In case there was any doubt, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Brewers aren't going to trade Ryan Braun. However, the Brewers are open to trading any of their other top hitters for rotation help. That means Rickie Weeks, Casey McGehee and, of course, Prince Fielder would be available in the right deal. Here are the details and the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:
- The Brewers don't want to trade top players for back-of-the-rotation starters, but teams are reluctant to include top young pitchers in potential deals.
- The Padres have spoken repeatedly to the Brewers about minor league infielder Brett Lawrie, who could be obtained for young pitching.
- Adrian Gonzalez is still drawing trade interest, even though he won't be ready to swing a bat until the end of Spring Training.
- Two GMs tell Rosenthal that the Red Sox are open to trading Felix Doubront. One says Boston would part with the left-hander "in a heartbeat" and the other guaranteed the Red Sox will trade him by mid-summer. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Rosenthal that the Red Sox "value Felix tremendously" and that the report "couldn't be further from the truth."
- Every young Orioles pitcher "could be in play for the right bat," Rosenthal reports.
- If the Marlins trade Dan Uggla, they would use the savings to sign at least one free agent. John Buck is a target for the Marlins regardless of whether they trade or extend Uggla.
- The A's don't have interest in Mark Reynolds.
- The Rockies are drawing lots of interest in Clint Barmes. They could trade or non-tender the infielder if they aren't able to sign him to a multi-year contract.
- Cody Ross and Javier Lopez are strong candidates to receive extensions from the Giants.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Brewers aren’t going to trade Ryan Braun
well, duh.
Yeah, Gammons probably should have kept his mouth shut on that idea. Braun’s hitting ability combined with his contract makes him probably one of the top five most valuable players in baseball (at least on offense). Would take a truckload to pry him away from Milwaukee.
It’s interesting to hear that the Padres are interested in Lawrie. If they’re willing to give up a starting pitching propsect, they can probably swing a deal.
Gammons sheds a tear.
Wonder why the Sox are so intent on trading Doubront. I was really impressed with the appearances he made last year, especially since he started in AA and moved up to the MLB by July. Kind of strange, hopefully they don’t sell low on the kid.
I was just thinking the same thing. He is 22 and I thought he did ok after being called up, especially considering the jump from starting the year at AA.
I was also thinking this. Oh well. We’ll see what happens.
Maybe they know something we dont.
Why are the Sox in a hurry to get rid of Doubront? What’s wrong with him?
No room? Unless he wants to be in the bullpen for the next 3 years.
But if that was the case, wouldn’t the Sox at least entertain offers for Kelly?
Even after those 3 years, Casey Kelly will be ready to come up and take over that 5th spot. You know we’ll tie up Buch and Lester for a long time. Bad contracts (this far) for Lackey and Beckett, but we’ll see what the future holds. Either way – we won’t ever get rid of Casey Kelly, Buch, or Lester. Lackey and Beck have untradeable contracts. I guess Doubront is our best pitcher that’s available, but man I really like the guy, he did great in his spot starts, and out of the bullpen he was our best LHP. We better sign Scott Downs if we dish Doubront. And if we dish Doubront, it better be in a deal for an Adrian Gonzalez type player, not the centerpiece, but we better get a big return.
I don’t think they are in a hurry to get rid of him, just that he is a trading chip they would prefer to part with over Kelly, Iglesias, Rizzo, etc.
And as Doubront is young, successful (in the minors), under control for a long time, MLB-ready, and left-handed, he might actual appeal to a lot of teams as well…
I’m pretty sure they would part with Doubront over Kelly and Iglesias.
Mazzaro PLUS a lower level prospect got the A’s one year of DeJesus. They are very similiar statistical pitchers with equal team control. Felix being a lefty may add a tad but now much becasue he also has some control issues. My point is he isnt a centerpiece to acquire any big bats; but rather a guy that can be moved to add a nice complimentary piece
Rosenthal’s assessment of the Brewer situation is the best I’ve read from any in the national media. That he mentions Gavin Floyd/Fielder as a possibility shows that he understands what the Brewers are looking for and it’s not Edwin Jackson.
The Brewers need to be careful not to put all of their eggs in the trade basket though. There are some realistic FA possibilities out there. If they can’t pull off a deal for at least a middle rotation starter, they’ll only be left with scraps in the FA market. Why they aren’t being mentioned as suitors for proven guys coming off injuries like Webb or Penny puzzles me somewhat. They did clear a lot of money off the books.
Would the brew crew really depart with Casey McGehee?? In a thin 3b market he might be able to bring back a pretty decent arm.
I’d throw in the extra prospects to try to get Danks instead of Floyd, though both are upgrades.
