Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Reaction & Analysis: The Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz Trade

By | at

The blockbuster seven-player trade between the Mets and Mariners is on the verge of being finalized, and an official announcement could come as early as Monday.  Since the initial news about this trade first began to break last Thursday, however, there has already been quite a bit of discussion from various pundits about what this major swap means for both franchises.  Here’s the round-up of some of the many takes on the trade, which reportedly consists of Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, and $20MM in cash considerations going to the Mets, while the Mariners receive Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, former first-round draft picks Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, and righty pitching prospect Gerson Bautista.

  • As noted by both The Athletic’s Tim Britton and ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscriptions required for both), the Mets paid a hefty price to upgrade themselves at second base and closer during an offseason when several other options at both positions were available in free agency at a lower cost.  Olney suggests that New York could’ve kept Jeff McNeil at second base and signed a closer like David Robertson or Jeurys Familia, which would’ve kept Kelenic/Dunn/Bautista in the farm system and left more money for the Mets to spend on other needs.  “Given the particulars of the trade and the market context, the core question for the Mets in this deal is this: Do they think the quality difference in 70 innings of Diaz vs. 70 innings of a Robertson or Jeurys Familia is worth taking on $60MM of Cano money and swapping two of their top 10 prospects,” Olney asks.  More than one rival evaluator mentioned to Olney that while Diaz is controllable for four years, Diaz’s large save totals will give him a costly arbitration price tag right away when he first becomes arb-eligible next winter.
  • The Mets also could’ve given up less prospect depth, Britton observes, by taking on more of Cano’s salary.  Regardless, the trade is hard to properly evaluate until we see how “the money saved in this move gets reinvested in the major league roster,” as Britton puts it.
  • More moves are definitely necessary for the Mets, ESPN.com’s Keith Law opines (subscription required), since Cano and Diaz alone won’t turn New York into a contender.  That’s even assuming Cano and Diaz continue to produce as they did in 2018, which is no guarantee given Cano’s age and the general year-to-year volatility of many relievers, even arms as dominant as Diaz was last season.  “This had to be Mets fans’ worst nightmare: The owners, who seemingly can’t stop meddling in baseball operations, would hire someone as GM who’d short-circuit the ongoing rebuilding of the farm system in pursuit of short-term wins,” Law writes.  He also gives his take on the three youngsters heading to Seattle, and believes the Mariners are doing a good job of adding talent to a minor league pipeline that was very short on premium prospects.
  • Brodie Van Wagenen came into the Mets’ GM job intent on building a contender for 2019, and his pursuit of this goal has drawn praise from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who contrasts Van Wagenen’s plans with the now-common occurrence of a new general manager immediately beginning a rebuild upon taking a job.  The Cano trade is “the kind of bold, daring move that used to dominate the baseball landscape, before GMs were more worried about preserving their job security than taking risks….Imagine, a team actually spending money, taking a genuine risk, and trying to win a World Series without worrying about hoarding prospects,” Nightengale writes.  In regards to Cano’s ability to stay productive into his late 30’s and early 40’s, Nightengale adds the interesting observation that a DH role could still be in his future, should the National League adopt a designated hitter in the next collective bargaining agreement (the current CBA ends after the 2021 season).
  • The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) grades the deal as a B for the Mariners and a C for the Mets, noting that Seattle looks to be the long-term winner if Kelenic and Dunn develop into quality big league regulars.
  • This deal, and the trades of James Paxton and Mike Zunino earlier this offseason, netted eight new minor leaguers for the Mariners, or $78MM in asset value to Seattle’s farm system, Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen calculates (based on the prospect valuation system used by Fangraphs’ Craig Edwards).  The M’s previously ranked at the bottom of these prospect value rankings, though their moves have now moved them to around the middle of the pack, with Longenhagen’s caveat that this rating could certainly fluctuate based on what the Mariners or other teams do in the rest of the offseason.

Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Phillies

By | at

MLBTR is publishing Offseason Outlooks for all 30 teams. Click here to read the other entries in this series.

