
DeadliestCatch
4. Tony Gwynn’s ghost to be the hitting coach.
YourDaddy
Best selling uni other than the Home Whites is the Camo. People like them and have voted with their wallets. .
CursedRangers
Even as a non-Padre fan I like the camo uniforms. In regards to people buying more of the uniforms, that ultimately comes with putting a winning product on the field. You can’t expect people to open up their wallets with a projected opening day payroll of less than $30M.
Dock_Elvis
If you’re getting the ghost of Tony Gwynn…why not go ahead and start him in right?
zippytms
Best selling uni was the All-Star Game Workout Day brown and gold with orange. That thing demolished ASG sales records.
YourDaddy
Buy the Brown unis and the Padres will start wearing them more. Unfortunately for the people that like them, neither you nor anyone else buys them.
dodgers805
Really?
“Padres’ Brown, gold fuel record FanFest sales”
sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/all-star-game/sdut…
Dock_Elvis
The mockups of new style brown/gold are very good….why they dont go with them is beyond me. So much blue in the game….the Padres could have such distinctive uniforms. They don’t even have to be funky and tacky.
Lorenzo
The Padres have the positional talent, but the starter talent, the college pitchers they’ve picked up and two pitchers who had Tommy John surgery, won’t be ready until 2018. Never confuse lack of MLB experience for lack of talent. Every established player you can name was once an unknown.
mrbaseball
Sounds like adding Scooter to the Braun trade might make sense for the Brewers and Dodgers.
davidcoonce74
Gennet can’t hit lefties at all, though, and that’s already the Dodgers problem.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
Scooter is a LH below average platoon guy. That’s not really what they are looking for If there is a Braun trade he really makes no sense even as a throw in.
jimmyz
If the dodgers are looking for a package deal to address both of those needs, which is kind of a dubious notion, Cutch and Josh Harrison would make more sense.
ducksnort69
Wonder if the Rays and Dodgers could line up for trade involving Forsythe and Boxberger. 2 guys Friedman traded for before. Forsythe has been sneaky good.
stryk3istrukuout
Scott Kazmir and Ross Stripling for Martin Prado?
Brixton
I wonder if the Dodgers would have any interest in Cesar Hernandez.
Plays 2B (check)
Hits lefties (hit .341 against them last year)
Was a 3 WAR play last year.
LADreamin
Would love Cesar Hernandez. It all depends if the Phillies are dealing and what it would take prospect-wise.
YourDaddy
Why would the Phillies be interested in trading a good, young, controllable starting 2B? Seems that doesn’t fit with where they are in their rebuild.
BillGiles
Because they need more assets in the system. Plus, one of their top prospects is a second baseman, Kingery
YourDaddy
The Phillies have an extremely deep system, but where they lack depth is middle infield. Kingery is the only 2B in the system with any chance of contributing before 2020 and he might be ready in 2018 and might not be ready until 2019. So it would not make any sense to trade Hernandez now.
stymeedone
I wouldn’t mind them coming back to look at what Detroit can offer. JD Martinez for LF and Kinsler for 2B. Plus they may be interested in a Wilson or two for the bullpen.
gillyking
LAD would opt for Josh Fields ahead of Chris Hatcher as a RH set up guy. Hopefully they re sign Blanton for the 2017 season. Chris Hatcher is a head case that lost his courage and has slumped into a home run derby pitcher.
comebacktrail28
Quintana makes so much sense for the Rockies ………. The Giants and Dodgers Struggle against LH pitching and the Rockies need more pitching
YourDaddy
Blackmon for Quintana might make sense. Probably some ancillary pieces from both sides, but that is a fit for both teams.
The Oregonian
Since Quintana has more team control I have to figure he has more trade value than Blackmon. Blackmon and a couple prospects for Quintana seems fair, but the Sox might not plan on contending til around 2019, so it still might not make too much sense from their perspective unless the prospects were well regarded.
Bob Sacamano 310
I wouldn’t really want Blackmon in a deal for Q.
SuperSinker
Ya I don’t think the White Sox would find Blackmon an appealing target for Quintana.
YourDaddy
I’ve got no dog in this fight , so let’s take a look from an objective standpoint.
Tilson or Blackmon? No brainer there. The White Sox are not going to get the kind of package for Quintana that they got for Sale, so to get a proven MLB player like Blackmon is a huge plus. Even with top 100 prospects, only 1 in 3 become regulars in the majors. It’s a fit for both teams. Only question is who else would need to be involved in the trade. Probably Quintana and a prospect like Hansen for Blackmon and a couple of prospects like McMahon and Musgrave who is MLB ready or Lambert or a lower level guy with tremendous upside like Justo. That would be a fair trade for both teams.
Shoot lets make it a blockbuster. Quintana and Abreu for Blackmon, Patterson, Freeland, and McMahon.
