Headlines

  • Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez
  • Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff
  • Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Bobby Jenks Passes Away
  • Braves Release Alex Verdugo
  • Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

NL Central Notes: Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Pirates

By edcreech | July 20, 2014 at 5:00pm CDT

The National League Central saw a change atop its leaderboard as the Brewers fell out of first place for the first time since April 5 after a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Nationals. It could be temporary pending the outcome of the Cardinals’ game with the Dodgers tonight. Here’s the latest from the NL Central:

  • Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty has several of his inner-circle baseball operations people on the road with him and is eyeing some additions, but that doesn’t mean anything will happen this month. “I’d like to add a bat,” Jocketty said, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “We just haven’t found anything that attracts us yet. It may not happen before the 31st.”  Jocketty went on to say if the Reds acquire a bat, the preference would be for the player to play multiple positions.
  • With Brandon Phillips on the disabled list, the Reds GM was asked about pursuing the recently released Dan Uggla. “We haven’t discussed that yet,” Jocketty said (as quoted by John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “I haven’t talked to our scouts that saw him. I don’t know. We’re going to meet tomorrow and go over some stuff.“
  • In a chat with Jim Bowden of SiriusXM (via Twitter), Jocketty made it clear he’d like to acquire a middle of the order bat he could put into the Reds’ lineup right away, not an injury risk type player.  When asked about Rays’ second baseman Ben Zobrist (link), Jocketty said, “That’s a good name. That’s all I’ll say.”
  • The Reds have interest in the Phillies’ Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo, reports CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury.
  • The Cardinals’ top Trade Deadline priority should be starting pitching and not a replacement for the injured Yadier Molina, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • The Cardinals’ due diligence with David Price is reminiscent of their pursuit of Matt Holliday in 2009, tweets Strauss’ colleague at the P-D, Derrick Goold (Twitter links).
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin has downplayed the prospects of making a major deal before the Trade Deadline citing the lack of playing time for a bat and the limited impact a reliever can have because of the few innings they pitch, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt.
  • Pirates GM Neal Huntington told reporters, including Karen Price of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the ask is still high on the trade market, but the club has the payroll flexibility to make a move. “It’s the basic law of supply and demand,” Huntington said. “There’s not a lot of teams that are looking to sell, and there are a lot of teams looking to buy. There’s not a ton of players out there who are significant upgrades. There are some guys you think can be, so as a result asking prices higher than you’d like. It’s a balance of what do you give up for projected current wins for projected future wins.“

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Share 7 Retweet 25 Send via email12

Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Rays Antonio Bastardo Ben Zobrist Dan Uggla David Price Marlon Byrd Neal Huntington Walt Jocketty

NL Notes: Hamels, Lee, Burnett, Colon, Padres
Main
Minor Moves: Moseley, Tanaka, Crowe
View Comments (42)
Post a Comment

42 Comments

  1. Nathan Justice

    11 years ago

    Might as well try Uggla. Braves are picking up the tab.

    Reply
    • jeffm

      11 years ago

      The Reds will still have to pay Uggla out of their pocket, though it’ll probably just be a pro-rated league minimum.

      Reply
      • Nathan Justice

        11 years ago

        Yeah it’s like 200 K or something.

        Reply
  2. jeffm

    11 years ago

    Byrd, Bastardo + cash ($10M) for OF Jesse Winker, RHP Ben Lively and Ryan Ludwick as a salary dump.

    That may seem like too much, but this is my thinking. The Reds need to add a bat and Byrd is probably the best available. He’d also immediately upgrade LF. The Reds could lose 4 SP to free agency after next season, so they should be looking to take advantage of that great rotation while they’ve got it. They’ve got some nice pitching arms on the horizon, but who knows what they’ll be at the big league level. Also after next season the Votto and Bailey contracts start creeping towards and beyond $20M/year for several years. They’ve also got Frazier cost controlled for a few more years before he’ll be looking at a pricey extension they might not be able to afford.

    Reply
    • Bob M.

      11 years ago

      I think you have the players right, but Ludwicks buy out is 4.5 million. I cant see that deal happening with the Phillies paying 14.5 million + whatever Ludwick is due.

      Reply
      • jeffm

        11 years ago

        It would total about $18M. It’s a lot to take on, but salary relief is something the Phils can provide.

        Reply
    • meh

      11 years ago

      No way the Reds do that trade. No way. Winker is on the Reds “untouchable” list.

      Reply
      • meh

        11 years ago

        I could see it if you replaced Winker with Yorman Rodriguez and Lively with Corcino, though. You’d also have to take Ludwick out.
        he’s a sunk cost now.

