Dodgers Place Kershaw, Pederson On DL; Designate Layne Somsen
The Dodgers announced a series of moves today, brought about by injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Joc Pederson. It had been expected already that Kershaw would hit the DL with a back issue, though Pederson’s outlook wasn’t yet clear since his recent shoulder injury.
Replacing that duo will be newly-acquired righty Bud Norris and outfielder Will Venable. Norris came over via trade just yesterday, while Venable had previously been outrighted after signing with the team as a free agent.
Venable’s addition required a 40-man spot, and Somsen took the fall. He has now resided in DFA limbo on three separate occasions this year, with organizations clearly enamored of the arm but finding it hard to keep him on their big league rosters.
[Related: Updated Dodgers Depth Chart]
It goes without saying, but both Kershaw and Pederson are of critical importance to Los Angeles. In the case of the former, manager Dave Roberts said today that a timeline remains unclear (via MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM; Twitter link). The skipper says that Kershaw will likely to be out for more than the 15-day minimum.
Pederson, meanwhile, has been diagnosed with a sprained A/C joint, as Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times tweets. It’s not yet clear how long he’s expected to miss, but obviously he’ll now be down for at least the next two weeks.
Latest On Yulieski Gurriel
Yulieski Gurriel remains a fascinating piece of the transactional picture as the deadline approaches, and Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com writes that his market is heating up. The Marlins held a workout with the Cuban star, per the report, with the Giants also showing “strong interest” — though they’ve yet to host him for an up-close look.
We’ve already heard of San Francisco’s possible involvement, which GM Bobby Evans downplayed in recent comments. Other reports have connected the infielder to the Dodgers, Astros, Mets and Yankees, all of whom have held workouts. Heyman notes also that the Red Sox have taken a look, though he adds that Boston isn’t seen as being a likely destination.
The 32-year-old Gurriel is a legend in his home nation, where he has been one of the best players since reaching Serie Nacional as a teenager. And he also showed well in a brief stint in Japan’s NPB two years back. With an advanced bat and polished glove that’s capable of slotting in at third, second, and perhaps the corner outfield, it’s not hard to imagine a fit with many organizations.
Gauging his value is another matter. While there’s some possibility that he’ll be viewed as a deadline addition of sorts, the expectation is that Gurriel will need a decent bit of time to get up to speed in the minors after a long layoff from competitive action. That uncertainty leaves some room for variability.
Rival executives tell Heyman that Gurriel is looking for a deal that would cover this season and four more thereafter. His camp seems to be seeking something in the range of $10MM to $12MM per year, with one source telling Heyman that it wouldn’t be surprising if the veteran could achieve between $40MM and $50MM in total guarantee over a three or four-year term.
MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently examined the possible market for Gurriel’s services, though that piece was written before the recent connections were reported. He and Steve Adams suggested that the contract given to Hector Olivera by the Dodgers (about $10MM annually) as a comparable. In this case, though, a shorter length (given his age) and perhaps a greater AAV (given his better pedigree and the market situation) are certainly possible.
Marlins Designate Jo-Jo Reyes
The Marlins have designated lefty Jo-Jo Reyes for assignment, per a club announcement. Miami also optioned righty Brian Ellington to Triple-A, with those moves designed to clear the way for the promotion of southpaw Justin Nicolino.
[Related: Updated Marlins Depth Chart]
Reyes, 31, has made just two major league appearances since the end of the 2011 campaign, including a single showing this year for Miami. After working as a starter for the vast majority of his career, he has spent most of the 2016 season throwing from the pen at Triple-A. On the year, he owns a 4.17 ERA with 6.6 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9.
The 24-year-old Nicolino will get another shot at holding down a big league job after posting a disappointing 5.17 ERA in his first ten starts this year. Nicolino struck out just 4.4 batters per nine, though that was an improvement on his meager output in that department in 2015. He has been effective at Triple-A, though, with a 2.82 ERA and 5.2 K/9 against 1.6 K/9 over 38 1/3 frames.
