The Red Sox do not need to stay under the luxury tax line in making their deadline moves, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in an appearance today on WEEI (h/t to Rob Bradford, on Twitter). Recent estimates put Boston about $9MM shy of the threshold, which has added implications under the new CBA since the tax escalates when it is owed in consecutive seasons. While the Sox will no doubt weigh that factor in assessing possible trades, it’s notable that the organization doesn’t feel compelled to stay within those limits. Boston is likely to be involved in the market for third basemen — I looked at possible targets recently — and could also add pitching.
Here’s more …
- The Giants are clearly in position to deal a few veterans, but it’s not yet known just how significant the moves will be. Signs are, though, that San Francisco is willing to listen to offers on just about any player, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi writes. The Giants are not interested in moving Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and Brandon Crawford, per the report. That could leave some other interesting names available, with Morosi even suggesting that first baseman Brandon Belt could be available. He calls the Angels a potentially “intriguing fit” — though it’s not clear whether there’s any firm interest from Los Angeles — while noting that several other buyers will be looking at a variety of left-handed-hitting first basemen on what seems still to be a wide-open market.
- Unsurprisingly, interest in relief pitching will be robust at this year’s deadline, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com writes. Executives suggest that there’ll be a premium on pen arms, as usual, though the expectation remains that none will fetch the kind of immense returns that Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller commanded last year.
- The Padres have inquired with the Yankees about elite shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. That said, there’s no indication the Yanks have any interest in parting with the talented youngster — even though he is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. That injury doesn’t really change his long-term value, of course, and it’s not altogether clear what Padres players the Yankees might target that could command that kind of trade value. Lefty Brad Hand and former New York infielder Yangervis Solarte may well be of interest, as Heyman notes, but it’s tough to imagine the Yankees parting with such an elite prospect for either or both of them.
- Heyman also weighs in on veteran Tigers hurler Justin Verlander, who has seen his name begin to come up in trade rumors. At this point, a deal seems less than likely, a source tells Heyman, but there is a real possibility that the righty (and his contract — which promises $56MM over 2018 and 2019) could end up on the move. Three or four teams are said to have participated in exploratory talks on Verlander, per the report, though any deal would require Verlander to waive his no-trade protection.
- Reds shortstop Zack Cozart, a clear trade candidate with his strong play and expiring contract, tells Heyman that his preference would be to remain in Cincinnati. While he says he understands and accepts that a deal “is more than likely to happen,” Cozart noted that he has informed the front office that he’d be amenable to exploring a long-term contract instead. It’s not terribly surprising, particularly given their internal options, that the Reds haven’t yet made an offer to the 31-year-old.
- Mets infielder Asdrubal Cabrera is walking back his recent call to be traded after being moved from short to second, as Dan Martin of the New York Post writes. Cabrera explains: “In that moment when I said that, I wasn’t saying I want to get traded. I was just saying it didn’t seem like they had a plan for me. … If they’ve got a plan, they should tell me.” He went on to say that he is “fine with playing second base,” saying that his complaint related more to a lack of communication. In any event, it remains unclear just how much demand there’ll be for the veteran, and also how inclined the Mets are to bring him back next year at a $8.5MM price tag (versus a $2MM buyout).
Verlander to Red Sox watch.
Especially considering DD
there go the prospects
If the Red Sox are eating that contract, I can’t see much in the way of a significant prospect going back.
That alone would be huge for Det. They have a lot of old aging veterans. I’d try to get Miggy or VMart’s moved alongside it. For prospects and payroll relief. More of the latter tho.
I was thinking L.A for some reason, I think they really want to add a RH starter
Yankees
Strike two!
Brad Hand and Yangervis for their #1 prospect and #2 prospect in baseball? The suggestion alone is ridiculous. I’m sure the A’s would Torres too for any combination of Adam Rosalez and Steven Vogt
Vogt is a Brewer now.
I think you mean Rosales and Gray.
I think you guys missed the sarcasm.
No I meant Rosalez and Vogt.
I know he’s not on the team anymore. The combo is as ridiculous as the potential Padres trade bait to get Torres
Trades have to start somewhere and all it says is that the Padres expressed interest in Torres.
