The Blue Jays met with C.C. Sabathia today, George A. King III of the New York Post reports (via Twitter). Toronto joins the Yankees and Angels as teams that have checked in on Sabathia to bolster the back of their rotations, eating innings and still delivering effective results at age 37. The Jays have a lot of uncertainty with the fifth spot in their rotation, and maybe even beyond that given the blister and fingernail problems that plagued Aaron Sanchez last season. There was some good news on that front today, however, as Sportsnet.ca’s Shi Davidi reports that Sanchez played catch for the first time in three months and reported no issues with his finger.
More from the AL East…
- The Red Sox are focusing 90 percent of their offseason attention on J.D. Martinez, a source tells NBC Sports Boston’s Evan Drellich. Martinez has been heavily rumored as a top Sox target, given his past ties to Dave Dombrowski, the lack of qualifying offer compensation tied to his signing, and the simple fact that he is the best power hitter on the market this winter. Dombrowski told reporters (including the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo) today that he had a specific name in mind to bolster the middle of Boston’s lineup, though no hints were given.
- After Chase Headley was dealt earlier today, speculation immediately arose that the Yankees could look to re-sign Todd Frazier. MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reported that Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been speaking with Frazier’s agent, though things don’t “appear hot at the moment” between the two sides, as per FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman. As the New York Post’s Joel Sherman observes, one of the stumbling blocks is that Frazier is naturally looking for a multi-year deal, whereas the Yankees don’t want to lock up third base with prospect Miguel Andujar in the fold and a possible pursuit of Manny Machado coming next winter.
- The Orioles are getting interest in outfield prospects Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart, executive VP Dan Duquette told MASNsports.com’s Steve Melewski. It isn’t known if the O’s are open to dealing any of these youngsters, though Duquette did say that “in our quest for pitching we have found that clubs like our outfielders,” which at least seems to hint that other clubs could be offering the Orioles some much-needed arms for the prospects. Of the trio, it would surprising to see Hays dealt for anything less than a big return, as he is considered the top prospect in Baltimore’s system and would become a contributor at the MLB level as early as next season.
Sign Chi Chi
Contagious conjunctivitis!
Eye… see what you did there.
I don’t
Pretty sure he already resigned with Texas
Rangers already resigned him
JD Martinez and Santana please!! i think the Yankees will move again ( Machado)
I disagree about Santana and machado
Why
Why would you trade for Machado when he’ll be a FA next offseason?
Also, why would the Orioles trade him to a division rival?
They’ve come out and stated they do not want to trade Machado to NY
Actually they said they didn’t want to trade him to any team within the division. Of course that could change with the right offer.
If the Yankees can get Frazier on 2yr deal w/3rd yr option that would work but if not move on imo
What’s the point? Andujar should get a shot.
Frazier is terrible, why would you want him on your team for two years?
How much is John Henry willing to pay to compete with the Yankees? How far will Arizona go to slash their payroll?
Paul Goldschmidt and Zack Grienke to Boston for Jason Groome and Michael Chavis.
Dreaming….that wouldn’t even come close. Some of these proposals are laughable.
Yeah, agreed. Even as a joke that was in poor taste. Would take about 2-3 more prospects and thats only if Boston takes on all of Grienke’s contract which they won’t.
Some?
Why in god’s name would they move Goldschmidt? That makes negative sense.
That is outrageous that will never happen that makes no sense on Arizona’s side trade a top 5 player in the league just for salary relief and two ehh prospects.
Arizona wants to compete!!!!! the reason why they want payroll space is to add pieces to compete!!!! they wouldn’t even consider trading Goldschmidt
Wow,,,,,,delusional. So a 93 win team is going to trade two 5 WAR players for two top 50-80 prospects as a salary dump? I think not. Big difference between an expensive player like Greinke who is highly productive vs a guy like Ellsbury who’s a marginal 1.5 WAR player earning $21 mil. If the Dbacks trade Greinke I can guarantee you they will get something of near value to help them contend for 2018. They are not rebuilding.
