The Diamondbacks drafted both Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock in 2009 and the two have been teammates for years, but they might not remain in the same organization for long, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes. If the Snakes don’t contend this season — and that doesn’t appear particularly likely after a disappointing 2016 — the team could begin considering dealing Goldschmidt, Pollock or Zack Greinke. Dealing Goldschmidt or Pollock would give the Diamondbacks a head start in a rebuild, an organizational route of which new GM Mike Hazen seems to see the benefits. “Picking first is a lot better than picking fifth,” Hazen said earlier this month. “From a long-term building standpoint, there are clear advantages to being in those positions over a period of time. The majority of your superstars, by and large, are going to come in those areas of the draft and the international market.” Here’s more from the National League.
- Much of the Braves’ Opening Day roster is set, but there are still jobs available on the bench and in the bullpen, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes. Chaz Roe, who is out of of options, has the inside track on one of the remaining bullpen jobs, although fellow righty David Hernandez (who the Braves recently added on a minor-league deal) is another possibility. Paco Rodriguez and Kevin Chapman are competing to join the ’pen as lefties, while veteran hitters Matt Tuiasosopo and Mel Rojas Jr. could also have shots at making the team, particularly, it would seem, if the Braves opt to go with five bench players instead of four. The Braves will also keep an eye on the trade and free-agent markets.
- The Mets are hoping for fourth outfielder Juan Lagares to soon recover from the oblique strain he suffered this weekend, and therefore do not seem overly interested in Drew Stubbs, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweets. The veteran Stubbs opted out of his minor-league deal with the Twins yesterday. Assuming he’s healthy, Lagares seems set to back up a Mets outfield of Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce.
Unless the Mets are convinced Lagares will return in time for opening day, it would seem prudent to pick up a RH hitting outfielder such as Stubbs or Ruggiano (assuming he doesn’t make the SF roster)
Granderson and Bruce can’t hit LH pitching and Cespedes is the only RH hitting outfielder on The roster if Lagares is hurt
The Mets pitching should take them to the playoffs this year, but next year could be their best shot at winning the world series. They still will have their pitching intack and will have 100 million to spend on position players. They could sign four top player to go with Cespedes. At first they could get Hosmer, second Altuve, SS- Rosario, 3rd Frazier,Moose, CF Cai.n and Rf Conforto. They might cost them less than 100 million.
If anything the only player they might have interest in is Altuve. They won’t sign any big names.
Altuve isn’t a free agent until 2020, he has 2 team options which will 100% be exercised
You have rather high hopes
While I wish the Mets front office finally spent like a major market team (only this year, def not years past), but I don’t see it. Their pitchers will get much more expensive and even though they still have a lot of young talent coming up, I don’t see them signing more than 1 major bat because that just isn’t how this ownership group works. I’d be okay with extending Walker if he replicates his #’s last year.
You keep saying this, but that doesn’t change facts. For the third time Altuve wont be a free agent, those players you are suggesting may really not be that great and finally where are you getting that the mets will have 100million dollars to spend?
They do unload $50 million between Granderson, Bruce, Walker, Duda plus $6 mil if they don’t option Cabrera. I think they need to resign Reyes to be everyday SS. Move Rosario to 3B to start since Wright will probably never be a regular starter again. Move Cabrera to 2B, and Flores to 1B for one year until Dominic Smith comes up. I don’t know there’s a need to spend big on an infielder not named Altuve so spend big to get a true center fielder like Lorenzo Cain.
Thoughts?
“Picking 1st is better than picking 5th”
Yet they give up the No.1 overall pick for a No.2/3 starter.
To be fair, hazen wasn’t even in the organization when that trade happened
It’s pretty sad how badly you can deplete and hamstring an organization so quickly. As a Dodgers fan it was fun watching the Dbacks in 15. They played terrific D, especially in the OF, and could flat out hit. Now the well is essentially dry and some back contracts in Tomas and Grienke and its trending down.
The Dbacks would have to cover a lot of Greinke’s contract to get anything of value back. Besides, with so many teams rebuilding there is going to come a point where teams don’t have the prospects of value to trade.. Wonder when that point will be reached?
Granderson has had over .700 OPS vs Lhp the last 2 years. He doesn’t hit well against Loogys, but no lefty hitters do. He hits LHSP well.
If you are going to trade Goldy or Pollock it shouldn’t be an or situation, it should be an and situation. There is no point in trading one and holding onto the other.
Who would have the prospects to get Goldy? Boston would seems best fit I guess?
Nope. Not anymore. Goldies worth a kings randsome imo, and I think our farm system would be 100% gone to get him. I know thats Daves style but I dont see it happening even though id love to see him play for the Sox.
Butchered that spelling, lol. Thanks swype.
If Grienke has another season like the last, they’d have to essentially do what the Angels did with Hamilton and cover practically everything on his contract to get rid of him. Like it or not, unless he reverts to 2015 Greinke, theyre stuck with him.
Braves Bullpen should be better than last year if everybody stays healthy. The bench will be very meager at best but boy does that lineup look bright. Freeman is an MVP hitter and Swanson should secure NL ROY. Inciarte is best defensive NL OF and potential batting title holder
As a braves fan, please go easy on comments like these. 1st, unrealistic expectation here, and 2nd you make the rest of us look bad. Freeman is super good, and sure he could win an MVP, but he would have to really have a great year. Swanson is no for sure for NL ROY. He has a good shot if he played like he did last year though. and Inciarte is really good in the outfield, but he’s not gonna be a batting title holder. But I hope I’m wrong and you’re right on all that.
My opinion is our entire team is better than last year, but not gonna wow anyone with that bullpen or bench. Definitely can’t afford injuries as we have zero depth
The Braves can be sneaky good if everything breaks their way. If they can hang around .500 I think that is a step in the right direction. Nats and Mets can and should both win 90+ games, I think the Fish are too thin at SP and PHI is at least a year or two away from .500 ball.
Yea I’m with you. Sneaky good is good way of putting it. They will be a thorn to some team this year, most likely the Marlins and Mets. I think they can be around .500. That’s optimistic and a little realistic.
Who would take grienke? It’s like asking who would take arod? There’s a lot of money that is involve and nobody wants a pitcher on the wrong side of 30 nor want to give up prospects with that contract. Not unless the dbacks pays most or all of the money that’s owe to him, they’re stuck with him.
maybe they will be willing the hand the braves some top prospects to take that stupid contracts off your hands. lol I know what I’m saying is outrageous, but let’s be honest… with the Dbacks, it’s really not anymore.
Knowing Grienke’s intelligence and personality, his NTL most likely includes big market teams and those that could actually afford him effectively making him the in charge of his own destiny. So if you think a team possibly has the ability to afford him it’s probably a safe bet they are on his NTL.
Also the Dbacks don’t have the elite prospects that would entice a team willing to take a contract of their hands.
Of course a big market team…but these contracts are becoming more and more outrageous in prices that whoever signs them to those are more less stuck with contract and money if a trade happens
Pollock and the Mets make a solid fit. Wouldn’t have to give up Rosario to make that trade happen.
It’d start w. Rosario and still get another couple of solid pieces. I’m a Mets fan, but I’m also realistic…Pollock is an established MLB’er and would instantly improve the Mets. Talent costs talent (like Fulmer for Ces).
Yea, you would have to give him up lol.
Then that’s a complete rip off. He’s had one good season, other decent ones and injury plagued for the rest.
Fulmer wasn’t the No.3 prospect in all of baseball. He was a Top 50.