Blue Jays reliever Ken Giles seemingly factors as a big potential trade piece. But the market isn’t bouncing with early interest in the righty, per Scott Mitchell of TSN (Twitter link).
That’s somewhat surprising to hear, given that teams weighing the open-market options don’t have many premium relief arms to consider. With Aroldis Chapman re-upping before the onset of free agency, Will Smith stands as the top available arm. If he declines his qualifying offer, he’ll come with draft compensation.
Teams seeking a true shutdown closer with loud stuff wouldn’t seem to have many other places to turn. But Mitchell says the Jays don’t anticipate interest building until some dominoes fall in free agency.
Giles had a hiccup-laden 2018 season but rebounded with aplomb in the just-completed campaign, turning in 53 frames of 1.87 ERA pitching with an eye-popping combination of 14.1 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. Giles throws hard and gets loads of swings and misses. And the 29-year-old is projected to earn a reasonable $8.4MM in his final season of arbitration eligibility.
It may be that teams already have a good sense of what the Toronto organization is seeking. Giles was talked about extensively heading into the trade deadline, even after a barking elbow diminished his standing. That health situation may still be of some concern as well, though Giles didn’t seem to have much rust after the trade deadline. Over the final two months of the season, he racked up a 25:6 K/BB ratio and allowed only five earned runs on ten hits in 18 innings of work.
That reaper guy aka________________ is gonna be allover this one.
troll_reaper
Cardinals or Rangers. You heard me.
Rangers have other options and way bigger holes to fill….
This is a pass for Texas
So then… Cardinals
Seems really weird they wouldn’t have a trade lined up. They should’ve been working on this for months.
Price will go up once the free agents are gone. Teams are going to get left out and get desperate.
That makes little sense. Teams that have problems in their bullpen won’t solve them with this years group of free agents. He’s the best reliever available
If the Jays are serious about adding starters., it might be wise to get a couple of those signings/trades done before making this move …he has value off the field, too.
Keeping him wouldn’t be a bad option but, If it was my money, Shapkins need to decide on what they want for him …and try to exceed that. His value may never be higher …and an injury that negates that a pitch away.
Timing. Something this management has been less than inspiring with.
Giles May be the best reliever in the block but if I am running a team and had the money I would rather sign Will Smith, spend the money and save the bundle of prospects. It should take some good ones to get Giles. After that teams have little options and the price goes up on Giles due lesser options. I’d wait for spring training and wait for a contending team to lose their closer and get desperate.
Not really many contending teams losing their closer in spring training!!!! LOL better stick with CFL football and your Argos boatman!
Hes been inconsistent his entire career. That’s probably why he’s not as hot a commodity as somebody with his 2019 numbers would normally be.
No he hasn’t lol he’s been a top 10 reliever since he entered the league. His track record is as good as anybody’s
Sub-2 ERA in 2015, 2019 above 4 ERA in 2016 and 2018. You don’t find that inconsistent? Give me a break.
No, I don’t. ERA+ dipped to a single team full season low of 96 in 2016. A season which he had a 14 K/9 over his second longest season, 65.2 innings. IF you want to credit 2016 with inconsistency fine, but 2018 is a different story. Until the outing against the Yankees (where he punched himself in the face) he threw 10 innings of 1.80 ERA, holding hitters to a .167 BA, .207 BABIP. He wasn’t comfortable in Houston, whether that was a result of that incident or not, he’s enjoyed his time in Toronto much more, and the Jays should be able to pick up some not insignificant value for him. Because he’s been pretty consistent.
Can’t really judge anything by only 10 innings.
All the more reason why I wouldnt take a chance acquiring him what if he’s not comfortable on his next team ?
The only thing I find inconsistent is that some people still use ERA to value a pitcher. When it comes to closers especially Giles you also have to measure closing situations vs non closing situations as well. He is lights out in closing situations. If he is in just getting some work in he doesn’t have the intensity he has otherwise and inflates his stats.
Giles was good at both last year. If he goes to a top team he would be the 8th inning guy which probably bodes well for him.
The only thing that I find consistent is that many people do not understand that ERA is indeed in fact a very valuable statistic,one of the most valuable by far in that it is based on real numbers and not manufactured ones.
Saying that it should be used for starting pitchers and long relievers,but has much less importance for short relievers and closers.
Even then it sometimes does not reflect an accurate assessment on an annual basis but over time it is the most valuable for anyone other than short relievers.
I think it’s more the way he fell apart during Houston’s title run.
Na he’s probably not a hot commodity, more so due to injury concerns rather than inconsistency.
I mean he’s had a wonky elbow for a while so why would someone want to unload what shatkins is probably asking for him. Although it is Shatkins so they probably only want a former 1st round starter with a few injury riddle seasons and a couple prolines
Over the final 2 months he “allowed ONLY FIVE earned runs in 18 innings”. That isnt too amazing. However his K/9 ratio was pretty outstanding.
Ya 2.50 era is terrible..
