Reds GM Walt Jocketty indicated that his team could either sell off pieces or continue trying to contend at this year’s trade deadline, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. Cincinnati entered action today sitting five games under .500 and 14.5 games back of the division-leading Cardinals.
“I think we’ll see how it plays out. We’re prepared to go either way,” said Jocketty. “We’re certainly not throwing in the towel. If people are interested in our guys, we’ll certainly listen and see if there’s something that makes sense to make us better in the long run.”
Jocketty said that he’s received contact from teams interested in the club’s veterans, but indicated that he has not been targeted for chats in an overly aggressive manner. He explained: “I’ve had some calls for a while. Nothing out of the order.”
The Cincinnati GM also made clear that he had no interest in dealing away All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier. He made clear that recent speculation about interest from the Mets was without basis. “He’s too valuable to our club,” Jocketty said. “I think all that came from when we were in New York. It made sense. The Mets need a third baseman. He’s from that area.”
While a move involving the controllable Frazier always seemed unlikely, the Reds obviously possess a series of highly desirable, relatively short-term commodities. Leading the way is top starter Johnny Cueto, who could be dealt along with rotation mate Mike Leake before they reach free agency after the season. Likewise, closer Aroldis Chapman is only under contract through 2016, and would be likely to return quite a haul if dealt. Other players who could theoretically be shipped out include outfielders Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd as well as reliever Manny Parra.
Whatever course the team takes, Jocketty left the impression that he does not intend to full gut the roster. “Even if we do make some deals, or if we don’t, we will try to keep this club as competitive as possible for the remainder of the year,” he said.
The Reds’ delusion is hilarious.
“Even if we do make some deals, or if we don’t, we will try to keep this club as competitive as possible for the remainder of the year.”
This is hilarious.
Mortgaging our future for (according to FanGraphs) a less than 1% shot to make the playoffs. That’s just hilarious.
Jay Bruce for Rafael Montero and Wilmer Flores (Mets)
Marlon Byrd for Jake Jewell and Greg Mahle (Angels)
Cueto for Luis Torrens, Mason Williams and Jose Pirela (Yankees)
Mike Leake for Mitch Nay and Dwight Smith (Blue Jays)
Manny Parra for Felipe Rivero (Nationals)
Chapman for Billy Mckinney, Albert Almora and Daniel Lockehart
Todd Frazier for Nick Castellanos, Steven Mota, and Tyler Collins
Just spitballin’ here.
That is nowhere near enough for Frazier.
The majority of those trades are really light in returns going to the reds
Agreed, the Frazier one was particularly bad. He would get a kings ransom in return. One of the best players in MLB this year, 2 team friendly years left on contract. In middle of prime.
Cueto would likely be a top 100 guy + mid level. Leake a couple of mid level prospects. Chapman would get at least one top 100 guy with the possibility of more.
Mckinney is a top 100 guy, and Almora is a former top 100 guy.
The Reds only need to re-tool, not rebuild.
They should look to trade Cueto, Leake, Chapman and Byrd.
Cueto to Dodgers for Z. Lee / Schebler / Barnes
Chapman to Cubs for Baez and McKinney
Byrd to Angels for Nate Smith
Phillips and Leake to Yankees for Sanchez and Pirela
2016 REDS:
1B) VOTTO
2B) PIRELA / BARNES
SS) BAEZ / Suarez
3B) FRAZIER
C) STEWART / Barnhart
LF) MESORACO / SCHEBLER
CF) HAMILTON
RF) BRUCE / McKinney
P) BAILEY / DeSCLAFANI / Z. LEE / LORENZEN / SMITH / IGLESIAS
RP) HOOVER / CONTRERAS / CINGRANI / PARRA / MATTHEUS / BADENHOP / DIAZ
1) Hamilton (cf)
2) Votto (1b)
3) Frazier (3b)
4) Bruce (rf)
5) Mesoraco or Schebler (lf)
6) Baez (ss)
7) Stewart (c)
8) Pirela or Barnes (2b)
I really hope TOR does a Cueto/Chapman package….I’d give up the farm for these guys
A couple of questions
Who is Stewart and why is he replacing Mesoraco behind the plate? What are you planning to do with Zack Cozart? No bullpen improvements at all?
Very light return on Cueto. He’ll return a top 50 guy plus a couple of lottery ticket types at least. Think Angels trade for Greinke or Brewers deal for Sabathia. Reds will never trade Chapman within the division.
Cueto/Chapman for Norris, Castro, Nay & Reid-Folley?
Honestly, for both of them I would start at Norris + Pompey and filler if I was Jocketty. Would they get that? Probably not, but an ace and dominant closer (with another year of team control) for the stretch run would cost a lot.
If that’s all it cost get it done AA
Norris is a AAA pitcher (with a 3 something ERA). I don’t care who you are, no AAA pitcher is an “ace.” And Pompey is barely a major league player at this point. You don’t get even half a year of Cueto plus Chapman for that package. For those guys you’re talking Norris or Hoffman plus Pentecost.
1) Stewart is a highly touted Catcher in the Yankees Organization, and he
would replace Mesoraco because when he returns, they plan on moving
him to LF.
2) Cozart can be used as trade bait.
3) Bullpen improvements will come via FA.
4) The return for a rental is good getting 3 players that are all projected to be good in
the Majors. Schebler is ready to start in LF right now.. Zach Lee is ready to go as too.
Barnes is a 2b/c with a high upside, and would replace Phillips. Maybe the Reds get
De Leon instead of Lee, Maybe Sweeney instead of Barnes.
5)
Chris stewart is a washed up 33 yr old catcher, not touted at all and he was traded to the pirates, your ideas are very passive, mesoraco is like a franchise hitter and a good catcher with a good bat.
To me that looks like another sub .500 team. So question is…do you coast with 75 wins or sell more off and try to go the big rebuild.
Might sound crazy but I think Houston has the depth to make this trade possible and still contend:
Correa and Altuve for Cueto and Chapman
Then Leake and Phillips can go to NYY for whatever steroid injected pitchers they, literally, farm.
Not throwing in the towel? They’re five games under and set to lose a good chunk of their team to FA over the next two seasons. If now isn’t the time to start rebuilding I don’t know when is.
I’d love to see the Bucs get Byrd back. They struggle terribly against LHP and Byrd crushes lefties. Plus, frankly, Polanco has not worked out thus far and they could use an upgrade in RF. With Polanco being a lefty, I wouldn’t straight platoon but hopefully Byrd sits enough for his option not to trigger. Then he can seek another big payday this off-season.
I can see something like Locke and a prospect like Jacoby Jones/Max Moroff in return. That’s basically what they gave the Mets for him a few seasons ago (in this case, a little better pitcher but a little inferior position prospect). Locke would give them some rotation help when they lose Leake and they’d save some $$$.
What is Jockettys supposed to say? He’s old school in his media approach. He’s not going to come out and beg teams to take players with the AS Game approaching…and he’s definitely not going to even intimate that Frazier is available right now…that would give the commentators major material during the break.