Top 20 Trade Candidates
With the deadline just over a month away, the top trade candidate series keeps trucking. I’ll be honest: this post required a re-write after yesterday’s action. The list is in flux with Fernando Rodney (who would’ve been #4) and Bud Norris (he’d have cracked the back of the ranking) changing hands … not to mention Sean Doolittle and Jon Jay hitting the DL, some injured players returning, and others pushing into trade contention. We’re also rolling out our second expansion of the ranking.
Your weekly reminder: we’re not just ranking players by skill alone; we’re looking at overall asset value and trade likelihood. To assess trade value, we’re starting with overall on-field ability — with a premium on the capacity to make an impact in the current season — and then adjusting for contract and market factors. With contenders’ needs in relatively sharp focus, limitations such as future contract status, age, and niche role (platoon bats, relief-only pitchers) tend to have less of a drag on value — though obviously they still matter quite a bit. With regard to the likelihood of a swap, the focus is on potential selling teams’ motivation to deal, with contract status, near and long-term roster fit, and overall competitiveness all weighing heavily. Some teams simply aren’t in a position at present where it makes sense to include their top potential trade chips, but that will evolve over the coming weeks.
Here’s this week’s list:
1. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds — The song remains the same. Teams looking for lefty pop are surely weighing a move for Bruce. His $13MM option for next year is increasingly looking nice, as the coming free agent market isn’t the most exciting. Acquiring teams could pencil Bruce in for 2017 or see that added control as a trade asset to recoup the value given to add him. With Jon Jay seemingly falling out of trade contention due to an unfortunate injury, that only increases the appeal of the other corner outfielders on the market.
2. Jonathan Lucroy, C, Brewers — Not much to add here, either. The question is still whether sufficient demand will develop. From my perspective, it’s hard to imagine that no teams will be truly motivated to add a premium player on a budget deal.
3. Josh Reddick, OF, Athletics — Reddick moves right off the DL and onto this list for the first time. We’ve heard plenty about the possibility of an extension, and that still seems plausible. But players of his quality on expiring contracts with underperforming teams usually end up being traded, and I don’t think that the possibility of a qualifying offer will be much of a factor. Reddick is hitting at career-best rates and is playing on a very reasonable $6.575MM salary.
4. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers — I’m increasingly questioning whether enough demand will develop to motivate Milwaukee here. Braun might be an easier player to deal in the offseason, when he’d represent an alternative to forthcoming free agents like Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Bautista. On the other hand, clubs could see some merit in doing their winter shopping early while adding a premium right-handed bat for the stretch run.
5. Danny Valencia, 3B, Athletics — The OPS still resides comfortably above .900. One important factor in his trade value and likelihood: the presence of several other viable third base options on the market.
6. Zack Cozart, SS, Reds — We just broke down Cozart’s market situation, so read there for more. Teams looking for a useful hitter with a premium glove up the middle probably won’t find a better or more affordable option. That said, demand remains unclear and Cinci doesn’t need to deal him right now.
7. Jake Odorizzi, SP, Rays — Odorizzi makes a big move into the top ten. It’s hardly necessary for Tampa Bay to trade him, of course, as he’ll only reach arb eligibility next year. But with the club falling back of late while dealing with numerous injuries, the appeal of cashing in a sturdy, controllable starter in a seller’s market is increasing. And if the team’s rehabbing starters remain on course, dealing from the rotation might not even be that painful. Especially if the Braves hold firm on Teheran, perhaps Tampa Bay could get a nice return for Odorizzi.
8. Arodys Vizcaino, RP, Braves — Vizcaino hasn’t always had premium strikeout numbers, but they are trending up this season. He has reeled off three straight solid outings since we last checked in, despite a few recent duds, so it’s not so much that he’s moving down the list as it is that the others are moving up.
9. Mark Melancon, RP, Pirates — The Pirates’ closer keeps getting the job done: he hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 15th and has surrendered just two hits in his nine frames this month. Even if Pittsburgh doesn’t move other assets, it’ll have to seriously consider cashing in a player who will be a free agent at the end of the year. While he isn’t as electric as some other top late-inning relievers, and though his peripherals aren’t all that exciting (particularly with his groundball rate diving thus far), Melancon is the type of rental that could bring back a really nice piece in return.
10. Julio Teheran, SP, Braves — GM John Coppolella suggested recently that Teheran is nearly as untouchable as Freddie Freeman, though it remains unclear what body part he’d stake on the righty. (If you don’t get that reference, read here for Coppy’s comments from the offseason.)
