The Dodgers intend to pursue reunions with at least four prominent free agents, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. Excellent third baseman Justin Turner, relief ace Kenley Jansen, late-breaking lefty Rich Hill, and veteran second baseman Chase Utley would all hold interest to Los Angeles, per the report, though age considerations and the presence of internal alternatives could limit the club’s willingness to top the market for those players. The 28-year-old Jansen may be the highest priority among this group, Heyman suggests. While the Dodgers haven’t exactly broken the bank on relief arms under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, it seems Jansen could warrant an exception given his unbelievable performance level. All said, Heyman suggests it would be surprising if L.A. doesn’t bring back at least two of those four players.
Here are some more of Heyman’s latest notes, from his weekly column:
- The Braves and Yankees have tabled any talks pertaining to catcher Brian McCann until the offseason, which may not bode well for New York’s chances to trade him to Atlanta. Heyman writes that the Braves have interest in Matt Wieters, Jason Castro and top free agent catcher Wilson Ramos, whom they’d love to snatch away from the division-rival Nationals. Atlanta is willing to pay half of the remaining $34MM McCann is owed from 2017-18. They’re also looking to add a rotation piece for 2017 and beyond, if not two, as a number of their top-ranked minor league arms are still a ways off from the Majors (which, of course, could make them appealing trade chips in an offseason where the free agent market is devoid of talented starters).
- Mike Napoli, who is enjoying a rebound season at the plate with the Indians, has said he’d like to remain in Cleveland, though the two sides aren’t engaged in talks. Napoli’s defense and baserunning have torpedoed his WAR totals, but he’s batted a well-above-average .259/.345/.494 with 29 home runs in his first season with Cleveland. His bat should draw plenty of interest this winter despite the fact that he’ll turn 35 on Halloween.
- Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki hopes to play again in 2017 and would like to stay in Miami, per the report. With his club option valued at only $2MM, that may be a fairly easy pick-up for the organization. Playing in his age-42 season in 2016, Ichiro has compiled a useful .294/.365/.366 batting line over 296 plate appearances, continues to rate as an average or better fielder and overall baserunner, and has even cracked double-digit stolen bases for the 16th-straight season.
- Another aging veteran who intends to continue his career, says Heyman, is Mets righty Bartolo Colon. It’s not yet clear how his market will develop — we don’t know what level of interest New York will have, or whether the 43-year-old will be looking for multiple years — but there certainly ought to be ample interest given that Colon has provided 158 2/3 innings of 3.35 ERA pitching thus far in 2016. Even if the peripherals don’t quite line up with those bottom-line results, he’ll be among the more durable and effective pitchers available on a forthcoming seller’s market for starters.
- There’s no sense that the Reds are interested in making a change at manager, Heyman says. Skipper Bryan Price’s contract does expire after the year, but with some positive signs in the second half — excluding a current four-game skid, at least — it seems he could be retained.
The Reds weren’t bad this year due to Price. No manager could’ve made them a winning club. Extending him may get Reds fans up in arms, but he shouldn’t be let go based on his W-L record.
No, he should have been let go due to his W-L record two years ago. This year he should be let go because he is the worst field manager in a league that includes both Walt Weiss and Don Mattingly.
Would you fire them based on their W-L records, too?
“Braves have interest in Matt Wieters, Jason Castro and top free agent catcher Wilson Ramos,” Wieters and Ramos are certain to cost the Braves more on a per AAV and years than McCann would cost the Braves if they work out a trade with the Yankees assuming even if the Braves pay $10MM per of McCann’s 2 remaining years. Yes they will probably have to part with a couple of prospects but that’s the cost of doing business. Plus there is definitely a familiarity between the Braves and McCann.
You know at this juncture why would Wieters be a better option? Maybe an option ifMac doesn’t come back and Ramos signs elsewhere. Can Ramos be trusted to such a big contract with his injuries. Everybody rags Mac and he just keeps producing year in and out. No he is not the best but we just need him to decent.
Always liked Weiters, but have to understand his bat and arm are just not what they used to be. His agent is Boras, taking that into consideration have got to figure late in winter before Boras figures out 16mAAV again is a pipe dream..
