There’s no official decision yet regarding where Manny Machado will play in 2018, but one could come as soon as this weekend. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com provides some insight into Orioles manager Buck Showalter’s thought process in determining the young star’s position. Showalter has spoken with both Machado and Tim Beckham in regards to Baltimore’s infield alignment, and though nothing is definite yet, Kubatko seems to have confidence that the O’s will grant Machado’s wishes to move him to shortstop this coming season, which would in turn push Beckham to third base or into a super utility role. Showalter also offers some very honest evaluations of Mike Moustakas as well as the price points of some of the high-end free agent pitchers on the market. In addition, he delves into Baltimore’s catcher situation.
A few other notes out of the AL East…
- Josh Donaldson told reporters today that, to his knowledge, his agent has not been engaged with the Blue Jays regarding a potential contract extension (hat tip to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com). This doesn’t necessarily eliminate the possibility that extension talks have taken place, but it certainly casts doubt on it. Donaldson has been the third most valuable player in baseball by fWAR (21.4) since he was traded to Toronto prior to the 2015 season, Though he started off slowly last season, he still managed an excellent .270/.385/.559 batting line for the campaign while hitting 33 homers. He’d be one of the marquee free agents of an impressive 2018, though the fact that he’ll be nearly 33 by the beginning of November will detract from his value in comparison with players like Bryce Harper and Machado.
- Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times points out that the Rays are in a position to enter 2018 with both a higher payroll than last season and less talent on the roster overall. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for the team to make more moves. Topkin cites the lack of activity industry wide as a factor that has “paralyzed” the organization, but believes that once the “dam finally breaks,” they’ll have a lot of things to address. He quotes GM Erik Neander, who describes the team’s to do list as similar to what it was at the outset of the offseason. Topkin mentions a number of candidates who could possibly be traded in order to cut payroll for the team, including closer Alex Colome and the recently-acquired Denard Span. From my own standpoint, it’s not unfair to wonder whether Tampa Bay has any chance to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox as things stand now, let alone if the team continues to make cuts to a payroll that’s one of the lowest in baseball. That can only increase the trade speculation surrounding Chris Archer, Colome, and others on the roster.
MIke Moustakas is definitely an oriole type of player. Slugger with no on base skills what’s so ever.
And he smells.
Iol
Hahaha!!! If that’s the scouting report he’s perfect! But you left one thing out does he strike out at least 3 times a game?
I’m still somewhat stunned that the orioles look to hold on to Machado. What’s the best outcome of holding on to him? An outside shot of competing one more year? They really need to trade him and revamp their youth and farm. They don’t have enough pitching to make it, even if they score a wild card spot.
The fans don’t turn on them for trading a generational talent that will be putting up numbers for at least a decade longer.
Most fans know he won’t be in Baltimore putting up those numbers.
And it would be a huge mistake to offer Machado the kind of money he’ll get. (No, he will not be great for 10 years.) The Orioles would be wise to trade him, or if the offers aren’t there, wait til trade deadline, then if that doesn’t work take the draft pick.
Agreed. It makes no sense to hang onto Machado. I suspect he will be dealt at the deadline if a trade doesn’t happen by spring. I can’t see them keeping him the entire year.
Maybe they need to sell tickets next year.
Cardinals front office needs to unwrap theirs b’s and trade for Archer and Colome
Denard Span: the distance between a man’s testicles.
I’m stealing that for sure….lmao!!!
^^^Severely underrated comment ^^^
I am crying here! Way to go dugdog. Plus span is horrible & that makes it even funnier
Made my day
Fantastic! I’m wiping away tears here.
Quite simply, the funniest post ever. Compelling and rich.
Comment of the year !!!
So ReDFeather what would the Rays receive in return?
Jose Martinez , Flaherty, Bader, Hicks, and another prospect or cash.
Pretty much thinking the same players. Maybe Volt as another player option. Top pitching prospect for sure. Not sure what all there needs are.
That won’t get you Archer alone
Yeah it would.. see Ozuna trade lol. Cash could be in the high millions as well. Money talks guys.
Ozuna has two years left on his contract. Archer’s contract has 4 years and is extremely affordable at 33 mil. Archer’s surplus value is in the range of 100-125Mil. Right or wrong as well, pitcher’s of Archer’s caliber also tend to get more back in trades. While Archer is no Sale, you should be comparing it to that deal, rather than Ozuna lmao. Now, Archer is not going to net the return of Sale, but it won’t be trash bin level like the proposed trade you made, and that was with Colome as well! How about you admit your bias and then you can come back to Earth. The Cardinals system is pretty depleted as top end talent (top 20) is just not there (outside of an injured Reyes). The Cardinals would be wiser just to trade for Colome for something like Knizner and a lower level arm like Helsely.
Colome for a backend top 30 team prospect??? You’re joking, right?
You are so wrong about the Cards minor league system! They have like 6 or 7 players in the top 100 prospects! That’s after trading 2 guys on the list to the Marlins for Ozuna.
