MLB Chatter Thread

[Carp]

Mets/Rangers talking Gee for Sardinas.

 

[Rev]

Mets/Rangers talking Gee for Sardinas.

Make it so. Looks like other teams are the involved so it might get better for you. I do like Sardinas but we do have a surplus there.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I'll worry about the fact that this contract is almost guaranteed to be a albatross at some point since he is 31 years old. He should be pretty damn good for the first 3-4 years of it though, so hopefully the Cubs can win before he declines too much.

Sounds like the Cubs are not done this offseason. Lester's catcher David Ross is expected to be brought in the fold as well as utility OF/lefty masher Jonny Gomes. Some speculation of them trying to add one more "big bat" as well (must be via trade as there aren't any "big bats" left in free agency).

Finally time to see what this rebuilding project is going to turn into over the next several seasons. Is it spring training yet?

 

[Carp]

Make it so. Looks like other teams are the involved so it might get better for you. I do like Sardinas but we do have a surplus there.

Gee is a good pitcher and I hate to lose him, but we have to clear a space for other players in the rotation. He should get 5-6 mil this year, which is fair for what he is going to give a new team. ERA in the high 3's, 10 or so wins. Solid 4-5 starter, he'd be a 3 in some rotations.

 

[Carp]

Astros “Closing In” On Two-Year Deal With Pat Neshek

By Jeff Todd [December 10, 2014 at 8:39am CST]


After adding Luke Gregerson this morning, the Astros are “closing in” on a deal with fellow right-handed reliever Pat Neshek, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Neshek has been said to be talking with Houston and two other teams.

Houston is nearing a two-year pact with Neshek, Nightengale adds.

 

[NoDak]

I don't understand why the Cubs got rid of Samardzija, then turn around and start buying talent to go with their prospects. Did he not want to resign with them? Were they offered so much they couldn't turn it down?

If they were gearing up to make a push, why wouldn't they want to keep a home grown front line starter? Am I missing something here?

 

[Deuce]

I don't understand why the Cubs got rid of Samardzija, then turn around and start buying talent to go with their prospects. Did he not want to resign with them? Were they offered so much they couldn't turn it down?

If they were gearing up to make a push, why wouldn't they want to keep a home grown front line starter? Am I missing something here?

I agree. They got a good haul for him, so I understand the deal. I just don't understand why they were shopping him in the first place.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I don't understand why the Cubs got rid of Samardzija, then turn around and start buying talent to go with their prospects. Did he not want to resign with them? Were they offered so much they couldn't turn it down?

If they were gearing up to make a push, why wouldn't they want to keep a home grown front line starter? Am I missing something here?

I think the bottom line is that the current administration does not believe he is as good as the payday he's going to receive after 2015. He's not going to get a deal as rich as Lester's but he'll get pretty big money. He was having a career year last year in the first half but has looked like a stud in the first half and then faded badly in the second half before (i.e., 2013). Seems as though they were just trying to sell him at his point of highest value, which they did.

I think the return they got was another big factor. Addison Russell has done exactly jack and shit at the MLB level (because he's 20 years old and hasn't been brought up yet), but he is by and large expected to be a very good shortstop. Perhaps even approaching superstar level. He may or may not get there but he's the kind of guy you go get if you have the opportunity.

So a combo of them not seeing Shark as a true top of the rotation guy combined with getting a top prospect at a premium position. One other thing that could be a factor…they might not be sold on Javy Baez, who was atrocious in his time with the Cubs last year (he struck out > 40% of his ABs). He is still considered a phenomenal talent and one of the top prospects in the game, but the current organization did not draft him and his very high strikeout/very low walk rate does not jive with the kind of player Theo generally likes. Addison Russell affords them the luxury of moving Baez for a potentially big return if they decide to do that. If that ends up happening I think it will be more clear that it was another motivating factor in trading Samardzija.

