Rockies outfielder Seth Smith remains a coveted trade chip, though the Braves’ interest in him has cooled, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reported yesterday. The Rockies would like to trade Smith for a back-of-the-rotation starter or a second baseman, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes.
The Rays are not in the hunt for Smith, though the Rockies covet Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann, Renck reported. The Athletics and Mariners have interest in Smith, according to Rosenthal, who reported along with Jon Paul Morosi last month that the Mets have expressed interest as well. Rosenthal now adds the Indians and Red Sox to the list of teams that have shown at least some interest in Smith.
Smith, a left-handed hitter, posted a .284/.347/.483 line with 15 homers in 533 plate appearances this past season, playing left and right field. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz estimates a 2012 salary of $2.6MM for the 29-year-old via the arbitration process. He’ll remain under team control through 2014.
Why on earth would the Indians want Seth Smith? Don’t they have enough lefties that can’t hit same handed pitching? I see no reason for them to give up anything of value for Smith as he wouldn’t exactly help out the team that much.
Jason Vargas?
Atlanta doesnt need smith, we just need to get a ross or scott and resign wilson and wait it out till the all star break.
Totally agree. I really want the Braves to sign Ross and either Wilson or Theriot. Keep Jurrjens and let him prove he is healthy so that he builds his value back up.
Theriot isn’t going to happen. We’re in on Pastornicky too much to think we need someone as good (read: expensive) as Theriot to be a back-up.
I think Wilson will be probable, and I really like his defense. He sucks at the plate, but he wasn’t in significant enough of a role last year for me to notice.
I guess that I see the appeal of Seth Smith, but does anybody really covet him? If you ranked MLB outfielders he wouldn’t even crack the top 40.
He’s pretty damn good if you ask me… Room for improvement too. Every team has a lefty masher that they can platoon him with and make up a real solid LF or RF.
I agree with that. Teams may “covet” him but they probably only want to give up what he is worth…a couple of B prospects.
And of course we finally find a team that really wants Neimann or Davis and there seems to be no match at all.
It wouldn’t be that hard at all. Every team in the East seems to be searching for one more starter, the Tigers want a solid #4, Phillies may want a young, cheap replacement for Oswalt, and I’m sure Arizona and other contenders wouldn’t mind getting a solid #4-5. There’s plenty of teams out there.
I’m not convinced “really wants” and “Davis” ought to appear within the same sentence. Neimann, possibly, though.
So glad to see that talks have cooled between the Braves and Rockies . Smith just was not a fit in our OF .
Couldn’t Prado put up very, very similar numbers? Not only that…he plays more positions. I simply don’t get the Seth Smith stuff.
Smith has a handful of HRs more than Prado, but Prado has better numbers outside that and backs up Jones at 3B. Smith isn’t a great defender – thus the 4th OF role in COL – and doesn’t hit LHP well…which is what ATL needs to improve upon. He’d merely prove to be a platoon with Matt Diaz, which is a terrible LF scenario for a “contender”. Frankly, I can’t see them trading for this.
It’s hilarious that with nothing happening Seth Smith is a “coveted trade chip”. Please stop connecting him with ATL. It feels like COL is really trying to push him as the centerpiece to a larger deal, which should never happen. Man, this hot stove needs to heat up so we can move on to bigger free agents than Seth Smith.
Seth is a solid 4th OF for a good team and possibly a solid 3rd OF for a below average team. That is neither glowing praise or condemnation. A few years back I remember Spilborghs being in the same situation. He’s probably not worth a 2B that is better than what the Rockies already have, but he is not a commodity to just dump for some low grade prospect to fill out a AAA roster.
I can see this ending up as a non move over the winter and maybe if he is playing well gets moved near the deadline to a contender who needs a 4th OF/PH or an injury replacement.
Really, as much as ATL fans think he’s overrated (I agree not worth Prado) he isn’t some scrub either.
