It was on this day in 1973 that George Steinbrenner and a group of investors purchased the Yankees from CBS. While the amount of money in the game has unquestionably risen by leaps and bounds in the last 43 years, it’s still stunning to realize that Steinbrenner and company paid only $10MM to buy a team that Forbes now values a whopping $1.85 billion in their most recent ranking of the world’s most valuable sports franchises. (The Yankees tied with the Dallas Cowboys for third on that list, by the way, behind only soccer giants Manchester United and Real Madrid.) Here’s some news from around the American League…
- With the Angels uneasy about surpassing the luxury tax threshold, MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez looks at how the club can upgrade itself. Gonzalez thinks the Halos will move a starter (at least one of Hector Santiago, C.J. Wilson, Tyler Skaggs, Nick Tropeano or Matt Shoemaker) in order to acquire a left fielder or second baseman. Then again, the Angels may also be comfortable in having Johnny Giavotella return as the regular second baseman so that position may not be as major an area of need.
- A Craig Gentry/Daniel Nava platoon is currently in the cards for left field, though Gonzalez won’t rule out the idea of Anaheim signing a big name like Justin Upton, Alex Gordon or Yoenis Cespedes. With the Halos only around $4MM under the tax limit, however, signing any of those players (or even second-tier outfielders like Gerardo Parra or Denard Span) would put the club in danger of exceeding the tax threshold in 2017 as well, and thus paying a bigger penalty. With a much thinner free agent class in 2016-17, however, Gonzalez believes “this is the time to strike” for the Angels to land a big left field bat, and they’ll have some hope of getting under the tax limit with roughly $48MM coming off the books next winter.
- An Astros trade for Freddie Freeman is “simply not going to happen,” a source tells ESPN’s Jim Bowden (subscription-only column). The Astros and Braves had discussions about the first baseman earlier this winter, though those talks “went nowhere” and Atlanta GM John Coppolella has since flatly denied the possibility of Freeman playing elsewhere in 2016. While Freeman would check a lot of boxes for Houston, it would clearly take a major trade package to pry him away from the Braves, and the Astros may have already expended a lot of their available prospect capital in their trade for Ken Giles.
- Bowden’s piece examines all 30 teams and the missing piece (or pieces) Bowden feels they still need to address on their roster. For instance, Bowden isn’t sold on Rusney Castillo and thinks the Red Sox should make a play for Justin Upton, though he’s heard that the Sox are “not looking to make any more moves.”
- There were some rumors swirling about the Twins dealing Kennys Vargas to Japan or Korea earlier this winter, though MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger feels it would be a mistake for Minnesota to move Vargas while he still has a minor league option remaining. Still, Vargas is running out of time to show he belongs on the 25-man roster, especially now that the Twins have signed Byung-ho Park.
i still think that Matt Shoemaker has a lot of promising starts in the future along with tropeano, and skaggs. I think the Angels should definitely try to pick up Gardner, Cargo, or maybe even a Khris Davis who brings youth, power, and a decent OBP despite his BA; through trading Santiago and/or CJ Wilson if they only have to eat a maximum of about 15 million of his contract
I think if they tried to get Gardner, the yankees would ask for Heaney in return
Or Skaggs
Want nothing to do with any of the Upton brothers. If BIG if.. Boston was to sign any OF FA this of season that has yet to sign, I’d like it to be Gordon, someone of good demeanor, good glove and good bat. Couldn’t be worse than JD Drew was and have the potential he had when they signed Drew, only hope he fulfills it.
I can’t see the Angels trading Tyler Skaggs, coming off Tommy John surgery we would not get full value. Besides of that list, he has the most upside and value to retain, especially after dealing away Newcomb.
and trading CJ coming off his elbow surgery (even though it was just cleaning up bone spurs) has caused teams to want the Angels to eat 75% of his salary….not worth it for the Angels.
I think the angels missed a chance to get Cargo cheap last year, didn’t they ask for Shoemaker?
I’m not a fan of CarGo…if he stays on the field I don’t think his offense will play well at home….
I think the Twins would regret giving up on Vargas so soon. Sure, they have a logjam at 1st/DH but that’s no reason to just give up a player who is just one year removed from a solid stint in the majors and posted very solid numbers in the minors.
