Some items from around the AL East…
- Orioles executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette said his team is “still taking a look at” whether or not to start trading veterans, as he discussed the Orioles’ status in a recent radio appearance on 670 The Score’s “Inside The Clubhouse” show (partial transcript provided by 670TheScore.com’s Bruce Levine, plus the audio link is included). While Duquette didn’t firmly indicate that a sell-off was coming, he did admit that “I am not sure we will be in that position” to consider adding pieces come Memorial Day, which is when the O’s and other teams usually take stock in their rosters.
- Since the trade market has yet to really kick into gear, Duquette said that the Orioles “haven’t had that many calls, frankly” about their impending free agents. Brad Brach and Zach Britton could end up getting the most attention, as Duquette predicted “a robust market for relief pitchers.” The market for position players is harder to predict, with Duquette not knowing how things will fare in regards to a Manny Machado trade. “The issue for the Orioles would be, ’Will the Orioles ultimately trade a player who’s on his way to a Triple Crown or possibly MVP season?’” Duquette said. “That’s an issue for the club. And in the offseason, there were some teams interested in Manny, but there wasn’t a lot of talent coming back. Because teams know it’s going to take a lot of money to re-sign Manny.”
- Russell Martin tells Sportsnet.ca’s Jeff Blair that he is willing to spend more time as an infielder in the latter stages of his career. “Whatever management thinks makes the team better, gives us a better chance to win. You know, the goal for me on any team I’ve played on is what’s best for the squad. And I’ve always been a fan of the infield,” Martin said. The Blue Jays catcher has 33 career appearances as a third baseman, four at second base, and one game each at shortstop and right field during his 13-year career, so he certainly provides more versatility than most backstops. Due to several Toronto infielders landing on the DL and backup catcher Luke Maile’s surprisingly hot bat, Martin has already made four appearances at third base this season. This positional flexibility could make Martin into a unique backup option in 2019 (the final year of his contract) or beyond, as well as providing Toronto with the means to give catching prospects Danny Jansen or Reese McGuire some quality playing time as early as this season.
- Though Jonny Venters has the service time to decline a minor league demotion, the southpaw agreed to a consent form that allows the Rays to send Venters to the minors during a 45-day window that began when he made the 25-man roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Since Venters’ contract was purchased on April 25, that 45-day period is up on June 8. With a 1.13 ERA over his first eight innings, it doesn’t seem Venters is a candidate for demotion, though the Rays’ unique deployment of their pitchers requires a lot of roster shuffling. Venters is in the midst of a remarkable comeback, returning to a big league mound for the first time since 2012 after his career was thought to be over following three Tommy John surgeries and another UCL procedure.
Britton really has no value. Until he gets some games under his belt.
I think the astros would throw an offer no matter what but it wouldn’t be near what it was last year. David paulino being the headliner type of trade.
But if he comes back pitching lights out for let’s say 10 games the trade would look better. But that injury is scary
If i’m the orioles id take paulino for Britton at this point. Idk if Paulino can stick as a starter but at the least he should be a decent relief arm. He’s better than a draft pick.
Lol the Astros are NOT offering Paulino at this point.
If britton comes back and pitches decently I could easily see the Stros offering Paulino. He got popped for roids and hasn’t been very good since then. His star has dimmed quite a bit.
They had Colin Moran for him but Pete nixed it. It would have been a good deal and Britton would have a ring.
If he became available I’d venture to say ATL would be interested. With Kimbrel being available next season it’d be hilarious to think of having 2/3 of O’Venterbrel. Not likely, but let a man dream.
would be pretty tough to squeeze any more lefties in our bullpen tho
While a future reunion with Atlanta may not be in the cards, I’m happy for the success that Jonny V is having this season.
Manny Machado and Chris Davis for Jason Hayward, Addison Russell and Adbert Azolay
Haha no, Cubs say no to that all day every day.
Just for fun. Say it’s heyward and alzolay for Davis and MAchado. Do the cubs decline that deal? Heyward has more value than Davis but he’s also a little more expensive when you factor in all the deferred money Davis has. Then you add Machado for Alzolay which is an obvious win for Chicago. Cubs don’t have anywhere for Davis to play but they save a couple dollars on the Heyward deal and add half a season of Machado. Won’t happen but on paper it doesnt look so bad.
“Why would Heyward waive his no-trade clause to go to Baltimore?” Because it’s a terrific place to play (ask players), and it has an outstanding baseball tradition.
(And of course so does Chi-town North/Cubs).
They’re going to be cellar dwellers for the next few years though. Players don’t care what a baseball tradition a team has when they’re going to be awful. Especially when that team has one of the worst owners in the league.
What about Joey Votto?
Because management will sit him down and professionally tell him that they’ve come to an agreement with the Orioles to move him.
