Between baseball's two Central divisions, at least six teams figure to be buyers, and more could emerge depending on how the coming weeks play out. The White Sox, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Pirates, and Cardinals could all add pieces prior to July 31, and here are some links pertaining to those clubs…
- The Tigers are telling teams that top prospect Nick Castellanos is unavailable in any trade "at least right now," according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports echoes that sentiment, tweeting that he'd be "very surprised" if the Tigers move Castellanos for a rental (Twitter link).
- The Cardinals were one of the teams in on Ben Sheets prior to his signing with the Braves, tweets Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who adds that the Cards continue to look for upgrades to their rotation.
- Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller has struggled in 2012, but B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest quotes GM John Mozeliak as saying, "Clearly we're still very high on him" (Twitter link).
- The Indians announced that Trevor Crowe has been released from Triple-A Columbus (on Twitter). The former No. 14 overall pick is now 28 years old and has managed just a .736 OPS in parts of five Triple-A seasons. He batted .245/.295/.329 in three Major League stints.
I really don’t understand why everyone thinks their average players are worth Castellanos. Hamels is, but he’s a rental. Garza isn’t, he’s a mid rotation starter who’s inconsistent.
It’s what the market has set as the price. Two seasons ago, the Rangers traded a top 12 prospect, Justin Smoak, plus more for half a season of Cliff Lee. Last season, the Giants traded a top 10 prospect, Zach Wheeler, for half a season of Carlos Beltran. The past 18 months have seen pretty good players with 1.5-2.5 years of control like Ubaldo Jimenez, Gio Gonzalez, Mat Latos, Matt Garza and Hunter Pence all traded for multiple top 100 prospects plus others. I know Tiger fans don’t want to hear it, but your system is currently thin and Castellanos is one of your only trade chips. If you want to add more than a utility type of player at the deadline, it will most likely cost you Nick C.
Thin? We just had 3 players in the Futures game. The Tigers system has more than you think.
Yes, thin. After Castellanos and Turner, you don’t have many trade chips. A package centered around Castellanos could get you a cost controlled, above average player or very good rental. A package around Turner could get you an above average rental. The rest of your system would only bring back utility players or middle relievers.
Really, so what would you call the Fister deal of last year then. We traded 4 mid prospects for him and Pauley. The teams you mentioned, Giants and Indians, were both desperate teams. The Tigers are not desperate and could easily make an WS run with what they have. DD is a smart GM and will bring in a Drew/Quentin/Dempster player while giving up a package centered or combining around Brantley/Rondon/Crosby/Garcia. Turner may be traded but it’ll be for more than an “above average rental”. The only way Castellanos is traded is if it’s for a controlled star ie Upton/Castro. In all honesty I could see a Upton/Drew/Roberts trade for Castellanos/Turner/Boesch package.
I’m not saying you should trade him. I’m a prospect hound and probably wouldn’t want my team to make that trade. However, if you want to get a player like Hamels or Greinke back in return, then you will need to include a player like Castellanos. If you want to get a pitcher with cost controlled seasons left like Garza or Shields you will need to include Castellanos or Turner and your next 3 or 4 best prospects. This is what the market has shown to be the cost for these type of players. If you want a player like Upton, it will cost you Castellanos, Turner and probably 2-3 more of your top 7 prospects. You may not like it or agree with it, but look back at the last 24 months of trades and you will clearly see what it will take.
Players are not worth as much now with the new CBA. The only reason players netted so much before was because teams could recover draft picks.
Bwahaha. Prepare to be disappointed.
Tiger system is thin, have followed them and their minor league teams for a while. Bottom third of baseball as far as Milb talent level.
Castellanos will not be moved for a rental. If it is a higher end player signed for longer than this season, any thing is possible.