5:01pm: The Rangers have also spoken to the Royals about Cain, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports tweets.
2:48pm: The Royals have told teams they’re willing to listen to offers on Lorenzo Cain, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney, and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets that closer Wade Davis is also available and generating plenty of buzz.
Cain, 30, was limited to 103 games by a balky hamstring and also saw his offense take a step back. Set to earn $11.5MM next year before hitting the open market in advance of his age-32 season, Cain batted .287/.339/.408 with nine homers and 14 steals in 434 plate appearances last year. Defensive metrics like Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved still lauded him for his defensive prowess, however, so the hamstring troubles didn’t adversely impact his ability to play an elite center field. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported this morning that the Cardinals have been keeping tabs on Cain, and Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times tweets that the Dodgers are interested in both Cain and Davis.
In addition to the Dodgers, the Cubs have shown interest in acquiring Davis, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Chicago hasn’t been heavily linked to the top remaining free agent closers and may prefer to add a shorter-term, more cost effective arm, and Davis would fit that bill. He’s owed $10MM next season before he, too, becomes a free agent. However, Davis also had two different DL stints due to a forearm strain in his right arm and posted some red flags in terms of his K/BB numbers, so while he has plenty of name value there could be some degree of concern when it comes to acquiring him and also parting with premium young talent.
Despite concerns surrounding their payroll, the Royals certainly wouldn’t move either of the two for the sole purpose of cutting payroll. Kansas City would feel the need to acquire some meaningful young talent in return, but the revamped structure of the qualifying offer system also puts the Royals in position to receive a lesser compensatory package by making a QO to Cain and/or Davis next year. As such, there’s plenty of logic to seeing what’s out there.
*Cardinals have been keeping tabs on Cain.
I am a Cardinals fan, and Cain is absolutely one of my favorite players. While I think he would slot in beautifully with our lineup and needs, it feels a lot like a Jason Heyward situation to me. Cain is on the last year of his contract and I don’t want to sell the farm for one year of a player again.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Cain and think he could be a potential difference maker up the middle. But just worries me after seeing what happened with J Hey.
The Heyward deal worked out just fine for the Cardinals. You’re letting the Diamondbacks doing something dumb influence how you think the Cardinals did.
The Cardinals got 1 year of a really good player and a 1st round pick for an average pitcher that was a surplus and a lottery ticket that was part of that same surplus.
Exactly. I’d love to pick up Cain. The Royals are not going to be able to sign him to an extension. He should come relatively cheap. Couple middling prospects. His 11.5 million salary is horrible, but isn’t great either. I don’t think the Royals will get a heavy haul for him.
The Royals will get more than you think. Dayton Moore is no fool. He knows he can hold on to him until the trade deadline when teams will overpay for rent a players.
True. But it is a gamble. If he’s not healthy at the deadline then he won’t be worth much. Right now the offers could be better or worse.
I think of we traded for him cards would want a new deal signed before completing deal
No they wouldn’t. They don’t need a long term deal. Plus Cain is 32. They wouldn’t really want or need him past 2017.
Cain is 30…..
Whoops my bad.
As a dodger fan I’d be okay with getting Cain, but I’d love Davis, especially if we for some reason let Jansen walk, (I hope we don’t)
No Cain, the rental price would be astronomical. Davis would be great in a set up situation. I don’t see the Dodgers passing on Jansen or chapman now that SF signed melancon.
Remember the Royals wanted Giolito from the Nationals for Davis
Actually, the Nationals offered Giolito and the royals passed
No, it was the Yankees who wanted more than Giolito for Andrew Miller if I recall correctly.
A team ready to win now would be smart to gamble on Cain. Hes a difference maker when healthy
Would love for the cards to get Cain…good fielder and has speed…both things Cards lack. Don’t know what it would take to get him though. I assume Bader would be asked for since Reyes is going nowhere
It remains to be seen now that the QO has been gutted. No more 1st round pick. Good but not great players wont likely get massive hauls for teams with no back end draft picks attached.
What does that have to do with what I said?
Because the long term value of the player in the eyes of the receiving club could be decreased by not having the possible comp pick attached. No pick could mean lesser trade packages. Guys traded in the offseason a year from FA could only fetch similar deals as guys traded before the deadline 2-3 months from FA. As Teufelshunde4 said, remains to be seen. No presidence set, for now.
Cain’s cost based on new QO rules. We dont know how that effect value.
Exactly… Teams had an almost certainty in getting basically a 1st round type pick for a QO… TY Trueoutcome… LOL
The Royals are said to be looking for young pitching but I hate another 1 year deal like the year before with Heyward!! Now if we could sign him for longer term then by all means!! Time to make a move!!
I’m cool with trading Ventura and Davis ,anybody else , no way man, pay them they earned it
Davis hasn’t earned it?
Davis has earned it , but i’m fine with him parting, He could bring in a nice haul of a few good win now players, I think KC should just go all in and try to go for it all again and just let everyone walk in 17
Hosmer has earned it?
They can’t pay them, they’re losing money with the current payroll
Nats would be a logical fit for both Davis and Cain. Solid pieces for a 2017 run at the World series without long term commitment. No need to sell the entire farm either. Ross, Fedde, Voth would be a good package. Young, major league controllable arm in Ross and two top 10 prospects.
Keep Davis, give Soria away
What would a Dodgers package look like for Cain and Davis? Jose DeLeon and Puig as centerpieces?
I am surprised that no one is talking about Wade Davis’ arm. This guy will have TJ surgery in the next 12 months.