Winter Meetings Rumors: Giants, Santana, Marlins, Morneau, Dodgers, Angels
Needless to say, it was a frenetic end to the Winter Meetings. Over the course of the morning, several forward-looking reports emerged. We’ll round those up here:
- The Giants are focused on free agent starter James Shields, according to Alex Pavlovic of the Mercury News (via Twitter). San Francisco is alive on both Shields and Ervin Santana, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle adds on Twitter. The club met with Shields in San Diego, as Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reported yesterday (Twitter link).
- The Twins are still trying to land Santana, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who adds that the Giants, Royals, and Yankees have also expressed interest in the free agent righty.
- The Marlins are still looking hard at the free agent and trade market for a first baseman, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports on Twitter. A deal could come at any time, Spencer adds.
- Attempts by the Marlins to deal for Justin Morneau of the Rockies have fallen apart, tweets MLB.com’s Tom Singer. He hears that Miami could rekindle talks with the Pirates regarding a Pedro Alvarez-for-Nathan Eovaldi swap.
- Communications between the Marlins and Rockies regarding Morneau will continue, MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reports on Twitter, though Harding’s source says he is not sure if the potential match “has legs.”
- The Dodgers did not make their moves as a prelude to dealing away Zack Greinke or dealing for Cole Hamels, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports on Twitter. Los Angeles has already done its heavy lifting with yesterday’s series of moves, says Sherman.
- After trading away second baseman Howie Kendrick, the Angels are “open to opportunities” for additions at the position, GM Jerry Dipoto tells Mike DiGiovanna of MLB.com (Twitter link). The Halos are not interested in free agents Jed Lowrie and Stephen Drew, per Dipoto. Of course, the team just added Josh Rutledge to join in-house option Grant Green in the current mix.
White Sox, Mariners In “Serious Talks” On Dayan Viciedo
The White Sox and Mariners are engaged in “serious talks” about a deal involving outfielder/third baseman Dayan Viciedo, MLB.com’s Scott Merkin reports on Twitter. Chicago is looking to receive a bullpen arm in return.
Viciedo is still only 25 years old and has established himself as a twenty-plus home run power bat. But his on-base and defensive abilities have lagged, and he has actually been a sub-replacement-level overall player (by measure of fWAR) over the last two seasons. At a $4.4MM projected arbitration salary, per MLBTR/Matt Swartz, Viciedo could be headed towards a non-tender next year if he cannot turn things around.
2014 Rule 5 Draft Results
Each year, Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings conclude with the Rule 5 Draft. For those who are unfamiliar with the event, MLBTR offers an in-depth description, but here’s a quick overview.
Players are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft if they aren’t on the 40-man roster four or five years after signing, depending on the age at which they signed. Teams draft in the reverse order of the previous season’s standings but aren’t required to make a selection. If they do choose a player, they pay his former team $50K and must keep that player on the Major League roster all season or offer him back to his original team for $25K.
The results from the major league phase:
- Diamondbacks select Oscar Hernandez from the Rays.
- Rockies select Mark Canha from Marlins (later traded to Athletics for Austin House and cash considerations).
- Rangers select Delino DeShields Jr. from the Astros.
- Astros select Jason Garcia from Red Sox (later traded to the Orioles for cash considerations).
- Twins select J.R. Graham from the Braves.
- Red Sox select Jandel Gustave from Astros (to be traded to Royals, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe, via Twitter).
- White Sox did not make a selection.
- Cubs select Taylor Featherston from Rockies (later traded to Angels for cash considerations).
- Phillies select Odubel Herrera from Rangers.
- Reds did not make a selection.
- Marlins select Andrew McKirahan from Cubs.
- Padres did not make a selection.
- Rays did not make a selection.
- Mets select Sean Gilmartin from Twins.
- Braves select Daniel Winkler from Rockies.
- Brewers did not make a selection.
- Blue Jays did not make a selection.
- Yankees did not make a selection.
- Indians did not make a selection.
- Mariners select David Rollins from Astros.
- Giants did not make a selection.
- Pirates did not make a selection.
- A’s did not make a selection.
- Royals did not make a selection.
- Tigers did not make a selection.
- Cardinals did not make a selection.
- Dodgers did not make a selection.
- Orioles select Logan Verrett from Mets.
- Nationals did not make a selection.
- Angels did not make a selection.
Marlins Acquire Mat Latos From Reds
The Marlins continued to make impactful additions, dealing for righty Mat Latos of the Reds. Pitching prospect Anthony DeSclafani and young catcher Chad Wallach are going to Cincinnati in the deal.
