The Yankees are among the teams with interest in Tigers righty Michael Fulmer, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). New York also has considered Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin, per the report.
Clearly, the Yanks are interested in finding a rotation upgrade, as the club was also linked yesterday to Pirates righty Gerrit Cole. Currently, the first four members of the staff seem set: Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, and Jordan Montgomery. But the fifth slot is much less settled.
[RELATED: Yankees, Tigers & Diamondbacks Depth Charts]
While the Bronx powerhouse is still committed to remaining under the luxury tax line for 2018, the club obviously sees some ways to fit high-quality hurlers into the payroll. Of course, GM Brian Cashman is also reportedly looking into moving some existing salary to open yet more space.
Fulmer and Corbin each represent quite different assets. There’s some reason to believe that either could be made available, but for differing reasons.
With regard to Fulmer, he’s one of the most intriguing young starters in baseball. The 24-year-old is on track to qualify for Super Two status next year but won’t be a free agent until 2023. And he has already turned in 323 2/3 innings of 3.45 ERA pitching in his first two MLB seasons. While offseason surgery to deal with a nerve issue in his elbow may give some pause, that particular procedure does not seem to come with significant future concern. Accordingly, the asking price is expected to be astronomical, even if the Tigers will hear out teams with interest.
As for Corbin, the D-Backs are in a tight payroll situation that will present challenges as they seek to return to the postseason. GM Mike Hazen indicates yesterday that a “creative” approach will be required, as MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert notes on Twitter. With Corbin projected by MLBTR to take home a $8.3MM payday via arbitration, he could be a useful trade piece, perhaps bringing back pieces that could fill other needs while also freeing up some spending money. The 28-year-old southpaw turned in a solid 2017 campaign, running up 189 2/3 innings of 4.03 ERA ball with 8.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. While Arizona would surely prefer to retain Corbin, they have four other strong rotation pieces on hand along with a few internal candidates to battle for a spot.
Clint Frazier and what else for Fulmer
C Adams?
It would probably take at least Torres AND Frazier, plus 1-2 mid level prospects to make the Tigers not immediately hang up the phone
there’s no way they trade torres, yankees have the prospects that could get it done without him included
LOL
So you think fulmer is better then Chris Sale. Because that offer would have been a over pay for Chris Sale last year. And fulmer had a bad year and was hurt.
Well no Fulmer is nowhere near sale caliper… however,
Torres and Frazier do not = Moncada and kopech… in any way shape or form other than hype machine
Not necessarily about him being better. It’s about having team control of him through 2023.
Fulmer is an elite pitcher who is cheaper and has more control than Sale. He isn’t better but he’s still very good. Yankees fans think they can get everything for free now smh
For one Moncada was probably the best prospect in the MLB since Harper/Trout, Torres is good but nowhere near Moncadas potential. Frazier is better than Kopech but not by much
For one, you aren’t wrong about Moncada, but Torres absolutely has similar potential. They are pretty close to a wash value-wise, but Moncada might edge Torres out by a hair, if anything.
Second, Kopech is arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball. He’s a more valuable piece/prospect than Frazier.
Torres/Frazier/1-2 mid level prospects is very close to what the White Sox got for Sale, but it’d depend on the other 2 prospects to know if it was more or less. Torres/Frazier on their own is slightly less than Moncada/Kopech. That being said, I definitely wouldn’t be giving that up for Fulmer. I’d push for the quantity approach and keep Torres at all costs.
Maybe you’re right about Kopech but one thing you’re forgetting is salary. Sale was on an affordable contract sure, but Fulmer has an extra year of control and hasn’t even hit arbitration yet. He is very, VERY good. Again not Sales level (but he could get there eventually) also the White Sox were more desperate to move Sale as they were just entering a long term rebuild. The Tigers have no reason at all to trade Fulmer who should be a cornerstone in their rebuild plans. They have every right to ask teams for the world.
And just because Moncada and Torres were both number one overall prospects (though technically Ohtani is I guess) doesn’t mean they’re similar. Torres may have 60 overall fv, but Moncadas was closer to 70. And keep in mind at the time of the Sale trade, the Red Sox farm was very similar to the Yankees. They probably didn’t have as much depth but the top talents were similar in quantity and quality. They still have Moncada because that’s what the White Sox demanded. If I’m Avila I ask for Torres and nothing less.