I feel like the angels are good with their infield
I know Giavotella gets hated on for his defense, but my eye test of his defense wasn’t nearly as bad as what the stats say. He also came up with big hits for us. We should focus on LF or, at worst, bringing Freese back
I agree that the eye test is better then the stats say for Johnny G w/ that said there is room for improvement but IMO LF(even after additions) is still much more needed…Giavotella also hit much better in the 9 spot least season compared to lead off (similar AB’s)…I think w/ this roster he makes a perfect 9 hitter
He also had a lot of difficultly turning a double play. Which cost Angels a ton.
you must have some horrible eyes. I was privileged last year to watch all of the Angels 162 games and Johnny Gs defense is attrocious. No arm, No range, slow reflexes. only at the end of the season he started to look solid. Hopefully he can carry over the end of the season to 2016.
I think any Freeman deal would’ve needed to include Appel and Reed for things to happen. I’m sure perhaps including Vizcaino as a late inning guy may have created some balance. Cameron, Appel, Reed, and Tucker for Freeman and Vizcaino would’ve made me bite the bullet as a Braves fan. Having said that, there’s no reason to trade Freeman. He’ll play next year mostly at 26. In 2 years he’ll be the in-his-prime bat to go with all the youth. The Cubs are rare for youth to be that good that quick. It takes time to get established. Anything short of a return that is looked back on in 10 years as a “Top 10 worst trade” for the team receiving Freeman, it doesn’t make sense to deal him at any point for the Braves.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Appel was already traded to Philly. Astros dont have prospects for Freeman, Period!. Also, I, personally, would like to see some one in a Braves uniform that I know!
That was his point
Yep, read it too quickly. My bad
After April ends you will know all the Philly’s players…haha
And even in your hypothetical scenario, we wouldn’t have addressed 3B, now 1B, and C of the future. Sure, we”d get back some OF prospect depth (Cameron, Tucker), but no more pitching depth. I like Reed, but would never have wanted Appel. He’s got lame duck written all over him. AJ Reed would have been the prize-pig in that deal, not to mention clearing Freeman’s affordable, but still pricey deal off the books.
I’d be pretty dissatisfied unless springer was involved for Freeman. Which is probably what they asked for.
Considering the asking prices the Braves have seemed to ask for so far, they probably asked for Correa plus two top 10 prospects. Freeman is good, I’m a huge fan of him, but in no way is he worth 4 top 10 prospects (as stated in Brandon Sans’ post, even if one of them has already bren traded, I assume you understand the point I’m trying to make there). Two top 10 prospects and two to three prospects in the 10-25 range seems a bit more fair.
You’re probably right, but that’s also why the Braves won’t be trading Freeman. If the Braves going to trade him, they won’t be looking for a ‘fair’ deal. Give me Correa plus and I’m listening. Other than that it’s not worth it from the Braves POV considering Freeman is the franchise player currently.
I was going off the assumption that this was post Swanson/Miller trade. If it was previous I think it’d likely that Correa would be requested.
I agree, his intangibles make him much more valuable to the Braves than any other team, which is why I strongly doubt he goes anywhere.
Of course they would ask for Correa. The Braves have been stating particularly BOLDLY that. Freemen is untouchable. When you ask what the cost of an untouchable player is, you get a silly price tag attached. Same thing happened when the Dodgers went in on Fernandez despite the Marlins saying he is untouchable. The Dodgers were given an insane price tag to get him.
We hear a lot from other teams fans about what a fair trade might be from their end but I wonder what kind of a package the Braves fan would want if the team was to deal him.
I could see Freeman in boston
Honestly the Correa speculation above is insane, but if Coppy recanted his former statement about losing his arm, the deal that would make sense to me wild be:
Freddie Freeman Sean Newcomb Jason Hursh for Sonny Gray Jacob Nottingham.
No I don’t see this happening, likely from either side, but this is probably what it would take.
I suppose I should have had Alonso and another prospect from the Braves in the trade, but I don’t really see the teams matching up. I was just trying to figure out even value.
You missed
Braves would not trade Nuke for Gray straight up. May trade Freeman for Donaldson straight up, but that would be with Toronto.
Pirates is Probably the best fit but fitting Freeman’s contract in their tight budget would be a problem. Bell would have to headline the deal in my opinion.
Freeman’s contract is too much for the pirates, I don’t see them making anymore big moves, maybe taking a flyer on latos or cliff lee, taillon and glasnow are almost ready, and so is josh bell
I don’t think it’s too much for them to take on but it would probably take ownership approval for it to happen. On the downside it might prevent them from having a chance of extending McCutchen though. On the upside I think it would put Pirates over the Cards making the division a two team race between Pirates and Cubs for at least the next two seasons.
If the Braves were getting prospects in return for Freeman. The only team that I would consider would be the Pirates. It would have to include Austin Meadows and Josh Bell and then maybe Taillon for Freeman, Bourn, and Chris Ellis. I by no means want to see Freddie go but if they got that kind of return, I couldn’t be very upset.
