The Dodgers reached out to free agent backstop Wilson Ramos with interest, per Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). It seems, though, that the Dodgers are angling for a one-year pact, while Ramos is still seeking a multi-year contract. A single-year deal for Ramos appears unrealistic, given that he’s one of the two best catchers on the market – along with Dodgers free agent Yasmani Grandal – and is coming off an excellent offensive season. MLBTR predicts Ramos, 31, will receive a three-year, $36MM guarantee, which should put him out of the Dodgers’ reported range. Either way, with Austin Barnes as the only catcher who has significant major league experience on its roster, LA seems likely to add a backstop sometime this offseason. The club is reportedly among those still in the hunt for Marlins star J.T. Realmuto.
More on a few other NL West teams…
- The Rockies have at least given internal consideration to pursuing Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post (Twitter link). It seems the Rox could also consider some free agent bats, with MLB.com’s Thomas Harding writing that Daniel Murphy, Neil Walker, and Logan Morrison are all on the club’s radar. Colorado received National League-worst production at first base last season, putting it in the market for help there. Smoak, meanwhile, put together his second straight solid offensive campaign. He’s due an affordable $8MM in 2019, and MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk noted in October that he’d make sense for the Rockies. Murphy, Walker and Morrison were less successful than Smoak in 2018, but they’ve experienced varying degrees of success and should come at affordable prices this winter. Further, both Murphy and Walker are versatile enough to line up at multiple positions.
- More on the Rockies from Harding, who reports that right-hander Jon Gray and utiliyman Ian Desmond drew trade interest at the Winter Meetings. It’s no surprise teams inquired about Gray, a potential front-end starter with three years of control left, but there’s no word no whether the Rockies would consider dealing the 27-year-old. Desmond isn’t nearly as appealing, on the other hand, but “teams were receptive to discussing” him, Harding writes. Not only has the 33-year-old Desmond combined for minus-1.5 fWAR since 2017, but he’s still owed $40MM through 2021 (including a $2MM buyout of his $15MM club option for 2022).
- The Padres are discussing a contract with shortstop Freddy Galvis, but it appears “unlikely” the two sides will reach an agreement, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. Now a free agent, Galvis spent last season in San Diego after the team acquired him from Philadelphia last December for young right-hander Enyel De Los Santos, who’s now the Phillies’ ninth-ranked prospect at MLB.com. The 29-year-old Galvis posted below-average offensive numbers (.248/.299/.380, good for an 85 wRC+, in 656 plate appearances) and earned mixed reviews at short (seven DRS, minus-4.4 UZR).
- Continuing with the Padres, they’ve reached out to the Rangers regarding infielder Jurickson Profar, but the chances of a deal happening are “faint,” Dennis Lin of The Athletic relays (subscription required). Padres general manager A.J. Preller is a fan of Profar from his days as an executive with the Rangers. However, he’s not having much luck prying the 25-year-old Profar and his two remaining seasons of team control from Texas.
Dodgers should just go get Realmuto, by the time his deal is over Ruiz will be ready.
Not going to happen if Miami wants Bellinger
Be ready for his 3rd year with the Fish along with Beli? I hope so
Miami would gladly accept Verdugo as the centerpiece as long as Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith is involved as well.
The Will Smith that plays for the Giants?
Nope the one from Independence Day, I Am Legend, etc.
@kaskro Not much of a follower of prospects I take it. 1st round draft pick in 2016. Dodgers #5 prospect. Catcher/3B. Cannon for an arm. Great pitch framer. One of the best defensive catchers in the minors. Spent almost all of 2018 in AA.
No they won’t.
Id do verdugo and will smith in a heartbeat for realmuto.
If all it took was verdugo as the center piece the deal would have been done already
The first name spoken by jester was buhler and friedman laughed
I see Freddy Galvis sign with the Yanks as fill-in for Didi, even tho goin to get “you think Yanks will sign everyone!” BS
Yeah but you do though.