11. Rich Hill, SP, Athletics — While he’s still technically on the DL, Hill is set to be activated on Saturday. That said, he won’t reclaim his top-five status on this list until he has shown that he’s at full capacity. Though his groin injury isn’t particularly concerning, the larger injury history and stunning late-career rise will already give some teams pause. Still, the starter rental market is in shambles and he could yet be a prime deadline asset.
12. Drew Pomeranz, SP, Padres — Pomeranz has had some shaky outings that leave you wondering whether he truly has found something. But his most recent outing was a gem, and he’s carrying a 2.76 ERA through 88 frames. The MLBTR staff recently debated whether or not San Diego should deal Pomeranz away. He’s cheap and controllable, which will certainly hold huge appeal for teams that don’t want to burn up prospects for pure rentals, but that also makes him quite useful for the Friars — who could also let him try to build more value and then spin him off over the winter.
13. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Phillies — Hellickson isn’t a guy you add with expectations that he’ll be starting postseason games, but he has certainly pitched well enough to plug a hole in a rotation. There’s a ton of value in that for teams looking to eke out wins in tight races, and he seems rather likely to be dealt before he reaches free agency this fall.
14. Jeremy Jeffress, RP, Brewers — You’re probably not adding Jeffress as a closer, or perhaps even a pure eighth-inning guy, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to draw interest. He has been consistently good for some time now, and teams won’t feel too bad about giving up value for him since there’s reasonably-priced control yet to come (though his saves tallies will eat into that).
15. Yunel Escobar, 3B, Angels — Escobar is a little dinged up, though he’s not yet on the DL. It’s doubtful that other organizations will view him as any kind of savior, but in the right situation he could be a critical stabilizing piece. Plus, he could be plugged into different positions in 2017 or dealt over the winter to offset the initial acquisition cost.
16. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies — Even if a playoff berth remains rather unlikely, I just wonder whether there’s any real possibility of a deal coming together so long as Colorado hangs around .500. But Gonzalez is raking, so he could shoot up this list if and when the team can no longer plausibly claim any hope of contending.
17. Ervin Santana, SP, Twins — As with Hellickson, Santana seems ready to move right into the four or five slot of a contender with back-end rotation issues. The results aren’t exciting, but he has been durable and useful for quite some time now. He’s playing on a $13.5MM salary this year, with another $27MM to come over the next two, so any move would be about Minnesota saving some cash. Nobody is taking that full commitment, though, so the Twins will have to decide whether it’s worth trimming its future obligations or just keeping Santana around to fortify their own rotation for the next couple of seasons.
18. David Freese, 3B, Pirates — The sturdy veteran is hitting at levels he hasn’t seen since 2012, and he’s doing it on a meager $3MM salary. Plus, Pittsburgh could easily cover for his absence, particularly with Jung Ho Kang back and Sean Rodriguez performing, so he could be sold without the organization abandoning all hope of contending.
19. Chris Carter, 1B, Brewers — He’s back! Carter made our first list but fell off after a rough stretch. They say he’s streaky, though, so let’s check in on his total results in June … oh, well. 253/.360/.494 with six home runs. That’ll do. An organization looking to plug some thump into its first base/DH rotation is going to have a tough time finding a more available and affordable option than Carter. The Brewers don’t have to deal him, and there’s not a ton of upside given his many limitations, but he has a place in the trade deadline landscape.
20. Melvin Upton, OF, Padres — Also returning to the list is the elder Upton brother. There are other fourth outfield types, as well as a few infielders and relievers, who also warranted consideration here — most of whom would probably be easier to move given their contracts. But San Diego has been the most aggressive seller thus far, and Upton’s strong work this year could make for an opportune time to dump a decent chunk of his remaining salary obligations.
Keep reading for more names that were considered …
Jay Bruce Willing To Waive No-Trade Clause In Deal To Contender
Reds outfielder Jay Bruce has a limited no-trade clause, but doesn’t intend to use that to hold up a deal to a contending club this summer, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. Bruce sits at the top overall spot on MLBTR’s most recent top trade candidates list.
