In today's column, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the Pirates should go all in and trade for either Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke or Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. Rosenthal notes that the Bucs have the 11th-ranked farm system in the majors and enough young talent to pull off a trade without including Jameson Taillon or Gerrit Cole. Pittsburgh's pitching has been strong this year and the team is currently focusing on boosting their offense, but finding a hitter who could make an impact on the level of Greinke or Hamels would be a challenge. Here's more from Rosenthal..
- The Padres are drawing serious interest in third baseman Chase Headley, but one rival exec wonders how could the team trade Headley without knowing the future of left fielder Carlos Quentin. The club could potentially move both and replace Headley with top infield prospect Jedd Gyorko, but that would leave them flat offensively in 2013.
- Some execs wonder if the Angels might try to add one of the elite starters on the block due to the recent struggles of Dan Haren and Ervin Santana. The chances appear remote, however, as the Halos' farm system isn’t deep and sources say GM Jerry Dipoto is adamant about keeping right-hander Garrett Richards as a future low-cost option.
- Even before the Phillies began calling teams about Cole Hamels, it was obvious that they wouldn't be buyers. “Their scouts are not out there banging,” a rival exec said. “They’re usually out there banging by this time. They’re playing it more conservative.”
- The GM carousel could pick up again this year. The Rockies, Mariners, and Braves could all be compelled to make changes while the Dodgers and Padres are under new ownership. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti is reportedly in the final year of his contract while the Padres’ Josh Byrnes has four years left.
- Sellers should target teams who are under a great deal of pressure to win such as the Braves, Red Sox, Marlins, Tigers, and Angels. The Yankees now work to take emotion out of the equation when surveying the trade market but they could feel added stress if they start to see another AL East club as a threat.
- Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz is out-of-options and could draw interest at the deadline. Schierholtz is hitting .248/.314/.400 with three homers in 140 plate appearances.
I like Ken Rosenthal 🙂
Agreed that they can probably get one of those two without giving up one of the big two, and they should be open to trading anyone else in the system for the right deal.
i would be so pumped if the Pirates land Greinke or Hamels for prospects not named Cole or Taillon. 😀
So would I. Let’s not hold our breathe though.
I thought “going all in” meant you were addressing, at least in part, your weakness, not your 5th-ranked pitching staff. And based on Greinke’s peculiarities (to put it nicely) and Hamels outspokenness, it’s not a sure-thing that they’d even want to pitch in the PIT.
When you’re voted on as the “worst franchise in American sports” of course you’re going to have a rich farm system because of all the high picks. Even a horse finds water. I’m shocked that they have the 11th-ranked – I’d think it’d be higher with all those top picks.
What if they acquire Greinke/ Hamels and then trade him to another team for a top hitter?
I don’t know if Burnett and McDonald can hold up, but the offense sans-McCutchen is pathetic. Jose Tabata and Clint Barmes would have more value if they just jumped off a cliff.
Teams that are in contention and want a top pitcher like Greinke or Hamels aren’t going to give up a top hitter to get them. You’re either buyers or sellers.
Teams usually don’t like to trade within division unless the deal is outstanding. So Hamels would probably be the guy. But as a Brewers fan, I’d like the Pirates (though I very much dislike jeff karstens) to win this year if the Brewers don’t pull out a miracle. So seeing Greinke in black and yellow wouldn’t sting as much.
Carlos Quentin to the Mets would be such a good move.
I think Quentin would have the biggest impact on the Indians. They are in desperate need of a right handed power bat.
Their farm system is awful though, considering the Giants gave up Wheeler for Beltran last year and solid pieces that the Orioles gave for the a 40 year old Jim Thome, I’m not sure the Indians have the pieces to make a trade for Quentin considering Lindor would be off the table. Wolters and a lesser prospect perhaps?
Indians farm system isn’t awful, it is loaded with high risk high potential guys in the low minors.
If the Indians don’t make a deal soon for a RH hitter, they’ll need to get back to Guerrero, or Detroit will methinks.
Pittsburgh needs bats really bad, that’s what I’d be after. I honestly don’t thing greinke leaves Milwaukee and Hamels is going to take 3 a-type prospects to land.
I would love to see the Pirates land Grienke because they have a chance to be able to sign him long-term because no one sees him as a large market pitcher.
Trading away future pieces for Hamels would be a mistake because he is going to want 100m+ and has LA Dodgers written all over him.