Read the subsequent mlbtr article after this one 😉
I don’t mind you Xabial, but to be honest, you do think that almost everyone would be a good fit for the Yankees.
This post manages to mention every meh player in MLB. Good job.
For real. This is the most comprehensive update on mediocrity we’ve seen in a while.
Oh man, that Desmond deal is horrendous.
If anyone needs an example of how incompetent Colorado’s front office is – this is it. It was a terrible, confusing deal at the time, and looks even worse now.
Yeah, that was really bad this FO has made some positive trades for the club (Tulo comes to mind) but some of the FA signings continue to puzzle me.
Profar would be a perfect fit for San Diego as he can play both shortstop and third base.
Where’s ryan at?
The outrage
He be careful it’s not Ryan anymore. It’s redrooster now get it right lol. He will come back with WCR? Who is that? Lol classic.
But yes Ryan hates that Profar fit and has since it started being rumored years ago – the whole Preller/Profar stuff is played out. I’d love to see it but like the article stated it’s not going to happen.
When Texas played in San Diego towards the end of the season Profar looked really really good, but I do understand not giving up much for a guy who only has 2 years left on his deal.
If Texas becomes more realistic with what they would like in return maybe something could happen. As much as people have speculated that Preller would work with “his old boss” a time or two and that hasn’t been the case.
I remember Wil Venable for Jon Edwards and Marcus Greene Jr.
And the latest was getting Brett Nicholas.
For as close as Preller and Daniels were rumored to be, it sure doesn’t look like it based off 4 years and counting since Preller took over in SD.
I’m not him you dunce. I’ve proven this. Go spout some more hogwash about how the Padres were the runners-up to sign Ohtani.
That struck a nerve with ryan
Ah whatever, who cares. It’s a free baseball site and he and I subscribe for the same reason- because we want to see our team the San Diego Padres win a World Series and this site provides valuable information on how they are going to try to do that over the next hours/days/weeks/months and years.
Nobody comes here looking to fight and start stupid arguments. That’s my least favorite thing about this site. How childish and weird it can get sometimes in the comment sections.
But apparently they come here to spout stupid, already debunked-Internet username conspiracy theories (see: you)
Amen
Profane to Cubs would be lovely. Smoak to Rock makes perfect sense
Profar!!
Smoak rock!
Profane is better, he comes with four more years of team control. He does have a potty mouth though!
Defensive metrics are completely silly if they are showing that Galvis earned “mixed reviews” – he was stellar defensively. He left a lot to be desired with the bat, however.
Russ martin with 13 mil of the 20 paid for Kemp, joc Pederson and a pitching prospect.
Thoughts
Huh?
Im sayin jays pay 13 of the 20mil russ martin is owed. And trade him for kemp and joc Pederson plus a pitching prospect. Joc is included for the jays taking kemp and his money plus paying martin down to 7mil. What do you guys think of this trade offer.
3 dodgers for an aging Russell Martin? I know Matt Kemp is up there in age for a ball player but he sure was productive last year. Joc Pederson still has a decent ceiling ahead of him. I read your money swap explanation but I’d still pass.
Im not a Dodgers fan so I’m not very up on there players/prospects. Martins avg sucks in the 200 range but he gets on base 350 range. he’s an amazing framer and a great blocker. Its a Dodgers position of need and i read the Dodgers are trying to dump kemp for salary so Pederson is going back for a good catcher and dumping Kemp salary.
Just a thought as I’m a little biased as a jays fan but i really don’t think I’m too far off maybe jays include a prospect aswell
Why would the Dodgers take Martin, when they effectively have a younger version of him in Austin Barnes already?
The dodgers are looking for a catcher on a one year deal. R-mart to pair w Barnes wouldn’t be a bad solution for that. You aren’t getting Grandal or Ramos for a one year deal. They’re looking to dump outfielders as well. That deal isn’t terrible. I don’t think you’d see a big prospect goig back toronto’s Way but you’d definitely get a quality arm From their organization. Toronto would be taking on serious cash and giving them R-mart. I don’t know that pederson would go to Toronto thogh. Thy have enough OF’s as it is jamming that up and his arb salary isn’t prohibitive for LAD.
