Host Jeff Todd is joined by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien to talk Braves. Among other things, O’Brien discusses Atlanta’s recent addition of Juan Uribe and Chris Withrow and its possible plans over the summer.
MLBTR’s Steve Adams also joins the show to talk about the Cardinals’ decisionmaking following the loss of Matt Adams. Jeff and Steve canvass the first base options that St. Louis could explore now and over the summer.
Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and please leave a review! The podcast is also available via Stitcher at this link
The MLB Trade Rumors Podcast runs weekly on Thursday afternoons.
it seems to me that the cheapest/easiest route for the cards would be to claim ishikawa who is DFA personally –
Cheapest and easiest is rarely the best option. I think they should look into the health of Justin Morneau. If that doesn’t work out, then try to work out a trade for Edwin Encarnacion. Neither would be there beyond this season so Adams would be back starting in 2016 and if he came back this season he wouldn’t have to be thrown straight into the fire for the playoffs. He would make either an excellent bench bat for the playoffs or he could get extended rest until next spring.
morneau isn’t going to give you a lot more than ishikawa – plus you will have to give up a package for him, I don’t think the blue jays see themselves as sellers either.
You think the guy that won the batting title last season isn’t better than a guy that has been released 4 times in three years? If healthy, Morneau is a ton better than Ishikawa. Although health is a legitimate concern here.
As far as the Jays go, they don’t have to be “sellers” to trade Encarnacion. Are the Dodgers “sellers” because they traded Uribe? There have been rumored to be moving him before they lose him for nothing (or at best a draft pick).
Why do you think Encarnacion will leave Toronto? He’s got a team option for 2016 for just $10MM that will certainly be picked up.
All I’m going on is that I read several articles that say Encarnacion is on the trade block. Anything beyond that is not in my control.
Might I ask where? I haven’t seen anything suggesting the Jays want to trade EE.
Yeah me either, EE isnt going anywhere.
A little while back right here on MLBTR. They mentioned the Jays could be shopping both EE and Bautista. I didn’t say it was a guarantee that they would just give him to STL, but it might be something worth exploring. Even if EE is not on the block, I guarantee he is not untouchable for the right price.
what I am saying is what you give up for what you get, Defensively and at the plate you get a capable guy who has a good recent track record for 0 prospects holding a 1m salary vs giving up likely prospects and salary for .7 points on the WAR – the biggest issue with most of their options is defense,
.7? Morneau had a 3.2 WAR last season which is double what Ishikawa has accumulated in his entire 7 year career. Sure you might have to give up a prospect or two, but as the old saying goes you get what you pay for. There is usually a reason that you can get a player for nothing in midseason.
You cant compare trading uribe to encarnacion. EE is one of the best power hitters in the MLB and uribe is well… basically an average 3b nowadays.
2014 WAR
Encarnacion – 3.6
Uribe – 4.0
2013 WAR
Encarnacion – 4.0
Uribe – 4.1
They seem pretty comparable to me.
WAR isnt always a good indicater. So are you saying Uribe has equal value to EE?
Not at all. And I agree that WAR is not always accurate because first basemen are usually shortchanged with that statistic. I am just saying they are close enough to be comparable. I believe the first statement was that you couldn’t compare the two. I was just showing that you could compare them fairly easily and it’s not as far apart as one might think based on raw numbers and/or reputation.
Goodluck getting encarnacion, he wont be available until the trade deadline and thats if the jays are waaaay out of it in which is a weaker ALE than normal.
I think if Ishikawa got a chance to be an everyday player he could put up similar number to Adams. Adams isn’t a perineal all star or anything, he has had two nice seasons.
Ryan Howard. Hits well in St. Louis too
St. Louis is on Howard’s No-Trade list. I also read somewhere that he had a major falling out with his family here in St. Louis. It’s unlikely he would want to play there. Cards can explore it, but I’m betting they’re happy to keep trying Mark Reynolds until he proves he can’t play almost every day.
You are correct about his falling out with his family. They scammed him for millions and millions of dollars. One thing that people tend to overlook is Ryan hit very well in St. Louis….2010 and prior. Since then (2011, 14,15 … He did not play any games there in 2012-13) he has hit .265ish including .200 this year). Also his old no trade list is now inconsequential as he is a 10/5 player.
This is farfetched, but how about the braves sending Bethancourt/Jose Peraza or Peterson/Lucas Sims/ + other lower/mid level prospects to the brewers for Braun/Lucroy/Gennett. Braun would be expensive for the Braves but is signed until 2020 so he would play in the new ballpark for a few years.
Hmm interesting as it may be and I would certainly welcome those guys to the Braves, but I believe it would cost the Bravos way more in prospects than as stated. There is a need for a right handed powerbat (Braun) but this need could be addressed via free agency next off season and not cost the farm system such as Cepedis and others, but let’s have fun at what would have to be included, and I’m going to take Gennett out the deal based on what I’ll propose, note I have no idea on the Brewers farm system. So let’s say Braun and Lucroy for Bethancourt, Johnny Gomes, Olzhaino Albies, Lucas Sims, Manny Banuelos. That may get it done, and everything is replaceable from the Braves standpoint
Also I’d check the brew crews interest in Chris Johnson
I have done my research and Albies isnt even ranked a top 100 prospect. So youre saying you want the brewers 2 best players for Basically Banuelos and a couple B and C level prospects.
No way haha, the brewers dont want an aging jonny gomes and the only one you really named with big value is banuelos. You gotta give up something good to get something good.
Albies has very quickly started to shoot up prospect lists. The guy has massive, massive upside and people are just now starting to notice.
id like to see lind here in st Louis….
has a 2016 option but can be bought out cheaply
maybe a lohse and lind trade?
Could the cardinals possibly trade back for Allen Craig? It would cost them very little and he can play first. He would be comfy and is removed from his injuries. He would be in a situation where he has had already seen success. They need a first baseman at least to back up reynolds, so could he be an option?