Here’s the latest from the National League:
- Not only are the Braves one of the teams still in the hunt to acquire Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, but they’re “slight” favorites as of now, Craig Mish of SiriusXM tweets. Braves third base prospect Austin Riley’s “on the table” in talks, Mish adds. The 21-year-old Riley – MLB.com’s 43rd-ranked prospect – got his first taste of Triple-A action in 2018 and batted a terrific .282/.346/.464 in 324 plate appearances, though he also struck out in nearly 30 percent of trips. Riley is blocked at third in Atlanta, at least temporarily, by the recently signed Josh Donaldson and 2018 starter Johan Camargo.
- The Pirates have “big interest” in free-agent shortstop Freddy Galvis, according to George A. King III of the New York Post. In Pittsburgh, the switch-hitting 29-year-old would take over for Jordy Mercer, who signed with the Tigers earlier this week. Joining the Pirates would also mean a return to Pennsylvania for Galvis, a Phillie from 2012-17 who spent last season in San Diego. Across 3,096 major plate appearances, Galvis has batted .248/.299/.380 with 65 home runs, including 13 in 2018.
- Once the Padres’ signing of Ian Kinsler becomes official, they’re “likely” to designate infielder/outfielder Jose Pirela for assignment, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. Even if the Padres don’t designate Pirela, he’s not long for their roster, Cassavell suggests. The 29-year-old Pirela, a member of the San Diego organization since it acquired him from the Yankees in 2015, racked up 817 PAs at the major league level from 2017-18 and managed a respectable .265/.320/.405 line with 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases.
- While free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu has been on the Nationals’ radar, they’re “more likely” to look for a cheaper infielder, per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, who lists Brian Dozier, Josh Harrison and Jed Lowrie as speculative fits. Although, in MLBTR’s estimation, Lowrie will easily land the richest contract of that quartet this offseason.
Realmuto will be a Brave by the end of the week
Riley & Allard with a lower lotto prospect should do it
What’s the Nats payroll gonna look like when they finish with everything?
Gotta give the Lerners credit for spending.
Don’t care about their cozy “relationship” with Boras. Rather my team owners have a good relationship with one of the game’s strongest, if not strongest agents.
That going to help retain Bryce Harper though? Hmm
Pirela back to the Yanx
Pirela next followed by Guerra? Then onto some of those starting pitchers?
Guerra at least has value on the basepaths and can pick it at SS.
Back to Yankees?
It’s all right there in the article.
The 29-year-old Pirela, a member of the San Diego organization since it acquired him from the Yankees in 2015, racked up 817 PAs at the major league level from 2017-18 and managed a respectable .265/.320/.405 line with 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases.
Pirela is Preller’s lap dog. I’ll believe that they’ll DFA him when I see it.
They’ll likely find some way to keep him around (unfortunately). That would be pretty annoying.
As long as he’s gone, I don’t care where he goes or how he gets there.
Braves still need Haniger
Good let the braves have him.then the Mets don’t have to give everyone up.
Why not make a harder push for Ahmed instead? Better fielder, and has 3 years of control left. Galvis is barley an upgrade over either Kevin Kramer/Newman or Erik Gonzalez.
I don’t claim to know much of anything about Erik Gonzalez, but I am intrigued by a guy who was stuck behind Lindor.
That alone doesn’t mean that Gonzalez is any good, but it does mean that even if he was good he would have little path to playing time.
Newman needs to hit to .320 or better to make up for his absurd lack of power to be effective. The good news is Cole Tucker has raised his stock and has supplanted Newman as the SS of the future.
Perhaps the signing of a stop gap like Galvis frees up Newman as a trade piece.
Uh, they had a stopgap in Mercer. And they had a stopgap in Nova until Keller is ready. That’s the problem with Pirates front office. They seem to dazzle younger fans with the steady stream of BS but they have no plan beyond just saving money and cutting salary
That’s what it’s all about and nothing more. And when those two positions are relatively solid, they’ll use the same methods at other spots
Every decade or so, the stars may align and the team may contend. But just as quickly, those players will leave for bigger paychecks and we’ll be at square one all over again
When you take into account the acquisitions of Archer and Kela, it’s all the more mind numbing. It’s like they had one month to contend and when they didn’t, the geniuses in charge said ‘Oh screw it’. Worst management in baseball. They could care less about winning. Did everyone get their new promo about 6 fireworks nights? Dear God
This comment would get so many coffee cups from DK’s cult.
Spoiler alert: Without a very unlikely MLB salary cap, it’s nearly certain that the Pirates will NOT win a World Series.
Why is that?
In the big money era of modern sports, only ONE legit small market team has won, the 2015 Royals. 2/3 of the league is window dressing.