A very busy winter is on the horizon for the Phillies, as they are poised to explore all options on the free agent and trade fronts in order to firmly return to contention in 2019.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Jake Arrieta, SP: $45MM through 2020 (Arrieta can opt out after 2019 season, but Phillies can void the opt-out by exercising a two-year/$40MM club option for 2021-22)
  • Carlos Santana, 1B: $35MM through 2020 (includes $500K buyout of $17.5MM club option for 2021)
  • Odubel Herrera, CF: $24.5MM through 2021 (includes $2.5MM buyout of $11.5MM club option for 2022; Phillies also have a $12.5MM club option for 2023 with a $1MM buyout)
  • Scott Kingery, IF/OF: $21.75MM through 2023 (includes $1MM buyout of $13MM club option for 2024; Phillies also have club options for 2025-26)
  • Tommy Hunter, RP: $9MM through 2019
  • Pat Neshek, RP: $6.5MM through 2019 (includes $750K buyout of $7MM club option for 2020)

Arbitration Eligible Players (projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

Free Agents

[Phillies Organizational Depth Chart | Phillies Payroll Overview]

The 2018-19 offseason has long been seen as a natural endpoint for the Phillies’ rebuilding process.  The team’s plan was to have a young core of talent in place by 2018, so the Phils could then spend freely within what was expected to be the most star-studded free agent class in history.  As it turned out, this winter’s free agent crop isn’t quite as historically great as it appeared even a year ago, and the Phillies haven’t quite established their foundation.  The Phils seemed to be taking that step forward when they occupied first place in the NL East as late as August 12, before a late-season collapse (going 12-28 over their last 40 games) doomed the team to an 80-82 record and its seventh straight non-winning season.

With this in mind, a couple of big acquisitions wouldn’t necessarily be the finishing touches on an up-and-coming team.  GM Matt Klentak could be considering a much more substantial overhaul of his roster, especially since Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins reportedly might be the only two truly untouchable players on the roster.  (I’d expect the team to discuss contract extensions with both Nola and Hoskins come Spring Training.)  With this in mind, it’s difficult to specifically predict what the Phillies might have in store this offseason since just about anything is on the table, and the team is already casting a wide net in exploring free agent and trade possibilities.

Sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado as the new face of the franchise?  Many pundits think it could happen (as do MLBTR’s readers).  Sign Craig Kimbrel to anchor the ninth inning and turn promising youngster Seranthony Dominguez into a multi-inning weapon?  Wouldn’t be surprising.  Sign one of Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi, J.A. Happ, or Yusei Kikuchi to join Nola and Jake Arrieta atop the rotation?  Also plausible, as Philadelphia has been linked to all four of those free agent arms on the rumor mill.  Turning to trade candidates, the Phils have reportedly already checked in with the Mariners about shortstop Jean Segura and closer Edwin Diaz, and it’s fair to assume that Klentak will make calls about just about every big name that could be available.

Whatever direction Klentak decides to pursue, he certainly doesn’t have to worry about financial limitations.  Team owner John Middleton has openly promised that the Phillies will be big spenders this winter, and they could “maybe even be a little bit stupid about” how much they hand out in future commitments.  MLBTR’s Rob Huff projected that Philadelphia might have as much as $62.25MM in payroll capacity this winter, and even that estimate might be low if the team decides to truly explode into luxury tax territory ($206MM is the new tax threshold) or if the Phils can open up more payroll space by unloading some of their current players.

The most prominent name in this regard is Carlos Santana, owed $35MM over the next two seasons.  Santana was signed just last winter by the Phillies, and while he provided above-average (109 wRC+) production in 2018, he is already being shopped since Hoskins’ left field defense was so dismal that the team wants to re-install the young slugger at first base.  In a recent examination of Santana’s trade market, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes observed that the presence of other available first basemen (i.e. Paul Goldschmidt, Justin Smoak) or DH types (namely Nelson Cruz) in free agency or the trade market could make it hard for the Phillies to find a suitor for Santana.

If Santana’s contract can’t be moved entirely, perhaps the Phillies could try to deal the first baseman for another high-salaried player who is an imperfect fit on his current roster.  Speculatively speaking, a player like Ian Desmond could be a match, since the Rockies need stability at first base and Desmond can be installed into Philadelphia’s outfield (plus, Desmond gives manager Gabe Kapler a multi-positional option).  Desmond has been a negative-fWAR player over his two years in Colorado, so I’d expect any such scenario to involve multiple players to make things palatable for both sides. And that, of course, is but one of myriad scenarios the Philadelphia front office could entertain.

