The Cardinals, Giants, Brewers, Red Sox, Twins and Mariners are possible suitors for Jose Reyes this summer, writes Jon Heyman of SI.com. However, the Mets don’t have an obvious replacement for their shortstop and attendance could suffer if they deal Reyes, as Heyman points out. (Though the Mariners have won seven of their last nine games and haven't obtained much production at short, it's still extremely difficult to imagine them trading for Reyes.) Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors:
- Derek Lowe could be available at the trade deadline given the Braves’ starting pitching depth.
- The White Sox have insurance on Jake Peavy, according to Heyman. This means that the team may already have started receiving payments to help cover the injured right-hander’s $16MM salary.
- Heyman, a defender of Ryan Howard’s five-year, $125MM contract from the start, says the first baseman has been “worth every penny so far.”
- On the one-year anniversary of Howard's deal, I concluded that Howard and agent Casey Close had done well to sign the contract.
- The Nationals may want to consider locking manager Jim Riggleman up, Heyman writes. The Nationals have a team option for Riggleman's 2012 services.
Nathaniel Bacon
Yep, better lock up Riggleman quick. Sure don’t want him to leave DC for Chicago or Boston. Might a ten-year extension be enticing enough??
Nathaniel Bacon
seriously, if riggy is still here whenever Harper gets called up, i quit. i don’t want him infecting Bryce with his mumbly exasperated loserness
Ben_Cherington
talk to yourself much?
TVGugs
Howard’s extension has definitely been worth every penny. Of course, that’s because it hasn’t even kicked in yet; he was under control through ’11 before re-signing, and the new deal covers 2012-16. Quality analysis as always, Mr. Heyman.
Jason S
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Good work Heyman. Now revisit this deal in 2014 and see how the Phillies are screwed by all the money wasted on dead contracts.
Muggi
@yahoo-ESOCCWGKTTNM4IRMOCP4VG5RX4:disqus Which dead contracts would that be? The only guys signed through 2014 are Howard and Lee.
notsureifsrs
having some trouble pronouncing that. i’ve decided they’re all silent
Muggi
Heh that’s what I get for using the at-symbol function. Jason S apparently has quite the yahoo profile name
Jason S
my apologies. I was wrong. I was looking at 2013. 80 mill to 4 players.
nm344
Yeah, Halladay is totally money down the drain.
Jason S
Doc will be 36 in 2013, and how about Utley, Howard and Lee?
Lunchbox45
An ace starter being 36 would be of some concern to some.
Fortunately
Roy Halladay does not age.
Jason S
I would have said the same about Carpenter too. His arm should be like a 28 year olds with all the seasons on the DL.
icedrake523
He will. Even Greg Maddux did.
David Groveman
Cardinals: Shelby Miller would headline deal
Giants: Deal either includes Belt or Wheeler and plenty others
Brewers: Farm is destroyed.
Red Sox: They have prospects, Reyes might only be a rental to them.
Twins: They need to be contenders first.
Mariners: Farm is not impressive. They won’t give up Pineida and Ackley is not who the Mets need.
Is it so impossible for the Mets to re-sign Reyes?
RazorShines
No it is not impossible, in fact its probable. Alderson has given no indication he wants to trade Reyes and this team needs him. New buyers are purchasing 49%, why would they invest if the team is being gutted and the commodities are being foolishly spent, doesnt make sense. For some reason every writer seems to think that just cause Madoff spurned the Mets that they are broke and will sell all their players. This is New York, Reyes stays put
Jason S
I wouldn’t think the Cards would have to give up Shelby Miller. With the Mets financial issues, I would think they’d be dying to unload the money from Reyes and Wright.
David Groveman
Jason, you obviously don’t exactly understand the Mets finances. They still have the money for the players that they have. They do not need to cut the team to 60 Mil to stay afloat. Reyes is on the last year of a contract and the Mets clear Beltran and Rodriguez as well. Mets get 2 picks for Reyes if they keep him and offer him Arb. So the Cardinals have to offer MORE than that to get him. You don’t get a bargain on a player like Reyes. Sorry.
Jason S
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/04/27/…
Combine the $430 million bank debt with the contingent liabilities and expected losses this season, and finally, add the $25 million owed back to the MLB from a loan made to the team in November, and a new owner would own part of a team that’s roughly $625 million in the hole.I’m glad I don’t understand their finances.
John
If the Cards offer Miller and other for Reyes the Mets would be stupid not to jump. How many SP top prospects do the Mets have in their system?
Walter Sobchak
The Cards will not be giving up on Shelby Miller any time soon, and I don’t think that Reyes can stay healthy enough at such a high-impact position for him to warrant a trade that would likely result in a long-term contract.
David Groveman
Mets will not trade Reyes without getting a top player who is near MLB ready back. They can hold him and get picks if they wanted distant prospects.
mikeclyne
Reyes teams could also include:
Cardinals – Really…if they can’t afford Pujols, why bring in Reyes?
Yankees – Jeter is becoming a question mark quicker as the days go by
Angels and Bluejays – They throw money around for no good reason many times…
Nationals – They need a ton of help….
