With August wrapping up, the window for teams to sneak players through revocable waivers is coming to a close. Those who are interested can check out MLBTR’s list of players that have cleared revocable waivers, and those that are still unfamiliar with revocable waivers and August trades in general can check out our August trade primer.
With that said, we’ll keep track of today’s list of players that have been placed on revocable waivers here…
- Reds right-handers Mat Latos and Mike Leake were both placed on revocable waivers yesterday, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). However, a trade of either is unlikely. Cincinnati is expected to move a starter this prior to next season, says Rosenthal, but it’s unlikely to happen until they can negotiate with all 29 other clubs. (Obviously, Latos and Leake aren’t going to clear waivers.) Latos, 26, is earning $7.25MM this season and is eligible for arbitration for the final time this winter. He opened the year on the DL but has turned in a 2.99 ERA in 84 1/3 innings, albeit with a career-low 6.1 K/9 (his 2.5 BB/9 rate is right in line with his career marks). Leake, also 26 and arb-eligible for the final time this offseason, is earning $5.925MM in 2014. He’s posted a 3.51 ERA with 7.0 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and a career-best 54.4 percent ground-ball rate. The other 14 National League teams will have priority (in record of reverse standings) before the Cincinnati righties are exposed to the AL (also in reverse order of standings).
Probably just gauging interest for offseason maneuvering. Leake will probably be moved in the winter.
Probably won’t happen until this offseason, but hopefully my Rangers can get Latos.
Why would the rangers get Matt latos
Seems like a good pick up, young and decent ERA and they always need more pitching.
Latos would be a great pickup, but it will cost a considerable amount in terms of prospects to get him. With his age and his level of success, Cinci will want a huge prospect haul. Do you think Tex will part with a package of Alfaro and Jackson/Gonzales and then some?
I would say that proposal is probably too rich for Latos straight up, but if Latos was available and nobody else was really giving CIN wanted they wanted I could see Rangers going for it.
How is that too rich? Samardzija landed the cubs Russell, a top 10 prospect and an above average hitting outfield prospect in Mckinney. Alfaro is a top 40 prospect which is extremely less valuable than a top 10, and Latos is better than Samardzija. Latos can warrant 2 top prospects from any given team that tries to acquire him
I meant too rich from the Rangers perspective to give up for Latos. No doubt CIN would ask for what you are proposing, i just don’t think the Rangers would go for it.
Which is why I see it doubtful, the Rangers farm is solid at the top but is not too deep. a team like LAD or BOS could throw a solid position prospect and a couple arms their way and probably get it done because both teams have the organizational depth to get it done. In LAD’s case, a deal around Joc, Windle and Reed would be a good starting point, and as for the sox, Cecchini, Ranaudo, and another arm not named Owens could open the door
Not really
Hey Cinci, wanna make a real splash, put Chapman out there.
I’m sure he will be, and then pulled back like most players with trade value. Not really a splash.
Nope! Watching Chappy pitch is worth the price of admission!
With Atlanta and Pittsburgh both needing pitching, can’t see it getting past them. Both are tied at 68-64 (as of 10:17 CDT). Who would get the claim if both did claim one of them?
The Braves don’t need pitching…not starting pitching anyway…
Mat Latos >>>> Aaron Harang, especially for the cost of 1M + control beyond this season…..and its not even close!
FWIW though, I dont even see him getting that far in waivers because of the control for next year
…what? Harang is the one making $1M this year. And they’re both right at 1.5 WAR in 2014.
To be fair, Latos has played to a 1.5 WAR in just 13 starts whereas it has taken Harang 27.
It is no contest that Latos is far and away better than Harang, but I think the argument is based on is the cost worth what you will get for a year+?
I’d love to see the Phillies claim one or both. See if they can work something out. That way it could help full their rotation for next season plus they can part ways with Kendrick.
Why would Philly mortgage what little they have towards a future for 1 year of control of both players when they are considered a longshot to compete in ’15? Leake and Latos would give them a nice rotation in the top 3 with Lee seemingly starting to break down as the number 4, and with the holes in that lineup, I just dont think there is enough to contend there
it would allow them to trade Hamels in the offseason and reload the minor leagues and at the same time give them a decent rotation of Lee-Latos-Leake and possibly Burnett next season if he comes back on his player option.