The Dodgers would basically be much better going after Cervelli.
Perhaps. Unloading kemp off and getting R-mart would be a huge boon. If it cost them a young arm that wasn’t one of their top arms. They have pitching depth in the majors and minors
I have to agree that would be a good move if Martin has good defensive side as you say. Pederson can’t grow until he starts seeing both L and R handed pitchers so he has no upside with the Dodgers use of cybermetrics. LA is using too much platooning and Cora took advantage of that in the WS. Kemp is pretty much done but if the Jays can use a DH that makes sense. The most important part of what you suggest getting rid of salary would be huge. . That would help towards reducing salary for harper.
Martin and $13MM for just Joc. Even that might be pushing it
Kemp has negative trade value. Taking him back is what gives you a pitcher
Could Toronto use a DH? Kemp was extremely well 1st half of the season and had the highest Average with RISP..
Tell me why Toronto would want to take on all this cash. Especially with the return, given Toronto’s timeline.
Money doesnt match
Trade like this will never happen and is a waste of blogging eyeballs and keystrokes.
Umm.. have you watched a Blue Jays game in which Martin played recently? Or are you that biased?
Amazing deal for the Blue Jays. Heck, just to be nice I’d throw in Kevin Pillar and you have a defensive replacement in CF/LF.
Dodgers would never green light a trade like this.
Ramos or Grandal would be huge in the Angels lineup, especially Grandal No draft comp with Ramos but better overall, less injury prone guy in Randal.
Get one Eppler.
Ramos is very underrated for sure. Angels need to do something or trout gone!
Smoak to the rox for 2 pitching prospects. Ryan castellani and one of Ben Bowden and Justin Lawrence. Or ken giles & smoak for castelini, bowden, peter lambert and one of yonathan daza or sam howard
Thoughts rox fans
First thought is Sam Howard is no longer a Rockie. He was non-tendered.
Next, I could probably get behind a trade without Castellani involved. I have a weird attachment to him. I could see something like Breiling Eusebio paired with a prospect outside the top 30 like Jacob Bird.
I have NO interest in Ken Giles as a Rockie and I doubt management does either after the Jose Reyes black eye (no pun intended).
Ya s moak would be a big boost and jays will trade him at the deadline anyway so trade him now to get a better haul, as its his final year. Tellez then plays 1st for jays. Desmond goes to left and i bet s moak gets 5-8 more homers a year and .015-.025 jump in his batting average. Works both teams as long as jays get pitching prospects
How are Giles and Reyes related in any way?
I was mixing up Giles with the guy he was traded for, Roberto Osuna. My bad. But Giles does still have the anger thing going on.
The Roix should sign Daniel Murphy. He can play mostly first with some second thrown in as well. His line to line hitting would be perfect for that ballpark.
That’s not a bad fit, I think he’ll want more than 1 year and I don’t think the rox would give it to him.
Dodgers should give Farmer a shot behind the plate until Ruiz is ready.
He’s not really a catcher. There is a reason he has barely caught in the last two years. The org basically expressed how they felt about him last after the putrid season. Barnes put up and the injuries to Grandal. They have zero faith in him and basically moved him off the position when he was sent back down. He’s not going to make it through the winter.
If the Jays could get Jesus Tinoco back from the Rox for Smoak I’d be a happy man. Still projects as a starter and could fall back as power arm reliever with that fastball. Jays need arms bad.
Finally someone with some trade sense. I think the Jays would do this ideal, Smoak for Tinoco, in a minute. Power arms are hard to come by so the willingness on the Rox even for a year of Smoak would probably not be there.
But this is a decent trade suggestion which is very rare in these pages. Kudos coldbeer.
