The Blue Jays and Rangers “appear” to be among teams with interest in Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Yelich has landed on several clubs’ radars this offseason, owing to his impressive track record, long-term affordability and age (26), but he may end up sticking with the Marlins. Miami understandably wants an enormous return for Yelich, presumably in the form of prospects, so it’s worth noting that Toronto is ninth and Texas 21st in Baseball America’s most recent farm system rankings (subscription required and recommended).
More from Cafardo on Toronto and a couple other clubs:
- The Blue Jays are also interested in free agent center fielder Lorenzo Cain, though they’d move him to right field, per Cafardo. While Cain does have some experience in right, he has spent the vast majority of his career in center and thrived there. Toronto has an excellent center fielder in Kevin Pillar, who’d form two-thirds of a great defensive outfield with Cain, but whether the latter would be willing to give up his typical position is unclear.
- Unlike Pillar and Cain, free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez is not a defensive asset. As such, the Red Sox will mostly use Martinez as a designated hitter if they sign him, Cafardo relays. With three better defensive outfielders in the fold in Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi, deploying the big-hitting Martinez at DH would be logical. There are a couple potential complications, however, with Martinez reportedly preferring to remain an outfielder and the presence of DH Hanley Ramirez in Boston. The Sox may attempt to trade Ramirez if they add Martinez, though it could be difficult to find a taker; after all, Ramirez is expensive ($22MM in 2018 and, if he reaches 497 plate appearances this year and then passes a physical, another $22MM in 2019), aging (34) and coming off a poor season.
- The rebuilding Tigers have gotten inquiries about third baseman/outfielder Nicholas Castellanos from “a few teams,” Cafardo writes. Castellanos is under control for the next two years, including at a projected $7.6MM in 2018. The Tigers tried earlier this offseason to lock him up for the long haul with an extension, but those talks didn’t lead to a deal. Castellanos, who will turn 26 in March, was a bright spot for Detroit’s offense last season. Not only did he slash .272/.320/.490 with 26 home runs in 665 PAs, but Castellanos was something of a Statcast darling, evidenced by a .366 xwoBA (compared to a .347 wOBA) and the majors’ 10th-most barrels.
Nice another foray into Cafardo’s peyote infused Magical Fantasy Gumdrop Land!
Cafardo is worthless. None of this is news.
Anouther Cafardo post, file under dog and pony show!
The Jays aren’t going to trade for Yelich at the current asking price. They aren’t including Bichette or Guerrero Jr. in a deal for Yelich. I’m confused by the Marlins. They say they want to rebuild, but they are reluctant to trade Yelich & Realmuto. They aren’t going to rebuild with the returns they got for Stanton & Osuna. They need higher end prospects. Yelich & Realmuto can bring them several high end chips. Even if they don’t land a player like Bichette or Guerrero, they could get a team’s #3, #4 & #5 prospect in a trade. That would be a big get. If they could get that level of return for both Yelich & Realmuto, then their rebuild is in a whole lot better shape. If the Marlins want to rebuild, then they need to go all in on the rebuild and move Yelich & Realmuto
thing is they have plenty of time to trade those guys and if they can’t find a taker they can always deal at the deadline. and Toronto would have to include one of those top two guys to get yelish
Marlins can wait it out until the market is right. Midseason would be a great time to trade somebody, especially if an injury occurs or a team is in dire need of a player.
The only con to waiting is that Yelich or others could get worse or, even worse, get injured.
Why di they even have to trade Yelich or Realmuto at all? Build around them. New ownership should sit with them and tell them, this is your team, and it will be built around you. Give us 2 years and we will be competitive the right way. Why the heck get rid of every talented player you have? I’m pretty confused as to why the team was so bad. Gordon, Ozuna, Yelich, Stanton,Bour, Realmuto. Thats pretty damn good. What the heck happened? They didnt have a glue guy or something. Obviously their pitching wasnt great, but I still dont get it.
They had one of the worst farm system due to bad drafts, top SP’s drafted getting TJ surgery, and trading away quality SP’ing for mediocre SP’ing. They also were unlucky signing SP to long contracts and then getting injured. Worded of all, the passing Jose. Unless new management were willing to add payroll for better SP’ing (The Jorge Mas Group stated they would) keeping the core intact wasn’t going to be good enough to get into the playoff. Probably get close but the current state of starting pitching talent in Miami is below avg at best.
Neither team is getting Yelich, other teams have better prospects.
Having better prospects isnt what will get a team Yelich. Being willing to trade those better prospects might. Besides, this site has previously said 25 teams have inquired on Yelich.
Dodgers?