Both Torres and Frazier were are/were considered elite prospects prior to becoming Yankees. All of sudden their value is due to “Yankee hype machine”? Fulmer is not going to get you a top 3 prospect at all and Frazier is still considered to be an elite prospect despite the 100 AB that disqualify his rookie status.
Fulmer is not an elite pitcher. He is very talented but he is not an elite pitcher in terms of what he’s proven thus far. He can easily end up like Nathan Eovaldi, an elite arm who gives you less than elite results. He might throw like a FOR(95 mph) but the results are more like a mid rotation guy. He has one plus pitch (FB) but he’s underwhelming in his strike out rate (7/9IP). He is a lot like Eovaldi and he kept us Yankee fans waiting and waiting on better results.
Then you’re not getting anything
Both players may not be equal in terms of talent but they are/were both considered #1 prospect in baseball. Only difference is that Moncada debuted in the majors in 2017. Torres stock is on the rise. Perfectly comparable in terms of where their trade value should be. I can even argue that Torres should be higher since, technically, he can be marketed as a SS prospect. He is only being moved because Didi had a breakout season at that position.
What? Eovaldi is a terrible comp for Fulmer. Eovaldi’s best season was still way below what Fulmer’s worst season was. Eovaldi has a good fastball that’s it. Fulmer has two plus pitches and a pretty decent chageup as well.
And if I’m the Tigers, I’m ok with that, because I have no pressing need to move Fulmer.
Kopech is a cheater… He shouldn’t even be on the prospect lists.
He has also had injury problems that Sale didn’t have.
Good point
I think Frazier and Torres are far more valuable than Fulmer. Not only talent wise but also because we are looking for a 4-5 starter not a 2-3 starter. Yankees have tons prospects and we could just sign CC if all else fails. Yankees have 20-25 mil to play with after trading Headley. Get something cheap and just chill…but I know they won’t lol.
Clint Frazier and Chance Adams seems like a good start. I think the pieces are there to get a deal done without Torres
Seriously…one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time…
Torres is going no where…
You are insanely out of your mind. Your soul is hovering over you as you sit at your keyboard saying “mannnn you so crazy”..
Fulmer has value. However, he is young, inconsistent and while he may have FOR ability it doesn’t bear out in the numbers. A package including Torres has to be for an established top 10 pitcher in baseball. Not for a middle of rotation guy with potential.
They’re not getting Torres.
What are you smoking?
Please show me how I’m wrong.
Torres?? Are you high on drugs? Torres is the number 1 prospect in all of baseball! Fullmer isn’t anyone to get excited about. It’s not like he’s an ace or close to being one. He’s unproven and hasn’t done anything yet. I wouldn’t give anything more than Frazier and mid to low-level prospect..
(Frazier), Sheffield, Florial(or Mckinny) and Montgomery for Fulmer and McCann? Hard to call
Hard pass coming from all yankee fans if that’s the asking price.
Thought so 🙂
Yeah no!
Too much.
I think with getting Stanton, they’ll be willing to deal Florial and Frazier for Fulmer. They mave McKinney still sitting there, Hicks Ellsbury and Gardner. I think that could be manageable.
Personally, wouldn’t go for a guy coming off an injury/surgery for that price, but he is controllable for a while so it could pay off.
Florial is probably 3 years away. Unless they commit to HIcks beyond the 2 years remaining then Florial would still serve a purpose and people outside of NY are very high on his future. I don’t see him being moved. McKinney and Frazier are more likely to be moved since they are mlb ready.
What?? Monty is better than Fulmer himself.
Lol no.
You are mad. The idea is to bolster the rotation and add to the equation, not swap out. Furthermore, Montgomery pitched just as well as Fulmer did. It simply doesn’t help. In addition, we don’t need another starting C. We have Sanchez. We just need a backup so McCann is an over shoot for us. Sheffield is also seen as one of the best arms in the minors right now. Yanks would be stupid to trade Montgomery AND Sheffield for Fulmer.