And that they think it would be in his (and the team’s) best interest to make a change.
They’ll also politely tell him that if he declines, his playing time will unfortunately diminish to a minimal level, as the team needs to move in a different direction in right field.
This has been done plenty of times before. Players generally don’t want to play where they feel they aren’t wanted.
And plenty have still balked. Either way he gets paid.
And Heyward can politely call their bluff. Heyward is in control of his destination. I can honestly see your point, but the contract is sunk. If he’s truly a detriment to the cubs they’ll be forced to cut bait. If they don’t they will play him. He obtained leverage for a reason. Trying to strong arm a player in which you’ve given complete control is naive especially when he will never touch his current contract and has 5+ years left. If the discussion revolved around 1 or 2 years of commitment maybe sure, bc one might be worried about his next contract etc., but not when the prospects are potentially spending 5 years on a team that is headed for a complete rebuild. Especially in light of the Cubs being contenders. I don’t think people take into account the aspect of winning especially after securing generational wealth.
Why would Heyward waive his NTC to go to Bal?
He’d play everyday. He’s already won a WS in chicago and he’d be replacing a guy who doesn’t have a lot of fans around here in Davis. In all honesty if that deal was on the table I believe the orioles would be the first to decline.
If that deal was on the table, Heyward would be the first one to say no.
Maybe. He’d have no pressure playing in Baltimore and he’d for sure be in the lineup every single night. Angelos gets every dollar out of his players. He’d be replacing an albatross contract and wouldn’t come in as the XXX million dollar drag on the roster,because he’d be replacing that guy. And Davis set the bar pretty low for Jhey. The odds of that happening are minuscule, but I don’t know that heyward wouldn’t seriously consider.
Maybe. He’d have no pressure playing in Baltimore and he’d for sure be in the lineup every single night. Angelos gets every dollar out of his players. He’d be replacing an albatross contract and wouldn’t come in as the x million dollar drag on the roster,because he’d be replacing that guy. Davis set the bar pretty low for Jhey, if he can be a league average player that’d be a huge upgrade. The odds of that happening are minuscule, but I don’t know that heyward wouldn’t seriously consider
Like you state it’s minuscule(I’d say non existent), but quite simply is there absolutely any upside to him waiving it? Guys still want to win, and seems him even being a part time player on a contending team would trump the potential 5-7 times a week putting on an O’s uni. He’s already been paid and he’d have to be willing to head to a potential long term rebuild. A rebuild headed by a terrible owner and extremely dysfunction FO. I’m not sure why he’d give it any thought.
If the Cubs would become so dissatisfied with his performance & willing to eat his contract,then maybe then he might be willing to catch on somewhere else just to continue to his career, but they haven’t and on the hook for a great while. Plus being that he has leverage and only 2 seasons after this to accumulate 10/5, there’s no incentive or real upside.
I think the incentive would be there for the Cubs. They’d get half a season of MM which would greatly increase their WS chance this year. Heyward has been a 1 WAR player the last 2 seasons and is on pace to do it again this year. 3 years is definitely a trend. In all honesty you could make a case that MAchado would be worth more WAR this season for the Cubs than they’d get out of Heyward in the next 3. I can see your point on Heyward, he still plays 4-5 times a week for the Cubs and he may not agree to the deal. Like i said though, there’s way too many moving parts to make this deal happen but it was a fun exercise.
Are you playing for a run this year? Do you still think we are a playoff contender like when the season started?
Just your standard fantasy overpay.
First of all, I get a vibe DD doesn’t have a job much longer. Nothing on him, but when an organization needs a complete do over it helps to get a new mind or set of minds in there.
He doesn’t have the job now, except on paper and in front of the media. Brady Anderson was the point on Cobb and Cashner this offseason. He’s the one who has the ear of the Angelos family. Duquette lost his pull in the front office when he tried to jump to Toronto shortly after the Orioles rescued him from baseball obscurity. The only reason that Duquette still has a job is because the team plans on Showalter moving up to the front office next year and so there’s no need to fire Duquette right now.
Dan – since you’re a dumbass, let me help you answer your questions:
“I am not sure we will be in that position” to consider adding pieces come Memorial Day – No, no, no!!!
“The issue for the Orioles would be, ‘Will the Orioles ultimately trade a player who’s on his way to a Triple Crown or possibly MVP season?’” – Yes, yes, yes!!!
DD is just trying to create mystery for the other clubs. He doesn’t want to announce a fire sale because other teams will think “everything must go which mean I should get a good price.”
Other teams already know everything must go wrt the Orioles. Their only other option is to just let those guys leave for no return (or a draft pick in Machado’s case) so all the other teams have to do is be the highest bidder.
Exactly.
Rentals are tricky. The only leverage sellers has lies within the interest of the other teams. That being said, in most cases if you aren’t going to win, Id rather get a lottery ticket A baller than nothing. Maybe that kid turns out to be something.