I didn’t realize the Braves were under great pressure to win.
I think they meant Fredi Gonzalez and Frank Wren than actually the Braves. We still have a young team with a lot of money coming off the books and the only real pressure is trying to see Chipper off with a ring. It’s not like we’re the Phillies and have a team of aging vets with expiring contracts and the win-now approach.
yeah but Marte would go and I’d hate to lose another McCutchen type player. Can you imagine two Cutches strolling the outfield?!
I think Grossman could be subbed for Marte. Or Bell if healthy.
plus NH has already said he doesnt want to trade for a rental player
Exactly. Hamels and Greinke are precisely that. Everybody still says the Pirates need a bat, and sure they do, but is it really as desperately needed as it was two months ago? They just lead the NL in runs scored in June and tied the franchise record for HRs in a single month.
Bedard has crashed back to Earth since a stellar start, Correia is still taking the mound every 5th day, and Karstens has had one good, one bad start since returning from the DL. The bullpen has also started to show a couple of weaknesses (Resop, Watson). As of today, shoring up the pitching issues might be a better move than a stick.
I’d love to see them add a name like Greinke or Hamels, but at the same time I’d really love to see players like Marte, Bell, and Heredia eventually play for the Bucs. Maybe I’ll be way off on this, but I think Heredia may end up being better than Cole and Taillon when all is said and done.
Greinke to Pirates? Never going to happen. By the time the Brewers finish playing said Pirates at home right after the break, it’s possible the Brewers will be within 3 games of them. Furthermore, Melvin has a policy against trading within the division. It’s not like there won’t be other bidders should it come to that.
I dunno, they lost 2 of 3 to said Pirates last time they played them at home.
Are you trolling Pirates fans or just in denial that the Buccos are better than the Brewcrew this year? You can’t guarantee a sweep over the Pirates anymore.
Or 3 games further back.
Is that the same policy that prevented McGehee for Veras this past offseason?
hamels to the angels
PIT and MIL are in the same division. PIT is going to have to overpay an already steep price to make MIL interested.
Do the Padres really need more prospects? seems like all they do is add prospects every year and with that the product they put on the field is less watchable every year. If they do trade Headley throw in his buddy Hundley too he is No bueno
Padres Headley and Phils Hamels in three way trade? Phils get Headley and a top prospect as well as others, Team X gets Hamels and the Padres are given a top prospects from both teams.
“Dodgers GM Ned Colletti is reportedly in the final year of his contract” that sounds SOOOOOOO GOOD!!
Trading for an expensive short-term rent-player for quality minor league potential is going against the model of successful small market franchises. These are the types of trades that seem like good ideas on the surface, but usually leave teams (like the Pirates) worse off in the long term- setting the franchise further behind had the trade not been made. I think that the best route to take might be as Huntington had done last season- acquire major league talent (Derrek Lee/ Ryan Ludwick) at prices that have minimal impact upon future potential.
Trade Quentin, keep headley, simple.
Keep Quentin, trade Headley (especially with Gyorko in the wings) simple. Who do we have that can replace Quentin’s offensive prowess?
Why would keep Headley when you have a stack of 3b behind him, and he is more valuable. If you keep Quentin, thats fine, you get comp picks in next years draft, or possible resign by new ownership.
There is no one on the padres roster/farm system more valuable than headley, gyorko by all reports have been fine at second keep him there.
Chase Headley would be a nice get for someone. A lot of people forget that Logan Forsythe is a natural third baseman. If they could get some young pitching for him, they could just slide Forsythe over there.
The Padres seem to be pretty good at finding third baseman; they probably have a few stashed in the lower levels of their system if someone is interested in getting one of them and finishing them off in their own system.
not to mention we have Darnell and then Gyorko waiting. Shoot Guzman played third if we’re desperate. BUT i think we should try and sign Quentin to an extension before the deadline, if we do then trade Headley. And if we don’t sign Quentin then keep Headley (he’s still got some years on his contract so no problems). The trick for the Padres to really make out on these deals is the timing.
The Brewers should trade Greinke to the Rangers for Mike Olt, Cody Buckel, and Luis Sardinas. With Olt they get a great hitting 3rd basemen. Buckel is a decent pitcher. With Sardinas a nice hitting shortstop with great speed and nice glove and with Andrus and Jurickson blocking the way i’m sure the rangers would being willing to part with him.