The NTC would let Bruce reject deals to the Yankees, Red Sox, Athletics, Rays, Marlins, Twins, Indians and Diamondbacks. Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com repored earlier today that Bruce would quite likely be willing to go to Cleveland, and it appears that he’d also be amenable to other hypothetical landing spots. Rumblings have connected Bruce to a variety of clubs, including the Dodgers, Giants, White Sox, and Royals since the start of the season.
Bruce, 29, tells Sheldon that he’s willing to “consider waiving the no-trade clause for all types of reasons,” with “no blanket reason I wouldn’t.” The veteran said he’d need to take each situation as it comes, with agent Matt Sosnick saying that such a choice has yet to be brought to their attention.
Bruce continued on to emphasize that he’d be quite interested in an opportunity to join an organization that has designs on contending. “If I am moved, which has seemed likely for the last year and a half, I’d like to go where the team is mostly likely to win,” he said. “Teams that want me are likely seeking somebody to help them win.”
Notably, Sosnick suggested that Bruce won’t necessarily be looking to utilize the clause for leverage with regard to his contract. “We’re not setting in stone any financial qualifiers,” he said. “If the deal is good for Jay and good for the Reds, he would consider anything — including waiving the no-trade. … There is no team that he would unequivocally not go to.”
Bruce has increasingly cemented his status as a premium trade piece, as he is once again hitting like the All-Star-caliber player he was from 2011 through 2013. The two intervening seasons are easier and easier to forget, as he carries a .279/.325/.568 slash with 17 home runs and a league-leading six triples into July. Bruce’s early-career extension is another asset: he’s earning $12.5MM this year and can be controlled for $13MM in 2017, which is particularly appealing with a dearth of young sluggers on the upcoming free agent market.
Red Sox Could Face Significant International Signing Penalties
The results of MLB’s investigation into the Red Sox’ 2015 international signing class appears to be nearing a conclusion, according to a report from Baseball America’s Ben Badler. While nothing appears to be finalized, Badler says that Boston could face some eye-opening penalties.
MLB is said to be considering punitive measures that could impose restrictions on the team’s ability to spend in the July 2 period set to begin in a few days. Even more remarkably, says Badler, certain prospects inked by the club in 2015 could be declared free agents.
As explained in the above-linked post, the league was looking into Boston’s tactics in landing a class of international signees while the team was prohibited from spending over $300K on any single player. Some kind of “package” signing concerns appear to be the issue.
The possible punishment doesn’t implicate any of the team’s current top prospects, it’s important to emphasize. The league is looking at the signings of raw, still-very young talent here. (Of course, they were signed in hopes they’d one day turn into promising minor leaguers and perhaps one day crack the bigs.)
While it remains to be seen just what will occur here, it’s a rather notable development that the league is even considering this sort of action.
Heyman’s Latest: Yankees, Pirates, Teheran, Marlins
There appear to be different viewpoints in the Yankees front office about how to approach the deadline, Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com writes. GM Brian Cashman may actually be more inclined to sell some assets than is the ownership and upper-level management, per the report.
After a long look at that situation, Heyman goes on to provide some other notes from around the game:
- Some within the Yankees think there’s a very good chance that Aroldis Chapman will be around for the long-term, whether that comes about via extension or a re-signing over the winter. Meanwhile, a team official says the price on Andrew Miller is so high that the odds he’ll be dealt are miniscule.
- The Pirates could sell off a few short-term pieces if the club isn’t in contention come late July, but a broader sale isn’t expected. Heyman suggests Francisco Liriano, Mark Melancon, David Freese, and perhaps Tony Watson as plausible trade chips. You could probably also throw names like Matt Joyce, Sean Rodriguez, and Juan Nicasio into the mix as well.
- Julio Teheran may be pitching his way out of a trade for the Braves, says Heyman. Rival executives suggest that they see a trade as unlikely, and also gave some endorsement of his value. Heyman cites three who believe Teheran is a better trade piece than Sonny Gray of the Athletics at this stage.
- There’s plenty of demand on the starting pitching market, which is perhaps one reason to think that some arms could end up being pried loose. Heyman lists the Orioles, Red Sox, Dodgers, Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays, Astros, Mariners, and Yankees as looking for rotation pieces.
