Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has apparently suffered another setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery, as Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports (via Twitter) that Brantley is headed for an MRI tomorrow after his shoulder once again started barking. Arguably Cleveland’s best player when healthy, Brantley has instead totaled just 43 plate appearances over 11 games this year after following a recovery timeline that was a bit more aggressive than initially projected. In his absence, the Indians have received a breakout performance from rookie Tyler Naquin as well as a strong performance from veteran Rajai Davis, who inked a one-year pact in the offseason. Lonnie Chisenhall and Jose Ramirez have each contributed nicely in the absence of Brantley as well, leading to a considerably more productive outfield mix than most pundits expected this season. Nonetheless, the return of a healthy Brantley would be a massive boost the the Indians’ chances of not only reaching the postseason but thriving in the playoffs.
More from the game’s Central divisions…
- Sticking with Cleveland, FOX’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the Indians “are not on” Reds right fielder Jay Bruce despite some other reports that have connected the two clubs. Rather, Cleveland is seeking left-handed relief pitchers and, when it comes to their preference between Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, Cleveland prefers the more controllable Miller to Chapman.
- Within that same piece, Royals general manager Dayton Moore tells Rosenthal that he plans to do everything in his power to improve his club’s roster prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. While the Royals aren’t perched atop the division like they were for much of the 2015 campaign that saw them win the World Series and have notably received poor performances from the starting rotation, Moore expressed confidence in his 2016 group of talent. However, Rosenthal adds that Kansas City is “almost certainly going to be limited financially,” which could prompt the club to again have to surrender better prospects in trades as a means of persuading other teams to add money into potential deals.
- The Twins are receiving the most trade interest in shortstop Eduardo Nunez, catcher Kurt Suzuki, right-hander Brandon Kintzler and left-hander Fernando Abad, sources indicated to Rosenthal. Right-hander Ervin Santana has not drawn the same level of interest, likely due to the $28MM remaining on his contract beyond the 2016 campaign. Suzuki, a free agent following the season (unless he reaches 485 plate appearances, at which point a $6MM vesting option will trigger), has had a torrid seven-week stretch during which he’s batted .352/.381/.556 with four homers and 10 doubles. Nunez, Abad and Kintzler can all be controlled through 2017 via the arbitration process, and Nunez in particular has had a productive run, hitting .299/.332/.455 with 16 homers and 30 steals in 154 games dating back to Opening Day 2015.
- Regarding Suzuki, while the Twins were in this position with him a couple of years ago and elected to sign him to a two-year, $12MM extension, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that there have been no extension talks at all between the two sides this time around. That would seemingly make a trade more likely, especially in light of his improved production over the past month and a half.
- ESPN’s Mark Saxon reports that the Cardinals have “no interest” in trading for a short-term bat (links to Twitter). St. Louis is only interested in acquiring a hitter unless it would be a long-term acquisition. While some may connect the dots and suggest that Carlos Gonzalez fits that bill, to an extent, Saxon adds that top Cardinals officials aren’t as high on Gonzalez as many seem to think they are. Some reports earlier this summer connected the Cards to the Rockies slugger, but Saxon’s report certainly downplays that as a possibility.
Yeah but what about a closer? Like I get CarGo would be nice, or any other impact bat. But our bullpen is #1 priority.
I agree. Time to shake things up here. I say we bring alphabet back and maybe Steve Kline. I mean who wouldn’t want a reliever that gave Larussa the finger on national tv?
Cargo doesn’t fit the needs. If they get a bat Longoria is a better fit.
As for relievers I don’t expect any big names. The biggest thing I would expect is maybe a 3 team deal with KC getting a SP and/or Beltran from NYY, STL getting Hochevar from KC, with NYY getting some prospects from KC and Adams from STL.
I don’t think Longoria makes sense we have Matt Carpenter coming off the DL in a couple weeks. If we get a bat it’s an outfielder Grichuk has been on and off this season.
I still think the Rockies need to sign CarGo to a 3 year extension. That would keep him signed through 2020 when he would be 34. At that point, if the Rockies are out of it, he could be dealt at the deadline in a similar fashion to Carlos Beltran., a comparable player in my opinion. Beltran was a 34 YO free agent to be when he was swapped for Zach Wheeler, one of the top pitching prospects in the game at the time. CarGo needs to be a Rockie for the long term especially since the Rockies have probably waited too long to extend Arenado.
Cargo is probably looking at one last long term contract. Do you think he would settle for only three years?
Why would they go after a hitter? The Cardinals need bullpen help, and maybe a starter
That make much more sense a guy like cargo would be nice but bullpen is the #1 priority. Maybe Vizcaino from the braves.