Some fans understand this and have interests beyond simply showing up when it’s time for the parade.
Gee, thanks for the revelation. I’ve been around since Forbes Field days but by all means, preach
The point was that management is all over the road in terms of formulating a plan, so much so that lopping off comparatively low salaries of a Mercer and Nova becomes the priority of just contending
No real fan is expecting them to double payroll or pursue big time FA’s. But when you can’t even afford true ‘stopgap’ guys who’ll give you a year or two while the kids mature, it’s beyond problematic
Again, the Archer and Kela deals were apparently made just to placate a segment of the fan base that has no appreciation of fireworks, bobble heads and a nice skyline
BTW, no idea who DK is or what the coffee cup idea is all about. But thanks
This exactly. I also hate the comments of people bringing up Nuttings net worth. Net worth is personal wealth and includes houses, stocks, and other business ventures. While he may be among the wealthiest owners in the league, he probably doesn’t have the liquid capital to single handedly make the Pirates able to outspend their market. Couple this with the minority owners unwillingness to also put up their percentage of what Nutting spends just makes blaming him for the Pirates lack of spending an easy talking point. Bonus note: baseball is a business at the end of the day, so you have to spend within the means of your business. A $100-$110 million payroll is a reasonable ask, and yes they haven’t spent at that level for a couple of years. But don’t expect the Pirates to spend with the cubs or cards.
Unfortunately,I am a tired old dude who attended the last games at Forbes Field and agrees with both Josh and tiredolddude.It seems that the Pirates essentially try to compete in three year cycles with three year mediocre periods in between.As a small market team,with no money to buy superstars,they have chosen this course.They do not want to be absolutely awful like the Astros and Nationals were for three or four years so that they could get the top draft picks.Sadly,their scouting and development systems are not good enough to pump the superstars out.
They should be run like a business.It is MLB fault that there is no salary cap so everyone is on equal footing.They cater to the big market teams.The 8 small market teams have about an individual 0.5% chance of winning in any given year. However,when the cycle is relatively high,as it is now for the Pirates,they owe it to their fans to take a chance to make sure that they have depth and the best players that a reasonably high team salary level can bring.
The replacement for Nova should not be a decent swingman like Lyles,it should be a better starter than Nova at a similar salary.
In this manner at least it shows that they are trying to win even if the cards are stacked against them.
Without that carrot on the end of the stick of a return to a moderate team salary level I think that it sad to say that even if they make the playoffs they will not go far.I do not think that they get that point in their conservative business like approach.
I remember watching Mets games when they played at Forbes Field. Got curious when it got closed. Four days earlier Crosley Field closed.
Only to bring on the cookie cutter stadium era. :0(
I’ve got a brother in law related to the Shibe family of Philadelphia. Love the old parks.
If the Mets ens up putting Rosario in a package for Realmuto..Galvis is the 1yr stopgap i feel the Mets should sign. He isnt spectacular at anything…but hes mostly average or better at everything…you know what you’re getting..
.250 12-15hr 60-65rbi 10-15sb and good enough to play SS 140+ games at shortstop.
What i hope actually happens..is they sign a catcher (Grandal 4/$60mil or Ramos 2/$23mil)..another bullpen arm, preferably a lefty..(Miller 3/$34mil or on the lower end Tony Sipp 2yr/$9mil or O.Perez 1yr/$3.25mil)
And if they are to make another trade..do it from a strength (pitching) to upgrade said strength (pitching)…not create a hole forcing a Galvis or Iglesias signing. Here is what i propose…
Mets trade:
Steven Matz, Travis d’Arnaud,
I’m shocked Oliver Perez is still around.
Seems like he should be Bart’s age by now.
baseball1600 is garbage
Braves get JTR and flip him to the Mets for Thor or just work it as a 3 team trade. Braves have what the marlins want in prospects, mets have what the braves want in an “ace”, braves would have what mets want in JTR. Obviously a long shot with all being NL East foes but it actually makes a good bit of sense. Marlins get Riley, Allard or maybe Anderson, Nimmo, Braves get Thor + lottery ticket, Mets get JTR + solid prospect from the Braves (only because Thor has 1 extra year of control than JTR
That would never happen
I’d rather just keep JTR.
So….within division trade where the Mets give up Thor AND Nimmo…? Good luck w that.
Riley’s slash line seems more “solid” than “terrific”
For a 21 year old at AAA, it’s pretty darn good.
I know AA quite well from years in Toronto. He likes good defensive catching. Look at the Russell Martin signing with the Jays when he was in “win now” now.. You can always trade for pitching at the trade deadline.
Hes not afraid to give away top prospects. He sold the Jays farm including Thor to get what he wanted. A great GM imo.