What do you call it if not rebuilding? Both Grienke and P. Corbin are on the market and oh yeah, where is J.D. Martinez coming from?
Did the Diamondbacks win 105 games last year? Do the Diamondbacks have a couple of phenoms coming up to light the baseball world on fire?
Yeah, someone here is delusional. Find a mirror and you’ll find the answer.
Who says they are “on the market”? What I HAVE read is that the Rangers are discussing Greinke and the Yanks were interested in Corbin. What I do know is that the Dbacks had a strong 93 win season and would’ve won the NL if it weren’t for an amazing LA team. They still had the 2nd most wins in a very, very week NL division. They have 3 good young relatively inexpensive starters who are all under control for multiple years. Goldschmidt is under control for 2/$25 mil. They ONLY player owed more than $13.5 in 2018 is Greinke, If they do decide to move him they still have 4 other good starters for 2018 and can probably find a mid-back end guy for $10-$15 mil and still save money from what they are paying Greinke,
That;s not a rebuild. Anything acquired for Greinke or Corbin I’m sure will help the mlb team in 2018 and beyond vs just being a bunch of prospects 2-3 years away. But talking to teams should not infer a rebuild.
I am of the opinion that if Casey’s partner started receiving up votes on his comment he’d crawl back into a hole. Lives off of the garbage hottakes. Kind of like skip bayless but he doesn’t get paid.
I think you are little off on your assessment of the NL west since three teams from that division made the playoffs.
What exactly did I say about the nl WEST?
I was responding to Southbeach when he said the Diamondbacks were second in “very, very week NL Division” I simply pointed out that three teams made the playoffs from that very very weak division.
Wow, as an Red Sox fan I find that trade scenario laughable.
Maybe if Sox add JBJ to that deal
Why would they trade Goldy, and Greinke when they plan on competing?
I think the red sox should sign both JD and hosmer trade bradley jr for Harvey
Agree
JD not good In LF!
redsox 1976 not good In English
We won with Manny on LF
JBJ has A LOT more value than Harvey.
I seriously hope not, I want neither Hosmer nor Martinez. You do realize that even though it’s a big market they can’t just spend spend spend, it does have consequences down the road and will restrict their spending in the future.
I hate Sox fans that don’t know much and just post I want the Sox to sign the top 7 free agents every year
If I’m the Red Sox I’d offer JDM 3 yrs 90m see if he can turn that down. If he performs he can sign for something similar in 3 yrs. That would be close to the 200m he’s asking for. Just my 2 cents
Why take that chance if you are JD though? Someones going to give hime 5 years and $130MM guaranteed
He won’t these short contracts aren’t going to happen for one there is no way Boras let’s it happen. JDM is probably the most sought after free agent he is going to take the long term guaranteed contract at the highest amount.
True, but how big of a market is there for a guy who is 30 and all bat and no glove? His best bet is with the Red Sox or Arizona. Besides S.F. where else would he be a fit. What AL team is in desperate need a DH/RF? Plus this draft class is weak compare to all the studs coming out next year.
Someone will find a spot for that bat. His bat is elite. I think he and Boras just want to get paid. I really don’t think he will get 200 million because of his limitations but he will probably get 135-150 million for 6 years that’s my guess.
He wants at least TWICE that to consider playing in Boston.
If you’re the Red Sox and offer that to Martinez, he should laugh in your face and walk away. The man will have no problem getting a nice long contract worth a fortune. His bat is elite, he’s not going to play for cheap.
Anyone else hear about Ohtani already dealing with a UCL sprain. Tommy John surgery is in his future I’m guessing
Not necessarily. Tanaka tore his ucl in 2014 and has not needed Tommy John surgery.
If we assume the Yanks thoughts regarding keeping 3B open for Andujar and others or to pursue Machado is true then it made more sense to keep Headley for 2018 vs giving a multiple year deal to Frazier. It would seem silly for them to think Frazier would sign a 1 year deal. $13 mil for Headley to split time between 1b/3b and ride the bench while Andujar and Bird get settled would’ve been a good idea.