The Phillies have pieces to offer in just about any trade scenario one can imagine, and if everyone but Hoskins and Nola is available at the right price, it’s anyone’s guess as to who on the current MLB roster will make it to Opening Day.  At this time last year, Odubel Herrera, Cesar Hernandez, Aaron Altherr, and Nick Williams were all coming off strong 2017 performances and looked like possible long-term assets, yet all four took steps backwards last season and may no longer be part of Philadelphia’s future plans.

Of that quartet, Hernandez at least still produced solid OBP numbers, and likely still has the most trade value given how much interest he drew last offseason.  Hernandez is projected for an $8.9MM arbitration salary in 2019 and is controlled through 2020, so the Phillies have to determine if they still like Hernandez at that value or feel they can do better.  Trading Hernandez now would be something of a sell-low case, though he might still be more attractive than other second base options for teams needing there.  The Phillies themselves would be in the market for a new second baseman if they dealt Hernandez, as while the position could eventually have Scott Kingery’s name on it, he didn’t do enough in his rookie season to prove himself worthy of an everyday job.  A short-term veteran in the mold of a Jed Lowrie or Asdrubal Cabrera could be pursued if the Phillies still see Kingery as the long-term answer at second base.

While many of the Phillies’ youngsters disappointed last year, it’s a little ironic that Maikel Franco is reportedly one of the likelier pieces to be traded when he’s the one who actually hit well (.270/.314/.467 in 465 PA, 22 homers, 106 OPS+, 105 wRC+) in 2018, rebounding after a couple of lackluster seasons.  Assuming a Franco deal takes place, Kingery could also be an option at third base, though it seems likely that Phillies have a bigger target in mind for the left field of their infield.

Machado has been linked to Philadelphia for months, as the team is one of the few that can reasonably afford the record contract he is likely to receive in free agency, and the Phillies have such clear needs at both third base and shortstop.  No team received less from its shortstops (-1.8 bWAR) than the Phillies in 2018, and with Kingery an imperfect defensive fit and top prospect J.P. Crawford yet to break out in limited MLB action, signing Machado would immediately turn the shortstop position from a minus to a big plus.  Machado’s defensive prowess as a shortstop improved considerably after going from the Orioles to the Dodgers, so signing with another analytically-inclined team like the Phillies could allay concerns about his glovework.

If Machado prefers to remain at shortstop, the Phillies could retain Franco for third base, give Kingery a longer look, or perhaps acquire another third baseman (e.g. Josh Donaldson, Mike Moustakas).  If Machado is indeed open to moving back to the hot corner, the Phils could address shortstop in the form of another proven star like Segura, or a multi-position player like Marwin Gonzalez would provide even more roster flexibility for Kapler.

Let’s move from Machado to Harper, who is also an easy fit for the Phillies, given their shaky outfield.  Harper would immediately solidify right field, leaving the team to juggle Williams, Altherr (if is tendered a contract), and Roman Quinn in left field — that is, if the Phillies didn’t turn those players into bench depth by acquiring an established everyday left fielder.  Harper will likely command an even larger contract than Machado, whose infamous “Johnny Hustle” comments and the accusations of dirty play directed towards him during the postseason did little to help his free-agent stock.  Harper has also had his share of controversy in his young career, though his injury history is surely the bigger factor for any team considering giving him the largest contract of all time.

Signing more than one of the free agents who rejected a qualifying offer (Harper, Corbin, Kimbrel, Yasmani Grandal, Dallas Keuchel, A.J. Pollock) would cost the Phillies multiple draft picks and significant chunks of their international signing bonus pool funds.  It isn’t yet known if the Phillies would take such a player development hit for a second consecutive offseason, or if the team would prefer to spend its dollars on players who aren’t tied to compensation.

