Two days ago we learned that Padres GM Jed Hoyer is willing to listen to trade offers for Adrian Gonzalez (and Heath Bell), unsurprising since the first baseman is reportedly seeking close to $22MM annually when he becomes a free agent next offseason. In today's blog post (Insider req'd), ESPN's Buster Olney lists a few reasons why the Pads are more likely to wait until the trade deadline to move their franchise player…
- Ticket sales. After surprising success in 2010, the team doesn't want to lose the trust of the fans by dealing their best player before the season.
- The Padres have a chance to compete in 2011 with Gonzalez in the middle of their lineup, but without him it'll be close to impossible.
- Other clubs wanting to acquire Gonzalez might be more desperate during the summer, which could result in a better package for San Diego.
- Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe points out that Hoyer and assistant GM Jason McLeod worked for the Red Sox before joining the Padres, so they have strong first-hand knowledge of Boston's prospects.
Here are the rest of Olney's rumors…
- Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, and Jayson Werth will dominate the headlines when free agency begins at 12:01am ET Sunday morning, but Olney lists ten more interesting free agents, led by Joaquin Benoit, Pedro Feliciano, and Orlando Hudson.
- The Yankees could place their first bid on Lee very soon, perhaps within 72 hours. Anthony McCarron of The New York Daily News hears something similar.
- Crawford is in a unique situation because he's an elite player that could have six or more teams bidding for his services. Usually players of that caliber only have three or so teams after them.
- The Yankees operate with the knowledge that no matter how popular the individual player is, the team and its fan base will move on. This of course refers to Derek Jeter.
A three-way sending Gavin Floyd to a prospect-rich team, and AGonz to the White Sox might work.
Pierre LF
Ramirez SS
Rios CF
AGonz 1B
Hawpe DH
A Jones RF
Beckham 2B
Castro C
Morel 3B
The white sox would need to give up way more than just gavin floyd.
sure, throw in Santos and Flowers.
Not likely.
floyd, danks, beckham, quentin+
Please, please, please, please, please tell me your kidding.
I think White Sox tell you to piss off.
+ Jackson, Sale, Thornton, Rios, Ramirez, and $40M cash?
and throw in a bag of batting practice balls.
Beckham, Morel and Hudson…
…then we’ll talk.
Looks good except for Paulie at DH, Hawpe in RF – Jones is awful won’t be on team.
Floyd won’t work but Danks might
Danks
Peavy
Jackson
Buehrle
Garcia
i believe Adrian Beltre will also dominate the headlines.
I saw something truly funny last night on MLB Network. Greg Amsinger predicted the Mets would go get Crawford, put him in LF, shift Bay to RF and deal Beltrán. I think he said they’d deal Pagan as well.
BAY? In RF??!
I wonder where Amsinger was the day Sandy Alderson told the press that the Mets would not be players for the big free agents this offseason? I think he needs to lay off the sauce.
exactly !
and with low cost prospects coming up soon. the last thing u need is to tie up another long term contract in the OF.
plus the risk of another 5 year free agent bust.
the mets havent had that many free-agent busts for big-time committed dollars when u think about it.
when i say big-time. I mean more than 15 mil for 5 years or more.
beltran is not a bust
santana is not a bust
k-rod is not a bust
wagner was not a bust
and i dont think j-bay is gonna stink up the joint again. 25 HR, 100+ RBI’s and a .260 average is about inline.
i just think considering the prospects the mets have coming up in the system tying up bay was more about marketing and selling season tickets than actually winning in the long term.
I was really just refering to Bay.
It was Barry Larkin, but the point is you’re right…
He also said Adrian Gonzalez to the Red for Jacoby Ellsbury and a prospect…
No.
Wow, he sure did!
Those MLB Network boys are starting to scare me…
He also said Colby Rasmus to the Royals for Greinke. Hahahahahaaa.
to the reds? i didnt know they had jacoby!! ;)
Oops.
Obviously I meant the Red Sox.
But the Reds Bench coach is named Ron Jacoby I think.
22m to Epstein = wait until after the season is over. There is only 2 teams can think of that can afford that and has a vacancy for either a 1B/DH slot in the near future and one of those teams has both slots either filled at the present, or will have over the next many years with another they already have tied up.
Why give up anything like Ellsbury and another prospect at all for a 1season rental, when somebody else can get him, wait until the season is over and then get him for a 1st round pick?
One reason to get him before he becomes a FA is because it legitimately increases the chances of a WS title for 2011, something the Red Sox, Theo, and their fans certainly care about. Of course, one must queston whether or not it is worth the price in prospects for the extra half-season or full-season of A.Gonz. Depends of course. Value-wise, probably not. But, if the Sox could work out an extension with him as part of the trade..I wouldn’t put it past them to offer the prospects.
I still say AA should sign O-dawg, put him at second and Hill at third while saving 5mil and dfa’ing E5. An infield of Hill, Escobar and Hudson would compensate for having Lind at first. Though its prob pretty safe to say Hudson stays in Minesota right ? especially since they are saving all that Punto money this year.
He won’t be in Minnesota next season or Toronto.
And let the bidding begin lol.
anybody curious how AGonz will perform if he is shipped to the AL? Could there be a decline in power numbers like the Jason Bay project?
there will be an increase! Petco is a terrible place for hitters and he is legit!
Dude jason bay hit right in line with his career numbers in the AL
Dude jason bay hit right in line with his career numbers in the AL
Padres are willing to listen to trade offers for Gonzo so let’s star the bidding war,so to the Red Sox nation do you think if you wait one year is sure you going to land Gonso in the FA market? no the best thing to do is trade for Gonzo this year in the winter meetings the way you scare the Yankees since the first game of the season.
Pujols, Gonzalez, even Fatty Fielder next year as FA’s and the Yankees have Tex, plus DH in waiting Arod tied up 8 more years. You can answer that one I think.
Don’t be surprised if Texas adds a another BIG BOPPER to their lineup. Question is, do they have the necessary talent to please Hoyer & Co. Could honestly imagine a 1-5 of Andrus, Young, Hamilton, Cruz, A-Gon. If I’m Daniels, Ryan, & Co. I’ve got 3 & only 3 names on my list. A-Gon (trade), Lee (F.A.), Yu Darvish (posting/F.A.). CRAZY!!!