Jayson Stark of ESPN.com spent an hour chatting with readers about the trade deadline. Here are some highlights from his session…
- The Phillies have offered Ryan Howard to any American League club they think could theoretically use him and received no takers. GM Ruben Amaro has even offered to pay the vast majority of Howard’s deal while asking for little in return, but to no avail.
- The possibility of Jake Peavy heading to the Cardinals is still very much alive, Stark hears. The Red Sox just sent their top scouts to watch St. Louis’ Â short-season Class A club, which would fit with previous reports that Boston likes outfield prospect Rowan Wick (though he has since moved up to the Midwest League).
- Despite a six-game losing streak, the Reds are still buying, and their preference is to add a bat that they can control beyond this season. As such, Marlon Byrd and Ben Zobrist both are targets, though it’s far from a guarantee that the Rays will sell.
- Stark says he’s “barely heard [Stephen] Drew’s name” on the trade market due to how poorly the shortstop has played since signing. If the Red Sox sell, he notes, the team will trade some combination of Peavy, Andrew Miller, Jonny Gomes and Junichi Tazawa. The addition of Tazawa’s name is a new wrinkle in the trade market. The 28-year-old has been dominant for the Sox and is controlled through 2016 via arbitration. One would think he could fetch a very nice return, given his 2.52 ERA (2.66 FIP), 9.4 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9.
- The Giants “really want a starter,” but Stark can’t see them seriously pursuing David Price. He does note that GM Brian Sabean usually ends up getting what he’s looking for at this time of the year. San Francisco has also shown some interest in Jimmy Rollins, but the chances are very low due to the former MVP’s 10-and-5 rights, his contract and the fact that Brandon Crawford would have to slide over to second base. (Alternatively, Rollins could simply play second, given Crawford’s defensive prowess.)
- While most reports out of New York indicate that the Mets don’t want to trade Daniel Murphy, Stark hears that they’d “definitely” move him if they received enough quality in return. I’d imagine the asking price on Murphy to be very high, given Alderson’s reluctance to sell off assets that are under control beyond the current season.
Jake Peavy for Allen Craig.
I wouldnt do that deal. Peavy has not been good, not saying craig has either. Craig has the fact that he isnt very expensive the next couple of years if he can regain form and taveras has not been any better. They still need craig this year
The pipe dream for all Red Sox fans. Peavy is terrible and we have better pitching waiting.
we have better pitching waiting too … not sure why the speculation.
There’s speculation because this is the exact type of move the Cardinals like to make. I’m fine with starting him and moving Miller to the pen, but not at the cost of Rowan Wick.
I am not comfortable with acquiring Peavy. We all would want Price, but the only way seems to include Taveras in the trade, and that would be a stupid move. I am comfortable with Peavy if the catch is the ability to keep Taveras. I think the best move for the Cardinals at this point is going after Kennedy. I would throw Piscotty or Ramsey in that deal (both are around 25 years old and deserve a spot in the lineup which the Cardinals don’t have).
How about Peavy for Craig or Holliday?
So I think Rowan Wick has too much value for Peavy, then you ask about Craig or Holliday? My head hurts
The Cardinals are paying $17MM per year for Holliday to be a mediocre hitter. Why wouldn’t they want to move him for a starting pitcher who could benefit from a change of scenery. Craig makes more sense for the Cardinals than Holliday does and Holliday could conceivably hit much better in Fenway.
Matt Holliday is having his worst season and has a 122 WRC+ Allen Craig has an 83 WRC+ But a team that is trying to win now would prefer Craig to Holliday? Hey, it’s your story don’t let logic get in your way.
I don’t know anything about Wick, but I assume by your tone that he is a hot prospect. I wouldn’t take Peavy for a hot prospect either, but I would take him if I could dump Holliday’s contract for him.
The only two names that have been discussed are Rowan Wick and Randall Grichuk. Craig won’t go in a deal for Peavy. Cards don’t even think Peavy is worth a prospect.
