Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports points out that we should expect the unexpected once trade talk picks up this summer. For example, who expected Ubaldo Jimenez to be traded this time last year? Here are Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…
- White Sox GM Kenny Williams says he’d prefer to focus on short-term goals for now and figure out whether to buy or sell closer to the July 31st trade deadline. “We’ll see where we are in July and then we’ll figure it out,” he said.
- Chase Headley is a popular trade target, Rosenthal reports. The Padres could replace Headley at third with Jedd Gyorko or move Gyorko to second if they hold onto Headley.
- The Diamondbacks explored the trade market for young catchers before signing Miguel Montero to an extension, only to find that acquiring a backstop such as Travis d’Arnaud or Austin Romine would have cost them top pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs and then some.
- Some executives wonder if the Blue Jays should make their move this summer, asking “If not now, when?” One person says the Blue Jays are monitoring Matt Garza of the Cubs.
- Carlos Lee can block trades to 14 teams, including the Dodgers, Rosenthal reports. Almost all of the teams on Lee’s no-trade list are high-revenue clubs. This provides Lee with some leverage, but doesn’t necessarily mean he’d block a deal.
- Brett Myers’ $10MM option for 2013 likely vests with between 40 and 50 games finished, Rosenthal estimates. If a team acquired the right-hander and used him as a setup man, the option wouldn’t become an issue. But teams interested in using Myers as a closer might have interest in re-working the option like the Brewers did with Francisco Rodriguez a year ago.
- The contracts for Cliff Lee, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay of the Phillies include the same no-trade protection, Rosenthal reports. Each player can block deals to 21 teams per year.
- Dodgers president Stan Kasten expects his team to be “aggressive, but not reckless” in considering possible upgrades.
Headley to the Angels please. Headley for Travis Witherspoon and John Hellweg?
Pass.
.900 OPS away from Petco this season.
Pass… as a Padres fan.
Agreed. Witherspoon is okay, but Hellweg has been awful.
People point out his away stats to show that Petco kills him and use that logic to show how good he’d be in another park. Then, they suggest a deal that looks like it would be fair for a player with Headley’s overall stats playing in a normal park. Headley has good value. He’s cheap, controlable, gets on base, runs the bases well, plays good defense, and he’s hitting for more power. There isn’t a whole lot of talent at 3B throughout baseball and Headley is one of the better 3B in baseball. You have to give quality to get quality. The Padres don’t need to trade him. Gyorko could shift to 2B and could use more time in AAA. They don’t need to shed payroll as they are already at the bottom of the list.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Headley come to Atlanta to replace Chipper after this year.
I always assumed Headley would end up a Brave for some reason. He’d be close to home in TN also.
Headley would be a good fit for the White Sox, only problem is all their trade chips are Major Leaguers. Unless the Padres want big league pitching I don’t see that working out.
Headley would have been a great pickup for Phillies. I could still see it happening in the winter, just not this July.
what do you think it’ll cost the jays to acquire a guy like hamels who is no lock to stay beyond this year? you have to think philly asks for d’arnaud back.
my guess is that there is zero chance the jays even consider that offer unless they get a window to negotiate a contract.
thats right.. and to add to that, no way hamels signs with the jays before he hits free agency..
Regardless of all this, the jays are not one player away from being a really good team.
its cool to trade some prospects for an arm or a bat.. but it has to be for a player who is going to be with the club for the next few years..
I think Morneau makes the most sense, they can slip Mauer in to 1B and enjoy some prospects to help them turn things around.
I agree with the Morneau idea. I’ve wondered about the possibility of Morneau coming to the jays for Arencibia and someone like jenkins.
I could see that making sense for both teams but I could be completely off the mark because any trade involving Morneau would probably be a tough one for the twins to sell to their fan base.
I don’t see Mourneau to the Jays making sense just for the reason that it creates a logjam at 1B/DH even if you have arencibia going back the other way.
with JP going to the twins, you’d see d’arnaud called up, so you’re then looking at finding time for EE, Mourneau, and Vlad between 1B/DH. Just doesn’t make sense because those are bats that need to be in the lineup on a daily basis.
Why does Vlad have to be in the lineup every day lol.
1B Morneau, DH EE
there is absolutely no log jam
I think he is talking hypothetical. Hamels is not the guy AA targets, but I think it would be D’Arnaud, Gose and maybe someone like Jenkins.
Even if AA wanted to target Hamels, that would be a massive overpay for 1/2 year of Hamels.
Of course it’s overpaying, but I don’t think that the Jays would be able to acquire someone of Hamels calibre without a package like that.
Morneau makes way to much sense for the Jays. They have need, prospects, and can take on the contract. It shouldn’t cost to much to acquire him, as the Jays can use his injury history and contract as leverage (not that he makes a ton of money, but because of his injury it’s a lot of risk)
if that is what it would take for half a season of Hamels I don’t want him.
(supposed to be a reply to JaysFan94)
Me neither. If I’m giving up D’Arnaud, Gose and others I want to see an ace with control coming back. Like Felix, or someone like him.
if the cubs are giving up garza, d’arnaud and some pitching better be coming back. one thing garza has over felix is he’s pitched well in the playoffs, and for an al east team..if the jays dont want him, im sure the yankees wouldnt mind him, good luck facing a 1-2 punch of cc and gar
oooh scary!!! Garza is not the 2nd coming. Is he a good pitcher? Absolutely. Is he an ace? No way in hell. He is a good #2, and an excellent 3. That’s about it. Don’t think the Cubs are going to get anything more than 1 “A” prospect and a “B”
you are delusional if you think d’arnaud is going the other way in a package for garza. the way d’arnaud is tearing up triple-A right now, he carries as much value as Garza alone. a well rounded catcher who excels offensively and defensively is harder to come by than a 2-3 starter.
sometimes you have to overpay , but I’m not sure if now is the right time
I love how this report makes it sound like the Dbacks had even a remotely miniscule chance of acquiring Travis D’Arnaud. The Jays have pitching prospects up the wazoo. Not sure why this was even reported.
That being said, D’Arnaud is also not going the other way in a deal for Garza. Felix maybe but Garza, no way. A package for Garza would involve some good prospects but guys like Gose, D’Arnaud, Hutch etc are off limits but Syndergaard would probably be in play.
What I like about Garza is that he is AL East tested and true and has pitched in playoff and pennant race pressure. He would also be more likely to sign a new contract with the Jays than someone like Felix would.
I think the Jays will go after Garza and Quentin but Im thinking Quentin is less likely. I also think the jays will pursue an A or B grade reliever as well. None of which will involve D’Arnaud.