+1
That trade package isn’t enough to get you Archer, let alone Archer and Colome. Archer is worth more than a #50 prospect, a backend 100 prospect, and some fliers + a 30 year old Martinez with no previous track record. If you want Archer + Colome the conversation starts with Weaver+ Flaherty, 1 of Kelly/Knizer, 1 of O’Neill/Bader, and then 2+ lower rated spects. A realistic package is more along the lines of:
TB receives:
Weaver
Flaherty
Knizer
O’Neill
Schrock
Helsely
STL Receives:
Archer
Colome
Rondon/Padlo
+ A flyer arm like Brocke Burke
I don’t love the Cardinals for an Archer trade. Their system lacks the high-end top prospect I’d like to see for Archer (ie: a top 15 overall prospect). Even Reyes will have used up 2 of his controllable years by the end of 2018, with 2018 being a year of recovery for him. Still, Tampa86’s proposed trade is not a bad package if the Rays are intent on trading Archer before the season.
Alex Reyes is a top 15 prospect. Carson Kelly very well regarded as well.
Reyes is recovering from TJS and has already used up one pre-arb year. By the time he’s fully recovered, he’ll likely be well into his second pre-arb year. Because the Rays can’t afford a top pitcher in his 3rd arb year, that means Reyes will only provide 3 years of value to the Rays. Not saying that isn’t worth something, but he’s not as valuable to the Rays as Cardinals fans think.
Not enough for Archer alone. Rays would trade each seperately
For both? Not likely that they are traded together and even less likely that a return that small would be enough for Archer alone.
Anything but Reyes, which is probably why a trade hasn’t happened.
Cardinals should be all over Archer, why they haven’t when linked to him as recent as last weekend. Sure up this rotation. Colome be nice as well but not sure if we have enough now to trade for him and Archer.
I’m still not sold on Martinez being the ace. Solid #2 for sure. Archer, Martinez, Wacha, Weaver, and Wainman/Reyes would be a great rotation.
Wainwright*
Waino is the question mark in the whole thing, more than the Mile guy that signed. He hasn’t pitched a good season since 20014. He got hurt in 2015 and been down hill for him since. That what worrying a lot of fans. Him and MIles being ??? on what they are going to be. Martinez,,Archer, Weaver, Reyes, and Wacha is a hell of a rotation. and that two years from now because Waino will likely be retired and Miles will be leaving I’m sure. .
Archer and Reyes will never be in the same rotation
I think they made the calls, but are afraid to give up what Tampa wants in return……..so they’ll make a bunch of mediocre transactions, and say “We Were Very Busy This Winter”………………
UGH!!!!!
Definitely O’s type player who they would probably overpay for. Lol
O’s would have 550 SO from Davis, Trumbo, and Moustakas. That might lead the league for 3 guys.
Common misconception that Moose strikes out a lot. He does not. He doesn’t walk at all but he doesn’t put up K numbers anywhere near the level Davis or trumbo does. Hell you can add Beckham schoop and Jones to that list too.
Can anyone think of a potential matchup for Adam Duvall? I know this is irrelevant to the topic. Sorry.
I just don’t think the Reds have the progressiveness to get Winker his PA
ATL has been linked to him in the past.
Why trade Duvall? Why not Schlebler? I mean……they are almost the same player
Put Winker in RF……unless he can play CF……..then lose Hamilton!
The Orioles will bid against themselves again with Moustakas
Could do a one year deal if they really think they can compete next year.. seems like their plan at the moment since they havnt traded Machado
You are probably right about that. Duke and Buck will have said no and Angelos will step in and sign him anyway.
Buck’s point about Moose failure to walk might give you some hint that maybe he doesn’t want him. Moose isn’t that good, anyway
I think Harper is a little overrated
A little?
Yes. Some people focus too much on a few of his stats .. his HR, his OBP and his Denard Span.
He just needs to stay off the DL. Worth the money and hype if he plays 150+ games.
Harper has only played 150+ games once in his career. So by that metric and your definition he is not worth it. Players don’t tend to get less injury prone as they age unless they move to DH.
Albert Almora, Jr., Ian Happ and another low level prospect for Archer. Enough?
No, not even close. Why would the Rays want a 1 WAR CF’er when we all ready have one of the best CF’er in the league locked up until 2024. Happ is fine, but the Cubs have nothing to offer in their system. You just don’t have the pieces to acquire Archer. Your MLB pieces also all have 2-3+ years of service time all ready. The Rays need 5-7 years of control from “MLB” ready players, and who have upside than players like Almora. (E.g. when we got Souza from the Nats)
Almora,Happ.and Caritini for Ender&JT
No. Almora should be the Cubs CF. Happ (play LF or 2nd) Schwarber (1st base which he hasn’t palyed/DH) Albertos, Alzolay 4 players. Depleted farm system from trades and graduation to majors makes a deal with Cubs difficult
The Cubs have no hope for landing Archer in a 2 team trade. The Cubs have no prospects of note and the Rays have no need for players already using up their controllable years. Why do Cubs fans continue to think they can land Archer??? It makes absolutely no sense to me. I’m not dissing the Cubs MLB players, but they’re less valuable to the Rays than prospects at this point.
The Orioles are idiots