Mariners first baseman Carlos Santana is drawing a fair amount of interest just over a week into his tenure with Seattle. The Rays, Indians, Rockies and Marlins have all reached out to the Mariners regarding the 32-year-old switch-hitter, per reports from Corey Brock of The Athletic and colleague Ken Rosenthal. The Indians and Marlins jump out as particularly interesting clubs on the four-team list. Santana played in Cleveland from 2010-17, but the team wasn’t willing to match the Phillies’ three-year, $60MM winning bid for the then-free agent last offseason. He now has $40MM left on that deal, which looks high for an Indians team trying to reduce payroll and get younger this winter. The Marlins certainly aren’t big spenders, meanwhile, and unlike the Indians, they don’t figure to contend during the two remaining years of Santana’s contract. In any case, it seems like a solid bet that the rebuilding, payroll-slashing Mariners will flip Santana, whom they acquired largely to help balance out money in a swap with Philly that was headlined by pricey shortstop Jean Segura.
- Along with Santana, the first base-needy Rockies have interest in the Indians’ Edwin Encarnacion, the White Sox’s Jose Abreu and the Padres’ Wil Myers, Jim Bowden of The Athletic tweets.
- The Dodgers and Reds have had “multiple” trade discussions involving outfielder Yasiel Puig and other players, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Puig’s “in play,” as are other Dodgers outfielders and some of their pitchers, per Rosenthal, who notes that they’d like to clear payroll in order to make room for other potential acquisitions. Interestingly, Rosenthal reports there’s a possibility of the Dodgers taking on Reds righty Homer Bailey’s $28MM to essentially buy prospects from Cincinnati. Bailey would count $17.5MM against the competitive balance tax, making his money easier to deal with for LA than his salary. But there’s no trade close as of now, Rosenthal adds.
- More on the Reds, who have expressed interest in Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. However, no trade is imminent, and it’s not clear what the Braves asked for in return, Sheldon writes. Inciarte would be an upgrade over ex-Red Billy Hamilton, whom they non-tendered last month. For the Braves, trading Inciarte would free up center field for Ronald Acuna Jr. Although, as a 28-year-old with up to four affordable seasons left on his contract, it would likely take a significant return for Atlanta to move Inciarte.
- The Rangers have engaged in trade discussions with both the Braves and Mets, TR Sullivan of MLB.com tweets. Unsurprisingly, pitching-starved Texas is seeking young and controllable arms, according to Sullivan, who notes that the Braves and Mets are looking for outfield help. However, New York’s seeking a right-handed outfielder, as Sullivan points out, and the Rangers’ most notable outfielders (Shin-Soo Choo, Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo) are lefty-swingers.
- The Nationals are reportedly willing to trade righty Tanner Roark, whom general manager Mike Rizzo spoke about Tuesday. Rizzo told Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com and other reporters that the Nationals will only move Roark if they add another starter first. As of now, there’s nothing imminent, Zuckerman relays.
Trade Roark!
You sir are correct sir.
Sir resign sir
I would suggest trading Inciarte for Shelby Miller, but he’s a FA this offseason after being non-tendered. Oh, the joys of the 2015-16 offseason.
Might as well throw in Dansby to. Maybe get them to take Touki to
is it going to be a three teamer?
The Reds are there speed dating.
I’d rather have Inciarte than Pollock.
I’m sure the reds would love Ender. But I’m sure the braves have a high asking price.
Mazzara to the Braves for some combination of young pitching (not the big guys) makes a lot of sense……
I’d personally rather have Gallo.
Wut
Please take Gallo. He’s painful for me to watch
I hope the Braves are talking to them about Leclerc and not any of their outfielders.
Some of these rumors are dumb. No way the Tribe wants Santana.
The Tribe could try to get Mitch Haniger included in a trade with Santana …
I’d love for them to get him, but DiPoto has already stated that Haniger ain’t going nowhere.
I wonder if there is a deal where the Rockies get Santana, Indians get Hanover and the mariners get Bauer. I’m sure there needs to be something sweeter to add to the Mariners pot by the Rockies…what would it take?
Bauer is worth way more than that.
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Carlos Santana is guaranteed $35 million: $17 million in 2019, $17.5 million in 2020 and a $500,000 buyout of the 2021 team option:
link to legacy.baseballprospectus.com
Santana reportedly was paid a $10 million signing bonus up front, bringing the AAV of the contract to $20 million, but Santana apparently is owed just $35 million going forward.
Would prefer Joc over Puig, but either will do. I’m ready to be excited about the Reds again, hopefully they make a few moves this week.
Can’t see how the Reds match up in a trade for Inciarte unless they are sending prospects. Braves might as well sign a FA if they are considering Iglesias. Maybe they are interested in Senzel?
