In another twist regarding the free agent deal he signed out of Cuba, Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes would be effectively precluded from signing with the team as a free agent after this year unless he is traded away in the interim, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. It was already a matter of common knowledge that the club could not make him a qualifying offer after the year, since his deal requires that he be released five days after its conclusion. But Rosenthal now cites a CBA provision providing that a released player also cannot be re-signed by his club until May 15 of the ensuing year. While Detroit could hold Cespedes and attempt to work out an extension at any point up to five days after the World Series, it would otherwise be unable to bring him back unless he sat out a good portion of the 2016 campaign — a highly unlikely scenario. Of course, moving him now would prevent the team from working out a deal until the power-hitting outfielder becomes a free agent. As Rosenthal notes, Cespedes has told friends that he hopes to remain with the Tigers, and Detroit has given every indication that it intends to compete next year even if it moves some pieces this summer.
There are a ton of important deadline developments to cover in the wake of the Scott Kazmir trade, so let’s get to them:
- There is increasing action on Marlins reliever Steve Cishek, as MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald report (Twitter links) that there are multiple clubs involved — some with more apparent interest than the previously-reported Cardinals. The Twins are among the teams continuing to monitor the righty, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets.
- The Dodgers currently have David Price of the Tigers as their number one target, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. But the expectation is that Detroit will hold their decision until next week.
- Indeed, the Giants recently spoke with the Tigers regarding outfielder Rajai Davis, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports on Twitter, but were left with the impression that Detroit is still unsure of its course of action.
- Another player on the Dodgers radar is Rangers righty Yovani Gallardo, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. Though nothing is close, the two clubs have had discussions.
- The Blue Jays sought to land Kazmir before he went to Houston, Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports on Twitter. With the market beginning to move, the team appears to be ramping up is efforts to add a starter, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets.
- Both the Blue Jays and the Royals are “all-in” on Reds starter Johnny Cueto, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden reports (Twitter links). Kansas City is also considering Mike Leake from Cincinnati as well as Jeff Samardzija, Dan Haren, and Mat Latos. But the club is not interested in Cole Hamels, James Shields, or Yovani Gallardo, per the report.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty says he has a green light to sell pieces, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. They’ll make moves “if it makes sense, but we’re not going to give away players,” says Jocketty. “We’ve been talking with a lot of different people, but we haven’t been receiving offers that have us wanting to commit.”
- One rival general manager tells Passan that the Pirates are working hard to move first baseman Pedro Alvarez (Twitter link). We’ve heard previously that Pittsburgh has interest in an upgrade, and presumably it would make an addition if it can find a taker for Alvarez.
- Meanwhile, the Padres are officially open for business, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter). In addition to Justin Upton, the team could move relievers Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit, outfielder Will Venable, and any number of starters. Rosenthal says that Tyson Ross is perhaps the least likely rotation piece to change hands.
As a Royals Fan, would not mind giving some prospects for Cueto, and would even try to get Phillips. He is a great fit. Great defense plus a offensive improvement over Infante.
I’m curious which prospects you, as a Royals fan, would view as a fair return for Cueto.
As far as Brandon Phillips, he has 10/5 rights and is unlikely to approve a trade. Seeing him waive that seems unlikely, especially to another small market team.
I don’t know much about the royals minor league system, but I think Finnegan and another top prospect should do it. But as i said before, i dont know that much about KC prospects.
The Reds would have to eat money for the Royals to be able to take on Phillips’ contract. This would likely increase the overall cost prospect-wise. Not to mention the fact that Infante would still be on the books. Perhaps Infante would be headed the other direction to facilitate the money side of things if they really wanted to make this happen.
If the Kazmir deal is any indication of the likely return for Cueto or Leake the Reds might be better off making qualifying offers… I’m thrilled to hear that the Blue Jays and Royals are ‘all-in’ on Cueto, but I hope that’s not just motivated by the rapid shift into a buyers market…
Kazmir’s return is probably similar to that of Mike Leake. Cueto is a couple notches above Kazmir, so a return of a top 25-50 prospect and a lotto ticket or 2 would be my guess, which I would prefer over a draft pick
Kazmir is much, much better than Leake. He has a 2.38 ERA this year in the American League. His return isn’t going to be that much worse than Cueto’s. Sorry to say that you’ll be very disappointed in what Cueto brings back. You can thank Walt and his insistence on waititing for that.
I am not a Reds fan, and I honestly don’t agree with you. Kazmir is better than Leake, but leake is about as durable and reliable as it gets throughout his career. xFIP compares them pretty evenly, They have similar walk rates, Leake has a better GB% and Kazmir has a higher K rate. Kazmir is a decent #2 while Leake is a #3. Cueto is an established ace with injury concerns, and is better than Kazmir across the board. Forgive if I’m wrong but I would pay SO much more for Cueto than I would either of the other 2
From the way I’ve seen Cueto and Kazmir pitch lately, I’d guess that Kazmir will do at least as well as Cueto in the next 2.5 months.
The rentals with the possible exception of David Price are not going to bring back a big treasure trove.
Kazmir has a tendency to fade as he pitches too much, as he has pitched over 200 IP once in his career in 2007. Cueto has thrown 200+ 2 of the last 3 years with him being injured in 2013. I will take Cueto every single time over Kazmir
Cueto isn’t going to get the huge package you’re waiting for. I REALLY hate to break it to you.
We will wait and see, the package I listed off was not huge. 1 decent prospect and a couple of lotto tickets doesn’t make or break a farm system
Not so sure it was ever a sellers market.
Wow, that’s what I’ve been saying all along. Walt made a terrible decision to wait until the market shifted, and will pay for it. I told you that you were wrong.
