Andrew Miller sits atop the Cubs’ wish list this summer, according to Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com. The Yankees southpaw is humming along with a 1.47 ERA and ridiculous 13.2 K/BB ratio, so the price won’t be low — if he can be had at all. While teammate Dellin Betances would also hold interest, Heyman says that Chicago doesn’t believe there’s any chance he’d be available. The Cubbies do not have interest in a reunion with Braves righty Arodys Vizcaino, who has already twice changed hands between the organizations.
- In terms of Cubs trade chips, there’s been plenty of speculation about Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez. But Heyman says that neither is likely to go anywhere. Indeed, we heard recently that president of baseball operations Theo Epstein isn’t inclined at all to part with the injured Schwarber, and it’s tough to imagine the organization removing a useful Baez from its current mix. One interesting player who could be moved, per Heyman, is third base prospect Jeimer Candelario.
- Phillies righty Jeremy Hellickson looks like the club’s most obvious trade piece: he’ll be a free agent at year’s end and has been both solid and durable, which is why he sits among the top 20 trade candidates in baseball on MLBTR’s most recent list. But Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com wonders whether there’s a scenario where Philadelphia holds onto the veteran starter. A qualifying offer could make sense, he posits, since that could net the Phils a draft pick that could be more valuable (particularly given the likelihood of a big draft pool) than any prospect return. And if Hellickson were to take it, that wouldn’t be a terrible result for an organization that could use the stability in the rotation both now and in 2017. GM Matt Klentak hinted recently that his team may not “be super active” at the deadline.
- The Phillies could also push toward contention as soon as next year, though that still seems optimistic. A major factor in that timeline is young shortstop J.P. Crawford, who is currently playing at Triple-A. He was recently named the top prospect in all of baseball in a mid-season ranking update from Baseball Prospectus.
- The Dodgers are said to be looking at outfielders, but may have an internal option on hand before long. Manager Dave Roberts says that Andre Ethier could make his way back to the bigs by early August, as Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times tweets. The veteran has missed the entire season with a broken leg, but had been a highly productive player in 2015.
crawford v crawford GG competition in the NL ftw!!!
Isn’t his k rate 23.2 not 13.2? Not 100% sure and too lazy to look it up, but that was about where it was when I checked a week ago.
I think you are confusing K/9 (which is over 16 at the moment, and might have been higher last week) and K/BB. Anyway, Miller’s peripherals right now are absurdly good.
Thanks man, appreciate you not being a jerk about it
yeah…. you idiot.
If Hellickson makes $15,000,000 or whatever a QO is going to be annually, then there’s a major issue. IMO he’s an $10,000,000 a year guy.
That’s not a problem on the MLB side- it’s on yours. Regardless of what you “feel”, economics is an emotionless concept. Right now market for a #3 pitcher is rising. If you were to sign a solid number 3 to a long term contract right now you’d be lucky to get 4/60- or 15 per on a long term deal- so QO for a number 3-type? I’d be hoping he signs it. That’s value imo
Candelario is suddenly “interesting”. Based on what Cubs hitting prospects have done recently, should his cup of coffee change anything? And would Dan Vogelbach suddenly become “interesting” if called to the show.
Both are who they are. Hitter-ish infielders, with Jeimer having the better glove. No “more” or “less” interesting than three weeks ago.
You’re a fool if Vogelbach doesn’t interest you. He’d be the Cubs starting 1B man right now if Rizzo wasn’t there. Kid has incredible plate discipline, hits for average, and has 30+ HR power. What a bore.
Schwarber needs to be the starting point for any talks with the Yankees – Sorry Theo
Yeah, sure, Schwarber for a stinking reliever. Grow up, Yankee.
The cubs can come up with another package to get miller, schwarber is not going anywhere
That’s ok. Don’t trade a player coming off a major injury with no position for an all star pitcher. Schwaber plus more is what it is going to take! Don’t like the price that’s okay – the Yankees will have other options. For the Cubs -well what’s another 100 years
Why would you want a player coming off a major injury so bad?? Fact is you know Schwarbers bat has great potential that’s why Yankee fans want him. I’m glad you guys will have other options because you will need them. Schwarber is not being traded for any relief pitcher, let it go. So I guess us Cub fans will have to wait another hundred years
On his behalf, the National League is cutting themselves off at the knees by rejecting the DH. LF/1B types will almost always have more call in the AL as long as NL owners prefer tradition over player development.