I mean, hey, the Diamondbacks got Dawel Lugo (who was in A ball at the time) for Cliff Pennington. Is Lugo an all-star? Probably not, but hes at least looking like a utility guy which is still infinitely better than nothing.
Wasn’t Judge also picked with a comp pick at end of first round?
I mean, Jason Hursh was the pick right before him and Piazza was a 50th round pick. The MLB draft is a crapshoot
To add to your point, Piazza was actually a 62nd round pick
I mean I never said taking the comp pick can’t work out for the Orioles but I like their chances better from trading Machado.
Russell Martin best days are behind him. Might as well use him to maximized development of kids. He still has elite catching skills and has good hands and an elite arm in the infield. He changed his workout regimen and diet in the offseason to bulk up and it has slowed his bat. He needs to focus on OBP and hit the other way from this point on.
His replacement Maile is not a hitter. He didn’t just figure it out. His career stats don’t lie. He is either on a run which will end quickly or he had PED help in the offseason which will fade. Either way he’ll be back to a sub .200 hitter in due time.
The Jays are winning nothing this year. Might as well promote the kids to see what the minor leagues actually can provide.
Maile’s bat won’t sustain. Don’t mind him as a backup. I wanted Jansen up with the big club to be mentored by Martin while he’s still here.
I disagree with you about Maile. Since his return from injury last season, he has had 104 at bats with 30 hits bringing his ba to 288. 104 at bats is a pretty decent sample size and hard to assume his bat won’t sustain to at least average levels.. Not saying he will sustain this 300+, but mid 200’s? Doesn’t seem out of the question.
What you just said means his bat won’t sustain. So we’re in agreement. Thanks.
Martin’s versatility isn’t going to matter if he doesn’t start hitting above .160.
Maile leads all AL catchers in WAR. The defense is legit and his exit velo is among the best in baseball. He’s young enough that there may actually be something here.
He is hitting the ball harder, but he’s also striking out a ton. If he didn’t have an insane BABIP (.477), he’d be hitting .200.
Maile’s never hit well. Solid backup, solid D. Any offense he provides is a bonus.
Jays fans forget Josh Thole was batting .340 at the end of May in 2014. Granted, only about 60 at bats but did anyone believe he could keep that up? Expecting Maile to be a really good hitter is tall order considering it’s only Victoria Day.
How can he say the trade offer for machado was bad? Angelos wouldn’t trade him to the Yankees knowing they have the money to keep him and the prospects to deal to the O’s. The Yankees are loaded on pitching prospects with 20 of their top 30 are pitchers.
They will wind up taking Andujar, Chance Adams and another prospect for Machado from the Yankees. That’s the best they will get as everyone knows that’s where he is going to sign come Winter.
“everyone knows that’s where he is going to sign come Winter.”
I remember many, many people saying the same thing about Ohtani.
Will they really move gregorius off short?
There are way better offers out there when it comes to Manny Machado. Your gonna have none contending teams wanting him for next yr offering the farm for him.
No way the Yankees get him unless they really over pay with there top 5 prospects.not all of them but 2 for sure
The O’s won’t get that much for MM . He’s a half year rental
Agreed..same with these stupid cubs offers lol there are plenty of teams that could beat a Heyward deal lol the Os should be looking for young talent to rebuild not a player like Heyward who has no trade value…Os won’t get much but they should be focusing on young talent…so dream on cubbies…if the dodgers get their crap together they are the favorites but St. Louis is not far behind
It’s a shame the Orioles didn’t take better care of this entire Machado situation. He’s going to be a great player for a long time
The Cardinals could definitely use Machado for now and the future. The Cardinals have the young MLB ready players it would take to get Machado. The problem is, would Machado even consider resigning with the Cardinals, regardless of his price??? And the Cardinals have the money to sign Machado to long term deals. Manny would you like to finish your career in St. Louis??? Is so, we’ll even knocking on your door. If the answer is maybe or no. I wish you a fantastic career!!
Cardinal have plenty of pitching and outfield depth to get it done…also I read that they need a third baseman…Patrick Wisdom a would be a great pick up…yea he strikes out a lot but has over 30 home runs in triple A…young pitcher like Gomber or Hudson and Wisdom…if they must go ahead and give them an outfield prospect…that’s three great prospects for MM…get it done Cardinals
I’m trying to picture BAL as buyers this summer, and I’m just not seeing it. I know DD has to say these things or else he’ll be fired with just a few months left on his own contract. Maybe he could include himself in a Machado deal? Anything is possible, but for anyone to consider BAL contenders after what we’ve seen is just pure absurdity.
I heard Venters interviewed on Effectively Wild a week or so back. He sounds a hell of a great guy and it’s brilliant to see him having some success.