The Brewers have to be careful with free agent pitchers. They have historically thrown money at middle of the rotation starters that ultimately disappointed. They need to bring in pitchers that present upside instead of picking up pitchers who have already peaked. Higher end pitchers really aren’t available in free agency, unless they somehow have the budget for C. Lee (yet, can’t afford to sign Fielder). I do agree that someone like Brad Penny would be a low risk, high reward signing.
Theo tried that low risk, high reward with Penny…. it didn’t work out to well. Maybe it will in the NL though.
Cards probably don’t think so.
Had he stayed healthy he was in line for an excellent season.
AL East, let alone the AL in general, is much different than pitching in the NL Central.
If they traded Bruan the Atendence would drop to about 80% it would just remind us brewers fans of the days where are team is just a place for a owner to take the money and run
Brett Lawrie is a stud. If they both develop, him and Maybin at the top of the lineup would be absolutely amazing.
Not sure the Padres have the pitching to give up to get Lawrie. I’d want a hide upside player like Latos and the Padres would be fools to give up pitchers of that quality.
Padres have Castro and a bunch of younger guys in the lower minors who have upside like Sampson.
Brewers want and need guys ready to start next season. They have a ton of their own high upside guys in the minors – actually all throughout the minors. I don’t think Lawrie will be flipped for promising prospects in the lower levels.
Simon Castro for Lawrie is a very fair deal that could work for both teams. There’s probably no room in the rotation for Castro this year if the Padres sign a veteran to replace Garland.
Now I’m not as familiar with the Padres system, but isn’t Castro one of their better pitching prospects? Isn’t he supposed to be a notch below Latos in terms of potential? If so, they would be fools to trade him.
LATOS??? The only way that’s going to happen is if Ryan Braun is the return. The Padres will keep Latos up until they cannot afford him in the distant future, like every other good player SD has developed. Sad but true.
“a high upside pitcher LIKE Latos.” I never said they would trade Latos.
So if Prince Fielder and Gavin Floyd are a potential trade match, I wonder what else will have to be thrown into the deal.
Brewers’ system is thin in a few areas. They’d probably want an extra position player prospect thrown in. Another Venezuelan SS named Escobar perhaps?
I might be willing to part with Doubront if he was included in a package that gets the Sox Ethier, Kemp, or Grenkie.
I’m guessing the whole point of trading Doubront is because the Sox have rotation depth, so I doubt Grenkie would become a target.
Could throw Doubront + DiceK + Lowrie for Grienke. Frees up some room on the rotation for him, gives the Royals a young pitcher with an incredibly high ceiling that they can control for years to come, plus an MLB ready pitcher, plus an MLB ready middle infielder.
No way that get it done!!! The Royals will are only moving Greinke if they get blown away… The only reason they are willing to listen to offers is because after Lee there is a huge drop off in talent… If there is a team willing to over pay via tradding the top prospects for him then they might move him…
All I’m saying is that the Royals want a young pitcher with a high ceiling that they can control for years to come, which is basically what Doubront is. So he would be a centerpiece in the deal. I think you’re undervaluing Lowrie too. He’s much, much better than most people give him credit for. A switch hitting middle infielder with 20 HR potential (he hit 9 HR in 55 games/200 PA in 2010). He’ll hit around .280, when you’re looking at 2nd basemen and SS, he’s very good, just hasn’t had the chance to showcase his skills. I wouldn’t be surprised if Scutaro gets a little competition this year at SS if we don’t dish him.
If the Sox sign Brad Penny for let’s say $15mm then they could just add him to the deal and get the Royals’ top 3 prospects back as well.
Royals would hang up as fast as you can say Doubront… Kelly would have to be the centerpiece…Royals are looking to being blown away…
The problem is, while a package for any of those players might contain Doubront, the centerpiece will very likely have to be one of the players Epstein is dangling Doubront instead of (Kelly, Rizzo, Iglesias, etc.).
Aim a little lower…
I wasn’t saying he should be the centerpiece, but he’d be a good part of the package. I’d do a package of Rizzo, doubront, Reddick and maybe a guy like Stephen Fife for Ethier. I think that’s fair, they would get 3 of the Sox top 10 prospects.
“I’d do a package of Rizzo, doubront, Reddick and maybe a guy like Stephen Fife for Ethier. I think that’s fair, they would get 3 of the Sox top 10 prospects.”
So the Mets could trade Corey Vaughn, Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and maybe a guy like Dillon Gee for Ethier? Someone call Sandy Alderson and tell him the new rules for fair trades! Just any 3 of your top 10 prospects, no matter how good or bad your farm system is!
