Yankees GM Brian Cashman is downplaying the team’s interest in free agents, writes George A. King III of the New York Post. The Yankees are shopping veterans Ivan Nova, Brett Gardner, and Andrew Miller, but talks have subsided for the moment. According to Cashman, “I think it’s more likely that we keep them than move them. I say that recognizing that if someone wants to ring a bell that I’ve put out there, that could happen.”
Here’s more from the AL East:
- The Yankees don’t have a spot for recently non-tendered slugger Pedro Alvarez, writes King. Before considering the roster, Alvarez sounds like a decent fit. As a youth, Alvarez attended school in the Bronx and played for the Bayside Bombers – an elite travel team based in the area. Yankee Stadium is also extremely friendly to left-handed power. However, the Yankees are swamped with designated hitters. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, and prospect Greg Bird all overlap to some degree.
- New York could try to upgrade in the middle infield next week, writes Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. Rob Refsnyder and Dustin Ackley are expected to platoon at second base, but Cashman will continue to monitor the market for more reliable alternatives. Feinsand offers Howie Kendrick, Brandon Phillips, and Martin Prado as three players to watch. Kendrick is a free agent while Phillips and Prado would have to be acquired via trade.
- Owner John Henry says the Red Sox could add another starter, writes John Tomase of WEEI.com. Boston inked David Price to a record breaking contract earlier in the week. Per Henry, “I do think there is trade potential. We have a lot of pitching and we have a lot of talent. We’re not going to trade away our core young players, but we might be able to get a core young pitcher.” Henry did mention that the asking price for high quality pitchers is probably out of their range.
- The Rays also aren’t a fit for designated hitters Alvarez or Chris Carter, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Tampa would have to make a trade to open playing time for them. The club is likely looking to trade pitching for young hitters like Jorge Soler or Javier Baez.
- The large contracts signed by Price and Zack Greinke could take the Orioles out of the market for Chris Davis, opines Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun. Schmuck figures the floor for Davis is probably around $150MM – more than double the biggest free agent deal ever inked by the Orioles. The market for hitters has been much slower to establish itself, so there is still a change we’ll be surprised. For now, I agree Davis may wind up outside of Baltimore’s price range.
- The Orioles aren’t usually flashy participants at the Winter Meetings, but they do have a few needs to fill, write Eduardo A. Encina and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Davis, the rotation, and the outfield are obvious concerns. The bullpen could be a challenge to buoy if Darren O’Day signs elsewhere. The Nationals and Orioles are considered front runners for his services. Baltimore likes to make Rule 5 picks under Dan Duquette. The club already has to roster Dylan Bundy who is out of options – possibly preventing them from keeping a pick.
Bird is better than Pedro Alvarez.
As a Jays fan, I hate to admit it, but I like this Bird kid. He and Severino seem to be the real deal. Cash was smart to hold onto both of them and is already being rewarded for not moving them in any deadline deals he may have had on the table this past summer.
Bird looks good… Sevs FIP was awful and he cant go deep into games. Hes a reliever imo
A 21 year old with less than 70 IP above AA and a 4.27 FIP is far from horrible.
Almost anyone is better than Pedro Alvarez. All the guy can do is hit HRs against righties because he can’t hit lefties and can’t play defense.
He’s also one of the few players who strikes out more than Alvarez.
You do realize he only has a small sample size less than a year? I agree, I think he’s going to be better, but pretty hard to judge with such a small sample size.
So we have to wait years for Bird to have an established track record to have an opinion?
Slothbroth is the biggest yankee basher on this website. When ever theres anything something yankee related, he has to make a negative comment. Not sure why he hasn’t been banned yet for trolling,
lol salty. Hes allowed to have an opinion
Except for Refsnyder who he says can be traded for an ace lol
No way the Yankees are signing Kendrick
Why not?
Between a Refsnyder and Ackley platoon, it would be a minor upgrade if that (and I’m not being overly optimistic about Ref/Ackley). And would cost a pretty penny for a 2B entering his age 32 season who had a 1 Win season last year.
Not to mention that he rejected his QO, which means that if the Yankees were to sign him, they’d forfeit their first round pick. No thanks. We’d much rather roll with Ref/Ackley.
Ack could be an outfield option and ref could be used as bait for an sp upgrade. I wouldn’t rule it out.
I think they’d trade for Prado if they were going to upgrade at 2B.
Cause of the qualifying offer attached. Unless the Yankees sign another player with a QO attached, they are not going to waste there only first round pick on Kendrick. I’m not saying he isn’t good or wouldn’t be an upgrade, but Cashman wants to rebuild the farm and I just don’t see any way he loses his one and only good pick (if you would even call it good) on Kendrick.