I would not be shocked if the mandate from Hal to Cashman was IF we trade for Stanton then you have to go cheap at 2b and 3b thus the Castro and Headley trade. They assume more payroll in the long run but the transition salary is a wash since Stanton’s 2018 $25 mil salary can be offset with rookie wages ($500k per player) vs Castro’s $10 mil and Headley’s $13 mil. If they do go with rookies at both positions and can move some of Ellsbury’s contract.then ,,,,
2017 vs 2018
Castro @ $10 mil 2B Rookie pay @ $600k
Headeley @ $13 mil 3B Rookie pay @ $600k
Ellsbury @ $21 mil Stanton @ 25 mil
Paying no more than $14 mil per
$500 paid towards Headley for 2018
2017 = $44 mil 2018 = $40.7 mil
net “savings” for 2018 of $3.3 mil
except that moving Ellsbury it’s not going to happen they will have little interest from teams in the contract and he won’t waive his no-trade. that said they are definitely moving Castro and Hadley to keep under the luxury tax this year
You can keep saying that it doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Ellsbury is not a bad player he’s just under-performing for an over priced contract afforded to him. He’s not worth $21 mil x 3 but I think 3/$21 is not absurd. I mean we just moved $13 mil for Headley for 1 year and took on 0 salary in return. I can see there being a few suitors for a guy who, in a bad year still posted a .750 OPS and had 23/25 SB getting work for $7 mil per. Especially if you hedge that if healthy a change of scenery might even give you better than what he produced in 2017.
Ells is getting paid every penny coming to him. I’m 80% sure that there’s a team he would say yes to if it’s clear that he’s not getting much time with Judge, Stanton, Hicks, Gardner and maybe even Frazier ahead of him in the depth chart.
I can easily see a trade partner in the Chicago Cubs, a team in need of a solid veteran contact hitter with speed to back up for Schwaber in LF and Almora in CF and pinch run situations. He can be a late inning defensive replacement (an upgrade to say the least) for Schwaber, hit against tough lefties (Ells has a life time .767 OPS vs lefties vs Schwaber’s .501 OPS) and can start in LF during AL road games. I’m not sure the relationship but Theo and Jed Hoyer .know him well. Theo and Cashman have a history of some decent trades since Theo’s been in Chicago.
Ellsbury and one of D. Robertson or Betances plus $47 mil ($14 mil x 3 plus $5 mil buyout) for Nelson Velasquez, and Dillon Maples. They are ranked as the Cubs 14th and 19th best prospects.
I think Ells would say yes to move to a contender in a big city with guys he knows well in Theo and Jed, assuming he has a positive relationship with both.
Are you kidding? Ellsbury brings nothing to the table for that price. No range, no arm and little pop.
Here’s a way to move Ellsbury. Package Ells & Betances to LA add 20 mil in the deal. Ellsbury might wave his no trade to get back to the West coast. LA gets a lock down 8th & 9th with Betances & Jansen. Yankees get some catching prospects.
The Yankees will have to eat at least half of that Ellsbury contract to move him and they better hope A west Coast team wants him otherwise he won’t accept trade most likely.
No!! Jeter will take his contract for one B prospect!!
Guy, it was a salary dump. The marlins are in massive debt. Get over it
Red Sox 1976 posts ridiculous stuff all the time, you’d think commenting nonsense all the time he’d pick up some actual baseball knowledge but apparently he doesn’t read the articles bc it’s still all nonsense
I agree. I’m not sure what the net plus would be, trading Headley ) and then signing Frazier for more money/ years. Unless they think Frazier provides significantly more upside.
Which is possible, but I can’t see that much more upside vs the certainty Headley provided in production.
Fraizer can play 1b,3b and OF. They is more value to Fraizer than to Headley.
I’d like to see Frazier back but the chance that he doesn’t get offers for a few years is low
What’s with Duquette always announcing which of his prospects are currently garnering interest? Does it help him at all?