Can see maybe that over 2 seasons, even 9-10m for 1, but not close to what he’s been making.
He’ll get more like 13-14m and 3 years it is a low fa market and a lot of bad teams have cap
Guess the couple of prospect ya is determined by NYY’s desire to unload McCann. McCann is having a fine year, but 20 HRs and 60 RBIs is not exactly DH worthy. I don’t think that is the production Hal and Cashman expect in that role.
Wieters isn’t that good anymore, and even McCann is starting to decline. If I were them, I’d trade a young pitching prospect with high upside to Seattle for zunino. It’d be risky, but it could also pay off way more than spending on the FA market or trading for guys past their prime
Zunino hasn’t been what he was touted to be coming out of college. I’m sure there is a close to major league ready catcher on the minors somewhere that his current team is undervaluing a little. Keep flowers another season and let AJ walk. Let flowers mentor a younger ALMOST ready catcher and let them platoon behind the plate. The braves may already have their future catcher in the minors that just hasn’t been realized yet since it’s undeveloped. Catching isn’t as big of a need as pitching is. This team has scored tons of runs over the last month but has also given up tons of runs. If only they had the pitching to keep some of these ridiculous run totals down they would be in a lot better shape. I say the braves need to tank the rest of this season and get the number 1 pick and hope that a talent like a Kris Bryant or Mike Trout is available to take with the first selection. Not to mention we all forget about the 16 year old Kevin Maitan. He is very young but has comparisons to Miguel Cabrera and chipper Jones so he could come a lot sooner than we all think. That will be somewhat easier to gauge once he starts in the minors next season. This team has a lot of young talent already it’s just going to take it s few years to be ready. The Braves just need a few placeholders until they are.
If the Braves take McCann from the yanks would they have to send players back in the deal? Or are the yanks just going to give him up to anyone and eat some salary?
If it’s the former then wouldn’t the Braves be better off signing a FA rather than giving up talent?
i bet the Redsox feel really stupid now giving up on Napoli who has 29 homers and plays great defense.
Gave away all that and didnt have no one to replace him at firstbase. Hanley wasn’t even brought in to play first he was brought in to play left and we know how that turned out.
His defense/offense are blowing Han rams out the water.
But then again everyone who doesn’t succeed in bean town goes to another team and performs like a different player. I have no idea why could be the bright lights in Boston.
Plays great defense? You should check his dWAR…Hanley has actually been worth more over Napoli this year too.
I know the body wouldn’t lead you to this thought but there’s no way you can look at B Colon and what he’s done and think it’s natural. Like Big Papi, Reuben Sierra, Julio Frano etc. he was done years ago and then some how found the “fountain of youth.”
Hasn’t colon been suspended for steroids already?
Yes when he was on the A’s
People keep discounting his performance (implying steroid use) because he is old and his body type is….round. Per some media reports he has worked really hard to stay healthy and nimble. His improved batting is known and appreciated by Met fans. He fields his position well (*insert behind the back flip for the 3rd out video*). He can still do a split and his far more flexible than a lot of guys playing. He has stuck around because he learned how to do more with less. He basically has 2 pitches. A FB and his other pitch.. The FB he grips a half dozen different ways to induce movement and throws it 90% of the time.
Bartolo is a freak. I hope he stays a met for the rest of his career, however long that ends up being.
Hit the nail on the head there hojostache. A major failure on many people’s part as well is just automatically labeling Colon a steroid user and not understanding that it was in attempt to rehab an injury. Anybody who thinks that Colon is still using… Well they probably haven’t watched him in years. He throws more around 96% FB this season, and as you pointed out in various grips. His movement and his location are simply wonderful, but he has lost his velocity. Colon never found this “fountain of youth” you’re referring to. He simply adapted better than these other one trick ponies.
Hmmm Arizona to shop Greinke in offseason. The Braves are looking for starting pitching. Do I smell a trade? Lol. I mean if the Braves take on salary the prospect part could be reduced. Does Arizona dare trade with Atlanta? I doubt it but just fun to think about.
That would be hilarious if a trade happened. But with you in doubting it happens. Almost have to go a second or 3rd year with Grienke and Miller and see how they do.