But, yeah. No other teams are likely to give young players with five post-season homers to get Miller. Who is on a play-off contender. Whether Miller goes or not, it won’t be for Schwarber.
I agree with you. I do think Schwarber ends up getting traded to an American league team, but it will be for a starter not a pen guy
Pflababy you are not getting schwarber dude get over it. Amd now you want schwarber plus more? Hahahhahah that is so funny. Dream on. Oh and you said he is injured with no position so why do you even want him? Keep your all star reliever dummy. So we dont like the price. Nice of you to allow us to say no (and laugh our asses off at you).
Boy pflababy sure gets pissed off on schwarber. Obviously you yankee clowns want him real bad. Well you better come at the Cubs with Alot more then Miller but funny thing is your team is so friggin old and your farm system stinks so bad I cannot fathom a package you could even put together.
Oh but the Cubs have not won for 100 or so years. Oh that hurts so bad that ok now we will give you schwarber. Hahhaha nice try. You want him bad. But you cannot and will not have him and it pisses the crap out of you!
If the Yankees think like you and think that’s what he’s worth than Miller will be playing out his contract on a very old and mediocre Yankees team. If you think someone is going to give you the every day, young talent you think he is worth then it won’t be by Hoyer and the Cubs. You can go rape and pillage some other team over your great reliever. Relievers are a dime a dozen. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs trade for and reunite with LHP Rich Hill and put him in the bullpen…… or use him the in the rotation and demote Hammel to the bullpen. Then trade for just a young, solid lesser named reliever like Cam Bedrosian out in LA. BUT, all the Cubs really have to offer to the Yankees IMO to land Miller is Gleyber Torres and a PTBNL….. maybe even just a Torres for Miller straight up deal. Or even a Vogelbach for Miller deal…… maybe with a PTBNL. 2 young, stellar prospect options for the Yankees for a 31 year old reliever. They’d be dumb not to take it. Gleyber Torres I think is like a top 40 or 50 ranked prospect in all of baseball. I’m willing to part with him because we already have Russell, Baez, and Happ tearing it up in the minors….. and a dude named Zobrist will be around for 3 more years too. Cubs are pretty set for the future as far as middle infielders go. IMO I’d rather see the Cubs trade for Chapman. I think he’d be cheaper. Unlike Miller he’d be a rental and not under team control, so he doesn’t have that going for him. Just look at what Boston shipped to San Diego for Kimbrel last offseason. Manuel Margot who is about as highly touted a prospect as Gleyber Torres, if not touted less than Torres. The next best prospect they gave up was either Javy Guerra or Carlos Asuaje. Guerra wasn’t even a ranked prospect before this year. Asuaje was Boston’s 20th ranked prospect in their system, but is unranked as far as MLB’s top prospects goes. Guerra had a decent 2015 season in A ball for Boston. Nothing spectacular, just decent yet for some reason that made him go from unranked to ranked around 50 this year in top 100 lists. Guerra is sucking balls in advanced A ball for the Padres right now. The last piece they sent to SD was a super young, unranked pitcher Named Logan Allen. I think he is only like 19 years old right now. He has pitched well so far but only has 68+ IP in the very low levels of minor league baseball. So in other words, the Red Sox gave up a good prospect in Margot and 3 randoms for the likes of Craig Kimbrel who the Red Sox will enjoy for this year, next year, and have a club option on him for 2018. Chapman…… Cubs would have him for the last 2 months of the season and into the playoffs. That’s it. So Just like Miller I think they could have him for just either Gleyber Torres or Dan Vogelbach straight up or throw in a PTBNL. People will think i am crazy for saying this, but more times than not people tend to WAY overvalue players and think their respective team will get a ton more than what is actually realistic. Don’t get me wrong. There are moronic teams out there who will overpay for players. But they usually bite the dust and almost immediately regret the trade. But that is rarer than trades happening when a player is traded for less than fans think said player is worth IMO. Recent overpays by teams Have been the A’s trading for Samardzija and Hammel for Russell and McKinney who were the A’s top 2 prospects (in addition to Dan Straily and a PTBNL). Then just this last offseason as I predicted the Braves pulled the wool over two teams eyes which is impressive because hosing teams in the offseason is more rare than during the deadline. But they did and got two decent pitching prospects for IMO a VERY overrated Andrelton Simmons whose lack of ability at hitting doesn’t seem to bother anyone. Then they straight up fleeced the Diamondbacks when they traded Shelby Miller to them for a top 10 prospect in Dansby Swanson, around a top 50 prospect in Aaron Blair, and Ender Inciarte……. for Miller. A guy who owned a 3.22 ERA going into this season…….. BUT also owned a career 3.82 FIP, meaning that his 3.22 ERA had reasons to be skeptical over. Couple that with moving to a hitter’s haven in AZ and sure enough, look at him now.
