Even on Christmas, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe delivers his usual Sunday Baseball Notes column. This week, he runs down the best available players remaining on the free agent and trade markets at each position. Here are a few highlights from those lists and the rest of Cafardo's piece:
- The Red Sox and Angels are "keeping the dialogue open" with Ryan Madson.
- While many reports have indicated Hiroki Kuroda's willingness to play on the East Coast, the right-hander still has some desire to stay out west.
- The Marlins are being aggressive on Yoenis Cespedes, with the Nationals right behind them. Earlier this weekend, we heard there's some divide within the Marlins' front office on Cespedes.
- An AL GM on Joel Zumaya: "Our doctors don't think he would pass the physical based on what they see."
- The Rays are among the clubs that have talked to Francisco Cordero.
- Cafardo gets the feeling Matt Garza will be dealt, and warns not to rule out the Tigers.
Walt, please stay away from Cordero and his declining K rate.. If we do not sign him, the Reds will have 3 picks in the top 50 in next years draft and that is a great opportunity to re stock the farm system after the Latos trade. As far as the closer position, just sign Lidge for cheap and hope he’s 110% healthy.. Chapman may be a dark horse candidate for the 9th inning, we shall see how he fairs in the rotation. Other signings I would look at: K. Fukudome, Zumaya(if cheap and healthy)B Webb and who ever else they could get on a low risk/high reward signing
100% agree. I’m all for signing Lidge for less than 5M. He is very good when healthy.
i honestly don’t think lidge will take less than 5mm
That’s gonna be tough, because I doubt any team is gonna offer him 5M a year. Maybe over two years, though.
The only problem is, Lidge is a big “if”.
I mean the guy when healthy could be dominant, but a teaam like the Reds should pursue a sure thing and not some “if” player, in my opinion/.
But “sure things” cost $, which we don’t have. We have to take some risks to stay competitive and hope for the best. It really sucks to be a small market team, it’s just not fair. We develop all of the players, only to see them go off and play for the Yankees, Red Sox, etc…
As a yankee fan we are spoiled, and sometimes it sucks that we don’t get to see our players develop. But then again people would go crazy if the Yankees didn’t spend big, because of how much money fans invest into the team.
it’s nice to see that we’re not spending this season and let our players develop, that A rod contract dent their plans i guess lol
The Reds would take that A Rod contract anyday if that meant their payroll was 180M+/year. That kind of payroll allows the Yankees to compete every year, while small markets like the Reds and Rays have to develop players and take risks to have any chance to compete. Obviously if you have the opportunity to spend big bucks and get big names, you will. We just don’t have that opportunity to sign big stars. It’s really sad that we have to think that we could possibly lose our super star in Joey Votto.
From what i hear YES network is a goldmine, which enables them to outspend most teams except the RED SOX, their network probably brings in similar cash.
The Yankees spend more and still turn a bigger profit than any other team in baseball. Their advantage is huge but you can’t blame them for spending.
Well let’s hope Votto stays with the Reds, i’m sure if they offer him a reasonable amount of cash he will stay, they spent 60 million on Chapman so they do have money.
30M on Chapman*
I’m pretty sure the Yankees are holding out so they can go on a spending frenzy next offseason
Yeah i saw that somewhere, maybe that’s wheir plan. Normally yankees used to worry about NOW and worry about next year, if they don’t add a good pitcher, i find it hard for them to compete with the Rays, Sox , and Angels
The Sox? You mean like last year? Who did the Sox add to the rotation again?
When you have players like Ellsbury in Cf and Crawford in LF, then small man, Gonzalez, Ortiz, and Youk, you have a good team, and Lester and Josh is a good 1 2 combo. Crawford will have a way better year.
Right now the Rangers, Angels, Yanks, Sox, and Rays are the teams to beat for next year. You can throw in the Tigers.
I don’t think so, they are just trying to make the right deal. Some of the players that might be free agents like Cain, Hamels, and Shields might end up signing extensions. Garza will get a good offer from the Yanks, but it might not be what the Cubs want. I’d give Betances, Mitchell, and Laird to the Cubs for Garza. You won’t get four B prospects because he only has two years of control.
Their “holding out” because they had 97 wins last year and really dont have much to improve on.
I understand that historically the Yanks have been all about trading prospects and signing free agents but keep in mind that our starting 2B, SS, LF, probably 2 starting pitchers, closer and at least one (Robertson) and maybe two (Joba) major pieces of our bullpen are home grown. In addition, Granderson (IPK, Jackson), Logan (in Vazquez/Melky trade) and Swisher were acquired using prospects.
We also managed to integrate a few rookies this year too and looks to be the trend.
What Reds players have gone to the Yanks or Sox? Just wondering.
The bullpen is the easiest part of a team to configure. I’m shocked that aside from Chapman they don’t have other arms they could convert. Why were they not in on a guy like Broxton?
We simply don’t have the money to sign anybody that wants big bucks for multiple years. Once every 5 or so years we make a big splash, with the last one being Coco 4 years ago.
Yeah a 1 year/ 4 M deal with incentives would work
With the way the division is setting up, I think the marlins need Cespedes.
Good luck with that. Spending all that money based on a 20 minute video could backfire for a team.
You don’t think teams are scouting him? You don’t think he will hold workouts before he signs? I guess the same could be said about Darvish.
lol thats coming from a rangers fan, ur team just spent $50+ million just to talk to a guy who is basically playing against minor league talent in japan. that could backfire for a team.
His contract will be paid by the Cuban community that surrounds the new stadium. He is the fire that will light the Cuban baseball community ablaze. Get your pots and pans ready, Miami.
