Of the several teams eyeing Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Brewers have shown the most interest, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The unexpected playoff hopefuls began doing “background work” on both Gray and now-former White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana just over a week ago, but the latter went to the NL Central rival Cubs on Thursday in a blockbuster trade. Acquiring Gray would be a quite a counterpunch by Milwaukee, which has a 5.5-game lead over the Cubs, and Cafardo observes that the Brewers have the prospect capital to make it happen. But even after getting Quintana, the Cubs haven’t closed the door on adding Gray, too.
More pre-deadline info from Cafardo:
- The Cardinals, Dodgers and Royals seem to be leading the chase for Tigers contract-year slugger J.D. Martinez, according to Cafardo. As AL Central rivals of the Tigers, the Royals are especially familiar with Martinez, who has slashed .298/.379/.602 with 14 home runs in 219 plate appearances this year. The $11.75MM right fielder would significantly boost a below-average Kansas City offense that has received awful production from longtime franchise cornerstone Alex Gordon in left field. Meanwhile, with Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk on the disabled list, the Cardinals are shorthanded in the outfield. Winners of 40 of their past 51 games, the 62-29 Dodgers seemingly aren’t lacking for quality players anywhere, but picking up Martinez would make them all the formidable as they vie for a World Series.
- Along with the previously reported Astros and Nationals, the Red Sox are interested in Tigers closer Justin Wilson, writes Cafardo. The Red Sox have come up as potential suitors for other on-the-block relievers, including David Phelps and Pat Neshek, so the connection to Wilson isn’t exactly shocking. The 29-year-old left-hander has posted outstanding numbers over 34 1/3 innings (2.36 ERA, 12.84 K/9, 3.41 BB/9) and would immediately become Boston’s top southpaw reliever, though Fernando Abad has held his own this season and Robby Scott has fared well against lefty-swingers. Wilson is making a highly affordable $2.7MM this season and comes with another year of arbitration eligibility.
- Continuing the Tigers theme, righty Michael Fulmer is the Detroit starter who’s garnering the most attention from pitcher-needy teams, per Cafardo. Considering Fulmer’s among the top young hurlers in the game and controllable for the foreeseable future, that’s not surprising. There’s no indication the Tigers will seriously consider moving Fulmer, who informed Evan Woodbery of MLive.com that he doesn’t expect to go anywhere. Nevertheless, one NL executive told Cafardo that GM Al Avila is at least entertaining the offers that come in for the 24-year-old. “I think Al is being forced to listen,” said the exec. “The Tigers could get a huge haul for Fulmer, but they’re trying to get their payroll down and get younger. Trading Fulmer is not necessarily the way to do it.”
Don’t pick up Martinez Cardinals, they need a player with more than 1 year
If Martinez is traded, would the team be able to put a QO on him? I know that wasn’t possible under the old CBA, but I am not sure with the new changes.
No. He cards would have needed him prior to the start of the season
Exactly. I really don’t get trading assets for J.D. at all. I mean granted the Central is pretty weak, but I don’t think the Cards are a true contender this year.
The asking price for Fulmer will be so high ( rightfully so ) that no team could fork over what it will take to get him
I read that the Tigers asked for both Javier Baez and Ian Happ from the Cubs for him!!
If that was all he’d be a cub right now.
Not both, not a chance. They would have no second baseman after Zobrist
You wouldn’t get a young star pitcher with like 5 years of control because you’re worried about not having a backup 2nd baseman
I meant after Zobrist retires, or his contract expires
Keep dreaming lol
But neither are really backups the way Maddon manages. Baez plays lost everyday between 2B and SS while Happ plays a ton between LF, 2B, and CF.
I think it was those two plus Jimenez and Cease.
That is nothing. Fulmer is worth far more than that
You guys are being serious? I can’t tell
Baez and Happ? Tigers would laugh at that.
Dead serious, fulmer is one of the most valuable players in baseball
2 GM’s said the return for Fulmer would be bigger than the Sale trade.
Tigers Gm and who else?