Though Latos has had some recent arm issues, he is an excellent performer when healthy. In fact, he has not posted an ERA of higher than 3.50 in any season since his brief rookie debut. Last year, he worked to a 3.25 earned run mark over 102 1/3 innings, striking out 6.5 and walking 2.3 batters per nine. Those strikeout figures were down from his career standards. And while the innings total is surely a concern, Latos had averaged 200 frames per season over the prior four campaigns.
Then there is the matter of Latos’s contract. He is projected by MLBTR/Matt Swartz to earn just $8.4MM this coming season, a relative bargain. He will qualify for free agency, but the Fish will of course also have the opportunity to make him a qualifying offer.
The Marlins, of course, also acquired starting pitcher Dan Haren from the Dodgers Wednesday, although he could opt to retire rather than playing outside Southern California.
DeSclafani came to Miami in the blockbuster deal with the Blue Jays several years back. The 24-year-old righty reached the bigs last year, struggling to a 6.27 ERA over a short sample of 33 innings, but put up strong results in the minors. He is generally viewed more as a back-end arm, though his exceedingly low walk numbers might provide more upside than his solid strikeout figures would suggest.
Wallach, son of longtime big leaguer Tim, is a 23-year-old backstop who has put up impressive offensive numbers in the low minors. Baseball America views him as a solid all-around prospect who should at worst become a good big league backup.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark tweeted that the Fish were set to announce a pitching acquisition, with Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tweeting that Latos was the name in play. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweeted that the deal was done. MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro (via Twitter) and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports(also on Twitter) reported the Reds’ return.
Tigers, Red Sox Swap Porcello For Cespedes
The Tigers and Red Sox have officially agreed to a deal that will send outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to Detroit in return for starter Rick Porcello, as C.J. Nitkowski of FOX Sports and MLB Network first reported on Twitter. Righty Alex Wilson and lefty Gabe Speier are also heading to Detroit, as WEEI.com’s Alex Speier reported (Twitter links).
In moving Porcello, who is arb-eligible a final time before reaching free agency (at a projected $12.2MM salary), the Tigers have made yet another stunning move involving the club’s high-powered rotation. He joins Doug Fister and Drew Smyly as former Detroit starters. The latter, of course, was part of the deal that brought David Price to Motown. Needless to say, Cespedes will add to an already-formidable middle of the order, while also filling an uncertain spot in the outfield.
For Boston, meanwhile, this swap closes a loop on last summer’s Jon Lester trade, which brought in Cespedes. The club added several other outfield pieces to a crowded situation, which made another deal of some kind seem inevitable. Bringing back an arm of Porcello’s quality would certainly be a nice consolation prize for missing out on a chance to bring back Lester. Cespedes is owed $10.5MM before he reaches the open market after the year, and will not be capable of receiving a qualifying offer due to a clause in his deal.
Lest anyone think that this trade settles things for these two organizations, preliminary reports, and common sense, suggest that both are angling for more additions to their staffs. For Detroit, the rotation now looks to be one arm shy, with ace Max Scherzer still available but the team insisting it is not maneuvering to add him. And for Boston, the addition of Porcello still leaves the team without the ace that it is said to be seeking.
With generally equivalent contractual situations between the two players — Porcello will cost slightly more, but comes with the possibility of a qualifying offer — this deal is a fairly straightforward talent swap.
Porcello, who is still not quite 26 years of age, had a breakout 2014 after years of promise. His 3.43 ERA was backed by his peripherals, even though his strikeout rate dropped, and ERA estimators have liked his work for some time. Porcello continues to induce grounders at about a 50% clip, and also went over 200 innings for the first time in his career. All said, he is a steady three-win arm that any rotation would be glad to have.
Cespedes, on the other hand, is himself only 29 and features plenty of power in his right-handed bat. Despite playing in Oakland for most of the last three seasons, Cespedes has hit more than twenty long balls in each campaign. But his ability to reach base has not been so consistent, and his overall production levels have fallen off since a huge rookie campaign back in 2011. On the other hand, defensive metrics are now more favorably inclined toward his work in left, leaving him — like Porcello — as an approximately three-win player.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted that the deal was finalized. Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reported early aspects of the swap (via Twitter).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Marlins Acquire Andre Rienzo From White Sox For Dan Jennings
The Marlins have acquired righty Andre Rienzo from the White Sox in exchange for lefty Dan Jennings, Miami announced.
Jennings, not to be confused with the Miami GM of the same name, owns a career 2.43 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 across the last three years. The left-hander will celebrate his 28th birthday not long after Opening Day.
Rienzo, 26, has made 21 starts and seven relief appearances for the White Sox over the last two years. In that time, he has posted a 5.89 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9.
