While there’s nothing in the way of details, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com dangles an intriguing nugget of information on Twitter: the Dodgers and White Sox, he says, are “working on a trade.” Beyond observing the obvious — the former is a clear contender and the latter still in a rebuilding stance — it’s hard to say just what might be afoot. While most of Chicago’s most obvious trade assets have already been moved over the past year or so, the team still possesses a few veteran hitters and some interesting young arms that might theoretically be of interest to Los Angeles. And it’s anyone’s guess just what player(s) might have capture the attention of the always-creative Dodgers front office. Anyhow, for now, we’ll take Crasnick’s advice and “stay tuned” for more details to emerge.
A few more notes on the trade market…
- The Giants and Pirates have had recent discussions about a trade involving Andrew McCutchen, though the two sides aren’t close to a deal, reports MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. The Pirates would want the Giants to include one of the organization’s best prospects — either Heliot Ramos, Chris Shaw or Tyler Beede — in any deal for McCutchen, and San Francisco brass is reluctant to part with additional top talent in an already-thin farm system after giving up Christian Arroyo in the Evan Longoria blockbuster. The 31-year-old McCutchen will earn $14.5MM this season before becoming a free agent next winter. While he had a significant rebound at the plate in 2017 (.279/.363/.486, 28 homers), he also turned in poor defensive metrics in center field for a fourth consecutive season. Upgrading the outfield defense has been a stated priority for the Giants.
- The Indians are “open” to moving right-hander Danny Salazar, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic in his latest notes column (subscription required and strongly recommended). Salazar, 28 next week, has missed time in each of the past two seasons owing to shoulder and elbow injuries. When healthy, the flamethrowing righty has shown the ability to overpower hitters, as evidenced by a career 10.5 K/9 mark and 12.6 percent swinging-strike rate. Salazar, who has two years of club control remaining, comes with a projected arbitration salary of $5.2MM for the 2018 campaign (via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) and would be arb-eligible once more next winter. Cleveland doesn’t sound to be shopping him by any means, but the Tribe does have some enviable pitching depth and could stomach the loss if a Salazar trade helped the MLB roster in other ways.
- One name not currently being discussed on the trade market is Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, Morosi tweets. Toronto isn’t in any active talks regarding Donaldson, which lines up with numerous reports (and comments from GM Ross Atkins) that have indicated the Jays’ desire to field a competitive club in 2018. It stands to reason that an unexpected king’s ransom could change that thinking, especially if it included MLB-ready pieces, but at present it seems more likely that the Jays head into the 2018 season with the former AL MVP in the middle of their order.
Some kind of Matt kemp for james shields deal
Makes sense
Makes sense if the White Sox are getting a good prospect back. Despite being bad, Shields isn’t hurting the team this year (on the field or financially) – they’re only paying him $10M, and then they can get rid of him for $2M next year.
Thank you Johnny Superscout
That’s not even a scouting observation. He was just stating financial details on Shields contract. Someone’s begging for attention
he wasn’t doing scouting or anything he was just stating the facts so what are you talking about
Lol.
Jays have to sign Lorenzo Cain aha
??? A huge chunk of Cain’s value is because he can play a mean CF. That’s the last thing the Jays need as long as Pillar’s around.
I’d much rather have Pilar over Cain at this point if I’m toronto
I’d rather Cain, brings speed and can actually read a ball off the bat. The whole reason Pillar dives so much is because he can’t read a ball off the bat. On most balls Pillars first two steps are in, then he is forced to race back and dive. Cain is better handling the bat as well, he has a consistent eye at the plate and is able to put the ball in play more. Cain > Pillar any day.
I think we could have both in the outfield! Gives us a much improved defense and a top of the order bat! This is a must for Toronto, unless they do something via trade!
There’s no reason to want Pillar over Cain other than the fact Pillar is much cheaper. But if you’re trying to be competitive then why settle for Pillar
It is not one or the other, Pillar vs Cain, it is a both conversation. If the Jays truly want to compete in 2018, they’ll need Cain and Pillar firing on all cylinders, plus they need to acquire many other elite pieces like #1, #3, 40% catcher, new SS, new 2nd and a lefty releiver. Only then they will have a chance. Watch for it by the AllStar break you’ll be able to easily see these major holes in the roster.
Rick Hahn getting at it again. Probably a salary dump of Kemp along with a prospect or two to Chicago
Kemp salary dump coming
Wonder if the Sox are going to take Kemp and his contract to grab a prospect?
I’ll say this out front, I’m a pirates fan, so I may have bias here, but if the pirates are only getting one of those three, and then maybe some lower level guys, I would much rather keep cutch, the face of the franchise, and then try to resign him or just take the draft pick for him.
I don’t want them to offer Cutch. If its a fair market offer and he takes it, the team will be limited financially moving forward (given Nuttings cheapness). And I don’t want them to end their relationship with Cutch with a lowball, insulting offer. I’d say trade him now if you can get a top 100 prospect.
I’m a Pirate fan too but I’d have no problem with Ramos for one year of Cutch straight up. Don’t really care for Beede or Shaw much though.
