We saw robust free agent activity prior to the December 1st lockout, with 30 of our top 50 free agents signing contracts. Over $2 billion was committed to 62 players on Major League contracts, by our count.
With all the focus on free agency, the trade market was relatively quiet. Position players Tucker Barnhart, Adam Frazier, Jacob Stallings, Joey Wendle, Jorge Alfaro, Hunter Renfroe, and Jackie Bradley Jr. were the biggest names on the move.
Though the lockout does not appear close to an end, we can assume it will conclude at some point. Once that happens, a scramble roughly four-to-six weeks in length seems likely to commence, in which both Spring Training and all remaining offseason transactions will take place. Aside from the expected free agent frenzy for the top remaining names, the trade market figures to kick heavily into gear.
Recently, I got together with Steve Adams and Anthony Franco to assess the potential trade market. We wound up putting trade candidates into several buckets. The first bucket, covered in this post, is simply players we feel are likely to be traded, whether stars or regulars. One caveat: many of these trade candidates are interconnected. For example, the A’s are almost certain to trade at least one of Sean Manaea, Chris Bassitt, and Frankie Montas, but we don’t expect them to trade all three. Without further ado, we present MLBTR’s 14 Likeliest Trade Candidates:
1. Matt Olson / 1B / Athletics
The A’s are widely expected to hold a fire sale as a means of reducing their payroll. Olson, who we project to earn $12MM in 2022 through arbitration, seems highly likely to be dealt. Olson is controlled for two more years through arbitration. He provides huge power from the left side and is set to turn 28 in March. Olson’s 39 home runs were tied for fifth in the AL last year, as was his 146 wRC+. Olson is not only known for his bat; his defense at first base ranked second in the game in the 2021 Fielding Bible Awards. It’s simply quite rare to find a 5-WAR player with two years of control like Olson available on the trade market; the last decent offseason comparable we can find is when the Marlins traded J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies three years ago.
There aren’t too many teams that couldn’t find a spot for Olson. He’s probably the one reasonable replacement for Freddie Freeman that Braves fans might find palatable. The Yankees, Dodgers, Rays, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers, Phillies, Padres, and Giants are other speculative fits, especially if the DH comes to the NL as expected. The Realmuto trade was led by Sixto Sanchez, considered a 65-grade prospect by Baseball America at the time of the deal. Teams these days are extremely reluctant to part with prospects of that caliber, who generally fall within the top 30 in the game. The A’s are in the driver’s seat as they look for the best overall offer.
2. Matt Chapman / 3B / Athletics
The Matts have been teaming up at the infield corners for the A’s since 2018. It’s quite possible both could be traded once the lockout ends. Chapman has consistently been an above average hitter in every year of his MLB career, though in 2021 he was only a tick above average with a 101 wRC+. In the three seasons prior, Chapman posted a 130 mark, hitting a career-best 36 home runs in 2019. Combine that level of offense with Chapman’s Gold Glove defense at the hot corner, and he was an MVP candidate in 2018-19. He’ll turn 29 in April.
Chapman’s stellar defense – ranked second in the game at third base in the ’21 Fielding Bible Awards – gives him a high floor even if his bat slips like it did in 2021. Chapman is so good defensively at third base that ESPN’s Buster Olney has reported that the Yankees talked internally about the possibility of acquiring him to play shortstop, which he has done for all of ten innings in the Majors. The result is a player who is worth more than 3 WAR with an average bat, and 6+ when he’s mashing. A new team would look to solve Chapman’s recent slide in contact and line drives at the plate, but the A’s aren’t selling Chapman quite at his peak.
Like Olson, Chapman is an arbitration eligible player with two more years of control remaining. We project him to earn $9.5MM in 2022. The Mariners, Blue Jays, Phillies, Yankees, Rays, Rockies, and Dodgers could be possible landing spots.
3. Sean Manaea / SP / Athletics
The A’s also have multiple strong trade candidates in their starting rotation. We’ll start with Manaea, who has only one year of control remaining and is projected to earn $10.2MM through arbitration. Manaea, a southpaw who recently celebrated his 30th birthday, made 32 starts in 2021 with a 3.91 ERA. While Manaea has a mid-rotation profile, he did show career-best velocity and his best swinging strike rate in ’21, with his customary excellent control.
After a July 28th gem in San Diego, Manaea had his ERA down at 3.01. He then posted a brutal 9.90 ERA in August before returning to form in September. Manaea’s Statcast indicators are not particularly impressive, whether you’re looking at exit velocity or spin rate.
Aside from Carlos Rodon and Clayton Kershaw, Manaea is still better than just about every starting pitcher still available in free agency. He’d benefit many teams’ rotations, including the Tigers, Angels, Twins, Orioles, Yankees, Mariners, Rangers, Braves, Cubs, Rockies, Dodgers, Mets, Giants, and Nationals.
4. Chris Bassitt / SP / Athletics
Bassitt, projected to earn $8.8MM in 2022, is yet another A’s trade candidate. It’s unclear whether the A’s would deal multiple starting pitchers, but again, we wouldn’t rule it out. Manaea and Bassitt make particular sense because both are headed for free agency after the ’22 season.
Bassitt, a righty, is approaching his 33rd birthday. Since 2020, he sports a 2.90 ERA in 220 1/3 innings – seventh in all of baseball for those with at least 200 innings in that time. In 2021, Bassitt’s 18.8 K-BB% was a career best. Unlike Manaea, Bassitt also boasts above average Statcast indicators, especially an 88th percentile hard-hit percentage. Whether that’s enough for Bassitt to continue outpitching his SIERA as he has is unknown, but you can’t argue with the results so far.
Bassitt suffered a scary injury in August when a Brian Goodwin line drive struck his face, but fortunately he was able to return for a pair of outings in September. He should command a higher price on the trade market than Manaea, although the two pitchers are not that far apart in projections for 2022.
Wondering about Frankie Montas? He’s a trade candidate as well, but we’ve put him into more of a “plausible” bucket than “likely,” and he’ll be covered in an upcoming post by Steve Adams.
5. Lou Trivino / RP / Athletics
Trivino makes it a quintet of A’s to lead off this post. The 30-year-old righty is a decent reliever projected to earn $2.9MM in 2022. He still has three years of control remaining and he’s not making a lot of money yet, but there’s also not a compelling reason for the A’s to hang on to him this offseason.
Trivino posted a 3.18 ERA in 2021, along with a 95.8 mile per hour average fastball velocity and 85th percentile hard-hit rate. Still, his K-BB% was only 10.6. After picking up his 21st save against the Giants on August 20th, Trivino’s ERA stood at 1.72. Then he went through a rough five-outing patch in which he allowed 13 earned runs in only 3 2/3 innings. After that, Trivino recovered and pitched well in his final 11 outings.
Trivino doesn’t have great control, and he hasn’t always been a strikeout artist either. So it’s not an amazing profile, but he’s had success at times and is affordable and controllable. He can fit in somewhere as a seventh or eighth inning reliever.
6. Craig Kimbrel / RP / White Sox
The Cubs’ June 2019 signing of Kimbrel was going poorly until the 2021 season, when he put up a dominant 0.49 ERA and 46.7 K% in 36 2/3 innings. The Cubs sold high and shipped Kimbrel across town to the White Sox for Nick Madrigal and Codi Heuer. Kimbrel struggled with the Sox, posting a 5.09 ERA while being done in by the longball. The White Sox still chose to pick up Kimbrel’s hefty $16MM club option instead of taking a $1MM buyout. They’ve already got Liam Hendriks in the closer role, and signed Kendall Graveman to a $24MM contract.
As I wrote in December, White Sox GM Rick Hahn spoke openly about trading Kimbrel, saying, “We’ve had conversations with other clubs and have a sense of what is potentially available.” Hahn added, “It’s easy to make the assessment that if you put him back in the closer’s role, it’s what he’s accustomed to and he’s more likely to have success.” I don’t find that to be a particularly reliable assessment: put Kimbrel back in a closer role, and he’ll be good again. That didn’t prove true for the Cubs in 2019 or 2020.
I think the White Sox would very much like to trade Kimbrel, but they may have overestimated his popularity in the market at his salary. Perhaps they’ll need to kick in a few million or take a decent-sized contract back to make it more palatable. I’m not sure if an intra-division trade could be worked out, but the Royals have spoken of trying to upgrade their bullpen. The Rays, Rangers, Blue Jays, Marlins, Mets, and Phillies could make some sense, but only if the money can be worked out and if the White Sox finds a team that actually believes Kimbrel will succeed in ’22.
7. Kevin Kiermaier / CF / Rays
Kiermaier, 32 in April, has been the Rays’ primary center fielder for the past seven seasons. He’s picked up three Gold Gloves in that time, and ranked third in the game in the ’21 Fielding Bible Awards. With the bat, a league average season is generally the best case scenario. Kiermaier signed a six-year deal with the Rays back in 2017. He’s owed $12MM this year plus a $2.5MM buyout on a $13MM club option for ’23.
Kiermaier has been involved in trade rumors for years, but this may be the point where the Rays finally pull the trigger. Baseball America ranks Rays prospect Josh Lowe 44th overall in the game, noting that he plays a plus center field. Lowe also posted a 142 wRC+ at Triple-A, so he appears ready to take over. The club can also give center field innings to Manuel Margot, Brett Phillips, and Vidal Brujan.
Teams like the Phillies, Yankees, Braves, Cubs, Rockies, Marlins, Giants, and Nationals could be potential fits for Kiermaier.
8. Dominic Smith / LF-1B-DH / Mets
And now we enter the Mets portion of the list. Smith was the Mets’ primary left fielder in 2021, but they added Mark Canha in free agency. They’ve also got Pete Alonso locked in at first base and Robinson Cano set to DH. A Smith-Canha platoon isn’t in the cards, since the Mets aren’t paying Canha $12MM this year to be the short side of one and Smith oddly hit lefties better than righties this year anyway.
There are certainly scenarios where Smith stays put, especially if the club decides they’d rather give him a good share of DH at-bats than Cano. But, Smith doesn’t really have a spot right now and he posted an 86 wRC+ in 2021. It’s possible the Mets are ready to move on.
Why would anyone be interested? Keep in mind that Smith was drafted 11th overall out of high school back in 2013, and prior to the ’17 season was considered a top-70 prospect in the game. After struggling early in his career, he posted a 150 wRC+ over 396 plate appearances from 2019-20 and crushed both lefties and righties. He seemed primed for a 30 home run season in ’21. Instead, Smith spent about three months as a regular in 2021 – May through July. He had a 111 wRC+ in that time, but around August began sitting against lefties in favor of Kevin Pillar.
Smith is still only 26 years old. He’s projected to earn $4MM this year and has three years of control remaining. I think many teams will be interested in giving him regular playing time at left field, first base, or DH. The Guardians, Rays, Rangers, Cubs, Rockies, Phillies, Pirates, and Padres are a few that come to mind.
