Despite very public statements indicating that the team is all in on 2015, the Orioles are now giving “serious consideration” to selling, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. As Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports notes (Twitter links), Baltimore owner Peter Angelos has previously been disinclined to authorize such a move, but that could change (at least in theory) with several of the team’s better players set to reach free agency. Of course, executive vice president Dan Duquette said on Wednesday that his club will be a buyer. But a sweep at the hands of the division-leading Yankees has certainly impacted the team’s chances of making a run at the AL East.
Here’s more from the division:
- The Blue Jays remain in “active discussions” with the White Sox about right-hander Jeff Samardzija, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The Jays have been said to have “strong” interest in adding Samardzija, a potential free agent at the end of the season. Upgrading the pitching staff is the Blue Jays’ top priority in the week leading up to the trade deadline, and Samardzija, whose eight-inning gem on Thursday dropped his ERA to 3.91, would certainly do that. Over his past eight outings, Samardzija has a 2.55 ERA, and he’s lasted at least seven innings in each of those contests. As Peter Gammons pointed out earlier today on Twitter, for a team with bullpen woes in addition to rotation troubles, adding a pitcher that is capable of effectively working deep into games should carry even greater appeal.
- If the Tigers do end up selling, the Blue Jays will have interest in closer Joakim Soria, tweets Anthony Fenech of the Detroit News. Soria would be a pure rental, as he’s a free agent at the end of the year. He’s earning $7MM and has posted an even 3.00 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in his 39 innings this season, though he’s also had an unusually difficult time with home runs, which could make pitching at the Rogers Centre a challenge.
- The Blue Jays’ pursuit of Scott Kazmir illustrates that it’s “becoming more clear” that the team is open to a rental acquisition, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Davidi notes that the Kazmir talks were never going to get off the ground based on the asking price — “think Jeff Hoffman or Daniel Norris,” says Davidi — especially considering Kazmir’s injury scares. Health concerns are another reason to wonder if the Blue Jays will seriously pursue Johnny Cueto or not, he adds. While the Blue Jays may be warming to the idea of a rental arm, they can’t afford to have their acquisition miss any time, and Cueto’s had a pair of minor elbow issues in 2015.
- While the Blue Jays made a “big push” to land Carlos Carrasco from the Indians, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link), the trade simply “didn’t get done.” Cleveland isn’t necessarily motivated to trade a starter, though they’re also not entirely ruling out the possibility.
- The Yankees have shown at least some interest in Marlins righty Mat Latos, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports on Twitter. They join a growing list of clubs that have shown some inclination to take a chance on Latos’s resurgence and past success. New York has given public indication that it is not lining up any major moves, but it would be surprising if it does not at least make a few acquisitions at areas of need, and rotation depth could certainly make sense.
shark for a package of 2-3 prospects centered around pompey or pentecost would be pretty interesting for the sox. How would jays fans feel about that?
Was just typing something along the lines of Pentecost being the name heard throughout Chicago… But here’s the thing: that’s just not likely.
I get that Pentecost has been hurt this year, but a team would be foolish to deal the 11th pick from a season ago in exchange for the 5h best rental on the market.
If you really think Shark is worth a team’s top-6 prospects, then you slept through the day yesterday.
oh its highly unrealistic for it to occur. I do feel pompey would be more likely as of right now but still unlikely. if one of them is in the deal I’d be shocked if any other players are of any significance at the time such as the peavy trade a few years ago avisail and 3 throw ins where one has really developed.
Scott Kazmir has been better the past 2 years and he just got dealt for a team’s 20th and 26th ranked prospects. Granted, the Astros farm is unlike almost every other teams – but neither of those guys are as highly regarded as either Pentecost or Pompey.
The market has been set for guys that slot into the 2-3 spot in a rotation. And that’s not good for the White Sox.
Those are also preseason rankings. nottingham will almost be a guarantee to be top 10 in the stros system next year.
Those are both very low level players which is another thing you have to look at. Those could just be guys beane targeted rather than what the stros were willing to offer.
I still have at least a half dozen guys ahead of him – and that’s not including a draft class that included two top-5 picks and competitive balance round pick where they selected a top-10 talent.
okay top 12 in a loaded system is top 8 in every other system. Hes sniffing top 100 lists right now so its not like the a’s got garbage for kazmir.
Like I said before Beane most likely targeted those players and held out until they gave in with nottingham. He doesn’t function like most gm’s he always has this vibe that he needs to explain his trades
I would have to disagree with you on Nottingham.. He has already started cracking top prospects lists.. Try to remember the last time Beane traded for a little known catching prospect at a trade deadline.. His name was Josh Donaldson.. Beane’s scouting department seems to have a gift for spotting quality catchers..
Pretty good! If we can hold onto Norris and Hoffman i’d be amazed. Jeff Blair said it best though, organizations aren’t excited about our positional Player prospects, teams view Pompey as a 4th outfielder, I’m not sure about Pentecost. I’d be very surprised if we can land a top starter without giving up pitching.
I doubt one bad month in the major leagues really impacted Pompey’s projections already
I’d be fine with that as long as Norris or Hoffman are not involved. Add in Quintana and the Sox could have both Pentecost and Pompey as well as Castro
Too much for a rental.