 

[Carp]

I think the Cubs also made the move with the future in mind. Having 3 SSs on the roster does not make sense, but having those assets on the roster when your team is ready to take the next step forward does make sense. They are well set up to go get a legit LF/CF now.

 

[Carp]

Amaro said the Phillies were in rebuild mode last night on MLB Network...so Hamels will be available to those who did not get Lester. Found it odd though that he just blurted out they were rebuilding...kind of weakens your leverage.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I think the Cubs also made the move with the future in mind. Having 3 SSs on the roster does not make sense, but having those assets on the roster when your team is ready to take the next step forward does make sense. They are well set up to go get a legit LF/CF now.

For sure one of the big reasons is that having a bevy of top SS talent allows a lot of trade opportunities. I think some people might wonder why they would create a hole in the rotation, the area where they don't have prospect strength, to add another SS prospect. That's where I think it comes down to that they just don't think Samardzija is as good as he's likely to be paid.

It will be interesting to see what they do in LF/CF. Chris Coghlan is their starting LF for now but there is a lot of speculation that they'll sign Johnny Gomes, who can play out there against LHP for sure. Also Kyle Schwarber (their first pick last year) can play LF and will probably be ready by opening day 2016. That's if he doesn't stick at catcher. Also, LF is where Kris Bryant will end up if he can't stick at 3B.

At CF they have prospect Albert Almora, who is very highly regarded. His bat should be solid but his defense is supposed to be his big carrying tool. He's another one that won't be ready until 2016 though. As of right now Alcantara is slotted for CF so I wouldn't mind seeing them make a move for a guy like Denard Span. He's a decent vet CF and is signed through this season. Shouldn't cost a whole lot in prospects and would hold down the fort until Almora is ready, allowing Alcantara to be a super sub who can play CF or 2B. I'd like to see them make that move if they can.

 

[Carp]

For sure one of the big reasons is that having a bevy of top SS talent allows a lot of trade opportunities. I think some people might wonder why they would create a hole in the rotation, the area where they don't have prospect strength, to add another SS prospect. That's where I think it comes down to that they just don't think Samardzija is as good as he's likely to be paid.

It will be interesting to see what they do in LF/CF. Chris Coghlan is their starting LF for now but there is a lot of speculation that they'll sign Johnny Gomes, who can play out there against LHP for sure. Also Kyle Schwarber (their first pick last year) can play LF and will probably be ready by opening day 2016. That's if he doesn't stick at catcher. Also, LF is where Kris Bryant will end up if he can't stick at 3B.

At CF they have prospect Albert Almora, who is very highly regarded. His bat should be solid but his defense is supposed to be his big carrying tool. He's another one that won't be ready until 2016 though. As of right now Alcantara is slotted for CF so I wouldn't mind seeing them make a move for a guy like Denard Span. He's a decent vet CF and is signed through this season. Shouldn't cost a whole lot in prospects and would hold down the fort until Almora is ready, allowing Alcantara to be a super sub who can play CF or 2B. I'd like to see them make that move if they can.

I'd like to see them make a run at Justin Upton. They have a chance to compete this year, hate to see them held back because their bats are not ready.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I'd like to see them make a run at Justin Upton. They have a chance to compete this year, hate to see them held back because their bats are not ready.

That would move would be kind of…ahem…out of left field. {chokes self}

It's a good thought but I'd be very surprised because he's only signed through 2015 and will get a big payday this time next year. Plus, there are a lot of other teams who will be pursuing him for this season. The Cubs have to be careful not to go too crazy over 2015. They're doing what they can to start competing right now but if they traded a few of their best prospects for JUp and then had to let him go in free agency it would set them back quite a bit.

Plus the Cubs are 1 of 4 teams on JUp's no-trade list. Maybe he would remove them now that they don't suck, but that is unknown.

 

[Carp]

That would move would be kind of…ahem…out of left field. {chokes self}

It's a good thought but I'd be very surprised because he's only signed through 2015 and will get a big payday this time next year. Plus, there are a lot of other teams who will be pursuing him for this season. The Cubs have to be careful not to go too crazy over 2015. They're doing what they can to start competing right now but if they traded a few of their best prospects for JUp and then had to let him go in free agency it would set them back quite a bit.

