The latest from the majors’ Central divisions…
- Reds president Dick Williams acknowledged on Tuesday that his team has had trade talks with the Dodgers, though he added that no deal is close, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com tweets. “We’ve had conversations with the Dodgers and there have been a variety of permutations,” Williams said. “I’m not going to get into what we’ve talked about.” Reds right-hander Homer Bailey and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig have reportedly been among the names bandied about in those discussions.
- The Twins have interest in free-agent pitchers Yusei Kikuchi, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen, La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports. They’re unlikely to “make a serious bid” for Kikuchi, though, Neal writes. As for the two relievers, the Twins are more interested in Allen than Miller, whose injury issues have led to some concern from Minnesota, per Neal. Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey was in the Indians’ front office in 2016 when Allen and Miller formed one of the most dominant late-game tandems in baseball. Now, both Allen and Miller are coming off underwhelming seasons in Cleveland.
- More from Neal, who reports that Twins slugger Miguel Sano has switched representation to Cobb Eddy Sports Group just in time for his first trip through arbitration. The 25-year-old third baseman is set to go through the process at an inopportune time, having turned in a stunningly poor 2018 performance after earning an All-Star nod the previous season.
- Indians president Chris Antonetti told longtime second baseman Jason Kipnis after the season that he’s likely to be an outfielder in 2019, Ryan Lewis of Ohio.com tweets. Kipnis, 31, totaled 173 innings in the outfield from 2017-18, during which his offensive numbers dropped to career-worst levels. Thanks to Kipnis’ decline at the plate, not to mention the guaranteed $17MM left on his contract, he has come up in trade rumors this offseason. Regardless of whether Kipnis goes, it seems the Indians are poised to enter 2019 with superstar Jose Ramirez at second base and Yandy Diaz at third.
- Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t have a contract beyond next season, but he told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic and other reporters on Tuesday that his uncertain future doesn’t faze him. “I’ve been there before. It’s all good. I am not offended. I get it. I’m excited,” said Maddon, who may lose his right-hand man, bench coach Brandon Hyde, to the Orioles. Either way, the soon-to-be 65-year-old Maddon will try to help the Cubs to a fifth straight playoff berth next season.
800th
In before get trolled. Lol Jk
No pity for Maddon isn’t he in the 90th percentile of manager’s salaries?
Xabial is a legend in his own mind. Did you strike out in t-ball as a kid ?
Xabial doesn’t know what a “tee-ball” is. He’s been staring at the MLBTR home page clicking “refresh” his entire life. But hey at least he’s first.
He doesn’t know what balls are either
Or does he? Hey xabial, do you like balls?
Hahahahaha score !
Xabial so mad rn. Just staring at his phone waiting for the newest article to pop up so he can “win” 1st comment
Aannndd looks like you learned nothing.. bb1600, ohh well. Don’t cry about anyone insulting u here when ur doing most of it
By the way how much was Tulo owed again?
Im sorry guys, I’ll stop contributing to clutter. I’ve never been trolled this hard in my life
Looking
Don’t let it get to you.
I’ve never been trolled before…I feel kinda left out in life now
Oo the trolling has taken a homophobic twist. whoda thunk it
He was not first on this article
You bring the trolling on yourself
The joke got old as soon as you used it.
800th my ass. You’re first. And xabial is not too happy
Techincally, I’m 1600th, but go on.
Reported- xabial
Go yankees *edited*
Whew that was a close one. Had 14 seconds to add it in. Safe
Go Yankees: this should protect me
Deal, Homer for Puig. LOL
Do it…I don’t care if Homer goes 22-6 with a 2.47 era…do it…
steal of the century for the reds
It would be more like (based on the rumors) Homer + 1-2 solid prospects for Puig and Wood. I’d still do it though. Allows the Reds to fill a rotation hole and CF without spending much, if any, additional money. Still leaves them with $20-30M to spend to sign another pitcher or two.
Joe Maddon as the replacement for Bochey? Might be Meulens bench coach
Puig = club house poison. Go get Homer, please. Limit his innings and let him air it out.
Homer ” You owe me 23 mil lk next year and Uh’m a starter, get it” Baily…
Kikuchi to the Giants.
This is a given
How? Padres have people in their front office like Nomo and angels have ohtani at their advantage. Id peg those 2 as likelier spots than giants.
Kikuchi literally said of all locations SanFrancisco is where he’d prefer to go. Giants have expressed interest and have more money than the Angels and Padres. Unless his injury history really concerns Farhan he’s going to the Giants.
I hope the giants get him
Teams lining up for him would be a Kikuchi queue
You must have missed when he said Kershaw was his idol. If the Dodgers dont get an Indians SP they will be in on Kikuchi
Kikuchi Kikuchi Kikuchi
The pitcher’s hard to get
Kikuchi Kikuchi Kikuchi
But you will get him yet
“Reds president Dick Williams acknowledged on Tuesday that his team has had trade talks with the Dodgers…”
Is it just me, or are these team execs being far more open and candid with the media than usual this year?
Not a complaint…just an observation.
I for one was really surprised when Cash straight up said they wanted to trade Gray. Sure it was obvious, but kinda weird to announce it like that.
I cannot believe that Homer Baily is better than anyone on LA’s current roster including Stripling and Wood, considered expendable by many.
He’s not better, they will probably DFA him immediately. They would only take him as salary relief for the Reds and they would send a decent prospect along
This. Open your mind people.
The way I understood it was the Reds would be helping the Dodgers with the luxury tax cap (Homer’s contract is like $17.5M for the cap while Puig + Wood are over $20M) while basically being close to a straight swap of contracts. The Reds would have to add a prospect or two (though likely not an elite one) since they are getting the better players in return
Swap under-performers: Twins’ Sano for Mets Dominic Smith
I actually laughed out loud on this. Thanks, kinda. I have a sore throat so laughing sucked a bit at the same time.
I hate Bailey as Reds fan but i have always said if he goes out to west coast he would be great… He always gives up home runs that go in 1st and 2nd row at GABP if i was a west coast team i would take shot on him for sure
10PM EST and Sonny Gray has yet to be traded. Very, very surprised.
Yanks asking too much for a guy who was absolutely terrible last year and everyone know they want to dump him.
Taking on Bailey’s contract sounds like a move the front office would do. We’ve spent more money on players that don’t play for us than players that do. Friedman has proven he doesn’t know how to handle having money to spend and can’t decide to either be all in for a world series or not. Ned Colletti is rolling in his grave.
How many pennants did Colletti win?
Are we waiting for the other Joe… Girardi?
1600 – quiet your self.
It’s a disgrace the way some people have sh! T on Maddon.
The Cubs have picked their manager for 2020 already and it’s Joe Girardi. Maddon knows it, hell anyone who can see past their stomach knows it. By Maddon.