The Rockies' aggressiveness in their pursuit of Jamey Carroll could indicate that they're ready to make some bold moves this winter, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. The team even offered the veteran a multi-year deal, according to a source with direct knowledge of the talks, even though they clearly preferred the 37-year-old on a one-year contract. After losing out on Carroll to the Twins, what might come next for the Rockies?..
- Going after Braves' Martin Prado in a trade makes sense for the club and Atlanta likes outfielder Seth Smith. However, the Braves will require another piece, preferably a center fielder. Trade talks could pick up steam at this week's general managers meetings if the Rockies are willing to include Tim Wheeler or Charlie Blackmon.
- Center fielder Grady Sizemore obviously represents a considerable risk but the 29-year-old is looking to restore his value and would likely take a one-year deal. Coors Field would enticing in that scenario for both parties, Renck writes.
- The club has urgency to add a starter this winter but they're not desperate. One big reason for that is the miraculous recovery of Juan Nicasio. Those watching his bullpen sessions in the Dominican Republic say they can't tell he was even injured. This means that the Rockies will focus on an landing an impact starter rather than someone to keep the seat warm for Nicasio and Jorge De La Rosa.
- The Phillies' signing of Jonathan Papelbon unclogs the closers market and Ryan Madson will likely be the next to sign. As more closers find their homes, Huston Street's future should become clearer. Street is a potential one-year fit for a team that doesn't want to shell out a multi-year deal for a closer.
- A name that pops up regarding the Rockies' third base situation is Chase Headley of the Padres. The Rockies tried to acquire him last summer but the Padres weren't interested in moving him. San Diego remains uninterested in dealing the 27-year-old.
The Phillies' signing of Jonathan Papelbon for four years and $50 million unclogs the closers' market. Ryan Madson will likely be the next to sign. As the chairs begin to fill, Huston Street's future should become clearer. He represents a potential one-season fit for a team not eyeing a multiyear deal for a closer
Seth Smith is a decent player, but I would rather the Braves keep Prado.
Agree. Just having Smith wouldn’t really improve the team. But I expect Wren to add another guy this offseason.
Prado is a decent player, but I’d rather the Rockies keep Smith and Wheeler (Blackmon, I’d be willing to part with, however).
especially since Marin Prado’s BA of .260 is skew. Fro example his BABIP was .266 compared to last years .335 and the year before’s .331. HIs XBABIP for this year was .299 for a differential of .24 points. However when you look at his batted balls he hit more FB and less LD, and the same amount of GB as the last two years. Therefore he had a BA that does not reflect his skill.
Agree. I can’t believe the Rockies would even make a ridiculous offer of Smith alone for Prado. The Braves needs are shortstop, utility infielder, backup CF, and right handed left fielder. He is none of those, and the 2M saved by trading Prado for Smith will get the Braves none of those things.
Technically, we don’t know if the offer was Smith for Prado straight up, but I agree with everything else. I don’t think Smith is a very good fit, either.
i really don’t understand the point of trading prado unless the braves get something great in return. jj needs to be traded to free up space for the younger pitchers, but that is far from the case with prado. i’m anxious to see what happens at the gm meetings
So a package deal from the Rockies for Prado and JJ? Smith, Blackmon, Wigginton, and a couple good pitching prospects?
I’d rather have quality over quantity, especially since the Braves really only have two positions they can add someone, one of which is SS. A LFer that can hit lefties is the main need right now (if they’re really trading Prado). They’ve already got a boatload of pitching prospects, but really could use someone to take over for Chipper at 3B. If you’re a club looking to win now, it really only makes sense to trade away two starters if you’re noticeably improving the club. Wiggy’s pretty useless, Smith can’t hit lefties, and Blackmon… well, I actually kind of like Blackmon. The Braves just don’t have room on the roster for a large (or semi-large) package of average/good players, though. They’re looking to upgrade, not maintain the status quo while crowding the roster.
Ugh, how about no. JJ/Prado/Randall Delgado for Wheeler and Arenado. The Braves need a young 3B prospect and a non left handed hitting outfielder.
Ugh, how about no. Prado/Todd Redmond for Blackmon and Wheeler.
I’m guessing you have no idea who Nolan Arenado is. He’s one of the top prospects in baseball.
Okay, I meant ugh no, you aren’t getting Randall Delgado.
I’m a Braves fan, not a Rockies fan.
Okay. :] Still.
“I’m guessing you have no idea who Nolan Arenado is. He’s one of the top prospects in baseball.”
Which is exactly why you’re not getting him for Martin Prado.
Arenado is untouchable. I could only imagine that he’s a top 20 prospect now, and he plays 3B, a position the rockies have a deep hole in
I know that Arenado is “untouchable”….so is Randall Delgado from the Braves.
