Now that the NBA season has come to a spectacular conclusion, check out Hoops Rumors (the basketball wing of the Trade Rumors family) for all of your hardcourt news during what is sure to be a fascinating NBA offseason. Here are some items from around baseball as we wrap up the weekend…
- The Rays would be interested in talking with Carl Crawford if the veteran was open to returning to his old team, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Crawford can be signed for the league minimum after being released by the Dodgers, as L.A. would be responsible for the rest of the approximately $35MM remaining on the outfielder’s contract. Crawford still put up fairly productive numbers as a Dodger despite a plethora of injuries, so he could be of us to a Rays team that has three outfielders (Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza, Brandon Guyer) on the DL.
- From that same item, Topkin looks at some of the major names who could have been Rays had the club drafted differently or kept future stars at earlier stages in their development. Topkin notes that every team in baseball could create a similar “what if?” roster but given how much Tampa relies on cheap young talent via the draft, it’s particularly intriguing to imagine a reality where the likes of Nolan Arenado, Buster Posey or Andrew McCutchen became Rays (especially since the players Tampa Bay drafted ahead of them all became busts).
- The Diamondbacks’ Brandon Drury is a fit as a possible third base target for the Mets, though a source tells John Harper of the New York Daily News that Arizona holds Drury in high value. For Drury, the D’Backs would likely ask the Mets for someone like Zack Wheeler in return, which Harper figures is way too high a price in a one-for-one trade. Drury was actually demoted today by the D’Backs in an effort to give him regular playing time rather than ride the bench on Arizona’s crowded roster. The 23-year-old has a .270/.310/.450 slash line and eight homers over 213 PA for the Snakes, numbers boosted by a huge performance over the first six weeks of the season.
- From that same Harper item, two scouts discussed Cuban superstar Yulieski Gurriel, noting that while Gurriel has looked impressive in the past, they would need a fresh look given Gurriel’s age (32). That age will surely limit the size of Gurriel’s eventual contract, as “even if he looks good in a workout, I wouldn’t give him more than two years,” one scout said, though he did predict an average annual value for Gurriel in the range of $10-$11MM per season. As one former Mets player anonymously told Harper, Gurriel makes a lot of sense for New York to replace the injured David Wright at third base.
- Though the Phillies have very little money tied up in future salary commitments beyond this season, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer doubts the club will be significant spenders in free agency this winter. The Phils are still comitted to their youth movement, so it doesn’t make much sense to sign a big-ticket veteran at this stage in the rebuilding process. With another year or two to establish the young core, Gelb figures the Phillies could strike in the 2017-18 free agent market or the star-studded 2018-19 market.
- Mark Lowe signed a two-year, $11MM free agent deal with the Tigers last winter but has struggled horribly in Detroit, posting a 10.71 ERA over 21 innings. There isn’t much the Tigers can do with Lowe, MLB.com’s Jason Beck writes, unless they’re willing to eat the remaining money or if Lowe is willing to accept a minor league assignment.
How is Drury a fit for the Mets? They are not in a position to be trading away their chips for unproven players. If they make a trade for a bat, they need a proven commodity.
Will Middlebrooks should be the 3B for the Mets. He’s been on fire for the last month. Hitting like 395 over his last 20 games with 8 or 9 HR’s. He’s back and he’s ready for a shot.
Hahaha funniest thing I’ve read, will middlebrooks is ready. He’s ready alright ready to hit .200 at the mlb level
The Phillies have been really hard to watch lately. Went to the game today. 3 measly hits.
Yea that was bad. Most exciting moment was the diamondback’s error. That says it all.
Crawford’s knees will probably tell him he’s done with turf by the 2nd inning of a supposed return.
Completely agree….Id think Tampa bay and Toronto would be on the bottom of his wish list for that very reason (maybe even anywhere in the AL east since that would include trips there).
I wonder if Crawford could return to AL with Angels.
The Mets are so dang cheap! I know they don’t have Yankees money, but come on. Look at what u did by being cheap with Daniel Murphy, the hottest player on the planet after the season. They should be after the best corner infielder , regardless of the price.
Neil Walker was the better player until Daniel Murphy was reincarnated as Babe Ruth. Can’t blame them for that.
How were the Mets cheap with Murphy? They offered him a QO last offseason and he turned it down. 15.8 mill is not cheap in my book.
Especially for a guy with 1 career season with a WAR over 2.
This is probably the one year that the mets haven’t been cheap, yet you’re complaining that they’re cheap. And it’s not like their are any good free agent third basemen sign right now, so you’ll have to give up meaningful assets in a trade… Unless they trade for a scrub.
Honestly, there isn’t really a super appealing player on the FA market for a team thats not in prime position to contend.
The Phillies should sign a Hellickson/Morton-type inning eater, two reinforcements to a young pen (buy low on Storen?), and some bench depth and let the farm system fix the rest.
The Mets may be better looking into Jack Lamb from the D-Backs as a replacement at third base. He is slightly older, might cost less and although a lefty hitter, could platoon with Flores against lefties to maximize his bat.
Jake Lamb would certainly cost more than world Drury. No reason for Arizona to even really entertain offers on Lamb at rod point unless completely blown away
The mets do have Yankee money and could easily have payroll touching 200 million but they choose not to because there owners are known to care less about winning then making huge profit. Yanks should give mets Headley and few million for a low kevel prospect and Yanks sign Yulieski Gurriel.
Headley > unproven Gurriel
Wonder if the Angels take a shot at Crawford.
Mets should sign Reyes, put him at 2b and put Walker at 3b.