Plus the Cubs are 1 of 4 teams on JUp's no-trade list. Maybe he would remove them now that they don't suck, but that is unknown.

I think they can compete this year...although I did not realize he had them on the no trade list. They have a real chance because no one in that division really scares me...the Cards will always be good, but outside of that the teams are all close in terms of talent.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I think they can compete this year...although I did not realize he had them on the no trade list. They have a real chance because no one in that division really scares me...the Cards will always be good, but outside of that the teams are all close in terms of talent.

Well, in Back to the Future 2 2015 was the year the longshot Cubs finally won the World Series…

Screw it, go all in! The prophecy was foretold in 1989 by the great prophet Zemeckis!!!



(I'm getting nothing done at work today…too jazzed and reading too many articles about the Cubs' offseason)

 

[Carp]

Mets Merized Online ‏@MetsMerized · 20m20 minutes ago
Twins Would Swap SS Eduardo Escobar For Gee, Mets Not Interested http://goo.gl/fb/Kuc728 #Mets

 

[Carp]

Dodgers Acquire Jimmy Rollins

By Mark Polishuk [December 10, 2014 at 4:07pm CST]


The Dodgers have acquired shortstop Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies, CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury reports, hearing from an industry source that the transaction is a “done deal.”

 

[Tony D]

The thing with the Cubs is when they traded Samardzija last year they weren't in the make the playoffs mode for 2015. They had no idea a great manager like Maddon was going to be there. Then when they have a shot at Lester things change a bit. I've heard they had a couple plans this offseason and they hinged on either getting Lester or not. If they got him they would be in a "we can actually contend in 2015" mode and make more moves after the Lester signing to help with that. If they missed out on Lester they'd still be in the "continue to rebuild and contend in a couple years" mode.

Good things ahead with the Cubs.

 

[Carp]

Padres To Acquire Matt Kemp

By Charlie Wilmoth [December 11, 2014 at 5:12am CST]

The Dodgers’ wild day has continued into the morning, as they’ve agreed to trade star outfielder Matt Kemp to the Padres, Dennis Lin and Kirk Kenney of the San Diego Union-Tribune report. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported earlier tonight that a deal was close. The deal has not yet been finalized — players still need to take physicals, and the deal (which includes money going from the Dodgers to the Padres) requires the approval of the commissioner’s office, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets.

The deal will send Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz to San Diego, with the Dodgers receiving catcher Yasmani Grandal, righty Joe Wieland, and a third player, likely pitching prospect Zach Eflin. The Dodgers will also include around $30MM to help cover the $107MM remaining on Kemp’s contract, which runs through 2019.

The deal gives the Padres a big bat and star power for their offense, which produced just 535 runs last year, a poor total even in the tough hitting environment in San Diego. The team lost out on Pablo Sandoval and Yasmany Tomas earlier this offseason, but Kemp, who hit .287/.346/.506 with the Dodgers in 2014, gives the Padres the dynamic offensive player they were hoping for. He’ll need to stay healthy, however — he missed significant time in 2012 and 2013 with a series of injuries, and he turned 30 in September. Kemp, who has struggled defensively in center field in recent years, could take one corner outfield spot for the Padres, with Seth Smith in the other. For the Dodgers, the deal clears salary and space in the outfield, where they also have Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke.

Federowicz, 27, should help the Padres compensate for the loss of Grandal. He has five seasons of team control remaining and is coming off a strong year in a good hitting environment at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he batted .328/.383/.555 in 329 plate appearances. He struggled, however, in a small sample of 78 plate appearances at the big-league level. He’ll likely share the Padres’ catching duties with Rene Rivera.

