Quite a bit of competition is lining up for Carlos Beltran, who is now being pursued by both the Red Sox and Yankees, as Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald writes. The Blue Jays, too, have reached out, and the Astros seemingly remain a possibility, providing yet more evidence that multiple organizations currently have more interest in a limited commitment to Beltran than they do a lengthier pact with Edwin Encarnacion. While Toronto’s addition of Kendrys Morales has started the movement on sluggers, there are a wide variety still available, and it promises to remain an area of intrigue for much of the offseason.
A few more late-night notes from around the league…
- Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle certainly didn’t sound like he’s convinced center fielder Andrew McCutchen will remain with the organization when the 2017 season begins, as Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. “I’ll take it one day at a time,” said Hurdle when asked about the possibility of a McCutchen trade. “I think any general manager that’s in a market similar to the one we’re in has to explore the possibility of (trading) players who have one or two years left on their contracts. You have to see what value is there to keep or to move.” While McCutchen is hopeful of spending his career in Pittsburgh, Biertempfel writes that the Pirates haven’t approached him about extending his current six-year, $51.5MM contract, which has one more guaranteed year (2017) and an affordable club option (2018).
- The Brewers are getting trade inquiries on right-hander Junior Guerra, reports Jon Morosi of the MLB Network (via Twitter). That Milwaukee would receive interest isn’t necessarily a shock, given Guerra’s controllable nature and the strong debut season he had in Milwaukee. It’ll be interesting to see if further reports emerge about GM David Stearns seriously entertaining offers on Guerra, whose 2016 success was certainly unique in nature. This past year marked Guerra’s rookie season, but unlike most first-year success stories, Guerra is a 31-year-old (32 in January) that was plucked off waivers by Stearns last offseason and enjoyed a terrific but somewhat out-of-the-blue debut. The former Braves, Mets and White Sox farmhand made 20 starts for Milwaukee and quietly pitched to a 2.81 ERA with 7.4 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate while averaging a tick over 93 mph on his fastball. Guerra still holds tremendous appeal for the the 2017 season, but it seems likely that the Brewers will at least listen to offers on him, as Milwaukee may not contend until 2018 or even 2019, at which point Guerra will be in his age-33 or age-34 season.
- First baseman Mitch Moreland is a free agent for the first time in his career, but he said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM yesterday (Twitter link) that if things go his way, he’d be back with the Rangers in 2017 and beyond. “Texas would be my first choice,” said the 31-year-old. “I love it there.” Whether the Rangers reciprocate that interest isn’t yet known, but the team does have a need at first base and DH with Moreland hitting the open market and Prince Fielder’s sudden retirement. Texas does have the option of letting the much-ballyhooed Joey Gallo take some of those at-bats in 2017, though there have been indications that the organization feels he’d benefit from opening next year in the minors. Texas has presently been focused on other matters and is reportedly on the verge of completing a one-year deal with righty Andrew Cashner. Moreland, meanwhile, turned in another 20-homer season in 2016 but saw his OBP dip as well. Overall, he hit .233/.298/.422 with 22 big flies in 503 trips to the plate.
Wow, mccutchen patrolling centerfield in Wrigley would be awesome.
If the Pirates do deal McCutchen, no chance it will be in division.
Why would the Red Sox trade for him? They have johnny the man damon patrolling the field.
Um…..really?? Makes me wonder how many real baseball fans we have in these comment threads? Johnny Damon? He’s been retired since 2012. Good grief!
I’m fairly certain that there is sarcasm in that comment
Oh, thanks for pointing that out for me
Yuck! Big Cubs fan, season ticket holder and all… You want Andrew McCutcheon in Wrigley???? He’s a declining OF going to be 31 next year, which wouldn’t be a big deal if virtually all of his value wasn’t predicated on his speed. Sure he’s an above average hitter, but his D has become far enough below average in CF, that he’s not going to be good enough to play there. He’s going to be a corner OF from here on if you want anywhere near replacement level D from him. Now think about the prospect price for him. Wouldn’t give up anything legit for him. Not a relief pitcher straight up, or a good prospect.