Pirates are cap-strapped and fitting Freeman into their budget is hard enough. Squeezing Bourn in too would not work. If the Braves truly insisted on the Pirates taking Bourn, either they would have to eat his entire contract plus some of Freeman’s or eat Bourn’s entire contract and throw a prospect back at Pittsburgh.
Arte Moreno has nobody to blame but himself, It would be worth going over the luxury tax this season, but I guess Arte is playing it safe
Why would it be worth it? The only real scenario where going over the luxury tax is worth it is if the team has a shot at contending or your name is the Red Sox/Yankees/Dodgers. Texas and Houston look just as good as last year and I think Oakland is destined for some sort of bounceback (not saying guaranteed playoffs, but at least competitive through most of the season) and the other two AL divisions all have teams that are trying to compete (as in they aren’t trying to rebuild and some of them got better). The Angels should be a contender through most of the year but a playoff spot isn’t a guarantee.
hopefully the pitching holds up
He is leary of going over the cap this year b/c despite Wilson and CJ go off the books they are very close to going over next year also(depending on how far they go over this year) His tax penalty would go from 17% this year to 30% next.
This team is already stronger then last seasons even w/ the weak addition platoon in LF.
I hope they let cj wilson go but keep weaver around, he’s not the same anymore but he’s a good mentor for the young pitchers the angels have, he’s an angel for life. He won’t cost much
Do you mean let CJ walk at end of contract and resign Weaver? Personally I don’t care about players for life anymore. Mostly b/c of the contracts players are making. Weaver won’t give another discount to stay an Angels for life IMO. He already gave a big discount when he signed the 5yr deal. He will want market value and currently market value for players like him is not good for the teams again IMO
It’s not about blame. They’ve reached the limit and he’s weighing the decision to go over, which is what he did in his first full season as the Angels’ owner. They could’ve made more playoff appearances had Jerry Dipoto not been so dogmatic about not spending money on relievers and his station to station offensive approach. There are moves that can be made to free up payroll and keep the Angels in contention, in which they will be again. And they don’t need to go over the tax to contend in 2016 either.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a trade of CarGo and Jose Reyes for Hector Santiago and CJ Wilson. The Angels would get their OF and 2B and the Rox could get two veteran starters so they don’t have to rush the young guys. It would also get Reyes off of the Rockies where he was hated even before his domestic violence incident.
The Rockies wouldn’t do that. They’re rebuilding and so trading 2 of their trade chips for fill-in SPs doesn’t make sense.
Reyes has negative value now and CarGo is a net value WAR wise. Not sure why everyone thinks the Angels are giving up B or above prospects.
OK Rockies. Sorry to burst your bubble CarGo is prodcuing at a negative rate based on his salary to WAR production. To think that the Angels pay anything except a salary dump is foolish, regardless of his 40 home runs.
Okay then go find someone else to protect Trout while you ruin the prime years of one of the best players in this generation.
I could see CJ, Santiago, Roberto Baldoquin, 15 million cash
For
Cargo and Reyes. Rox get a solid SP, an allstat SP, and future SS.
I could see CJ, Santiago, Roberto Baldoquin, 15 million cash
For
Cargo and Reyes. Rox get a solid SP, an all star SP, and future SS.
I could see CJ, Santiago, Roberto Baldoquin, 15 million cash
For
Cargo and Reyes. Rox get a solid SP, an allstar SP, and future SS.
I could see CJ, Santiago, Roberto Baldoquin, 15 million cash
For
Cargo and Reyes. Rox get a solid SP, an allstar SP, and future SS.
@Karmada Who is going to give the Rockies top 100 prospects for Reyes and Cargo? A team would be crazy to do so, both are worth to much and aren’t even producing anywhere near their worth. Santiago, Wilson along with an Alcantara is a good return for the Rox. Wilson could even bounce back and they can trade Wilson for the prospects they need. Which is why I wouldn’t want Halos to do this trade. Cargo isn’t good on the road anyway. If he comes to Anaheim he will not do good.
I could see a trade of Swisher(15mil), Bourn(14mil) from the Braves for Reyes(70mil) and and $35Million (0,15,15,5) over four years. This frees up the Rox to trade their outfielders and gets rid of the hated Reyes.
How does adding two outfielders free up space to trade their outfielders? Even if that was true, the Rockies aren’t trading their current outfielders because of a lack of replacements. They aren’t trading them because they want some value coming back since they are rebuilding. And I wouldn’t say Reyes is hated. I can’t speak for Rockies’ fans but if anything I would imagine he would be disliked because he is almost immovable rather than hated.