9. J.D. Davis / 3B-LF / Mets
Davis is another Mets player who doesn’t seem to have a spot in 2022. He split time between left field and third base in 2019 and served as the club’s primary third baseman in 2020. This year, Davis began as the Mets’ Opening Day third baseman, but spent significant time on the DL for a hand contusion and sprain, which ultimately led to surgery in October. By August, Davis had fallen behind Jonathan Villar on the team’s third base depth chart. While Villar is now a free agent, the Mets brought Eduardo Escobar in and he’s penciled in at the hot corner for ’22. As we mentioned before, the team also imported Canha for left field and may choose to give a lot of DH time to Robinson Cano.
Since Davis came to the Mets in a January 2019 trade with the Astros, all he’s done is hit. Davis has a 130 wRC+ in 893 plate appearances from 2019-21. A right-handed hitter, he’s gotten to face lefties a disproportionate amount in that time (34% of his plate appearances), but Davis has handled both lefties and righties well. It’s worth pointing out that since 2019, Davis’ wRC+ ranks fifth among third basemen, and his work is only a hair behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jose Ramirez.
Aside from health, however, Davis’ defense at both third base and left field has been below-average. It’s possible he shouldn’t be logging 1,000 innings per year at either position. On the other hand, we’re likely headed toward a game with 30 DH jobs. While it’s true that teams generally prefer to use that spot to rotate players these days, the NL DH is undeniably of benefit to a player like Davis. I’m not sure a contender would install him as a regular third baseman, but the bat certainly plays.
Davis, 29 in April, is projected to earn $2.7MM this year and has three years of control remaining.
10. Jeff McNeil / 2B-LF-3B-RF / Mets
As the only one who has played second base or right field, McNeil is the most versatile of the three Mets trade candidates listed here. As such, he’s the least likely to be traded. In fact, McNeil may end up as the team’s primary starter at second base in 2022.
Still, the Mets felt the need to trade for Javy Baez and play him at second base last summer, and Cano got most of their second base innings in 2019 and ’20. Escobar is also capable of playing second base. McNeil could serve in a utility role, but the club does have Luis Guillorme on the roster as well. It’s not too difficult to picture McNeil being traded, nor would it be surprising if he stays. Since there is overlap in positions, all three Mets listed here are interconnected. A trade of one may mean the others are safe.
McNeil started off his Mets career on fire, with a 140 wRC+ in 1,024 plate appearances over 2018-20. Though that didn’t constitute everyday playing time, he did rank 13th in all of baseball in wRC+ during that period. A left-handed hitter, McNeil has always beat up on right-handed pitching, but he’s plenty good against southpaws as well. McNeil is a high-contact hitter, with the game’s tenth-lowest strikeout rate from 2019-21.
Similar to Dominic Smith, McNeil’s bat dropped off late in 2021. McNeil was placed on the IL in May with a hamstring strain, knocking him out over a month. He raked in July with a 155 wRC+, but fell to a 68 mark in the season’s final two months.
McNeil doesn’t have a ton of defensive innings at any one position, but his work at second base has been solid and there’s a lot of value in his versatility and bat. 30 in April, McNeil is projected to earn $2.8MM this year and has three years of control remaining.
11. Willson Contreras / C / Cubs
Contreras wasn’t a heralded prospect until 2016, when he generated buzz before the season and took over the Cubs’ starting catching job. As a rookie, he was athletic enough to log 180 2/3 innings in left field as well. Contreras has been an above-average hitter in each of his six seasons, which is especially impressive for a catcher. Over the last three seasons, his 115 wRC+ ranks second in baseball among all catchers, even ahead of J.T. Realmuto.
Contreras ranked eighth among catchers in the 2021 Fielding Bible Awards, and his pitch framing has improved from earlier in his career. WAR is always tricky with catchers. FanGraphs sees Contreras more in the 2-3 WAR range per year, while Baseball-Reference has more 3-4 WAR type seasons on his ledger.
The 29-year-old Contreras is one of the last remaining players from the Cubs’ 2016 championship club, along with Kyle Hendricks, Jason Heyward, and manager David Ross. The Cubs have been unable or unwilling to extend Contreras, who is set to make around $8.7MM this year before hitting free agency. Before the lockout, the Cubs signed Yan Gomes to a two-year, $13MM deal, giving the club insurance in the event they decide to trade Contreras. At least, Contreras seemed to take it that way.
On the other hand, the Cubs struggled last year to find a decent backup catcher, and Gomes could help reduce Contreras’ workload. The Cubs have also supplemented the 2021 club with the pickups of Marcus Stroman and Wade Miley, so the team has at least some aim on contending. A Contreras trade is not guaranteed, although it will be a seller’s market for catchers when the lockout ends. A midseason trade is a possibility as well. The Yankees, Guardians, Mariners, Rangers, and Giants could be potential suitors.
12. Sonny Gray / SP / Reds
Gray, 32, was able to increase his strikeout rate significantly after coming over to the Reds from the Yankees in a January 2019 trade. He made the All-Star team and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young voting in ’19. His underlying skills haven’t changed a ton since then, but his batting average on balls in play returned to normal and in 2021, more home runs left the yard.
Gray tossed 135 1/3 innings in 2021, spending time on the IL for back spasms, a groin strain, and a rib cage strain. Still, after a fine July 7th start in Kansas City, Gray had his ERA down to 3.19. He put up a 5.03 ERA in his final 14 starts to finish the season at 4.19, his worst mark in a Reds uniform.
Gray is under contract for $10MM this year, with a $12MM club option for 2023 that will likely merit consideration. He seems to represent the clearest path for the Reds to cut payroll; we’ll be addressing rotation-mates Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle in a separate post.
The Reds have shown recently with the Raisel Iglesias trade and Wade Miley waiver claim that under pressure to slash salary, they can give up good players for little to no return. Quite a few teams are likely eyeing up Gray with this in mind.
13. Jake Odorizzi / SP / Astros
Last March, with Framber Valdez fracturing a finger on his throwing hand, the Astros made a late deal for Odorizzi. After signing late, Odorizzi made his Astros debut on April 13th. Weeks later, he hit the IL with a right pronator muscle strain that knocked him out for over a month. In September, Odorizzi expressed frustration after being pulled from a start after only 66 pitches. In the following start, he exited early with a foot injury. Though he did return in the regular season, Odorizzi was left off the Astros’ ALDS roster.
Heading into 2022, the Astros have seven healthy starting pitchers, and Odorizzi probably ranks last on that depth chart. 32 in March, Odorizzi is owed only $5MM this year. He has a $6.5MM player option for 2023 with a $3.25MM buyout.
Odorizzi has significant contract incentives for 2022: $500K for 100 innings pitched, and then $1MM each at the 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 inning marks plus $1.25MM at 160 innings. You can imagine he won’t be excited to serve as the Astros’ long man to open the season. The Astros might need to kick in some money or take back a contract, but Odorizzi can still help quite a few teams in the middle or back of their rotation.
14. Luke Voit / 1B-DH / Yankees
Voit is currently projected to start at first base for the Yankees. However, there’s a decent chance they’ll seek an upgrade, whether that’s bringing Anthony Rizzo back, trading for Matt Olson, or even signing Freddie Freeman.
Though Voit hasn’t been able to maintain the dizzying heights of 2018 (188 wRC+ in 161 PA) or 2020 (153 wRC+ in 234 PA), the problem has been more health than production. This year, Voit appeared in only 68 games due to knee surgery, an oblique strain, and a bone bruise and inflammation in his knee. He had four separate IL stints, but he’s expected to be ready for spring training.
With Giancarlo Stanton signed through 2027, the Yankees might not be a good home for Voit, who might have an easier time staying healthy with regular DH time. We project Voit to earn $5.4MM this year. He fits with Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis on the trade market: an interesting bat without an ideal defensive home.
If you’re wondering where a certain player was on this list, don’t worry! We’ve got all sorts of additional trade candidate posts on the way.
I went on the record at the trade deadline that Madrigal-plus was too high a cost for Kimbrel. But picking up his option after his implosion, with the express intent of trading him, was such an absurd, unforced error.
Throwing good money after bad. Trying to justify it.
Trevor Bauer to the Mets for Robinson Canó
Bauer will be suspended. Expect the longest suspension in MLB history not associated with PED. 2 years.
Won’t be 2 years. 1 year is the most I can see.
Anyone who thinks Bauer will get a meaningful suspension is out of their mind. Ozuna was charged with a violent felony that had him facing over 20 years in prison. He still gets to start opening day. Bauer isn’t being charged with anything. His punishment will be no worse than Ozuna and probably a lot lighter. Chances are Bauer doesn’t even receive a suspension at all. He hasn’t been charged with commiting a crime so there is absolutely no justification for punishing him worse than someone who was charged with a violent felony. The absolute worse punishment Bauer will get is a backdated 20 game suspension that allows him to be eligible to pitch opening day. The Dodgers are on the hook for over 87% or over $39.4 million of Bauer’s salary next season and he will be eligible to play all of next season guaranteed. If Bauer picks up his 2023 option the Dodgers will be on the hook for 100% of that, too. When I keep hearing people say “Bauer will be suspended for 1 or 2 years” it shows me how little some people know about the legal system and especially how little they know about how MLB will (not can but actually will) react to something that resulted in no charges.
Any player charged with a violent felony is considered far worse than a player with no charges at all. Ozuna had a violent felony charge and he is eligible to play opening day. Bauer had zero charges. He will be eligible to play opening day. Manfred is not going to open the league up to lawsuits by treating a player with no charges worse than someone charged with a violent felony.
I know someone is going to say “charges don’t matter because Manfred has the power to suspend players without charges in the CBA.” He had the power to do that with Ozuna too and didn’t. Anyone expecting him to treat Bauer with more punishment than someone charged with a violent felony is out their mind or just clueless as to how things work out in practice. Just because Manfred can doesn’t mean he will. The fact that Manfred didn’t before shows he’s going to follow the same plan with Bauer.
These massive suspension expectations are either coming from people who hate Bauer in particular and want to see him receive a maximum punishment without considering how other players are treated… Or they are coming from Dodger fans who want more payroll space and are hoping their team gets out of paying Bauer his record $45 million salary for next season. None of that changes the fact Bauer wasn’t charged with anything and Manfred has no justifiable excuse to treat him worse than someone he just let start on opening day even though he was charged with a violent felony. Anyone expecting Bauer to not be eligible to start the season on time is clueless.
We’ll see. There’s certainly more to it than just Ozuna was charged and Bauer wasn’t. The details of Bauer’s case were totally put on blast, which frankly MLB should not have allowed to happen. But because of that, Manfred is under more pressure to come down hard on Bauer. Also complicating matters is that Bauer reportedly plans to appeal any suspension (players who are suspended are allowed to appeal but generally choose not to).
