Athletics righty Sonny Gray is an obvious target for contenders, and he’s among the players touched upon in a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today (which also delves into some analysis and predictions). The Brewers “may be the most aggressive” suitor for the Oakland starter, per Nightengale, with the Royals even entering the picture to some extent. He guesses, though, that the Astros are most likely to land Gray. That’s not to say that it’s Houston’s first choice; Nightengale says that the team spoke with the Tigers on Michael Fulmer but “came up empty.”
We’ll see if the ’Stros continue to push for Fulmer, who’d surely require a major haul of prospects. Here are some more notes from Nightengale and others:
- If Gray is the top starter who’s likely to be dealt, the best position player on the market is probably Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez. The Cardinals were said previously to have looked into the high-powered slugger, but Nightengale says they won’t spend big on a rental of his ilk. Rather, he says, the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Diamondbacks are the three clubs that have “shown the most interest” in Martinez. We’ve also heard of a few other organizations poking around on the righty slugger, so there seems to be no shortage of interest.
- The Phillies aren’t in contention — far from it — but are still showing interest in Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon, Nightengale adds. Other organizations are also said to be looking into the speedy veteran, who is under contract for $38MM over the next three seasons. It’s a bit surprising to see this particular link, as the Phils already control Cesar Hernandez and have variety of interesting middle infield prospects moving toward the majors. CSNPhilly.com’s Corey Seidman argues as much, but notes that Gordon could conceivably be involved in some of the broader talks between the clubs.
- As many as 10 teams are still in the mix for Marlins righty David Phelps, tweets Nightengale. Phelps is indeed an attractive trade chip, though it’s unlikely that all 10 of those clubs are expressing serious interest and making competitive bids to acquire him. Nightengale names the Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs, Rockies, and Rangers as the chief pursuers of Phelps.
- MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand provides a variety of market notes. Among them: the Marlins are shopping Brad Ziegler aggressively. The team is willing to hold onto a major portion of his salary to get a deal done, per the report. That’s no surprise, given that he struggled through 29 innings before hitting the DL with a back issue. With a discount on the free-agent deal, there ought to be some interest. After all, the crafty 37-year-old maintained a 2.05 ERA over 136 innings in the prior two campaigns.
- It’s not surprising to hear that the Tigers are asking for quite a haul in exchange for Fulmer, given that he doesn’t need to be dealt. And the organization is perhaps well served to maintain a lofty ask on Martinez, allowing suitors to bid up his return. But dealing some of the organization’s other veterans may require more give and take. A pair of rival executives tell ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter) that Detroit may have trouble making deals at its current asking prices.
- Jed Lowrie has been one of the most oft-speculated trade candidates of the summer, but MLB Network’s Peter Gammons tweets that, to this point, the Athletics haven’t received so much as a single inquiry into his availability. Lowrie is obviously available in trade — as is the case with most of the Oakland roster — and it is indeed somewhat surprising to hear that interest in him is so scant. The versatile, switch-hitting 33-year-old is batting .272/.339/.455 with 10 homers, 27 doubles and two triples this year. Even if a contending club doesn’t view Lowrie as a starter, his $6.5MM salary and $6MM club option aren’t exactly outlandish for a productive utility option.
- The Red Sox are one team rumored to have some level of interest in Lowrie, though Boston has been most closely connected with Todd Frazier in its third base search. Odds are, a source tells ESPN.com’s Scott Lauber (Twitter link), the Sox won’t be parting with significant prospect assets to meet its needs at the hot corner and in the bullpen. That likely wouldn’t be necessary for Lowrie or Frazier; one wonders, though, whether the club will still at least look into more significant deadline additions.
- We haven’t heard much detail as yet on Mets righty Addison Reed, who looks to be one of the best available relievers. But he’s generating “plenty of trade interest,” in the words of Newsday’s Marc Carig (via Twitter). That’s to be expected given the dominant form of the pending free agent. Over 43 2/3 innings this year, Reed owns a 2.47 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and just 1.0 BB/9.
Michael Fulmer and Justin Wilson to the Astros for ???? One heck of haul but it would be worth it
Wonder if the Astros would take one of the contracts of Verlander or Cabrera?