        Reply
        • jeffm

          11 years ago

          You don’t trade the best available bat and outfielder for a couple guys who seem to have stalled out at AA.

          Reply
  3. Travis2014

    11 years ago

    No point in making any trade if the team has trouble winning one in every 10 games…honestly Brewers need a lot to start going their way or they won’t even be in the race

    Reply
    • davbee

      11 years ago

      Yes, because they’re only tied for first place in their division.

      Reply
      • cardinalsfan27

        11 years ago

        Half game out actually.

        Reply
        • davbee

          11 years ago

          Not after the Cards lose tonight 🙂

          Reply
          • cardinalsfan27

            11 years ago

            As you guessed. My money’s on the Cards, the Brewers are done. They’ve been playing over their heads all season.

            Reply
            • Travis2014

              11 years ago

              Sorry but this is not true. Everyone was playing to their potential. No one was having some incredible fluke numbers. Everyone was playing as a team. Now the offense and pitching are picking days to be bad when the other is good. The bullpen might have been playing over their heads a little, but other than that it was all reasonable.

              Reply
            • oh Hal

              11 years ago

              I’d actually say they’ve been underperforming.

              Reply
              • Travis2014

                11 years ago

                Where are they underperforming?

                Don’t say they bullpen, they were playing over their heads. They were due to regress, but not saying it isn’t a great pen anyway.

                The rotation was/is pitching to what I’d consider their potential. A bunch of guys with mid 3 ERAs with no true ace.

                And on the offensive side they all have stats that were in their expected ranges. I wouldn’t say anyone on that offense is doing worse than expected.

                Their problem is they don’t play as a team. None of the three areas pick up one of the others when they have a bad day. Bad luck and they aren’t gelling together.

                Reply
                • oh Hal

                  11 years ago

                  The bullpen has definitely underperformed the last quarter. You may not like Peralta and Garza et al, but that’s you. Ramirez struggled for a while as have Davis and Segura. If your analysis is that when they do well, they are lucky or overperforming but when they do poorly that’s what they are, you’re just a homer for another team.

                  Reply
      • Travis2014

        11 years ago

        Yah keep thinking that to make it sound better. They have played horribly lately for a long period of time. With everyone playing better in their division they will fade really fast if they can’t start playing better now.

        Reply
        • davbee

          11 years ago

          They’ve played bad for three weeks (small sample size) and great for three months. I see them being in it to the very end.

          Reply
          • Travis2014

            11 years ago

            I would have to agree

            Reply
  4. W.G

    11 years ago

    It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of which SP the Cardinals trade for. I like Price, but the problem with him is there isn’t a guarantee he’ll sign, and you’d have to about top the Russell-Smardj. trade. I’d look to Cole Hamels first, already in a contract and probably wouldn’t cost as much as Price. But at the end of the day, if you want quality SP, you gotta give up quality prospects.

    Reply
    • flyerzfan12

      11 years ago

      “But at the end of the day, if you want quality SP, you gotta give up quality prospects.”

      Thank you, finally someone who gets it.

      Reply
      • Phillyfan425

        11 years ago

        Pssh, obviously, the Phillies are selling and are having an “everything must go” event. They’re basically going to give pieces away (no matter what their value) because they can’t be bothered with big contracts. Because, you know, there are so many great FAs out there that are going to command huge contracts, that will instantly take any team from bottom 5 in the league to top 5.

        Reply
      • stl_cards16

        11 years ago

        Yes, fans over value their own team’s prospects. But as funny as that is to the selling teams fans, those fans declaring half of their roster is worth top prospects and is the piece to put a contending team over the top is just as funny. If Utley, Rollins, Lee, Hamels, Papelbon are going to make such a big difference, why in the heck are the Phillies selling with that many guys than can carry a team?

        Reply
        • Phillyfan425

          11 years ago

          I’m not saying every one of our guys is gonna net top prospects. But for every outlandish trade I see in the Phils favor, I see 5 where the main comment is “Team X eats most of the salary and the Phillies should just be happy about it.”