The Braves signed Donaldson so the Braves aren’t going in on Senzel.
Could move Senzel to OF.
Seriously though, how do the Reds land Inciarte?? Inciarte isn’t the sexiest, but he is 4+ WAR and controllable for 4 more seasons at a steep discount. Reds don’t really have many (any?) attractive assets that would be a fair return.
They do have iglesias, but i dont think he gets ender and his favorable contract straight up
While I agree with you Inciarte is only a 3.4 War
They have aw uite a few, Trammel being one of them but they to lk d the Yanks no today in a swap with Gray…I like Joc for Scooter…
Is this English?
You’re talking about one of the best prospects in all of baseball, and he’s practically MLB ready. The Braves absolutely would be in on Senzel. There’s no way the Reds would ship him out for just Inciarte though.
Hope the Braves are talking to the Rangers about Leclerc
Also the Braves have Acuna to move to CF but they are already down an OF so to give another one up doesn’t make much sense.
I say just resign Markakis and let Camargo get some reps in the OF to give him some rest. He fell off in the 2nd half but nobody says how he played everyday and coulda used some rest.
The Indians, while being my favorite team, are a joke. Ownership and the FO are an embarrassment.
Curious why you think that?
Probably because they’re a lock to win their division as is, and have a great chance at the World Series and they seem ultra concerned with cutting payroll. It’s always smart to make good trades if they fall in your lap, but going out of their way to move a guy like Kluber while in win now mode seems silly to me. I’d be upset too if I was an Indian fan.
The Indians are not the only team cutting payroll.
Okay, let me get this straight: a fan of a team with virtually infinite resources, in a wealthy market, that draws to capacity at home and road, with TV-radio deals most teams can only dream about…a fan of THAT team is lecturing the Cleveland Indians ownership and management?!? Listen, pal, if you think your management team is a bunch of geniuses, have them try giving it a go in Cleveland. A true test of smarts is not guiding the Cubs to a World Series championship, it’s building a contender in Cleveland year after year. To put it in terms even you might understand: it would be like Northwestern dominating the Big Ten season after season. Trust me, the Tribe isn’t shopping Bauer or Kluber for payroll relief as much as a reallocation of resources to improve the team’s everyday lineup. The Indians have all the starting pitching they need to contend; what they need are some improvements to the outfield, bullpen, and upper tier prospects to prolong their dominance in their division. There’s nothing silly about it. What’s silly is spending big coin on Jason Heyward or Yu Darvish…those would be stupid moves in Cleveland. In Chicago, where mistakes can simply be swept under the rug, stupid moves are merely “silly.” We make moves like that which are only half as bad (ya feelin’ me, Nick Swisher?) it’s nearly catastrophic. It takes imagination, vision, and an excellent support organization to turn the Indians into winners. Theo just waves the dough, just like he did in Boston, and -poof!- Titletown!
They don’t have a great team right now. The only way they are going to win is if they make some strategic trades. Even dealing Kluber or Bauer, they have a top three that can compete with anyone else’s playoff starters. Their bullpen and their offense needs upgrades in order to even sniff a division series win.
I could not have said this better myself. Well done, Avory!
Hey Captain Sensitive I’m not lecturing anyone or any team. So pull your head out your a$$, and quit being such a whiny little girl. The Cubs have done a ton of things I hate and I’m always the first to say it. So don’t even bring that into this. I was simply saying how dominant Cleveland looked to be and it seemed to be a strange time to move Kluber, but you can’t see that because you’re to big of a sensitive dbag to think someone is giving constructive criticism. So STFU
Because attendance is down tremendously in MLB…
Frankly, most fans of big market teams are incapable of constructive criticism of small market teams. Your initial post clearly indicated that, and this post only confirmed it. I suggest you reserve your “constructive” observations for the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers, and we’ll be happy to read it.
Jeez, I feel bad for White Sox fans that we fumbled away the World Series in 2016. It was bad enough to be us, but It must be insufferable in that town to be a Sox fan. Solidarity with fellow charter members of the American League!
Thanks, HJ…sometimes I just snap….and I find it happens most when some self-righteous big market fan expresses incredulity at small market behaviors. They have no frame of reference of the challenges we face, but insist they have objectivity. Baloney. Go Tribe!
Clearly, you can’t take any criticism and go back to sucking your momma’s teet and good luck with that inferiority complex. It must be fun going thru life with that. Congrats on being the biggest b*tch on here too. Well done
I actually like most Cleveland fans and have had a lot of respect for their organization and what they did. I make one comment that they may want to hang on to Kluber and this self appointed small revenue club genius goes on a rant about utter
Nonsense. I like you’re other fans but I can’t f’ing stand your b*it h ass Avory. You little girl.
Just wait until they start blaming revenue on the stadium and then get the tax payers to pony up for a new one.