If Harper signs elsewhere, Michael Brantley, Andrew McCutchen, Marwin Gonzalez, David Peralta, or Wil Myers stand out as some of the higher-profile corner outfield options that could be signed or acquired in trades.  The Tigers’ Nick Castellanos is an unlikelier choice for a Phillies team looking to upgrade its defense.  The Phils ranked last among all teams in both Defensive Runs Saved (-146) and UZR/150 (-8.0) last season, and while moving Hoskins out of left field will by itself represent an improvement, the Phillies will be prioritizing better defense in 2019.  To that end, Harper’s own defensive ratings were poor in 2018, though agent Scott Boras is aiming to chalk that up to residual effects from Harper’s leg injury late in the 2017 season.

Center field could also be a target area for this reason, as Herrera’s glove dropped off considerably (as per Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric, as well as UZR/150 and DRS) and his offense declined for the third straight year.  Kapler hinted that conditioning could have been an issue for Herrera, and the outfielder also saw more time in right field than in center over the latter weeks of the season.

While the Phillies acquired Wilson Ramos for the pennant race, another big splash at catcher is dependent on their long-term view of Jorge Alfaro.  The 25-year-old’s contact skills and pitch-blocking are still a work in progress, making some kind of addition seem likely.  The Phils could sign a veteran backstop to a one-year deal to split time with Alfaro and act as a mentor, but the catching market has a few alternatives if they prefer a higher-profile add.

As much as the Phillies have already looked into Corbin and other top free agent hurlers, the club is likely to limit itself to just one starting pitching addition, since it already has a pretty solid core group of Nola, Arrieta, Nick Pivetta, Vince Velasquez, and Zach Eflin.  As one might expect given the Phillies’ poor defense, the gap between the rotation’s collective ERA (4.12) and FIP (3.76) was the third-largest of any team in baseball, meaning the starters pitched better than their already-decent numbers indicated.  Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Pivetta, Velasquez, or Eflin shifted into a long relief or swingman role to make room for another starter, particularly given Kapler’s penchant for going to his bullpen.

Trade possibilities also can’t be ruled out if the Phillies believe they fetch a good price for their younger arms, or if Arrieta ends up being the big salary moved to create more payroll space.  Arrieta posted his lowest swinging-strike and K/9 totals in five years, his overall numbers dropped over the last two months of the season, and he generally continued to look more like the solid veteran workhorse he was in 2017 than his old ace form for the 2015 Cubs.  I’d find it unlikely that Arrieta is dealt just because the Phils could use some stability and experience within what is still a pretty young rotation, and because even the 2018 version of Arrieta going forward still provides value, if maybe not quite at the $45MM remaining cost of his contract.

Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter have also had their names mentioned in trade rumblings less than a year after signing with the Phillies, as both have significant price tag owed to them in 2019.  Keeping both in the fold wouldn’t be a bad result given that Neshek and Hunter both pitched well last season, and the Phillies could decide to mostly stand pat with their bullpen unless they believe an established closer is needed.  Kimbrel, David Robertson (who could favor teams in the Northeast), and Zach Britton could meet this need in free agency, and it’s worth mentioning that Philadelphia had interest in Britton prior to the trade deadline.

After all of these words about the big moves the Phillies could make, let’s also issue some words of caution.  Since Middleton has gone on record about the team’s planned expenditures, I don’t dare suggest that the Phillies won’t be major players this offseason.  However, Middleton also added this note in his remarks to USA Today: “as Andy [MacPhail, Phillies president] likes to tell me, ’John, we are playing baseball after 2019, so, you can’t spend every last dime after this year.’ You got to have something in the tank for future years.”  The Phils will certainly make at least a couple of big and expensive acquisitions, though they don’t need to go overboard to be a better team next season.  A lot of improvement could come from within, if Alfaro and/or Kingery break out, or if Herrera or Hernandez bounce back, or (perhaps chiefly) if the Phillies simply improve their defense from league-worst status.

A big part of the team’s winter business will be centered around Klentak deciding what he exactly has in his current roster pieces, and beginning the process of shipping out players the organiation doesn’t view as contributors to the next winning Phillies team.  As last offseason’s surprising Santana contract indicates, Klentak isn’t afraid of going outside the box to make a move he feels will improve his roster.  The Phillies could be the most fascinating team of any to watch this winter, as their moves are likely to be a league-wide influence on the entire offseason’s direction.