I agree that he will only get suspended for one more year. Total it will be 2 years including retroactive suspension for 2021.
Hammer keeps putting out illogical nonsense in tome form. Not worth reading. So glad for the mute button
MLB didn’t have a choice of the details of Bauer’s case being made public. In California all court cases outside of Grand Juries are public. The results can be kept under court seal, but the allegations cannot. Then Bauer’s own agent responded to the allegations publicly and admitted that Bauer beat the woman and choked her into unconsciousness while claiming it was consensual. Even the DA in the case is not saying it didn’t happen, they only said they don’t have enough evidence to obtain a conviction. MLB needs neither charges nor conviction to suspend a player and they will give him the longest suspension they can, 2 years with one being retroactive.
Hammer, you can’t even get the simple facts correct and yet you wrote a tome again. I will answer and leave this long enough for you to read it, not that it will matter since you always take the trolling side with no ability to discern or even read the facts.
“He faces misdemeanor charges of family violence battery and simple assault, but when he entered the diversion program, a Fulton County deputy district attorney announced that those charges will be dropped if Ozuna meets the resolution’s conditions within six months.”
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32230924/atlanta-braves-ma…
mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/prosecutors-reportedly-…
ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/report-no-felony-cha…
Ozuna entered a diversion program and was never convicted of a crime. He was still suspended by MLB.
Bauer admitted his actions which are heinous and graphic. AFTER he spoke to his team, multiple teammates, including team leaders, were quoted as saying they did not want him on the team again. No team can afford to have a player like Bauer that admitted he beats women in the face and v-jay (apparently can’t use the actual word here) and chokes them until unconscious during sick (apparently can’t use the actual word here) acts on their team. The PR hit would be astounding. MLB cannot allow him to return without a huge penalty and they have the ability to do so with or without charges or a conviction. Bauer WILL be suspended. The only question is for how long. 2 years? Or 1 more year with the administrative leave just being allowed to stand and the Dodgers taking the hit in terms of his 2021 salary.
Why respond to him?
He admitted that he did what she claimed, he just said it was consensual. Regardless of consensual or not, being sick puppy is something he can and will be suspended for.
MLB needs neither charges nor a conviction to suspend him. I think they will suspend him for 2 seasons, 2022 and 2023. He will appeal and it will get reduced to time served during his paid administrative leave and the 2022 season. The Dodgers will end up eating his 2021 salary. That is what most of the articles I have read are saying will happen.
If you think they’ll leave the dodgers on the hook for two plus years without being able to play him I think you’re underestimating the importance they put on big names and big markets in the postseason. Plus like that poster says the fact he’s not being charged will show everyone that it is in fact his narcing on players for cheaters and his showing of just what pitchers are doing. The reason if he can do that without the sticky stuff then he’s not being seen as head and shoulders above most or all pitchers.
Let me rephrase… the largest amount of pay Bauer will lose is one year’s worth. I’m not sure how they will determine when he can play again. IIRC Ozuna has to play 20 games without pay but doesn’t have to miss any more games. And Bauer reportedly plans to appeal any suspension.
There’s a big difference between details of the case being public if you know where to look and being put on full blast.
If Bauer gets a one year suspension, he will not appeal.
His initials are TB but he does not have an infectious personality.
He will enter into a confidential civil settlement.
He will continue to be a jerk, but I think he will keep his mouth shut for a while. As he should. I think he committed a crime. You can consent to bdsm activities but only while you are conscious. And if you do not know the other person well, you can not be sure if they are talking about fantasy foreplay or literally want to be beaten hard.
I hope that the Legislature uses this incident to create some clarity. Law one, you cannot consent to someone beating you or penetrating you while unconscious. Law two, you cannot consent to serious bodily harm unless you put it in writing.
@MannyBeingMVP…
1. It’s already basically been confirmed that he will appeal any suspension.
2. I don’t think he has it in his personality to settle. Like, he apparently tried to sue this chick for his court costs. Looks like it’s scorched Earth if you try to mess with him.
Why brag about muting people?
Why respond to yourself Pads fan?
Your opinion regarding the criminality of what occurred isn’t really relevant…but I think Dave Chappelle already did a skit basically mocking your sex contract idea.
If the DA in LA, of all places, didn’t think they could convince a jury of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, that is pretty telling.
Because no one else will agree with him.
It’s doubtful the White Sox could approach any type of trade package for Craig Kimbrel that they gave up with 2B Nick Madrigal and RP Codi Heuer. That said, I’m convinced that White Sox fans would be fine if Rick Hahn was able to package Kimbrel off to the Mets in a trade for Jeff McNeil or the Phillies for Jean Segura.
Another potential deal involving Kimbrel could be a salary swap with the Rays for lefty hitting OF Kevin Kiermaier who would make an ideal platoon partner in RF with Adam Engel while also giving a tremendous boost to the White Sox corner outfield defense.
The Yankees might also be a trade partner depending on how aggressive the Bombers approach the conclusion of the lockout. If they pursue a SS in free agency it could open up a potential trade for one of Gleyber Torres or DJ LeMahieu, either of whom would slot nicely into 2B for the White Sox. Kimbrel could be part of such a package if the Yankees fail to land a significant SP upgrade and instead focus on building the back of their bullpen. It wouldn’t be the first time that NY has rolled with multiple impact closers or other elite bullpen arms in order to shorten the game for a subpar rotation.
Not sure why the Mets would want Kimbrel, Diaz is younger, cheaper, and honestly going forward better. And definitely not at the cost of McNeil. Maybe the Phils but they would need to sign a replacement for Segura who can still rake.
Unless they eat a ton of that salary, I just don’t see a lot of trading partners for a $16 million reliever in decline.
I’m hardly alone in my thinking with these Craig Kimbrel trade proposals considering that three of the four teams I suggested (Mets, Phillies,Rays) were already listed as potential matchups for the White Sox in this article. I also suggested that Kimbrel would be part of a larger “package” in most of these proposals. Additionally, the White Sox top priority following the lockout is to acquire a 2B who is a significant upgrade over their current internal options of Leury Garcia, Danny Mendick and Romy Gonzalez.
Also, any trade involving the Phillies would likely be contingent on them signing one of the remaining free agent shortstops, Carlos Correa or Trevor Story. In such a scenario, Philadelphia would surely prefer moving current SS Didi Gregorius. Landing Jean Segura would require the White Sox to up the ante.
Jean Segura was an All-Star caliber player last year. Trading him straight up for Kimbrel would be asinine.
Not if your a White Sox fan, @Hayes.
@Ducky very true.
Segura was not “All-Star caliber”. He simply had a solid year. He was middle of the pack or just below for 2b… and he will be 32 years old next season.
@baines He deserved to be in the All-Star game at the break. Had betters numbers than many who got in, including his own teammate. Injury slowed him down a bit in the 2nd half, but he still had a solid year. He’s still too valuable to trade for Kimbrel.
Yea Mets don’t need to be paying Kimbrel and McNeil is a more value payer for them so no way should they trade McNeil for Kimbrel.
@Marinersblue: The Mets having Diaz isn’t a reason to not acquire a closer caliber pitcher. I doubt they would want Kimbrel to take Diaz’ job. They would probably hope Kimbrel returns to form and can be the 8th inning setup man for Diaz.
I don’t think the Mets would ever take McNeil straight up for Kimbrel and you are right about no one wanting to pay Kimbrel $16 million next season. However, no one wants to pay Robinson Cano over $40 million for the next 2 seasons. That’s even worse. The White Sox are in desperate need of a second baseman. The Mets could trade McNeil and Cano for Kimbrel. That would actually save them millions of dollars next season even if they take on all of Kimbrel’s salary. It would also save the Mets over $20 million in 2023. It’s very possible that it could help both teams if the Mets traded McNeil, Cano and cash (to offset Cano’s ridiculous 2023 salary) straight up for Kimbrel and use Kimbrel as a setup man. It would save the Mets millions of dollars and in theory improve their bullpen while also unloading Cano who we know they don’t want. The White Sox, meanwhile, are starved for a 2nd baseman so some combination of Cano and McNeil could really help their team and they might not be willing to make that move to save the Mets millions of dollars unless McNeil is in the package in case Cano goes bust. It makes sense that way.
Well the White Sox already passed on paying Kimbrel $1m to go away so the absolute minimum offer they would accept for him has a net value of -$1m. At least during the current offseason.
thelegendaryharambe
the absolute minimum offer they would accept for him has a net value of -$1m.
================================
That’s what they need to break even, What they need to accept is probably a bit lower. My guess is that they eat no less than another $2M on the deal.
@JoeBrady If Kimbrel’s value to them was that low they would have declined his option. There is no reason they couldn’t do that. Don’t say they misread the market. How hard is it to simply ask the other GMs if they want Kimbrel at $15m before the option deadline rolls around and decline the option if they all say no?
So, you want to put the game’s best defensive center fielder im RF?
Kevin Kiermaier sharing RF as the strong side platoon partner with Adam Engel is a no-brainer for a White Sox team that already employs a much younger and immensely talented Gold Glove CF in Luis Robert. ‘La Pantera’ is a superstar in the making, one who will be entrenched in CF for the next decade.
Sounds like an incredible waste of CF talent. I highly doubt any team will be trading for KK to play anything but CF. Maybe in a few years, but not now.
StPeteStingRays
So, you want to put the game’s best defensive center fielder im RF?
==============================
That almost never happens.
Except oddly enough on the Rays who use 2 strong defensive CF’ers in RF all the time.
Margot & Phillips. Didn’t think that was a thing either before the Rays started doing it. I’ve never thought RF defense would be worth sacrificing the bat but the 2 of them have formed a pretty good platoon.
& Engel actually hit righties very well last year. Not lefties. That seems like a clunky platoon. Especially given Kiermaier’s salary.
Right, because Kevin Kiermaier is the best option at CF in MLB. Exactly my point. So you don’t put KK at RF.
KK basically loses more than half his value once you move him off CF. Doesn’t have the bat for RF.
Better to not tie yourself in knots trying to come up with trades that make absolutely no sense and just say the White Sox would not be interested in Kiermaier because they already have Luis Robert.
Yes, but the Chapman/Britton/Ottavino plan didn’t work out. Cashman probably will spend elsewhere.
kevins
Yes, but the Chapman/Britton/Ottavino plan didn’t work out.
=================================
Ahh yes, those were the good old LOL days. I remember the NY writers going on about how that was going to be the best BP in history, and they’d win every game after the 6th inning.
The only problems were:
a) While it was good, it wasn’t great. They finished 5th in ERA.
b) The writers, as always, failed to consider the cost and lost opportunities. Their BP was in the range of $50M+.. They finished 24 ERs better than the RS, but the RS might not have spent more than $10M.
It did actually work out in 2019 when they were all signed. The highest ERA was Chapman at 2.2. The problem is that Ottavino sucked after, Chappy hasn’t been as dominate and Britton’s been injured.
