After grading every team’s offseason, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag provided a bevy of information on a variety of situations around the league in his latest notes post. Some is mostly of historical interest, and there’s lots more in the article, but these are some of the highlights with transactional ties:
- The Brewers “floated” an extension offer to infielder Jonathan Villar, says Heyman, but he wasn’t interested. The club’s initial offer, at least, would only have guaranteed him around $20MM. While Villar had a relatively undistinguished career before landing in Milwaukee, he was rather excellent last year and hasn’t yet turned 26. On the other hand, he won’t reach arbitration eligibility until next fall and still has to prove he can repeat that effort. Though Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio may have been willing to green-light pursuit of Matt Wieters, it seems that the front office wasn’t enthusiastic about that possibility.
- While the Rangers haven’t yet opened extension talks with catcher Jonathan Lucroy, it’s still expected that a deal will at least be explored. GM Jon Daniels has acknowledged as much, though it’s unclear just when the discussions will get underway. If nothing comes together, Lucroy promises to be one of the game’s most widely pursued free agents next winter. Texas, of course, is also chatting with starter Yu Darvish and second baseman Rougned Odor.
- The Dodgers explored a deal with the Tigers involving star righty Justin Verlander, per Heyman, who notes that “nothing got close.” Verlander’s hefty salary obligations were considered a barrier, though it seems his no-trade protection may not have been. The veteran righty has suggested he’d be amenable to consider a swap, and his relationship with Kate Upton would likely make Los Angeles an appealing destination. While the Dodgers have a quite a few starters on hand, it’ll be interesting to see whether the pursuit of the resurgent Verlander is rejoined at some point.
- Speaking of the Tigers, the organization evidently considered quite a few other deals before largely holding pat. The Mets “seriously discussed” giving up Michael Conforto for the final season of control over star slugger J.D. Martinez, but ultimately backed down. While the Astros reportedly checked in on Miguel Cabrera, they were asking for “more than half of the $150 million remaining on Cabrera’s contract” to be paid by Detroit and apparently never offered enough for the front office to bring a deal to ownership. And both the Twins and Padres made inquiries on shortstop Jose Iglesias, but clearly nothing developed with either team.
- Though the Indians had real interest in Chase Utley, the team’s offer was shy of the ultimately successful bid from the Dodgers. Still, it seems that Cleveland very nearly landed him before L.A. “stepped in late,” per Heyman.
- While the Reds have said they are done adding to their MLB roster, Heyman suggests the organization could make a play for some of the veteran pitchers still available. Cincinnati may even have outbid the Padres for Jered Weaver, who earned $3MM, though it’s not clear whether the club ever did so.
- Veteran righty Tim Lincecum is drawing some interest as he prepares for a showcase, according to Heyman, though surely he won’t draw as much intrigue as he did last year. It’s unclear what’s next for catcher Steve Clevenger, who has attempted to rehabilitate his image in an interview with Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. His former team, the Orioles, at least considered offering him a minor-league pact, but ultimately decided against it.
Clevenger is what happens when a high schooler with poor grades is drafted directly into MLB. His utter ignorance is the fault of MLB for not being there for its youngest people. Same thing happened with Yunel Escobar for his eye black incident and even with Josh Hamilton becoming a junkie while injured. MLB needs to do something to force these non-college educated players into education programs so they can return to being heroes instead of overpaid rich idiots – Miguel Cabrera’s DUI and Jake Arrieta’s election day tweet are further examples of this.
I dont believe for a second that Conforto was dangled in a trade. I dont agree with Sandy about much but he is a value guy and I dont see the value in this proposal
It’s nice to see prospect hugging is still a thing… One of these days people will wake up and realize that Lars Anderson and Mike Olt were once the superstar “untouchable” prospects too… Maybe then you’ll stop hugging prospects and get down to serious business.
Reds can go for Peavy – low risk, high reward
I’m sure Peavy would set a record for homers given up pitching in that park.
I agree as much as I liked Peavy back in the day he needs to be in a bigger park now.
Low-risk, yes. High reward, no.
Brewers floating an offer to Villar reminds of similar situation a few years back (2014?) with Segura after his All-Star birth. He turned down offer then played horribly for two seasons and was traded.
And now last year he played awesome and was traded again. Who knows which Segura will show up in SEA in 2017.
There were more reasons for Segura struggling than just baseball. He needed a fresh start and he got it last year. I don’t think he’ll repeat 2016, but he’s a solid player that’s finally in a good place.
To be clear, by place I meant mentally. Not that there’s anything wrong with Milwaukee.
The Segura that is now almost three years removed from the death of his infant son and who went through major adjustments to his swing in Spring Training last year will show up.
My $0.02 is that Villar is probably getting good advice to forego the guaranteed $ and take his chances with arbitration next winter, Unless Shaw is Will Middlebrooks II (very possible I suppose), Villar should be able to stay at 2B every day and focus on his offense. I hope he has a great year and makes ’em pay up.