Fullmer is pretty good yes, but you guys are acting like he’s the second coming of Clayton Kershaw. He not proven yet and he also pitches in the Al central which last I checked Isn’t blowing anyone away
Jose Quintanna has an ERA above 4 and he just got a huge haul. Fulmer is better and has more years of team control. Pitching is valuable and does not come cheap. what would you expect to trade for him kyle schwarber??
Fullmer, MVP in baseball? Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Just keep in mind, he is going to want a lot. This is the kind of trade that if it goes south, Al will lose his job.
Yes, some people here expect that their team can land a #2 or #3 starter for their #10 prospect or a MLB roster player the team doesn’t need. Doesn’t work that way.
He’s a dominant pitcher with a ton of years of affordable control, plus he’s young. He would demand a kings ransom in return.
Braves, Yankees or Dodgers should do it.
Fullmer is good, but his K/BB ratio is not that great.
3.3/1 for a starter is actually pretty good. He’s also only walking 2/9 and giving up just 0.5 HR/9. And he’s 24. He’s an incredibly valuable asset
Brinson and Ortiz for Gray.
Brinson looks like a guy the A’s would flip over.
Whatever that means.
Don’t don’t know what the term “flip over” means? It means a player that they’d like to have.
Was confusing. The A’s frequently “flip” players in trades and deal them months after acquiring them if the right deal strikes.
Man that trade is looking very lopsided for Lucrory with the Brewers getting the W…
I’m a huge Brinson fan, wish he was back in TX
Cmon Dave, Brinson and Woodruff for Verlander
I wouldn’t doubt it for a second Astros making a offer so big and rediculas for Wilson, fullmer and Martinez that it would make Astros farm system from top 5 to last.
I’m talking Tucker Fisher martes Moran Kemp alveraz reed white Perez etc etc etc etc.
They can’t afford all three of them. More realistic would be Fulmer+Shane Greene for Alex Bregman, Forrest Whitley, Derek Fisher or Kyle Tucker, A.J. Reed and others…highly unlikely. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to instead go after Matt Boyd or Daniel Norris tho…Fulmer would fetch such lavish packages and the fact that he’s a 24 year old all star who hasn’t even hit arb yet. He’s a workhorse with ridiculously good stuff..Slider,Breaking Ball, Fastball in the upper nineties, and he’s introduced a scary good curveball this season. JV would be a cheaper option for them as well.
i don’t think the astros want a reunion with j d.
They made a boo-boo when they just flat out waived him. Imagine him in that lineup now….
Imagine Kris Bryant in that lineup… with JD and Fowler …
Can someone please put an APB on Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg..both have been missing for months, reward will be offered if can be claimed and put into a bullpen.
Smith has had a few setbacks in his TJS recovery – reminder that 15% of TJ pitchers never make it back. Thornburg will miss the season with TOS.
The Cubs will not be Trading for another big Name starter I’ll bet anything on it
They are Just trying to Raise the price for the Brewers ……… Which is smart baseball
Agree. No farm system left to swing a deal. Fans are emotional and attached to World Series champ players.
Yea our fans think Schwarber is an MVP. They’d be lucky to get Alex Avila for him right now
Can understand. I haven’t seen the A’s in the World Series in 30 years and it’s hard.
Agreed, Schwarber has little trade value right now.
Which means the Cubs have even less reason to move him…
Lucky to get Avila for him huh?? Ok genius
This makes no sense to me, why trade for a rental? Especially when the Cardinal management said they’d pursue long-term assets (if the Cards were to trade for someone)
Agree. In the latest article on MLB.com the report said only way they add talent is for long term purposes.
Maybe they make a trade with the contingency that he signs an extension…that is the only way this makes any sense at all for this year cardinals team
I’d be curious if some team gets desperate enough for pitching that they make an offer on Fulmer that Avila can’t refuse.
So much Tigers for Cafardo article. Interesting.