Agree completely.
Wonder what the Rays would give up for Baez or Soler. But they already have a log jam at both players positions. Unless they can use either as a utility guy, or move Franklin/Jennings.
sure the cubs would be interested in plenty of rays pitching staff, especially boxberger, matt moore even smyly.
They are jammed in the middle infield and with RH OF. The Rays would look to move their pitching for LH bats anyways.
In a vacuum, I can easily see Chris Davis break $150m. But, I really have trouble envisioning any specific team actually pulling the trigger on that kind of deal. The teams with money don’t really need him, and the teams that need him don’t really have money.
But he’s an instant upgrade over almost any 1B in the game not named Miguel Cabrera. The teams that need him may not be able to afford him, but the teams that can afford him would likely be willing to make trades to accommodate Davis.
I can’t realistically see him going to an AL West team, but let’s say hypothetically the Cubbies wanted to break the bank and really go for it all. Do you really think they’d let Anthony Rizzo stand in the way of a guy who flat out mashes? Rizzo could be flipped for an ace to put them over the top. I’m not trying to imply this would ever happen, just trying to point out that any team could create a need for an upgrade by making corresponding trades to open the position.
Same thing could be said for the Giants and Dodgers. Both teams could use pitching and both teams have a 1B who could easily be flipped to acquire a starter if they were to sign Davis. A current lack of need doesn’t necessarily mean a team would be unwilling to make room for a player of that caliber.
I can name several 1B who are more valuable than Davis.
Off the top of my head, Miggy, Goldy, Votto, Encarnacion , and I’d say Rizzo too, though they are close
Don’t forget the great Hanley Ramirez
I see sarcasm is lost on some people
Davis is not better than Rizzo. Bizarre opinion.
I like Davis but you’re greatly overstating things saying “he’s an instant upgrade over almost any 1B in the game not named Miguel.” There are a solid half dozen 1B who are as good or better than Davis overall and when you factor in the money he’s going to sign for it makes many of those who are not as good as Davis look just as attractive because of the payroll flexibility they provide.
I got a feeling he will be Ryan Howard 2.0
I can’t see Davis falling off a cliff if he can stay mostly healthy the rest of his career and find a place that caters to his power. Howard was constantly hurt for a while and just fell apart.
It’s all because of his “special” medicine that mlb allows him to use.
Eat fresh
If the Rays were gonna get anyone the should attempt Baez, they have a bulk of Outfielders, I would be able to see Soler for Jennings and maybe colome, if not then Baez for Colome and Ryan Brett or Tim beckham
I don’t know if the Rays would trade Brett just yet. He’s around number 8 in their organization, and they don’t have much in the way of strong second baseman. Sure Baez could fit in at SS or 2nd. But they have Forsythe, whom they are talking to for a long term deal. And Adames, Robertson, and Rondon in line for SS. The only way I see them trading for Baez is if they trade Forsythe. Probably a mixture of Boxberger/McGee and Jennings. Jennings could be a “change of scenery” type player. And the market is hot for both relievers right now.
If I had to guess then I see Soler being a better fit then, probably Soler for Boxbeger and Jennings
The Rays system is loaded up the middle. McGee or Boxberger would bring back a package headlined by someone better than Baez and even if you value you him that highly the Rays have no need for a RH middle infielder, their system is loaded with them and Forsythe is controlled for two more years.
Cubs would not do either if those trades. Colome has emerged as a late inning reliever but the other guys you mention are simply scrubs compared to Baez and Soler.
If you want to get crazy you cans start making trades revolving around an Archer for Schwarber swap. Schwarber is made for the AL and Archer would also obviously thrive in the other league. Leaving the AL East for the NL does wonders for pitchers ie Arrieta.
I understand the view on colome he just seemed to be the most logical peice because I don’t think they would want to trade archer, and agreed on schwarber, he’s meant to be a DH with the power he has, but any trade between the two would be interesting to see what they want from each other
The Cubs don’t have what the Rays would want for Archer. And the Rays could have a 16 home run, .250 ba guy in Joyce again, for league minimum. And he can actually play on the field. The Rays would want for Archer; a major league ready proven bat that can protect Longo, and get Souza more looks. A couple of (pitching) prospects, and low rung dudes to fill it out. Something similar to what they got in the Myers trade. Silverman wouldn’t take anything less. And if it’s one of the other starters, they would be commanding a better haul than what they got for Karns. But Archer isn’t going anywhere, neither is Snell or Guerreri.