To bring the value down little for Wilson or Fulmer????
Would Martes, Fisher, Cameron,Alveraz and Davis be enough?
No. For fulmer AND Wilson we’re talking Martes, Tucker, Fisher, Whitley, pretty much enough to take the astros farm from top 5 to bottom 5
For both of them? No… I don’t think so.
Even trying to take the homer-ism out of it, I expect Fulmer with his 1.5 years of work and 5.5 years of remaining control… plus Wilson is going to involve 6 names… likely 4 of those 6 being very high on the Astros’ prospect list.
It may cost 1 of Tucker or Whitley but not both.
And verlander and Cabrera have negative value. That’s where the homerism comes into play
It would take a kings ransom..all your good prospects except for Paulino we don’t want anything to do with him. JV and Cabrera aren’t going anywhere unless they get significant prospect returns which is unlikely.
Detroit won’t include one if it lowers the price.
Yeah, I don’t think verlander or Cabrera would lower the price
Cabrera and JV aren’t salary dumps!! V-Mart or Zimmermann maaaaayyybe.
It would start with Gregerman(is that his name..he wears #2 plays 3rd. Or is it bregman?
No its Wrekman! Get your facts right! Do you even watch?
I know it ain’t wrekman moron. I ask a question and get 4 dislikes. This place is schizophrenic.
J.D Martinez?? Do he play 3base???
No, but maybe Betts can? If not, I don’t see the logic either.
I doubt they would move betts in the middle of a pennant race
JBJ or Benintendi might be part of the deal. Benintendi moved to center. JD plays left. I don’t see it happening. Betts is pretty close to or the best defensive right fielder in the league. He’s not being moved to third.
Part of the deal for JD Martinez?! There’s less than a 0% chance of that happening.
Omg that’s one of the funniest things I have heard in a long time.
I’m really confused. We aren’t discussing a deal for Jd Martinez are we? Can’t be
I’m totally confused by this too. The Sox obviously need the bat, but where does he play? My best guess is DL Hanley and don’t bring him back until he’s 100%, and then worry about it. Once he comes back… I got nothin
I get that doesn’t make a whole Lotta sense, but what else are they going to do?
That or JBJ is part of the trade. Maybe get Martinez and a reliever?
That is hilarious not a chance in the world JBJ would be moved for 1/2 year of Martinez and a reliever that’s funny.
I never mentioned a reliever, and as I said I don’t think any of these scenarios are likely.
JBJ is unlikely to go anywhere, but I guarantee the Red Sox are at least entertaining the possibility of using him as a trade asset. He could haul in a huge return and he doesn’t project to continue hitting this well in the future.
Who says he doesn’t project to be hitting this well in the future I think we have a good idea what he is a .250 to .280 hitter with .800 ops and gold glove caliber defense and he is streaky as hell. The only way JBJ is coming Detroit is if Fulmer was involved.
We’re seriously going to keep saying that he doesn’t project to keep hitting like this? I understood questioning him after his 70 something games in 2015 – I didn’t expect that to continue either. But then he did almost the exact same thing in a full 2016 season. Now he’s doing nearly the exact same thing again in 2017. I think it’s now safe to say this is the normal JBJ.
I have a few theories that could make this work but they are a little out there. I ranked them from least likely to most, but I still don’t see how Boston’s interest in him makes any sense.
1) Red Sox trade for JDM and move Hanley to 3rd. This is doubtful considering his shoulder health and lack of experience at 3rd.
2) A-Rod’s prediction becomes true, and the Red Sox trade JBJ and Devers for Miggy and JDM.
3) Red Sox give up JBJ plus B level prospects for JDM and Castellanos
4) Red Sox trade for just JDM, planning on using him primarily vs. lefties at DH to platoon with Hanley, who has struggled vs. southpaws all year.
The number 4 scenario is the only one that makes any sense depending on the return. JBJ would not be involved at all in that scenario.
If that truly is Arod’s prediction then please become a GM somewhere so the Red Sox can fleece you that is such a bad trade proposal it’s amazing how bad that is.
