Before agreeing to a deal with the Cardinals, Luke Gregerson also received an offer from the Cubs, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Chicago has already landed Brandon Morrow and has been aggressively looking at several other relief options this winter, so it isn’t surprising that Gregerson was yet another name on their list of targets. The Cardinals are also continuing to scour the reliever market, though Goold reports that they didn’t have interest in veteran Pat Neshek, who has agreed to a new deal with the Phillies.
Here’s more from around the NL Central…
- In another piece from Goold, Cardinals president of baseball ops John Mozeliak discussed his team’s first day at the Winter Meetings, saying that he mostly focused on trade talks, including in-person meetings with two unnamed teams. The Cards are known to be shopping their outfield surplus, with Goold writing that the team is looking for a two-for-one outfielder swap to gain an everyday bat.
- Eugenio Suarez would want an extension of at least six years and worth more than $45MM in guaranteed money, a source tells Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Suarez is just entering his first of three arbitration-eligible seasons (MLBTR projects him for a $4.4MM salary in 2018), so given the timing and his strong 2017 season, he stands out as a potential long-term piece for the Reds. A six-year deal wouldn’t necessarily be an issue for the club, Buchanan writes, though the source feels the Reds’ stance in contract talks will focus on Suarez gaining financial security for his family now rather than risk an injury or drop in performance. There’s also the possibility that Cincy could look to trade Suarez if an extension can’t be worked out, though Buchanan doubts a trade would happen this winter.
- The Reds are currently more focused on adding relievers than starters, president of baseball operations Dick Williams told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and other reporters. “I do think we’ll find some good pitching and spend some money just to supplement the pitching a little bit,” Williams said. “Ideally, we’d maintain some flexibility there as to how guys are used. We think we have more starting pitching, guys that have the ability to stick as starters.”
- While the Pirates are on the lookout for left-handed relievers, GM Neal Huntington suggested to reporters (including Elizabeth Bloom of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) that the club could also fill that need internally in the form of Steven Brault. The Bucs could explore using Brault or other starters that don’t win rotation jobs in the pen, with Brault perhaps capable of either a LOOGY specialist role or a multi-inning role. While adding a southpaw reliever would be a “perfect world” result for the team, Huntington said any type of quality reliever would do: “we’d rather have a good right-hander than a mediocre left-hander.”
Can Brandon Belt play OF at all? Would trading him to the cardinals for some of their OF surplus make any sense? I honestly have no idea but including Kelly might make it a little more appealing for the giants if they can use the cash savings on a FA 1B or use posey at first more.
What about Crawford at ss for the Cards instead of Belk? I’d like to think the Cards are still talking to the White Sox about Abreau and Britton.
If I was wishing. This is a line up I’d like to see. Remember, we’re wishing!!
Pham
Fowler
Longoria or Donaldson
Abreau
J D Martinez
DeJong
Molina
Carpenter
Pitcher.
Starting Pitchers;
Archer
Martinez
Lynn
Wainwright
Weaver
Closer…Colome
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
I wish they’d play some exhibition games this spring on Mars. Remember we’re wishing!
If you were actually wishing, where’s giancarlo?
I think a much more reasonable lineup would be
2b Carpenter
LF Pham
1b Hosmer
RF Martinez
3b Moustakas
CF Fowler
SS DeJong
C. Molina
SPMartinez
SP Reyes
SP Wainwright
SP Weaver
SP Mikolas/Archer possibly
CPColome
I think STL can get 2 from the Rays but Longoria is on the downslide
mlb-icon: How is it “more reasonable” that the Cards spend 400+ million on 3 guys who all cost draft picks AND trade for Archer, whom we already know will take a king’s ransom to acquire? I’m no expert, but don’t slam someone for dreaming about they’re ideal lineup/staff then throw out an equally insane scenario.
“Reasonable” would be Carpenter, Pham, Yelich/Ozuna, Longoria (if made available, and yes Machado/Donaldson would be better, but…), DeJong, Fowler, Molina, Gyorko/Wong, Pitcher.
I’d love a move to nab Abreu at first, but I don’t see it happening.
Your definition of reasonable is different than mine.
The Pirates should look into some of the free agent LHP’s. Fernando Abad had a solid year, and could be a good LOOGY guy out of the pen. If they want to put a little more money into it, Jake McGee could fit their need well, if McGee goes for anything around what MLB TR predicted (3 years, $18 million).
Kind of surprised the Cardinals outbid the Cubs for Gregerson. Guess Cubs knew they had a pretty good backup plan in Marrow.
I don’t think the Cards outbid the cubs for Gregerson. He just simply chose the Cardinals over the cubs from what I read.
Link?
The Jays aren’t trading Donaldson unless they get off to a bad start and then maybe move him at the deadline.
Bucs are all wind this offseason; seriously their searching for a left handed reliever? That’s what will put them in contention?
It’s ridiculous really.