Rick Hahn is going to want atleast 1 major league ready player in this trade.
completely agree. realistically a 1 for 1 trade may occur but if the sox come away with any of the top 4 guys in the jays system the sox did pretty well
Yep. I mean I think the reason they didnt trade with the Astros is they didnt want prospects that far away from the majors. Even though I think the A’s came out well with that trade. Jacob Nottingham is only 20 and a few years away.
He might get a major league utility player for Shark… but realistically, he’s looking at a very low return. A few weeks ago, I suggested Christian Villauneva and Pierce Johnson in a deal back to the Cubs. Everyone told me it was too low an offer. But after the Kazmir trade yesterday, I’m convinced that it was too high an offer.
I’m convinced that Hahn will take the comp pick than sell for a major league utility player.
He might have to. The market is too flooded. Hahn should’ve sold on Shark 3 weeks ago. The only people who thought the Sox had any chance are employed by their front office. MAJOR mistake. Comp pick is not nearly the return he’d have gotten at the beginning of July.
Your acting like the deadline is over. There’s a week left with some major smoke coming from the Blue Jays side.
It’s not about it being over… it’s about waiting until the market became flooded with BETTER pitchers. When better options exist, it prevents you from asking for better players in return.
Better options might exist, but the market comes back when teams swing and miss on acquiring a pitcher. Not every team will get Cueto or Price…and when they miss…they’ll be on Shark
and a side note – Villanueva and Pierce Johnson are BOTH better than a comp pick. Hell, Johnson WAS a comp pick. So to think the Sox are going to draft someone considerably better than him is unlikely.
I have to disagree. If we were talking baout john danks, if contracts were similar, yes sox would get a utility player. This however is completely different. Kazmir has injury history that may have pushed his value down and some still don’t few him as a top arm due to his fall a few years back.
with the QO sox will not let a utility player replace that simple as that. A shark trade will either a. have 2-3 guys who have potential or b. 1-2 guys with one being a top prospect. If you look at Hahn functions that really has been his strategy outside of the alex rios trade to texas a few years back but that was more of a salary dump
…says only White Sox fans. Scouts, analysts, and pretty much everyone that doesn’t live on the south side of Chicago says they’d be lucky to get a single B-prospect in return for Shark.
yeah? This is coming from a brewers fan so nice guess. Every year trades are over analyzed cause prospects are way over valued by fans. I can almost guarantee Shark will not be traded for a b- prospect that isn’t on any radars. Most likely a top 10 prospect and 2 other guys depending on who the headliner is.
I think they pick up a major league player and try and resign Shark over the winter
kazmir’s injury history is overrated. he’s made over 60 starts (1 was in triple a) in the last 2 years while pitching extremely well.
Disagree….every team knew they could wait the Sox out until now and drive the price down. It was out of Hahn’s hands whether he could be dealt sooner, most likely
Orioles need to trade Matusz, Hunter, Davis, Wieters, Snider, Chen and Norris. Would hate to see O’Day go elsewhere, and especially Tillman if he can pull out a Jake Arrieta and turn his entire career around. O’s need to trade for major-league-ready talent that is controllable and make a legit shot at FA this upcoming year with all of the money they will have saved. Chen and Wieters alone should get a shiny haul back.
O’s can then call up Alvarez who is raking in AAA as well as Walker and Clevenger and get extended looks at Wright, Wilson, Givens, and possibly Gamboa or Terry Doyle.
Imagine Oday in Toronto, I’m sure him and Bautista would get in a fist fight and when Jose wins he makes him throw at Adam Jones
Chris Davis would be a great fit in St. Louis if the Orioles decide to sell.
But delusional Reds fans are telling me that Cueto’s injury concerns should have NO negative effect on his value. LOL.
I know for by looking back a few threads on the Reds page you said the exact same thing. You said why should anyone pay attention to the injury because it was all an attempt to bring his price down. You are litterly one of the delusional Reds fans lol
The only way I see any of the Jays top ten prospects moving at the deadline is for another high-level pitcher that comes with five years of control at least and doesn’t cost a king’s ransom. For rentals – top five prospects aren’t even in the equation for any players, because a team is trading for 10 – 12 starts maximum with no guarantees the player will be retained. Kazmir proved that theory correct when he was traded for two players that MIGHT be in a teams top ten 1 – 2 years from now, but again, nothing is guaranteed. For the Shark, I could see the Jays trading Dwight Smith or Labourt, with another low-level prospect thrown in, but if the White Sox think they will get Pentecost, Hoffman, Norris, Pompey, Nay, Castro, or Osuna, it isn’t happening. Osuna is already on the team with Norris in the wings in case of injury, providing they leave Sanchez in the pen. Castro has proven he can pitch in the majors and in 2016, the Jays will need at least 2 starters to replace Dickey and Buerhle. They won’t get that and it creates even more holes in the roster trading anyone of value for a pure rental. That is how I see it and I’m sure others will disagree. lol.
The only rentals who should cost us one of Norris/Hoffman are Price and Cueto. I think everyone else not on the ML roster should be in play however.
Trading years of Hoffman or Norris for 12 starts from Cueto or Price makes zero sense. I hope AA feels the same way.
What do the White sox wants for Samardzija???
I would say someone major league ready with atleast 3 seasons of control left
My thought are what if the jays reach out to a bubble team in the NL like them selfs who have pitching and need hitting. maybe work something out were they trade double E for pitching just a thought i’m sure they could work something out………………….. Any thoughts