The Diamondbacks traded Stephen Drew this week, officially acknowledging that he won’t return in 2013. The team will rely on Willie Bloomquist, Jake Elmore and John McDonald for the remainder of the 2012 season, but they’ll pursue shortstop help over the winter, GM Kevin Towers told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
"There's not a lot on the free-agent market, so more than likely it's going to take a trade,” Towers said. “We'll probably have to trade a good player — or a couple of good players — to find one."
Towers expects to encounter an “overpay situation” in his search for shortstops because there is only so much talent to go around. “Teams tend to really horde those type of players,” he said. The Rangers have enviable depth at the position in Elvis Andrus and top prospect Jurickson Profar. GM Jon Daniels says it’s a good problem to have.
“We don't know exactly how it's going to play out long term, but I'm not really all that concerned about it,” Daniels said. “I know that all the possibilities are good ones for us."
Piecoro suggests the Diamondbacks will talk to the Rangers this offseason. The Reds have middle infield depth behind Zack Cozart (Didi Gregorius and Billy Hamilton) and the Blue Jays have Adeiny Hechavarria and Yunel Escobar.
The Diamondbacks would like to see more of Elmore, but don’t seem convinced he’s more than a part-time player, according to Piecoro. And while they like prospect Chris Owings, they don’t expect him to be ready for the MLB level in 2013. Bloomquist and McDonald are both under contract for 2013.
Jed Lowrie could also be available.
Jays will trade shortstop to Diamondbacks for excess pitcher?
As a side note… a deal based around Andrus for Upton could be quite interesting.
I don’t think Towers is gonna sell low on Upton.
Andrus is selling low?
Yes. Upton, while more expensive, is under control longer than Andrus. Andrus is a fine SS but not that dangerous at the plate. I would think(hope) that Towers could do a lot better than Andrus. If Andrus were the only ML player, there better be some serious prospects heading to Arizona as well.
no one said it was going to be one for one, but if he was the headliner I doubt the dbacks would do any better. A good fielding young short stop who can hit is less replaceable, making him more valuable beyond his numbers.
Andrus has improved each year he’s been in the majors outside of his second season. He plays a good defensive SS as well. Honestly if you were looking for a SS I think you’d be hard pressed to find a non-Tulo one that offered more. While Upton may have more power he’s only slugging .003 more then Andrus this year. Yes its a very down year for Upton, but it also isn’t the first such year for him. If the Rangers offered Andrus for Upton I think the D-Backs would accept it even if it were just a one for one trade.
Andrus is a top 5 SS, there are other things that matter than hitting (which Andrus is fair at) and he is still going to get better
I don’t think getting someone like Andrus would be selling low at all.
(edit, Lunchbox is a wizard)
I don’t think its a horrible deal but if they can get him looking like 2011 he is gonna command a lot more than Andrus. Not to knock him but Andrus is a career 701 OPS with no power. Upton is a career 830 OPS, with great power, and a way higher offensive ceiling. SS is a nice position and all but I don’t think it makes up for the fact that aside from one bad season Upton is a far superior player. Towers is gonna let him bounce back and then decide whos farm he wants, he is not gonna sell him on the merits of this season alone.
Solid points but I don’t think Andrus is a slouch with the bat at this point, he’s improved in each of the past two seasons and is a steady offensive contributor at a pretty scarce position. Granted Upton has all-star and MVP potential which can’t be overlooked, and he will probably mash in Texas, but Andrus would probably help out the DBacks more.
Also even though Upton is under control longer, that is probably because he signed an extension and Andrus is still going through arb. I’m not sure what a long term contract for Andrus would look like, but it may be in the ballpark of Upton’s since he’s still pretty young.
I think Andrus and Martin Perez for Upton would be fair.
makes sense to if Hamilton leaves
I expect Dee Gordons name to pop-up at some point in the offseason.
I don’t think LA is going to sell low on Gordon. His speed and age are a plus, what he needs is to learn plate discipline and stop swinging at pitches like he is a power hitter.
I agree with you, Gordon became expendable when Ellis and Cruz started playing the way they are. They could even throw Uribe in just to sweeten the pot!
How does a 24 year old
with barely a year’s worth of PA and more speed than the movie become expendable versus a 28 year old who has had fewer PA in his entire major league career and is playing far above any projections and a 35 year old 2B that is serviceable but not likely to improve?
I mean don’t get me wrong, Gordon is not untouchable by any means, but expendable? No way.
i think you meant to say gordan became expendable once Hanley was acquired and now they can get a real 3b unlike Uribe, kennedy etc
*move Hanley to SS
I actually hope Hanley is the 3B. That would make this offseason so much simpler. The team can focus on getting a 1B (biggest priority), LF and another starter. Gordon at SS is not as that bad and if he falters, there is Cruz and Sellers to step in again as stop-gaps.
Insert unrealistic trade proposal involving Yunel Escobar and Justin Upton here
Escobar and a prospect for Skaggs?
No
And then pop back down? He’s worse then bloom quiet or McDonald and I assume the dbacks are looking for an upgrade, not just a younger player.
I haven’t fully given up on Gordon. If he could learn to hit 250 he would still be an asset with his kind of speed. I mean if Austin Jackson can hit for average and SO over 150 times anythings possible haha.
I think he will learn to hit. I think his issue is that he can’t just take a walk. I would be less concerned about his batting average if his OBP were respectable.
Boston probably move them Mike Aviles pretty cheap. If Valentine survives the season, he is not going to take no as an answer to Iglesias as his SS again. It’s not like Aviles has hit worth a flip since the end of May anyway and Iglesias has actually started hitting for small ball at Pawtucket.
Yuniesky Betancourt
is Arizona close enough to the bay area for Jimmy Rollins???
I think the Reds would part with Gregorius, but would need a couple solid prospects back.
If the Reds got a upper level SP prospect back around the same level as Gregorius I think they’d pull the trigger. Something like Corbin would likely work.
Not sure about that, the starting pitching is set for a while, and have solid depth in lower levels. The top five will be back next year + there’s Chapman, and Corcino, Cingrani, and Stephenson are coming fast. I think they’d rather have outfielders or lower level pitching prospects (A or A+).
Chapman is a closer. Its to late to move him into a starting role. By the time he built up his innings to be viable there he’ll be a free agent. The Reds have plenty of SP prospects to fill where needed but they dealt their top two RP prospects in the Latos and Broxton deal. However you can’t have to many SP prospects either. A upper level OF though also wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Chapman isn’t a free agent until 2017. He could definitely be converted to a starter next year if that’s what they decide.
How about a Gordon for Upton trade?
I’m not sure Billy Hamilton is going to stick at SS.
Completely out there but why not go aviles and elsbury for j-up plus a pitching prospect
Profar for Kennedy?
What about Dee gordan
JJ Hardy would fit well in Arizona…not that i am saying to dump him. But with Machado up, a pitcher in return might be what the O’s need.
Escobar plus one of Santos/Lincoln for one of kennedy or hudson?
What about Ruben Tejada from the Mets? He’s still got several years under control. The Mets could add a couple of prospects to make the difference. Familia and Dekker maybe? Is that enough for Upton? Too much? Good deal for both sides?