In the Baseball America mid-season prospect rankings, Arenado was the #2 3B and Delgado was the #18 RHP. I’m not sure what Delgado has done since then (July 7), but I know Arenado’s value has skyrocketed. Not quite what I’d be looking for if I was the Rockies’ GM, especially considering the huge hole the Rockies have at 3B right now.
Since July 7th Delgado has pitched in 7 major league games. He had a 2.83 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. This was done in the heat of a playoff race and after only having pitched in 21 innings at AAA. I would say that he raised his stock considerably too.
He did have solid numbers, but that was more luck than anything. His BABIP against was .220, his strand rate was 86.5%, he had a low K rate, his FIP was 5.14 and his SIERA was 5.12.
You’re aware that Wheeler hits from the left side, aren’t you?
According to fangraphs he is a switch-hitter.
baseball-reference lists him as left-handed. Wonder what’s up with that?
Your comment made me double-check what I already knew was true. :-)
Every other web site I looked at (outside of fangraphs) lists him as hitting from the left side.
Ok, fair enough. I just don’t see the Braves matching up with the Rockies at all then.
I’m starting to think the same. Maybe there’s a fit for Jurrjens in trade for some positional prospects instead of a swap involving Prado?
I think that would make the most sense too. Jurrjens is totally expendable for the Braves. They have SP prospects sitting at AAA that would be starting for the majority of other teams in MLB.
Ugh…as a Rockies fan, I’m so tired of the same song and dance this time of year…the Rockies are pursuing so and so, the Rockies were in on so and so…the result is always the same; standing pat and doing absolutely nothing to improve the ball club…hanging on to home-grown players until their value is non-existent…O’Dowd isn’t the magician he is made out to be in some circles…I’m a strong believer in that I think he’s done more to hurt the club that help it…maybe I’m in the minority…
I’m agreeing with you about hearing the “same song and dance”. Prado I think would be a good fit. Trade Smith, and I don’t even know who this Wheeler person is. Arenado and Blackmon shouldn’t even be considered. Maybe package Fowler or EY Jr. (he can’t play to save his life). Sign Sizemore, a decent starting pitcher (doesn’t even have to be a big name), and find someone to play 3B.
You’d seriously trade Fowler instead of Blackmon? Seriously?
Rockies looking to upgrade LF, and Angels looking to upgrade at C.
Sure, when you let good players leave you already had.
Being a fan is tough, alot of the time you’re just sucking on it.
I don’t think the Rockies are looking to upgrade LF
I think they should be. Smith simply cannot cover the necessary ground at Coors. He might be okay with other parks as his home field but this isn’t the place for him.
Smith plays RF, Cargo plays LF
The plan is to move Cargo to right next season.
That was the plan early in the season, but CarGo played RF from early August to the end of the year and spent a chunk of the middle of the season in CF while Fowler was in AAA.
I know that Tracy would *like* to have him in LF, and they may go after a RF to make that possible.
A better way to put it is to simply say the Rockies are looking to upgrade at a corner OF spot. However, doing so is behind 2B and SP on the to-do list.
I agree. O’Dowd’s failure to identify and move more than a handful of players before their production collapsed is a big reason why the team has hardly any good prospects. O’Dowd often gets a pass by fans because he drafted Tulo and managed to get Cargo in the Holliday trade, but aside from that he hasn’t really done much.
He’s also gotten Jorge de la Rosa for scraps, and allegedly (time will tell) got two studs for Ubaldo.
And two very valuable seasons of Jason Hammel for a A ball prospect
If Wheeler is traded to the Braves for Prado then we better get a good pitching prospect back too. Wheeler is legit.
He’s had one very good year at AA. Not sure the Braves feel compelled to give up more than a solid major league second-baseman for that.
So Wheeler for Prado, straight up?
Hardly. I wasn’t trying to imply that at all. I was merely pointing out the absurdity of asking the Braves to include anything to get a AA prospect that had one good year.
Something else would have to go with him to get Prado, whether Smith or something else, I couldn’t say.
Wheeler had a good year at AA but he is 23 already.
I wonder if Seth Smith can be converted to 1B. His OF fielding gets worse every year.
I don’t think Smith has ever played 1B. If he has, I’m not aware of it.
With Cook’s option being declined, and Helton’s restructured deal taking effect next year, O’Dowd will certainly have more money to play with this winter than in most.
We’ll see how “bold” he is over the next month or so, but I hope he doesn’t do something ill-advised just for the sake of doing SOMETHING.
Atlanta isn’t even looking at Seth Smith, Much less “like him”. Smith is the worst fit I have seen for the Braves. Smith is LHed, and really stinks at hitting LHed pitching. Braves are too LHed already and were terrible against LHers. We need a big RHed/SH bat, that is better than Prado for LF. Smith is not near as good as Prado( his numbers away from Coors filed are worse).