- The Marlins are also reputed to be looking for starting pitching, with Drew Pomeranz on the wish list. But a Miami source tells Heyman that the team finds it “hard to trust Pomeranz” given his relatively thin track record.
- The Padres “at least took a look” at Jose Reyes before he signed with the Mets, per Heyman. It isn’t clear what sort of opportunity San Diego was interested in offering, but it’s not surprising to hear that the organization is looking for low-cost ways to seek value.
Andrew Heaney To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
The Angels have announced that lefty Andrew Heaney will undergo Tommy John surgery. He is expected to miss the rest of this season and all of next — though GM Billy Eppler says the team won’t pre-determine whether a late-2017 return is possible, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (via Twitter).
Los Angeles had been holding out hope that Heaney’s ulnar collateral ligament would respond to growth hormone treatment, but the team says that has not been the case. Per the statement, Heaney also continued to experience discomfort while attempting to throw, leading to the decision to go through with the procedure.
Heaney is a critically important piece of the picture for the Halos both now and into the future. He was acquired for Howie Kendrick in a deal that the organization hoped would provide a strong rotation piece for years to come. Now, the team is left crossing its fingers that the same fate does not await Garrett Richards, who is also undergoing a similar treatment in an effort to stave off a UCL replacement.
The results had been promising. Heaney, 25, completed 105 2/3 innings of 3.49 ERA pitching last year, with 6.6 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9. The results may have been a bit fortunate — he carried a 3.73 FIP, 4.41 xFIP, and 4.31 SIERA on the year — but all told he seemed to be making good on his pedigree as the former 9th overall pick and a top-100 prospect.
With just 150 days of service coming into the season, Heaney won’t cost Los Angeles more than the minimum for some time. He’ll accrue service time while he’s out, of course, which will set him up for Super Two status heading into 2018. But given the minimal innings he has thrown, he won’t command much of a salary.
Needless to say, this is a disappointing development for Heaney, though it had been expected for some time. It’s also disheartening for the Fantex player investment model, which had made the young lefty its first affiliated player.
Giants To Designate Jake Smith, Select Grant Green
The Giants will designate righty Jake Smith for assignment, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area reports on Twitter. The team needed to clear a 40-man spot to make way for infielder Grant Green, who has been promoted.
[Related: Updated Giants Depth Chart]
Smith, 28, has made a u-turn after his stellar 2015 campaign. Over 84 1/3 frames last year at High-A, he allowed just 2.35 earned runs per nine with 12.6 K/9 against only 2.2 BB/9. While the strikeouts are still there through his first 20 1/3 innings at the Double-A level, Smith has walked nearly as many batters as he has K’ed and currently sports a 7.08 ERA.
The 28-year-old Green will now suit up with his third major league club from California after previously seeing action with the Athletics and Angels. He has not managed to hit enough at the MLB level over his first 300 trips to the plate to make up for a suspect glove, and joined San Francisco as a minor league free agent. Green owns a .294/.321/.437 batting line over 250 plate appearances this year with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.
Athletics Sign 6th Overall Draft Pick A.J. Puk
The Athletics have signed lefty A.J. Puk, their top pick from the recent amateur draft, the club announced. Puk was taken with the sixth overall selection, which came with a $4,069,200 pool allocation. He’ll receive exactly that amount with his bonus, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter).
Puk pitched at the University of Florida, where he showed immense talent but also some inconsistency. Still, he drew real consideration with the first overall pick, and was a consensus top-five talent heading into the festivities.
Baseball America ranked Puk as the very best draft talent available on its board, citing his large frame, high-velo fastball, and promising slider and change-up. Despite Puk’s 6’7 height, BA gives him good marks for his ability to work in the zone and locate his heater.
Other outlets were only slightly lower on the big southpaw. MLB.com and ESPN.com each listed him at fourth among draft-eligible prospects. Despite the evident tools, Puk hasn’t been quite as consistently dominant as one might hope. And the secondary offerings aren’t fully functional at present.
Still, it’s all nit-picking at this level of player, and all agree that Puk has immense potential. It was a bit of a surprise that he slid to Oakland, but the A’s were glad to add a player who could be one of the first from the top of the draft to have an impact at the major league level.