Grandal, 26, will join A.J. Ellis in manning the catching position with the Dodgers. He hit .225/.327/.401 for San Diego last season and got good marks for his pitch framing. He hit 15 home runs in 2014, a solid total for a young catcher, especially in PETCO Park. He can become eligible for arbitration next offseason and eligible for free agency after 2018.

Wieland, 24, had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and took a long time to recover, but he finally made it back to the Majors in September 2014. He posted good numbers coming through the minors (mostly in the Rangers system), but doesn’t have outstanding stuff and probably profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

The Padres drafted the 20-year-old Eflin (whose inclusion in the deal is not yet entirely certain) in the first round in 2012 out of high school. He posted a 3.80 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 128 innings with Class A+ Lake Elsinore in 2014.

The trade continues a frenzied Winter Meetings for the Dodgers. On Wednesday, the team sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to Miami in a seven-player deal and acquired second baseman Howie Kendrick from the Angels. They also reportedly made not-yet-official moves to acquire shortstop Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies and to agree to terms on a four-year deal with starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

 

[Carp]

D’Backs, Red Sox Have Agreement For Wade Miley Trade

By Mark Polishuk [December 11, 2014 at 1:50am CST]

THURSDAY: The trade will be announced Saturday, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets.

WEDNESDAY 9:31pm: D’Backs GM Dave Stewart denied that a deal was in place between the two sides, saying that they’ve been unable to agree on prospects, USA Today’s Bob Nightingale reports (Twitter links). If a deal is made, however, De La Rosa and Webster will be part of it.

8:57pm: The Diamondbacks and Red Sox have agreed in principle to a trade that will send left-hander Wade Miley to Boston in exchange for right-handers Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and another minor leaguer, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report (via Twitter).

Miley has been the source of several rumors during these Winter Meetings, with the Rangers, Marlins and Blue Jays all with varying levels of interest in the southpaw. Miley is projected to earn $4.3MM (by MLBTR’s Matt Swartz) in his first time through the arbitration process this winter, and he’ll be under team control through 2017.

Over the last three seasons, Miley has posted a 3.74 ERA, 2.66 K/BB rate and 7.1 K/9 while averaging an even 200 innings per year. He has a 48.6% ground ball rate over his career, which will serve him as well at Fenway Park as it did at Chase Field. Miley posted a 3.98 FIP, 3.50 xFIP and 3.67 SIERA in 2014, so the advanced metrics suggest that he was somewhat unlucky to produce his 4.34 ERA.

While Miley isn’t the durable lefty the Red Sox were hoping to land during the Winter Meetings, Miley is at least younger and far cheaper than Jon Lester, and he’ll slot into the Boston rotation alongside Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly. Boston is undoubtedly still looking to acquire at least one or possibly two more starters for 2015, including a Lester-level ace in free agency or the trade market.

This is the second high-profile deal that De La Rosa and Webster have both been a part of, as the two righties were part of the trade package that Boston received as part of the Adrian Gonzalez/Carl Crawford/Josh Beckett blockbuster with the Dodgers in 2012. As Jack Magruder of FOX Sports Arizona points out, Diamondbacks senior VP De Jon Watson was in the Los Angeles front office when De La Rosa and Webster originally joined the Dodgers.

De La Rosa appeared in 30 games for the Sox (18 of them starts) in 2013-14, posting a 4.54 ERA, 2.16 K/BB and 6.4 K/9 in 113 innings. With Boston openly looking to add top-level starting pitching this offseason and a number of highly-regarded pitching prospects in the minors, it seems as if De La Rosa may have simply been squeezed out of a job with the Sox.

Webster also struggled at the Major League level (a 6.25 ERA over 89 1/3 innings over the last two seasons) but has a higher prospect pedigree than De La Rosa. Webster entered the year ranked as a top-100 prospect in the game, albeit over rather a wide range — he was ranked 46th by MLB.com, and 88th by Baseball America. The righty posted strong minor league numbers and was described by the 2014 Baseball America Prospect Handbook as having “outrageous” stuff “suggesting top-of-the-rotation potential” but there were big questions about his confidence and fastball command.