Cargo to the mets ??
Well… The problem is Rockies still need young, dependable pitching. And I don’t think Mets have enough to trade from right now due to injury. It would likely have to start with Steven Matz or Zack Wheeler and work from there. But, Wheeler is injured, and Matz is a critical part of their rotation this year.
I actually could see something in the offseason if CarGo is still in Colorado. If Cespedes decides to opt out, and pursue a bigger contract, Mets could trade one of the two, along with some prospects for a deal. But nothing during the season.
I have thought for awhile that the Cards are logical landing spot for Profar. Can’t trust Peralta long-term. I guess the question would be what do the Cards offer in return?
Reyes
Not a chance.
I don’t know if the Rangers would be willing to move him, or the Cards willing to pay. Here’s what I think a fair deal would be:
Cards get Profar
Rangers get: Jack Flaherty/Luke Weaver, Kolten Wong, Jaime Garcia
I don’t think it’s realistic, but I think it’s fair. Flaherty is a future #4 at worst, #2 at best. Kolten Wong still has potential to be a good player, who can play 2B and OF. and Garcia, though has had rough spots this year, is fantastic usually. He has a xFIP (a stat that adjust to what his ERA should be if defense and ballpark weren’t factors), of 3.81, and will get better as the season goes on. It gives the Rangers depth at all positions, but helps them now with a decent addition to the rotation. The Cardinals could slot Alex Reyes into the rotation right away.
Like I said tho, it’s not gonna happen, in my opinion. Profar has too much potential to be traded, and Cardinals wouldn’t want to meet huge asking price. Likely the Rangers ask for Alex Reyes, Randal Grichuk, or Aledmys Diaz, and I think the Cardinals wouldn’t want that.
Ive been hearing this trade proposal for Profar dating back to when Oscar Taveras was in the minors, and they’d propose a straight-up 1-for-1 trade of Profar for Taveras
Cardinals aren’t going to deal a SP when they have none to replace him with. Reyes isn’t ready, no matter the hype. Mayers is probably closer than Reyes is. I don’t see anybody giving up near that much for Profar anyway.
How do you figure? They don’t need to trust Peralta long term as he only has 1 year left on his deal. They have Diaz, Wong, Carpenter, and Gyrko all for longer term, not to mention adding in Garcia.
As for the Rangers asking for Diaz, that is surely a joke right? The Rangers are not going to ask for a major league player that is comparable in age, but with better numbers, cheaper, and longer control because that would result in them being a joke. It would be like proposing to trade Matt Holliday for Mike Trout, you would be laughed out of the building and promptly fired.
Gyorko isn’t a full-time starter, but Adams will be back next year as well. I expect we’ll trade Peralta over the offseason (and let Moss walk) and run with an infield of Adams/Gyorko, Wong, Diaz, and Carpenter in 2017.
The cards just don’t have a lot of offensive needs, especially an outfielder when they have a full outfield with more outfielders in the minors coming along.
Cargo is just not a fit or a need, though he would probably be an upgrade and replacement for Holliday long term.
Piscotty is a staple in right long term
Holliday, while aging will probably have his option picked up
Grichuk and Pham have more than enough talent and the team wants to get to play consistently.
Moss is a corner outfielder who mashes, but isn’t much defensively and may not be a long term fit (I see them extending him 4/60 to replace Holliday after 2017 in LF or to play first for Adams in 2018.
Garcia and Tilson look good moving forward in the minors as well, and the cards are mashing offensively.
Molina is aging offensively but is a defensive stud and the team likes Kelly long term in 2-3 years at C
Wong needs to learn to hit again, but Carpenter can play second if Peralta can be healthy.
Diaz isn’t going anywhere.
I just don’t see the offensive needs to upgrade. If they could find another utility player that can hit like Carpenter, Gyroko, and Peralta, maybe there. Or if they could include Adams in a swap for someone like Freeman where there is a big upgrade to the lineup, then sure. But these aren’t obvious fits and needs.
They need pen help. The rotation is getting better, though not to 2015 standards. And Lynn is back next to year to what is currently a 6 man staffed rotation.
They need to be better in close games, and their pen is the only glaring problem.
I agree, the pen should come first. But here’s something to think about: How many Offensive players are consistent on STL? Carpenter and Diaz are about the only two that you can rely on the whole year. Wong, Grichuk, Moss, Adams, Holliday, and even to a certain extent, Piscotty, have been streaky. CarGo would provide a consistency as a 3-hole hitter, that would boost the ability to compete way into October.