What would the braves have to give up for Fulmer? Who should the braves get: Gray or Fulmer.. considering they can get either one
Top 3-4 prospects or quality young cost-controlled MLB talent for Fulmer. His value is massive.
One from the top 3-5 prospects list, one top 10 one and two others from the top 25 for Gray. He’s going to cost less.
No idea why the Braves are buying if the A’s are selling. Both teams are currently 6 games out of the wild card. Braves should be holding onto prospects and trading vets at this point.
Yea they shouldn’t trade away too many intriguing prospects when they’re 6 games out of WC and 9.5 out of first in NL East but dickey and Garcia are going to be gone next year I presume so that leaves Teheran (if he’s not traded which I don’t think he should be) and folty along with Newcomb who has been pretty good in his time in MLB. They will call up guys like soroka, fried, allard etc. and even though they’re really good in A ball they will experience growing pains, not to mention unexpected injuries like Weigel. So I think they should go after young controllable SP like Fulmer and Gray to help solidify that rotation next year and for years to come
Fulmer will take a haul of probably top 4 prospects
Start with Albies and Swanson And then keep going…
Lmaooooo that’s hot garbage. Albies definitely involved, Swanson not even close
neither. gray is a free agent after 2019. I’d rather take my chances on a handful of prospects than any SP
If Avila even picks up the phone the price would be insane…word is Tigers will trade Justin Wilson, Alex Avila, and JD at the deadline and possibly shop Fulmer at the winter meetings where “everyone can put in their bid”. It seems like they’ll deal short term assets now and reevaluate later…
Addison Reed to Rockies for Yency Almonte? Fair? Unfair?
As a Rockies fan, I would be okay with that.
Think one other piece would have to come back to NY. One of the A ball or lower kids with a standout tool. Gonzalez, Welker, Bowden etc
I could see another piece needed given the going rate for a quality reliever.
Phillies pursuit of dee Gordon makes no sense. They have Kingery in minors tearing it up.
yeah i don’t see the logic behind it either
Matt Klentak has yet to trade for any player with more than one year left on a contract. I doubt he starts with Dee Gordon.
I felt the same way at first, but it’s an intriguing trade opportunity since, I believe, they ultimately have Yelich in mind. The Marlins want to clear the books, the Phillies can afford it, and Gordon is still a good value. All signs point to a good match. They can always flip Gordon and/or Hernandez for another piece. If taking his contract (and/or Stanton’s) helps net us net Yelich for less in terms of prospects, I’m for it.
Royals should be sellers
They’re 2 games out of first in a terrible division.
Still they should sell, Hosmer , Moustakus , Cain and Escobar free agents, would bring back nice prospects
Sign Moose and Hos, let Cain and Escobar go. Try to win this year with Cain one last time before the drought starts. Cain is not as young as you think and Escobar’s best days are behind him as well. Both will be remembered fondly by KC fans.
Why sign Hosmer? He’s literally an average 1B and easy to replace.
trade herrera + a mid tier prospect for schwarber, then trade Hosmer.
Hosmer is a clubhouse leader and fan favorite. A .312 batting average and an 850+ OPS is just average isn’t it??? Bringing in Schwarber for Herrera+ sounds good, but I don’t think the cubs would do it and the Davis for soler thing hasn’t exactly worked out great.
they’re not winning the division. hot streak or not. 10% shot at division then lose your core AND no farm?
10% eh? You were probably one of the multitude that gave them 0 chance at the start of 2015. Give up on the percentage prediction game.
The Royals FO probably considers it worthwhile to buy for this year’s team, even if it’s not particularly strong on paper. KC’s “winning window” closes after this year, and it may take 3-4 years to rebuild into a legitimate contender again. Trading rentals like Cain, Hoz, Moustakas, and Vargas would only expedite that rebuild by so much, while someone like Herrera can be dealt later.
It’s going to be more like 8+ years before they compete again. They need to go for it this year. Trading for prospects is hit or miss. small market teams like the Royals only get to compete every so often, they can’t pass up any opportunities on wishful thinking prospects. This team has proven they can get hot and win big, give them one more chance.