All 3 of those guys did their job in 19. The Middle/long relievers were absolutely terrible and inflated the total bullpen ERA. That and the SP wasn’t very good. But those 3 were actually weapons together.
Kimbrel and prospect package for a Haniger-led package.
The M’s don’t need anymore relief pitchers. They just added Ken Giles and Andrez Munoz to a robust RP group. They are looking for a No. 2 starter.
I understand why you would want Haniger but he is a corner stone and is unlikely to be traded. Even if a deal was struck, Kimbrel is older and more expensive. Haniger is low miles since he was out injured for a while. He could also serve as DH while Kimbrel will soon be done. With the No. 30 farm system the White Sox don’t have the prospect capital to do it.
M’s have zero need for Kimbrel. They have better closers(Sewald, Steckenrider,Castillo, Giles, and phenom Munoz all can close). Seattle has going into next year one of the best bullpens in MLB.
They are not giving up Haniger or anyone else for Kimbrel. If anything the M’s will be dangle one of their BP pieces for either a SP and/or infield depth.
Alternate headline: “Hey A’s fans, go F yourselves!”
I was wondering why he took time to write or type the names. It would have been just as accurate to say anyone on green and gold. Maybe just mention the guys they aren’t moving.
Or just say the A’s 40-man roster.
Just start at the top of the salaries and work your way down. Oh, hey look, done already.
Owner interference?
“Boy, I built up this team; I can tear it down.”
Have to be wanted to be a trade candidate.
Man I was hoping some Phillies made this list
Phillies are buyers. Once they signed Harper and doubled down with JT they are attempting to contend. They didn’t hire DD to rebuild. And their old shortstops aren’t in demand.
Didi should be on this list. Get him gone.
Didi has close to 0 trade value.
“Perhaps they’ll need to kick in a few million or take a decent-sized contract back to make it (trading Craig Kimbrel) more palatable.“
Well that’s a silly thing to say. Of course they won’t. They JUST picked up his option. If they wanted to pay to get rid of him they would have just paid the $1m buyout. It’s not like they didn’t have a chance to ask around and see who was or wasn’t interested in him before the deadline to accept his option. Them accepting the option means either A) Teams were interested at that price or B) The White Sox themselves are interested at that price.
I think they had limited ability to assess his trade market prior to Nov 5, and as I said in the post, overestimated it.
4-5 months later on the eve of the season, the two choices they faced in November will not be relevant. They’ll just be looking at the market at that time – March, April, whenever – vs. their desire to pay him $16MM.
They didn’t blindly go into the offseason with no idea whether or not teams would be interested in Kimbrel at $15m. Or at least they reasonably shouldn’t have. All they had to do was call the other GM’s and ask “Do you want this guy?” Then if no one says yes, pay the buyout.
Alright man. I said what I thought. You’re free to disagree with it.
Would take a staggering level of incompetence from the White Sox front office to do that is what I’m saying.
Well how did they acquire Kimbrel in the first place? Might tell you the competence level they are working with.
Not really. White Sox were simply unwilling to admit how bad the deal worked out for them, which would be the exact reaction had they released him.
This way, even if they do need to pick up a few million or more they can get something useful back. None of those factors are a concern to the acquiring team who are just looking at it from an acquisition cost perspective, and based on all of the available data there is no way his is getting that AAV had he been an FA
@Year-long offseason Teams overpay in win-now moves at the deadline all the time. They don’t fail to simply ask teams if they are interested in a guy before exercising his option in an attempt to trade him all the time, or really ever.
@Dustyslambchops23 The White Sox exercising his option means they would have give him that AAV as a free agent. It’s only for one year and teams would generally rather give in on AAV than years.
If what they get back isn’t worth more than whatever part of the contract they are eating they will simply keep him.
Right, the team that just acquired him who gave up a young potentially impact player for him, which most certainly impacted their evaluation.
By including that in their evaluation, they are doubling down on a mistake.
@Dustyslambchops23 Your argument is basically the sunk cost fallacy on display. Nick Madrigal isn’t coming back. The pertinent question is “Is one year of Craig Kimbrel worth $15m?”
Precisely. You clearly get it yet your first reaction was to call the notion of including money or taking money back silly?
No that’s not the pertinent question. The pertinent question is, did the CWS accurately predict the market for Kimbrel. So whether it was sunk fallacy or mismanagement or other, the answer is clear to most people that, no they did not accurately asses his value.
@Dustylambchops23 It would be silly. I would expect better from someone in charge of running a MLB organization.
Mistakes are made all the time by GMs, even the best ones.
@Dustyslambchops23 Big difference between a mistake and incompetence bordering on negligence. How hard is it to simply ask the other GM’s in the days between the end of the WS and the option deadline if they are willing to take him? No need for posturing or trying to play the other GM’s against each other.
How hard would it have been to trade him and let the other team pick up the option, much like Cincinnati did with Barnhart. My thought is if they did ask around, they didn’t get an offer they liked, or he would have been traded right then. Yet they still chose to pick up the option. That’s on the CWS.
Im with yearlong. It was a bad trade and if they can make a bad trade they can make a bad contract decision. You would like to think they had offers. Worst case it was a good comment and I was thinking the same thing. Still better than the Nova trade.
@YourDreamGM Again. Teams overpay in win-now deadline trades every year. I have never seen a team exercise a club option only to eat money to get rid of the guy before any more games are played. And there’s a reason for that.
@stymeedone If they “didn’t get an offer they liked” then that means they are prepared to go into the season with him on the roster. If they weren’t, any offer would be a good offer.
I believe they are willing to keep him all year or think they can trade him. I just thought it was a humorous post and I don’t hold the white sox decision makers in high regard.
Imo, the answer is a resounding yes. If the White Sox had exercised the $1MM buyout on Craig Kimbrel’s contract he would have easily landed a contract worth at least $15MM over one year from a team in clear need of a closer. Chances are he could have signed a FA deal with that AAV for 2-3 seasons with enough competitors bidding on him. After his poor showing as a setup man with the White Sox down the stretch it is highly unlikely that:
1-Kimbrel would be offered a contract to be a setup reliever.
2-Kimbrel himself would reject any offer where he wasn’t guaranteed the closer role.
Kimbrel would’ve cleared the amount of money on his option. He won’t fetch anywhere close to a Nick Madrigal in value today but he has surplus value.
We’re talking about a bad half. I don’t think Kimbrel is incapable of being a good set up man either. I’m sure his preference, is to close. Which is fine because he’s good enough to be the closer on at least 20 teams in baseball.
Why do you think that teams would necessarily be up front about this — also none of that is binding, and there are tons of relievers still on the market that can be had for less money w/o giving up prospects so any answer they were given can likely change based on the market at the point that it resumes. Failure to trade him prior to the lockout means the market they judged at that time is totally irrelevant even if teams expressed interest.
Bad logic there @Aaron. If Kimbrel would have easily landed a contract worth $15 million, some team would have traded for him. That is an absolute. With his recent production and health, Kimbrel would be lucky to get $16 million in 2 seasons, let alone AAV.
@Out_of_Line 2 Because they have no reason not to be upfront about it. If we assume that the White Sox just want to get rid of Kimbrel (which most commenting on this thread do) then they won’t have to give up prospects for him, just take his contract.
Again, there is no misjudging the market. The White Sox didn’t have to GUESS if teams would be interested in Kimbrel. There is a reason you never see teams paying to get rid of a guy in the same offseason that they exercised their club option on him.
@outinleftfield We already know for a fact that the White Sox would have given Kimbrel at least 1/$15m in FA. Either than or teams expressed interest in trading for him but a trade just wasn’t consummated before the transactions freeze was implemented. Why would the White Sox exercise a 1/15m option on a guy if he “would be lucky to get 2/$16m?” I don’t think even the Rockies are that incompetent.
The White Sox did not sign Kimbrel in FA. It was an option year, not FA. Totally different animal. From multiple articles here on this site, in the Sun, the Athletic, ESPN, and other sites, its apparent that no teams expressed an interest in obtaining him without the White Sox including money or prospects in the trade. So that points clearly to the fact that no team would have paid $15 million for 1 year for him in FA. The White Sox misread the market badly or simply did not want to admit their mistake. Instead they doubled down. Ego of the GM or owner got in the way of making the smart decision of cutting ties.
@outinleftfield What does it matter if it was a club option vs. FA? The point is they CHOSE to pay him $15m. No one forced them to. I know that this isn’t allowed in the first place but what you are suggesting is a team paying to get rid of a guy in the same offseason they signed him. That’s just not going to happen. If no one is willing to take Kimbrel unless they attach money/prospects they will simply keep him.
OutinLF
that comment is absolute garbage. Kimbrel finished the year with a 2.41 FIP even after the bad 2nd half. Start linking your articles. Absolutely ludicrous to believe Kimbrel wouldn’t fetch a 1/16 on the open market.
Hmm, thought Jose Ramirez might show up here. But maybe Cleveland will keep him with all the changes going on there.
We have an “impact player/long shot” bucket for certain players, and that’s where Ramirez fell for us.
There we go. Where he should be. Many of my fellow jays fans are acting like we already have him.
Yes I don’t understand the huge assumption he’ll be traded. They’re gonna want to give their fans something to watch in their first year as the Guardians, he’s not a FA after this season AND he’s still not expensive.
They are willing to wait until trade deadline and see how they look. They received top dollar for 1 year and 1 year and 2 months players. They know what they are doing.
Vlada…SFes- you should hear some of the Jose Ramirez trade ideas submitted by my fellow Seattle Mariner fans!
One guy sent in a trade proposal to acquire Ramirez AND Bieber!! Haha! I’m It was That guy in your MLB fantasy league who offers you a trade of 4 waiver wire type players (like Yarborough, Didi, Hosmer and Kopech) for Corbin Burnes and Jose Ramirez. You know, the guy who actually thinks he’s got a half a chance because he’s sending you twice as many players!!
Jim Bowden and many Blue Jay fans have had trade proposals for Jose Ramirez that have just as bad.
If Bowden writes or says it, its bad. The guy should be on this board, not getting paid to write for the Athletic. Most of the proposals here and assessments of players are at least somewhat in the realm of reality.
If Ramirez is not treated, then a make the guardians great again campaign should be created
Free Jose Ramirez
The Rays love guys named Lowe
I mean it’s no Smith. Hahah
But, is Lowe not a common name around your neck of the woods?
I get the Oakland fire sale, but they are definitely one of the more crafty and scrappy teams in baseball and continue to produce with an inferior product. It’s just sad that their hands being forced at this point and at the rate they are going Pauson might be the the opening day SS without playing a game of pro ball yet.
If they produce, its not an inferior product.
I believe every team can afford a 100 million payroll. Not that they should every year. A’s made a solid effort to contend last year and fell short. Now seems like the time to maximize trade values and restock the farm. I refuse to believe they can’t afford to pay arbitration salary. If that was the case then baseball as we know it is done for a small market teams would have sold already or currently on the market.