Not if that’s their bullets they are firing
Thats just preller getting cashman back for low balling him on kimbrel to the tune of kimbrel and gyroko plus cash for jorge mateo +.
Doubt preller seriously thinks hand and solarte will net him torres but you aim high and work down to the deal you want.
Yankees will probably wind up with hand or solarte. Probably not both.
Do you trade Rafael Devers for Moustakas and Kevin Herrera???
It’s an interesting proposal but I would want players with more control, especially considering Devers should fill the Red Sox biggest need for many years to come
By himself? Lol.
Not when Moose is a rental and Devers is the long term solution
Doesn’t matter,Devers alone wouldn’t get Herrera let alone Moose!
Devers would easily get Herrera but the Red Sox would not do that. Devers isn’t going anywhere he is the most untouchable prospect they have left. The guy is 20 and raking at AA. He might be moving in a deal for Donaldson but that’s about it.
I love how fans over value there own players! Moose is a rental there fore they aren’t getting a huge haul for him and Devers is a lottery ticket. No one knows how good he’ll be. Your both nuts!
Devers is a little more then a lottery ticket you are talking about a 20 year old who killing it at AA. He is probably a top 10 prospect at this point so by your logic anyone in the minors is a lottery ticket.
royals would take severs for herrera and run. Red sox would never even offer that
nobody knows how good any prospect will be. they are all lottery tickets and all of them have value
Look what the Yanks got last year for Chapman..who was a rental. Herrera like Miller is not a rental,and look what the Indians gave for him. Remember who the Sox GM is,or haven’t you checked his track record?
Well apparently you haven’t he trades from areas of surplus and he rarely loses a trade look it up since 2000 his trade record is pretty good.
You’ve got to be kidding. Here’s one Shaw..he will trade any prospect that’s why you’re down to a couple!
Let’s see Shaw was horrible in the second half last year the Red Sox gave up on him they figured they had third base handled with Pablo, Marco and Brock Holt no way to figure all those injuries. He traded guys that were blocked period with the possible exception of Shaw. Your beloved Yankees are going to have to do the same you can’t play every prospect. The Red Sox have a very solid core and just couldn’t keep everyone. It’s nice to have the best farm system in baseball but it doesn’t win you games in Majors. Look at all the trades that DD had made since 2000 you will see he wins trades more then just about anyone else.
who do you think kelvin is? he has a 4.35 era, a 1.23 whip and allows 2 Hr/9. You really think he’s anything close to chapman???
I’d argue that’s about what it would take on both sides but the Red Sox won’t do it. To much future to give up with Devers and Moose won’t be there long term.
Gotta think that Moose fills a very large hole at our clean up spot. Do not see Devers being at that stage. Now that being said, Moose is a rental… as usual we are comparing the needs of the team now compared to the needs of the future. I think the pitching staff we have now could possible win it all now…. play for today gentlemen, and win today.
If only Cabrera was that good backtracking in the field.
10/10 comment
Padres Trade – Brad Hand, Yangervis Solarte, and Manuel Margot to Yankees for Gleyber Torres & Jacoby Ellsbury
The Sox need 2 guys that hit about 40 homers a year right now, as that seems to be about the only way they can ensure the stop leaving everyone on base all the time.
As nice as itd be to pick up another arm, they dont have the farm depth to get a good third baseman and someone thats at least a #3 starter which is essentially what they need right now.
Gotta figure that Chavis is the next prospect to go – DD is all about dealing guys who are plan B and he’s behind Devers on the long term depth chart. I just hope he gets more than 2 to 3 months of Todd Frazier from the White Sox for him. Other than Chavis, Swihart is probably the only valuable guy left who isn’t untouchable, so Chavis better get them a 3rd baseman and a good reliever or maybe trade them both for a 3rd baseman and a starter who isn’t a rental.
Swihart has no value for that much coupled with anyone.
My guess is the Red Sox will move Swihart he needs a change of scenery same with Owens. Owens probably has very little value due to strike throwing concerns I’m guessing Swihart has quite a bit of value left.
Swihart has little value left. He’s hitting worse than Tebow in the minors now.
Yeah Swihart is worth very little at this point.
Nobody is going to acquire 3 future hall of famers like the Yankees did for 2 relievers. Those were once in a lifetime deals.
