Here’s the latest from FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman via his weekly notes column on all 30 teams…
- Before Alex Cobb signed with the Orioles, “the Padres got involved late on” the free agent righty’s market. It would’ve been another eye-popping move for a team that surprised many by signing Eric Hosmer, though the Padres could’ve simply been doing some due diligence — Cobb likely drew interest from several seemingly-unlikely teams as he continued to languish on the open market. The Padres also had at least some interest in Jake Arrieta, another big-name free agent starter who was still unexpectedly available into March. Given A.J. Preller’s penchant for aggressive moves and the Padres’ prospect depth, I wouldn’t be surprised if San Diego made a big in-season trade to further kickstart its rebuilding process.
- After Lance Lynn signed with the Twins for one year and $12MM, the Brewers offered Cobb a contract with the same terms. Cobb rejected the deal, as it was known that he was looking for multiple years and wasn’t willing to settle for a one-year pact. It should be noted that Lynn himself could’ve had at least one multi-year offer on the table, but opted instead to sign the one-year deal with Minnesota since he was excited about their potential as a contender.
- Even with Cobb now in the fold, the Orioles may still look to add more starting pitching depth beyond their current starting five of Cobb, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner, and Chris Tillman. Heyman opines that Scott Feldman could be a possibility, as the righty “was beloved” by members of the Baltimore organization during his previous stint with the club in 2013.
- Trade buzz continues to circle Astros right-hander Collin McHugh, as Heyman writes that McHugh “could be had in a trade,” as Houston has a surplus of rotation-worthy arms. The Twins and Orioles were both linked to McHugh in rumors earlier this winter, though those teams are probably no longer in the running due to their subsequent pitching additions. McHugh is owed $5MM this season and is under control through 2019 in his final arbitration-eligible season, making him a nice cost-effective addition for potential suitors.
- While none of these teams were specifically cited as being interested in McHugh, Heyman listed the Reds, Brewers, Mariners, and Rangers as teams that are looking for pitching. All four of the clubs have dealt with some injury setbacks in Spring Training, so further additions could be more akin to fill-in options rather than major acquisitions. Texas, however, does seem to be at least considering making a higher-priced add, given how the Rangers showed some recent interest in Cobb and Greg Holland.
- The Dodgers seem prepared to go with in-house options to replace Justin Turner while the star third baseman is sidelined with a fractured wrist. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman recently floated the idea of L.A. acquiring either Deven Marrero or Brock Holt from the Red Sox to help fill the third base void, though Heyman writes that the Dodgers haven’t been in touch with the Sox about either player. Holt and the out-of-options Marrero are both reportedly potential trade candidates due to a roster crunch.
- The Mets haven’t seriously discussed the possibility of signing Ubaldo Jimenez, Heyman hears from a person connected with the team. The past relationship between Jimenez and Mets manager Mickey Callaway (Jimenez had a strong 2013 season with the Indians when Callaway was Cleveland’s pitching coach) led to some rumors that New York could consider adding the veteran right-hander as rotation depth. Jimenez is coming off rough seasons in both 2016 and 2017 with the Orioles, and as a result has drawn no known interest all winter as he tries to catch on with another club.
Why would the Dodgers trade for a 3rd Baseman? JT is only going to be out for a month or two, and their are so many in house options.
This. And the guys mentioned above are worse than their in-house options. :/
Joel Sherman just needs something to write about. The Dodgers don’t need spare parts…
*there
Don’t correct someone’s grammar if it’s correct ttinsley.
He was correcting his own mistake lmao
Within 24 hours of Turner’s injury the Dodgers were completely clear that the plan was move Forsythe to 3B and use a platoon of Hernandez and Utley at 2B (with Barnes probably also getting some IF innings). Should have ended the trade speculation, right? Nope, not when Boston can be dragged into it. The secret sauce to this non-story is the Red Sox.
And the fact that writers in some cities buy access with the home town FO by floating ridiculous trade proposals that over value the skill and value of players the FO is trying to dump.