This wild A’s fire sale talk got started when the A’s let Bob Melvin go. Somebody believed that he was let go to save $3 million; which was a ridiculous idea. If anybody saw how the A’s played last season it’s no mystery why Melvin was let go. There is no way there is going to be a fire cell when the A’s are about to get a major vote for a stadium before the start of the season. It’s just not going to happen.
I wondered about that myself? Everyone around baseball seems convinced they’re selling half the roster.
Given the state of the A’s farm system if you’re going to sell some combo of Chappy, Olson, & the 3 pitchers—you might as well sell them all.
None of them fit your competitive time frame if you start subtracting. Maybe you hold Chapman bc he’s coming off a down year but if any of the rest are going to go—-sell them all now.
If the qualifying offer is still around with the new CBA they really don’t need to trade any of these guys. At minimum they can wait and see until the deadline
I don’t think there’s anyway the A’s are going to lose these guys for comp picks. Or risk paying 18Mm a year to Manaea, Trivino or Bassitt.
Trivino is an automatic accept & I wouldn’t say Bassitt & Manaea are guaranteed declines. Bassitt just tossed a career high 157 innings and will be approaching his 34th birthday when FA hits next year. Manaea has had health issues..
& we’re talking about the team that didn’t offer a QO to Liam Hendriks or Marcus Semien.
Hendriks was a slam dunk QO guy. (semien I would’ve actually done the same to and been completely wrong because he obviously killed it in Toronto.)
What if they lose their stadium vote before the lockout ends?
Or they’d run them like they do now and be more concerned with the appreciation of the asset than the income it brings in year to year.
Every team can afford more than that. No team’s revenue will be less than $250 million, so every one can afford at least $120 million.
Source for MLB team operating expenses?
Bleacher Report had several of them at one point or another, at least the ones I looked up. I haven’t been able to find many (except the largest market teams) for ‘21, but ‘18, ‘19 should be available & a pretty good basis for confirming assumptions.
They’re probably only going to trade 1 of the 3 pitchers.
And the A’s are never trading Trevino, yet there is a spot for him on the list.
Why?
No team would want him. He can’t get left-handed hitters out.
Lefties hit .218 against him in 2020, so perhaps there is another team out there that sees something.
Cute cherry picking from two years ago. Try actual data. He can’t get LH hitters out.
Trivino career vs LH .255/.342/.409
Trivino 2021 vs LH .282/.388/.408
That Madrigal deal is pure thievery – well done, Cubs.
Good trade for Cubs but not as good as Eloy and Cease for Jose Quintana.
Quintana wears a ring. Cease and Eloy do not. Nuff said.
Stymee—I missed it…Quintana didn’t wear any ring while pitching for the Cubs.
@stymeedone AKA the great defender of the pitcher win stat what year did Jose Quintana win a ring?
Still waiting on your rebuttal about that made up ring you mentioned. Is it a secret decoder ring?? Mood ring?? Maybe…it’s a ring pop!! There’s an awful lot of rings he could be wearing, but whatever one you’re referring to, it’s not a WS one. Facts.
Denny, good point. That, too, is an ugly deal.
No kidding
Madrigal has very little to do with it——Kimbrel was acquired as the last piece to win a World Series. It was a failure of a trade for the Sox no matter what they gave up and whether or not they exercised the option.
Sox fans will justify the trade by citing they got Eloy and Cease for Quintana. Still hoping they win a playoff series in their career.
Cub fans will be quick to point out that trading Gleyber for Chapman turned out well.
It was a failure for the Sox because they tried to use him in a set up role. Kimbrel is and always has been a closer. It does make a difference.. And Gleyber for Chapman did turn out well. Or is a WS not enough?
Madrigal has little to do with being the key acquisition in the Madrigal trade? The historical context is irrelevant – White Sox got fleeced.
Parks…the point was that Kimbrel failed to help win a WS. There’s zero guarantee that Madrigal will be a star.
Madrigal can flat-out hit. Fleeced. White Sox exercised poor judgement on both ends of that deal.
Gleyber has not done much in a Yankees uniform. League average WAR over last 4 seasons. Trade a WS ring for a player like that every day and twice on Sunday.
The only way I want to see McNeil traded is for a top of the rotation starting pitcher; otherwise, Smith or Davis can get moved. I imagine the universal DH, as stated above, will greatly benefit the trade market for Davis specifically.
Top of the rotation? He’d get a mid rotation guy which is still very valuable and needed.
Jeff McNeil to MKE for Adrian Houser.
Houser with 3 years of control and at $2MM in his first year of arby gives NY a solid mid-rotation arm that deepens their rotation.
MKE gets a versatile LH bat that can play the IF and OF.
Mets might have to include DSmith in that one. I like it for both teams, but there is some bad blood between owners right now.
I’d rather keep McNeil and just sign a pitcher. Houser isn’t that great.
So you are trying to say a utility player for a solid #2-#3 starter? OMG funny.
If Houser was “great” he’d return a lot more than McNeil. Houser is a prime-aged, ground ball machine that will give you a high 3’s ERA and 160-180 innings, and for 3 years. That’s very valuable. I understand why you want to keep McNeil, but you need starting pitching depth and maybe Cohen actually has a top end payroll?
Utility player? McNeil is a career 124 OPS+ …This is a utility player? You are vastly underrating McNeil. He’s a terrific hitter aside from last year.
Utility player? McNeil is a 3-5WAR player w at least an avg glove who makes peanuts compared to his productivity…and is under multiple years of control.
McNeil is more valuable than a mid rotation piece. Keep McNeil, sign pitcher. We need McNeil.
I like McNeil to Cincy for Sonny Gray.
Or as part of a larger trade.
I like McNeil but if the Reds trade Gray it will be because they are not trying to compete and are looking toward the future. I’m sure they would rather have prospects.
Mets payroll is already over $250 million and over $265 million for CBT purposes. Not much if any money there to spend.
Dominic Smith would benefit from a change of scenery. This kid still oozes potential and we’ve seen him succeed. I hope the cubbies make a move. I think he would rake at Wrigley.
I think he’d hit well on the North side too. Could also fill the 1B position longterm for the Cubs.
Smith and Peterson for Bassitt
Why would he benefit from a change of scenery? He’s incredibly popular in his own clubhouse. Why do fans always assume location is an issue? It isn’t. But I would like to see him get a consistent starting gig somewhere.
Location of his fat arse in LF is the issue. He needs a 1B/DH job pronto.
Kimbrel for McNeil. Fills second base need for Sox for at least next two seasons.
I don’t see the logic for the Mets though. One year of a pricey Kimbrel who’s been mostly bad for the past three seasons? I’m sure they’ll aim hire in a McNeil trade.
oops, aim “higher”. D’oh.
How much of Kimbrel’s salary will ChiSox pay? If less than all + a few mill vigerish, Mets say no.
Kimbrel and what else for McNeil? That isn’t close as a 1:1 trade.
And then the Mets need to replace McNeil. Trade a very good, needed everyday player for a decent but expensive reliever? Terrible terrible idea.
This is garbage. There’s no evidence the A’s are looking to slash payroll. Ridiculous. But every writer here runs with the notion like David Forst gave them a direct quote.
OK. If the A’s trade two or more significant players, the “the A’s are looking to slash payroll camp” wins. If they trade one or none, you win. Let’s check back here on Opening Day.
There’s a cornfield in Iowa that could really use your strawman argument as a scarecrow. The A’s have always been willing to trade anyone at any time. Just because two players get traded (no matter how “significant”) it doesn’t mean they are slashing payroll. Again, where is the evidence, proof of any kind, the A’s are slashing payroll? Why wouldn’t they have unloaded BEFORE the trade deadline? Why wouldn’t they have unloaded before the labor talks?
Under that logic, you’re right no matter what happens.
They were in the WC hunt and teams were probably not looking to meet their trade prices until after the impact FAs came off the board.
Why is it so hard to believe that the A’s would trade increasingly expensive players for cheap
players with much more control? Hasn’t that always been the MO of this front office ?
I’m not even sure what you’re saying. The A’s won’t make payroll-motivated trades because they didn’t before the lockout? They won’t make payroll-motivated trades because their execs didn’t explicitly say they would?
Nobody understands why you are saying the A’s are slashing payroll when no evidence exists (where are the trades?) and the A’s have made no gestures suggesting such a scheme (where is the direct quote the A’s are unloading?). It’s unlikely A’s aren’t going to dump Chapman and Olson – their defense makes their pitchers better. Why cutoff something that adds value to other commodities?
Sean Manaea is the only “significant” player who MIGHT be traded but that has more to do with his health than slashing payroll.
I still don’t get the “this didn’t happen in the brief November offseason that barely had a trade market therefore won’t happen at all” argument.
In terms of reports about the A’s…feel free to dig them up I guess? That feels like homework. It’s odd to require some sort of factual direct predictive on-record quote from the team, that’s not how teams usually do business.
If Chapman and Olson both stay put, you win. If they don’t, you lose. Or is that still a straw man because the A’s can trade any player at any time?
I’d like to know why the A’s don’t just have a ‘98 Marlins-esque fire sale this offseason. If a salary floor is implemented they can get the Padres to attach prospects to Hosmer.
Alright, I did the homework for ya. Here’s Ken Rosenthal from Nov 24:
“Oh, the A’s are still likely to trade almost every player with value on their roster, starting with their most coveted pieces, first baseman Matt Olson and right-hander Frankie Montas. Their available parts include even catcher Sean Murphy, who is a year away from arbitration. But it now appears unlikely they will embark upon a plan they initially had considered, cutting the payroll to a bare-bones $40 million.”
theathletic.com/2976747/2021/11/24/rosenthal-the-o…
Here’s another good one.
Melissa Lockard:
“Whether Oakland goes full scorched earth and trades every arbitration-eligible veteran or merely deals a couple of its well-known names, it would be shocking if the A’s didn’t make some significant trades to get younger — and much cheaper — going into the 2022 season.”
theathletic.com/2947495/2021/11/10/the-as-are-open…
Here’s Rosenthal on your timing question:
“Most if not all of the A’s trades, then, figure to come after the lockout rather than before.”
theathletic.com/2976747/2021/11/24/rosenthal-the-o…
If you are saying they will be dumping payroll, doesn’t the payroll going down mean more than who they trade? They might get payroll back or spend on a FA with the savings.
Again, where is the DIRECT quote from the A’s? You have speculation from Rosenthal and Lockhard, golly! Have they ever been wrong or sent on a fishing expedition? Gee whiz, I wonder.
David Forst in November, acknowledged that the A’s will listen to offers on most of their roster:
“This is the cycle for the A’s. We have to listen and be open to whatever comes out of this. This is our lot in Oakland until it’s not.”
You can say that always applies to the A’s, but they don’t go on record making statements like that every offseason.
