The GM Meetings are underway with a bang, at least according to Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. He says “it’s actually been a busier first day than normal,” as Ian Browne of MLB.com tweets, and actually indicated that he thought the team had already been very close to striking a trade before it fell apart. Dombrowski was among the baseball operations leaders who spoke with the media today, and we’ll be covering the comments of him and others over the course of the evening.
Here’s the latest from the AL East:
- The Red Sox are chasing at least one or two good arms in the pen, said Dombrowski (via Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald, on Twitter). He’d like one of those pitchers to be capable of backing up Koji Uehara as the team’s closer. Indeed, Dombrowski declined to rule out the possibility of adding a pitcher who has served recently in a 9th-inning role.
- Dombrowski said that the Red Sox’ highly-regarded group of prospects has drawn quite a bit of interest, as Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweets. “Yes, I will say that unequivocally,” he explained. The veteran executive also indicated that he’s feel comfortable with the organization’s array of young talent even if some were utilized in trade, as Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports on Twitter. For more on Boston’s stock of trade chips, check out this piece from the Globe’s Alex Speier.
- The Rays struck an important trade just days ago, of course, but that doesn’t mean the club’s work is done, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. President of baseball operations Matt Silverman said that the organization “still [has] some areas to address,” though that deal means that the focus is now narrower. He added that he sees the club’s current “depth” as a means of addressing those needs. A trade of James Loney — and some of his $8MM salary — could be pursued now that Logan Morrison is in the fold, Topkin suggests.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman largely rejected the notion of pursuing former Mets infielder Daniel Murphy in free agency, as Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports. “I think if we’re going to pursue something … we have two offensive-profile players already at that position,” Cashman replied when asked about Murphy. “So I think if we did any changing there it would be seeking more balance of both sides of the ball.” Cashman was, of course, referring to Rob Refsnyder and Dustin Ackley. The former is regarded as a strong hitting prospect who lacks defensive polish, while the latter was moved to the outfield by his former club.
I wonder what the near-trade was…
With the reference to the relievers, the obvious choices are Chapman and Kimbrel, but maybe something could be built with the Mariners? Dipoto just spent months sifting through the Boston organization, so he must have a pretty good idea as to who he could target. Maybe a deal for Carson Smith or Tom Wilhemsen? Those are the two obvious choices
The Mariners, who this season posted an OPS+ of 102 and an ERA+ of 91, are looking to add pitching, not subtract pitching.
probably pitching with Seattle, since Dipito has intricate knowledge of their prospects, and now knows what he has to trade with his new team. Dipoto did the analytics for Boston after leaving the Angels
Better make sure the bullpen is at least two pitchers and possibly a third. One possibly two will not fix what is broken.
I could not agree more, you have to figure that Uehara and Tazawa will be back, add in Barnes and maybe Ross, that leaves 3 more openings. I would have to guess at least 2 arms are slotted between Uehara and Tazawa, and maybe the last answer is Joe Kelly?
I don’t think Kelly has even been a good reliever, and the very benefit of having him throw harder for shorter periods of time actually makes him pitch worse. I’d trade Barnes. I’d possibly keep Ross. Varvaro is still on the roster and could be an adequate reliever if they choose to retain him. Depending on who gets moved in the off season, either Owens, Wright or Johnson could work out of the pen as a 6th man/long reliever. Workman will be back at some point next season and I guess it’s possibly Light could break camp with the team. But yeah, right now its Uehara, Taz, and not a lot else.
I read a report that said DD expects Barnes will break camp as a reliever, that’s why i penciled him in, but I get your point. Nonetheless, a trade for a legit hard-throwing reliever and a possible signing of a reliever from the high end of the FA market would be a step in the right direction. Ideally, the top five in the ‘pen are Acquisition/Uehara/FA signing/Tazawa/Ross
I can still see having Uehara breaking camp with the team as the closer, and keeping an acquisition as the primary setup guy in case he falters. I think he’s earned the right to that at least. Heck he earned the right by making that final throw with the broken wrist. And ideally yes, one trade and a second free agent would work. There are definitely enough commodities in the minors that could be used to acquire hard throwing bullpen pieces. But I wouldn’t be upset if they got three relievers and even left the ace for later. That pen was so bad last year it made the starters look good in comparison.
I’d settle for Badenhop as one. Better than any of the misfits brought in during 2015, exception being possibly Ross and Hopper only cost couple million as a FA after the down year he had in Cincy.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Rays trade Loney for some bullpen help, or a middle infield back up.
Not sure you even get that. He was well below replacement level last year, and is making $9m.
IMO? Loney has less value than LoMo due to him being owed 9m. Singles hitting all glove 1b that hasn’t had a .350 OBP since 2009 making 9.5m? Tampa will be paying more than half that deal just to give him away for nothing. LoMo made 2.7m and had “some” power, just can’t hit lefties and his glove isn’t very good.
It’s really a tossup, both are all warts.
A Loney trade would be a salary dump or salary swap. They Rays are looking at getting rid of his contract not trading him for something good.
No one will take that big contract . Rays would have to eat at least 4 or 5 mil. Might as well keep him.
He is making 8 mil.
DD regards Chris Sale more highly than Price. Look for him to see what he could put together for an ace with a team friendly contract before breaking the bank in a bidding war with Theo for Pricey.
Honestly? I would prefer Sale, but I would take Price over him because of the absurd prospect haul that it would take to get him. Same goes for Gray, I would prefer both to Free agency, but the second the price starts including one of Betts, Bogaerts, Moncada, or E-Rod, which it would probably have to, I would walk away
Marc Topkin is an idiot cannot stand him and others in Tampa. The press need to hire another person. No one will eat loney’s 8 mil salary. Morrison could ply first but he could dh and let shaffer play first . Platoon shaffer and Morrison at dh and keep loney at 1st. Loney better defensively anyway.
If I’m a sox fan, I’m a little nervous about DD looking for bullpen arms. Spent large sums of money on relief arms in Detroit with pretty poor results.