Recapping MLBTR’s original content from the past week:
- Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani will only be able to sign a minor league deal this offseason if he comes to the majors, though he could conceivably ink a more lucrative extension early in his MLB tenure. Tim Dierkes examined that possibility in depth.
- Tim also looked ahead to next year’s class of free agent starters, which could include Clayton Kershaw, and concluded that teams in need of rotation help shouldn’t wait until then to make upgrades. If Kershaw will remain with the Dodgers, it would leave a fairly unexciting group of available starters, so pitching-needy teams would be better served to strike now.
- Padres closer Brad Hand figures to draw widespread interest if the team shops him in the coming months. With that in mind, Kyle Downing sought an ideal match for Hand in a potential deal.
- The latest editions of this year’s Offseason Outlook series focused on the Nationals, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Royals and Padres.
- This winter’s Free Agent Profile series (links: 1, 2) kicked off with looks at the pros, cons and markets for center fielder Lorenzo Cain and utilityman Eduardo Nunez.
Brad Hand will be traded if Preller backs down from his elite prospect expectations.
Many Padres fans don’t expect to receive a Gleyber Torres, Victor Robles, etc return for Hand.
If Preller wants an elite prospect such as Robles or Torres though for Hand he will have to include prospects along with Hand.
For Instance, the Blue Jays have SS Bo Bichette who’s a top 30 prospect. If the Padres wanted Bo Bichette in a Hand deal they’d have to include prospects such as Jorge Ona, Michael Gettys, or Mason House along with a pitching prospect such as Paddack, Nix, or Thompson to facilitate a deal getting done.
Otherwise they’re looking at a top 100 prospect prospect in the 50-100 range along with others.
I’d call the Rockies and see if they’d be willing to part with Pint (who had an awful year), Hampson, and Tyler in a deal for Hand. Rockies are going to be needing bullpen help if they hope to compete this year since they are set to lose McGee and Holland.