Reyes isn’t due $70M. He is due $22M in 2016 and 2017. He is only guaranteed $48M because 2018 is a team option with a $4M buyout that is sure to be declined. That being said, as much as I want to get rid of Reyes, I wouldn’t take that deal. Swisher, maybe, since he can play first, but Bourn is not needed at all.
BTW, I have been on several Rockies boards for years. Trust me, he is the most hated Rockie since Denny Neagle. It is a combination of replacing a beloved icon and what most fans think was a bad trade. It is totally irrational, but then again the word fan is derived from fanatic, so rationality doesn’t come with the package most of the time.
Yes, It looks like I was mistaken on the total contract years. $48 Million is correct for two years with the $4 million buyout in 2018. With this in mind I would revise the trade to Swisher and Bourn plus $13 Million. If there is no need for Bourn after Cargo is traded, the ROX could include an equivalent value in prospects like 1)Brendan Rodgers or 2)Jon Gray or 3)David Dahl and Ryan McMahon. If Colorado wants to save the 13 Million then two of the three prospect options need to be included.
The Braves would settle on Nick Swisher for Jose Reyes, Brendan Ryan and Jon Gray; or Jose Reyes, Jon Gray, David Dahl and Ryan McMahon. This shifts $36 Million plus in financial commitments to Atlanta over three years (8, 23, 5).
Rodgers, not Ryan
the angels could of had CarGo for Shoemaker last year
Yeah they probably could have. And now his value is higher.
I doubt the Angels would want Reyes(even before his personal issues) and CarGo is injury prone and won’t put up the numbers playing in Anaheim.
I think most of CarGo and Tulo’s injuries were due to playing for the rockies.
Everyone said Matt Holliday wouldn’t produce outside of Denver as well. Ask the Cardinals how that worked out. CarGo is also not “injury prone.” I don’t know how he got stuck with that label. Most of his injuries were of the freak variety such as a tumor on his finger in 2013 and getting hit with a batted ball while in the on deck circle in 2012.
He and Tulo didn’t spend a time on the field regardless of how they were off it.
Rating of 100 is neutral
Angels stadium rates 93 for hitters(HORRIBLE)
Colorado rates at 118(last 3 yr ave)
StL rates at 102(last 3 yr ave)
Petco rates at 92(worst in baseball for hitters)
Rockies don’t want Santiago b/c he’s a fly ball pitcher too he have up 13 of his 29 HR in an extreme pitchers park…he’d get shelled in Colorado IMO
@Ray Ray Cargo in Anaheim would not do good at all. Anaheim is a very hard park to hit bombs in. It’s a stadium were deep fly balls go to die. We need contact hitters and let Trout and Pujols, hit it out the park for 3 run, 2 run shots. Dj lemahieu is a player I want from the Rox.
I would also throw in Roberto Baldoquin, CJ Wilson, and Santiago, 15 million cash for Cargo and Reyes.
Rox get a solid and the other one All star pitchers and their new future shortstop, plus cash to offset Wilson.
I could see CJ, Santiago, Roberto Baldoquin, 15 million cash
For
Cargo and Reyes. Rox get a solid SP, an allstat SP, and future SS.
I doubt that Freeman to the Astros gets done but if it did I think that Houston probably has enough pieces to get it done.
AJ Reed, Preston Tucker,
Derek Fisher, JD Davis, Chris Devenski, and David Paulino to the braves for Freeman, Vizcaino, Swisher and cash.
Not bad, but why not Bregman instead of Tucker. Bregman is blocked at SS forever.
SS fill in nicely at other positions and usually make great utility players. Having depth at SS is always valuable.
Why would the Braves want Bregman when they already got Swanson?
Could play second or third as could Swanson.
Steinbrenner, for all of his faults and excesses, was ahead of his time. He understood that in a big market like New York–even though the city was in rough shape at the time, if you invested in the product, you had a very good chance of making a good profit. An interesting, quality team could help exploit multiple sources of revenue. Steinbrenner was also lucky–he came in just before cable/TV rights began to grow exponentially in value. And Steinbrenner was something CBS wasn’t–hands on.
They might have let Joseph Stalin buy the franchise, had he still been alive at the time the CBS ownership was so out of touch and messed up. It was like a 6 headed snake the way they tried to run that team after buying it, from believe was the Short family estate. They really had no clue, running from a board room like some side show and couldn’t have cared less is how I remember all these years later.
Even as a Sox fan, I felt sorry for the fans of Yankees and how fast the team went downhill further in esteem. Sure the team was losing at the end under the Short’s, but under CBS, everything was gone. They tried to run it on a budget and make money, nothing else.
MB923 member here was around then also and can fill you in with details as a longtime Yanks fan am pretty sure if I remember anything incorrectly.
