Some news and notes from around the AL East…
- “When you only win 68 games, you’re open to everything,” Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman tells Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “Everything” doesn’t quite extend to Evan Longoria, as Topkin writes that the team doesn’t have any interest in trading the longtime face of the franchise. The Rays head into the GM Meetings and the offseason in general with many needs, with Silverman saying that the club will primarily rely on trades to fill those needs (no surprise, given Tampa’s usual reluctance to spend big on free agents).
- The Orioles’ search for a new pitching coach continues, as the team interviewed Double-A pitching coach Alan Mills this past week, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports. The O’s are also interested in former Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell and Cardinals minor league pitching coordinator Tim Leveque.
- Also from Kubatko’s piece, he reports that former Orioles first-rounder Matt Hobgood is trying to restart his career as a hitter. Hobgood, picked fifth overall in the 2009 draft, managed only 325 innings over parts of six pro seasons in the minors, as shoulder problems continually kept him off the mound. Hobgood still has a long ways to go in order to get properly re-acclimated to hitting, though at age 26, he doesn’t yet want to give up on his baseball dream.
- With a number of first basemen and designated hitters on the free agent market, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith argues that the Blue Jays could be in no rush to fill the potential hole left by Edwin Encarnacion. Since the Jays can offer a spot on a contender and playing time in a hitter-friendly ballpark, they’re an attractive option for many 1B/DH types, which presents the possibility of Toronto landing a big bat at perhaps a bargain price. Nicholson-Smith also posits that the Jays could pursue Ian Desmond, Steve Pearce or Sean Rodriguez to fill their need for versatility. Among more outside-the-box ideas, Nicholson-Smith suggests the Jays could try to acquire J.D. Martinez from the Tigers, or take advantage of the thin pitching market by listening to offers on “anyone this side of Aaron Sanchez,” with Joe Biagini perhaps ready to step into the rotation if another starter is dealt.
I said this on another post., It could be a win – win trade for both teams, Soler + Ian Happ and another prospect to the O’s for Britton
The Orioles could do much better.
Orioles need pitching, not hitting. Stupid for them to trade Britton without multiple pitchers coming back.
Add Underwood or Edwards
Rondon, Edwards & Clifton/Morrison and a teenage player might keep Baltimore on the line. But I don’t think the Cubs are going to want to give up more than other teams will for Britton. Unless they want to do a deal centered around Hendricks-Britton with other pieces on both sides, I just think Britton’s trade value is ridiculously high right now.
Now way the Cubs would trade their only controllable young starter for a reliever, with 3/5 of their rotation becoming free agents next winter.
Why should the Cubs give up prospects for s closer when they can sign one of three FA closers available for just cash? No way
Because the question is are they actually going to pay that cost. They’d receive Britton for 3 controllable years. Allow Edwards to develop and work himself into the closers role. Jansens going to be a dodger, melancon is headed to the Giants and a team not named the Cubs will sign Chapman. The Cubs are going to get expensive really quickly. So knowing they’ll need to plug their rotation soon it makes sense to trade for a closer and spend on the rotation.
All of these deals are garbage. They aren’t going to trade one of the league’s top closers for Jorge Soler and some position player prospect. That’s just plain stupid.
Considering Britton is a free agent in 2019, it’s either sign or trade soon. The closer he gets to being a FA, the less the O’s get.
Yeah right buddy
Not a good trade at all that doesn’t address the needs of the O’s and for one of the most dominant closers. There’s no incentive in that especially considering Soler is at his lower value.
What would it take to trade Britton for the O’s to say yes
Everyone need starting pitching and especially the O’s so young SP they can surround Gausman and Bundy with. They’re looking to compete. Soler need to be traded to a place he can develop.
We can get a pretty good idea of the framework for a Britton trade by looking at what the Yankees got back for Andrew Miller. The problem is I think the Orioles would be looking for pitching, whereas the Cubs don’t have any of those MLB ready arms to offer back.
Not happening. Britton is going to get strong consideration for the Cy Young award and those two just don’t cut it.
Would love to see the braves trade for Longoria.. I will be a hefty price tag but would be well worth it..
The article literally talks about how Longoria isn’t available.
Agreed he is the face of a very poor looking franchise right now… think they miss Joe Madden? I do
About as much as Boston is missing Francona!
Rays really got their heart ripped out by losing Maddon and Friedman.
To be honest, the fan base is pretty torn. A lot of people still miss him. And then others respect what he did for the team, but ultimately feel betrayed by him.
I was fine trying a new voice, but Cash has made me miss Maddon terribly. Cash has been a disaster.
If Toronto trades any of their current rotation they would really be making a mistake.
They have the best rotation in the league. BUILD around that, don’t dismantle it.
Rays really should trade Long this year. They’re only committing to a 65 million payroll, he’s coming off the best year he’s had in a while, and obviously they’re not going anywhere in the standings. As the old saying goes, they finished last with him; where would they have finished without him…..
Atlanta and Dodgers are both (a) in need and (b) have stocked farm systems; Rays system might be in the top 15…..might be.
If I’m them, (and I’m not). I blow it all up, move Longo, Archer, Ordizzi and Colome…..You can do a total refit moving those guys, especially this year…..then dream of 2020….
What would Toronto need to give up to get JD Martinez. If Mets lose out on Yo! I’d like to see them goatee JD, I’m just not sure what it would take. 2-3 prospects?
Go after JD*
O’s need starting pitching. No, nobody wants to give up arguably the most dominant relief pitcher in baseball but it’s a good price to pay to bring someone who will be a stud on the mound
As a Cubs fan, I have to ask this…why would the O’s trade
Britton if he has 3 more controllable years??!! Doesn’t make sense
Their farm system is depleted. We need prospects to plan ahead.