Cardinals probably need another player in the deal. Doubrount and Peavy for Craig makes a lot of sense for both teams. I wonder if it would make even more sense for the Red Sox to try to put together a deal for Matt Holliday instead of Craig. They don’t really need Craig’s position flexibility and can afford Holliday. Would the Cardinals demand more than Peavy for Holliday? If so, how much more?
hahahahahhhahaa the Cardinals will not trade Matt Holliday. He is their 3 hitter. Those talks would start with Boegarts, Holt, plus more.
hahahahahhhahaa the Cardinals will not trade Matt Holliday. He is their 3 hitter. Those talks would start with Boegarts, Holt, plus more.
Would the Cardinals demand more than Jake Peavy for Holliday? Is this a serious question?
That would be an awful trade for the Cardinals
Red Sox need to call the Rockies and blow them away in a Tulo deal. They have the assets to do it without even gutting the farm.
You don’t blow someone away without gutting the farm.
Well, since Bogaerts would presumably be the headline piece and he’s not on the farm anymore, I think they could do it. Bogaerts, a couple good pitchers, and a catching prospect.
The way Bogaerts has played this year he wont be the centerpiece of any major deals. He had more value before the season started.
The way Bogaerts has played this year he wont be the centerpiece of any major deals. He had more value before the season started.
Steve Adams guessed this week that Tulo’s asking price would be “A top 10 prospect, a top 50 prospect, an MLB-ready piece and some lower-level guys”. The Sox have the pieces to put that type of trade together without totally gutting their farm. For example, they could offer Mookie Betts (borderline top 10), Blake Swihart (top 20), Allen Webster (top 50 entering the season, MLB ready) and one or two low level lottery tickets. That still might not be enough but it’s tough to see anyone else topping an offer like that. It’d be a win for the Sox because although they’d give up a haul, none of the guys they’d lose have a clear path to the majors right now anyway.
Yes, please do this. Acquiring injury prone players is always the top of my to do list.
The Phillies have received no takers on Howard… That’s about as surprising as a blue sky above
Zoilo Almonte, Manny Banuelos, Carlos Beltran, Francisco Cervelli, Aaron Judge, David Robertson, Luis Severino, and Chase Whitley for Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Cliff Lee, and Jonathan Papelbon. Yankees pay the full freight of the Phillies contracts. Do we have a deal?
A deal of that nature would never happen.
It’s seriously tempting. I think if you swapped out Cervelli for Sanchez and Robertson agreed to an extension around 4-years $30M it would have wheels.
I would definitely give the Phillies a 72hr negotiating window with Robertson and would swap Sanchez for Cervelli in return for the appropriate amount of cash or prospect value difference.
Not sure why the Phillies would prefer Sanchez over Cervelli, who is major league ready and capable of being an above average starting catcher. Sanchez has more long-term upside, but the Phillies do not need to do a long-term rebuild like what we have seen from the Cubs.
For me, it’s because the Phillies already have Ruiz and catching is the one spot they’ve got some organizational depth. If Tommy Joseph can stay healthy he’ll be a productive bat behind the plate and that would allow Sanchez to move full time to 1B. If not Sanchez could supplant Ruiz as the regular catcher in 2016.
A-Rod for Howard straight up.
I would do that deal in a nanosecond. I wonder if the Phillies would as well. Probably not, but you never know. It is not as if the Phillies have anybody locked in at the hot corner. A-Rod could probably hit better in that ballpark than in Yankees Stadium. Howard has more guaranteed money, but is under contract for one less year. I think that it is a great deal for both teams.
Giants on the cusp of Zobrist/Price blockbuster.
Source?
he doesn’t have one because that won’t happen. Giants don’t have prospects to compete with Cardinals/Dodgers and the Rays are actually winning now.
Kinda what I was thinking, but you never know.
I’m’ glad that RAJ was forward thinking and extended Howard 2 years before he hit FA..
Why wouldn’t the Rays take on Howard for little cost?
Jake Peavy for Justin Smoak/Jesus Montero, Ketel Marte, Julio Morban, and Marcus Littlewood/John Hicks if it’s not too much for the Red Sox in return. Peavy is an excellent number 2 or 3 starting pitcher that the Mariners could use.
Peavy pitches great , he just doesn’t get enough offense in his games.