The Astros are known to have made center fielder Jake Meyers available in trade conversations as they pursue starting pitching. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that the Reds, Royals, Dodgers and White Sox are among the clubs that have shown interest.
Meyers, 29, is an excellent defender who is coming off the best season of his career at the plate. He hit .292/.354/.373 with a personal-best 17.6% strikeout rate. He made dramatically more contact while cutting his chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone. Meyers had entered the season with a career .228/.292/.371 batting line. This year’s production was mostly supported by the process improvements, but that came in a fairly small sample. Meyers took fewer than 400 plate appearances thanks to a right calf injury that nagged him throughout the second half.
Even if Meyers regresses offensively, his glove is good enough to make him a useful player at the bottom of a lineup. He’d be one of the better all-around center fielders in MLB if he can maintain a league average bat. Meyers also chipped in on the bases with a career-high 16 steals in 21 attempts this year. He’s under arbitration control for two seasons. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $3.5MM salary that makes him a strong asset — particularly with a dearth of free agent options at the position.
Kansas City is seeking multiple outfielders, one of whom they hope to acquire on the trade front. President of baseball operations J.J. Picollo has already said he’s open to dealing from his rotation for outfield help. Left-hander Kris Bubic has been floated as a trade candidate, though he’s a tricky player to value after suffering a season-ending rotator cuff injury. Bubic pitched like a #2 caliber starter before the shoulder injury but has a history of arm issues. He’s projected for a $6MM salary and is a year from free agency. 26-year-old Noah Cameron could also be available in the right deal, but the Royals would have a high ask for six years of his services.
Cincinnati doesn’t need a center fielder, as TJ Friedl is already locked into the position. They saw righty-hitting outfielder Austin Hays hit free agency, though, and they don’t have anyone established in left field. The Reds arguably have a rotation surplus as well and could entertain offers on veteran righty Brady Singer, though his $11.9M arbitration projection could be rich for Houston. The Reds are unlikely to part with two years of control over lefty Nick Lodolo for Meyers.
The Dodgers don’t have anyone established in center field. Andy Pages could slide over to left, where there’s an opening. Tommy Edman can play center field or second base. The Dodgers are reportedly reluctant to block any of their top outfield prospects with a long-term free agent signing. Meyers makes sense as a trade target. Los Angeles presumably wouldn’t trade Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan or Justin Wrobleski for Meyers, so it might be difficult to line up a deal.
It’s even more challenging to see a fit on the White Sox. Chicago is still firmly in rebuild mode and unlikely to compete for a playoff spot within the next two seasons. They’re light on established starting pitching and shouldn’t be trading controllable arms for short-term help. It’s tough to see a deal coming together even if the Sox like Meyers as a player quite a bit.
“He made dramatically more contact while cutting his chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone.” Gee *bang bang* I wonder *bang bang* why…….
Hilarious and original
Imagine watching the Astros offense this season and thinking at any point that they were cheating…
I thought he was listening to the B-52s for a minute there.
Love the B-52’s.
Who doesn’t?
Well, they did drop 18 runs on Los Doyers on July 4, so maybe this guy was at that game.
Well, as has been said many times about a certain other game, the game was in Los Angeles.
What a childish contribution to the discussion.
What color Blue is your blood?
Mookie was on a cheating team too
As an Astros fan, I’m good on a Meyers for Bubic trade. Not sure why KC wants him, he’s not that special. Could probably get Burleson from STL pretty easily instead without having to give up Bubic.
Burleson isn’t a CF’er, and Meyers is one of the best in the league defensively.
Royals already have that in Isbel
Isbel is good but Meyers is better in every measurable statistic.
FG projections
Meyers: 98 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR/329 PA
Isbel: 87 wRC+, 1.4 fWAR/546 PA
Not true. Isbel has a better range and arm strength. Isbel is the better CF
Burleson would cost more than meyers. He just won a silver slugger. Plus cards don’t want bubic. They are looking for young pitchers with years of control that are a couple years away.
I agree and hope we really don’t want him, unless he’s upgrading our CF position. We currently have a strong defender that can’t hit much more than 220. there. So, if we can get Meyers for not too much (not any of our current MLB starters) and he becomes our defense first CF that can hit closer to .270 then, cool. If he’s the OF bat to provide “pop” to our offense, then I will cancel my season tickets.
At least this guy is an outfielder they are interested in.