You wouldn’t give up a relief pitcher? Good thing you aren’t a GM.
No I absolutely wouldn’t. Because McCutcheon is not a good enough defender to play CF on my team. And the Cubs don’t have room for him at a corner OF spot. And our weakest spot is in the bullpen. So no, if you’re asking me if I would trade Justin Grimm for him straight up, the answer is absolutely not. McCutcheon is a declining player who, if it weren’t for for his speed and defense in CF would have been an average MLB player at his peak. I give you that his speed and CF D made him an elite player while it was there but I think it’s going.
I’m not saying that if I were Seattle or Baltimore or several other teams that I wouldn’t trade a reliever for him, but as the Cubs, I wouldn’t move Grimm, or Edwards, or Rondon, or Montgomery, or Zastryzny, for him, not a chance.
He just brings no added value to the Cubs, and would take away from the bullpen
Starling Marte would be a better trade choice, he would actually bring back a better chip to go compete with next season
– Polanco LF
– Harrison 2B
– Bell 1B
– McCutchen CF
– Meadows RF
– Kang 3B
– Cervelli C
– Frazier SS
Marte is most certainly a better trad candidate, but there is about a 0% chance the Pirates will trade him. Meadows won’t be ready until Super 2 passes at the earliest. Jordy Mercer will be at short. Plus there’s a reason Frazier got moved from short, to second to the outfield. He’s not very good defensively, especially at short
He’s a better trade candidate because he’s the best player on the team signed to an absurdly team friendly deal.
Marte ain’t goin’ nowhere.
The competition over Beltran is going to end badly for the team if it ends up being a multi-year contract. He was awful his first year with the Yankees, a 1bWAR player his second year. Maybe be found the Papi Fountain of Youth this year, but to expect a high level of performance over a multiyear contract is foolish.
Yeah he left the Rf porch in NY and it showed in his performance in Texas… not sure he works in Boston… would rather see pitching in Boston upgraded and give Sam Travis a shot
Boston miss on Kendrys Morales !! Now they will overpaid for Beltran!!! Nice job Toronto
Nice to see a Hall of Famer like Beltran get some good offers, I think he only gets a one year deal! Most of these teams aren’t looking for a full time DH and a short commitment helps. EE is not spring chicken and he has a longer commitment. If I’m a big marker team I take EE. I never understand why fans are worried about the cost! Oh wait, let me put my GM cap on.
I don’t know if I have enough confidence in Gallo that I’d let Moreland go. I’d maybe sign someone lesser and see what Gallo can do with more playing time. But he hasn’t shown any propensity yet for being a Major League ball player.
Clint Hurdle was actually packing up Cutch’s locker when he gave those quotes, I believe.
The Pirates need a #2 starter OR young pitching in return. Maybe a young catcher.
The Pirates have Diaz, they don’t really need a young catcher. Definitely could use a#2starter tho
The Pirates have Taillon. They could just use an innings eater or a decent number 3.
I love Taillon but let’s not get too excited over not even half a years performance, tho there’s certainly a lot to like. And besides the Pirates aren’t trading Cutch for a 3, and it’s not the worst thing in the world to have another 2 to go with Taillon, especially with how poor the Pirates starters were last year
I still don’t understand the idea of slotting pitchers as #1’s, #2’s, #3’s, #4’s and #5’s.
I understand the idea of grading them that way or describing them that way. But, not targeting and slotting them that way.
But if you can get a #2 pitching as your #3, why settle for a #3?
If you can have #3’s pitching in your #4 or #5 slot, why settle?
Having said all of that, the Pirates probably can’t get much more than an innings eating #3, so I’d like to get Volquez back.
The Pirates do need a number 2 or 3. I think the Pirates need to acquire a lefty though and I’m not sure if there is a lefty out there to trade for. I think the Pirates should take a gamble and trade Cutch and Watson to Cleveland for Bauer and a couple prospects, re-sign Feliz and take a chance at signing Greg Holland
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