Tigers Acquire Alfredo Simon
The Tigers have officially agreed to a deal with the Reds for starter Alfredo Simon, . A pair of 23-year-olds will be headed to Cincinnati in the trade: shortstop Eugenio Suarez and pitching prospect Jonathan Crawford.
Simon, a veteran righty, is projected by MLBTR and Matt Swartz to earn $5.1MM in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 33-year-old has served as both a reliever and a starter in the past, but broke out last year with 196 1/3 innings of 3.44 ERA ball, with 5.8 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9.
Of course, Simon comes with plenty of questions as to whether he can repeat his effort. ERA estimators were not nearly as high on his work last year. And his ERA ballooned to 4.52 in the second half of the season.
Suarez hit .242/.316/.336 over 277 plate appearances in his first year of MLB action. But he impressed in the upper minors at a relatively young age, flashing both on-base ability and gap power.
Crawford, meanwhile, was the Tigers’ first-round choice (20th overall) in the 2013 draft. He pitched to a 2.85 ERA last year over 123 frames at the low A level, with 6.2 K/9 against 3.7 BB/9. MLB.com recently rated him the second overall prospect in the Tigers’ system, citing his live arm and need to work on his change.
Jon Morosi of FOX Sports first connected the teams on a pitching deal, on Twitter. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Twitter that the deal was final. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick tweeted that Suarez was included.
Tigers, Reds Discussing Deal Involving Starter
10:09am: The deal being discussed is not for Latos, Jason Beck of MLB.com tweets. That would appear to mean that Cincinnati is having active discussions on two of their starters.
9:35am: The Tigers are talking about a deal with the Reds to add a starting pitcher and could be close to an agreement, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Discussions are completely separate from Detroit’s talks with the Red Sox, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets.
Cincinnati, of course, has several quality starters playing out the final year of their contracts. The club has long been rumored to be a possible trade partner for teams seeking to boost their 2015 rotations. Of course, it was not at all clear that Detroit would be such a club, but it appears that it re-entered the market for starters after agreeing to send Rick Porcello to the Red Sox today.
With the Reds said to be in talks with both the Tigers and Marlins on starters, it will be fascinating to see whether that means the club is shipping out two arms or instead overseeing a bidding war over the same one. Reports have tied the Marlins’ interest to Mat Latos, though Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, and Alfredo Simon all are theoretical trade candidates as well.
Padres, Dodgers Nearing Matt Kemp Trade
The Padres are nearing a trade that would land them Matt Kemp from the Dodgers, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman writes. The two teams are “exchanging final information” before completing the deal, Heyman says. Friedman said in this evening’s press conference that it was “definitely possible” a trade involving an outfielder could happen soon, via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register on Twitter.
The Dodgers have asked for catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitchers Joe Ross and Zach Eflin, although it’s unclear if that’s what they’ve actually received. Friedman said (via the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin on Twitter) that the team was still looking for a catcher to join A.J. Ellis, so Grandal would make sense as a trade acquisition. A deal would help clear a logjam in the Dodgers’ outfield, which also includes Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke.
Meanwhile, Kemp would give the Padres a big offensive boost. As Heyman notes, the Padres tried to sign Pablo Sandoval and Yasmany Tomas this offseason, and Kemp provides them with a backup plan. The outfielder is owed $107MM over the next five seasons.
If the deal is completed tonight, it would cap a wild day for the Dodgers that also included a seven-player deal that sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Marlins, a trade for Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick, a not-yet-official trade for Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, and a rumored four-year pact with Brandon McCarthy.
Pirates, Neil Walker Have Discussed Extension
The Pirates have spoken to second baseman Neil Walker about an extension, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. The negotations are not active at the present time, however, and the two sides aren’t close regarding the financial terms of a potential deal.
“We would love nothing more than to have Neil Walker end his career as a Pirate,” says Bucs GM Neal Huntington. “We understand he’s a really good player. We understand the local implications and the local ties he has.”
Walker, a Pittsburgh native, had an outstanding season in 2014, hitting .271/.342/.467 in 571 plate appearances. On its face, though, an extension would seem tricky for the cost-conscious Bucs. They control Walker for the next two seasons, with Walker being projected to make $8.6MM in 2015; after those two seasons, Walker will be 31, and the Pirates are probably unlikely to be highly motivated to commit to him beyond that point. He’s already a marginal defensive second baseman and might have to move elsewhere within the next couple years, which could become a problem if his offense slips. And with his arbitration-year salaries already so high, there’s no financial reason for him to settle for a cheap long-term deal.