7:02pm: The Tigers’ efforts to trade Kinsler have “intensified” of late, Katie Strang of The Athletic reports (subscription required and recommended). Moving Kinsler will be a key area of focus for Detroit during the upcoming week, Strang adds, given that the team has a full 40-man roster with Thursday’s Rule 5 draft approaching. The Tigers are slated to pick first in the draft, and dealing Kinsler by then would give them room to select a player with that choice.
9:31am: According to Marc Carig of Newsday, the Mets have had talks about significant potential trades for Ian Kinsler of the Tigers and Jason Kipnis of the Indians. The Mets may also use the winter meetings to explore a deal with the Pirates for Josh Harrison, says Carig.
At this point, Carig clarifies, it seems as though the Mets have had much more dialogue with the Tigers regarding Kinsler; however there’s “some skepticism about a deal getting done there”.
It’s certainly no surprise to hear that a team with a need at second base has inquired on Kinsler. The last-place Tigers endured a rough first half last season that culminated in a decision to tear down and rebuild. Veterans J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton and Justin Verlander were all traded to different contending teams, and Detroit ultimately finished the season with just 64 wins. With no serious ability to contend next season, MLBTR’s Jeff Todd already pointed out that Kinsler seems like a prime trade candidate.
While Kinsler finished 2017 with his worst full season by fWAR (2.4), he’s a solid bounceback candidate for a Mets team with plans to push for a pennant in 2018. Kinsler hit just .236/.313/.412 this past season, but was seemingly held back by some terrible luck with BABIP (.244). At 35, he’s no sure bet to return to previous form, but considering he combined for 9.8 fWAR between 2015 and 2016, acquiring Kinsler could be well worth the risk for the Mets.
The news about talks for Kipnis are perhaps a bit more surprising. There’s been some speculation about Kipnis as a trade candidate this offseason; he’s coming off a down offensive year during which he hit just .232/.291/.414 and missed significant time due to shoulder and hamstring injuries, and he seems to have been displaced at the keystone by teammate Jose Ramirez. However, Kipnis is one of the more significant faces in the Indians franchise, and he’s been one of their best offensive players overall for the past half-decade. To this point, there’s been no indication from Cleveland’s camp that they’d be willing to trade Kipnis at all; the fact that they’ve had talks with the Mets about him seems to imply that they’re at least willing to explore trade scenarios.
Of course, there’s no real word as to the extent of the trade talks surrounding Kipnis. The report that the Mets have had more dialogue about Kinsler and that such a deal is met with skepticism seems to imply that negotiations for Kipnis are far from advanced. It could be that the Mets were simply doing their due diligence, and that the Indians were willing to listen. Regardless, Kipnis being available to any extent would add an interesting new twist to a second base market that no longer includes Dee Gordon.
While there’s not much word yet on the Mets’ reported interest in Harrison, he’d also be an upgrade to their current depth chart. Harrison has been a solid infielder for the Pirates over the past four seasons, and is capable of playing in the outfield and at third base as well. The Pirates haven’t yet signaled whether or not they’re making a push for contention, but if they decide to rebuild instead, Harrison would be one of the more obvious trade candidates. The 30-year-old is guaranteed $11.5MM for the remainder of his contract, which includes salary for 2018 season as well as buyouts for 2019 and 2020. Harrison hit .272/.339/.432 across 542 plate appearances for Pittsburgh last season.
Maybe the Marlins will give them Castro
I honestly think that is in their plans. They will flip him before he plays a single game in Miami.
That was one of my first thoughts as well when I heard about the trade. Wonder what the Marlins would ask for in return
nothing, it would be a salary dump like Gordon
2 years 22 Mill… hardly a salary dump
Considering they got the Mariners #2 prospect it wasn’t a salary dump
that doesn’t say much, they have an awful farm system
Maybe they are just taking a dump?
Ha. Came here to say the same thing …
That’s the #2 most popular time to make a post.
I think the Yankees did right by Jeter and trades him a guy whose contract is movable for at least 1 solid prospect. Multiple teams need a second baseman, and Castro was the most flippable of the Yankees similar assets. He might play for the Marlins until the deadline, but more likely they get something in this so far abnormal off-season. Was shocked to see stanton go to the Yankees but it seems like a win for both sides. Castro will be the deciding factor I think.
The Yankees didn’t do Jeter any favors. They dumped the guy blocking Gleyber Torres, freed up some payroll, and gave up nobodies. I’m not saying the Yankees did anything wrong, but they certainly weren’t throwing Jeter a bone in this deal.
@chris5, don’t you sometimes wonder how risk averse GMs are when it comes to getting overwhelmingly one-sided deals? There are only a very limited number of prime positions in baseball front offices so it wouldn’t bode well for long term career prospects if you get a reputation for ripping other guys off.
Cause jeter threw New York a bone
I bet Castro may be interested in not moving from NYC and that Miami will be calling them today.
Maybe a 3 Team where Stanton,Prado goes to Yankees or even last minute Dodgers or Angels,Castro to Mets and Marlins get Gellsman,Andjuar,Ninmo and so on to Marlins.
Naw
You think the Mets would trade Gsellman and Nimmo for Castro? No way in hell.
They should. Castro is an all star with really good offensive tools and those two are only valuable to the Mets. Out fan base is well known for over valuing our “prospects”. Nimmo is a 4th of at best and gsellman is maybe a 5th starter. Maybe.
They will throw in Thor and Matt Harvey as long as Jeter eats 10million.
Jeter knows how to play cheap Wilpon.
A New York Mets blogger proposes a trade of center fielder Juan Lagares and one of two starters — left-hander Steven Matz or right-hander Robert Gsellman — to Seattle for second baseman Dee Gordon.