He may not be afraid but he hopefully learned his lesson
Also when he was in Toronto he didn’t have the quantity level of prospects like he does now
He needed to move some to get win now type players
He has a lot of years removed from Toronto. He could have traded the farm at the start of 2018 to go all in and he didn’t. He could have traded the farm at the deadline when he new he had a winning club and didn’t. He could have done that to get Kluber when he was available because an ace is all the rage and hasn’t.
I think he learned a different way with the Dodgers and from afar with the Cubs and Astros. He saw players brought through the farm system and held onto instead of traded and saw the fruit of it.
Get J.T.
Trade Flowers & Teheran to Brewers for Santana & Thames
Trade Thames & Fried to Yankees for Gray
Sign Britton
Sign Soria
Not sure Milwaukee would want to take on that much money but I do agree that they should check in on Santana.
Not gonna get a starting catcher for less than Flowers is making & Teheran is signed to a team friendly contract
Also would be taking back the money owed to Thames I see a win win for all involved
Galvis would be the stopgap SS I’d want the Mets to sign if Rosario goes in a Realmuto deal. His defense is good enough and you will get .250 10-15hrs,60-65rbis,10-15sbs. I could live with that batting 8th. But if I’m Van Waganen…this is what i would try to do…
1. Sign a catcher (Grandal 4yr/$60mil)
(Ramos 2yr/$21mil
2. Sign a bullpen arm, preferably a lefty
(Miller 3yr/$34mil) lower end (Sipp 2yr/$8mil)
3. If im going to trade…i dont wanna create a hole in one position to fill another…creating a different hole…so cal Cleveland and…
Mets trade: Steven Matz, Travis d’Arnaud, Anthony Kay and Gavin Cecchini
Indians trade: Corey Kluber and Logan Ice
To me…A change in scenery for d’Arnaud will help..not a NY player..Matz, while a downgrade from Kluber, has flashed #2 capabilities, is a lefty at 27yrs old with 3yrs of control. Carasco,Bauer and Matz isnt bad at all. And Cleveland gets Kay, a lefthanded starter who bounced back nicely from elbow surgery in 2016..prob ready by 2020 and Checcini is a borderline starting 2b…
For the Mets…its all about Kluber…plug him in as your #3 starter and Logan Ice is a decent catching prospect. To me, this trade benefits both teams.
The Braves have moved on from JTR deal with it
I’d rather trade a couple pitching prospect than one of our few hitting prospects. Especially are best hitting prospect. Feel like we have enough to get it done honestly.
I would rather that too but I wouldn’t let losing Riley prevent us from getting J.T.
think about it if Donaldson comes back strong it wouldn’t take a crazy long extension to keep him for a couple more years may even take a qualifying offer if he has a good enough year
If he doesn’t Camargo has already proven he can handle 3rd so Riley in essence is the Braves most valuable trade asset who is expendable by options in his position.
Riley’s K rate scared me
Riley is the least expendable
In what world do you think it will be easy to extend Donaldson if he has a good year (and why would he accept a QO if he has a good year?).
The whole point of this contract for Donaldson is if it works out and he plays well it lets him cash in on a long term deal he wasn’t able to get this year because of the skepticism surrounding his health and ability.
He has a good year this year he walks for sure to the highest bidder.
He has a bad year? Well that sucks for this year and why would we want to extend him if it didn’t go well.
Anyone viewing Donaldson as anything other than a one and done in ATL is kidding themselves
As for Camargo I love him as much as anyone but he’s not the long term answer at 3B.
So in no way is Riley the most expendable asset.
Try Christian Pache or the boatload of pitchers as the most expendable.
Pache is not the answer either. We just have so much talent in the minors is scary. Honestly, 2-3 guys ranked in our top 10-20 should get the deal done. Allard would suck to lose, but basically him, Alex Jackson, and 1 or two other solid prospects should get the deal done. Only reason I keep saying Alex Jackson is cause I like the idea of relaxing ur current catcher with one that can be very soon.
Trading for JT makes sense. It adds another element that other teams don’t have “ an elite catcher “ and a heathy Donaldson is like getting adding Chipper jones so why have Austin Riley. And AA i imagine is scared of trading away some of the pitching prospects he has cause there’s solid. What if he trades Soroka Toukii or Anderson the best in the system in my opinion and then they go out and become Cheap All Stars . Bottom line is braves Rotation has depth . The bullpen is what needs fixing and there are plenty options in free agency . And don’t forget there is a trade deadline . So there’s no rush just cause the fans want something to happen right now
Donaldson is not Chipper! Period!
Yeah that was crazy to even say
Well ovs not Chipper in his prime but it’s not far fetch mid 30s Chipper.