Trading Hamels would most likely give them a similar return as it would take to acquire both Latos and Leake due to the salary on Hamels limiting the pool of teams in the race. And in turn, you are getting 2 mid rotation starters and relying on a declining ace to fill the void of Hamels, all while giving up the team control that Hamels has on his contract. This scenario is like treading water for the Phils
The list of teams that has the prospects and the money to acquire and extend Latos/Leake/Cueto is quite short to begin with. If you believe that interdivision trading is taboo when you are trying to compete, that eliminates the Cubs from the running. Which leaves the possibility of LAD, TEX, SF (lack of prospects might hurt), NYY, BOS and LAA. Incorporating need, the best offers could come from LAD or BOS, with NY and TEX also being in the running if Cinci does indeed start selling off pieces
You are forgetting Seattle, Baltimore, Detroit, the Mets, Philly, and several other teams that can (and have) spent big money on free agents in the past. Plus since it would be an extension and not the open market, you could probably add a few more teams to that list.
I excluded those because Bal doesn’t have the the money to legitimately extend, Det doesn’t have the prospects, the Mets don’t have the need, Philly could, but it they would be running the team even further into the ground, and Seattle also needs offense, not more pitching
Baltimore was the first place I thought of when thinking about Cueto. They have the money to extend easily. This is a team that didn’t blink in giving Ubaldo $50 million. Of course that was a mistake, but Peter Angelos has never been THAT tight with the wallet especially when he thinks he might have a winner.
Detroit doesn’t NEED prospects to acquire an ace. They have already proven that.
The Mets could definitely need a Cueto/Latos as the veteran on their staff of youngsters much like Bronson Arroyo was with the Reds. I could easily see them putting a package together for Cueto if they think they are close to competing.
Much like Colorado is always going to have better hitting than pitching in Coors, Seattle is always going to have better pitching than hitting while they are in that ballpark. But even without considering that, do you really think the Mariners wouldn’t consider upgrading Chris Young or Roenis Elias?
In addition, I don’t think eliminating the Cubs as a destination is a good idea either. In addition, if you are in the Reds shoes the last thing you should do is limit your market. At the very least the Cubs could raise the bidding.
I was outlining likely destinations, not all possibilites. The Cubs would be in the same category as BOS and LAD if they weren’t in the same division, but I ultimately don’t see a match. Angelos is that tight with the wallet as he hasn’t extended his own guys, and $50mil is nothing compared to the $100+mil Cueto/Latos would warrant. The Mets have a veteran to lead their club, and yet they are trading him off because that $11 mil next year is too rich for Wilpon. As for Seattle, You have a case for thart match, I just don’t consider it likely
Colon is not exactly the same as Cueto and Latos. He is probably closer to the age of an average pitching coach that the average starter. Cueto and Latos can be the veteran starter for 5-7 years as opposed to Colon who won’t be pitching past 2015.
But the point is Cueto/Latos are only there for next year at similar prices to Colon, And all 3 are gone after 2015. The Mets, who are several pieces away from contending, will most likely not pawn off the farm for a year of either player knowing that they will cost $100+mil to extend
jocketty has a chance to turn the reds around real quick w all the pitching he has to trade.
I believe Jocketty’s contract expires after this season. Would he head to Arizona with Larussa and Duncan? Does he want to stick around for a bit of a rebuild? The Reds will be an interesting team to watch. They can compete with the team as is, but with so many key players scheduled to be free agents soon, they have to look past 2015 as well.
His contract is over but unfortunately for us Reds fans he will be returning
I wish he’d go to Arizona
jocketty came out and said he was staying. He can re-build this team by trading 2or 3 of,latos,chapman,cueto,bailey,leake,simon. he still has the new cuban pitcher,cingrani and 3or 4 live arms in the minors to fill the rotation.
jocketty already said hes coming back w reds. Traded Broxton today for 2 players to be named later. Reds save 11m in the process.Yes they have free agents but he will trade a few more pitchers and get some bats.
