Potential trade candidate Ervin Santana tossed a complete-game shutout yesterday for the Twins, limiting the Athletics to two hits without a walk while tossing just 100 pitches. Santana dropped his ERA 44 points in the process and is now sporting a 1.63 ERA over his past four starts. Obviously, a nice four-start stretch isn’t going to undo all of the damage Santana did to his trade stock with a rocky start to the season, but 93 innings with a 4.06 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 42.9 percent ground-ball rate looks rather solid on the whole. He has about $6.5MM remaining on his salary in 2016 and is owed $13.5MM in each of the next two seasons, plus a $1MM buyout of a 2019 option. He’s not a cheap option, but given how few starters will be on the open market this winter, adding a durable mid-rotation cog could make sense for a number of contenders this summer.
- Santana wasn’t the only starter of note in that contest, as Athletics righty Sonny Gray was also on the bump. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the match-up drew attention from quite a few scouts, with representatives from the Blue Jays, Royals, Orioles, Marlins and Cardinals among those in attendance to see the two potential trade candidates throw. Oakland skipper Bob Melvin said that he felt Gray may be turning a corner after the showing, in which he battled through six innings with only one earned run on the board. Gray did allow four walks, but worked through some tough spots and, in Melvin’s words, “found a little of his mojo.” With Gray showing some life and the A’s continuing to muddle through the season, Slusser says that some rival executives feel there’s daylight for a deal on Oakland’s staff ace. There’s little question that the Twins would at least be open to moving Santana, and he’d represent a less costly addition for those organizations in need of rotation help (on the prospect side of the equation, at least; his contractual obligations would need to be worked out).
- As the Blue Jays eye rotation pieces, the club is also taking a cautious route with All-Star right-hander Marco Estrada. The veteran expressed disappointment that he’ll need a DL stint to rest his ailing back, as Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports, particularly since it means he’s virtually certain not to appear in the mid-summer classic as a capstone to his remarkable tale. But he acknowledged that the move was prudent. “I haven’t had much sleep just knowing that there might be a possibility I don’t get the opportunity to pitch in this game. And I guess my worst nightmare unfortunately came true,” said Estrada. “But in the long run this is the right thing to do. And I think this is going to benefit me in the future.” Though the Jays’ staff has been a strength, it’s not hard to see why the club is on the hunt for more arms. In particular, there’s still no reason to believe that Toronto will back away from its plan to move Aaron Sanchez to the pen to limit his innings. Though Drew Hutchison represents a better-than-average insurance policy — he has had success in the past and has been effective this year at Triple-A — he may be needed to step into Sanchez’s shoes. As the club’s depth chart shows, that would leave the organization a bit thin behind its front five.
- The Dodgers have no shortage of pitchers in various stages of the rehabilitation process, and you can add Brett Anderson to the list of those that could return this summer. Manager Dave Roberts told reports, including Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), that the southpaw might make it back by the middle of August if he continues to progress from his back surgery.
- Things haven’t gone smoothly of late for the Giants’ bullpen, and now the club will be without righty Cory Gearrin for at least two weeks. As Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, Gearrin has been diagnosed with a strained right shoulder, though the expectation is that he won’t miss much (if any) time beyond the minimum. It helps, too, that the club has welcomed back Sergio Romo, but all in all it wouldn’t be surprising if San Francisco chases a big relief arm over the coming weeks.
I totally forgot about Gearrin. Good luck to him in his recovery.
He’s been quite effective for the Giants so far, though his numbers took a hit recently when he tried to pitch through the injury.
Santana or Gray would be good pickups for the O’s but I think the A’s will want a big return for Gray. Santana could be a good 3/4 that they could get for somewhat cheap.
Any team willing to take on the rest of Santana’s contract could have him for pretty much nothing.
Have to believe Minnesota would jump at the chance to get out of those last 2 years.
They might be more reluctant to just dump him than one might think. He has been slightly above league average for the Twins, which is a lot better than what they received from their other options.
I think if I were the twins, I would make a deal where I eat some of the salary and ask for some prospects from a competing team that is hurting for pitching.
Obligatory “Ervin Santana for Benintendi, Moncada, and a A ball arm” comment.
I still think they’d have to be overwhelmed and pay no future salary to move him. Their pitching is bad and they’ll need his arm moving forward. So the upside of trading away a guy that can cover innings every year is low.
I don’t get what incentive the Twins would have to move Santana for nothing meaningful just to salary shed, especially with how non existent next year’s FA class is looking. Brian Bohanon could come out of retirement and sign for $13.5m
Gray would command a package of at least 3 or 4 prospects
I would take Santana in a heartbeat if we could cover the salary. I wonder if we could get him and Abad in the same package.
that sounds like a good plan. Sending maybe Cordell and Faulkner or Jackson over. Not sure Santana merits anybody better. And Abad being a rental he isn’t worth too much, could send them drew Robinson or somebody non essential
I was thinking Cordell and Trevino + Jackson or Faulkner. not sure what adding Abad would demand.
Abad isn’t a rental. He’s arbitration eligible again next year. Given his good performance in 2013 and 2014, how well he’s pitched this year, his not hitting free agency until 2018, and him being a lefty; if the Twins want to move him they should be able to get a prospect for him at the deadline. There will be a GM that sees 2015 as just a down year and looks at 2013,2014, and the first half of 2016 and decides they can get good production out of him down the stretch and next year.
Exactly… not trading Abad who’s been the only worthwhile reliever all year and who’s under control for a few more years for someone “non-essential”
I think he means “non-essential” in the sense of our big prospects, not in terms of bad player. If you add one of gallo/brinson/Profar or even tate/ortiz to that deal it becomes on overpay I think is what he means.
On that note the Rangers farm is deep. Our pitching at the top of the minors is bad (because we traded it for Hamels) but don’t be decived, we have some very high upside arms in the low minors that would be good value for Abad.
If I was running the Twins I’d eat some of Santana’s salary this year but if a team wanted me to eat anything past that I’d just as soon wait until the winter to move him.
doesnt really make scense to me why beane would trade gray at an all time low, especially when he was at his high in the offseason. he would probably want a king’s ransom but what team would pay it?
Why move Santana. He is the only real good pitcher we have. Pay him to stay
I feel like the Giants expect Romo to come in and change the whole bullpen unless they get a upgraded bullpen arm via trade. Romo is a good setup guy but can still be iffy along with Casilla who has blown a decent amount of saves. I’m hoping they acquire someone who can get outs and maybe replace Casilla if need be.