That only happens in Atlanta.
The Indians, while being my favorite team, have a joke for fans that think that way…
Agreed!
We have long had a unusually high proportion of numbskull baseball fans in Cleveland. But at least being a numbskull Tribe fan is preferable to the front-runners in the city who’ve never crossed the state’s eastern border but root for the Yankees anyway. It’s disgusting.
myers for nevin and/or humphreys. myers would crush it in colorado, which could burn SD at some points but dude has no spot with the padres now. get a good piece back if possible and call it a day
Myers lifetime in Colorado:
.348/.411/.670/1.080
8HR in 30 games
Not bad!
And two cycles
I guess Gallo wouldn’t be a bad pick up if he is available at the very least he is a legit cleanup hitter but he is so all or nothing
I can see the Braves trading away Inciarte if a move warranted it but I hope Braves fans aren’t in to big of a hurry to do it.
If we landed, say Brantley to a contract I would still not be excited to see Inciarte go. We would have one of the best 4th outfielders in baseball. Having Camargo to back up the infield and Inciarte to back up the outfield would give the Braves a very deep line up.
I can’t imagine they would relegate inciarte to a bench role. his contract is too valuable.
Brantley is a slightly better option than Markaikis. Just save money and bring back the vet.
Who is your third outfielder in this scneraio?
Can we stop with payroll slashing narrative on M’s. It is clear they are moving veterans for prospects and are retaining salary on most deals. They are projected at $140M payroll currently so it’s not like they are going cheap. They don’t have much committed come 2021 though
I love that they got rid of a lot of Cano’s contract. Which I though it was impossible, and I think Kelenic will be a stud. But it does seem they’re set on cutting payroll more, so I don’t think that narrative is a stretch. I’d be ecstatic if I were a Mariner fan. They were going no where as they were constructed in the AL West. They’ve built up their youth and saved money for the future.
Yep, that’s the word, alright, “ecstatic.” I mean, who wouldn’t like to backslide from winning 89 games? What Mariner fan in his right mind would be anything BUT “ecstatic” by the news that the longest playoff drought in baseball is guaranteed to continue for what, three, four, five years or more? Oh yeah, “ecstatic” is EXACTLY the right word for what Seattle baseball fans are feeling at this very moment. Where do I buy my season tickets?
Because Seattle was going to rip right thru the playoffs with that squad. For a self appointed baseball genius maybe taking a step back is he only chance for them. Again congrats on that inferiority complex.
60% of post readers thought Homer Bailey was no longer alive.
….many of them are related to Homer Bailey……
…and some are related to Homey Bailer….
The other 40% of the readers are Reds fans who, unfortunately, are very aware of Homer’s continued existence on the staff. His contract wasn’t terrible when he signed but he’s had injury after injury and when healthy he’s been a complete shell of what we finally saw for a few seasons.
Hilarious. I was one of the 60%
Bailey can pitch. You have to remember he came back from two surgeries, one to clean up debris in his elbow, but his velocity was there. It takes time and what people don’t take into consideration is that he hasn’t thrown much over the last few years, hell…I’m not his cousin but I’m almost fine with keeping him…
I don’t care what anyone says. When the game is on the line give me Carlos Santana. Clutch is his middle name.
Not Pablo?
Guess you haven’t watched him lately.
Dodgers should look into Scooter Gennett, has always been a solid player and had a very good season last year would be a great upgrade
Why not just sign Daniel Murphy?
Because he is a terrible 2nd baseman. If you laid a 5 gallon bucket on its side between 1st and 2nd and it would provide better defence.
Lol. True
Scooter is only moderately better
Hes better than the second basemen the dodgers had and dont need to worry about the “coors factor” like you would with Lemahieu but i wouldnt mind either one
Reds fan…at least Scooter has had two really good offensive years in a row with the Reds, so he’s proved his bat which makes up for his lack of range. Let’s swap Bailey and Puigs contracts, and go with Pederson for Scooter…
You won’t get Puig for that.
Could the angels be a fit for Santana? I know they are stuck with pujols and ohtani will have to DH but if they want to compete this year they could use a bat like his behind trout and upton. And he is probably better then pimple defensively albeit I haven’t watched Pinole play defense in years
I think practically anybody could use Santana. He can knock em home with ducks on the pond.
He’s a good player, but his contract is pretty crummy especially with all the similar free agents who would likely cost less. That’s the issue with him, money.
Fact.
Ok Braves Ender plays a wicked CF. Do other teams value gold gloves and average bat.
Stay tuned. I don’t see them getting a haul for him unless they pair up to land an Ace. Would y’all do MadBum for Ender? What would a deal with giants look like with Ender?
Ender is more valuable than Bumgarner. Bumgarner only has 1 year left and has injury concerns.