Lagares, who has faded since posting 3.9 fWAR in 2014, is a light-hitting defensive ace who is owed $6.5 million in 2018 and $9 million in 2019. Matz and Gsellman remain under team control for four and five seasons, respectively, coming off disappointing years.
Gordon is owed $38 million over the next three seasons with a team option for a fourth year.
The Mariners would probably consider the deal if the Mets added right-hander Matt Harvey, who is projected to earn $5.9 million in the final year of team control coming off a dreadful season. I wonder whether Harvey would fit into Seattle’s “wolf pack” approach that would limit the former All Star to four or five innings per outing.
The Mets might be interested in left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski, who is owed $5.5 million in his final year of team control.
Joey Wendle is available.
Hey, I remember that guy!!
It’s just another teaser to keep us somewhat interested.
They throw some encouraging news out there that never pans out. Eventually they wind up getting some has been player that no one else wants.
Great job Alderson.
You mean a has-been like a 35 year old Kinsler?
Haha right? Guy gets excited about potentially acquiring a washed up player … complains it’ll prolly be some other washed up player
No he’s the teaser to keep us interested. They have no intentions on acquiring him.
We are saying kinsler is a washed up player …
Mets and their fans have delusions of grandeur.
Kinsler is a FA after 18, Kipnis is signed through ‘19 with a team option for ‘20, and Harrison is signed through ‘18 with team options for ‘19 & ‘20.
Thing with Harrison is his versatility. Not that it’s a huge selling point but for the Pirates it is.
I honestly think that his versatility is a bit overrated, although other parts of his game might be under appreciated. Harrison is solid at 2B and 3B, but that’s it. He’s terrible at SS and has terrible instincts in the OF. Some of the great OF catches he’s made over the years fame about because he initially misread the ball.
Harrison is probably the most desirable of the three, but considering the Marlins will probably flip Castro, he’d be a solid fit for the Mets. Kipnis has no versatility and is injury prone.
All the Mets do is talk. This is a cheap organization and have no idea what they are doing.
And the highest paid GM in baseball. Unreal.
And eventually the dumbest fans in baseball.
How can you support such a well
documented, long standing farce?
Because it’s a game and I like the Mets. I’m not a spoiled brat Yankee fan and pretty proud of it. F*** off.
SELL THE METS, Wilpons. SELL THE METS NOW!
Smart man Met Man. Time to stop paying for your season tickets. Don’t buy any
Tickets or gear when it goes on sale. Call you cable company and give them back SNY—tell them you want $3 per month reduction.
As a Pirate fan I’ll be interested to see if the Giants increase their pursuit of Cutch now.
Harvey for Harrison see if Searage can work his magic
the Royals broke Harvey, just like how Colon broke James Shields
It’s really not surprising that the Indians would consider moving Kipnis; Jose is going to be playing second base, which leaves third for (likely) Yandy Diaz. They could put him in the outfield again, but Zimmer is in center and Chisenhall and Brantley will play the corners (unless the Indians move Brantley to first, but that depends on how the rest of the offseason goes). That leaves Kipnis as an 8-figure bench piece, so they’d surely consider trading him.
With all the injuries in the outfield, I think the thought was that Kipnis would play right with Chisenhall and Guyer on the bench. Assuming that he is healthy, Kipnis is a much more valuable piece than Chiz. I’m not saying there won’t be a trade, but Chisenhall/Guyer doesn’t start over Kipnis.
Can Lonnie Chisenhall play 1B?
We’re not hearing much about Brandon Phillips.
That’s an excellent question. I’ve been surprised at all of the talk of Brantley to first when Chisenhall used to be a third baseman.
Chiz already has time in at 1B, and did well there.
Not thrilled about a “sell low” on Kinsler. Wait until the trade deadline.
They are probably desperate to get down a roster spot or two.
I’m just hoping for the best: Ian Kinsler had a down year and he will be 36 in June. IF he has a come-back season AND IF a contender needs a 2B at the deadline AND IF there are no other 2B available then, its great for the Tigers IF they can make a trade. Conversely, IF Kinsler continues to decline OR gets injured OR no 2B is needed OR better 2B are available, the Tigers “crap out”.. The Tigers haven’t been very lucky in awhile.
Kinsler to Yankees
Why would the Yankees want Kinsler. They have Torres to step in at second
It’s a one year contract. It give Torres more time to season at AAA, and delays his clock. Kinsler is solid at 2B and has the power to hit anywhere in the order.
..and if they don’t contend he can be flipped at the deadline.
The Yankees don’t worry about the clock.
I wonder why the Padres aren’t being mentioned. They have three capable 2nd/3rd basemen who are signed for just as long or if not longer than most that are mentioned. Solart, Asuaje, and Spangenberg.
You just mentioned Solarte as a capable second baseman. That’s funny. He’s not a bad hitter but he can’t play defense anywhere.
He rates as a plus defender. I don’t watch a whole lot of yangervis solarte but he’s rated positively the last few years while playing multiple infield slots.
No one rates Solarte as a plus defender. The metrics don’t hate him as much as David does defensively, but he’s rated as below-average pretty much everywhere he’s played, except for one fluky positive +2 DRS this year at third base
Definitely more established 2B available than there are teams looking to acquire one this offseason. Total buyers’ market, which would make a Mets whiff that much more painful.
Love kinsler but he needs to go
Ian Kinsler, thought the mets were looking to bounce back into contention
Ian Kinsler is one of the best leaders on and off the field plus he is a good glove caliber 2b and hits for above average power for that spot too so he would be a perfect addition to a team that’s “looking to get back into contention”