NY and Boston writers have practiced this “suck up” strategy for a long time.
I don’t know anything about any commercial conspiracies but I do know that Boston and New York are consistently the most over-covered baseball towns in the country. Just look at how some noodling by a New York sportswriter shoves aside everything the team he’s writing about has already said, as if that part doesn’t matter.
The east coast bias/influence is strong with these stories.
Agree Tinsley. In house options are far better than what Sherman proposes.
Boston’s trash is everybody else’s treasure. Can’t wait for the Swihart for a TOR pitcher rumors get started again.
I’m betting that the whole NL East is hoping that the Mets get Ubaldo.
If the Dodgers want to get someone to cover 3rd confidently, I’m sure Josh Harrison could be made available for a low cost.
No way do Dodgers take on Harrison’s contract, even if Pirates paid half
Josh Harrison or potential SP/RP additions at the TDL. Well that’s pretty easy TDL additions. Forsythe can play 3rd and I’m sure him being healthy will make a difference. The Dodgers have in house depth options for a reason. No mid season wiggle room would be a huge mistake.
My favorite from the Heyman piece: “Before he went to the Royals, the Yankees talked a lot about Mike Moustakas. At some point he sought an $11 million deal with an $11 million player option and $6 million buyout, though they talked a lot so it isn’t clear what other figures were exchanged.”
So, Moose was asking for $17M for one year….
Probably why he isnt in New York right now.
Tough choice. $17M moose (with total of $22M exposure) plus loss of draft pick….or $4-5M Walker. Must have been hard for Yankees.
Yeah, Milwaukees change to get starter came and went. Should have jumped the gun while they could have!
No none were any good except maybe Darvish and we weren’t over paying our prospects are better than Lynn or Cobb
Actually I disagree with you. It takes spending money where it needs to be spent in order to compete. Kudos to Chicago, they did well this offseason. Milwaukee? They are a mess at best in the projections for this year. So..as I said before, they should have jumped the gun and got someone while they could have. Because they didn’t, I doubt their chances for success this season as almost everyone else who follows this sport does
Except Milwaukee is not in a Washington type desperate to win now situation. True they could have upgraded the SP, but there was no need to throw a ton of money at a guy that they didn’t really like just for the sake of doing it. And “a mess at best”? I think that’s a little bit of an over-reaction. They’re still projected to be in the wild card race by most analysts. As for zips projections and the like, most actually project guys like Bruce Suter and Brandon Woodruff to put up as good of numbers (or even slightly better) as Lynn and Cobb, so why throw money at them just for their name?
That’s where Milwaukee fans miss it. They should be in win-now mode before everyone figures out their prospects are not difference makers. They are just guys and you don’t win championships with just guys. Milwaukees staff is the worst in the NL and 2018 is going to be bitterly disappointing in Milwaukee.
I’m not trying to be a hater and I 100% agree with Waxbuddy and everyone. I don’t know if Milw fans are in denial or just hate to admit it. But Stearns f*^ked up.
He did great in the Yelich trade, then over played his hand and tried too much. By getting Caine and blowing 80 million which was unessary esp when they needed a SP bad. Thinking he would trade one or several of his OFers for a pitcher. No body bought into it. It’s like taking all your money buying house hoping to flip it and then you can’t and stuck with it. This move will go down as being the worst move he did this Winter and Milw will pay for it and will cost them a place in postseason. Believe it or not.
You are not going to win or get to post season wo spending, and trading risk vs reward. Simple. No matter what Milw fans want to dream up. Their is no such thing as cheap and conservative in this game. Milw could have went any 4 – 6 ways with a SP and didn’t. Hoped to do a trade. After Caine Stearns back was against the wall and money was tight. So best he could do is low ball every SP which won’t get you anyone signed. Now he’s stuck and so are the Brewers. Thats the difference between a great GM like Cashman, Theo vs Stearns. I rest my case. Not hating just talking reality and facts.