Let Barnes catch with an AJ Ellis or Nick Hundley type as back-up; repair the middle of the bullpen; figure some way to get a four man OF rotation of Bellinger, Puig, Taylor and Verdugo to work and then figure out a way using a mix Pedersen, Tolles, Hernandez and any arms not named Buehler, Kershaw, Maeda or Jansen to pry Whit Merifield away from the Royals to play second base and bat lead-off.
I’ll take Hundley over Ellis. Dont trust at all the offense he put up last season. Hundley has a little pop
Ellis isn’t going to be in a Dodgers uniform again. Hundly defensively is not what you’d want in a back up C. Whit’s not going to be moved. That’s been made pretty clear. It also seems as though the package to do so would essentially not make it worth it, because well the Royals don’t want to move him. Beyond that adding spare parts makes it even less realistic.
I think it’s time to be face the fact that Puig and Verdugo are going to be traded. If there’s any significant upgrade Verdugo is, and really should be, the first to head it. Kikè and Taylor will roam again, and Pederson is going to be starting in LF. Toles has almost zero trade value. For all the talk about skill sets I’d rather Verdugo head any package v Ruiz. I don’t really see a major overhaul to this roster although it’ll look different.
I like Profar but for me, 2021 is the year. Profar is a free agent before then so the only way the Padres trading for him makes sense is with a sign-and-trade trade, which they should have done with Freddy Galvis last year…
The Dodgers could always bring back Olivo and he could eat more prospects ears
Smoak for Jeff Hoffman and an 18 year old rookie leaguer.
Blue Jays need another arm and need to open a spot for Tellez. Also saves them money.
Ahhhh, Jays would not do this deal. No way they want Hoffman back unless that 18 yr old is AN elite prospect.
If, and I stress, if Smoak can at least maintain his 2018 numbers, he will be worth a little more at the deadline.
Now I am sounding like Atkins and Shapiro, lol, “let’s wait” [and get nothing for him].
I am still for moving him maybe after the dust settles in spring training and there are some injury holes to fill around the league at 1st base. Smoak has always been healthy so it is worth the wait of a few months.
Let’s blow up this Jays team real good.
The operative goal is to get Tellez at bats in the majors and not AAA. All Hoffman needs to do is stay healthy. Do not care if he pitches well. Eat innings. If he turns the corner by simply being happy to be out of Colorado, a bonus. If Hoffman’s fastball is good he can be moved to the bullpen. The trade is strictly to fill a short term gap and open a 1B/DH spot.
Smoak needed to be dealt either last offseason or at the 2018 deadline. Asking for top-tier prospects is too little too late. Again, Atkins waiting too long like many other players in recent memory….
why would they not want Hoffman back? it’s been my understanding that AA dumped all these great prospects from their system for short term success and now they can right a wrong..
I’d be okay with that. I don’t think Hoffman will ever be successful in Coors and he is not really even necessary at this point. Could be a win-win deal.
Exactly. Jays have two needs filled; a short term starting pitcher with some upside and an opening for Tellez, or Vlad if they choose to move him to 1B. I’d hold off until Morales is gone.
Rangers won’t trade Profar, they want to play him at 3rd base. I don’t think he’s as good at third as Isiah Kiner-Falefa but to each his own.. Profar throwing accuracy, third to first, will allow a lot of extra base runners this year. Not sure the new manager has a say on anything.
They should be moving Profar to 2B and dealing Odor. Easier said than done with that contract.
Odor finally looked like the player that the contract was for. Why trade him?
Because Odor is the new Jose Reyes; a cancer on a ballclub. He will continue to be a cancer. Also a very undisciplined player on both sides of the ball. Texas should be building a team full of winners and Odor is not.
No reason to deal Profar unless we get a huge offer.
I guess this is over now that they have Kins
With every passing day of inactivity, and with every free agent/trade target who finds a new home that isn’t Denver, I get progressively more fearful that the Rockies will not make any meaningful upgrades to their offense this offseason. Their window for contention is so narrow – 2019 might well be their last chance for a long while. To not go all-in now would be a grievous error.