If it’s McKinney (NOT Florial), I say yes in a heartbeat as a Yankees fan.
God no
Clint Frazier and Clint Frazier that’s all. Fulmer is nothing special and hasn’t proven anything yet. Add to that Fulmer could be damaged goods with that nerve problem in his elbow. I would offer Frazier and a bag of used baseballs. Other than that I’d pass.
If the Yankees are going to give up top prospects then go after an ACE, not a pitcher who very easily could turn out to be a bust.
If Clint Frazier was a tiger I’d ectoplasm in my pants
I’ve done that plenty of times as an angel fan and trust me you’ll be disappointed
Can’t stand the Yankees.
Cool
Cool story bruh
He should write a book
Yankees best team off the world 27 world series champions…
Thanks for sharing.
Cashman trying to find some miraculous way to make ellsbury look good enough to bite…doubt it can happen…but hey after this last week.
It doesn’t matter he won’t waive his no trade clause
Not even enticed with a more involved or possible starting role?
He’s under the impression he can win back the job in center field during spring training
Haha..well give it the old college try I guess
He has a better chance of being sent to the minors.
Cashman said he would pay 1/2 of Jacob Dingleberry’s contract but that might not be enough. He would still be owed 11 mill per year by the team that gets him. I don’t know if any other team out there thinks Dingleberry is worth that. much.
Cashman said he would pay 1/2 of Jacob Dingleberry’s contract but that might not be enough. He would still be owed 11 mill per year by the team that gets him. I don’t know if any other team out there thinks Dingleberry is worth that. much.
i think corbin is the guy. might be able to get him for cheap, not a bad #4 or #5 guy, which is all they really need at this point. fulmer would be nice but way too high of an asking price and i dont think the tigers will move him anytime soon
I would rather sign CC than trade for Corbin. Corbin has 1 year left before FA and most likely won’t out perform CC (by much). plus you have to wonder if he can acclamate and excel in NY. With CC you may have to worry about his health to an extent but you know what he can do on the mound.
Here’s a crazy one, Corbin and Tomas for Ellsbury. Yankees get an upgrade in pitching and get rid of a huge contract.
Dbacks get rid of defensively inept Tomas and his contract and get a declining, but still decent Ellsbury.
Ellsbury isnt waiving his NTC
Repeat after me…nobody wants Ellsbury’s contract. The Yankees (and their fans) are stuck with him.
Yes that is a crazy one….
100% rediculous from a d-backs perspective
The best fit for Ellsbury might be to the Royals for Kennedy.
Ellsbury isn’t waiving no trade. We’ve been over this
You don’t know what he will do if the Yanks keep both Hicks and Gardner in addition to Judge and Stanton. The dynamics changed once Stanton was acquired. If he wants to be the 5th OF then fine. But if he can go somewhere appealing then he may agree.
The Yanks will have to pay Ellsbury to waive his no trade!
That is one of the worst trade proposals i have ever seen.
vonjunk – ROFL HA! HA! HA! HA! Yeah right? If you want to get rid of Jacoby Dingleberry you’ll have to hire a hitman. A team of wild horses couldn’t drag Dingleberry out of NY
The D-Backs were near the bottom in LF play last year, so maybe they would make a deal with the Yanks. They are looking to trade a good outfielder. Gardner had a 3.9 WAR , Ellsbury 1.9 WAR with limited time, and Frazier a top prospect. I think Cashman moves one of them for pitching. The Giants and Rockies are also possibilities.
Diamondbacks can’t take on any salary. They trade Corbin for prospects/young, controllable players.
These are exactly the guys the Orioles should be going after. But we might end up taking a rule 5 pitcher and bring a couple guys up from Tripple A to put in the rotation. Dan Duquette has got to go after this year.
O’s need to rebuild, my question is do you clean house first and then rebuild or do you let Dan do it at the deadline, either way he has to go.
As a Red Sox fan I remember it like it was yesterday when it was time for him to leave Boston, he made some good moves, spent a lot of money and build the framework for the 2004 World Series run…From an outsiders perspective I think that the problem with Baltimore is Peter Angelos, not the GM
You might be right. It’s hard to tell who’s blocking who. Maybe Angelos is holding Duquette back. He’s done some impressive things and he’s a good guy. The Orioles had about 15 straight losing seasons from 97 to 12 and he did atleast turn that around for us.