IMO if the Yankees were willing to part with both Chapman and Miller I don’t think it would cost the Cubs much more than Gleyber Torres, Dan Vogelbach, and Pierce Johnson. Maybe toss in Candelario or Billy McKinney in there for good measure….. it’s not like the Cubs aren’t loaded with OF prospects. After the year Eloy Jimenez is having he will likely surpass McKinney on the Cubs prospects list and will likely crack the top 100 prospects list going into next year anyways (in 79 games in single A he is raking to the tune of a .332 BA, .371 OBP, .901 OPS, 10 HRs, 6 SBs, 58 RBIs, and has a cannon for an arm in the OF all at the ripe old age of 19). Then they still have Almora, Dewees, Eddy Martinez, and Mark Zagunis as great to decent prospects in the OF. So Cubs are pretty set there too.
That’s a seriously disrespectful attitude.
Sorry pflababy you are not getting Schwarber period. Let alone for a good relief pitcher. Get real.
I totally agree. It’s time for the Yankees to do a little demanding and let other teams give up the goods.
Yankee fans are delusional and overvalue their players, as usual. No one is going to give you what you think they should for a friggin reliever. If Miller was a starter, yeah. But he throws, what, 60-70 innings per year? Regardless of how good he is he is still, just a reliever. BEST case for the Yankees is that the Cubs offer you Gleyber Torres and some PTBNL for Miller…… that’s it.
I’m not saying it will or will not happen but Miller for Schwaber makes a ton of sense. Cubs fans-you have one if the deepest teams I’ve ever seen. Schwaber would be no loss at all to you. Rizzo and Bryant are studs and every young guy Theo brings up hits for average and power. A outfield of Almonte, Fowler and Heyward would be really good. Miller could be the final piece to land you over the top. You say he’s only a “reliever” how did the royals win World Series last year? Schwaber would be perfect in right for Yankees. Will he turn into the next Babe Ruth like you guys seem to think? Maybe, maybe not. Theo says no way now but let’s see what he thinks in a couple weeks. He’d love to be the guy to end the drought in Boston and Chicago.
So you’re pretty much saying since we have put together a team intelligently and have depth we should overpay because you like schwarber?
Here’s a deal- Soler, Vogelbach, Candelario- Yankees will not find that value anywhere else- I doubt the Cubs even have to offer that much but as a Cubs fan I would be willing to part w that for Miller at 4.5 for the rest of this season and 9 next year.
On the Yankees side- good luck finding that package anywhere else- that’s the point. The Cubs depth gives THEM leverage- not the other way around. Soler is the odd man out- Baez is an elite 3b when he’s there which makes Candi-Man mlr expendable, plus Torres could likely be shifted to 3b depending on how he fills out. Also have Vosler and Chesny Young in system also between Bryant and Baez and those 2 3b is pretty well covered(not even bringing up LaStella) with Baez proving his immense value defensively at 3b(left side of the infield combined age 45 when they are on field together and devastating defensively)- Bryant will continue to get more time in OF- w Zobrist and Contreras both able to play LF as well as Bryant and Schwarber coming back- And Happ killing it- within a couple of seasons there will be a rotation in LF- no need at all for Soler.
So Yankees- you get a young, controllable 1b/DH to replace Tex- a young, controllable 3b to replace headley/a-rod, and a young controllable LF-
If you pass on that w your aging and mediocre roster then the only team that’s looking at 100 years of losing is yours.
Won’t see the cubs trade schwarber. Not gonna happen.
Sox should trade someone for Hellickson
Both are good prospects
Dan Vogelbach will be involved in whatever deal the Cubs make before the TDL.
First semi-major trade to an AL team should include Vogelbach. That team will get a very good deal, and the other 14 teams deserve it if he hits well against them.