Why wouldn’t you care for Shaw? .854 OPS over 3 minor league seasons. He even hit in AA, .301 with a .901 OPS there.
Nothing against him as a player, just that he isn’t going to supplant Josh Bell at first so it would essentially be trading Cutch for AAA depth.
The Giants still have Brandon Belt at 1B, so Shaw has been getting a lot of playing time in LF.
I’m not a fan of either team – and there’s no way the Giants are trading Ramos for Cutch.
I agree. It would be a dumb move. As much as I like Cutch SF can’t afford to give up any prospects that may help them reduce salary in the future.
Sometimes a trade benefits both teams, but in this case I think the Pirates not trading Cutch to the Giants would be good for both. The Giants need a good defensive CFer, to cover that huge area at AT&T. I like Cutch and he still has a lot of value, but the fit isn’t right. The Giants aren’t trading Ramos for 1 year of Cutch, and probably not Shaw either, and the Pirates can do better than Beede. I’d like to see Cutch in RF for the Pirates.
I think CLE could get Baltimore’s attention by offering Salazar, Ryan Merritt, and Jason Kipnis for Machado. It gives the O’s the two rotation-ready SPs they want plus 2 years of Kipnis who takes over at 2B while Schoop moves to 3B.
For only one year of Machado? No thanks.
The price isn’t steep when you consider they’ve been trying to find a taker for Kipnis anyway. Salazar would have to work out of the pen most of the season while Merritt would be at AAA most of the season for the Tribe. Add Machado to that lineup, and Cleveland’s 2018 WS odds go up dramatically.
Wrong, wrong and wrong.
You are making the assumption that the Indians can afford to add Machado’s salary. He seems like a good fit for replacing Santana’s bat, but who knows if they are willing to pay the extra dollars. With arb raises and Alfonso, Santana’s money is already spent.
They haven’t been desperate to trade Kipnis; if they wanted to just get rid of him, they could have by now. Salazar is going to be in the rotation. Merritt is out of options and can’t go down to AAA.
will be losing Kipnis money and Salazar’s arbitration so that’ll be fine
Agree
Huge overpay.
itdefinitely is a lot but it’s what it would take to get Machado and given that Kipnis has little spot on this team and salezar and Merritt are replaceable it could work out
No way this 1 sided trade would ever happen for 1 Danny Salazar is under control through 2021 and Merritt is a Lefty major league ready starter that cannot be a free agent until 2024 who’s upside is at least a #3 / 4 starter type. Merritt is 3-0 in 5 major league starts with a 1.71 era his K to W ratio is 3.25 / 1 Several teams have checked in on him over the last 2 seasons.
even if Baltimore absorbed all of the rest of the Kipnis contract this type of a deal would have to include at least a couple prospects between # 5 and #10 like Tanner Scott # 6 and Keegan Akin # 8.
That is if you want Merritt in the deal replace Merritt with Tomlin and the prospect situation would change.
also if Baltimore is that desperate to move Machado knowing that they cannot extend him then there is no way he signs with Cleveland.
MLBTR certainly likes to poke the bear. You keep running out these comments about the Blue Jays wanting to compete this year. What joke. No way it is happening. How are they going to compete?
How about finding some articles/comments on how the BlueJays don’t have a prayer to win anything in 2018? Unless of course they acquire a true #1, #3, RFer, 40% catcher, new SS and 2nd, and a shutdown lefty reliever. Yeesh.
they definitely can compete this year they don’t need a #1 or a #3 I’m fine with Sánchez stroman and happ 123 And get a BoR guy to fill it out. they definitely need a RF and depth at catcher and middle infield but overall they definitely have a chance just like half the AL
Time will bare out what I am saying about the rotation and the need at 2nd and SS becuase of injuries. Sanchez will head to the pen because of his injured finger and Estrada’s back is putty. Like I said last year, Estrada might have a few good starts to start the year, but that back is not likely to hold up start after start.
They are not going to be able to compete over the long haul of the season. Becuase of the age of the core and the injury prone core that they have, the Jays will likely get out of the gate well, but be out of it by the All-star break and it will be even worse after that. 4th of 5th in the division at the end of the day. #scoutseyes
No way. Two years of Salazar is nice but they could get 12 years of control with a couple of good prospects. No way they would want Kipness contract. Merritt- prototypical throw in.
True, but BAL would have something to show for Machado other than a future draft pick. They need at least 2 SPs for 2018, and Kipnis can pick up SOME of Machado’s slack without BAL having to sign a FA 2B or 3B.
would make more sense if the deal was a 3 way with kipnis going to the mets and a mets starter to the o’s.
Kemp and his salary to the White Sox for a prospect or two makes a lot of sense.
Dodgers may be giving up someone like oaks or may but they clear salary and the White Sox can do Kemp and trade him to a contender who needs dh help at the deadline on a reduced salary.
I think you mean”:Kemp, his salary, and a prospect or two to the White Sox for nothing in return makes sense.”
yes thats what they meant, worded weirdly
kemp and 1 or two prospects to the white sox
salary dump for the dodgers
Dodgers / ChiSox trade.