8 plus years? That sounds like hyperbole. The Astros were trash for four years, then made the playoffs.
stros had 6 straight losing seasons and missed the playoffs in 9. not sure where you get 4 from. the reason it took so long is they took forever to embrace a rebuild
The Astros were not awful until 2011.. More like Mediocre. Then they did a full rebuild after half hearted measures. There is no reason it should take KC 8 years to rebuild.
It took 30 years last time. 8 years would be a blessing.
Gammons also tweeted a week ago that no one had called the A’s about Sonny Gray. Gammons has lost his fastball. The A’s will move Lowrie for a young A ball prospect.
there’s no question the A’s are getting calls on gray…
I’m thinking Gammons is saying no one called the A’s about Gray and Lowrie in hopes of his Red Sox landing them on the cheap.
I think he said the A’s haven’t gotten any *serious* offers for Gray. That I can believe, but I’d guess that’s no longer the case. I can see him being traded this week after trading Doolittle and Madson. I predict Thursday.
No. Gammons said the A’s didn’t get a single call for Gray last week and Lowrie today.. He does this all the time with the Red Sox.
Angels should make a move for Jed. Quality second baseman and won’t haunt you at the end of the season when you pushing for a wild card spot
A’s will trade him, cost isn’t too steep, just a young prospect 19-20 years old with some upside.
The Angels don’t have anyone like that in their system, sorry.
The Angels have no 19 or 20 year old rated like 19th in your system? Look at this guy, Elvin Rodriguez. Rated 19th on MLB.com. 19 years old. Pitching in Rookie ball. Trade him for Lowrie now.
Totally agree but how do we get the A’s to trade him within the AL West.
The A’s and Angels have traded before. Alberto Callaspo for Grant Green in 2013.
phillies might take Gordon off Marlins hands with Yelich and trade Hernandez who has value and a favorable contract. It might make sense. Kingery not in philly this year.
Fulmer ain’t worth that much to Braves. Lets just get Verlander and trade Teheran to Astros for Fisher and more
As a braves fan I am highly in favor of this assuming braves don’t give up too much to get him and can actually get a Fisher + package
Teoscar Hernandez and Colin Moran or JD Davis for Teheran.
No point in trading prospects to make the rotation worse
Hahaha. If Fulmer ain’t worth that much to the Braves then why would Teheran be worth anything to the Astros??
The Astros giving up Fisher for Teheran…now that is funny
No doubt the Red Sox have the prospects Detroit would covet for JD, but I don’t see where he’d play. Betts and Benintendi(likely misspelled, sorry) manning the corner OF spots, he has no position. Unless they intend to DH him, but then where does Hanley play? 1b? Then where does Moreland play? I just don’t see a fit there.
Dodgers make some sense. JD would be an offensive upgrade over Taylor or Puig, but it’s not like either of them are holding the Dodgers back either. Verdugo is who Detroit would push for, and I can see him as expendable for the Dodgers being blocked by Pederson/Bellinger(if he goes back to the OF if AGon is able to return), and Puig/Taylor. Just not sure LA would be willing to deal such a highly regarded prospect for a luxury rental.
Arizona doesn’t make any sense to me for Detroit.. Detroit has pitching prospects coming up through the minors in Manning, Burrows, and Faedo(not to mention Soto/Funkhouser/Garcia/Labourt/Jiminez which are either relief pitchers or a step below the original three)… and AZ doesn’t seem to have any position prospects of note that would entice Detroit for JD. Socrates Brito is an semi interesting name, but with injury concerns. Domingo Leyba is also semi interesting, but nothing exciting. The only names I see there are Banda and Duplantier… both pitchers.
Brito is a throw in piece of any trade. Hardly some kind of headliner.
Hanley Ramirez 3B? Also Betts can play 3B.
I honestly didn’t consider Hanley for third. Is he still capable there?
About as capable as Christopher Reeve.
No , He wasn’t capable when he was 5 Years younger !
Hanley got hurt in his first attempt at first base, and complained a lot too. I don’t understand JD to Boston either, I think he makes the most sense in the NL west
Betts is the best defensive right fielder in the game why would they move Betts to third that is just not happening.
As long as Jason Heyward is still in the game he’s the best defensive right fielder in the game
I’ll take Betts at this point advanced defensive metrics agree as well with me at this point in there careers.
moreland really isn’t that great.
