In his latest notes column, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com addressed a number of interesting deadline issues, starting with Reds starter Johnny Cueto. There have been suggestions over concern among buyers with the health of the star righty, but Heyman cites one scout from a team with interest who tells him that Cueto “looks fine.” As far as interest, Heyman pegs the Blue Jays, Royals, Yankees, Dodgers, and Astros as “the most likely and logical landing spots.”
Here are some other highlights from an info-packed piece (which you’ll want to read in full for even more notes):
- The Braves are shopping the recently-acquired Juan Uribe, says Heyman, with the asking price of a “mid-range prospect” and full unloading of the approximately $3MM left on Uribe’s deal. Atlanta has had communications with at least the Mets, per the repor.
- While the Orioles had been looking at adding a starter, Heyman reports that the team now may instead be prioritizing bats. Though the report doesn’t specify a position, we’ve heard in the past that Baltimore had interest in adding to its corner outfield mix.
- Heyman writes that it’ll be interesting to see if Angels lefty C.J. Wilson becomes “even more available” now that Jerry Dipoto has resigned as the general manager. Per Heyman, Wilson was close with Dipoto, and the Wilson signing (five years, $77.5MM) was the one significant free agent pickup that Dipoto was actually responsible for. Angels owner Arte Moreno was behind the Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton signings, as many other reports have indicated over the years.
- The Brewers are officially open for business and “may be considering a rather big sale,” one competing team exec tells Heyman. Interest in Jean Segura is down due to his poor play since an early 2013 breakout, but Gerardo Parra’s big year has lots of clubs asking about him. Mike Fiers, Wily Peralta and Francisco Rodriguez are drawing interest, and the Brewers are open to packaging some of those players to improve the return.
- The Jon Niese saga continues, as Heyman hears that the lefty now doesn’t seem particularly available, with one Mets person telling Heyman that Niese never really was. In other Mets news, Heyman hears that the team floated the idea of a Rafael Montero-for-Ben Zobrist swap when Montero was still healthy, but Montero, of course, has since been injured. The Mets have also talked about Uribe, but there are other names higher on their list.
- While some have connected the Pirates to Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur, the Bucs might be aiming a bit higher, looking at Marlon Byrd of the Reds and Aramis Ramirez of the Brewers — both former Pirates. Heyman lists Ben Zobrist as a target for the Bucs as well. Earlier today the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bill Brink linked Pittsburgh to Zobrist, Cliff Pennington and Clint Barmes.
- Yovani Gallardo could hit the trade market if the Rangers end up selling short-term pieces, and he’s not interested in springing for an early extension with his hometown team. Agent Bobby Witt has apparently told the Rangers that Gallardo is looking forward to testing the free agent market.
Obviously it’s just BS. Why anyone would take a *RIVAL EXECUTIVE’S* word on a player they want seriously, I don’t know. Obviously just trying to drive his price down.
His price dropped the second Prices names been floated
Uribe and a top 25-30 prospect to Mets for either Urena(more likely) or Dominic Smith? I want Smith because we don’t have a 1B in our top 30…but probably won’t be able to..
I understand that Segura’s power is way down, but he’s hitting .276
Before today’s homerun his last 38 hits were singles, he barely walks, his OBP is horrible. As a Brewers fan he is not good and an average SS at best.
A .276 BA with a .314 BABIP isn’t great at all.
He’s actually hitting .282 after 3 more hits including a bomb off a pitcher that was throwing 98 last night and a stolen base.
Nobody said he was a great offensive player, but as SS go, he’s okay. He doesn’t take a lot of walks but he has 14 steals in 17 attempts. He makes a few errors, but has decent range and a plus, plus, arm. His throw to double up Bourn last night was a laser.
I am an Angels fan and am not really sure why we are listed as a logical landing spot for Cueto. In this same post, we talk about shopping CJ Wilson — so obviously starting pitching is not something we are in need of. We have Heaney performing extremely well, Weaver coming off the DL soon, and Skaggs coming off the DL after 2015. Cueto is a top 10 arm, and I really like him and Heyman is usually on the money, but I don’t get this.
What we really do need is Jay Bruce or a comparable OF/DH bat. Justin Upton, Adam Lind, Carlos Gomez, Hanley Ramirez, and Carlos Gonzalez are all guys that make much more sense for example. We need a bat because, while guys like Efren Navarro, Daniel Robertson, and Taylor Featherston have filled enough admirably, I do not want to rely on them come October.
Get it done Angels Front Office!
EDIT: So I actually clicked on the Heyman article and it was actually the LOS ANGELES DODGERS linked to Cueto — which totally makes sense. Get it fixed MLBTR!
The article has no mention of the Angels, but does mention the Dodgers.
Yeah that was an odd error on my part. Fixed.
Is there any Pirates fan out there who would like to see A-Ram back in Pittsburgh?
I’d like the move for the right price. Keep Kang at SS and give Polanco a bit longer of a leash in RF. When Harrison comes off the DL in late August, he can take over RF.
I am not open to A. Ramirez. I would rather see us go for a Mitch Moreland and let A. Hanson come up. Wouldn’t mind letting Walker try third and have Hanson at 2nd. I am up for trading Alvarez to an AL club where he can be a DH. Maybe snag an available infielder for him. Any thoughts???
Segura’s hitting .429 in July (24 for 56). Peralta isn’t going anywhere. Heyman doesn’t have a clue.
Is there any timetable for Montero’s return? I haven’t been able to find any reports about his injury or the progress of it.