Future hall of famers? You are troll, yes?
it would appear so
The Padres interest in Torres can be justified simply as, “it doesn’t hurt to ask”. If by some chance the Yankees were willing to go “all in” this year, Hand and Solarte would help them significantly. Of course, Heyman brought up their names, so who knows whom Preller and Cashman discussed.
if gleyber was mentioned the other name was Myers
Cash not giving up elite prospect for Hand and Solarte doubt they even want Solarte
YOU’ve got that right Padreforlife….both Hand and Solarte wouldn’t net one Yankee prospect let alone some of the posts suggested.
Yankees already did journeyman Solarte thing so he’s not on their agenda
Solarte wasn’t a journey man
He was a minor league case without being able to play
And I’m sure they could use solarte at third more than head case
Solarte is 15 homer, 70 RBI journeyman on wrong side of 30. He’s not sure handed fielder Yankees will pass
O contrair most Yankees fans I’ve talked to are upset they gave up on him.
Yankees fans could care less Headley RBI and Homers dwarf Solarte not much difference and already paying Headley. Yankees need pitching and 1B
So Yankees fans do care?
Headley and Solarte have similar production this year but Headley is making a lot more money.
Yankee fans don’t care about Solarte
Proposing Hand and Solarte wouldn’t even be a conversation starter let alone foundation for a deal and certainly wouldn’t help “significantly”.
Your Rock Star GM is in way over his head with this one.
A J Preller is a joke!
Beersy has it right. Preller is making rounds on potential trade partners, so it makes sense that he would do his due diligence on a contending team like the Yankees that might need bullpen help later on in the season.
Ummmm who would take MadBum after being hurt half the year from a contract violation?
Umm… about 29 teams would take MadBum
Ya I don’t think anyone really cares about that, we know what Bumgarner is and it’s a star pitcher. People will trade near full value for him, if not full value.
The Angels don’t even have the prospects to get Belt. I doubt the Giants would get that deep into negotiations with them.
The Giants would probably be interested in Ward and Cowart. Which would be a dumb move by the Angels
I think the the Giants would consider it just to get out of the contract. Belt’s a good player, but at some point even with Posey fighting it, he needs to move to first. Posey’s numbers would destroy Belt’s at that position.
Removing that contract, Cain, and Cueto is a lot of potential resources that are much needed
I don’t care if Torres is the number 2 prospect in the game, he is unavailable. He will be out until this point next year at the earliest, so why wouldn’t NYY look to deal him if they get a couple cost controlled players to help them down the stretch run? I think it’s a little odd to say with certainty that “It’s tough to imagine the Yankees parting with such an elite prospect for either or both of them.”
I’m pretty sure one of the best left-handed cost controlled lefty’s in the game plus a 2B/3B who can switch hit, hit in the middle of a teams lineup and bring a ton of energy to a clubhouse, I’m pretty sure they could fetch an injured SS who will be out for over a year as he recovers from TJ. Take the sure thing, Hand and Solarte are solid, injuries are unpredictable, and if the two Padres can help them win now while Torres can’t doesn’t it just make sense to roll the dice?
Belt lol
Im a Giants fan and I love Brandon Belt but I feel bad for the guy. His power is to right-center field and he hits too many balls 415 feet into that corner of AT&T for doubles/triples.
I think he would make sense on the Yankees. His power would shine there and his defense is top-notch af first. He’s a great replacement for Chris Carter.
His numbers aren’t great and the Yankees don’t want an okay player for a contract of 17 mill the next 4 years.
He has been roughly a 4 WAR player 3 of the last 4 years (will be again this year most likely), and he still has a .783 OPS despite struggling at the plate this year. He’s much better than an “okay player,” and he’d easily get that on the open market. He’d be a huge upgrade for the Yankees, depending on the prospect-price.
It’s not about upgrade. The Yankees don’t want him. Whatever you want to call him. It might be an okay contract. But that money can easily be spent elsewhere. Bour and Abreu would be a much better option and cheaper. So would Alonso and Duda short term. I’d say Morrison as well but that will never happen
I agree with you, belt is a fine player and NYY would be smart to accuire him for the right price
yeah belt is a better player than all the 1st baseman you just listed, sans abreu maybe
That’s your opinion. I’d rather a short term solution like Adams or allow Headley to play first and trade for Lowrie or Moose.