Texas might not know have enough but if Toronto wanted him they could absolutely get him the questions whether they’re willing to give up their top guys
Come on, there’s maybe 2 teams in baseball that can match the top Jays prospects. There is no way I want the Jays to even think of trading guys like Bichette or Guerrero, even for a great player like Yellich, but few teams have that kind if quality at the top of their pipeline. There are other teams with significantly greater depth but few teams have the top prospects that the Jays do.
Yep I’m a Sox fan Carfardo doesn’t make sense most posts
Cafardo tells you zero. They are so obvious, n the Yankees usually appears to NOT be in a mix n they score huge, n no one sees it coming. DD doesn’t follow that, they let it known to everyone. She
Why trade for Yelich get Cain for no prospects,he isn’t great but overall he is better than Batista was!
Cafardo is solely responsible for the Valentine disaster and can’t be trusted.
Is HanRam a major disappointment?
To date, pretty close. One good year of production and two down years marred by injury and lack of production. Maybe he finishes strong after surgery but I can’t see the Sox letting him get the plate appearances for the ‘19 option to vest.
Definitely won’t get enough PA. If they do end up getting JD, or any bat they’re searching for, hanley’s at bats go down faster than the Giants bullpen in 2016.
If the Jays were able to land Yelich and Cain they will obviously become contenders. Problem is health will Tulo stay healthy? Travis? Not only do they have to remain healthy but I’m not convinced Tulo is even half the player he once was. Diaz and Solarte are good depth pickups but if the aforementioned two go down with injuries for an extended period of time they have little chance. Hey I’m hoping Tulo proves me wrong but I’m not holding my breath. Sign Cain hope the starters stay healthy and they have a chance.
They don’t have the pitching to stay competitive. Too many question mark in the starters and more in the ‘pen. Tulo and likely Travis will both be injured for extended periods of time again. Outside of Donaldson, they don’t have enough offensive help to power the ‘Gibby’ is way.
JD Martinez who rather play the OF than DH is interesting case study in FA. I say give him reps and let Benny Betts JBJ and JD rotate. Unless at Fenway JD can likely play both corner spots. Alk 3 current Sox outfielders can play alk 3 positions. Now give JD reps at 1B and c if he can handle playing time there. Move Hanley into the rotation and Bench MM. Losing Hanley who easily bounce back with 30 to 35 or set career numbers of racking 50 plus if Cora and the new hitting coach invade a patient hitting squad with an attacking hitting squad who focus on launch angles rather than pitch counts avg line drives and OBP. Frankly I think Vaz, JBJ and Hanley may benefit from this approach but leave the rest alone for the flavor of the day to describe a gr8 batter. I am willing to bet if pitchers other than Sale Kluber and the top arms of every squad trickle to the 2 3 4 arms if attacking power hitters like Judge inside and avoid pitching afraid and away…. we will see Judge lose value as quickly as he gained it, if I was the ACE of any team with the command, control and nasty pitched to back it my first time facing Stanton would have ever pitch up and in the strike zone with the first one 8 inches under his chin. I test his resolve because NL pitchers have stayed away ever since Stanton was hit in the face. The make mistakes, as with Judge Middle out where these 6foit 6 inch/8inch monsters can reach 16 inches off the plate and still barrel the ball. But in on the hands made Judge, Stanton Davis strike out so frequently records were set to go along with their homerun accomokishments the inside pitch even saw he demise of Ryan Howard’s amazing homerun accomplishments get him a 100 million dollar extention which Philly soon saw as money thrown away. Players like Betts Sanchez Manchado Bogey can all turn on pitches so far inside it amazes me at how they can get the barrell in so tight and keep the ball fair. These are the dangerous bats. Not the bats like Judge whose hole in his swing is as big as the strike zone just moved the opposite way he is currently pitched. Just ask Boston Judge only has 2 HR and 8 hits in 19 games.
My brain hurts
My hair hurts
Give him reps at Catcher wuuuuutttttt
This is why you lock the medicine cabinet folks.
Sorry soxsi but this is too long to be funny
If Cain doesn’t want to move to right, move Pillar out of CF. Cain can actually hit, put his desires first.
Why would you move a young CF who is one of the best in the game off of CF who is making peanuts for a 32 year old CF? Teams value d up the middle they don’t if they are smart make their d worst in the short term and long term.
Don’t get angry if this is ridiculous, but Verdugo, Alvarez, and Kendall to the Marlins for Yelich
Marlins would probably pounce on that deal but as any other org would prefer Walker.
soxski reply was probably the dumbest one I’ve read in a long time……
I stopped once he said ‘give JD reps at catcher’
Dude needs to get a life outside of his mind