I agree, a lockdown Relief Pitcher should be top priority, but Carlos Gonzalez wouldn’t be a bad acquisition. Besides, I can’t think of another long-term, impact player that is available right now.
Maybe so, but even then, at what cost is that worth it?
They need a multi-year reliever that is a stud. Because this year is a low probability, improving the bullpen needs to be a this year and a multi-year gain. Not a half season acquisition unless it’s a low cost add (like Cishek and Broxton last year). But to really compete they need an Andrew Miller type of player with several years of control
That’s the biggest problem I have with the Front Office. They need to gamble sometimes and trade top prospects. Not Reyes. But Flaherty, Weaver, Sierra, Sosa shouldn’t be off the table. We had an incredible draft in 2016, so we’ll replenish it within time. Also our Intn’l signings we’re solid.
Why not try to pry away Chapman or Miller from the Yanks? Or Call Cleveland and see what it would take to get Cody Allen? We need a big move, for a controllable (or at least signable) MLB player. We can’t keep taking one step forward, two steps back. Especially since the Cubs are dominating, and the Pirates are on our tail.
Chapman doesn’t interest me as much just because our win probability this year is pretty low.
But Miller, Allen, even grab a few guys like Doolittle to stock up for this year and the next few.
I care about 2016 some, and 2017 a lot.
We could catch the Cubs this year, it’s just unlikely. But being awesome in 2017 is very realistic. Go for both in any move is my vote, and the bullpen is the place to do that
It would be nice. I remember hearing STL writer Derrick Goold talk about it was likely that this year, the Cardinals would trade for a long-term piece. Could be on the pitching, or offensive side. I don’t know who is out there, but if STL offered Grichuk, Weaver, Sosa and Cooney for a young stud who is a perennial all-star, I wouldn’t be that mad. But I agree, the deadline should be about improving the bullpen. This offseason should be about getting long-term impact players.
Cleveland has the best record in the AL, they won’t be trading their closer for prospects. They need to add bullpen arms, not subtract the best one they have.
The Cardinals are likely to lose some draft picks, international money, or both due to the hacking scandal, but yeah, gamble and deplete the farm system when you can’t add anything to it for a period. Seems legit. Especially for a wild card play in chance.
Cody Allen not going any where.
Indians will make big move to Andrew Miller ….. Probably Brad Zimmer, and Steve Clevenger get it done
The Cubbies lack one thing though…. They just have no history yet in getting to the series. Giants do have history getting there every even year lately and this even year shouldn’t be different.
They don’t trade top prospects? What about guys like Haren, Kennedy, Wallace, Cox, and Kaminsky? They just prefer only to do so when it’s worth the risk. It’s one of the reasons they’ve managed to be perpetual contenders over the last decade and a half.
What good is pen help when you have Matheny using the pen the way he does? I want to go into another room when Matheny uses his “horses” in 9-1 blowout games. It just isn’t necessary. IMO it screws the mental part of their game up.
We could also tweak Matt Holliday’s order in the lineup as well. Maybe bat him 6 or 7? Especially when you continue to pull him in the 7th for defensive purposes.
Completely on board with not trading for offense help though Freeman is very tempting. How about Votto? A lot of contract there but I imagine we wouldn’t have to give up the farm to get him?
He usually doesn’t use his horses in blowout games. It’s just that there’s been so many that they occasionally need some extra work in those games.
Extra work this year should be had for Bowman, Lyons, Maness and the other reliever they have on the roster that never gets used. Save your horses for games that count.
How about matheny’s decision about bringing in closer (oh) on Friday nights 7/22 game which was not a save situation? What happened? Yes, a run scores. Non save opps Do Not Go To Closers. I love Matheny but he gives me the shakes in late innings.
Votto wouldn’t waive his no trade to leave Cincinnati. He’s already made that clear
Must be the playing in front of 15000 fans at home that keeps him in Cincy? Or is it the Red’s organizational desire to be a contender every year? Maybe it’s his desire to be like Walt Jocketty and he doesn’t want to leave that strong counsel? Maybe it’s wanting to retire in 10 years and see Homer Bailey pitch for the first time in that year that he does?
On second thought why would an organization like the cardinals be interested in someone with those desires?
Sorry ham, I should of thought that idea completely through before opening my mouth.
Oh I almost forgot, Votto can’t leave because he also likes playing the position next to the biggest d-bag to ever put a Red’s uniform on.
So Cleveland would prefer Miller to Chapman. EVERY team would prefer Miller to Chapman. Chapman is a rental.
Nolasco, Nunez for Mike Zunino.