Do you really think they will only base their decision on a film, when they have visited multiple times already? Get a clue.
doesnt that 20 min video remind you of eastbound and downs kenny powers promo video
Pass, Pass and Pass
All 3 are for Cordero. I might really want a Rays move but not bad enough to want Cordero. Wouldn’t mind Zumaya on an incentive laden deal at all though.
How cute, the Natinals keep following the Marlins.
Enjoy paying Mark Buherle 19 million dollars in 2015 when the Marlins are following the Nationals in the standings. You know, that place where it counts?
Now now kiddies , its christmas , you can hate each other again on boxing day.
Rather overpay for a pitcher that can put the Phillies and Braves in their place than way overpaying for Jayson Worthless.
Man, things must be bad for Natinals fans if instead of saying next year they say three years from now.
Speaking of next year what the over/under on time spent on the DL for Reyes and Johnson?
I don’t know, but I will bet that combined they spend less time on the DL than Strasburg.
I think Strasburg should be fine, He looked great last year. I think the Marlins definitley got better. However, so did the Nationals. It will be interesting how the division plays out. Im not so sure that the Phillies are that much better than the rest of the division
Yea Phillies and Braves haven’t done anything this off-season. Marlins and Nats have added some nice pieces. Only the Mutts have gotten worse.
The Mets got worse? HA! So wrong. They got Jon Rauch. Come on, man. THE Jon Rauch!
The Nats can’t get both Prince Fielder and Yoenis cespedes
I agree about Fielder. Cespedes will be a Marlin.
Lerner can get whomever he wants, he’s loaded!
Yes. Garza to the Tigers makes perfect sense. They have depth in pitching and a deal around Turner and Smyly would be perfect for the Cubs.
Are you insane? A deal AROUND Turner AND Smyly for Matt Garza? Garza is a good pitcher, but the Cubs sure as hell aren’t getting two top prospects for him. What makes you think they could get two top prospects and other players?
If you think about it they would have no use for Turner and Smyly except in the bullpen. If they were willing to give up Turner and other top prospects for Gio, why not expect the same for Garza? Plus Garza has proven that he can pitch in the AL and really changed as a pitcher last year. Meaning he went to being a balanced pitcher instead of just reeling back and letting it all go. Garza is good and you’d get two years of him, Gio would have been four, but his walk rate( I believe it was a 4BB/9) was ridiculous and Garza would be the safer bet.
And I’m not saying a Garza for Turner Constenellos, Smyly, and Paulino. I’m saying a Turner, Smyly, and a couple of C prospects. That actually isn’t as much as some teams have given up for a proven #2 pitcher. Besides tha he’s also entering his prime and should be getting better in 2012 as well. I think everyone over values prospects to an extent, prospects are only prospects until they preform on the big stage.
Your chain of reasoning is resting on a faulty premise: “If [the Tigers] were willing to give up Turner and other top prsospects for Gio, why not expect the same for Garza?”
The Tigers WEREN’T willing to give up Turner, Smyly, or Castellanos for Gio Gonzales.
As for your contention that two years of Garza is equal to four years of Gio, c’mon son!
But he’s not saying Turner and Castellanos. Calm down. Turner, Smyly, and OF Garcia makes perfect sense. Think about your rotation Verlander, Garza, Scherzer, Fister, and Porcello. You don’t think you’re going to win the Central this year? You’re gonna need ALL the proven pitching to beat the likes of the Yankees, BoSox, Rangers, and Angels and go deep into the playoffs. Last time I checked you lost your last playoff game 15-5. Hmm…ummm…..yeah. Oh, and by the way, the reports out there were that the Tigers were willing to give up Turner and prospects for Gio. Nice revisionist history, though.
i wouldn’t do Turner straight up for Garza personally. Maybe a deal centered around Smyly but not Turner.
Well, unfortunately I don’t think the Tigers pitching prospects are that good behind Turner. I think if the Tigers want Garza, then they are going to have to give up Turner.
I’m sorry I didn’t word it to you liking but it was established that they were willing to trade Turner, just not Castellanos.
Pitching market has been inflated with the Latos and Gio trades.
that doesn’t matter, Turner is better than every prospect dealt so far this off season and Garza is probably the worst pitcher of the group of Cahill, Gonzalez, Latos, Garza, Shields
It does matter. GM’s will say look how much other teams were willing to pay for pitchers and come back at other teams saying they want more. They only overpaid because a lot of teams really need pitching and wanted to make sure they got it. The Latos and Gio trades set the bar higher.
Maybe in the sense of team control, but Garza is a better pitcher than Gonzalez, Cahill, and is just as good if not better than Latos. Your naming all these pitchers who play in the best pitchers ballparks in baseball, while Garza played in more of a hitter friendly enviroment. They should be able to get Turner, Smyly, and maybe a C guy back.
The key here is that Garza only has 2 years of control, thats half of what Gio had. I would think that 2 B prospects should get the deal done, or a B and 3 Cs.
Oh God I hope the Tigers dont trade for Garza so bad. Unless the Cubs want Smyly or Andy Oliver, Id be down, but not Turner or Castellanos
I do understand that a trade for Turner would tick off alot of Tigers fans, but he isn’t a sure thing anything can happen. He could become the next Matt Garza or the next Matt Cain or he could become the next Jeff Samardjza or the next A.J Burnett. Plus the Cubs wouldn’t as for Castellanos so you wouldn’t have to worry about that.
as an angels fan,i will blow my load if the angels sign madson to a 4 yr 30+million deal.