Any chance of the Dodgers retaining Cody Bellinger at a lower price after they non-tendered him were dashed this afternoon, with the 2019 NL MVP agreeing to terms on a $17.5MM pact with the Cubs. Shortly after news of that agreement broke, L.A. manager Dave Roberts met with reporters and confirmed the club is scouring the market for center field help (via Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times).
Aside from Aaron Judge, the free agent class is handily led by Brandon Nimmo. The longtime Met is coming off arguably a career-best season in which he hit .274/.367/.433 over a personal-high 673 plate appearances. Headed into his age-30 campaign, the lefty-swinging Nimmo is widely expected to command a deal that tops nine figures. Nimmo has drawn interest from the Yankees, Giants, Rays, Mariners and Blue Jays in addition to the incumbent Mets. There’s been no concrete reports of any interest on L.A.’s part, though they’re certainly capable of exploring that market.
Teams not interested in making that kind of commitment are facing a rather sharp drop to the next tier. It’s possible that applies to the Dodgers, and it’s certainly a factor for the Rockies and Reds. Colorado general manager Bill Schmidt tells Danielle Allentuck of the Colorado Springs Gazette the team is seeking a left-handed hitter, preferably a player who can factor into center field (Twitter link). Nimmo fits that description, but both Allentuck and Nick Groke of the Athletic suggested yesterday he’d be too pricey for the Rockies.
Meanwhile, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports the Reds are seeking center field help and have looked to the free agent market. As with Colorado, Nimmo’s certainly out of the question for Cincinnati. Nightengale suggests the team is likely looking at one-year offers for hitters of interest. Payroll limitations have loomed over the Reds in each of the last two offseasons, and GM Nick Krall told reporters yesterday the front office has “a little bit of money” to spend this winter but cautioned they “don’t have a ton” at their disposal.
With Bellinger off the board, the market beyond Nimmo is very thin. Kevin Kiermaier is perhaps the only regular center fielder available, and he’s coming off a .228/.281/.369 showing with the Rays before his season was cut short by hip surgery. Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweeted this afternoon the Mets could look into Kiermaier if Nimmo signs elsewhere. Beyond the longtime Ray, the market is led by depth options like Rafael Ortega, Adam Engel and Jackie Bradley Jr. Perhaps teams could look to Andrew Benintendi or Joey Gallo given the scarcity of the center field market, although both players have worked exclusively in the corners for the past couple seasons.
It’s a similar story on the trade market, where there aren’t many obvious candidates. Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds will be the subject of renewed speculation after his trade request became public last week, but the Bucs have maintained it won’t increase their likelihood of actually making a move. The Diamondbacks are known to be open to offers on a number of their young outfielders but only in deals that’d net them MLB help. Speculatively speaking, players like Michael A. Taylor or Trent Grisham could plausibly come up in trade discussions, but there’s been no indication either is currently on the block.
Ortega may find a job!
Yeah he wasn’t bad with the Cubs. In fact, he was very good in 21, not as good last year but a decent part-time player. Lefty hitter. Good 4th OF’er.
I’m serious when I say I hope the Cards sign Ortega. In my opinion he’s a serious upgrade over Corey Dickerson.
The Dodgers are the Yankees and Pirates at the same time
Friedman still thinks he’s running the Rays half of the time.
You do know the payroll is driven by ownership I hope.
Bellinger didn’t make sense roster space and dollars. Not strictly dollars but it certainly didn’t help his case for the Dodgers bringing him back. If they honestly believed that Bellinger’s hitting could come back they would have easily ponied up the high teens amount it would have taken to sign him. Thus the non-tender. I have no issues letting Bellinger walk and looking for a new CF. Fans always want to spend. Can you imagine how quickly they would run the team to the ground if it was up to them in making roster decisions.
Yeah 69, they seem to want to pare back the payroll just a little bit this time. I mean, they’ll still have a big payroll but they’re not going all out. Having said that, watch them sign Judge haha.
Guards should trade Straw. Brennan can play CF.
But they would be selling low on him, Window, as he had a terrific 21 but an under .300 OBP last year.
Agreed. Gold glove CF are hard to come by and his metrics say he had a bad year with the bat. I would take .250, 20 steals and great fielding for five mill a year than trade him.
They wouldn’t necessarily be selling low. He won a GG this season.
Should trade for Sam Hilliard, his mom is hot!
Odd….but I’ll trust you.
Bleacher, why do you think the Mets signed Verlander?
Haha…ya, Verlander’s wife will put more people in the stands when he pitches!
Miss Texas, 1984!
Yes, he is also handsome.
Zach Wilson that you?
Reds will blow it, of the ones they will pay Fraley is already there.. unless they’re going to spend put your minimal allowance into the bullpen.
They have Nick’s Senzal/Solak on hand if they don’t land another option
Hmmmm. Nimmo Rockies, Kiermaier Dodgers, Jackie Bradley Jr. Reds?
No thanks, saw his act in Milwaukee.
I’d rather the Reds stick with Senzel instead of Bradley Jr.
For sure!
I would be fine with Nimmo. Heck even a run at Benintendi. The Rockies won’t spend anything. Actually Kiermaier is the perfect Rockies candidate they can overpay and he can sit on the injured list for 95% of his contract.
I’d love to see guys too, especially the local guy in Benintendi. Nimrod probably too much to ask in this market with the payroll limitations.
Rather see the reds move a middle infield prospect to center over signing Bradley
I keep seeing De La Cruz there eventually. Reminds me of Eric the Red. He was originally a shortstop too.
They forgot Ramon Laureano he would do well to get out of Oakland into some meaningful games .
A lot of uncertainty with him tho, MP. How much did the PEDs contribute to his good years?
Outman and Pages in the minors…bring ‘em up!
I bet the Reds bring in Adam Engel. He’s from Cincinnati. I would prefer Kiermaier, but he’ll probably price out of Cincy. I want to see Fraley play everyday. He was really good for the Reds at the end of the year. I also wouldn’t mind seeing TJ Friedl play more. Fraley and Friedl had okay years.
Anyone new.
I think De La Cruz will be there eventually.
Bryan Reynolds to the dodgers incoming
Are the Dodgers willing to gut the farm to make that happen though?
For a small market team, I’d look at Steven Duggar. He landed on the 60 day IL last year and never got right. But he’s a good center fielder and he can hit a bit when healthy.
In order to qualify to play for the Reds you must be 32 or older hit .220 or worse and have zero upside for the future.
oof…Reds
Yankees own that market.
Bad contract swap. Reds send Mike mousakes to the Yankees for Aaron Hicks. Yankees pay the difference in salaries (22 million vs 31 million) or attach a couple of prospects. Yankees have 1 year then done with mousakes. Reds have 3 years of hicks at a lower yearly rate and could dump him in a year or so if it doesn’t work out.
I like it. Was thinking maybe Braves could take Moose for Ozuna. He is owed the the same as Hicks but it’s a two year deal.
Only way they get rid of that contract is that way or like they did with Suarez and give another player away in the deal like they did with Winker.
I have to like the idea of getting back an outfielder though which is what they could use.
The Reds would do that TODAY.
Somebody should trade for Baltimore’s CF Mullins. Good player.
Great player. In a second I would.
Sounded like Yoda there lol.
Mullins is a great player but he’s cost controlled and Baltimore isn’t far from really trying to compete. Makes no sense for them to deal him
Hopefully Cubs fans will see Bellinger finally make the adjustment to get him back to where he was. He didn’t do it with the Bums but maybe new voices will make the light bulb come on.
Reds must still be exploring. Maybe they need to call Dora.