Frazier + for Fulmer feels like Pineda for Monteiro, where at the time it was viewed as possibly being an uncommon win win deal for both teams involved.
Tigers will want way more then Frazier for fulmer
Yes but he did say Frazier +
Fraziers not enough to be the centerpiece for Fulmer. I think that was what he meant.
I think Clint Frazier has been severely upgraded due to New York hype mechine at this point
GMs don’t look at hype, they have their metrics on all players. Fans have no clue what they will do. Just look at the contract Chatwood just signed, nobody thought he would get that money..
That’s what I mean.. which is why I don’t believe Frazier will pull Fulmer or even close
Your take makes no sense. Whatever people have to say about Frazier it’s not because he’s a Yankee. They are saying the same thing when we traded for him from the Indians.
Right because GMs value what Yankee fans are saying. It amazes me how ppl view Yankee prospects as tainted. Yanks aren’t paying opposing team scouts nor the “experts” at mlb dot com, baseball america, etc to paint a rosey picture of our prospects. Frazier was a top 50 prospect when the Yanks traded for him. Suddenly, he’s less than that? He may not have rookie status but he’s the same talent.
Basically a very athletic guy, who looks the part and has the heart. But all
He has gotten so far is lingering hope that he will live up to his now seemingly distant potential.
Just looking at all statistics minor league and major that he has produced. Seems like a player about one more sub par year from
Being a reclaimation project and change of scenery candidate
I’d say adjuhar (don’t know how e to spell) and another decent prospect for Fulmer would be more realistic
I don’t see the Yanks trading Andujar unless they are looking to acquire a 3B this winter. I think it makes sense to give Andujar a shot at 3B and Torres a shot at 2B otherwise.
Fulmer to Yankees. Tigers get Frazier, Estrada, McKinney and Schmidt or Sauer or Tate.
fulmer can stay where he is, yanks dont need anything but a starter with clean arm and no injuries..they gonna save prospects till next year when they take over the world
Whitey, plus Florial, Adams, Torres, Sheffield, and the cost of your Bar Mitzvah in 2020.
There is no reason to say yes unless Torres is involved. None.
I agree. The Tigers have some good pitching prospects , and they have some OF talent coming. What they need is a potential replacement for Iglesias. They got back several 2B potentials in the JD trade.
The deal starts with Torres and Frazier if I’m the Tigers. Anything short of that and they should just hold onto him instead of selling low. He has years of club control and is dirt cheap. I get that Frazier is a good prospect and has a good chance to be a good major league regular, but guys Michael Fulmer’s age, with the skill set, and club control he has rarely hit the trade market.
Feel free to keep him. Frazier and anyone not named Torres, Sheffield, Florial, Andujar or Abreu seems reasonable.
I think the Tigers should hold on to Fulmer. They can put him on the DL and leave him there.
Fulmers value is pretty close to chris archer and chris sale. Wont get a sale type return but at leadt 2 top prodpects +moreo
How in the world is he on that level? Please do not confuse talent with production. Sale was perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. Archer is a proven player. Fulmer has talent…he’s had some success, but he is NOT a proven FOR. He’s a slightly better version of Nathan Eovaldi.
Think Frazier is definitely part of this deal. And maybe a few pitching prospects. Possibly Acevedo or Aubreu. No way Torres or Adams go anywhere. The Yankees will talk to nearly anyone about their prospects but won’t trade any of their Top 3.
Torres isn’t getting traded. At least not for either of these pitchers.
If I were the Yankees, I would give Chance Adams a spot in the rotation to start the year and see how he does. He has nothing more to prove in the minors and if he does struggle, then trade for another starter in June/July but they don’t need to now. It could be a waste of their prospects.
Adams or Sheffield would have to be included. We would probably take a dead salary as well
Ellsbury & Betances to LA for 2 mid level prospects. Ellsbury gets the West Coast. LA gets lock down 8th & 9th with Betances & Jansen.