Steve Clevenger was right about the idiots of BLM!
Explain please?
He can think whatever he wants to think, but he shouldn’t be sharing his thoughts with the entire world if they’re controversial. The Mariners can fire him for being controversial when they’re trying to be apolitical as an organization. They didn’t follow him for his beliefs; they followed him because he was their employee airing making these controversial statements.
“but he shouldn’t be sharing his thoughts with the entire world if they’re controversial.”
This line scares me the most. While I believe that there should be a line drawn between what is allowable and what is not – as he is an employee and representative of an organization..that line shouldn’t be simply “controversy”. It’s the subduing of controversial opinions that leads to conformist thinking for a period of time – until everything unravels and holy hell takes place (I think most American’s can understand what I’m referring to).
Saying someone shouldn’t be sharing thoughts if they are controversial, is incredibly oppressive and unacceptable.
Not true. Clevenger did not have a right to free speech as an employee and public figure. (This line is admittedly grey, from a legal perspective.) his employer (MLB) has a code of conduct. He agreed to it upon signing his contract. It says that players are to adhere to lots of behavioral expectations and avoid certain topics in the workplace that are likely to produce offense, discrimination, etc. His employer, like most, is apolitical and must provide a workplace free of hostility, discrimination, etc. he broke those rules and was rightfully terminated. The difference between Clevenger and us is that he’s a public figure, so the boundary between his private and public lives is debatable. Regardless, MLB and the Mariners had a right to terminate his contract based on the damage it would do to their workplace. That’s a legal view. You may disagree with the law, of course.
Why would the Padres want Iglesias!? To make a run on the Diamondbacks and fourth in the division?
You got it!
Obviously because they feel that a solid defensive SS is needed, to improve the overall team.
No, a CONTROLLABLE solid defensive SS is needed. Iglesias is not that. He would not improve the overall team. He would make them suck slightly less for two years and then sign with someone else.
Two years is control. If the team “sucks less” that would be improving. Every player doesn’t have to be a minor leaguer with six years of control.
Agreed!
Yes but for the controllable young SS the sticker price is probably one the Padres don’t want to pay. Essentially an Iglesias trade would give them a 2 year place holder. Or you know if they like him they can extended him however unlikely. It’s not a crazy idea because they are trying to suck and stack talent on talent. Just not necessarily obtain a talent that costs a premium.
It’s not enough control for him to actually help the Padres when they are good. There’s no reason for them to trade anything for him that would otherwise have still been around when the Padres are ready to contend. By improvement, I meant SUSTAINABLE improvement. I assumed you were smart enough to realize this, but I guess I thought wrong.
You NEVER trade for a player assuming you will be able to extend him! EVER! If we trade for Iglesias he’s gone after two years. The Padres will have to pay the price for a controllable young SS sooner or later. There is no reason to give up anything of long term value for a guy who can be a free agent after two years, regardless of how good he is. Trading for Iglesias wouldn’t be “trying to suck.” It would be trading away a potential long term building block just to make the team slightly less bad for two years.
Thank god the Mets backed away from that trade. JD is the bat they need, but in he end would’ve likely blocked Cespedes from returning.
And Cespedes not returning would have provided dollars to improve the team in other areas, like the bullpen or Catcher.
Hollywood Knows Zero about Baseball and Way Less about What’s good for our USA !!!
Somebody learned Where the Shift key Is today. Congratulations!
This is just the commentary I look forward to reading on MLB Trade Rumors. Who wants to read about, say, trade rumors when instead I can read insubstantial political commentary? There’s a real shortage of that in America right now.
my condolences to whatever fanbase has to watch lincecum very five days if he gets a major league contract
Especially if he’s following Weaver in the rotation.
My Reds were just too cheap to offer this 1-2 punch in our rotation. It would have been a good year for outfield seats if you collect HR balls.
I love politics, and I love baseball, and I love them even more when they don’t play with each other. Clevenger’s real problem isn’t his mouth–it’s a free country and people are entitled to their opinions–it’s that baseball is a business, and his skills aren’t good enough for teams to decide he’s worth the trouble.
I feel like if the Astros actually pulled off a Miguel Cabrera trade, the Rangers would pee their pants
As predicted by many posters on this site, when Al Avila announced to the media that the Tigers were ridding themselves of veteran players and salaries in the way he did, many teams took it that the Tigers were desperate and proposed absurd trades. I think we Tiger fans are in for a discouraging future.
I don’t think the future of the Tigers is that bleak. This year will mark either the “last run” with the guys on the roster or they’ll bust up a little for a retooling. But the Tigers have a good young core to build around. Between Fulmer and Norris in the rotation and Cast and Iggy in the field they’ve got some solid youth already producing at the major league level.
The ownership change from Mike to Chris might mean some reduction in payroll but it’s also likely Detroit will cut back on making expensive and marginal acquisitions that eat up the cap like Prince Fielder and Justin Upton.