Last night’s deal between the Cubs and Royals was something like a win-win, ESPN’s Keith Law writes (Insider only). Acquiring Wade Davis helps the Cubs dodge the very costly free agent closer market while adding a reliever who’s been dominant the past three seasons. The Cubs had no playing time for Jorge Soler, and it’s possible the Royals would have gotten more for Davis had it not been for Davis’ recent injury issues. Still, Law writes, Soler is a good get for the Royals, who will receive a regular who’s controllable for the next four seasons. Soler’s bat speed and exit velocity suggest he has plenty of offensive upside as well. Here are more quick notes from the Central divisions.
- The Pirates and White Sox are still vying for free agent starter Derek Holland’s services, MLB.com’s TR Sullivan tweets. Holland, formerly a successful starter with the Rangers, is looking for a new team with which to rebuild his value after coming back in 2016 from two injury-riddled seasons. The Rangers declined his option last month.
- The Reds have spent the Winter Meetings trying to find potential trade partners for veteran middle infielders Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. Both can hit the open market after the 2017 season, and the rebuilding Reds want to clear space for young infielders Dilson Herrera and Jose Peraza. The problem, from the Reds’ perspective, is that most teams already seem to have middle infielders they like in place, particularly at shortstop. The Reds are open to the possibility of keeping all four players. “This particular year, people seem to be set,” says GM Dick Williams. “It’s always good to have some depth there. We’ve got some good players. I think it’ll work itself out. If you end up going into spring with that group in the middle, I’ve always said those are some pretty good players to mix and match.” That might mean the Reds could option Herrera or Peraza, and they also seem likely to use Phillips and Cozart in reduced roles.
If they get him, it looks like the Sox are looking for a bit of luck with Holland and also likely hoping he does well enough to flip him for prospects if he does well for the Sox by mid-season and the team is going nowhere (and likely a filler if Quintana is traded). Otherwise, why bother?
Exactly. Cubs struck gold doing this. Doesn’t hurt to try. Small investment with potentially big reward.
This is just the Reds in a nutshell. Let’s sit on our hands long enough that we miss out on any opportunity in the market. Good front offices go out and make moves; they find the players they want and they make it happen. All you ever hear from the Reds is “well, the market’s kind of slow right now….no one is really calling us….we haven’t heard of a lot of interest from other teams….”
Here’s an idea: how’s about picking up the phone and being proactive for a change? Always seems the Reds are the ones without a chair when the music stops
After years and years of frustration with this stuff, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Agreed.