Maybe JBJ or Benintendi would be part of the deal. Don’t think the Sox would pull the trigger on it but they need some pop in the lineup. They don’t need another single/double hitter like Lowrie or Prado.
I don’t see Detroit as a fit for JBJ. yes, they need a cf… but JBJ service clock is already up there when Detroit likely won’t compete until 2020ish
What part of a deal for Fulmer because that is the only way JBJ or Benintendi are going in a deal to Detroit. Do really think either one of those would go in a deal for 1/2 year of JD Martinez wow that is funny.
Al Avila was on High Heat today. He was pretty convincing when he said the odds of Fulmer being traded were near 0%.
Al Avila may be the worst GM in baseball.
I am a diehard Tigers fan and so far in his tenure I agree. He can redeem himself in the next two weeks.
Randy Smith was the worst Tigers GM.
We don’t speak of him….
Thats false. He got Justin Wilson, Upton, he was made to trade Maybin, but he actually acquired him in a trade. He’s had some misses, but he hasnt been totally horrible. If Zimmermann pitched to his potential Avilas resume would be good
He’s made some smart conservative moves…Justin Wilson trade, Alex Avila signing, Mahtook trade, Maybin trade…
Yah, I’m not giving him credit for signing his son. He let him go to the White Sox after a bad ’15 season for $2.5mil. He then signed him the following year after a slightly better season for $2mil.. That’s more like a case of his son couldn’t find a job, so daddy gave him one. Luckily, it has worked out because he is OPS’ing 200+ points higher this year, which NOBODY could have predicted.
I’ll give him credit if he capitalizes on the move and trades his son for a legitimate prospect while his value is by far the highest it’ll ever be. Until then, this is just nepotism at its finest (which I’m perfectly fine with – just not giving him credit for it working out).
I don’t think you understand what nepotism is. It is not refusing to sign your son after a bad season and then resigning him for a cheaper one year contract for a year he returns to his 2011 all star form. Now he plans on trading him for a long term asset. That nepotism charge is growing old.
You’re right. I have no clue what nepotism is. I mean, it’s not like he let his son go for $2.5 mil when somebody else was willing to pay him, and then he gave him almost an identical contract the following year when nobody else wanted him. I’m sure he predicted a .900 OPS season from his son after 5 mediocre at best seasons in a row. He didn’t just get extremely lucky with the signing working out.
As I said, if he does the right thing for the organization and trades Alex while his value is the highest it’ll ever be, I’ll happily take back my claim. Until then, I’ll stand my ground on the nepotism charge. And as I said, I don’t have any issue with it; I’m just not giving him credit for an “amazing signing.”
I agree. It’ll take quite a haul to land Fulmer. I highly doubt, with the current climate in baseball of valuing prospects so highly, that anyone would be willing to cough up the quality and quantity of prospects to convince Avila to send Fulmer out.
If you had to bet that Fulmer would be traded I would bet a heavy amount on no. But if some team like the stros’ offers Whitley , Fisher and yeah, a bunch more, ok. Thats likely not happening
Yeah Fulmer isn’t getting traded. He would cost the Nats: Robles, Soto, Fedde and a few lottery ticket types. And even that might not be enough
Yeah don’t see how JD Martinez fits in Boston
How did this site miss the fact that Rosenthal reported the A’s had a scout looking at the Yankees Sally League team. where Florial and Rutherford play. That’s often a sign that a deal is imminent, the two teams are just arguing over the prospects who will be included in the package.
I feel like that very preliminary, you want to scout players before you start discussing them not after. I’d bet that many more scouts have been to Yankees farm teams I the past few months.
I’m sure the A’s have already scouted these guys in the Sally League. It’s just parameters and working out which prospects are coming back. So the scouts are looking extra hard at the Yankees system.
You can scratch the Cardinals off of any top flight, impact players. Either the Ownership always puts the breaks on spending big money on star players or the GM depends too much on metrics and not enough on proven abilities and proven stardom. The front office has, admittedly do, gone dumpster diving over so many years, they have turned the Cardinals into the biggest dumpster container in MLB.