We don’t have the money to make that trade even if they were willing. And honestly I think it would be a horrible move considering Grienke’s contract runs into his later 30’s.
With the way Flowers and Recker have produced and handled the staff, do the Braves really even need Bmac? At this point I’m not so sure. I’d rather save that money and spend it elsewhere like a trade for SP already under contract somewhere who may be making more than what we would normally want to spend.
Agree 100%. Flowers has been a pleasant surprise and I’d be happy with him another year.
Yes I’d love Wilson Ramos in Atlanta as long as he contuies he offonse as well
Love that they says “Napoli’s base running and defense has tanked his WAR” and yet he is still better in both categories than Santana!
With this front office thinking they are soooo smart I wouldn’t be surprised if they let Turner and Kenley walk. Don’t be surprised. I think they should bring them both back but if they can’t then at least Turner and go get Chapman.
My most generous theory is the FO plans on using the QO as leverage on resigning both of them, but that raises the obvious question of why they haven’t already used that leverage on an extension, given that both players are lead pipe cinches to get one.
It takes two to mango, and the player said no, I want to see what’s out there.
Could be but keeping in mind that this FO has extended exactly nobody so far. The feeling you have to get is they don’t believe in extensions.
I personally feel that the ties between McCann be the Braves should be over. He is not the player he once was. If this report is true than the Braves would be willing to pay 17 mil to McCann for 2 years of his services. He has 20 HR becuase the yankees right field wall is about the shortest in the major and McCann is a pull hitter. I don’t think I’ve seen him hit a HR to center field all season long. I personally think Weiters and Ramos would be overreaching and spending to much money on guys with to many question marks. They need to hire some new top tier scouts to evaluate catchers in the minor leagues and work out a trade for one that they feel is almost major league ready and let Tyler Flowers hold the fort until they are. I’m sure there is a catcher out there somewhere that is currently being undervalued by its current team that the Braves could get there hands on. Not to mention it wouldn’t cost them a bunch of money that they could use on some top of the rotation pitching candidates not as many or the quality of prospects it may take to get McCann and have the Yankees eat half of his contract. This team has a lot of young talent that isn’t as far away as people think. Most of it pitching hut they also have some young players that I believe could help this ball club in the near future. Mallex will be back soon to man center. Move Inciarte to right and leave Kemp in left. Try To get a 3B maybe like Justin Turner or someone that can provide more than Adonis has or call up Rio Ruiz and get rid of Gordon Beckham and Joel de la Cruz. Call up Albies when he is ready if not sooner rather than later. Try to trade Markakis this offseason for some HEALTHY bullpen pieces instead of Tommy John reclamation projects and make the pen a lot better than it has been this season. Find and supplant a solid closer if that Jim Johnson so be it. Lastly, get a top of the rotation starting pitcher or two with the available money and this ball club all of a sudden looks like a winning one. Inciarte is finally playing the type of ball I believe he can play consistently. Freddie is well….Freddie. Swanson will only get better! Kemp could have a resurgence if he commits to the offseason “getting in shape plan” Coppy speaks of! His defense isn’t the braves problem it’s the bullpen!!! A more consistent 3B would be advantageous and this team could be a playoff contender next season in a new stadium with possibly a new manager who may get these guys to buy in completely (not that Snitker hasn’t). As long as Folty and Wis continue to makes the strides they have been making and all the young top prospects continue to grow and get better this team could be what we all want it to be with some added pieces and a few subtractions.
I would first trade- sims, Davidson, weigl, Ruiz, for Chris archer
Sign wieters- 3/ 39mil
Trade for Todd Frazier. Prob not that expense.
Trade nick m to royals for bullpen help.
Sign fister
Sign Castro for C. Trade Mallex,Blair and Ellis to Astros for Springer and Fister
Fister is a FA after this season
Is that really the biggest problem with his trade proposal?
As a yankee fan i am not ready to give up on BRIAN McCANN!!—–but-just a question—–what do the braves have pitching wise to help make the yankees make the deal?——THANK YOU
The article clearly states the Braves were willing to pay half of McCanns $34 million. MLBTR also reported the Yankees wanted Inciarte and Foltynewicz.
