Buster Posey has a legitimate chance at the NL MVP this year, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. Posey has 20 home runs and a .327/.402/.531 batting line with nearly six wins above replacement (5.8 according to FanGraphs, 5.5 according to Baseball-Reference). Here are more of Olney’s notes from the NL West…
- Rival executives expect the Diamondbacks to trade Justin Upton this winter, Olney reports. Some team officials believe the Diamondbacks will also trade center fielder Chris Young, possibly for a shortstop. Young earns $8.5MM next year and his contract includes an $11MM club option for 2014, so he'd represent a more affordable alternative to free agents such as B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn and Shane Victorino. Arizona could then enter the 2013 season with a projected outfield of Gerardo Parra, Jason Kubel and Adam Eaton.
- Olney suggests the Giants will move on from Brian Wilson this offseason. Wilson, who appeared in two games this year before undergoing Tommy John surgery, will be arbitration eligible this coming offseason. He’ll be expensive if the Giants tender him a contract, as he earned an $8.5MM salary in 2012. It’d make sense for the Giants to see if there’s trade interest in the 30-year-old, Olney writes.
Why not just keep Upton and Young and roll with Bloomquist and Elmore at SS?
because money
I thought Young and Upton were both signed to contracts and not going through the arb process.
Because neither Bloomquist or Elmore is an everyday major league shortstop.
Willie has held his own the past two years and if Elmore can get on base somewhat close to what he did over his career in the minors, I think they can hold the position down between them.
I’m not sure what short stop is going to be out there for Chris Young.
The shortstop that’s out there is Elvis Andrus, and he’ll end up with the Diamondbacks as part of a deal for Upton..
Hmm.. I forgot about Andrus. Interesting.
He didn’t say anything about the arb process. He said the reason was due to money, which is partially true. Each player IS under contract, but those contracts call for both of them to get raises each of the next few years. In Upton’s case, the raises are pretty substantial, going from $6.75M in 2012 to $9.75M in 2013 to $14.25M in 2014.
Then trade Young and one of Kubel or Cahill.
You don’t trade a talent of Upton’s caliber and age unless you get a deal that fills a position of need (SS/3B) and significantly improves the team.
I think the DBacks believe they’ve found their longterm answer at 3B (Chris Johnson). If that’s the case, they will be focused on finding a SS. If the DBacks trade Young and Upton, they are essentially embarking on a rebuilding project. That would mean they are very likely to look for prospects for their players, making an Upton for Andurs trade somewhat unlikely. I wouldn’t be surprised if they move Cahill, I have to believe he was a disappointment for them this season.
Upton is 25 and for 2013-2015 his aav will be at $13M. Sure it’s less than free market, but alot of the value of the young players is when they are making league minimum, or even $5M. Alot of the low revenue teams can’t afford to add a player like that still.
I’m sure the Yankees would be interested in both Upton and Young, but who do they have that the Diamondbacks would want?
as much as I’d hate to lose him, Young for Jayson Nix?
You’d really trade Chris Young for Jayson Nix?
You mean Young for the NY Knicks, right?
Not that I think he’s worth it, but the DBacks will be looking for a pretty big return for Young. I’d say he’s worth more to the Yankees (and the DBacks) than a journeyman utility infielder, but he’s probably not worth the haul the Dbacks will be demanding.
I’d like to believe there’s some sarcasm in this but I don’t sense any.
Over the past 3 years Swisher has a better ops, obp, etc than Young. Also upton is signed aav $13M 2013-2015. If they can get swisher for 50/3 or less then that is the better move. Even torrii hunter would be a decent move. I really don’t see the Yankees giving up a huge package for upton.
A Young for Barmes deal?
As in Clint Barmes? Young started the year off great and then he got injured, personally I still dont think hes recovered from that injury because he hasnt been the same since. He is without a doubt worth more than Barmes.
I wonder if the Braves would make a run at Upton this offseason. With the cost for Bourne, a trade is more FW’s M.O.
Justin Upton is not a center fielder. He’s barely passable in right field. He takes lousy routes to balls and doesn’t always give 100% on defense. I wouldn’t expect anyone to trade for him and move him to CF.
I wasn’t envisioning him as a CF…more like Prado’s replacement in LF and look for a more affordable free agent CF. Or possibly take long look at Todd Cunningham in CF during Spring Training.
That’s kind of what I wondered too. With the money they’ve got coming off the books in Chipper, Lowe, and possibly Jurrjens (if they non-tender him), they could afford to trade for Justin Upton and maybe sign BJ Upton to a FA deal. Then they could move Prado to 3B, leaving them with a starting OF of Heyward, BJ, and J-Up…assuming either Heyward or J-Up would agree to move to LF. It’s a shot in the dark, anyway.
Well was hoping atlanta may could get young if(when) bourn leaves. But doubt they have a shortstop to get it done
they’ve had virtually no offensive production aside from andrelton simmons at the position this year, so it’s not likely they have an up-and-comer good enough to pry away a player like young.
Exactly.. They have a few in lower a ball but that will not get it done. Ne ither will pastornicky. And simmons isnt going anywhere so just dont sew it happening. Probably go after b.j.. Unless maybe gattis stays hot and could play one corner and move heyward to center for a few years
The wrong Adam Eaton was tagged… at least I hope…
Trumbo and Taylor Lindsey for Upton?
Done. You can also have Chris Young and Ian Kennedy if you’d like.
LOL more like Upton, Miley, +++++ for Trumbo
Does this mean that we can finally stop hearing about Brian Wilson from SF fans, and maybe he’ll shave off that hipster beard?
Check total saves from 2008-2011. Who has the most?
He’s annoying, as are Giants fans with their pitched tents for him. The guy loves attention, and I think he’s a joke.
I didnt say he wasn’t good at closing for whatever period of time. I just think people like him are kind of a disgrace to the game. That’s my opinion and I know a lot of people would disagree, but oh well
and with that said, i don’t blame him for trying to market himself… you have a small window of fame/athleticism in life and if you can get paid, then you better do it.
Hopefully the Giants work out a deal with Wilson. Non-tender and sign a new “Cheaper” deal until he proves healthy.
On Brian Wilson being traded, that apears to be an extremely risky proposition for whatever team ends up trading for him…unless it appears clear that the Giants intend to tender him a contract. Otherwise, he could be another team’s reclamation project.
As for MVP of the NL, I think that Andrew McCutchen’s case will be hurt if the Pirates don’t make the playoffs (they’re still in the thick of the hunt, 2.5 games out as of this writing). If Buster Posey ends up being a Super-2 and wins the MVP award, that will help Posey’s arbitration immensely.
I still don’t think they trade Upton. A bounce back year for him is a 6 WAR season. I believe he hurt his thumb early in the season and it’s messed with him all year. He should be fine.
I’ll trade you Adam Eaton for Adrian Gonzalez and pitcher Chris Young. Deal.
So, Young is a more affordable option then Victorino…really? Who is paying him more than 10 mil per? Young is making 20 mil over the next 2 years. If someone pays Victorino more than that then they are nuts. He will be 32 in a few months coming off a year in which all of his numbers are below is career averages. I don’t see him getting better. Certainly not going to hit HR’s like he did in the band box in Philly. I like him as a player but couldn’t play him 10 mil per.