I dont think he will actually be traded but the Rays would listen if Schwarber was involved. By the way Schwarber is that guy that can be slotted in between Longoria and Souza.
Baez for boxberger
I would be behind this trade.
Rays would not do this
Cubs would not do this trade
Yes they would. Baez cant make contact.
What starters could john henry be possibly talking about?
My thoughts exactly.
DD will probably package Wade Miley + Owens plus additional prospects(maybe Devers if you want to aim high) and get a solid pitcher back
One of those two (Miley, Owens) is definitely gone.
yeah I figure that
Doesnt make sense to trade both Miley and Owens, thats half of our pitching depth.
Sign Cliff Lee. Take a shot at him.
No. Just too many question marks. He likely is worse than Miley at this point.
I have to imagine Shelby Miller is still on our radar. Based on the types of players they are looking for and their interest in Bradley in the past, I’m betting Jackie + Miley/Kelly + Some Lower Valued Prospect gets a deal done.
I don’t think so. Given the cost he would take as has been rumoured, and the likelihood that he regresses, I think the Red Sox would pass on it. Teheran is somebody that would be more appealing I would think as a buy-low candidate, if the Braves choose to go that route.
I’d take that too.
I REALLY want to move Miley.
I am not too sure, especially since he mentions not giving up any core young players. With that said, I would imagine aiming for a guy like Salazar would be a possibility if they were to aim high, but I believe they will try for a young buy-low candidate (like Teheran perhaps) or a potential breakout candidate. Dombrowski seems to be good at finding those and he has the prospect depth to make exchanges.
Cashman, you better call the Cubs and make a deal with Miller and Gardner in it for young players. This is the chance to get good young players, so do it.
What are you expecting back?
Gardner’s trade value is not good.No Cubs young players would be coming back for him.Miller is another matter
Thats why I said BOTH Gardner and Miller. And Gardner does have trade value.
He does just his value is not good
Alvarez to Baltimore is just one Chris Davis signing away from happening.
Red Sox trading for another SP? I like the idea of upgrading, but not at the cost of more prospects. If DD can find a #2 SP for a package like Owens, JBJ, and an extra piece or 2, then I am for it, otherwise I would want to role with what we have
What about Henderson Alvarez??
Red Sox have arguably the 2nd best rotation in the division. Add a #3 to stabalize things…and thats a really good team
As a Red Sox fan I’m just not too sure about this rotation, after Price it’s up in the air with the rest of the guys. Buchholz scares me because he’s always hurt, E-Rod could have that sophomore slump, Miley not that trustworthy, Porcello can’t win 10 games unless he loses 10 games and Kelly only shows up in the second half of the season. If the Sox can somehow make a trade for Salazar, Carrasco or sign Cueto then this rotation can be good other than that this current rotation will be WC at best maybe win the East since it’s a weak division and any team can win it.
The East is the best division in the American League. The worst team in the division on paper is either the Orioles or Rays and both of those teams are still 81 and 80 win teams from last year. Toronto and NY were the two best offenses in the ML last year by runs scored and Boston obviously has gotten better.
The Central and West are markedly worse and it isnt even close.
Well I think we should focus in Bullpen area for now, and wait for deadline. Clay can give us half a season, Miley can give us the other half if he finishes strong like this past season, altho he was inconsistance, Porcello can work it out, I might give a chance to him, since he is promising. Kelly could be another starter anf pen, he works good, and he might not be a trade candidate since DD likes flamethrower pitchers, the team has options, but pen is life for a team, Royals have shown it, we need to take that as an example
If I was Matt Silverman I would dangle Smyly, Odorizzi and Moore knowing Snell is knocking on the door and Cobb is on the way back. In the short term, just slot Erasmo Ramirez back into the rotation after his great season last year (3.51 ERA, 151 innings as starter).
From the quotes Silverman has given recently, it seems the Rays are treating their team as complete and only looking to pull the trigger on creative, large deals. Dont be surprised if the Rays package one of Smyly/Odorizzi/Moore with one of McGee/Boxberger and come out with a king’s ransom.
The Red Sox should concentrate on the bullpen area for now, we can pull a trade for a starter at the Deadline, also, we have to many starting pitchers, not that we cant trade them, but there are plenty of options, also we need to get rid of Hanley, if we do it, then we might trade or sign another… Altho I like our rotation, and I like Shaw at first
I think Boston should try for Giles and if the Phillies really don’t want to trade him get malancon to create their own big 3 or for if u consider koji a big time reliever.
Red Sox get: Giles
Phillies get: Owens, light and Sam travis.