He gave up 11 earned runs all year. 5 against Boston who drills everyone. Giles was outstanding in 2019. Should have been unanimously voted player of the year for Toronto.
If I’m not mistaken his only blown save and a couple of those earned runs came against Boston on a missed ball that fell between Galvis and Gurriel as well so he was even a little more dominant than that
It was a different game
Regardless you are correct; Giles showed dominance. He should have been at the All-Star game and still had a strong showing upon his return from the IL. Now the question is deal him and continue the growth/development or keep/extend him and go all in.
Giles beats himself up.
jussie smollett?
Needs a red hat, and a couple of dummies.
Bigly!
Ha! Good one!
better than what his co star trade piece beats up
NYY, Minnesota, Houston, Oakland, Washington, Atlanta, Philadelphia, St. Louis, ChiCubs, LAD – All could use Giles. Some might need salary relief (Oak, Cubs, NYY). Plenty of teams. They can all use his services. Perhaps the reason things are quiet is because the Jays are wrestling with the idea of trying to contend in 2020. Maybe.
How about just all the above?
All of the above what?
Wow, Guests, Jays contending in 2020! It can be done but I don’t think by Atkins and Shapiro.
I hear the real reason things are quiet regarding Giles is teams want to see him throw in spring training to make sure that there are no lingering injuries from that “deep tissue massage “ stuff he was doing last season.
Spring training will do nothing to assuage those concerns. Lol he’ll throw like 5 innings in a month.
aplomb.
excellent!
If the Jays are serious about wanting to be better for next season, I don’t see how trading Giles would help that cause. At this point, they might as well try to extend him on a team friendly deal. What’s the point of acquiring starters, if then our bullpen would be the problem ?.. dont know how much sense does that make. Bullpen is already full of a bunch of no-names. Sign Giles on a 3 to 4 year deal, and move along.
He has 1 year left and they are still 2 years away at least.
Mario, I agree with you. Guys like Giles are hard to find.
Considering all relief free agents but one cost only money this makes sense. Once Smith is signed Giles becomes the next best option.
I wouldn’t touch this guy at all. My Red Sox are so stung by injured pitching and here’s a guy with a history. It’s bad enough when a guy gets hurt for the first time and sets the team back but this guy has missing time written all over him.
Giles was a head case with the Phillies and probably one with the Astros.
Maybe teams are onto this and figure that he has not changed.
Good teams need someone who shines in the clutch and I doubt that that is Giles’forte.
Perfect fit for Cubs. They are losing a lot of bullpen to free agency / and some they cut. Curious to see what cost would be
He a second division closer. He imploded for the Astros. I wouldn’t want him.
He’s been extremely effective with the Jays. He’s been fantastic. Every bullpen arm has down years every now and then. The truly good ones end up bouncing back. Giles did just that.
Sox should go after him … He has experience both closing and setting up
No.
There are two question marks with Giles. Is his arm totally healed and can he pitch in the playoffs? Otherwise he is elite.
I was concerned when the Jays first made the trade for him. But, everything he has done on and off the field has been nothing but exceptional. He has matured, married, had his first kid, led by example on the field, performed in an elite manner and accomplished everything this team asked of him. His arm issue had nothing to do with his throwing, it had to do with a massage he had at the all star break that bruised or pinched a nerve or something around his elbow. Once he was finally able to get fully back and healthy, he dominated again. I would love to see the ?Jays sign him to a 3yr contract with two option years and have him close through their competitive window.
…signed, Giles’ Mother.
G.F.Y.
Rude!
Just trying to be funny bro. Chill.
Your comment just reminded me of Welcome Back Kotter when Epstein needed a note for missing class so he wrote one himself and signed it “Epstein’s mother.” Your post looks like it was written by Giles himself and he signed it Giles mother. LOL?
Resign him, IMHO. We haven’t had a closer blow people away like this since the days of Henke and Ward. And that is with all due respect to Koch and Ryan whom each had a superlative season. I don’t trust Adtkins to trade him for more than pennies on the dollar! He is 29 and 8.5 million is fair value
No love for Bill Caudill? :)
Was Caudill the guy they called The Inspector? And they played the Pink Panther theme for him?
Same ‘stache, so sure.
Braves…. I know y’all may be tempted…. but stay away from this guy
Don’t worry, it will cost at least one low-level prospect to acquire Giles, and we know the braves are not willing to give that up for an MLB closer.
Jays need starters, Cards need Bullpen. C-Mart for Giles (+/- other pieces)?
Wouldn’t mind seeing a reunion in Philly..he could help them
He’s Inconsistent, Injury Prone and Wild. Other than that he’s awesome. Just keep him away from both Chicago teams please. Besides, Cubs are rumored to be bringing back Morrow on a Minor League deal so they’ve got Injury Prone and Inconsistent already covered for next to nothing. Hopefully Hahn is too smart to get sucked in.
Unless they’ll take Fulmer for him. LOL
Yanks were interested in trading for him. I could see him as an option if Betances walks
Dodgers please bolster the bullpen gets you go