There are lots of possibilities for a trade between Houston and the Houston Astros that include Freddie Freeman. If Freeman checks many of the boxes for Houston, I wonder what the other boxes are. Freeman, Nick Markakis, and Jim Johnson could be moved to Houston for Alex Bregman, Daz Cameron, Kyle Tucker and AJ Reed. Houston gets two controllable players with high OBP and great defense to fill out their depth chart without giving up anyone on the active roster. Probably enough to put them on top of the division. Atlanta gets prospects that can be ready in a few years and a potential replacement for Freeman.
Why would Huston want to decimate their minor leagues for freeman when reed will come up half way through this season and put up similar numbers to freeman probably less average but more power for much cheaper.
That’s assuming Reed plays up to that potential.. Freeman has already proven in the majors both offensively and defensively on a reasonable contract.
If the Astros thought that, they would not be interested in Freeman. Good chance Reed never contributes. Assuming Reed does come up halfway through the season, would it be too late? The window is only open so long and Freeman at 12 Million is a great value today.
Before St. Louis signed Leake, I was thinking Freeman, Teheran, Bourn, Kolby Allard, and $5MM for Adams, Piscotty, and Reyes. Most Cardinals fans I have spoke to balked at Piscotty though.
Prior to Leake signing, but still plausible: Freeman, Teheran, Kolby Allard, Bourn, and $5MM for Adams, Piscotty, and Flaherty.
Most Cardinal fans I spoke to balk at Piscotty though.
Thoughts?
Other trade options:
Freeman, Teheran, and Bourn.
BAL – Trumbo, Walker, Heim
SD – Myers, Guerra, Rea
Yanks – Tex, Judge, Nova, $5M
(Include Olivera)
Pitt – Bell, McGuire, Jaso
I wouldn’t do any of these on the Braves side. None of those trades really fit in with their plans aside from the Pittsburg one.
HAHA
How about Freeman for Carlos Martinez, Marco Gonzalez, and Alex Reyes.
Funny thing is, all trades included same package out minus Yanks and returned First baseman (Current and top prospect) and top catching prospect. No Freeman being shipped out is not part of the Braves future plans, but neither was Kimbrel or Simmons. I love Freeman but 25/100/.285 might not be worth $20-22M a year. Plus as the Kimbrel trade shows, ridding the payroll of a bad contract for controllable pieces works. Just an opinion.
It worked when the Braves were overloaded with bloated contracts that put them in somewhat of a financial mess. They aren’t in that situation now. There is no reason at all for them to attach Bourn or Swisher to one of their last remaining valuable trade pieces. All it does is bring down the potential return.
19 million in two bench players seems to be enough reason to ship one. Payroll at present seems to show $15-20M available, another 9-10 would be great heading into deadline with our prospects.
The Braves aren’t going to be a team buying at the trade deadline this season, so that money shouldn’t impact them in the slightest. It’ll be off the books by next season. Getting it off the books slightly earlier is nowhere near enough reason to dampen the return of the last two major trade pieces they have. The added pieces they could get for not including one or both will translate to even more prospect cepth that they can deal from in the future.
They will attempt to move both Swisher and Bourn. Chances are they will offer to eat a significant amount of their contracts. At most they might include a lower fringe prospect to sweeten any deal.. If they don’t find a taker (which is likely) then they’ll just eat the contracts themselves.
Good points.
The comments above referencing Carlos Correa in a trade for Freddie Freeman are pure insanity. Correa belted 18 HRs and 68 RBIs in 1/2 a season as a rookie, and won the AL rookie of the year. This guy has 35 HR, 125 RBI kind of potential on a yearly basis, and the only comp is pre-steroid Alex Rodriguez. Correa is untouchable, and the Braves don’t have anyone on their major or minor league roster that could compensate for a trade. Regarding Freeman, as an Astros fan, I think he’s a very good 1st baseman and the Astros may consider 3-4 top prospects to get him, but I think Luhnow is done trading prospects at least for now. Even after all the recent trades (last year Gomez/Fiers, Kazmir) and this year Ken Giles, we still have one of the top 5 minor league systems. What we don’t want to do is drop out of the top 5-10 systems.
I doubt anyone believes that Freeman is worth Correa at this point. They simply expect that IF Freeman does get traded it would have to be a wild overpay to get it done.
I could see the Braves going for a Freeman, Vizcaino, McKirahan and (Bourn or Swisher) for Bregman, Cameron, Tucker and Reed.
Looks to work out better for the Braves. Would be nice but do not see Houston giving up their top 4 (all top 100) prospects, while also taking on a bad contract.