With lots of information flying around the Winter Meetings, let’s check in on a few interesting notes on the pitching market:
- The Yankees have shown interest in Pirates ace Gerrit Cole, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets, but have been left to believe that Cole won’t be moved. Pittsburgh’s intentions for the winter have never really been clear, with a few notable veterans nearing free agency but a core in place that might still contend in the near term. Presumably, the Bucs are still weighing their options. If a Cole deal is considered, it’s not entirely certain whether the team would prioritize long-term prospect value or prefer instead to bring back controllable assets already playing at the MLB level. While the 27-year-old was less than dominant in 2017, he was able to top two hundred frames and averaged a typical 8.7 K/9 with 2.4 BB/9. The asking price, in other words, will likely still be lofty for a pitcher with a front-line reputation. If the Yankees are serious about pursuit, they’d surely have some interesting pieces to dangle.
- The Royals are willing to consider trade scenarios involving closer Kelvin Herrera, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. Righty Joakim Soria is also available via trade, per a report from ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter). That doesn’t rate as much of a surprise given the team’s relatively hefty payroll and questionable chances of contention. Indeed, recent indications are that some sort of rebuilding effort could be in the works. Herrera is coming off of a middling campaign, but also has a history of late-inning success and is projected to earn a relatively palatable $8.3MM in his final season of arb eligibility. Soria, 33, only carried a 3.70 ERA in his 56 frames in 2017, but did post a healthy 10.3 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9. He’s slated to earn $9MM in 2018 and is also promised a $1MM buyout on a 2019 mutual option.
- Despite some cautionary comments from GM Sandy Alderson yesterday, the Mets are giving indications that they will land at least one reliever over the Winter Meetings, Sherman reports on Twitter. But it’s more likely the team will secure a shorter-term asset than one of the premium setup men they’ve been connected to in the past, he adds. Righty Steve Cishek is one pitcher that has drawn New York’s attention, per Marc Carig of Newsday (via Twitter). The veteran sidearmer finished 2017 with a strong run for the Rays, posting a 1.09 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in his final 24 2/3 innings after coming over from the Mariners over the summer.
- As the Nationals look into possible bullpen additions, the club could consider free agent Hector Rondon, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports on Twitter. Washington was among the teams that spoke with the Cubs about Rondon before he was non-tendered. The Nats and others obviously were not willing to risk an arbitration hearing with a player who projected at $6.2MM, but presumably there’ll be fairly wide interest at a lower price tag. Though he faded a bit in 2017, Rondon still carried 10.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 while maintaining his typically robust fastball velocity and also showing career highs in swinging-strike (11.9%) and groundball (48.3%) rates.
Bucs are still weighing their options? Can’t someone be a decision maker already…
If the Pirates decided to stand pat after two 70-something win seasons, I’m going to start wondering if Dave Littlefield has a Huntington voodoo doll
Cole is not going anywhere unless someone makes an offer the Bucs can not refuse. Do not think anyone of note will be moved until the deadline and only if they Bucs are out of it by then.
Standing pat after two 73 win seasons?
Where have we seen that before?
After 98 win season stand Pat
After 70 win season stand Pat
It’s the owner.
Huntington has only so much to work with. He’s done a decent job overall. Made some good moves made some bad. Gotta be tough the to be a GM of a team with an owner like Robert Nutting. I just wish he’s give the city what it wants and sell, but that’s not happening.
Bucs management has to know this current group isn’t getting it done, especially without Kang. Time for a soft rebuild and focus on building around Bell, Taillon and some of the other young guys.
Joakim Soria was a lock down closer a few years back and at that time had what i consider to be the all time coolest nickname : “The Mexicutioner”
Soria publicly renounced the nickname and wanted nothing to do with it.
Pass on Cole.
All the crazy Bucs fans will insist on Torres which is insane and will never happen.
Isn’t Torres the starting second baseman now?
You are thinking of Torreyes, Gleyber Torres is the prospect.
He means Torres, Torreyes will be the starter for like a month or so
So…… Torreyes.
Not yet but probably by May Torres will be
What did you consider a fair offer then? Huntington wanted Robles back from Washington last year for Cutch so you know he is going to ask for Torres for Cole.