Doesn’t hurt. Prospects are prospects it’s not going to bruise their ego. They’ll know long before the season whether they’ll be moved. Sure the other teams already know who they want though so it’s probably not beneficial either. Depending on the pitcher return I wouldn’t mind moving Dj Stewart. Feel like he’s more of a low ceiling high floor type of player. Probably should be keeping all of our prospects and looking to get some more via Machado, Britton, etc but we’ll see if we go down that road.
It really sucks being in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox.
Jays are going for it. But they had their chance with Price. Got Donaldson. He’s 32 and almost a free agent. He should of been gone! Trade Stroman. He is the guy I would want. Get 4 Top guys. In 3-4 years you’re ready to roll again
Lol, Jays are not going for it in 2018[a championship or rebuild]. They need a #1, #3, RF, 40% Catcher, 2nd, and a new SS. Unfortunately they are not willing to part with Stroman. Teams have asked about him and would command a haul of upper level propects. I agree that they should trade Donaldson, and while they are at it, Smoak, Happ, Estrada,
Reports saying Ohtani has UCL damage
I foresee a great battle in the AL east this year
If the yankees add pitching it should be formidable
CC pitching on the Blue Jays turf field would be a disaster for his knees.
I think Frazier is worth bringing back mainly for his club house presence. He’d be perfect on a 1 to 2 year deal playing third until mid season when Andujar takes over, and then backing up both third and first. Will it happen who knows?
The Jays checked with MLB and they confirmed that CC could pitch from the clay mound rather than the turf. So all good.
I do think CC could make a great long reliever/spot starter. Would be great in that role if he commuted to it.
CC has been as good as Tanaka the past 2 1/2 yrs. he is a number 2-3 starter on most teams
Couldn’t the Yankees ask to speak to Machado? Get a 100+million dollar 5/6 year deal? He is lucky and can get 2 big contracts if I’m not mistaken. Send them G. Torres and another top 10 guy, along with a top 20. Orioles for once can cash in on something. I understand he has to forego free agency, but he could even do. 3 yr deal or4 and hit it again in his 20’s. That first number being a 2 (29) to me, makes a difference. I don’t understand why more of these don’t happen. It’s odd to talk to other teams’ players? Sure
I’m just trying to see if I understand you are saying ask Machado if he will take a 100+ million dollar 5 or 6 year deal? I’m just trying understand because if this is what you are saying no there is no chance of that. He is going to get 350 to 400 million in free agency so no there is no chance he would do that.
Well, manny has had 2 major knee surgeries and is coming off a lousy year in 2017. He is not getting Stanton money especially with Donaldson, Kershaw and Harper potentially on the market. Only so many dollars available guys.
Yankees should pursue Manny now even if he wont commit to an extension. For whatever reason most players love their experience with the Yankees. Endorsements higher there plus he hates the Ted Sox.
Yankees can swing a deal and not miss any prospects even if Manny leaves. One year of Manny is not that valuable given an extension eats up most of his surplus value. Orioles a year too late.
Those 2 surgeries repaired genetic abnormalities in each knee. Those abnormalities will not reoccur now that they have been fixed.
mlb.com/news/knee-surgery-once-again-ends-orioles-…
“With the surgeries, he wants to take care of the issue for good, so it won’t be an issue later in his career.”
A lousy year where he was still a 2.8 WAR player.
But Manny wants to play short
Don’t know what prospects it would take but I would like to see if the Yanks go for Lamb for 3rd base.
Manny Machado could play short and move DeJong to 3rd. However, it’s very apparent, that either the President of Baseball operations for the Cardinals has no ability to evaluate talent, the personality to trade ideas back and forth with heads of other baseball heads, or the team he has built has gone down hill with no major upgrades in 4 years, or the players available don’t want to play for the Cardinal Manager and their President of baseball operations, or stand offness of other heads of baseball because of the Houston ordeal, or a combination of all of the above. Anyway, it seems that trade talk is just that…..talk. Top tiered free agent just won’t consider St. Louis unless the Cardinals pay them above their worth just as Cecil and Fowler got last season. It’s a flat out shame for the Cardinals dedicated fans and supporters that the ownership has let this historic club hit the level it currently sits.