It is going to be a sad day for me when he goes. I jumped on his bandwagon after his short 2012 season. Been high as a kite over that guy ever since. I am still floored MLB doesn’t have him ranked in the top 100…… or any ranking site for that matter. The kid would be the Cubs starting 1Bman right now if Rizzo wasn’t here. I don’t know how you can’t rank a guy who hits for average, has 30+ HR power, and shows incredible plate discipline. Unfortunately I think he is cast some shade because he is a bit chubby. But IMO not only does he look like he could be Schwarber’s brother, but he looks like he weighs about the same, maybe only 10 lbs heavier. Schwarber and Vogelbach’s swings look eerily similar as well. To top it off he’s a left handed hitter to boot. He finally gets to triple A (I thought he should’ve been there last year already) this year and has done nothing but rake. 83 games played, 58 RBIs, 49 R, 18 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, .306 BA, a STELLAR .421 OBP, and a .965 OPS. Again, how the f*** is that not top 100 prospect worthy? He’ll be 24 in December. Whoever does end up with him he’ll be on their opening day roster in 2017…… I guarantee it. If it is to the Yankees, he’s already insanely better than anything they’ve trotted out to 1B in a few years IMO…… in other words he is way better than Mark Teixeira who has been sh** for years now. Last I checked the Yanks don’t have a 1B prospect either to replace POS Teixeira who is wrapping up his last year in NY. Just saying.
They have Greg Bird….
I hold Theo and Jed close to my bosom! They will not trade my Kyle (or Javy)!
Yes Javy stays too!
The Phillies HAVE to trade Hellickson at the deadline. What exactly do they stand to gain by not trading him?
Someone to eat innings at the cheap when they shut down VV, Nola and likely Eflin/Thompson for inning reasons.
They aren’t going to get anything of note for him anyways. A guy 18-25ish organzational in a decent farm system? If they can somehow get a draft pick out of him (not holding my breath), I’ll take that as a major win.
Just bring up a AAA guy to eat those innings. It really doesn’t matter how good or bad those innings are. And an 18-25ish organizational guy from a decent farm system has much more value to the Phillies than just letting Hellickson walk for nothing so your argument is invalid.
The idea is to trade him, or QO him. So they aren’t letting him walk for nothing..
They either trade him for a meh prospect, get a pick or resign him for the QO. None are a bad option, but all are options.
Hellickson very overrated
Soler, vogelbach and a minor league reliever should get cashman off his behind and get Miller to the Cubs.
IMO, If the yankees move Miller it will not be to the cubs. Cubs only appear interested in packaging tier 2 & 3 players for bullpen arms. That doesnt seem to matchup w/ the yank’s wants for Miller, Chapman to Chicago seems more likely.
I think the rangers will make a package for miller or chapman as well
I don’t think the Cubs will end up with any pitcher from the Yanks personally. Yanks aren’t going to get the deal they want from the Cubs, and the Cubs aren’t giving up what the Yanks feel they can get elsewhere. Give me Doolittle or Abad for a fraction of the price
Amen cubsfan24. Well said
I was in the same boat over Doolittle…… but then he hit the DL with shoulder inflammation….. not good.
Shoulders scare me. Obviously any deal starts with health. I hope all is well cuz I’d really like to try and add him
I think the Yanks should be looking for a package of Happ and Almora for Miller.
I mean tier 2 and 3 prospects have kinda always been reserved for relievers. Tier 1 prospects and ML talent have always been reserved for starting pitching.
I agree, Happ and Almora would be a fair trade for Miller.
I am not just sold on Schwarber. My point is you can’t expect all star talent for a bunch of fringe prospects! That is not how this works. If the Cubs don’t want to pay the asking price and go for lesser talent then that is fine – remember you get what you pay for.. In this case, blame team management and not the goat!
Miller or Chapman are proven pitchers so yes the asking price is going to high.. Ask the Kansas City Royals about the importance of a good bullpen.. The Yankees wouldn’t have won their titles without Mariano Rivera either.
If you’re not sold on Schwarber then why would you want to risk trading away all star caliber talent for him?? No one is discounting the importance of a good bullpen, but again the difference between great relief pitchers and good relief pitchers is slim. Take a good look at the Kimbrel trade. The Friars got 2 top 100 prospects, 2 top 20 ORGANIZATIONAL prospects and 0 MLB ready players. And that is for one of the best, if not THE best closers in all of baseball. Kimbrel is better then Miller yet you expect MLB ready players and more for Miller?? It will never happen. You better HOPE and consider yourself lucky if you end up with 2 top 100 prospects for Miller, and even less for Chapman because he is a rental
Timing is everything. Prices are cheaper in the off season but at a premium when you are at the trading deadline. Would you really want to miss a chance of winning a World Series because you covet excess players so much? Miller and chapman have both proven that they can pitch at a high level in both leagues and one or both would make the Cubs unstoppable. I think this is worth paying up for!