Brewers – Need to sign Prince Fielder first…
Braves, Cincy, Phillies – Older, FA type SS’s on roster and might have payroll to make move if certain things happen…
Lunchbox45
Bluejays – They throw money around for no good reason many times…
Seriously??? The Jays have shed Rios & Wells contracts recently.
mikeclyne
Agreed, but there is that history there. With sheddding contracts over the past year or so it gives them the payroll to add at some point…Plus do you really think Yunel Escobar is the answer?
Sniderlover
Lol so having a few bad contracts has now turned into a “history of bad contracts”. Is there a franchise that doesn’t have a few bad contracts over their career?
Do you really think Escobar is not the answer?
Some team will sign Reyes to a 9 figure deal and end up regretting.
I’d rather not Jays be that team.
Lunchbox45
agreed… Escobar is a pretty good shortstop and he’s still cheap, no real reason for the jays to go after Reyes at this point. The marginal upgrade doesn’t out way the huge increase in salary..
however acquiring Wright might be interesting
Sniderlover
Acquiring Wright would be interesting but I am big fan of Lawrie and I just can’t see him moving to the corner outfield with Bautista and Snider who should occupy the other outfield spot.
Lunchbox45
What about moving Lawrie to 2B?
Hill looks like he’s played himself out of being part of the future of the organization.
Lunchbox45
Have an Infield of Lind, Lawrie, Escobar, Wright.. pretty good damn good
John
If Wright is traded for Snider or Lawier would have to head that package. I vote Snider.
Jason S
Maybe they’d bring in Reyes so we can stop watching Theriot ground into double play after double play.
Adam
Albert’s the one grounding into all the double plays. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the offense provided by Theriot. It’s his defense that’s suspect.
Jason S
From the article posted earlier this week
Yadier Molina has been a big offender as well, perhaps unsurprising considering his marked lack of speed and propensity for putting the ball in play. He’s hit into 4 in 25 games. Matt Holliday’s game-ender last night was his fourth of the season as well. Surprisingly (to me, anyway), considering his speed, Colby Rasmus has hit into four. Ryan Theriot has hit into five, despite his supposed speedy leadoff-ness.
Jason S
And while Pujols has 10, he’s also had way more chances with runner’s on 1B than Theriot
Jays All The Way
I would just like to point out that there is major difference in the system between the JP Jays and the AA Jays
Jeff 31
Braves will ride A-Gon, and might give him a 1 yr deal in the offseason. He’s having a great yr defensively, and is still mediocre offensively, but can contribute.
In the minors they got Pastornicky for a stopgap until one of their A-ball SS prospects emerges. Andrelton Simmons is showing good signs lately.
ugen64
Orioles could look at him. I know we have Machado, but depending on how he pans out, he might have to move to 3rd anyway – or if he’s good enough defensively to stay at SS (and progresses well), then you could move Reyes to 2B.
They’ll definitely have the payroll space – Lee, Vlad, and Gonzalez account for like $20 million, and I could see Luke Scott leaving which is another $6-7 million off the books (compared to this year I mean, he’ll get a raise in arbitration).
corkyciv
I highly doubt the Red Sox have enough to bring in Reyes.
– Red Sox Fan
@JeffLac
Not that I like this, but wouldn’t Iglesias and Kalish be enough? Reyes only has this year left. That being said, the Mets should be working on an extension for Reyes, but if I were him, I would want to test the market regardless.
@JeffLac
What would the Sox do with Reyes? They have Lowrie and Scutaro playing short, and everyone else is solidly at their position. They also have Iglesias who might be ready by 2012, but definitely would be ready for 2013. Obviously, they may have to part with Iglesias to get Reyes, but I’m not sure I would like this move because they don’t have a hole today.
patburn
I’dhave no problem getting rid of D Lowe. Medlen is expected to return end of this year and Minor could fill in as well.
Taylor Silver
Honestly, Rodrigo Lopez could probably come in and fill in for Lowe – he’s sporting a 4-0 record and a 1.67 ERA down in AAA (and a tiny contract). Questionable whether he would still be that effective in the Bigs.
Jeff 31
Question is what can you get for Lowe? I’d be ok with a salary dump, but I think he’s worth a starting OF. Lowe for Gardner perhaps?
Anthony
I don’t think it would be wise, unless they have glaring offensive holes. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the Braves going with 2 rookies in the rotation down the stretch. If Lowe’s traded, it’ll be Hanson, Hudson, Jurrjens, Beachy, Minor. Teheran’s another possibility, but regardless it would be 2 rookies in the rotation. No way Lopez or Kawakami take the #5 spot.
Lowe struggled in his last start, but he’s been damn good since late August of last year. His value has definitely increased, but I think they’ll hold onto him until the offseason.
Doug Graupmann
“Derek Lowe could be available at the trade deadline…”
I seriously doubt it.
LUWahooNatFan
Riggleman is a terrible manager. Doesn’t know how to handle a bullpen, takes SP out at the first sign of trouble, and is insistent on playing worn-out vets instead of upcoming young talent. I could manage the team better than Wal-mart
Ryan
d lowe to texas for jurickson profar how much money would the braves have to eat to make this happen?
nictonjr
$45 mil…
Brad426
That would be extra steep since Lowe is owed less than $30M on his contract at this point.
Ryan
if the braves picked up 10mil texas would have to jump on it they are starter hungry and profar is blocked to short, third, and second.
Bo 2
I see Jurrjens on the block before Lowe. Braves could actually get some good value from trading Jair.