Good try to sell high on his very lucky season. Two teams Reds Royals Candelario India who aren’t the brightest. Solid bat great glove but wouldn’t count on 2025 stats moving forward.
Reds are already set on light hitting outfielders, but I guess if he took luxs spot in the roster I’d be fine with it
Meyers for Bubic straight up; make a baseball trade already.
If I’m the Royals, I’m not trading Bubic for Meyers at all. let alone 1 for 1.
No you don’t want to give the Astros starting pitchers.
No. This needs to be false, unless the Royals are giving up not-much and still intend to get the power hitting OF’er. This guy is minor upgrade to what is already on the roster, and at 29 it’s not like he’s projecting for a whole lot more. Hell, last year might have been the absolute top of his ability.
Meyers could work nicely for KC. His speed is an asset on defense and KC has some nice doubles alleys. If he can come close to replicating this year’s contact rate, that is.
Bubic and Meyers seem to both carry the ‘Is this a one hit wonder’ risk.
Is his hometown Cincinnati?
Very underrated player.
Love that the Dodgers are interested. I live in LA and all you hear is “CHEATERS CHEATERS CHEATERS”. Oh but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if Bregman or Tucker signed with them. There’s a reason Dodger fans are known as some of the worst ever
A – I would mind. I don’t think Tucker is worth what he’ll be paid, and he’ll end up a bust. And Bregman is going to be 32 and is always hurt.
B – Dodgers fans the worst ever? The team that consistently shows up for their team and has set numerous records? Couldn’t be us.
C – Get help with those anger issues.
I said worst fans, I didn’t say don’t go to games. I have anger issues? Right because dodger fans haven’t been known to put fans of the opposing team in the hospital. Haha muted go back under your rock
Troll trying to stir up trouble
Muted
Is that all you hear ?? Astros are insignificant. The Dodgers are back to back Champs. The Astros franchise will ALWAYS be synonymous with “cheating.” All we hear when we think about the Astros is “BANG 🗑 BANG 🗑 BANG 🗑 “
2022 happened look into it
Because of 2017 no one will ever respect it. 🗑
Most respected team in the league by the players. They kept their mouth shut and didn’t throw the other 29 teams under the bus, who were doing a version of the same thing.
It’s called a rumor. It doesn’t mean it has substance. Don’t get ahead of yourself kid.
I wouldn’t want Bregman on the team even if we didn’t have to pay him.
Tucker didn’t debut until after the Astros cheated.
Fraudgers are cheaters forever 😂😂
Anyone want Issac Collins or Garrett Mitchell
While he is a decent player, the Reds need a bat who can hit homeruns and drive in runs. This isn’t Meyers unfortunately.
Well with Schwarber now gone, they could look at Alonso but we both know they are not going to do anything. They will run it back with the same group and hope someone else collapses again next year. Should be shortly where they will begin crying poor again.
The Reds need 2 bats. Someone who can play 1B and/or LF, RF, or can DH. I don’t think Alonso wants to play here in Cincy and he would be tok expensive any ways. There was a rumor earlier this off-season the Reds had interest in bringing Eugenio Suárez back. He would probably play first and Steer would go to left, while Sal Stewart would DH but would fill in around the infield. Won’t win a batting title but can definitely hit homeruns and drive people in.
The issue with Alonzo and Suarez is they both bat right. We only have Friedl a true leadoff hitter, lux who wouldn’t hit over 8 home runs if he played all 162 games and benson a platoon that bat left. We need a 4-6 hitter from the left side.
I read we offered Schwarber $25 million per for 5 years. Cody bellinger will probably cost that much per for 7 but 3 years younger and can play a position although not as much power. Not saying the reds should do that but he is the best left handed bat left except for Tucker who we would definitely not be able to afford. We will end up with O’Hearn which will make us about as good as last season.
It’s not that ticket sales would increase because Schwarber was local but rather ticket sales will increase because we could win 90+ games with Schwarber. That would also be the case with bellinger. People like to watch a winner and be a part of a winning team by going to games.
So he sacrificed his power for a little contact? No wonder the reds want him
It’s been reported:
Swarber is going back to the Phillies
For christ sakes the Reds need power not more defense.
Yes the reds need power and not more defense. We have this same thing already and it’s called will benson. Why would we even consider this?
Would not be shocked if they rolled the dice on Luis Robert post hype