Quick Hits: Schoop, Brewers, Nationals, Stroman

By | at

Jonathan Schoop is a key figure in the Brewers’ offseason plans, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, as the club’s decision whether or not to tender the second baseman a contract could have a ripple effect throughout the infield.  Schoop is projected to earn $10.1MM via arbitration, though he is coming off a rough season that saw him hit just .233/.266/.416 over 501 plate appearances for the Brewers and Orioles.  Since Schoop did post big numbers for the O’s in 2017, however, Milwaukee could keep Schoop in the fold to see if he can regain that form.  If Schoop was non-tendered, the Brewers could again consider moving Travis Shaw to second base (as they did last season) and then pursue third base help, possibly in the form of a reunion with Mike Moustakas.  I’d also suggest that the Brewers could simply try to acquire another second baseman if Schoop was non-tendered, as there are several interesting options available that might be preferable to taking the defensive hit that would likely come with Shaw getting regular second base duty.  GM David Stearns was quick to dismiss the possibility that Keston Hiura, Milwaukee’s top prospect, could be a possibility for the second base job, as Hiura has yet to even reach the Triple-A level.

Here’s more from around baseball as we wrap up Thanksgiving weekend…

  • The Nationals are thought to be “aiming higher” in their search for starting pitching rather than trying to swing buy-low trades for Marcus Stroman or Sonny Gray, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post writes.  Janes’ piece in general looks at the pitching options open to the Nats on the trade market, and while GM Mike Rizzo doesn’t often make deals for notable starters, he is willing to pay a significant price when he does covet an arm.  Washington parted with seven total players to acquire Doug Fister in 2013 and Gio Gonzalez in 2011, and since those trades, Rizzo has preferred to rely on free agency or homegrown arms to bolster the rotation.  With so many interesting starters available in trade talks this winter, however, it wouldn’t be surprising if Rizzo went that route instead of making another signing.
  • Speaking of Stroman, the Blue Jays have been asked about the right-hander but have yet to enter into any significant trade talks.  The Athletic’s Andrew Stoeten (subscription required) feels the Jays should be willing to deal Stroman even at something of a sell-low price, since a slow start in 2019 would further diminish any real trade value Stroman possesses.  Since Toronto doesn’t seem to be planning to contend again until 2021, Stoeten feels the Jays should be exploring deals for any player (like Stroman) whose isn’t under team control in 2021 or beyond.

Coaching/Front Office Notes: Dodgers, Orioles, Rays

By | at

The latest on some coaching and front office personnel decisions from around the game…

  • The Dodgers are expected to hire Dino Ebel as their new third base coach, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.  Ebel would fill the role left behind by newly-hired Rangers manager Chris Woodward, who was also the Dodgers’ infield coach in addition to his duties in the third base box.  No stranger to Los Angeles baseball, Ebel has spent the last 13 years on the Angels’ staff as a third base coach and bench coach, plus he also has an extensive background in the Dodgers organization.  Ebel spent his entire six-year playing career in the Dodgers’ farm system, before going on to spend over a decade as a coach and manager at various levels of the minor league ladder.
  • Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich’s contract with the team expires at the end of November, and Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that there has yet to be any word on whether or not Rajsich will continue with the organization (either in his current role or a reassigned position).  Rajsich has been with the O’s since 2011, though it isn’t clear if his tenure will continue, given how the team has been overhauling its front office and new general manager Mike Elias may prefer to have his own hire in place.
  • Rays minor league catching coordinator Paul Hoover looks like the favorite to become the team’s new field coordinator, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes.  The job opened up when Rocco Baldelli was hired by the Twins to become their new manager.  A former big leaguer with the Rays, Marlins, and Phillies, Hoover appeared in parts of seven MLB seasons from 2001-10, and he has been working in Tampa’s minor league system since 2012.

Free Agent Rumblings: Jones, Miller, Phillies, Eovaldi

By | at

Adam Jones hopes to keep playing “at least four or five more years,” the veteran outfielder told reporters (including MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko) this weekend at his #StayHungry Purple Tailgate charity event in Baltimore.  Jones turned 33 last August and is coming off a season that saw him hit .281/.313/.419 with 15 homers over 613 plate appearances for the Orioles, making for his lowest home run and slugging average totals since 2008, and below-average run production overall (98 wRC+).  Between his age and the offensive dropoff, Jones may face a difficult market as he test free agency for the first time in his 13-year career, though he is realistic about his prospects.  “It’s like [being] the senior that some people want that not everybody wants, as opposed to the sophomore that everybody wants.  I take it back when I was in high school and getting flirted with a little bit,” Jones said.  “But at the same time, I’ve got no stress. The Orioles have been good to me financially over my career. I just know that I have a lot to offer someone else and I have a lot of gas in the tank.”