The cost will be $17 million a year plus Inciarte/Foltynewicz if current demands are met. I wouldn’t be interested in a catcher who will be 33 before next season and might hit 20 home runs and bat under .240
Inciarte is providing elite defense while being a reliable lead off hitter and is very young. Now one of the reasons you would want McCann is so he can work with this young pitching staff like say Foltynewicz, who the Yankees would want.
I doubt McCann would get $17 million a year if he were an FA this year and a lot of Braves fans like the idea of not only paying that but also giving up some serious talent. I loved McCann for his years with the Braves but if this were a catcher of a different name I don’t think any Braves fans would be all that interested.
Some me of y’all have inflated trade expectations first off. The Astro’s aren’t going to trade Springer for Mallex, Blair and Ellis. I don’t think that would be a good trade for either teams. The braves would be giving up 2 pitchers with potential and it’s CF of the future for 1 outfielder. No thanks. Springer isn’t what the braves need.
As a yankee fan your not ready to get rid of McCann? You have Gary Sanchez. He is now and your future at catcher. I’m a braves fan and I personally do not want the braves to over pay for McCann and agreeing to pay half the money he is owed alone is an over pay for me. He wouldn’t get 17 mil a year on the open market so to also have to throw in some pitching would be an awful idea. Just because the Yankees choose to overspend for players all the time because they have the money doesn’t mean the lower market teams should have to overpay as well when making trades with the Yankees. Braves need bullpen help mostley and a solid player at 3B. No thanks in paying high for McCann
Braves should sign (C) Alex Avila. Platoon with Flowers. Platoon Ruiz and Garcia at 3B Trade with Twins::::::::::::::;Jenkins,Toussaint,Ellis,R.Sanchez,Acuna and Pache for Buxton and Burdi.
Offseason Trade with Yanks;;;;;;;;;;; Markakis,Ellis,Herbert,Toussaint for McCann and Judge. Yanks pick up 10mil. of McCann salary.
Offseason Trade with Rays;;;;;;;;;;;; Gant,Wisler,Vizcaino,Riley,Pache and Acuna for Archer and Longoria.
Offseason trade with A’s;;;;;;;;;; Inciarte,Bird,R.Sanchez and Weigel for Gray and Armenteros.
2017 lineup for Braves——Smith(CF),Swanson(SS),Freeman(1B),Longoria(3B),McCann(C),Kemp(LF),Judge(RF),pitcher,Albies(2B) Pitching staff———- Archer,Teheran Newcombe,Gray and Folty or Allard. Hello World Series!!!
EVERY single one of yalls trade suggestions give up wayyy to much form the Braves. First off Armenteros and Gray are not worth Inciarte alone. Now that he has come into his own. He has so much potential and his game is perfect for what the braves need. (Speed, Above average hitter, and defense) I don’t want a pitcher who is getting older and could pull a James shields and a guy that just signed on international signing day who has a lot of questions himself. And to add in Bird, Ricardo Sanchez, and weigel. This is an absolute AWFUL trade suggestion.
The trade with Tampa Bay is also a very bad trade for the Braves. Longoria is not even close to the guy he used to be even though we need a solid 3B and Archer is good but with the way he started the season with serious control and command issues he would cost way to much in this proposal. Gant, Vizciano, Riley, Pache and Acuna. Seriously!?!?!?!?
Where do you guys come up with some of these trades. Only the Diamondback make trades this lopsided!!! Seriously
Sorry garrog1949 but if the 1949 in your screen name is your age. Well than your age is obviously showing. Thank god you aren’t the Braves GM
And I suppose You are employed by the Braves (maybe janitor) How about this trade……………..Fried,Ellis,Sims,Gant and Acuna for Trout;;
Best trade is with Texas;;;;;;;;; M.SmithJenkins,Ruiz and Weigel for Profar and Matuella. Profar could be 3B until Maiten arrives.
Trade with Cubs in OFFSEASON:::::::::::::::::::: Blair<Gant,Whalen Ruiz and M.Smith FOR Contreras,Candelario and Underwood.