The Dodgers have “joined the fray” on free agent righty Johnny Cueto, per Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. It’s not immediately clear whether that indicates any stepped-up interest on the part of the Dodgers, who were previously said to have reached out to Cueto’s representatives recently. Indeed, agent Bryce Dixon told MLBTR’s Zach Links yesterday that he saw L.A. as a good fit. As Heyman adds, there are “a couple other” unnamed organizations also “in the mix” for Cueto at present.
Here are a few more notes from the game’s western divisions:
- Scott Miller of Bleacher Report takes a close look at Yasiel Puig’s standing in the Dodgers organization. He speaks extensively with both Adrian Gonzalez and A.J. Ellis (among others), who provide fascinating insight into the strained (but, perhaps, not-yet broken) relationship between Puig and his teammates.
- With the Rangers reportedly adding reliever Tony Barnette, there’s yet more reason to believe the club could strike a deal involving one of its young pen assets, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes. The Diamondbacks have widely been tabbed as one pursuer, and Grant says that Arizona is eyeing late-inning hurlers Shawn Tolleson and Keone Kela. Though the D’Backs are said to be hesitant to part with young righty Archie Bradley, Grant says that exactly who Texas is eyeing in trade talks.
- The Diamondbacks have talked to the Reds on multiple occasions about second baseman Brandon Phillips, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Arizona’s win-now moves could help persuade Phillips to authorize a deal there, suggests Rosenthal, though MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon tweets that the veteran has not been approached to discuss his no-trade rights.
- As with the Barnette signing, bringing in Christian Bethancourt isn’t necessarily just an isolated move for the Padres, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune explains. The move leaves the club with four catchers on its 40-man roster, and the two most recent additions — Betancourt and Josmil Pinto — are out of options. San Diego was “shopping” both Derek Norris and Austin Hedges over the week, per Lin, who suggests that it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see one of them dealt.
It’s always a problem when you have to many players at a position. Hope san Diego trades one of them
It’s hard to get “fair” value in a trade when everyone knows you have too many guys at one spot
that is the current natural thought but Preller makes this move if he has some standing offers out there on any of the catchers – just a thought but i think it’s to obvious for fans to think you will get less value with their catching organization as it is (Bethancourt for a catcher who wont see the big for another 6 years if that and Casey ‘”batting practice” Kelly
Excellent article on the Puig dilemma. So much more interesting and informative when some of the principals are interviewed.
Absolutely agreed, great article.
It was an interesting article, I’ll give it that much.
I get the sense that Scott Miller wanted it to be an article about how Puig is such a clubhouse cancer, and he did everything he could to go that route, but when Puig’s own teammates spoke up, Miller knew he couldn’t go 100% that direction, so he went 95% that way.
I take issue with that. Your primary source for stories on Puig are the guys who spend 200 days a year with him. And while, yes, they won’t throw a teammate under the bus (just his luggage), there’s still an honesty about him that cites his immaturity, but is also gracious to his personality and background.
I wish Miller would have taken the story more in the direction of what Puig’s teammates say over what former players and people outside the organization say.
Former teammates will be more candid, and that’s what you want when writing an article. Kershaw, Gonzo, Ellis still have to (potentially) play with the guy. What I found interesting was that scouts think he’s not the same player athletically. A lot of that goes to motivation, and this is what I’ve always wondered when it comes to the Cuban players. You come from an impoverished country that you have to defect from (different than the D.R.), you get a guaranteed contract right off the bat which sets you and your family up for life many times over. Your playing in a country where you really may not care ultimately what they think. It’s just a matter of personal pride at that point. You’re not playing for your country’s pride anymore, you can’t go back there again. You’ve got the mansion, the cars, and priorities start to get muddled.
Add to this, it all happens when you are a teenager. The maturity isn’t going to be there to keep a level head for hardly anyone at that age, and for many cases, not for years thereafter. We did see a lot of growth in Puig after the first year but now it seems to have stalled, if not slid back. Maybe new coaching is what he needs. He still has a great teacher in Gonzales. Maybe nothing will get his head straight. Either way the Dodgers are pretty much stuck with this experiment.
He may have approached it that way, but the story came out in the end. These situations are never as simple as the media (and fans) often want them to be.
Really interested to see how the Dodgers address some of the clubs surplus of position players. Push looks impossible to move, ash is reputation grows worse by the day. Anyone else think joc pederson is overrated? They should ship out any old veterans they can and start letting these prospects play, build around that core group of players. I’m just shocked by the lack of trades on there part.
I’m sure at least a hand full of teams asked about puig but I doubt dodgers would ever move him at least for now since they really don’t have anyone good to replace him. Don’t think his rep is as bad as some reporters indicate. I think your one of the few that thinks that about Joc. Its not as easy as that to just get rid of the vets. Some like Utley are their for a specific reason. When prob half of the trade opportunity want dodgers top prospects like seager and urais yeah their will be a limit on trades but since the season starts in april plenty of time to plug in good players to fill the holes.
Puig*** not push
Lol
Segura for Hedges
Ah no. What has Sagura ever done. Arcia maybe.
What has Hedges ever done? Arcia? Ha ha ya right
Gut feeling says St. Louis will land Hayward. Price driven up by Cubs and apparently the NATS
I can’t imagine the Dbacks give up Bradley for a reliever…
They could just as easily move Bradley to the bullpen
Why? Did you not see the dumbest trade in the history of baseball from a few days ago?
Yes, but at least that was for a starter that has the potential to be an ace. Trading Bradley for a reliever would just be dumb.
Wonder if the Angels and Dodgers can match up for a LF?
“The Dodgers have ‘joined the fray’ on free agent righty Johnny Cueto, per Jon Heyman, . It’s not immediately clear whether that indicates any stepped-up interest on the part of the Dodgers…”
That tells us a lot. Shirt’s on fire! Now it’s out.
What shirt? There never was a shirt.
Am I the only one that thinks Greinke was over the line when he threw Puig’s suitcase into the street? The bus was stopped while the other teammates went to get pizza, which is what some the veterans demanded the rookies to do.. To leave teammates there and drive off seems a bit rude. Puig figured it was ok since they were waiting for the others. What right did Greinke have to throw someone elses stuff on the street, It sounds like maybe Puig didn’t agree that he could be treated like crap because he was a rookie?
Am I the only one that sees that as an odd way for a one person to treat another, especially an older person?
I found that entire story bizarre. And I agree, it’s an odd way to treat someone, especially a teammate.
You may be someone who believes everything he reads, I will give you that.
Apparently so I Scott Milker and Molly Knight.
is*
Miller*
I’ve got fat fingers and miss the edit button.
Derek Norris to the Rangers for Profar and Jackson makes too much sense not to happen. Norris gives the Rangers a better bat and more stability at catcher. Profar hasn’t played in the majors since 2013 and Roughned Odor has locked down the position. Jackson was demoted from starter to late inning reliever in Round Rock and subsequently for the Rangers last season. If healthy that gives the Padres a SS and a late inning reliever.
Keep dreaming Pads fan. Not going to happen.
While Preller would love this deal, Jon Daniels has made it clear that they will not trade Profar while his stock is low. They value him higher than that. They are going to stash him at AAA and give him the chance to prove that his arm is back and he can play defense. He’s already shown that he can hit post-injury.
It actually makes zero sense for them to package Profar, who is barely about to turn 23, and Jackson for a catcher like Norris. He isn’t that much of an upgrade from the various guys the Rangers put out there last season.
M