Need to just leave Ender alone. Let him bat 8th and play tremendous defense. With him & Acuna out there together it doesn’t matter who is playing the other spot and the OF defense will still be great.
Is Ender really that much better than Billy Hamilton?
Ender is one year removed from a 200 hit season guys
How many were singles?
whats wrong with singles for a leadoff man with speed
way better than Hamilton
Yes, by far.
1 year of Bumgarner wouldn’t be enough. Braves are in win now mode and Giants don’t have much that would entice them. Will Smith maybe? I’m sure they’d love Bart, but he’s the foundation of their rebuild.
Puig to Reds for Gennet
No…Puig and Baileys contracts swap, Scooter for Pederson…
Love to see braves pick up Gallo. We have plenty of bats to hit for average some more game changing power would be great.
Santana to Rockies for one of Fuentes, Nevin, Vilade, or Lavigne.
Santana to Rays for Nathaniel Lowe.
Mazara to the Braves makes all kinds of sense. If that dude figures it out he will be a stud in the middle of their lineup.
Doubt the Braves want Mazara. He is a below average defender and hasn’t figured it out at the plate. If they’re aspiring to be championship caliber in 2019, then they are better off going with one of the remaining FA outfielders.
Perfect chance to buy low. He was awesome the first two months last year and then hurt his wrist. I guess I’m just much higher on him then you. But yeah his D sucks, but with Inciarte and Acuna they’d be fine out there.
Thoughts – interested in any feedback. I’ll try to keep Teheran out of my list …
Use Inciarte in a package to get a front line starter. Preferably one from Cleveland or SF.
Trade Vizciano to the Red Sox for a NC guy by name of Jackie Bradley Jr.
Trade Bryse Wilson and Culberson to Texas for Gallo.
Bring back Markakis as the quasi 4th OF for 2yr/$14M deal. When we want bombs Gallo is in the OF. When we want doubles Markakis is. Rotate the 4 to keep fresh.
Go 5yr/$18M for Kimbrel. It’s a stretch. It’s expensive. Alabama guy who came up with the Braves – have to think if we are close we have some competitive advantage. If its October – he is the guy I want getting the ball late in the game.
Go find an affordable bench piece that can play a strong defensive SS.
Thoughts? You have an unrealistic concept of what the Braves’ players are worth in the real world.. Plus, the final three of those five Kimbrel years probably will be regrettable.
How is Gallo defensively in the OF? Honestly everything ive seen from him is hitting the ball a mile or striking out.
Ender
Acuna
FF
Donaldson
Gallo
Thats a solid 1-5. Hard to pitch around FF with those 2 behind him
Hmm. Thoughts. Gallo better suited for AL team and play some 1st with OF. I’m a Charlie kind of guy and as for Wilson i do feel could be packaged together with Dodgers on Puig.
I see Puig not in a Dodgers uniform. But don’t see him in a Bravesuniform. So not sure on the RF. Here is my thoughts. I think the Cutch Phillies deal hurts the Braves on a solid player for Kakis. So I see them going back to old man Kakis.
Still like Camargo in LF and Acuna in RF. Also Duvall was before the trade not a horrible player. Would y’all like Duvall over Puig? Duvall over CarGo, Duvall of Adam Jones???
Good lord…you need a hobby my friend, or maybe a job…possibly with the A’s in analytics..
Terrible. I don’t know where to even start but just know that pretty much all of this is wrong
No to Gallo! We dont want another Dan Uggla
Not trying to be a jerk, but… You want Kimbrel closing games in October? Did you watch the playoffs this year? They brought in Sale to close out the world series because they didn’t trust Kimbrel…
He had his time in Atlanta, but it’s over.
I also disagree with a lot of what you said, but this was what stood out. Haha
Puig to Philadelphia? That would sort out their situation if they can’t get Harper.
There’s such a glut of 1B/DH-types out there the fact that Colorado can’t find someone to hit in Coors is baffling to me.
I don’t think the problem is finding them, I think it’s more convincing Rockies higher-ups to fully abandon the Desmond at 1st debacle. Ideally the Rockies would trade Desmond and prospects to the Mariners for Santana, but I’m not sure how likely the Rox are to give up after 2 (horrible) years on Ian
Twins need to get on on Wil Myers.
Please do
Inciarte is an upgrade over Hamilton in ONE respect, his bat. Hamilton is freakin human highlight reel with the glove and has suffered losing that GG because of it…BH>IC defensively…
Carlos Santana’s remaining contract actually ain’t all that bad considering, He’s owed 35-mil next 2 seasons after signing 3-yr/60-mil contract! That means the Phillies paid him 25-mil just for last year, so now 17.5-mil avg for next 2 years is kind of a bargain…..LOL Thanks Phills!!!