Who says the market ‘shifted’, it was completely undefined until now.
Haha. Nope.
Billy Beane likes the prospects he likes. I wouldn’t take the package he got into meaning that teams aren’t willing to offer more prospects for other pitchers
They needs to bring the mods back, just to ban you
You really do need banned
Price has said he loves batting why would he hate the NL again?
Stop feeding him, let him cry and ignore him.
You have no baseball knowledge. You are just an ultimate Yankee homer with some sort of love for David Price and disdain for Severino.
As a Royals fan, i’m surprised nobody has mentioned Phillips. I would give up Mondesi, Finnegan and company for Cueto and Phillips. He is a great fit, awsome defense and a great improvement offensively.
What do you do with Infante and his large long-term contract?
I’m a Royals fan, and I’m glad you’re not the GM. Mondesi is the Royals 2B or SS of the future (who is holding his own in AA at age 19), and Finnegan is an already MLB-ready reliever who projects long-term as at least an average starter. Why would you give that up for two months of Cueto and the next two years of BP’s fading career? Don’t get me wrong…I love Brandon Phillips. But I’m not giving up a great 19-year-old prospect to get him at age 34.
Padres are the most likely landing spot for Alvarez IMO. Most of Pedro’s problems seem to be mental. Padres interim Manager, Pat Murphy is actually Pedro’s father-in-law. Maybe that would help him get his career back on track.
I was thinking Pedro + prospects for Yonder Alonso and Clint Barmes. And not Josh Bell or Tyler Glasnow before someone brings them up.
Murphy is an interim manager.
chapman hates the American League… he has said to never want to be a part of the yankees team because of fans like “scann”
I’m not a fan…I’m a representative of the brand…..Does Chapman know the difference between the Leagues Anyways……..
Hope Pirates can move Alvarez so they can then do a deal for Moreland.
I just hope they can move him for anything. Even if they just get international money or a competitive balance pick.
..
Tehran, Gomes, Jim Johnson+ for Meadows, Mcguire, and Pedro Alvarez?
stupid..?
That is a little much. I do not think the Pirates would be interested in Gomes. Uribe maybe though.
Way too much. Pirates aren’t giving up Meadows and McGuire, especially in the same deal unless the return in mind-blowing. This…isn’t.
I think not signing back until May 15 with the team that traded you the season prior should apply to all players. We wouldn’t see things like the Cubs trading Hammel last year to Oakland and getting him back seemingly immediately.
That’s not what the article says at all. The article says that the CBA has a provision that says they can’t resign him IF THEY RELEASE HIM (i.e. he finishes the season with Detroit and then becomes a free agent after being released (since his contract requires him to be released)). It says if they trade him though, then they can resign him.
Blue Jays need to trade Norris and get a top SP and also a CP , Royals should go all for an ace and OF like Parra, CLE could trade Jose Ramirez and others for a good hitter, Mets should trade a prospect like Amed Rosario and get a good hitter
Okay
Stove’s heating up baby!
If the LA gets Price, goodnight Irene
People said that when the Tigers got Price last year too
Doesn’t mean much but Kershaw has not been consistent in the postseason in his career. His career playoff ERA is 5.12. I will still start him over everyone just a funny anomaly.
Yeah take out the 2 innings he got beat around last year in the NLCS and you’d see typical Kershaw numbers. Just a SSS.
The thing is, the postseason is ALL about small sample sizes (just ask David Eckstein.) Saying that he was “typical Kershaw” except for two innings doesn’t really mean much. “Typical Kershaw” doesn’t have those two innings happen in the first place. Look back at his game logs over the last two years: he’s only given up more than 3 ER five times, and two of those happened in the playoffs. He has, in fact, been less consistent during the postseason than during the regular season.
I’d send cueto to the blue jays for Norris and Sanchez if they want Chapman with him I’d ask for Pompey and lower level prospect. I’d definitely trade Bruce to the angels or orioles. Send leak to the royals with Byrd for if you and get mondesi sure probably not though but I’d get some hitters vallot. Franco. O’kearn
I think Walt Jocketty would as well.
Why not make some calls to those teams to set things up, then call Walt.
Jocketty needs to get it going
I actually think a Strasburg for Kimbrel trade would make a lot of sense (with the Nats throwing in a prospect or 2). Stras can go home to San Diego, and the Padres can get a controllable pitcher for the next 2 seasons, and I really think Stras can use a change of scenery, and maybe going home will help him out. The Pads next year having a rotation of Shields, Strasburg, & Ross would be pretty good.
Meanwhile on the Nats side, with Joe Ross’s emergence this year (Thanks Preller!), and with Tanner Roark starting 31 games last year they can afford to move a SP arm to get back something of need. The bridge between the starting rotation and Drew Storen is in complete disarray. Plus, the Nats relievers (Storen included) don’t really strike out that many, so would be nice to have someone in there that can strike someone out. Joe Ross could fill in for Stras for the rest of the season, and even in the playoffs a 1-2 of Scherzer & Zimmermann would still be pretty good and the bullpen would be a bit stronger.
This trade won’t happen, but I think it would be a beneficial trade that works out for both sides.
for the Pirates Tulowitzki + $15 million or so in salary relief for Jordy Mercer, Josh Bell and either of McGuire or Diaz
Wouldn’t be enough to get it done. Probably would have to start at Austin Meadows, Bell, etc.
Do the trades have to involve players or can a team use money to trade for a player? ie some prospects + $$ for a player. I could see a team with deep pockets essentially buying a player, ie Dodgers buying Price, and keeping prospects.
Tigers don’t need money. They need Puig.