Not this year!
Those players would be cheaper than Belt, since inferior players usually are. I honestly think Belt would be a great get for the Yankees, but as a Rays fan I hope you’re right and they go after Bour or Abreu instead. Even better would be trading for Lowrie to play 3rd and running Headley out at first.
Hes better than the alternative and his power numbers will blow up in Yankee Stadium.
His defense is gold-glove considerable as well.
I really like him too and it would be sad to see him go but he is in a lot of ways a guy blocking a lot of guys, whether it is in the catching position or in the IF position.
If the Yankees do entertain the idea of trading Gleyber Torres, the conversation begins with Trout + what players?
No
nice try….
He just keeps whiffing..lol.
The Angels would laugh so hard at an offer of Torres for Trout then when the Yankees said no we want Trout plus they would tell the Yankees to lose our number and never call back. Trout plus for Torres let’s be serious.
He’s a troll, has been for months
TRADE IDEA
Padres Trade – Brad Hand, Yangervis Solarte, and Anderson Espinoza to Yankees for Gleyber Torres & Jacoby Ellsbury
Wow this actually is worse than your last trade proposal.
You should stop listening to Heyman convincing you that you’ve got value to peddle to top tier teams for a “haul”.
Right on brother..lol.
No
Lynn, oh, carpenter for Torres and Clint Frazier and another prospect?
add that to your stand up routine
Stay Classy San Diego.
If the Giants are only considering Posey, Bumgarner, and Crawford untouchable, that still leaves a lot of interesting pieces…Joe Panik is one guy in particular that could be a really good player for someone
DD full of it no way Sox go over. Would be stupid move for future. Believe after this year can go over again. Only way Verlander works for them is Tigers taking on salary such Sandoval and maybe eating some this year on Verlander.
I don’t think tigers fans liked panda much before he started to suck…3 hr off verlander in the WS will do that
This thread is full of yankee fans overvaluing a prospect who has never had a major league at bat and padre fans overvaluing their good not great players. Trade poposals by fans need to be shot into the sun immediately
Overvaluing a top 5 prospect. Weak attempt at your troll!
How old are you? And you’re correct, they are overvaluing a top 5 prospect.
Old enough to know what you do. Says you!
You called me a troll for replying to some moronic posts yet you actively seek out my comments? Seriously man, what’s your problem?
Agreed man, although this was predictable when it was reported that the Padres had mentioned Torres. My favorite part of this board was rocky calling Brad Hand a bad pitcher because of his record. I’ve never actually seen someone use a record for a reliever seriously
If you would of commented on the moronic posts by the couple instead of grouping everyone.
People always seem to agree on trade scenarios here…you’re an idiot! No, you’re an idiot! Dombrowski! Dombrowski! Dombrowski!
Wonder if the Braves would be interested in Verlander. Our rotation is all young and are not making any real money anytime soon other than Dickey this year. I wouldn’t mind the contract if the return is minimal.
Why would Verlander agree to go to Atlanta?
Dear Red Sox,
Lets forget about the past, we will trade you solarte and hand for a fair price. Please use them to beat the yankees and show those yankee fans what they missed out on the next couple years.
Sincerely, Padres fans.
Side note: We think Devers+Groome is a fair price.
Sincerely, Padres fans
P.S, Groome would be nice in a Hand and Solarte deal, but Devers isn’t a ss and we have spangenberg at 3B and Christian Villanueva raking in AAA who plays 3B. Groome fills their need for pitching.
Groome, Anderson, Tobias would get a Hand and Solarte deal done.
The padres could net more prospects trading Hand and Solarte, if healthy, elsewhere in separate deals.
Sincerely, Padres fans.
P.S.S- note that Priggs previously thought the Padres would seek Robles in a Hand deal to Washington despite being told numerous times the Padres wouldn’t be seeking an OF like Robles and would be seeking P and SS in a Hand deal as that is their primary need. Ignore any further comments regarding Priggs bringing up Devers.
I’m not going to get into the weeds on this, but … A.J. Preller is not looking solely at perceived future roster need in assessing possible returns for trade chips. And you should be glad of that.