We’ve been waiting for the outfield market to kick into high gear, and it seems set to do just that with Jason Heyward reportedly going off the board to the Cubs. As ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick writes, the action is now on Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, and Alex Gordon. But a solid group of other players — including Dexter Fowler, Denard Span, Gerardo Parra, and Austin Jackson — is also still available. And t
Here’s the latest:
- The Royals have had contact with the Rockies on their three potentially-available outfielders, per Crasnick. It seems that Carlos Gonzalez carries by far the highest asking price, per Crasnick’s report, but the other two Colorado outfielders reportedly on the block — Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson — are cheaper and have greater control rights. In particular, Dickerson has put up some huge offensive numbers and won’t even hit arbitration until next year. While he missed time last year with plantar fasciitis and fractured ribs, he still looks to be a highly intriguing asset.
- Kansas City still is looking at Gordon as its first option, though, Crasnick adds. The club would probably turn to the next tier of free agency if it can’t pull off a Gordon re-signing or a trade. MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan notes on Twitter that the team has “cast a wide net” in its search for outfield help.
- It seems less and less likely that the Marlins will end up dealing center fielder Marcell Ozuna this winter, as Crasnick tweets that the club has “aimed high” in its negotiations on the youngster. Miami has sought quality, young MLB pitchers — he mentions Yordano Ventura, Taijuan Walker, and Danny Salazar — and it’s not clear whether it will be amenable to settling for less.
- The Rangers have interest in free agent outfielder Justin Ruggiano as a right-handed depth piece, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. Ruggiano is a very tough out for opposing southpaws, creating a potential fit with the heavily left-handed Texas lineup.
- Outfielder/first baseman Daniel Nava appears close to striking a deal with a team other than the Rays, despite Tampa Bay’s interest, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Nava, soon to turn 33, had a tough season last year, but at his best is a high-OBP switch-hitter.
Wheeler and nimmo for cargo.
What would the Mets do with another corner outfielder? Now Blackmon they might be interested in. I could see Blackmon for Wheeler.
IMO Wheeler doesn’t have a ton of value right now and probably won’t until he makes a successful return from TJ.
Cargo is overrated. A product of coors.
Home/road splits for Rockies players are really tricky to interpret, because they play in a good hitters’ park but in a division with three terrible hitters’ parks. It would be weird if they *didn’t* have a big home split, and I’m not sure it tells us very much. Has anybody done a study of how Rockies hitters’ home/road splits go when they move to a different division?
Not really, because Matt Holliday is really the only example of a good player in his prime to leave Denver with enough of a sample to really matter. I guess you could include Vinny Castilla and Dante Bichette as well, but they were probably past their primes when they were traded.
With every other team there is not that big of a difference between their home park and the average road park. Therefore, most Rockies analysts just ignore H/R splits just because Coors is unlike any other park in the game. I have seen some analysts use the average between the two and it usually seems somewhat more in line with other teams players. The only alternative is to just assume that the Rockies have never had a legitimate hitter (or very few) on their team which is just asinine.
Matz is over rated too. They should trade him for Blackmon.
Not surprised to hear Marlins shooting for the stars on Ozuna. Read a report that suggested the return the Marlins asked for Fernandez from the Sox to begin was Rodriguez, Moncada, Devers, Swihart, and one more I can’t think of off the top of my head.
CORRECTION: E-Rod, Moncada, Betts, Vasquez and “another pitcher”. Considering it was a Matlins staff member presumably trying to justify the asking price, they left the pitcher nameless and it was either Owens or Brian Johnson.
Where did you read this report?
So I guess the Marlines don’t want to trade Ozuna either.
Marlins are always fun to hear about.
Ozuna for everyone of those pitchers would be crazy lol.
No wonder why they don’t get anything done.
Mike Hill left the GM meetings saying that he’s “encouraged” at what’s being talked about.
Then he shows up at the winter meeting and does nothing but ask for ridiculous offers.
Well they don’t have to do anything per say but man I’d hate it if I were a fan.
The Cardinals should trade Pham/Adams/J.Garcia to the Rockies for CarGo. Sign Chen. Sign Davis. Promote Tilson, Diaz, and Gonzales. Sign Affeldt. Offensive upgrades acquired. Pitching staff shored up. Play ball.
Why in the world would the Rockies consider that trade? Garcia is good, but probably older than the Rockies future win window. Pham is 27 and not as good as Blackmon so why get him? Adams could have been needed if the Rox didn’t just sign Mark Reynolds. I don’t think a CarGo trade happens without Flaherty or Gonzales along with a reliever like Tuivailala and maybe a young OF/1B prospect. Unless of course the Cardinals want to take Jose Reyes along with CarGo. Then I’m sure you can get him for a LOT less.
Sounds like you have it all figured out. You should be a GM.
He has common sense. Something a lot of people here lack.
the Marlins are going to mess around a lose both for 1/4 of what they are wishing for. No way Ozuna brings much and Jose…not even close to the Betts plus more option. – Moncada. Devers. JBJ. Owens. – thats sill a haul but i bet Boston would listen.
Would love to see the Angels try to make a play for Corey Dickerson to play LF/DH.
I don’t think the Angels have enough for Dickerson. The FO is wanting a lot for him in a trade and are happy to keep him if they don’t get the price they are looking for.
If Kansas City loses out on Gordon would anyone think they’d make a run at getting CarGo?
I would think there’s a possibility, but then again I’m no expert unlike a lot of commenters here.
There do seem to be a lot of them around here. I’m waiting to hear they are qualified because their fantasy team finished in the top three in the league for five straight years.
Don’t know if he’s the type of player that they’d want but
Miguel Almonte / Bubba Starling and someone else would probably get it done.
Don’t know if that’s their style of obtaining talent though.
Plus Hosmer’s a Boras client and will be arb eligible next year.
They might want to keep the payroll down to retain him but who knows lol.
I figured, plus they have a lot of lefty bats, I was thinking of teams who lost outfielders and they were the first to come to mind
“Nava, soon to turn 33, had a tough season last year, but at his best is a high-OBP switch-hitter.”
No. At his best he’s a high-OBP left-handed hitter who masquerades as a switch-hitter in the hope of distracting people from the fact that he can’t hit LHP from any side of the plate known to man or yet to be discovered.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Rockies get him on a minor league deal. He’d be good depth in case of an OF trade or if Mark Reynolds works out as poorly as I believe.
Haha yeah didn’t he completely give up switch hitting last year?
Half the stuff you say is just repeating dumb analyst or some sort of delusion you are in, you went on a rant about nonsense if you really want to know something think of common sense stuff no way they will get all those prospects from the Cubs for 2 years of a old Michael BOURN(that’s how you spell his name) and Julio. Bourn is owed way to much money and the Cubs do not want to take on his crazy contract I am surprised you did not include nick swisher since you think dumping contracts is so easy and yes I do not think you know what you are talking about, you are dumb
I’m a die hard Braves fan through and through but cjh815 is making me hate them from all the nonsense he is talking. I say we trade a free flight of delta, years worth of coca cola the 29 million owed to nick swisher and Michael Bourn, dugout seats to suntrust stadium for 2017
Just ignore guys like this.
He’s not worth your time.
Dude chill.
A long reply like this never gets read.
Learn to state your mind in a more robust manner.