Also — most GMs/presidents don’t publicly declare themselves to be open for business. That doesn’t mean those teams aren’t still motivated to make moves.
I doubt there’s anything that’d change such a committed and combative attitude, though, so we’ll see how things play out whenever the lockout lifts. If the A’s stand pat — kudos to you. Cheers.
For the record: I’ve always assumed the A’s were gonna cut payroll in the offseason, every offseason, since… like… 2002.
I think that’s a safe bet for everyone but A’s fans, as much as it sucks for them.
The A’s are one of many teams waiting to see what this next CBA looks like. I don’t think it’s wrong to say that the MLBPA has set it’s sights on the A’s, Orioles, Pirates, Rockies, Guardians and very ‘wrongly’ the Rays.
Tim texts Steve: “come read this garbage in the comment section”
which why Smith or David work perfectly for a one year starter
As will use him for a year or two then trade him
ummmmm,, maybe the fact that they said they were? Nightengale, Slusser, Heyman, John Shea, Shayna Rubin. Several others I can’t remember right now. All wrote articles after interviews with Forst saying the A’s intended to cut payroll. Forst said they were going to “step back” in the level of payroll. What do YOU think that means.
Anything Bob Nightengale says will happen, you can safely assume the opposite will happen.
Forgot Ken Rosenthal. He also wrote about it.
The A’s traded their manager (Bob Melvin) of 11 seasons where he won two Manager of the Year awards to SD for nothing… sounds to me like a team looking to slash payroll.
The A’s didn’t trade Bob Melvin. They exercised his option in July for another year. The also let Art Howe leave for the Mets without asking for compensation 20 years ago when they were truly nickel and diming teams.
I thought Art Howe’s contract expired the offseason he went to the Mets, meaning the A’s had no authority to let or not let him do anything. If I’m wrong I’m sure you will let me know.
And you think the “nickel and dining” is still not going on??
You’re getting super defensive when all signs point to a rebuild.
Why do you let a good manager go? Because they respect him and know that it’s going to be a tear down.
Pretty unlikely you go from 86 wins—lose Canha, 1/2 a season of Marte & Laureano and win 86 the next year.
Everyone in the division improved except the Astros.(who could still add Story to go alongside Verlander.)
If the A’s aren’t willing to add payroll then how do you compete w what you have? You’ve lost your entire OF. (Laureano you get back after he’s done his PED suspension—hopefully he’s the same player) you’re going to be starting likely all of Elvis Andrus,Piscotty, Seth Brown, and Tony Kemp. You hope Kemp can hit like he never did before again & the rest of those guys can put up something.
The farm isn’t strong any longer so you can’t exactly trade from it to add cheaper talent. All signs point to one thing. Don’t get mad at anyone for pointing it out.
& I don’t think the A’s will have to be bad for very long if they sell their assets now. The farm isn’t strong but you deal 5-6 of those guys listed and that all changes. You keep Murphy and you have Soderstrom as 2 more guys you can build around.
Howe’s contract did indeed expire following the 2002 season. If “Moneyball” was any indication (embellished or exaggerated as it were) Howe was never going to come back to Oakland (where he had managed for 7 seasons anyway).
The A’s job really isn’t that bad when you think about it. Over the past 35 years the A’s have only had 5 different Managers, and each one had a minimum of 4 seasons at the helm.
There were several stories before the lockout of Oakland wanting to slash payroll significantly. Executives said they want to get it below 50mil. I just checked and those stories are still there. Stories for MLB, The Athletic and ESPN. They have put all these players on the trade block as far as I know. Why would you say the is no indication they would?
Doesn’t the Forst “This is our lot in Oakland until it’s not” comment qualify as evidence? Or are you implying that this is the year that it’s not? Letting Melvin leave without compensation is some evidence that there’s a shift about to happen. Even their minimal gains trades like Andrus for Davis seemed to be desperate accounting. Some of this is just circumstantial evidence, but do the math. It adds up to changes coming.
The A’s have historically been trying to slash payroll. You don’t have to like something for it to be true.
I’m going to guess most of those guys don’t end up traded. Unless the lockout ends by this weekend (not likely) or the season is delayed to have a full six weeks of spring training there isn’t going to be enough time for all these teams to try to make big moves like this. We may see a temporary camp set up for unsigned players to work out and get ready if/when signed (unless of course GM’s are still talking under the radar, then thats a different story)
From the point of an agreement, I’d expect at least a month and probably more until Opening Day. Whenever that agreement may be – March, April, I don’t know.
I could see JD Davis and/or Jeff McNeil on the Giants
add Montas to the list he’s as good as gone
We also have an impact player/plausible trade bucket, which is where we put Montas. He’s cheaper and further from free agency, they could keep him.
Every year everyone including myself thinks the Mets are gonna be sellers and every year they give it another go.
After signing Lindor Marte Scherzer and others you think they are going to be sellers?
If they trade it will be players who are no longer needed for starting roles.
Trading McNeil, Smith or Davis wouldn’t be making them sellers. It’s about not having the ABs to go around and perhaps being able to bring back some more useful pieces that’d better fit the roster.
Few teams are concrete sellers/buyers in baseball at this point. The Mets are obviously in win-now mode, but that doesn’t mean they can’t trade from the MLB roster.
The Mets will never rebuild. I’ll wait until the next CBA before saying complete sell-off rebuilding will be less prevalent in the future.
You’re confusing making trades for being sellers. You know they’ll get something back, right?
Often do when you sell something
Would be cool to get the opposite view of this. Since the majority of these teams are looking for near MLB ready talent back, it would be interesting to get likeliest 15 prospects to be traded.
Could see Dom Smith being very popular in Wrigley. Seems like a good, easy going dude who would soak up a positive environment for home players.
He’s one of the most likable players in the league. Great personality.
“Since Davis came to the Mets in a January 2019 trade with the Astros, all he’s done is hit.”
This is a statement about his hitting and fielding.
#gotheeeeeeeeeeeeem
Defensively he’s a fine DH…
But he’s never played DH, are you sure he can make the transition?
I’m pretty confident
Tigers have a Log Jam in the Outfield of controllable Players. Could a trade be made for one of Oaklands Pitchers?
Reyes $1.5M +2 years of control
Haase 5 years of control at I guess Minimum pay
Hill 5 years of control at I guess Minimum pay
Baddoo at 5 years of control at I guess Minimum pay
Cameron 6 years of control at I guess Minimum pay
With Greene coming up soon
Plus a couple other trade candidates
H. Castro $1,5M plus 3 years of control
W. Castro 6 years of control at I guess Minimum pay
I agree! I would love to see them make a swing for Bassitt
Sean Manaea or Bassitt would be okay with me.. Both are free agents at the end of this season though. Sean Manaea is a Boris client so extending him may be hard. The Tigers did extend Schoop, a Boris client last year. So maybe they could work out a deal there too.
Are the Tigers already in a “win now”-mode, so that they would give up assets for only one year of a certain player? There are still FAs out there (like Greinke or W. Peralta, who had a good year in Detroit), who figure to get them through the season with only a slightly worse ERA.
Gruß,
BSHH
As a starter Peralta pitched on average 5.1 innings per game. That leaves 4 innings to run down & tire a Bullpen.
Zack managed to average about 5.5 innings per start.
Bassitt averaged 5.9 innings per start
Manae averaged 5.5 innings per start
Manaea is predicted to make $10.2 M in 22
Bassitt is predicted to make $8.8M
Greinke is predicted to make just over $9M
Why keep holding on to all those players when you can improve the team? Even if just for 1 year, anything is possible including an Extension if performing well. Never hurts to explore our/their options.
Tigers are buying into the hype and fancy themselves win now and ready. This is wrong. They are nowhere near ready to go for it yet. Like fans, they are letting a hot streak from last year delude then into thinking it’s go for it time. Big mistake. Not there yet.
Maybe, maybe not. But as Cabrera’s career winds down to a close they are at least trying to send him off on a competitive team
Good GM’s put no stock in “sending him off on a competitive team.” The Tigers are on the rise but we’ve seen from the Padres and Reds the effect that refusing to be patient and trust the process when you are rebuilding has.
Maybe. But its not like they are trading away top prospects for aging veterans
Correct, not trading the top prospects, just some of the players that are log jammed. A good upgrade or two & they can compete with the best of the AL Central. After that, whoever is on a hot roll at the end of the season, if we even have one, has a chance to surprise the Baseball world. Just put the best team you can on the field & play it out.
I love hot rolls.
Another tremendous piece. Very nice job of keeping quality content coming out during this time.
I think the Angels have enough capital to pull of one sizable trade. Thing is, due to said limited capital they really have to hit on it this time.
The Mets will trade Taijuan Walker, J.D. Davis, Sean Reid-Foley and prospects Ronny Mauricio and Joander Suarez to the Mariners for Sam Haggerty and a player to be named later or cash, trade Carlos Carrasco, Edwin Diaz, Dom Smith and prospects Brett Baty and J.T. Ginn to the Brewers for Christian Yelich and Josh Hader and trade Brandon Nimmo, Yennsy Diaz, Jeff McNeil and prospects Khalil Lee and Robert Dominguez to the White Sox for Craig Kimbrel and Adam Engel.
Glad there are no Mullins on this list. Hoping Means and Santander can be impact players and bring back something of value. Wouldn’t mind keeping Means though. He’s the only guy you want going out there every 5 days
It’s kind of a funny list since there is a decent chance that any individual player gets traded, but a near zero chance that even 12 of these 14 likeliest candidates are traded.
It’s just so unlikely that the Mets trade all 3 of Davis, McNeil, and Smith (maybe 2 of them and even that is 50/50 at best) and that the A’s trade all 5 of Bassitt, Chapman, Manaea, Olson, and Trivino (3 would certainly be possible, 4 a bit surprising, all 5 shocking).
Why would the A’s not trade all 5? You really think the draft pick from the QO (if such a thing even exists after the new CBA) is worth less than what they could get for them now?
Because they still need to field a team and history has shown that they don’t usually tear down all they way.
Sure it’s possible that they could find enough trade partners to bring back sufficient MLB-ready pieces when trading all 5 of these current contributors to allow them to be somewhat competitive, but that seems unlikely.
@Oddvark They can field a team without those five guys easy. It won’t win as many games but they aren’t making the playoffs in 2022 anyway.
And “haven’t” doesn’t mean “can’t,” “won’t” or shouldn’t.”
You are very wise @thelegendaryharambe. I have gone my entirely life without know the difference between haven’t, can’t, won’t or shouldn’t.
Though I guess I’m still unclear how my saying that it is unlikely and would be shocking (to me) it the A’s traded all five of these guys means they can’t or won’t or shouldn’t.
Could you teach me more about the vagaries of the English language and possible future outcomes?
You do realize that TRADE means they will be getting something back, right? Considering the quality of the players on that list they would get back quite a large load of really good, young players many of which who would be major league ready.
