While the Cubs are among the most clear-cut sellers at this year’s deadline, the team may hang onto Justin Ruggiano and Luis Valbuena, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Both are enjoying solid seasons and both are controlled through 2016. While the team wants to get as much young talent in the door as possible, each provides a veteran presence to help with the club’s impending influx of young talent.
Here’s more from baseball’s Central divisions…
- Twins GM Terry Ryan tells Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that it was difficult to designate Matt Guerrier for assignment, given the right-hander’s history with the club. “That’s not the way you like to see things go,” said Ryan. “He’s a class guy. He’s been a great member of this organization for about a decade.” The GM added that it’s too soon to tell if Guerrier will accept an outright assignment, but Berardino gets the impression that Guerrier’s time with the Twins organization is done.
- Berardino also asked Ryan if he expected more moves for the Twins in the coming week after trading Kendrys Morales to Seattle for righty Stephen Pryor yesterday (Tout link). Ryan replied: “It’s always active, Mike, at this time of year. You’re going to have activity, especially if you’re in a situation that the Twins are in right now. We’re going to have active calls, whether you place them or field them, it’s going to be a little busy. … We’ve got some people here that there will be interest in.”
- One more from Berardino, who spoke with Twins backstop Kurt Suzuki about the possibility of being traded. Suzuki says he’s not focusing on rumors circulating his name because it’s out of his control but admitted that it’s not always easy to do and can be tough for families. Berardino wonders if the Minnesota would reignite its interest in former Twin A.J. Pierzynski, should Suzuki be dealt. Minnesota made a two-year offer to Pierzynski in the offseason.
- The Pirates sit atop Jim Callis of MLB.com’s list of five contenders that are best-positioned to make trades due to young talent. He lists Josh Bell, Austin Meadows, Harold Ramirez, Tyler Glasnow, Nick Kingham, Alen Hanson and Reese McGuire as appealing chips, noting that, “No contender can match the Bucs’ combination of prospect quality and quantity.” The Dodgers, Cardinals, Mariners and Royals round out Callis’ list.
- Jim Margalus of SB Nation’s South Side Sox wonders why the White Sox (and teams around the league in general) have been so hesitant to trade within their own division and opines that this stigma shouldn’t prevent a deal sending Dayan Viciedo to the Royals, who reportedly have interest. Margalus runs down the list of previous intra-division trades and sees no catastrophes to speak of.
Theo hanged on Bryan LaHair too long…….same with Nate Schierholtz………..better to trade Luis & Justin then keeping them around Wrigley…….the young guys are coming next season.
“the young guys are coming next season.”
Which is why they’ll want to have a veteran presence in there clubhouse. At some point there needs to be a level of continuity. Cubs’ FO has been open about that in recent interviews.
I doubt if Luis or Justin have the clubhouse presence for Rookies.
Because they’re not all-stars?
Are you serious?
Hard to give up on Tank. Only 25, I wouldn’t mind him d.h.ing next season.
First, I fundamentally disagree with Callis’ notion that the Pirates “can afford to move” any of those prospects in trade – the Pirates are very poor and can’t afford to pay quality free agents so they need to keep all their high end prospects in order to stay competitive. With that being said, if they do decide to deal some pieces, I would prefer they stop messing around with Marlon Byrd or (proposed) Ian Kennedy type deals where they nibble off one prospect at a time for a mid-level return/rental. I would much prefer they package a couple of those guys together and go after a big fish – this team would be incredible if they could acquire a front line #1 ace starter (ie Price or Hamels).
I agree in principal, that they should go all in and stop messing around with mid tier or rentals, but I think Kennedy could be a difference maker. He’s got another year of team control and would be a great 2 or 3 in this rotation behind only cole and maybe liriano if he plays as well as he’s capable. Plus he shouldn’t cost any of our top 100 ranked prospects, could prob be had for a couple Harold Ramirez and Adrian Sampson type prospects who would be top 5-10 in most organizations but are expendable for the bucs. And I wouldn’t say the pirates are very poor….very cheap maybe
I wouldn’t say they are cheap. I mean, they were willing to give $75 million to Polanco before he even played in the majors. Was that a low offer? Maybe, but they were willing to risk a lot of money for a guy that hadn’t even made his debut yet. I agree that Ramirez and Sampson should be available. When it comes to prospects, we have tons of pitching and outfield prospects. There’s only so many spots in the rotation and the outfield is set for the future. There are some guys who should be untouchable, though. Taillon (he’s hurt, but still), Glasnow, Meadows, Hanson, Bell, and most guys in our top 10.
That reportedly 75 over 10 years was a ridiculous offer. No high end prospect would buy into that and no respectable club would offer it. We’ll see how cheap they are when it comes time to sign Martin and walker. I’m praying they lock down both for the foreseeable future but I’m not getting my hopes up.
I don’t think any of our prospects should be untouchable though. Right now most of our prospects have a ton of potential but I think polanco may have been our last “can’t miss” and think that any of them: Hansen, bell, taillon, Glasnow, meadows et al, are expendable if it gets us back into the playoffs and a shot at a pennant. I’m happy with the direction we’re headed but don’t you want to see them pull the trigger and make a serious push? They surely won’t do it by signing a 25 mil per free agent, it’s going to end up being a trade
Maybe it was low? Didn’t it take him out to 2024?
An idea I was thinking what if the pirates traded phila for Hamel’s and Howard..but have Howard at 3-5 mil per yr and Hamel’s at 15 mil have phila pay the rest maybe add an overpriced salary or two like tabata to help salaries and a couple mid tier prospect around 10-20 in pirates organization is like a 5-10 in most organization’s work
The Phillies have made it clear that they will only trade Hamels if they receive a huge amount of prospects (something the Pirates have shown they are hesistant to do). I guess lumping Howard in the deal could lower the price a bit, but I think the price would still be too high.
Philly would have to take Tabata and Ike Davis (no use for a lefty 1B if Howard was here – also making $3.5 mill/year) for the Pirates to even consider taking on the $20 million worth of salary you have them absorbing. Even then it might be too much for them to afford although I do like that trade in principle.
The major problem is according to our Philly friends, the Phillies are really really really against eating salary. By your numbers, they’ll be eating $20 mil on Howard and another $6-7 on Hamels. I mean if it got them one A+ prospect back – say Josh Bell – I’d do it I were Philly but I just don’t see them spending nearly $30 million dollars for those guys to play for another team.
The problem is if it blows up in your face you get to see the reminder every time the guy produces comes to town for a division rival and kicks your tail. While rare, I think most GMS do not want to be remembering their failure about 19 times a season.