These are the type of pitcher that the Indians like to trade for controllable guy over 3 seasons just do not know what the Reds are looking for back for these guys.
Latos with Kluber then the young guys Bauer and Salazar would give the Indians a very nice 1-4 punch going into 2015. I just do not know what the Reds are looking for they are pretty set if all are healthy going into 2015 at all positions maybe a left fielder if they move Ludwick..
The Reds just had a injury riddled season it happens if their current group can stay together and healthy in 2015 they should go a long way.
Indians probably won’t go after either considering they are both Free Agents after 2015 and neither are going to be all that cheap. They would have to give up too much for just 1 year of control.
I think the Reds would move Ludwick, but what could they get for him is the question? He’s an older player that is inconsistent with the bat.
If both pitchers clear the NL teams, there is one team in the AL that should claim Mike Leake and that is the Blue Jays. His ground ball rate would work perfectly in the Rogers center launching pad and it would allow them to trade R.A Dickey and Buerhle in the off season. Toronto have success with ground ball pitchers and are a failure with fly-ball pitchers, since many of the fly balls sail out of the playing field for home runs. That has hurt the team in 2014 and cost them many games. Both Buerhle and Mr. Dickey are better suited for the NL at the late stage of their careers and are more of a liability now instead of an asset.
If Leake managed to clear all NL teams, which is doubtful, he wouldn’t make it past the Red Sox due to their pitiful pitching staff since the deadline and he is under contract for an additional year
The Red Sox wouldn’t even be close to claiming him on waivers, since both Houston and the Blue Jays had worst records in 2013. Both teams would have to pass on him for the Red Sox to get an opportunity. The rules state that any player put on revocable waivers must clear the league of the player, ranking worst to first and passing that league, it is then the opportunity of the other league to put in a claim, again worst to first.
What do records from 2013 have to do with anything? You are correct on the rule, but can you please read what I actually said, I stated it was doubtful he passes through all NL teams to begin with, and that the Blue Jays would be a long shot based on the Red Sox needs and situation, but even then, Houston and Texas would probably lay a claim as well so the point is moot
Latos for Profar and Alfaro
Profar would be a nice starting point, but don’t think the Reds would have much interest in Alfaro a C/1B when they have Mesoraco and Votto long term.
I think Leake should be the one that gets an extension, Cueto should be traded, and Latos could go either way in Cincy. Trading Leake to an AL club takes away a nice part of his game, his bat. Hitting full time, I’d bet he would be as good as some DHs. Cueto will probably never have higher trade value and I have never seen anyone that hates batting more than him. Sending him to Seattle or Baltimore this offseason for some young arms. Cueto in that Seattle ball park would rival Hernandez for best pitcher on the team. Latos is more of a question mark, I could see both good and bad scenarios for trading him, extending him, and just letting him walk. I have no answer for that one.
Leake is also the weakest SP of that group. He is the easiest to extend because he is the cheapest. Cueto and Latos will cost too much to extend, and Cueto’s injury history deters from being better than felix
Injury in the past doesn’t matter when looking at next year. I’m not saying he will be better than Felix, but he might be. Either way with Iwakuma it would be a top 3 that I wouldn’t want to face in the playoffs.
How does injury history not matter? If Cueto has a track record of injuries then how can you expect him to hold up a full season when he has only held up for 30+ starts once in the last 4 years?
Where exactly are you getting once in the last 4 years? The stats I am looking at show 5 years out of his 7 year career have at least 30 starts (or it will after 2 more starts this year) and a sixth when he had 24 starts. That’s not exactly injury prone.
I excluded this year because it wasn’t over, but nonetheless, he hasn’t consistently started 30+ games a year for about 3 years now
Honestly, I think Mat got on Bob & Walt’s bad side with the way he acts out on the mound when things aren’t going his way. The last time he pitched he yelled at the ump as he was walking off the field. Mat continues to show his immaturity on the mound and he let’s it affect his pitching. Mike Leake has really come into his own and is an athlete. I think he could be a good position player if his pitching goes away. It will be interesting to see what happens next year since brass let us down this year by getting no bats to help out with all of our injuries. We had such high hopes this season and nothing went right…so disappointing:(