While there haven't been any extension talks (and won't be) between the Royals and James Shields, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes that it's not completely out of the question for Shields to re-sign their ace this coming offseason. However, in order to do so, the team will need to make the postseason, he adds. Royals executives have said that they might take a loss this year due to the team's record payroll, but they also believe that a postseason run could push them into the black, according to Heyman. That type of turnaround could keep them in the bidding to retain Shields, who will hit free agency entering his age-33 season.
Here's more on baseball's Central divisions…
- Close to 25 scouts were on-hand to watch Jeff Samardzija's start against the Mariners yesterday, writes Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com. According to Levine, the Blue Jays had three scouts present to watch the Cubs' Opening Day starter, including director of pro scouting and former Cubs GM Ed Lynch.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington tells Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he is not interested in making a trade for a backup catcher despite the injury to Chris Stewart (Twitter link). That suggests that Tony Sanchez will open the season as Pittsburgh's secondary backstop.
- Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette looks at the Pirates' bullpen surplus, wondering if a trade of Vin Mazzaro or Bryan Morris (neither has minor league options remaining) is on the horizon. Brink writes that right-handers Stolmy Pimentel and Jeanmar Gomez (both also out of options) will open the season in the bullpen, leaving Morris and Mazzaro as logical trade candidates.
- The Twins have named former first-rounder and top prospect Kyle Gibson their fifth starter, reports La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. That means that out-of-options starters Scott Diamond, Sam Deduno and Vance Worley are out of luck. Deduno will start the season in the bullpen, while Worley has already been placed on outright waivers (the expiration of those waivers has come and gone, but there's yet to be a report on his status). It's unclear at this time what Diamond's fate will be.
- Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma is trying not to focus on trade rumors surrounding his name, he tells Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Strauss speculates that with the decision to option Tyler Lyons to Triple-A Memphis, GM John Mozeliak could look to acquire a long reliever via trade.
- Other news from the game's Central divisions today included the Tigers' acquisition of Andrew Romine from the Angels as well as the news that flamethrowing setup man Bruce Rondon will be the latest victim of Tommy John surgery. Also, Indians minor league signee David Aardsma was granted his release.
Who are the Twins trade partners RE: Gibson? Mariners?
Jeff Samardzija is still on the trade rumors and he might not be with the cubs
The Cubs asked for both Stroman and Sanchez, both pitchers Toronto will need in the future for a two year rental of Samardzija. The risk is too high and also very expensive to trade for him. The cost to acquire him does nothing to improve the teams fortunes in 2014 and guarantees them nothing in return except more wasted talent going to other teams to benefit from. Pitchers that are out of options will now start hitting the market that lost out on a rotation slot, but would also make a good 4th or 5th starter for the team. Concentrate on those, not some pitcher that you mortgage the farm to acquire that becomes a liability on team payroll and is no guarantee in the AL east. As a footnote, if the Jays could acquire him for out of options players like Sierra, Redmond, Jeffress, etc, those are the players to trade, nothing else.
Looks like GMs realize they can rob Toronto by dealing with AA, who has traded Halladay, League, Alvarez, Nicolini, and Snydergaard for very little in the way of wins at the major league level. Dickey, Morrow and Drabek have not produced for the Jays despite the hype.
If Theo keeps asking that price I say the Shark ain’t going anywhere. Who in their right mind would give two top prospects and another prospect for him? He’s no Price, he’s no Sale, he’s no Kershaw. You give two top prospects and another prospect for an ace not a 4th starter that has 3rd starter potential.
Same talk as theo will never get his price for dempster or garza . Look at the farm system he did pretty darn good. Those were rentals just think was he will get for a control player. There will be more arm blow outs and teams with xtra wild card trading for him and Theo’s price. He is a 15 game winner on a dodger cardinal type team. Prospects are just what ifs shark had major league stats
Don’t kid yourself please. Shark does not worth Stronman and Sanchez along with another prospect. End of discussion. Get out of here.
Jayson Parks, of Baseball Prospectus stated that Mark Stronman and Aarson Sanchez is an overpay for David Price, and if that seems like an overpay than it is an extreme overpay to give those two prospects for Samardija. Aaron Sanchez is looking very impressive throwing 97-98 mph with no runs on 13 innings. Why should we trade those two and another prospect for a 2 year rental that may never pan out in our division? Please explain me this. Samardija may get a great return but it is not going to be from Blue Jays. It doesn’t make sense, absolutely doesn’t make sense.
A 4th starter.. What are you looking at…
Well if he gets traded to our team our rotation will probably be like Dickey, Burehle, Morrow, Samrdzija, and Happ or Romero. He is pitching in the National League we don’t know how he will do in the A.L East especially in our dome that is ranked 3rd in home runs scored..
I don’t believe the Cubs have any intention of extending Samardzija. Finding a trade partner sooner rather than later might be prudent as his performance will likely be mediocre (at best) during the regular season. Theo has done a pretty good job of getting a lot for a little. Maybe he can pull it off again.