A reunion with the Orioles doesn’t appear to be in the cards for now, as Jones said that he hadn’t heard from the team since the season ended.  This isn’t necessarily unusual, as Baltimore only just installed Mike Elias as its new general manager in mid-November, and Elias could have interest in re-signing a team legend to act as an on-field mentor through the Orioles’ rebuilding phase.  Still, Jones’ tribute-filled final game of 2018 campaign (and his own comments following the team) certainly seemed to hint that the two sides would be parting ways.

Here’s more on some other free agents around the game….

  • The Phillies are the latest team to express “active interest” in southpaw Andrew Miller, MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reports (Twitter link).  The previously-reported Cardinals and Mets are also among the teams looking at Miller, though the left-hander isn’t yet close to signing with anyone.  Injuries limited Miller to just 34 innings in 2018, and likely contributed to his overall middling numbers (at least in comparison to his outstanding performance from 2014-17).  Still, with such a track record, it isn’t surprising that Miller is getting lots of attention from a wide range of teams.  Philadelphia is a natural suitor, as the Phils have loads of money to spend this winter and could want more of a veteran late-game presence to complement star rookie Seranthony Dominguez.
  • Bryce Harper’s name has naturally been attached to the Phillies as they seemingly prepare to embark on a spending spree, to the point that “it’s amazing how many people inside this sport almost assume that the Phillies will be the highest bidder in this auction” for Harper, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark writes (subscription required).  Philadelphia has enough financial resources and available future payroll space to pursue anyone in the free agent market…or maybe even in future markets, as Stark speculates on the idea of Mike Trout and Harper both playing in the Phillies outfield in 2021.  Trout still has two years left on his Angels contract, of course, and thus it’s far too early to guess at what might happen down the road, especially since the Angels have every intention of keeping their superstar.  (“I would bet that Arte would spend $10 billion not to have to read the sentence: ’Arte Moreno was the owner who let Mike Trout walk away,’ ” one executive joked to Stark.)  Still, the Phillies’ financial might and their close proximity to Trout’s hometown of Millville, New Jersey make them seem like a logical candidate should Trout ever test the open market.
  • Nathan Eovaldi is one of the most sought-after names on the free agent starting pitching market, yet “there is a team or two toying with trying to sign him as a reliever,” the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo writes.  Eovaldi’s superb results out of the Red Sox bullpen during their World Series run has surely contributed to this idea, and with two Tommy John surgeries to his name, a case could be made that relief work would be less stressful on Eovaldi’s arm.  This being said, it would be incredibly surprising to see Eovaldi sign on as a reliever after so strongly re-establishing his credentials as a starting pitcher last season.

MLBTR Originals

By | at

Here is the last seven days’ worth of original content from the MLBTR writing staff….

  • The Angels, Dodgers, Braves, and Yankees were the latest teams featured in the Projecting Payroll series by Rob Huff, who analyzes each team’s current financial commitments and past spending history to predict how much money each club could potentially have for new player acquisitions this offseason.
  • We’re continuing to preview our way through each team’s winter plans in our Offseason Outlook series.  This week’s entries spotlighted the Cardinals, Indians (both by Kyle Downing), Braves, Rockies (both by Jeff Todd), and the Giants (by Mark Polishuk).
  • For any number of reasons, a player signed to an expensive contract may no longer be a good fit on his team’s roster.  Jeff Todd compiled a list of such players who could potentially be available in trades this winter, either in pure salary dumps or perhaps cases where two teams exchange high-priced players to better fulfill each club’s need.
  • Tim Dierkes published another round of survey results from the contestants in MLBTR’s Free Agent Prediction Contest.  This latest set focused on where the players ranked 11th-20th on MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents list — Andrew McCutchen, Yusei Kikuchi, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Morton, Wilson Ramos, Marwin Gonzalez, Jeurys Familia, Zach Britton, David Robertson, and Adam Ottavino — will wind up by Opening Day.