MKE has their base signed for next 3 years. Wanna win now, like everyone, but if no big name arm this year, there’s time.
The difference between Stearns and cashman/Theo is Stearns doesn’t have an endless supply of money to throw at guys.
Looking at it now, it really does appear the Cain signing was a bad move (not that he’s a bad player, or the contract is necessarily bad..). I suspect he had 1 or 2 trades for Santana/Broxton/Phillips combination ready to finalize, but once the Yelich trade and Cain signing happened on the same day, he lost leverage, and didn’t want to finish any deals just for the sake of easing the logjam. It’s too bad though if Aguilar ends up being the odd man out with Braun potentially playing some 1B.
As for the pitching, so much now hinges on Nelson coming back sooner than later, and being the guy he was before the injury.
I also wonder if the Cain signing was another Attanasio deal. He seems to be in the middle of one every few years when he likes a guy.
The Padres were probably never interested in signing Cobb or Arrieta. They’re probably just getting some practice in before they go after a pitcher in next year’s free agent class.
Ha maybe that explains Hosmer! They were just practicing signing someone so they’d be ready for next year’s quality players but then he wentand said yes
Idk about that. They signed Hosmer. They don’t have a single pitcher in that rotation with a track record unless you think Tyson Ross can get back to his old form. Im sure Preller thought they could probably use a real veteran pitcher to help stabilize the rotation. I read that Chris young might be the 5th starter over perdomo. Don’t see a whole lot of logic behind that so I can believe they wanted Cobb for sure:
I also don’t see why they wouldn’t let perdomo be the 5th starter. Chris young is terrible, let the young guys play.
Lance Lynn – manliest name in professional sports
What is Houston even looking to get for McHugh?
There’s no reason to trade McHugh unless the Astros are offered an impact lefty reliever. Not sure that’s likely.
Furthermore, the starting rotation is filled with injury prone players. The Astros need McHugh. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made 25 starts.
The dodgers have Taylor, forthsythe, utley, kike and sedgin all of them are better than holt or marrero. Playing Taylor in the infield for a month or 2 would help them solve the outfield problem.
Encouraging to hear the orioles are looking for some more rotation depth. Feldman does make a lot of sense. I don’t see a better fit than him as long as he’s willing to pitch in AAA for awhile.
Yes or he could work long relief and come in if Tillman falters. Smart move if they get him.
It’d probably be best to see him get stretched out in the minors. We have to figure out if we want to keep wright, araujo, and Cortes as well. We won’t have a lot of flexibility in the bullpen until we decide to cut bait on one of those 3. Keeping Feldman in AAA will give us a little more time to evaluate.
Right. To assume BAL is all set for 2018 in the rotation department is crazy. With this iffy bunch Feldman would probably be in the rotation most of the year for one reason or another.
And the Reds also need rotation depth. McHugh could be acquired simply to be Homer Bailey’s understudy and still get 150+ innings per season over the next 2 years.
I think we have a solid four for the first time in awhile. I’m nervous about Tillman though. He hasn’t looked sharp this spring. If nothing else I’d want Feldman as insurance because pitchers do get hurt. I know the orioles never plan for that but it’d be nice for us to start thinking about it.
It’s a far sight better than what they started last year with for sure, but lots of hopes and prayer there as well.. Cashner for the most part his entire career has been all talent and nothing on the field, until last year.. Can he do it again this year without the 95-97mph FB he used to have?
Nothing behind the top 4 guys really. I like this team, Don’t misunderstand, would like to see another iffy vet added and think “the man” Duquette will do just that end of ST when teams cut down rosters.
Holt to the Dodgers for Thompson in an “out of options move” for both teams – Thompson may crack the Sox outfield and Holt is more versatile than Enrique Hernandez
holt still has an option.
Boston is also counting on Swihart as the emergency b/u OF along with martinez. Holt is probably the 1 they want to keep anyway since he plays everywhere except c/p and the OF is his his best defensive positions really.
Ubaldo Jimenez, ?? Does it matter?