“proven” like Allen Craig, Joe Kelly, David Freese….should have kept them!
I don’t see why the Astros would want Gray. The cost is crazy.
Why does anyone want Gray? To win the World Series.
DeGrom or Stroman if the Astros are going to give up top prospects, otherwise let it ride with the pitchers in house.
Someone is gonna be sorry not getting Verlander. Dude is still really good
Cubs should be in on him. With Quintana being cheap and lackey Arietta going off the books they can afford him. Seems like a guy who would have a chip on his shoulder and pitching in meaningful games step it up.
I understand DeGrom… But Stroman? Extremely overrated. Very good pitcher. Not an ace.
Stroman would be ideal for Houston. He is an extremely good ground ball pitcher
That USA Today article predicted that the pirates trade rivero to the dodgers. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life.
I can’t even imagine the package I’d demand for him. He has some of the most wicked stuff I’ve ever seen and he’s polished and under control. He’s as good as there is…
Gee will get released tomorrow from the Twins and one of these teams like the Astros. Cubs. Cards. Yankees will take a flyer. any thoughts on where he might end up?
BOOM! Gee released. now where will he go? low cost for a team that needs depth.
What would it take for the Astros to acquire Carlos Martinez and/or Trevor Rosenthal from Cardinals, if they decide to blow it up?
Bahaha it would be theft
If the cardinals did sell it won’t be a full blown sell. Carlos Martinez would not be for sell anyway if they did.
On the funnier side of trade possibilities, If Tigers trade with TB or AZ, their top prospect is a SS that the Tigers traded to them. Willy Adames and Domingo Lebdya
The Phillies being interested in Dee Gordon makes little sense unless they are planning on moving him back to shortstop or flipping him to another team. Scott Kingery is one of their top prospects and he is a 2nd baseman. He’s in AAA right now & could be in Philly next season. Why trade for a 2nd baseman who has 3 years left on his contract when you have Kingery waiting in the wings?
How about Sonny Gray to Cleveland for Diaz, Plutko, Cheng, and Bauer. A’s get a future starter and a couple good prospects to go along with Bauer. May be a little light but it’s a good start.
I think Cleveland could be giving away a very good one in Diaz and with Healy, Chapman and Olson in Oakland where would Yandy Diaz play?
Martes and Fisher to the A’s for Gray just seems to obvious not to happen. Maybe a guy like Elian Rodriguez and one other not on the Astros top 30 list should work. Rodriguez would be a good guy for the A’s to dream on A’s a future bullpen piece.
I think the Mets should hold onto Reed and try to extend him unless they think they can flip him and get him back Chapman style (which I doubt). No guarantee what Familia will look like on his return so Reed may have to fill the closers roll. And if not he’s a great setup man to have
Woodruff, Burnes (both Top 50 midseason), Phillips for Gray is a hard no for Brewers. Not even close
Cubs Wilson Alvarez for next year cheap deal with A’s and Rangers Joe Ross Theo those two can go cheap do to current injuries remember Cub fans next year we have 2 opening act now for later we miss this chance on Holland fromRoyals/Rockies.
Actually after Brad Peacocks performance tonight and going 8-1 since coming out of the pen the Astros may not be in the market for a SP in fact they may have one too many in the rotation when Keuchel returns. Justin Wilson they like but for only a reasonable trade beneficial to both teams and the Stros are headed to Baltimore for the weekend and one Zach Britton has become available.
are the browns stillin on this one? jd is a average hitter but he got a great glove. i say pull the trigger on this one before someone eats him up
where’s all the cardinals rumors…ahhh forget it just trade for Pujols. i forgot to burn my shirt anyways so ill save some money my ex burned my So Taguchi shirt that i loved, anyone got one hit me up yo. i say sota you say guchi!
still no cards rumors 🙁 it’s so lonely i’m trapped in here. i’ll just make up my own rumor: that ventriloquist dummy of a man Ken Rosenthal reports that the Brave’s trade back Matt Adams to the Cards for the recaptured rally squirrel…then the rally squirrel goes on an historical tear until he faces the Cards, at which point Adams accidentally squishes him while trying to hit a 40mph opening pitch fastball against Lefty President Obama