Quick Hits: Realmuto, Mariners, Myers, Kia Tigers

By | at

The Marlins have put a very high price on J.T. Realmuto in trade talks, which isn’t surprising given Realmuto’s status as arguably the best catcher in baseball.  Since Realmuto may never be as valuable as he is now, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscription required) argues that Miami needs to swing a deal this winter rather than risk the chance that Realmuto is injured or has a downturn in production in 2019.  Some rival teams feel that Realmuto will still be a Marlin on Opening Day since the team is simply asking for too much in return, possibly due to a feeling that they didn’t get enough back in last winter’s trades of Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Giancarlo Stanton.  Olney observes that the Nationals already made a quick pivot to another catcher in Kurt Suzuki, which could be a sign that other teams engaged in the Realmuto talks might also explore alternatives unless Miami lowers its demands.

More from around the baseball world as we wrap up Thanksgiving…

  • With the trades of Mike Zunino and James Paxton, the Mariners have indicated that they plan to “step back” in 2019, as GM Jerry Dipoto told the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish and other reporters.  Divish explores what this strategy could mean for the rest of the Mariners’ offseason plans, particularly since Dipoto indicated the desire for a pretty quick turnaround, with the M’s theoretically ready to contend again as early as 2020.  This means that longer-term pieces like Mitch Haniger, Edwin Diaz, and Marco Gonzales are less likely to be traded, as Dipoto “would have to be blown away to move players like that,” the GM said, though “we are going to stay open-minded to anything with a general ’never say never.’ “
  • An alternative to this partial Mariners selloff is proposed by Buster Olney, who argues in another subscription-only piece that the M’s should go into a full-blown fire sale, a la the complete teardowns the Cubs and Astros underwent to rebuild their franchises into World Series winners.  Under Olney’s plan, everyone on Seattle’s roster would be available — he suggests Haniger could be shopped to teams that miss out on Bryce Harper, while an elite closer like Diaz has limited value on a team that isn’t preparing to immediately contend.
  • The Mariners and Padres discussed a trade scenario that would’ve seen Jean Segura and Mike Leake go to San Diego with Wil Myers coming back to Seattle, though Divish hears from sources that the negotiations took place over two weeks ago and don’t appear to be ongoing.  From San Diego’s perspective, MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell looks at the pros and cons of trading Myers, who is the most experienced and productive (and expensive) member of the crowded Padres outfield.
  • Former big leaguers Roger Bernadina and Pat Dean won’t be returning to the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kia Tigers next season, according to a Yonhap News report, as the Tigers are reportedly looking to get younger.  Jeremy Hazelbaker and Jacob Turner were both recently signed by the Tigers to fill the international player roster slots formerly occupied by Bernadina and Dean.  Last appearing in MLB in 2014, Bernadina has performed very well in two seasons in the KBO, so it would stand to reason that he would consider signing with another Korean team if he isn’t interested in exploring a return to North American baseball.

Diamondbacks Sign Rob Refsnyder To Minors Deal

By | at

The Diamondbacks have signed utilityman Rob Refsnyder to a minor league contract that contains an invitation to the team’s big league Spring Training camp.  The pact was announced by the official Twitter feed of the Reno Aces, the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate.

Refsnyder was granted free agency after a 2018 season that saw him post a .283/.357/.402 slash line over 208 PA at the Triple-A level in the Rays’ organization, while also appearing in 40 Major League games for the Rays and hitting .167/.314/.274 over 103 PA.  The season essentially sums up Refsnyder’s career, as he has hit well at the minor league level but failed to carry that success over across 423 career MLB plate appearances with the Rays, Blue Jays and Yankees from 2015-18.

Refsnyder was once seen as a potential second baseman of the future for New York, though he spent time at second base, first base, both corner outfield slots, and even one inning at third base over his big league career.  This versatility will give him a shot at winning a bench job with the D’Backs this spring, especially if Daniel Descalso leaves Arizona for another team in free agency.