Point is braves got a all star level 3B
Donaldson was Chipper… for about 3 years.
If there is RP to get by tase I would say it is Leclerc
Donaldson is on a 1 year contract making 20+m with injury problems is why we need Riley.
Camargo has more than proven he can handle 3B
If you are able to get the best catcher in baseball by giving up a guy that you have other options in his position you do that 7 days a week.
I am not sold on trading to many of the SP prospects. Pitching is so volitile and you can have 30 prospects and 2 pan out
The more the better and let themselves weed each other out.
I come in here to hopefully see some comments on the Padres, and while there are some, a big portion of this comments section looks more like something from Reddit or 4Chan. It’s pretty pathetic seeing what this site is turning into.
Why cause nobody talks about the sorry Padres ?
Make a comment about the Padres. Maybe someone will respond. That’s how it works.
I guess you just failed to see all the trolling and Xabial drama going on in this comment section. That was what I was referring to. I know how posting in a comment section works. Maybe you should think before you post.
All I keep hearing about is Urias and then they sign Kinsler. It’s obvious Preller is an idiot. You wanna talk bout the Padres tell us how stupid the Hosmer signing was or how much money they gonna have to eat to move Myers.
Braves looking to upgrade Catcher…….Padres need a young 3B.
Seems they could work something out?
Riley for Mejia?
Camargo for Hedges?
Not interested in either if it’s not Realmuto just assume keeping Flowers/McCann platoon
No need for a young catcher of the future Contreras is about 2 yrs away if Realmuto is wanting to leave or is out of the price range we have a guy who should step in as he is stepping out.
Hedges is not worth Culbertson let alone Camargo
You’re crazy if you don’t think a top 3 defensive Catcher…and possibly #1 isn’t worth something more than Culbertson….unless of course you’re one of those that thinks a Catchers value is only in his batting average?
Ask the pitching staff.
Plus Mejia is likely to be as good a hitter as Realmuto and has 5-6 years control.
Plus the Padres have Yates they could trade with a Catcher to the Braves.
We’re deep at Catcher, but we desperately need a third baseman. Hopefully that’s what Preller is trying to do.
All of his “interest” in Realmuto just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Yes, Realmuto would be an upgrade, but our biggest NEED is a third baseman. And starting pitching. Always pitching.
Lol like a third of the comments on this thread got zapped
Good.
Riley, Wilson, lower prospect could get it done for JT, try to extend him
then sign a big time reliever for 3 or 4 years (not kimbrel)
Try to work out a trade for Peralta but if not let Camargo play COF (270BA 22HRs) you have two CFs that canbe shifted, cannon arm
Braves were already turned down for Peralta.
Why don’t we just back up the Brinks truck, sign Kimbrel and go get ready for spring training. You know you want him. LOL!
Now that the Nats have signed Matt Adams, they no longer need a player that can play 2B/1B. Now the ideal fit would be 2B/3B, so they can have a backup for Rendon without having to keep Wilmer Difo on the roster. Lowrie seems like a good candidate.
Braves should trade pitching for Bumgarner and sign him to an extension. He’s durable and has a few more good years. He’s from Georgia and would love to pitch in Atlanta. Try to sign Britton and bring Markakis back on a one year contract with an option, at least 9 or 10 mil. He earned it. You can tweak from there. If Austin Riley and another good prospect or two works for Realmuto, then do it and lets at least get to the World Series!
If the Braves truly have the right to just extend whoever they want they should go after Mike Trout.
Oh and Madbum is from North Carolina, not Georgia.
Thanks for the correction on MadBum redrooster. The comment I heard this past season I guess was that Bumgarner was from Hickory, NC and was fairly close to Atlanta, kind of like close to home. On another note, I said nothing to imply that you can extend anyone. If we managed to trade for Bumgarner, I was encouraging the Braves organization to extend him before he reaches free agency after 2019, like the Braves did with Maddux. The window for winning is open for a few years. Bumgarner could be a big part of that. We have a stable of prospects that can get him to Atlanta. As far as Markakis, I think he would be a solid 4th outfielder for the Braves. He played all 162 games last year. I hear Castellanos from the Tigers in on the Braves radar. Also, the Braves need to spend the money on the bullpen. That is their most vulnerable area. A strong closer like Britton would be expensive but what they need to get to the World Series. Anyway redrooster, your insult came out of left field and you had no basis for it. Realmuto is an afterthought.
Umm I didn’t insult you. And I don’t like the idea of “We should trade for this guy or that guy and extend him” because 1. Odds are you won’t be able to extend him and 2. If the thought of signing him long-term is a must then you’re better off waiting until he’s a free agent and signing him for nothing but $.