The Orioles remain tight-lipped on the progress of their offseason talks with Chris Davis and agent Scott Boras, but one person within the organization at least termed the discussions thus far as “productive,” writes MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko. According to Kubatko, the Orioles aren’t turned off by the notion that Davis could command a six- or seven-year pact ranging from $24MM to $26MM in annual value. If nothing else, he notes, the fact that the Orioles haven’t simply walked away due to that price tag is telling of their desire to retain Davis. However, waiting on Davis is at least somewhat risky, as it’s possible that many of Baltimore’s alternatives will sign elsewhere in the meantime, leaving little in the way of options should the team ultimately prove unable to retain the slugger.
A few more items pertaining to the AL East…
- The Orioles are “searching everywhere” for outfield help, writes CSNMidAtlantic.com’s Rich Dubroff. At present, there are seven players on Baltimore’s 40-man roster with outfield experience, but only Adam Jones is the only established regular among them, Dubroff notes. Arbitration eligible players like David Lough and Nolan Reimold could be non-tendered next week, Dubroff writes, though Reimold is a better bet to return than Lough, he adds.
- Former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was a recent guest on the WEEI Hot Stove show, and in discussing David Price‘s impact on the Jays, Anthopoulos called him the “best teammate I’ve ever seen.” Anthopoulos lauded Price for his work ethic and the way in which that rubs off on other players as well as the leadership he exudes in the clubhouse. Said Anthopoulos: “He brings something else more than just the two ERA and the 240 innings and everything else. He leads. He sets a great example. He’ll be a great get for any team that gets him.”
- Chad Jennings of the Journal News profiles some of the potential bargain help on the Yankees‘ roster. While names like Dellin Betances and Luis Severino are obvious picks, Jennings also points out the potential bargain the team could have acquired in buying low on Dustin Ackley, who seems likely to handle the bulk of New York’s second base duties next season. Ackley hit a robust .288/.333/.654 in his tiny sample of work with the Yankees, but getting out of Safeco Field could help him realize his potential. Brendan Ryan‘s $1MM salary looks like a bargain when compared to the two-year, $3.75MM contract commanded by a similar player — Cliff Pennington. And, the Yankees’ successful buy-low on Didi Gregorius last offseason has left the team with a shortstop whose production will far outreach his salary in the coming years.
David Price would be a great fit with the cardinals. Need an inning water at the top of the rotation, and would get along great with a lot of those guys in the clubhouse. Only question is whether or not cardinals would fork up the cash, but he seems to fit right in with the ideology of that organization.
It’s highly unlikely that the Cardinals would invest in two top free agents this off-season. Who should be their priority this winter, an ace like David Price for their rotation or re-signing RF Jason Heyward?
Price would be a nice co-ace with adam wainwright but I think they are going to do everything they can to bring back heyward. They keep saying that price and the cubs is a match made in heaven, I think the cubs should be smart and target jordan zimmermann and john lackey then possibly trade for a pitcher with their deep farm system. I really hope the angels can make a run at heyward
I don’t think the cardinals are really in on price, if they are is be surprised, I think they feel really good on the rotation they have going forward maybe signing a number 3 guy to round it out, adding maybe a bullpen arm and trying to get heyward back into the fold, if they can’t bring back heyward then I see them buying low on a free agent outfielder like Rios, Parra or David Murphy
They could go after the shark or mike leake
I think a return to the central would be good for shark, play against teams he’s familiar with and had success again, and leaks would make sense too since he spent most of his career in the same division, either make sense but the cardinals don’t usually spend big so anything could happen
There’s no point in going after the group of players you listed. The Cardinals have plenty of outfield depth.
Yes they do but they are still looking at other outfield options if heyward doesn’t return and if lackey doesn’t return they’re going to want another solid starter if gonzales isn’t ready to play in the bigs and I’m sure they want an upgrade from Jaime Garcia because his health and performance are unpredictable
I’d rather have Price. Piscotty could step in and put up similar offensive numbers as Heyward would and play an adequate RF.
I mean everyone would like price obviously but the cardinals close to never spend big on free agents other then Beltran or berkman, and that’s not nearly as much as price would cost, and I agree piscotty has great potential same with grichuk and I would be comfortable with that if I was the cards GM but having heyward wouldn’t hurt at all or getting some more depth wouldn’t hurt either
What’s the “fit right in with the ideology of that organization” mean other than “being really good at baseball”?
I think the cards let heyward walk and they go after cheaper options
You must have missed the memo. The Cardinals have a “way” of doing things that makes them morally superior to all other organizations in professional sports. This is very important to Cardinal fans.
I think the Cards make at least one big move with the other teams in the division breathing down their neck.
Marcel Ozuna for Kevin Gausman who says no?
I think the M’s would trade for him but will they give up Walker or Paxton
They’re not giving up Walker. It might be around fair value but Walker is a non-starting point in any trade with the M’s. Also Paxton would require a little more. Even with his upside, his injury history and lack of innings does lower his value.
I wonder if the M’s would dangle Danny Hultzen? he has an injury prone history but he’s still young. Maybe Elis Hultzen and Trumbo since the M’s want to trade him again.
I’m sure they would gladly dangle Hultzen, but similar to Paxton his injury history lowers his value. He has a lot of upside but hasn’t come close to reaching it whereas Paxton at least has hit the major league level.
maybe trumbo and a pitcher would work for Ozuna
Any team could have had Hultzen for free – he has zero trade value.
imagine if a team trades for him and he turns out to be a an ace for that team
No one’s trading for Hultzen any time soon. He was just designated and went unclaimed on waivers, meaning he literally has zero value to any team, not worth a 40 man roster spot
O’s, in a micro-second. Gausman’s better, and the O’s have no need for a CF, which is where Ozuna has value.
Seems to me that Ozuna is down on the pecking order of outfielders available.
Any O’s fan who realizes how desperately they need starting pitching more than an outfielder with great upside.
I don’t think the Cards will spend the money on Price with Wainwright coming back, I see them getting the next tier pitcher.
I think Cashman will look to trade Miller, Gardner, Nova, and some prospects, to obtain a power pitcher and bat in either free agency or trades, or both. I like both the Cubs and Nats as possible matches. Cubs get Miller for Baez or Nats get Gardner and Miller for Ross and Storen.
Again Gardner’s trade value is not high
I am not convinced that Price is going to age all that well. He’s been elite. No doubt. But I am not sure I could give him upwards of $200 Million and 6 or 7 years.
Why does everyone think the yanks want to trade Miller cashman said he would trade him for an ace and I don’t see anyone offering an ace for a closer.
If Dustin Ackley exceeds 750 OPS, I’ll be surprised. Yankee Stadium isn’t going to help him that much.