Mets Interested In Yan Gomes

By | at

The Mets and Indians have engaged in trade talks involving catcher Yan Gomes, according to SNY.tv’s Andy Martino.  Reports from earlier in the winter indicated that Cleveland was open to offers for some of its higher-paid veteran players, and while much of that speculation has centered around the Tribe’s available starting pitchers, Gomes has also generated “significant trade interest.”

Gomes would be a particularly good fit on a Mets team that is looking for an upgrade behind the plate.  With Travis d’Arnaud recovering from Tommy John surgery (the latest in a long string of injuries for d’Arnaud), Kevin Plawecki and Tomas Nido are New York’s top two catching options, leaving lots of room for improvement.  Gomes would bring not just solid defense and game-calling to the mix, but also a revived bat that saw him hit .266/.313/.449 with 16 homers in 2018, following three seasons of below-average offensive production.  Since payroll is always a factor for the Mets, Gomes is also an attractive option due to a reasonable contract — $7MM in 2019, then a $9MM club option for 2020 ($1MM buyout) and an $11MM club option for 2021 (with another $1MM buyout).

Signing free agents like Yasmani Grandal or Wilson Ramos would cost the Mets much more money, though obviously the team would have to part with assets to pry Gomes out of Cleveland.  The Mets are short on minor league depth, though the Tribe is probably looking for a more immediately helpful return for Gomes than just prospects, as the Indians fully intend to make another postseason appearance in 2019.  Cleveland has a need for outfielders, though it would surely take more than just Gomes for the Mets to part with Michael Conforto or Brandon Nimmo.

The Indians and Mets collaborated on a notable trade in August 2017, which send Jay Bruce to Cleveland.  The two sides also came close to finalizing a deal last offseason that would’ve sent Jason Kipnis to New York, before Mets ownership reportedly nixed the trade for financial reasons.  While Kipnis is still with the Tribe, it isn’t clear if he would still be on the Mets’ radar now that Brodie Van Wagenen has taken over as New York’s general manager.

Trade/Free Agent Rumors: Segura, Diaz, Greinke, Happ

By | at

The Phillies are expected to be one of the offseason’s busiest teams, and thus it’s no surprise they’re heavily featured in this latest roundup of hot stove news from MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.  Some highlights…

  • The Phillies have interest in Mariners shortstop Jean Segura and closer Edwin Diaz.  We’ve already heard Segura’s name linked to the Padres and Yankees in rumors, and Philadelphia could also make sense as a landing spot given their lack of production from the shortstop position (a sub-replacement -1.8 bWAR in 2018).  Trading for Segura also wouldn’t necessarily close the door on the possibility of signing Manny Machado, as the Phils could use Machado at third base.  Then again, the four years and $58MM remaining on Segura’s contract makes him a cheaper alternative to Machado, though Segura also has some control over his future in the form of a full no-trade clause.  It isn’t yet clear if the M’s would consider dealing Diaz since, with four years of control remaining over the star closer, the team would be theoretically reloaded and ready to contend while Diaz is still on the roster.  The Braves are another team with interest in Diaz, Morosi reports.
  • The Diamondbacks “are confident” they’ll be able to trade Zack Greinke without having to absorb any of the $95.5MM still owed on the right-hander’s contract over the next three seasons., a source tells Morosi.  It’s a very short list of teams with the available payroll space and willingness to make such a big move, which is why Morosi feels the Phillies “are the most logical suitors.”  While the Phillies are also checking into a plethora of other pitching options (including Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ), Greinke would cost the team less than Corbin would in a long-term commitment.  Acquiring Greinke would also come at a player cost, of course, though it’s possible Arizona would take only a relatively middling prospect return just for the sake of getting Greinke entirely off the books.
  • Speaking of Happ, the veteran left-hander is generating a lot of buzz in free agency.  In addition to the Phillies, the Angels, Astros, and Brewers are new teams who Morosi adds to the already-lengthy list of clubs (the Blue Jays, Reds, Twins, White Sox, and Yankees) who have previously been rumored to have some level of interest in Happ’s services.  Of the newly-cited teams, Milwaukee and Houston offer Happ the best chance of competing for a World Series in 2019, while the Angels and Phillies are a few steps behind at this point of the offseason, though obviously L.A. and Philadelphia each have designs on significant roster upgrades this winter.

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top