The Sox have a terrific farm system, Doubront and Reddick both are major league ready, and Rizzo is possibly one of the best first base prospects out there.
Reddick is a 4th OF on an good team. Not a lot of trade value. Look at it this way, the Sox are looking to acquire an OF via Free Agency….this should tell you and every other GM in baseball what they fell he is capable of. Picture Aaron Cunningham/Chris Denorfia type guy…..look at the stats
Given, Reddick hasn’t lived up to his hype, but a guy like Kalish is definitely ready and would start next year on most MLB rosters. He’s an absolute stud and hasn’t even gotten close to his potential. The guy has all-star written all over him. Canon for an arm, great defensively, he’ll be a 20+ HR guy with 20+ SB. I hope the Sox don’t dish him, and I really hope he gets a good bit of playing time this year for the Sox, even as a 4th OF if we sign Werth or Crawford. The guy is a player.
I remember hearing the same thing about David Murphy when he was coming up. Nice player but not all-star. Guy wouldnt start for most MLB teams….not sure where the 20 HR thing comes from, he hasn’t shown that sort of power at any level or even the 20 SB….that hasnt been shown either. Young and does possess upside but i think the only ones who see “all star written all over him” are Peter Gammons and Homer Sox fans. Which is fine
Kalish is projected to be at 20HR next year/43 SB on Fangraphs. He’s actually got a lot of speed, if anything, he’ll be more likely to hit the 43 SB mark as opposed to the 20HR next year. Either way, he does have a lot of pop to his bat, and will easily be good for 15 HR next year if he plays in the bigs. You gotta remember, the guy hit 4 HR last year in 53 games in the MLB, which is about 12-15 if he plays a full season. And he started in AA last year, so he’s got plenty of developing left to do.
You can’t use Sept/Oct batting stats at projections, after rosters expand pitching is too diluted to get an accurate depiction on MLB ability. I think we are in a new age of MLB where every team is going to have 40 SB guys….Hell the even the A’s have a couple. That says more about the quality of the MLB catching as to the talent of the player. I’m just responding to the comment “he has all star written all over him”…only way he is an all star is if the Sox fans stuff the ballot like they always do.
I guess that’s why the Sox didn’t have a starter on the all star team this year? I know you can’t use two months for projections, but you can use the Bill James projection of 20HR/43 SB, hitting about .275. That’s sneaking up on Carl Crawford numbers, who is a hands down all star. Crawford played 61 games in his first MLB season, hit .259 with 2 HR and 9 SB. Kalish played 53 games, hit .252, 4 HR, 10 SB. Crawford was 21, Kalish was 22. They’re incredibly similar.
Look at Chris Sheltons first 2 monhts of his career as well! I’m just saying he is anice player not elite and not going to get you anything as the centerpiece of any deal. Rizzo and Kelly are the only names that will get you anything of value these days
I’m a die hard Sox fan but Reddick isn’t going to be more than someones bottom of the lineup hitter if he’s not backing up outfielders.
Lets see I think Smoak, Hosmer, Montero are all better than Rizzo…
Lets see I think Smoak, Hosmer, Montero are all better than Rizzo…
Nobody is giving up anything of note for Reddick. Everyone knows who the Sox best prospects are at this point. Kelly, Rizzo, Kalish and Iglesias are the main guys that teams are interested in. There will be no discussion for Greinke unless 2 or three of those guys are in the discussion. Guys like Doubront and Reddick are oversold by Sox fans.
I know it says Bruan isn’t available. But let’s say Boston called up and said Kelley, Doubront and Jose Iglesias for Braun and Alcides Escobar. Who hangs up first?
I’d say the Brew Crew
Brewers!!!
That ringing in your ears is from the phone being slammed down by Doug Melvin. That package wouldn’t get you Escobar and McGehee much less Escobar and Braun.
Yeah…getting Braun would require Buchholz at the start of that package.
I was just curious what our top 2 non-major-league-ready players would warrant. Thanks for the input.
Brewers and it’s not even close.
“Who hangs up first?”
As others have said there are very real reasons that the Brewers are the correct answer. But I’m laughing at the image of the Red Sox calling teams, shouting a deal at them and then slamming the phone down in a giggling fit.
The Braves should get in on this and trade Jair Jurrjens, Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino for Casey MaGehee and Brett Lawrie. Put MaGehee in LF till Chip retires and Lawrie in LF.
I think the Braves and the Brewers are a great match, although I don’t think your idea would fly. For Casey, think Scottish – its Mc not Ma – McGehee.
I was looking right at his name and spelled it wrong lol!