If the Pirates insist on Torres then they can keep Cole
I think that the Bucs will want as many guys that they could plug into spots on the MLB roster as they can. I have mentioned this on other articles, but the Astros fit that description really well. Francis Martes seems likes a perfect example of guys that Serge likes to work with and he can be plugged into the rotation right away. Derek Fisher would be a nice secondary piece, as he can play left field in the event of a McCutchen trade. Colin Moran and David Paulino, and maybe one more of their top 15-25 prospects should be worth talking about at least.
Actually everything I have seen from Pirate fans is they want Clint Frazier. I think there is a deal there between the Yanks and Bucs that could get done.
cole should be a giant because he and crawford should be on the same team, it would make for a happier thanksgiving.
How about a Frazier for cole
I think Frazier plus for Cole is a good start.
An OF prospect doesn’t buy SP. Frazier can be included, buy he wouldn’t be the main piece.
Frazier & 2 lower level prospects. Cole shouldn’t bring more than that
Rebuilding teams should always trade valuable closers (Kelvin), mostly because there aren’t many games to save during a rebuild.
My guess is for Cole, PIT will ask for Frazier and personally I don’t want to deal him. I’d rather Frazier play CF once Gardner is gone
What about Hicks?
The guy who turned back into a pumpkin from June on?
I mean the Yankees did originally draft Cole…he’d require a ransom though something Cashman hasn’t really seemed willing to do anymore.
No Gleyber.
But I think Frazier and Andujar and some lower level pitching prospects are where I would begin.
That would allow them to trade Cutch and keep Meadows in AAA. When Meadows is ready, trade either Polanco or Marte.
Trade Harrison+ to Mets (for Harvey in some fashion for Searage to fix).
Ask Marlins about Castro.
Yanks shouldn’t move any of Andujar, Torres, Sheffield or Florial. We can use them for our own in-house purposes.
I can see them moving Adams for Cole tho since the rotation would be locked up with Cole and the other 4 pitchers.
I think Adams and Frazier is more than enough for Cole.
Probably won’t need Andujar since they’ll just buy Machado next offseason.
Although Adams & Frazier would be a nice get, they need a 3B.
Where Pirate management is concerned, yeah, sure. They’re happy to give players away. From a pure baseball standpoint however, you’re out of your mind
Pirates can’t afford to keep Cole on the payroll. The Yankees have enough enticing prospects to get him.
Yes they can. They are paying McCutchen 14MM and Nova close to 13. I doubt Cole gets much higher than that even when he hits his final arbitration year, The notion they can’t afford him is nuts. Even if they had payroll constraints they could just move Harrison and free up 10MM which is more than Cole will get in arbitration this year.
You’re wrong, they can’t afford what Cole will demand long term, and it’s not close.
I don’t understand the Pirates’ philosophy. They’ve been so close over the past 4-5 years, but always seemed to need that ONE additional piece and never went out to get it. They’ve overrated their prospects and now their window is essentially closed. Thus wasting Cutch’s prime years, such a shame.
I think they have more than enough to start the rebuild, but I sense more indecision from the FO. Rough times to be a Pirates fan.
Huntington, etc need to swallow hard and put out the FOR SALE sign. If they hit on enough prospects, they could be competitive sooner than later.
Agree with the idea of overestimating what their prospects will be as major leaguers. Polanco is a prime example. Disagree about Cutch, however. I’m beating a dead horse here and I’m certainly no fan of Pirates ownership, but clearly, the deck is stacked against small market teams.
The Pirates are a prime example. 20 years of losing, 2-3 of winning and then mediocrity. Unless they identify prospects a bit more accurately and then develop them a bit better (Glasgow comes to mind here) they’re doomed for a generation of losing
And that’s the difference with small market teams. They have to select, evaluate and develop, and then watch them leave for bigger markets, only to do it all over again
This is what MLB wants
Why isn’t Danny Duffy being talked about? Why is he not trade bait?
Not with the Yankees. They have a Duffy clone in Montgomery.
Interesting question. He finished the year hurt and arrested, so maybe teams are hesitant to buy in (that would be my guess), but yeah, he seems like the kind of guy the Royals should be marketing aggressively
I like him, but he is making too much money.
The Pirates are a team that missed their window a few years ago, and they haven’t realized it yet. Time to rebuild.
Royals need to entertain every option possible. Their farm system is absolutely abysmal.
@bucsox You’re wrong, they can’t afford what Cole will demand long term, and it’s not close.