The Rays and Nationals have been in contact about a possible trade of Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome, tweets Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. Morosi doesn’t characterize the seriousness of the talks, though Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeted recently that the Rays might market Colome once Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman sign, so perhaps this was a bit of ground work. The asking price on Colome, if the Rays do indeed field offers on him, would figure to be exceptionally high. The 27-year-old (28 at the end of the month) had a breakout season in the Tampa Bay bullpen this past year when he took over the ninth inning for the injured Brad Boxberger. In 56 2/3 innings, Colome logged a scintillating 1.91 ERA with 11.3 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 47.1 percent ground-ball rate with 37 saves. Beyond the dominant numbers, Colome has yet to reach salary arbitration and is controlled for another four years before he’s eligible for free agency.
More trade chatter from around the league…
- Morosi also tweets that the Nationals are considering center field options beyond rumored top target Andrew McCutchen, and Adam Eaton of the White Sox is among them. Chicago’s willingness to part with Eaton, who is controllable through the 2021 season for a total of $38.4MM (only $18.4MM of which comes in guaranteed years), isn’t exactly clear. While some reports this offseason have indicated that the Sox are only interested in trading players with three or fewer years of club control remaining, FanRag’s Jon Heyman suggested yesterday that they could be open to dealing virtually anyone following the Chris Sale blockbuster. Moving Eaton, who hit .284/.362/.428 with elite corner outfield defense last season, would only make sense for an exceptionally large haul of young talent.
- Heyman tweets that David Robertson has drawn some trade interest, but the White Sox might wait to see which teams miss out on Jansen and Chapman before seriously exploring offers. In that case, they’d face some competition in the form of the Rays and Colome, though Robertson would require a lesser prospect package from teams that are in the market for bullpen help. Then again, Robertson is also owed $25MM over the next two seasons and is coming off a disappointing season (by his standards), giving bullpen-needy teams a number of factors to mull when considering the pair of trade candidates.
- The Braves inquired with the Orioles about the availability of right-handed setup man Brad Brach but found the asking price too high, tweets Sherman. Per his report, Baltimore asked Atlanta for young outfielder Mallex Smith in return. Brach has been nothing short of outstanding with the O’s over the past two seasons, compiling a 2.39 ERA with 10.3 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9 in 158 1/3 innings of work, and he’s under club control for another two seasons. Smith won’t turn 24 until next May, though, and comes with five years of team control. He appeared in 72 games last season, his Major League debut, hitting .238/.316/.365. While those numbers don’t stand out, Smith has blistering speed and is considered a plus defender capable of playing all three outfield positions. He’s also performed fairly well in the upper levels of the minors, though he looks to have a limited role in 2017, when Atlanta will trot out Matt Kemp, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis to the outfield grass.
What could Rays get in return for Alex?
Maybe the Giles trade between Phils and Stros could be a template?
Smith is a good deal, but we need Brach. I could imagine the Orioles asking for at least another minor-leaguer.
And that would be dumb for Atlanta. They don’t need good relievers yet, they should be trying to find low risk guys cheaply who can either be flipped or built around.
The dumb thing wouldn’t be trying to get a good reliever as much as selling low on Mallex Smith, a season after being shortened by an injury and not having enough playing time to show off his plus glove, plus-plus speed, and bat. He’s done it at the upper levels of the minors and could be Billy Hamilton 2.0 without the early OB concerns all things considered. You don’t sell that for a non-closing reliever.
But Brach could very easily be a closer on most teams. I have heard that if the O’s would end up trading Britton, Brach would immediately slot into the closer role. And the Indians gave up a good bit to get Miller and he isn’t a closer.
True, I’m undervaluing Brach – another look at his numbers and he could easily be a closer. I just think Mallex, with some needed seasoning, would be worth much more. No, not right now, but very soon. That being said, with this market I could see you getting more than Mallex from other teams, or some nice pitching pieces from ATL.
Braves philosophy so far has been to sign veterans to a 1 year deal to let prospects develop and trade veterans at the deadline for prospects. No need to give up young talent to bolster a bullpen when we aren’t in playoff contention
Unless you make him a closer, audition him for the first half, trade him for a closer price at break for closer haul. So double Mallex Smith
Smith and Jenkins sound fair?
Robertson would be a good fit for the Dodgers
Yes maybe as a setup guy.
That is if they can resign Jensen
Maybe the O’s and Braves can work out a deal. That is a good starting point and the O’s shouldn’t take much less than that for Brach. He is a elite middle relief pitcher.
I agree
Smith is a great ask by the O’s. I agree I would take nothing less and probably look for more. Brach is great and cheap. He did weather towards the end of the year, but that’s to be expected it his first year as a heavily used set up man. If thee Brewers got all they did for Thornberg, the O’s need to get a similar return for Brach.
Greedy braves. Mallex can’t hit for chit and they think he is too good for one of the best set up guys in baseball.
Idiot.
Yep. This just makes no sense.
It seems the White Sox and Nationals have been the center of more trade speculation than any other teams this offseason…albeit for different reasons.
No kidding. And they matchup pretty well… You’d think something would get done between them.
they just said on ESPN Chicago that there close on Eaton to Nats
Lol @ a speedy OF prospect for a reliever. Just because some teams are stupid enough to overvalue relievers doesn’t mean every team is stupid enough to overpay for them.
Yah, so stupid. Not like relievers have played a huge role in recent postseasons or anything.
Not like everyday players don’t make more of a difference cough cough
Assuming the Jays ate all of Robertson’s deal(not that’s is a true burden), would a Robertson for Justin Maese and J.B. Woodman be a fair offer?
You can tell who the O fans are and the braves fans are. In my opinion, both teams fans are overvaluing both players.. lol In reality, both are in equal status. Smith has a world of talent that WILL be tapped. Brach is a VERY GOOD, but not elite pitcher. Doesn’t seem the braves need this pitching THAT bad and the O’s really don’t need Smith THAT bad. So I don’t see a trading working out.
I think most braves fans love smith and want to see him in a braves uniform in the future. I think we will keep him.
The orioles need an outfielder badly
Nats are giving away there farm to catch up to the Cubs
Nats gave up wayyyyyy tou much for Eaton. Eaton is good, but I wouldn’t have given up Giolito for him
Smith would have had his ticket punched if the correct decision had been made in this one for one swap.
We have to keep Smith for insurance , only ML ready OF ready in farm system