          Reply
  5. C.j. Tobe

    11 years ago

    As a red fan id like to see Byrd and bastardo but just don’t see it happening.
    – money
    – Who the reds give up?
    Definitely no on uggla
    I’m almost okay with going with what the reds have until votto and BP comes back.
    The Cuban we signed hopefully could be major league ready by September
    I just don’t want to give away prospects or the future to improve the club for a few months
    The latos deal was different because the reds gave up prospects that were being blocked
    During this offseason once LUDDY comes off the books then you make you get your big bat
    And maybe trade one of the three SP who will be free agents after 2015

    Reply
    • stl_cards16

      11 years ago

      Yeah the Reds just need to stay in the hunt until Votto gets back. With Votto and Bailey both getting more expensive, and a lot of pitchers hitting free-agency in the next 2 years, it doesn’t seem Jocketty will have much money to play with. Holding onto the prospects, particularly the pitching, will be key for Cincinnati.

      Reply
      • Bob Bunker

        11 years ago

        Votto is said to be out for the next 5 weeks. The Reds are competing against the Nats, Braves, Cards, Pirates, Brewers, Dodgers, and Giants for the 5 playoff spots. With their star hitter out 5 weeks I think the Reds shouldn’t be just holding onto prospects but trying to get more prospects by trading 2 of Latos, Cueto, Simon, and Leake.

        No way they will be able to keep all 4 after next season and the haul for the first two could get them quality near major league ready SP and the latter two could get them nice pieces as well.

        Reply
    • slasher016 2

      11 years ago

      Can’t count on the new Cuban this year. He’s not even in the states yet. If you’re going for it, you don’t trade one of your starting pitchers. They certainly need a bat, but don’t need to overpay, there’s plenty of OF/1B types out there.

      Reply
      • C.j. Tobe

        11 years ago

        No no. I mean trade a sp for a bat during the offseason.
        Not now!

        Reply
      • C.j. Tobe

        11 years ago

        And the Cuban from what I’ve read will start I’m triple a by august 1 and will only need a month in minors before being called up. But like you said he is in fact not in the country yet so I won’t count on it till I see. It’s just wishful thinking

        Reply
  6. Clayton Vitale

    11 years ago

    Cardinals farm reports that STL is not just interested in Price, but Longoria as well, who were both in attendance at Busch Stadium tonight. What would it take to land this deal? Would Carlos Martinez, Shelby Miller, Oscar Tavares and Matt Carpenter do it? Or would Allen Craig help sweeten the pot?

    Reply
    • jeffm

      11 years ago

      To get both? Would take more than that.

      Reply
      • Clayton Vitale

        11 years ago

        Add in Stephen Piscotty? But then I don’t know that Tampa would have room for everyone. Plus Tavares has been perennially ranked in the top 3 MLB prospects. It is a whole group built on tremendous upside, and Price wouldn’t be guaranteed to stick with any club following a trade. Longoria hasn’t hit like the Evan of old either.

        Reply
        • jeffm

          11 years ago

          Longoria is under contract for 8 more years and doesn’t go over $15M in salary until 2021. He’s essentially beginning an 8-year $116.5M contract next year that averages just over $14.5M/year. He alone is worth Taveras, Martinez and Miller given the club friendly deal.

          Reply
          • Clayton Vitale

            11 years ago

            I know he’s got that long contract which is also fairly team friendly, however 8 more years might be something the Rays are looking to get out of. That’s not to discount him as a player, because he’s the class of 3B, but how often do long contracts work out? Then there’s the outside shot Tampa has at the division, I know they don’t think they’re out of it, so until anything materializes, there’s only speculation.

            Reply
            • jeffm

              11 years ago

              I doubt the Rays are looking to move the face of their franchise in the middle of his prime. Price I can see them moving because he’ll be too expensive, but they’d have to be floored to even consider Longoria. By floored I mean something like Buxton, Sano, Meyer and Berrios from the Twins. Something that’s near impossible and would be a system crippling move.

              Reply
        • oh Hal

          11 years ago

          Wasn’t Shelby Miller one of the top prospects as well? The shine is coming off of Martinez as well. Piscotty is pretty ordinary.

          Reply
  7. Regleg Larry

    11 years ago

    Sounds like the Reds are going to do absolutely nothing. They have zero chance making the postseason.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Recent

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Rays Notes: Rasmussen, Boyle, Lowe, Kim

    Nationals Sign Luis Garcia

    Cubs, Tigers Among Teams Interested In Ke’Bryan Hayes

    AL Central Notes: Thomas, Ragans, Lynch, Cobb

    Padres To Activate Yu Darvish On Monday

    Rhys Hoskins Suffers Grade 2 Thumb Sprain, Headed To IL

    Rays Sign Peter Strzelecki To Minor League Contract

    MLB Announces 2025 All-Star Rosters

    Brewers Outright Daz Cameron, Select Anthony Seigler

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version