And Bassitt and Manaea are the only ones who’ll be free agents after this season. The QO isn’t much of a consideration for the other three at this point.
Because not all are FA at this seasons end. Compete this year. Especially if playoffs are expanded, that’s where these teams make money!
@stymeedone Only thing the A’s are competing for this year or next year is the #1 overall pick lmfao.
name a time a GM made 5 trades in an offseason? what are you, 12?
@A’sfaninUK Preller and DiPoto probably did that more than once each.
We could probably find single months were Dipito made 5 trades.
Do you think more than 1 player can’t be moved in a trade? What are you, 11?
GMs have traded 5 major league players in one season 17 times that I could find in the past 5 years. I am sure there are more. Probably lots more. The Padres alone have done it 4 times in the past 7 seasons. Often GMs trade 2 or more major league players in one trade. The A’s traded away 7 Major leaguers in February of 2021. The A’s acquired 5 major leaguers at the deadline last season. The Rangers traded away 5 major leaguers last offseason. The Indians, Mariners, Rays, Mets, and Phillies all did it in the 2018-2019 offseason. Its actually pretty common.
DiPoto has made 74 trades since taking over the Mariners. 5 trades is like a slow week for him…
The great Astros/Padres trade of December 1994 saw 12 total players (10 Major Leaguers, 2 Minor Leaguers though Roberto Petagine made is ML debut during the ’94 season with the Astros).
The biggest trade in Baseball history was a trade involving the Yankees and Orioles from November 1954. 17 players were included in the trade.
The Yankees received:
Don Larsen
Bob Turley
Billy Hunter
Mike Blyzka
Jim Fridley
Darrell Johnson
Dick Kryhoski
The Orioles received:
Harry Byrd
Jim McDonald
Willy Miranda
Hal Smith
Gus Triandos
Gene Woodling
Don Leppert
Bill Miller
Kal Segrist
Ted Del Guercio
Only Del Guercio never played in the Majors. It was such a complicated trade that it took 16 days to complete.
That is the stuff of DiPoto’s dreams right there
@odd nobody said every one of these players are going to get traded. The article even explains in the part about McNeil that he’s less likely to be traded if Davis and Smith are dealt. Things seem less funny/unusual when you read the words that are written for you.
@PitcherMeReading
Since you are so good at reading, please tell me where I wrote that the authors of the article said that every one of the players would be traded. I just made an observation about the list that I found “funny.” I’m sorry you didn’t have the same reaction and/or were unable to understand the words that I wrote.
You don’t have to be sorry, what happens to you doesn’t affect me. Like you forgetting the ‘point’ you made about how many players from the list would be traded. People can read that and see that you don’t understand words and they’ll see that I do. It’s not a bad thing for me. Thanks anyways.
You are obvios much smarterer than me am!! I am so happy that this is not a bad thing for you!!! You are very welcome!!!!!
It’s probably a bad sign if you’re only right when you’re sarcastic.
OK. You get the last word.
As great as I thought this article was…… the comment section on this article has proven to be even greater! Great read on both accords!!!!
I am a little surprised Mancini didn’t make the list.
For Matt Chapman the Mariners will give up LF Jake Fraley, UT Dylan Moore, SP Sam Carlson. and SP Devin Sweet.
Haha terrible trade but I wouldn’t doubt it. That’s some crap the A’s would do
Those four players are better than anything Oakland has in their farm system. Fraley was the No. 9 prospect in the M’s system in 2020. Carlson was No. 15.
Tyler Soderstrom
That they are as good or better than what is in Oakland’s farm system does not mean they are enough to get Chapman.
Yup. The current state of the A’s farm system has no bearing whatsoever on Matt Chapman’s trade value or that of those Mariners scrubs AlienBob mentioned.
you all just got trolled by AlienBob.
He quoted 2020 prospect rankings and headlined the package w Jake Fraley & Dylan Moore.
Pretty sure Chapman would get the division rival markup in any trade with the Mariners. That package definitely doesn’t get it done
“The cubs have also supplemented the 2021 club with the pickup of Marcus Stroman and Wade Miley, so the team has at least some aim on contending.” What a comical quote. Did we forget this is a stripped down roster compared to this time last year? This team couldn’t get it done with all the superstars they had last year no chance they contend this year with this roster.
The cubs superstars last year were more superstars in name only. Biggest factor is Hendricks. If he can be close to the guy he was. They have some promising young players. Few more on the way. The ability to add payroll and some prospect capital for trades. If they add another quality starter they can make things interesting.
If you don’t care at all about contending, you don’t add those two at those prices. Otherwise, why did they do it?
I’m not saying they’re good. I’m saying they might care enough about 2022 to at least start the season with Willson.
I don’t think the Cubs are as far off as many think. As Tim pointed out they must care enough about next season to invest in Stroman/Miley but also Gomes and the rumors they were at least interested in bringing Rizzo Back.
The NL Central is still winnable. As good as the Brewers pitching is, unless they are the second coming of mid-’90’s Braves it would be hard to expect them to be as dominant this season as they were last season (more so if the offense continues to spudder like last season).
The Cardinals are always tough but are not without questions in their pitching staff and lineup
Yeah, I agree RSox; however I was a bit surprised (though not completely) to see Contreras on this list. I thought he may be on the next one. Anyway, my only question is: Who do the Cubbies play at C if they do trade Contreras yet still plan to be competitive and try to win the Central? If there’s one position that seems to be incredibly thin across MLB, it’s catching.
As noted in the article, “Before the lockout, the Cubs signed Yan Gomes to a two-year, $13MM deal, giving the club insurance in the event they decide to trade Contreras.” Gomes was widely considered to be the best FA catcher this offseason, so when the Cubs signed him it appeared to signal that they planned to trade Contreras.
Oddvark: Uh, yep, I missed that and obviously forgot about the acquisition. That’s just me going one-for-one on being stupid for the day!
Friends don’t let friends post tired …
Not a Cubs fan, but I could see them bringing Rizzo back. They would then need another bat and a couple of pitchers to be competitive.
It all comes down to bullpens really. The high revenue teams (Yankees) can buy them the smart teams (Rays, Brewers, Guardians) can find them.
Tim you of all ppl know teams rebuilding sign free agents as capital to further speed up the rebuild once the trade deadline comes around. I live in Iowa I’m surrounded by cubs fans and it’s one of the few teams I can watch on local tv, this cubs lineup is not a playoff team. This is the softest lineup they’ve had in 7-8 years, and the brewers and cards aren’t going anywhere. I get your a cubs fan but let’s not let our bias blind us. You and I both know teams not trying to contend add pieces. “If you don’t care at all about contending, you don’t add those two pieces.”. This is a cop out. These 2 pieces don’t push them over the top with what they have. You say something like that for a mariners teams or a padres team.
Cubs probably needed to carry some payroll to at least save face in a CBA negotiation year.
The payroll is projected to be a whopping 100 million for them this year. Even less if they trade away Willson.. No LT commitments and potentially flippable deals w upside. Not a bad strategy for a large market team that’s rebuilding a bit.
Omg I would love to have Dom Smith in Houston: I think in that lineup he would flourish. He’s young and he could eventually replace Gurriel, who’s aging. I think in that lineup, his bat comes alive and he hits .280+/30/95
OK. Who does Houston give up for him?
Possibly one of Urquidy/Javier and a mid level prospect
That’s a huge overpay
Oakland clearing house
It’s nice to see a writer name the Pirates in on one of these players. But in reality, I highly doubt Pittsburgh will give much of anything for Smith. It would only set them back a few years if they went that route. Plus Smith would need some good hitters around him to “unlock” his true potential. Pirates lack that much and it wouldn’t do Smith any good. Pitchers will pitch around him if he crushes the ball.
Pirates aren’t going to make any big splashes for a few more years. Even if MLB adopts a “salary cap” floor and ceiling, I don’t see a move like Smith to happen. They may boost payroll by extending players like Hayes, Reynolds, and Keller. Then sign some Free agents like catcher and corner OF. Just enough to keep them above the salary floor. But again, thanks for mentioning the Pirates but they are out of the Smith or any other trade piece. That can’t afford to cough up a few prospects
Going to be funny when the A’s get their stadium announced soon and the ownership bows to pressure and become buyers not sellers. Then articles like these become instantly worthless! lol
You think the A’s becoming buyers would be…funny? I think most baseball fans just think it’d be good, though surprising.
Could the A’s become both “sellers” and “buyers” and field a very competitive, albeit streamlined, lower payroll roster that, surprisingly, stays in the Division and Wild Card races in the AL West?
@SportsFan0000 That basically never actually works
Except they wouldn’t be buyers right away. A stadium, even if announced tomorrow probably wouldn’t be ready til at least ’25 at the earliest. The A’s would not have to be in buyer mode til then
A’s fan, I think you’re oversimplifying Tim’s article and his responses. He’s simply using what most perceive as the most likely scenario occurring with the most likely players on the team most likely to take said action. He’s also much more an insider than most of us are.
Anyway, I just think you’re taking him wrong, bro, that’s all. He’s just being objective, and frankly, he’s one of the few writers with whom I am unable to discern, based on his writing, who he prefers as his favorite team.
I like when Mr Dierkes mixes it up in the comments with the riff raff.
Plus that particular A’s fan is crazy. He flipped out on me when I told him the A’s weren’t going to trade for Story. Couple weeks later, there was an actual article hete about how A’s indeed weren’t in on him.
Dunno.
For an A’s fan he doesn’t seem to understand how they operate very well.
Yeah, man… I love when Timbo Slice jumps in the conversations. I think most commenters appreciate it. Agree with the A’s fan comment too. I’m not sure how an A’s fan can think they aren’t trying to sell off players.
I should clarify: I agree with YOUR A’s fan comment, Ducky, not the A’s fan’s comment.
My bad.
I had already gone ahead & assumed we were in accord, Clip.
Well—they watch cricket in the UK so you gotta take it easy on the poor fella.
He hasn’t seen that moneyball movie yet.
But in all seriousness. Forget that the A’s are a super frugal/small market (whatever adjective you wanna use) team—Does it make sense to plug all the holes they have on that roster? Given the fact that they have very few trade chips in the minor leagues? You’d have to plug all those holes with free agents and that’s not cheap. You need at least 2 outfielders, a SS, a DH, at least one left handed reliever, and probably another high leverage reliever.
You have no farm and your impact guys are nearly free agents. It’s really no different than the White Sox a few years ago—Was that team going to be good? No, that teams window had been closed. But they had serious assets they could sell & they did it. Look where they are.
We have no idea if Cano will be DH. He’s hot garbage (comparatively) without PEDs. I’d rather degrom DH on his non pitching days than Robinson
No, you would not. Hyperbole. Too great an injury risk for deGrom.
That tireless GM , Al Avila, must really be chomping at the bit…….
There will not be a season unless they use replacement players. So, none of them will be traded. Better question would be, where do I sign up to be a replacement player?