So to trade for a young pitcher who has thrown a 3.45 era in his first two seasons. And is controlled until 2023.
You think a player who has failed at every level so far plus a throw in is equal?
Who’s the player that has failed at every level?
I’d almost rather stretch Green out and have him and Adams compete for the fifth spot… or maybe take bartolo colon off social security to get 5 innings a game for cheap?
I keep hoping there will be an article saying the teams where Ellsbury would waive his NTC. then again, i guess a leak like that might give those team more leverage and having to eat closer to 75% of his salary rather than 50%…
Yanks should hold on to their depth and give guys like Adams or Sheffield a chance to win the 5th spot. Maybe bring a vet like Peavy or Colon on a minor league deal for depth.
Kinsler and Fulmer going to NYY for Florial, Sheffield plus 2 lotto tickets
Florial, McKinney, Acevedo, ellsbury and Tate for fulmer and kinsler. The yanks need another quality infielder after they traded headly. Ellsbury would get a chance to play center everyday and will most likely get trade from Detroit anyway
Yankees fans think Tigers are just a feeder minor league team. Tigers have no interest in your bloated Ellsbiry contract. If you want Fulmer, you need to give up Torres PLUS more.
Yanks fans just don’t get it… Michael Fulmer is one of the most valuable assets in baseball, they’ll have to DESTROY their farm to get him. Elite talent, 2 successful major league years, and controllable at league minimum (and arbitration) through 2023.
no he’s not. You’re high on a guy that has not dominated. He’s ERA is 3 something. I would not destroy my farm system for that. He’s good but not that.
His contract is what provides tons of surplus value. His production at that price is extremely valuable, especially for a Yanks team that wants to stay below the luxury tax
Fulmer is hurt and has Tommy John in his future. Wouldn’t touch him
You need to follow BB a bit more closely; Fulmer’s surgery had nothing to do with his arm and there’s no indication that he’s headed for TJ. Relocating an ulnar nerve is a routine procedure.
I just think giving up a prospect hull for a guy coming off an injury for a guy who pitched in the worst division in the AL going to the best in the AL is risky. But they do need a guy and if his injury slate looks clean now it might be worth it. But having Torres for 5+ years seems better if you can just go to FA when you now have some available cap space.
I agree with you about Torres but it’s not as if the AL Central is A Ball and it’s not a factor anyway regarding Fulmer’s basic stuff and his overall performance. Pitchers are always more risky, but moving the “funny bone” nerve away from pressure has nothing to do with his arm structure. Frankly, I think Det should build around him unless they get two top prospects, at least one of them OF as the Yanks won’t be needing any for awhile. Having said that, until Judge, their top OF prospects haven’t panned-out as advertised for quite a few years.
Miguel Andujar for Patrick Corbin, Silvino Bracho and Domingo Leyba?
They don’t have the roster space for that. And I think they would shoot higher than Corbin. Probably end up getting a Lance Lynn-esque with shedding Headley.
Also think they like Andujar enough for right now. Can always make a trade with the A’s to let him have time in the majors and develop. They’ll take on our projects and give us their better performing IF during the year.
Would love to see the Yankees go after Casear Hernandez, think he’ll be too expensive though
Doesn’t make sense to trade Fulmer right now considering he’s coming off a down year and has some injury concerns. If he rebounds next season and returns to dominant form then his value would be way higher, especially considering the lack of quality starting pitchers in next years free agent class.
The obvious reason for the “down year” (compared to 2016) was the ulnar nerve, and as of now, there are no injury concerns.
Considering the Yankees traded both Starlin Castro and Chase Headley, The Yankees look like they’re committed to using rookies 2B Gleyber Torres and 3B Migiuel Andujar. I don’t see them trading either one for Michael Fulmer… unless the Yankees acquire Manny Machado.
How about Corbin and Tomas for Hicks with Dbacks taking like a third of Tomas’ contract?
Yankees can go after Longoria or Matt Carpenter as they match up well with St.Louis for a trade. Eventually Ellsbury will be traded as the Yankees were able to rid of Headley’s contract and Castro so don’t be surprised if Cashman has one more trick up of his sleeve.