Only way Braves need Smith is if he is a throw in with Arenado. So, Blackmon and Arenado for Prado? Close or not for Rockies… Not sure but that is about all that makes sense for Braves.
That’s even worse then the guy who mentioned the Tulo to the Yankees deal. Arenado is not available, especially for Martin Prado.
Naaaa.. definitely not worse than the Tulo deal.
Prado was an all-star 2B, who received MVP votes in 2010. From 2008 thru 2010 Prado’s OPS was 810+. If Arenado is not going anywhere thats OK, but Prado has lots of value, esp at 2B/3B. I think Braves have him out of place in LF.
Seriously?
I have always defended Frank Wren but this smells like a desperation move. You don’t trade young middle infielders for platoon outfielders who have played their career at COORS FIELD!! Smith’s Coors Field HRs will die in CF at Turner Field.
I do think Smith’s power would suffer away from Coors, but in the last couple of years I have seen him hit some of the hardest balls I’ve ever seen, and I’m in my early 40s. He hit one off the upper deck facing above the visitor’s bullpen this year that was simply unthinkable if I hadn’t watched it happen.
Also, I honestly think his average would go UP, believe it or not. When the Rockies go on the road they have to make more adjustments due to increased pitched ball movement than any other club in baseball.
You act like a trade has already been moved. Wren isnt going to move Prado for a platoon OF’r. Calm yourself.
I thought Frank Wren traded young middle IF for an Aging veteran and a few high A prospects
Wigginton was also an All-Star in 2010. Just sayin’… :-)
From the Rockies perspective, I’m not sure I get it. In a vaccuum, Prado could fill a big hole at 2b or 3b, but trading Smith would open up a new one and trading away a prospect on top of that…
The only way this makes sense is if the Rockies find someone to play RF–I don’t think that is Prado. What am I missing?
Sizemore anyone? I’d prefer a RHed bat has a chance to bounce back.
I kind of go back and forth on Sizemore. He only makes sense to me if the Rockies fill another hole by trading Smith.
Easier to find a productive corner OF than a productive 2B. From that perspective it makes all the sense in the world.
You are right about that. That’s why it stupid for the Braves to trade Martin Prado for a corner outfielder (and not even a good one at that).
If the Braves want a corner OF they can just sign Sizemore themselves. That’s why they need a lot more than Seth Smith for Prado.
I agree that what I have read/heard makes no sense for the Braves, UNLESS they make follow-up moves in back of a deal that involves Smith and Prado changing teams.
If the Braves are serious about moving Prado and Jurrjens then O’Dowd needs to really investigate that and see if what Wren is asking for makes sense.
I guess the bottom line for me (as a Rockies’s fan) is that I don’t see this deal making sense on the Braves’s side of it UNLESS they are going to then make another move to get themselves a RH bat to play LF.
On Atlanta’s side, while Prado has value he isn’t really a LF and he won’t get much playing time at 2B or 3B (as long as Chipper is healthy). I see the logic behind them looking into moving him if they can get value for him.
Cole Garner or Jordan Pacheco make any sense for Atlanta? How about Josh Fields?
I would love Garner to get another crack. The kid played well before getting dinged up. Small sample size at MLB level I know but if Smith is to go he should get a serious look in spring training.
Cole Garner isn’t the answer. He’ll be 27 at the start of next season and his only good numbers in the minors have come in Colorado Springs, which makes Coors Field look like Petco.
I never said he was the answer but if Smith is sent to ATL or anywhere else for that matter and no one else is brought in to play left then he should get a shot come march to get his RHed bat in the order.
If Seth Smith is traded, and the Rox don’t sign Sizemore (and I doubt they do, but who knows), Charlie Blackmon is probably your LF going into next season, not Cole Garner. Garner, however, probably takes over the 5th OF spot.
Anyone think Huston Street may be a good fit for the Red Sox in a trade? With him and Bard together, that’s decent and cheap for a closer role.
There was a comment earlier today on the Denver Post web site about Street. The poster was of the opinion that the Rockies were probably going to wait until the free agent market for closers was basically wrapped up and then try to move Street to a team that missed out in that arena. Made sense to me.
Hmm interesting thought. Don’t know what the Sox would have to offer back but I can see your thinking.
Toronto might be a good fit considering how shocked they are by the open market price
Am I the only one who finds the last bullet point to be completely pointless (no pun intended)? Does it really matter if the Rockies (or any other team for that matter) are interested in Headley if the Padres have no interest in or intention of moving him?
I don’t know that they have zero interest in moving him(they are stupid if that is true, they have 3 up and coming 3B on a rebuilding team that could better spend his salary on international signings