Also AROD suggested that Dombrowski could go after Cabrera. Not sure how, but that would be beyond intriguing.
Price plus prospects for Cabrera?
Umm, Tigers will want most of the farm system from Boston if they are going to take David back.
Miggy is owed to much money, and is having the worst season of his career. He’s looking more like a full time DH going forward. He would be a nice fit to replace “Poppi” But I don’t think it happens.. Red Sox are already on the hook for Sandoval.
What will Grey cost us….. hummmmmm
At 28 games back you guys aren’t buyers you’re more like sellers
What about packaging Fulmer with Justin Verlander as one package?
No money in the transaction.
Perhaps the Tigers simply take 1 top 50 and 1 top 100 player and take back a bad, but not as bad as JV contract.
they would not want to lower the trade value of their best asset. That would be a fireable offense.
Geez, from a Tiger fan? You can do better than that. When you sign a JV type contract, the money has been spent, it’s a sunk cost. Trade Fulmer to reduce the $ accomplishes nothing and frankly, I ain’t watching the Tigers waiting for ‘prospects’ to emerge. I watched Fryman, Milt Cuyler, etc, at AA on the tube every so often; it wasn’t enjoyable.
I hate when I write a comment, accidentally make my screen turn sideways, return my screen to normal, and the comment I was writing has disappeared…. does this happen to anyone else???
Yeah. I try to just use my laptop because of that.
What phone do u have? Look for lock rotation so that your screen won’t rotate
Derrrr…. I never even thought about that. I usually don’t bother rewriting it either JKB
iPhone btw, you saved me from future frustration champ
Yes it happens all the time. Usually I do not bother writing it again
No disrespect to JD Martinez’s abilities, but I just don’t see him as big enough an improvement to warrant giving up any of our top prospects. If we’re going to go after someone, make it Zach Britton (if available), wouldn’t mind going after Sonny Gray or Yu Darvish if they are available either
For the Dodgers btw
JD Martinez is a top 5 power bat in MLB. He is 4th in OPS the last few years, just behind Mike Trout and Giancarlo Stanton. I can understand not giving up the farm, but he is well worth a top prospect.
Not to the Dodgers he’s not. LA has a full productive outfield with backs ups, with a balanced chemistry.
Britton has been hurt all year, has thrown like 12 innings 8Ks, 5BB, and given up 16 hit with a WHIP of 1.75 so no to Britton
If the Cardinals get Martinez, then basically that means their best offensive player (or 2nd best after Gyorko), Tommy Pham is benched in favor of the disappointing Fowler and Piscotty. Because guys make that money aren’t going to sit on the bench and can’t be moved because of their contracts.
Nobody ever stayed in the lineup because they had a big contract. The manager will find a way to get the best lineup on the field always.
Piscotty is hitting like a little girl.
I would LOVE to have Piscotty on my favorite team. He is having a rough stretch, but he’s a very good ballplayer.
If Cafardo says that the Dodgers, Cardinals, and Royals are the frontrunners for JD Martinez, that means he will be traded to the Diamondbacks, Indians or Rays. In other words, anyone other than the Dodgers, Cardinals or Royals.
Ha. He’s pretty much totally guessing, at least where teams outside of his time zone are concerned. I mean, where does Martinez even fit into the Dodgers roster? Riddle me this, oh oracle of baseball.
The Dodgers don’t need Martinez imo. They are firing on all cylinders right now without him. It looks like right now (yes I know it can change), that they will be playing the Astros in the World Series. But does anyone remember the 116-46 2001 Seattle Mariners? Not hatin, just statin
It appears that you are debating yourself. Interesting post.
Agreed
With you Tim
What about the Cubs sending Hector Rondon & Addison Russell to the Nationals for Trea Turner. The Cubs get a leadoff hitter that can also man CF & the Nationals get a BP piece & insurance for this year if Turner hits a set back in rehab & cant make it back for the playoffs.
If the Cardinals trade for a bat… it better be Giancarlo. Just say NO to Martinez.