Dock_Elvis
There’s probably quite a bit of competition for Quintana on the prospect front….not that the Rockies couldn’t potentially have the players to make that move.
Dock_Elvis
I think if the Rockies could have gotten Quintana for Blackmon and not involved any of their other major prospects…we’d have seen that trigger pulled.
Brewers_Germany
I also want to say DANKESCHÖN from Hamburg, Germany. I am a Brewers fan and your site together with Team Stream are my number one reads every day. Keep it up, you are doing an awesome job!
Brewers_Germany
Personally, I think Braun will stay put as they haven’t managed to figure out a trade until now. And Scooter is not a bad option to have on the 25 man roster and way too valuable to give him away as a “throw in”. He can hit and is not a bad defender, too.
jkim319
We Cubs fans have been watching the strangely ‘quiet’ build up of talent in Milwaukee. I am hoping the Brewers hold on to him to the point where his value goes down… Braun is arguably at his (trade) peak between now and July 31..
Hope they blow it by keeping braun (on a bad team) and then try to trade him … you guys have enough talent (7(?) in MLB top 100)..
Bob Sacamano 310
Frazier and Melky plus cash (cover half of Melky’s ~$15 mill) as rentals to the Giants for a couple of B level prospects?
SuperSinker
I’d aim higher. Frazier is a pretty good player, I wouldn’t package him with Melky and water down his trade value. The White Sox can have players like Melky play since they aren’t in a rush to compete.
rugrat907
I also doubt the Giants are particularly interested in bringing back Melky after 2012. I’d be fine with them going with a Parker/Williamson platoon in LF to start the season – might as well see what they can do for a couple of months. There will be plenty of available players mid-season if that’s not working out.
sacball
If the Giants purposely left Melky off of the playoff roster in 2012, odds are they’ll steer clear of a trade for him as well
Solaris611
Padres starting rotation candidates have to be the weakest bunch I’ve ever seen on a major league roster. Even the ’69 Seattle Pilots arguably had more talent on their pitching staff. Unless multiple prospects have phenomenal seasons, there’s gonna be a LOT of arms cycle through that rotation in ’17.
YourDaddy
Did you get a good look at the Reds last year? Much worse.
padreforlife
Can’t argue rotation is horrendous with zero depth and relief also. 100 loss team easy
YourDaddy
Our relief staff is actually pretty good and pretty deep. Especially with 2 of Cosart, Vargas and Clemens moving to the pen. That is not an area we are worried about.
kylelohse
Seems like the Rockies could line up on a trade around Blackman for a starter. I don’t see the Rays trading Archer so maybe Odorizzi and prospects? Cargo would cost too much for his salary so I don’t see the Rays being interested in him either. By making a deal like this the Rockies get a quality #2 starter, can move Desmond to center and then go sign a thumper for 1B like Chris Carter who would be cheap and probably hit 50+ HR in Coors.
seamaholic 2
Honestly not sure Odorizzi would make the Rockies rotation. Probably would in a 4 or 5 spot, but there’s no bloody way Blackmon gets moved for a mediocre starter like that. Blackmon was the 2nd best CF in baseball last year.
chesteraarthur
Trout, JBJ, and Fowler were all better than Blackmon.
YourDaddy
Blackmon is the 2nd best offensive CF in baseball. His defense in CF is not so great, but he would play a corner OF spot in Tampa. Odorizzi plus a couple of prospects like Bauers and Koch should get it done.
kylelohse
Hoping you are simply trolling as Odorizzi would easily be the Rockies #1 starter. And like I said, Odorizzi and prospects. Blackmon has had one very good year and the rest have been okay. Also have the Coors field advantage to worry about as the Rays experienced with Dickerson last season.
Dock_Elvis
I think if the Rockies go sp pitcher hunting..they aim a little higher. They conceivably have the prospects and depth to deal for Chris Archer. Blackmons defense likely inproves greatly away from that massive Coors OF. Its interesting…I do think they try to trade for a frontline starter.
n888
Thanks for this – great content during the coldest slowest week of the baseball news year. And the Brisbee link re: Nunez in LF is phenomenal!
Thronson5
Things have been slow even with some big bats still out there, not as free agents but through trade so it’s nice to have something to read about baseball until something actually happens.
MatthewBaltimore23
The Rockies can’t play Desmond in the outfield unless they move someone else to another team or to first. They have Dahl, Blackmon, and Gonzalez in the outfield. Everyone says it is such an issue that they are playing him at a position he doesn’t play, but you have to think about that before last season, Desmond was primarily a shortstop, not an outfielder.
Dock_Elvis
The issue would be that offensively he’s only about average for a 1B….so the issue really isnt probably his defensive ability. He’s much more valuable back at SS or in the OF