Josh Donaldson might be a trade candidate also
Who’s taking on that contract
I actually want the Marlins to get him. Maybe give up a decent prospect for some money. Josh is from Central/south ish Florida and plays with a chip on his shoulder. So if he can be 80% of what hes capable of I think he could really help the team. Great 3b defense, a 2-5 type hitter. Brian Anderson is better than most people think but he has health issues too. So if you’re going to gamble on an injured third baseman might as well be on the former MVP. BA can play RF well (even though we have a glut of OFers but trades are a thing).
I agree. Josh is getting old, and overpaid, but still a solid player. If the Twins were willing to pay down his salary to maybe $15M per, I think he’d be a better choice than Bryant.
He’d make a nice pickup for the Mets – like adding Robin Ventura back in the day Free up monday for Twins to sign Correa
mookiesboy
He’d make a nice pickup for the Mets –
=========================================
I thought you guys signed Escobar to play 3rd?
Donaldson is tough though. It’s either a 2/50 or a 3/58.
Can’t see the Twins eating 20 MM w/o getting real prospects back.
@Tim Dierks: Loves these types of articles, although obviously certain fans don’t take kindly to the trade probabilities. Just a question for you: Based on your experience and the rumors surrounding the Yankees, are they more likely to acquire M. Chapman or M. Olson if they complete a trade with the A’s this offseason?
In terms of pitching, I know Manea is popular for NY (big lefty) but I really think Bassitt would be a tremendous asset for how their pitching roster is constructed currently.
Thanks Tim –
How about we trade the 2022 season for 2023 season as baseball is not coming back this year.
I would love to find a way to get Kimbrel on the Marlins. At the right cost, coming to a team that has plenty of potential but “not expected to compete” could lead him to find his form. If he can be anything like he’s capable of and the Marlins rotation stays healthy then some things could happen. Otherwise Bender better be closing. But of course they’ll go with Floro and continue to put Bender in every possible situation and innings and watch him never be comfortable. in the meantime they will continue to attempt to have Bass close sometimes too even though his ERA in the 9th is like 13.40 but either in the 7th or 8th the ERA is under one. But nope keep letting him close! And Floro (who should be setting up Bender) will also be floundering late in games in multiple roles. Shave those sideburns Mattingly!!!
how in the world tim misses the most mentioned trade target? jo adell?
My guess is that he’s not highly likely to be traded, which is this list. He’s probably the second tier. There are a few I could see appearing here that one can make an argument for, but most of the list is pretty certain to be traded, imo.
No one has hammered the Angels management more than I have for mishandling Adell. Promoting Adell at the age of 21, when he was one of the worst players in AAA, was insane.
But now, it feels like they paid the price, lost a year’s worth of service time, but he’s probably ready to take on a full-time role. He, Marsh and Trout should be the Angels outfield for the next five years.
Yeah, Joe, I fear the same is happening with Dominguez on the Yankees. He’s been pumped to such an untenable level that it’s nearly impossible for any major league player to meet the standard, let alone an 18-year-old kid. Why does everyone have to be the next “Mantle” or whomever? It’s insane.
Most of that talk is insane, and always has been. I think Bo and Gibson were both supposed to be the next Mantle’s, and Strawberry was supposed to be the next Williams.
In regards to Dominguez, he was 5’10” and 190, at age 17. That never struck me as a future CF, though I’ve never seen him field.
And his size cuts both way. It makes look his look better than a skinny 6’3″ 185 pounder, when they are both 17, but it a lot easier for the 6’3″ player to put on muscle.
Still a good prospect, but I think his new rankings are more realistic.
Yeah, I agree. I think guys like him are so big at their young age (muscle-wise) that they look incredibly impressive but they just don’t have the room to build because they’re physically near max. He began as a C which makes sense given his build.
How to trigger an Angels fan: accuse them of wasting Mike Trout
metzfan Tim, Canha will play RF. Nimmo LF
McNeil would look great on the Cardinals roster for 2b. Edma n got overexposed last year and looks better as a utility player.
Would love the Braves to get Chapman and Olsen (assuming we aren’t gonna sign Freddie, cause I truly think that’s the case at this point…smh). I’d also like the Braves to land Contreras. I think it would be cool to have brothers backing up each other. Although, I’m fully aware, there is zero need for him at the moment. Just simply saying that situation would be cool and I like Wilson as a Braves starter long term.
It’s going to be interesting, post CBA, how ownership sorts itself out.. Would you rather buy on the free agent market, possibly bidding up contract values, or pay in prospect talent? Intuitively you’d rather just pay money….but maybe no more.
Divisional trades are complicated, but would love to see an A’s / Angels deal. As painful as it would be for both sides.
Bassitt and Olsen
for
Adell, Detmers, Paris or Jackson
Move Walsh to RF, Marsh in CF and Trout to LF with Upton as a reserve.
Hurts long term for Angels but gets them over the playoff hump (assuming all are healthy).
Bassit and Olson don’t get the Angels over “the playoff hump”.
Wonder why the A’s would ever have any fans of their franchise they seem to sell off every 3-4 years. The A’s are a perfect example of MLB dysfunction with the lockout.
A’s are a perfect example of MLB dysfunction
=================================
That’s a matter of opinion. IMO, LAA & SDP are a lot more dysfunctional than the A’s. The A’s have averaged 86 wins over the past ten years, with 6 playoff appearances. The LAA and SD{ have combined for two playoff appearances, with far greater resources.
They’re pretty successful for a dysfunctional team
I really hope the Reds front office is wiser to Sonny Gray’s value than MLBTR writers. He brings numerous veteran leadership intangibles on a team that has really struggled to develop pitching internally. Not counting the Bauer rental, he has posted elite seasons unlike any the Reds have seen since Cueto in 2014, or Jose Rijo in…1993? His inconsistency last year was likely driven by fluke injuries, while Castillo’s was mental mistakes. His one bad year was the Yankees forcing him to overuse his worst pitch. He has tremendous heart. Sonny deserves to retire as a Red.
Average WAR:
Castillo 4.1
Mahle 2.4
Gray 3.5
Cy Young voting:
Castillo 0
Mahle 0
Gray 3rd (2015) & 7th (2019)
Gray’s post ASG ERA was 5.03. Trade him while he still has value.
Lol half a season blip and it means his value is about to evaporate? Castillo was awful the first half, does that mean they should’ve dealt him at the deadline?
I don’t value players using such one-dimensional and narrow criteria, and neither should the Reds. Pitchers need leaders just as much as the lineup. Jettisoning every veteran will never win a World Series.
JD Davis, Smith, Lee, Peterson or Szapucki and a lower prospect or 2 to the A’s for Manaea,Trevino and Chapman (Chapman plays 3b for 1 year) than Baty takes over 3b in 2023 and Escobar to 2b
If the A’s are rebuilding, Dom Smith and JD Davis don’t really make sense for them
A’s are absolutely NOT interested in soaking up the payroll hits of *TWO* Super Two arbitration cases, who also happen to be defensively limited to 1B/DH (no player with 20 speed plays on Oakland’s outfield).
Textbook case of wasting trade value.
I don’t know if there has ever been a player who played for the Rays his entire career, but it seems like Kiermaier could be someone who could be a good 1st one if not. He like playing for the Rays, still good-very good, and would probably be happy to sign there again
jvent
JD Davis, Smith, Lee, Peterson
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So the idea is to trade 2 benchwarmers, a #5 SP, and a fringy #125 minor leaguer for a #3 SP, an AS 3B, and the A’s closer?
There are 28 other teams that would top that offer in a heartbeat. But that’s not the important part.
The important part is, and this goes for every team, you always have to ask the question ‘why does a team want to get rid of these players?”. If Smith and Davis were any good, then why would the NYMs spend so much money on Canha & Escobar?
I agree that trade isn’t happening. But, a team being willing to trade a player doesn’t mean that player isn’t any good. Look at all the dudes the A’s have on the block.
Smith and Davis are both very good players. The problem is that Davis can’t field and Smith only plays first base. They have value but only to a team that needs one of those two (easy to fill) spots filled.
I think this is a wild card caliber team:
C Contreras
1B Olson
2B McNeil
SS Chapman
3B Davis
OF Kiermaier
OF Smith
OF Voit
SP Manea
SP Gray
SP Bassitt
SP Odorizzi
CL Kimbrel
CL Trevino
That outfield looks miserable. Staff is solid though
Concur! Kiermaier would have to cover a lot of ground with Smith in RF and Voit in LF. And maybe not quite a wild card team, obviously the A’s were not close last year and several key pieces are from them. Still it just shows that just about every need can be had in trade if you have some prospects to bargain with.
“Firesale” for the Oakland A’s?
(I always thought that term meant a team was just slashing payroll and not caring too much about the qualitative returns in players, if any)?
Oakland seems more inclined to conduct an “auction of players to highest bidder”.
And, depending on quality and quantity of returns in players and cash, the A’s Auction could stretch all the way from Spring Training to the MLB Trade Deadline.
I doubt the league would allow a sell off of players for cash like in the days
of former A’s Owner Charley Finley.
Marlins could be in for either Kimbrel or Kiermaier. Eliezer Hernandez is a piece that is available for either…more likely can pry Kimbrel away, depending on how bad the Marlins want Kimbrel and how bad the White Sox want to move him.
Kiermaier is the tricky one. Rays don’t give up players without trying to pick your pocket. Marlins are highly unlikely to give up premium pitching talent for him because he won’t solve their offensive issues while he solves the CF hole.
The piece from the Marlins to watch is Eliezer Hernandez. He’s the available pitcher along with some other secondary pitching prospects. For one of the premium pitching chips, those will require a major piece that the Marlins are getting…like Cedric Mullins or Ketel Marte.
Marlins would be foolish to spend money or prospects for Kimbrel.
If Marlins are willing to pay all of Kiermaier’s contract, then I think the Rays would take a marginal prospect that no one has heard of. That is the route to go for both teams. Marlins keeps their good prospects, Rays save enough to keep Margot.
Margot should be the one traded, not KK. I won’t be surprised either way, but the Rays should keep the better player in Kiermaier for his remaining year. They can get a better return for Margot and still have the best defender patrolling CF.
After a year of dealing with the likes of Anthony Bass, Yimi Garcia, and Dillon Floro closing and blowing games, I’m okay with giving something expendable for Kimbrel and taking on a little bit of money.
If the Sox want him out so much, do you think they’ll take Anthony Bass straight up for him?
The White Sox have absolutely no use for Elieser Hernandez. They have at least 7 starters that are better.
Sox have given A’s their future in the past. The lockout changes the pitching staff thinking if extended. Kimbrel stays till all star break in case whatever happens. Montas and a versatile defensive gold glove infielder make the final pieces fit the WS Champs puzzle. How it happens doesn’t matter, Sox have loads of talent. It has to happen now!