Has to be Abreu and/or Shields.
Taking on Shields contract, may lessen the amount/level of prospects that LA would have to give up in return.
This would be a more convenient trade for the Dodgers than for the White Sox. The Sox are trying to rebuild and it’s better to get more prospects even if it means to eat up the money. The Dodgers are just trying to be even more under the luxury tax for the first time after almost half a decade
Bellinger at first in LA though.
Crasnick clearly had rumblings about part of the Scott Alexander deal…
I don’t see much of a reason to hold onto Abreu if they acquire Kemp
I see no reason to acquire Kemp. if they have Abreu. Abreu is cheaper, younger and better. Plus Kemp won’t bring back nearly as much as Abreu at the trade deadline. The only reason to acquire Kemp would be to acquire prospects in the deal, and I’m not sure the ChiSox need to do that.
“I see no reason to acquire Kemp”
“The only reason to acquire Kemp would be to acquire prospects in the deal”
So you do see the reason.
No, as I said I’m not sure acquiring prospects is something the Chisox want to do. With guys like Giolito, Anderson, Moncada, Fulmer, Rodon etc, on the major league roster now, and most of their top 10 prospects expected to debut in 2018, and 2019, I think they’ll be looking for MLB-ready players. They definitely don’t want players that won’t be contributing for several more years. Having Abreu around in 2018 and 2019 is far preferable to having Kemp for those years.
Pains me to see so many prospectors coughing out trade ideas that are complete 14 year-old conjecture. You have the right idea though.
I agree. Most of these trade ideas are nonsense, which tells me the 14 yr olds have been busy.
“Salazar, who has two years of club control remaining . . . “
His B.B.-ref page indicates that he won’t be a free agent until 2021. That appears to be three years of club control remaining. Am I missing something?
You are correct. Three years remaining. He was a super two last year, so he could have gone through arbitration. Perhaps that confused the issue.
Looks like the giants are wanting to replace their aging declining players with more aging decliner players. They’ve added Sandoval, Longoria, and now they want McCutchen and Bruce-They the Expendables of Baseball! Maybe Chuck Norris can train them.
That group needs a Joey Bats.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but The Giants are scouring the market and have looked into just about every available option, and so far have not acquired either McCutchen or Bruce. And Longoria and Sandoval play the same position, so it’s obviously Longoria, and if they keep Sandoval it will be as minor league depth.
Why does any rumor about who the Giants might be touching base on, brings the trolls out of the woodwork? They can’t seem to resist the urge to be snarky, even if it makes no sense.
After the first WS win in 2010, the Giants and the fawning local media (SF Chronicle) adopted a superior attitude, disdainful of other teams and other teams’ players. Everyone in Giants-land truly believe they are one bat or one arm away from another World Series title. Facts such as their major league low home run total last year, anemic offense, horrible outfield defense, and the 98 losses are just annoying details. “Let Timmy Smoke”, “Bum (now Buster) is God”
That coupled with the fact that Giants FO signs players to contracts which all but guarantee they’ll be untradeable down the line, and their penchant for falling in love with their roster despite its flawed construction will lead to years of underperformance requiring more and more justification from media and fans. Yes, they’re searching high and low for a CF, but I just have a feeling they’ll end up with Jarrod Dyson who they’ll fall in love with despite his low OBP and recurring injuries.
Cutch – If they do not work out an extension, I would say trade him now for some future pieces, if possible, because we don’t know what kind of year he will have and by the deadline his value may be down. I have faith in him but on the flip side, he is the beloved face of that franchise. If they don’t work an extension, gonna tick some fans off.
For the Jay’s, I’d move Donaldson now and try to build the pitching staff up more. Always try and get younger, even if you have to shift salary around and change the chemistry. He hasn’t been in Toronto as long as cutch has in Pittsburg either.
And the Giants are so close to a rebuild, if not late. I think Longoria actually hurts them, money wise and age wide, but I see it was more so for the veteran leadership. Instead of cutch, I’d probably try and trade off some salary and then use that money and spread it around. If they could find a taker on part of Sarge or cuertos deal (ladder has an opt out coming up) then they could afford an of or 2 plus a starter and pitching depth. Again shift salary for chemistry change while getting younger.
It’s certainly a mystery this offseason when it comes to the Jays? Shapiro and Atkins are talking a big game but have done nothing to back it up. Still some free agents out there that can help but in order for the Jays to compete a lot has to go right with players on the wrong side of their prime
Yeah my feelings exactly. No great trades either, just minor pieces stuff. Kinda sad if your are a BlueJay fan. I may have to travel to another MLB city to watch a winning team with a sincere shot at a championship.
As a jay fan, I always follow one other team during times like this.
The reality is that Donaldson will be kept till the end of the season and he’ll walk away with little of any return. And that’s on the club not Donaldson.
Until the fans lose interest, this team stays relatively profitable and totally average.
Sometimes being a fan Thuringia thick and thin sucks!
Sorry
“If any return”
“Thru thick and thin.”
Damned auto correct.