The Sox seem to have a lot of extra prospects right now. If they sign Werth/Crawford, that leaves Kalish and Reddick completely unnecessary. If they trade for Adrian/Prince, that leaves Lars Anderson and Rizzo completely unnecessary. Do they need Casey Kelly, Michael Bowden, or Felix Doubront? No. They have 5 starters signed through the next two years. They really only need to hold onto Iglesias or an OF/1b if they don’t make a major move this year. At this point, it seems like they will make a major move in the FA market or trade market.
Kalish is takeing over for Drew when he leaves at the end of next season so Kalish has a spot. But I agree, if the sox sign Adrian Gonzalez next season then there is no use for Anderson and Rizzo so might as well use Rizzo as a trade chip after he had a killer season in the minors. Bowden and possibly Doubront are expendable but Kelly will be MLB ready in 2 season so he’ll take over for Dice-K. Then again, you can never have enough pitching
Overall, I agree, they have the expendable pieces to pull off a big trade,
Let’s face it, Adrian will either be traded this winter or by the deadline (unless the Pads are going to make the playoffs). Most likely, Rizzo and Kelly will be in that trade.
I don’t think Boston would give up their (arguably) top two prospects just to get Adrian half a year early.
Remind me why Rizzo or Anderson couldn’t DH? There is always a spot for talented affordable young hitters.
his name is kevin youkilis thats why thats if they resign beltre though other wise ur right give rizzo a shot lars anderson has been over hyped for to long now
Unfortunately many of those ‘extra prospects’ are quickly losing value as they are exposed at the major league level. Unless you want to count Kelly as a true blue-chipper, the Sox don’t have any one minor leaguer that could conceivably be considered the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade for a top young major league talent. So they’re not exactly going to be getting the Andre Ethiers or Ryan Brauns of the baseball world – their trade options are pretty much limited to guys that aren’t necessarily all that much better than what they already have on hand.
Quality over quantity always rules in the trade market. Right now, the Sox, like most farm systems, are much more heavily weighted towards quantity.
I would argue that Ryan Kalish could easily be dealt in a blockbuster trade. He would obviously have to be dealt with others, but he could definitely be the centerpiece in a trade for a team trying to get younger/cheaper. Kalish, Doubront, Rizzo, Kelly, I would throw in Westmoreland if he didn’t have to have that unfortunate surgery. But those 4/5 right there, I would say, are going to be above average to great players in the near future.
How did Kalish or Doubront lose value when exposed to the majors? While admittedly neither is a blue chipper both could be a centerpiece in a good deal. You can laugh if you want but Doubront is similar to Justin Masterson in that he has a ceiling as a #3 pitcher and can swing to the pen in a hurry. Masterson was the centerpiece of the VMart trade. Kalish won’t exactly be cranking out the home runs but he does have the potential to be a solid lead off hitter and defensive right fielder.
While any blockbuster, such as Prince or Gonzalez, would require Kelly to headline the deal, you can make the argument about any blockbuster and any team’s farm. Let’s say Grienke was available to the yanks, you don’t honestly believe that deal wouldn’t begin with Montero.
I dont… Royals dont need another DH…
I think AA should get in on this Lawrie buisness and send Brett Cecil over there for Lawrie, he’s got #2 upside in the NL and would be the #2 opening day next to Yovani and he’s controlable for a few more years. Great deal for both sides since the Jays were dreaming of Lawrie during the draft.
What’s his upside in the AL?
It’s hard to get a good read on Cecil, on stuff alone he’s probably a good 3 or 4 starter.. but perhaps because of his former experience as a closer he has developed a great mound presence and the ability to pitch in big games.
I mean he was
4-0 vs the yankees this year with a 2.67 era
in total 11-1 vs the AL east. He definitely had a break out year, I was pleasantly surprised with Cecil, and I don’t know if the Jays consider moving him at this point
they would have to send alot more than just cecil
not really.
Lawrie’s status is really up in the air. He might not be good enough to stick at any IF position and his bat doesn’t project to be anything special in a corner OF spot.
More then Cecil ? Good luck getting more then a # 2 guy for Lawrie. Cecil is pretty darn return which I think would only be possible given Toronto’s pitching depth. What other team could trade a guy who’s so cost controlled for so many years like that for a prospect ?
I meant a pretty darn good return. If the Brewers are looking for pitching thats mlb ready I would say Cecil is good, but obviously the list gets a lot longer of teams who match with them if they are looking for a prospect for prospect swap.
Hey Soxfans,
The new asking price for Adrian Gonzalez is Doubrant, Lowrie, Rizzo. Lets do this.