Although the Orioles didn’t find a Manny Machado trade to their liking over the winter, the club did believe it was progressing toward a deal with the Cardinals in December, Buster Olney of ESPN reports. St. Louis backed out of negotiations on a swap that would have sent pitching prospects and third baseman Jedd Gyorko to Baltimore, per Olney. The identities of the prospects aren’t known, though Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reported in mid-December that the Orioles had interest in young Cardinals hurlers Luke Weaver, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Hicks. It’s hard to imagine the Cardinals parting with any of those three now, but Olney notes it’s possible they’ll circle back on Machado as the season progresses. Regardless, the Machado trade sweepstakes is likely to kick off in earnest after the June 4-6 draft, according to Olney.
More from around baseball…
- Royals closer Kelvin Herrera could emerge as one of the most sought-after players in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, Olney observes. After an underwhelming 2017, Herrera’s amid an excellent start to the current campaign, and both that and the hard thrower’s impressive track record are among factors that should make him attractive around the league, Olney reasons. As an impending free agent on a rebuilding team, Herrera looks like a shoo-in to end up on the move, though Olney posits that KC would have leverage in trade talks because it could threaten to retain the 28-year-old and issue him a qualifying offer at season’s end.
- Giants ace Madison Bumgarner is slated to take the hill in another rehab start Thursday, but he could make his season debut in the majors on Friday instead, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. Bumgarner, who’s working back from a fractured pinky finger, was untouchable during a Triple-A rehab start Saturday, striking out eight (with one walk) over 3 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings. Bumgarner threw 47 pitches, just above the pregame goal of 45, and suggested afterward that he’s ready to slot back into San Francisco’s rotation. “I obviously didn’t know before today, but I think so,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’d be back at midseason form, but I definitely feel I could get some outs.”
- Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish went to the disabled list on Saturday with triceps tendinitis, though it doesn’t seem as if he’ll be on the shelf for long. The team’s “not overly concerned” about the injury, manager Joe Maddon told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune and other reporters. Indeed, it’s only believed to be a “minor” issue, a Cubs source informed Sullivan, who notes there’s a chance Darvish could ultimately miss just one start.
I figure there should be no less than 10 serious suitors for Kelvin Herrera. He could be a difference maker for a contender. Dayton Moore is going to make some general manager pay, and it will hurt a little, but whoever gets him may look like a genius in October.
Both Moose & K should yield at a minimum, a top 100 prospect that’s part of a package coming back in return! That said, I think that whatever top 100 prospect that comes back in return to KC, won’t be in the top 15 but more in the 75-100 range which would increase the chances of a bigger player package coming back in return for that the Royals need as much organizational depth as they can get IMO…
Unlike the past when Dayton Moore demanded young major leaguers or major-league ready players….this time around I think he will be more willing to except 18-20 year-olds in A ball or lower as long as their floor and their ceiling is high. The Royals best young talent are virtually all teenagers that won’t be ready for prime time for four or five more years. I personally don’t think you will see 24, 25, and 26-year-olds coming back in Royals trades this summer.
I’d never give up a top 100 prospect for two months of a relief pitcher. JDM didn’t bring one back, and he’s a more valuable player. Even though the market for relief pitchers is better, I still wouldn’t give up that much.
Unless you mean both packaged together, then I think that would.
You may not but the cubs certainly did when they traded for chapman. The indians did as well for miller. Hell even davis in an offseason trade was traded for a former top 15 prospect. Bottom line relievers are the secret to oost season success
Moose certainly won’t bring back a top 100 prospect.
Do you mean they will bring back a top 100 together in which case I agree but if you think moose nets a top 100 prospect on his own you’re in another world
Wow I’m surprised machado was so close to being a cardinal
I wish it had happened on one hand, and glad they didn’t give up our rotation for him on the other
Here are 2 closers’ stats over the past 2+ seasons.
CL A: 145 IP, 2.86 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 9.43 K/9, 49.1% GB
CL B: 150 IP, 3.12 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 9.54 K/9, 44.4 % GB
Both are in their late 20’s. One is going to be a free agent after the season and is being talked about as one of the most sought after players at the trade deadline. The other has 2.5 years of team control remaining before becoming a free agent and was just traded for two 40/45 FV pitching prospects that will struggle to crack a team’s top 20-25 prospects.
I’m not sure where the disconnect lies, but either the Rays were robbed by Seattle or everybody will be very surprised at the small return for Herrera.
KC is less likely to package Herrera in a salary dump than TB was. He should bring back a significant prospect if he’s traded on his own.
Exactly…Moore is going to get the best player(s) he can for Herrera. He won’t settle for a lesser return by trying to cram Gordon or Kennedy’s contract down someone’s throat. Jmo.
That’s fine and probably right, however, how much prospect capital did the Rays give away? The Rays saved $5.5 million by trading Span, but Colome comes with about 5 times the length of team control that Herrera does and is $2.5 million cheaper this season.
Looking at the two trades, the M’s received Colome and a 1.5 WAR LF for $9 million this year and then have 2 remaining team options at below market rates on Colome for 2019-20. The team that receives Herrera will have him for $5.25 million this year and then he walks. If I was offered the two trades above and the cost was the same, I would take the Colome trade.
Here’s a weird thought I had. Brewers trade for Machado. By no means would they but, would they? They have a spot for him this year and could be going for it. I also could argue it’s too early for them to drain the farm for a rental.
If they tried to pull it off does hiura and Phillips get it done? They’d want hader of course, but no way.
The farm is drained of potential difference makers. They’ve got depth pieces but no superstars…and don’t get started with any of their Ps like Peralta of Barnes or hitters like Hiura. Just guys not ceneterpieces.
Not overly concerned lol. The Cubs front office is probably crapping bricks about Yu’s body wearing out.
The Giants love rushing their players back, usually to the team’s detriment
So you’re saying a “rushed back” Bumgarner would be more “detrimental” than starting someone like Blach who detrimentally STUUUUNK last night.
A lotta teams “rush” players back if they feel the alternative is worse.
There’s no way KC risks offering a (18mil ish) QO to guy making 7.5mil this yr- he would absolutely take it and put them in heck of a bind next yr. Trading him for the best package they can get is the way to go. Packaging him with Moose might actually hurt the return, not enhance it
O’s are not going to get any near what they wanted in the offseason for Machado now. I would be made if I was an O’s fan. Getting just one of those three pitchers and Gyrko would have been great for them. I think the Cards do end up getting Machado at the break but for maybe just Weaver straight up (or a mid tier prospect included).
That’s actually a win win for both, but would cards want to give up weaver guy at worst is a solid 4, but likely could be 2 or 3.
I would think so, I like weaver but Flaherty and Reyes have more upside. Without Weaver rotation would be Martinez, Wacha, Mikolas, Reyes, Flaherty. I’d offer choice of Weaver/Wacha plus mid grade prospect or gyorko. I think that moves the cards in right direction for playoffs despite losses of pitcher and gyorko
in 2 years this rotation will be like the Braves in the 90s
Dude, Weaver’s been nasty his entire MLB career to this point and is on a 3+ WAR pace now. There’s not a chance they even consider that deal considering he’s got 6 years of control left. I would do Hicks straight up because he actually has crappy peripherals.
Machado it a rental peice and would just be so the cubs wont grab him. He wouldnt win us a WS so why.