He isn’t a scrub…there’s a reason he’s getting so much attention. He’s not being paid all that much for his production and should be worth more than his pay while possibly having an even better season. However, you said it best, “for an average team”. ATL isn’t average and we wouldn’t be moving Prado if we had another position outside SS we could get power in. I still feel like COL could get much more from someone other than ATL – that actually needs him.
Unless the Red Sox are planning on having every left handed hitting outfielder on the team I don’t see why they’re interested.
The Sox are not interested. I’m sure they’ve kicked the tires, as they do on anyone and everyone available. But having just acquired Ryan Sweeney, who provides essentially what Smith does, at least with respect to batting against righties, as well as a +9 UZR/150 in right field, there’s no way in hell that Cheri would tap further into our farm system to acquire Smith.
You guys are under-valuing Smith IMO. He’s improved in EVERY season he’s played and the guy DOES NOT SLUMP. He hit .290-.280 all year long in 2011. What’s more had his power numbers not dropped off he was on track to hit something like 24 HR when the all-star game came.
I believe that given his gradual improvement that he’s a lock to hit 20 HR this year and should have no problem hitting .280 or better again. If I were the Rockies I would NOT trade him unless I was blown away. He’s cheap and under team control. They can’t afford to trade him.
How can they not afford to trade him? Cargo/dex/Cuddy will be the everyday guys along with having Blackmon back as the 4th OFer and Wheeler on his way. Not to mention EYJ will probably be with the club come April unless he gets beat out at 2B which is wide open at the moment. Can’t forget Colvin either.
Smith is the Rox most expendable piece right now.
So the 3rd best hitter on the team last season is expendable? No… I DO NOT trust Dex, as he has never played a full season of good baseball and EY and the other youngsters are HORRIBLE.
YES he is because he is basically the only available Rockie with value. Also, his playing time is gone with the Cuddyer signing. Compare Smith’s second half with Dex’s. Or their numbers vs. LH pitching. Smith is the definition of a platoon player. Even if you don’t believe in Fowler, the front office does and is buying into him as the everyday CFer, so get used to that one.
Blackmon is far from awful. EYJ and Colvin are not good but that’s the reason there is no buzz around them. Smith has trade value and the Rox have other areas that need to be attended to and desperately. Blackmon/Colvin will get the job done as the 4th OFer.
AND Smith is liability on defense, which is a big one reason why Tracy was hesitant to play him full time.
Trading Smith for a starting pitcher or 2bman is what has to happen for the Rox to have chance to contend in 2012.
I would like to see the Indians try to get him. He could be the every day left fielder and then they could move Michael Brantley to the back up outfielder or center if Grady gets hurt again. If they’re not gonna get another first baseman they should still try to get a good hitter.
You know , Seth Smith is not a bad player and is worth more in value than his contract . The only problem from the Braves perspective is that we don’t need another LH hitter who can’t hit LH pitching . He would well be worth the trade for a predominately RH batting team , which the Braves are not . Both sides , Braves and Rockies fans , have argued over this matter a lot over the last month or so . But where a Smith for Prado deal would actually hurt the Braves , it would indeed help the Rockies . We trade Prado , we trade a RH bat who has in the past done fairly well against lefties while also losing a backup to 2 other position if Chipper or Uggla down . And in a division that has some really good LHed pitching in Lee , Hammels , Santana , G. Gonzalez , Lannan and Buerhle , Smith would be less effective for the Braves than Prado . But for the Rockies , they get an everyday 3rd or 2nd baseman who is gonna hit 15-20 HR’s at Coor’s Field and hit around .290+ and play better than average D while providing a good OBP and not striking out a lot . And the Rockies absense of Smith will not be missed as Prado’s would be in Atlanta . Especially with added depth in the OF with guys like Blackmon and Wheeler . So why the Rockies GM hasn’t offered one of Wheeler or Blackmon with Smith kinda hasn’t made sense .