In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe argues that two best players at catcher and shortstop positions in camp with the Red Sox organization are Ryan Lavarnway and Jose Iglesias and believes that they absolutely should be on the final 25-man roster. There could be disagreement from different factions of the club about what to do with the two players and it'll be interesting to see how it all turns out. Here's more from Cafardo..
- The Rays have been trying hard to get A's catcher Kurt Suzuki but Oakland isn’t crazy about getting Wade Davis or Jeff Niemann in return. One National League GM points out that those are the type of pitchers that Billy Beane winds up trading and would want a higher grade of pitcher. Right now, the Rays aren’t willing to pay that price.
- The idea that Roy Oswalt wants to play in the Midwest or South can be overcome with money, according to a major league source. To get him, Cafardo writes that the Red Sox have to loosen their purse strings.
- Major league sources say that the Pirates would entertain a deal for right-hander Kevin Correia.
- The Angels asked the Nationals about Jordan Zimmermann, but there’s no chance unless they part with someone like Mike Trout, and that’s not happening.
- Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald could get some bites if he gets squeezed out in Boston. The Indians, Giants, and Braves are all looking for a righthanded-hitting outfielder.
- The Yankees are being a little careful about trading their pitching depth, but it appears Freddy Garcia would be available at the right price, which may be high.
- White Sox pitchers Gavin Floyd and John Danks are both available in the right deal, but according to one GM, Kenny Williams will want at least "two A-level prospects and a third that’s a notch below, and that might not get it done."
Don’t part with Zim Nats! He’s a strong No.2 that you’ll need!
*Zimmermann*
Really hope the Rays can acquire Kurt Suzuki. Would put the Rays over the top! Go Rays!
Not sure Kurt Suzuki would put any team over the top? Solid power for a catcher, but .301 OBP is a killer.
thing is, his road splits a better than home splits. a trade to the rays could really help him out. he could also (possibly) hit 20 homers, especially playing in the al east stadiums more often.
I can definitely see the high price on pitching for those teams that have pitching depth. However, I have no idea what sort of “high price” Cash would be expecting for Garcia. Garcia has proven himself to be a good junk ball pitcher, but I can’t see getting any sort of high-level prospects unless the team is extremely desperate.
Oswalt has got to be feeling good after all of the injuries that have taken place. He can name his price, but how much stock do you want to put in a guy who is a potential injury concern as well…
That is the most intellegent thing I ever read by a yankee’s fan
Don’t let the minority speak for the majority. There are a lot of intelligent Yankee fans out there, it’s just that those who lack basic baseball knowledge tend to be the loudest. 🙂
You must be new here.
Shouldn’t it be “the Angels asked the Nationals” about Jordan Zimmerman?
I hope Billy Beane doesn’t expect Shields or Price for Suzuki. If so, if I’m Andre Friedman I say, “k bye.”
Andrew*
or
* Andrew Einstein
or
* Albert Friedman
Nah if the Rays want Suzuki, they’ll end up getting him for a package around Davis/Niemann
I hope so!
One of the better all around catchers in the AL, cost controlled and under contract thru 2013 + team option for 2014. Is Davis/Nieman even close to top of anything, especially as tough as it is to find quality catchers?
Beane sent Gonzalez, Cahill off, both far better than those 2. he’s not looking for aces anyhow and he is not going to give away a top 5 AL catcher for back end rotation pieces like Davis/Nieman.
Wieters, Avila, Napoli, Mauer, and Santana say hello. Suzuki is not nearly as good as you make him out to be.
Not so fast..
Napoli is a DH/catching disaster. Mauer has been out so long, most want to see him play before calling him active. Wieters is top notch. Santana looks like the real deal, as does Avilla *so far* while Suzuki has been a good combo of defense and fair offense at Oakland, where offense goes to die for almost 5 seasons.
On average, Tampa likes to pay $1.25 mil per fWAR. Having Suzuki on their roster certainly helps them adhere to that financial model.
That is for a fantasy baseball draft.
It’s not about what Suzuki is worth. Point was that Beane dealt Gonazalez and Cahill, two pitchers that were getting arby eligible/expensive. Niemann is in his first year of arby and will be free agent-eligible before the A’s can complete. He makes zero sense for the A’s. Davis…could possibly fit since he’s signed to a nice contract, but Beane has maintained that he wants guys with no ML experience or close to it.
There are other top teams, other than the rays who could use a catcher and do not have one MLB ready.. Philly, NYY are not lock sure their top 2 they have at AA and below are so sure and Romine is defensive only. Suzuki fits well at both places.
Point is? They can do better than just Davis or Nieman for as solid of a catcher as Suzuki and Suzuki is making 1/2 what martin will make just in 2011 over the next 3 seasons.
Imagine Trout and Harper in the same outfield. I’d trade Zim for him. Him or Matt Moore. But you’d have to throw in one of the Nats relievers too. But that won’t happen so here’s to wishful thinking.
No chance Trout gets traded for anything, let alone Zimmerman straight up.
I agree there’s no chance.
I think Zimmermann is more proven at this point than Trout. I don’t see why Nationals have to give up an extra piece to get him. Anyways I would love to see Trout in center and Harper in left.
If I use your logic then the Pirates should trade Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon for some guy like Wandy Rodriguez as he “is more proven at this point than” them… I know I’m exagerating, but simply put, the Angels would not part with Mike Trout, the #3 top prospect, for Jordan Zimmermann who is a very good pitcher but does not show that superstar potential Trout has.
I know Nationals desperately need a CF, but trading one of your 3 starters that are under control after this season is not the answer. I just don’t see this as a match.
Besides I thought you guys were happy with Oswalt as #5, what you need JZ for?
No, your exaggerating his point to make your point, and it didn’t work.
By the end of this year, zimm will look like one of the leagues best number 2s. So underrated.
*Harper in right
gotta make most use of that bazooka arm as possible
I think they are developing Harper as CF now.
No chance in hell that the Rays trade Matt Moore for him. They wouldn’t even trade Matt Moore for Roy Halladay
Bryce Harper is about the only guy the Rays would trade Matt Moore for.
I can see Suzuki getting moved by Oakland and even SP, as hard as it is to come y, Friedma isn’t going to g good starting catcher of the quality of Suzuki for back of the rotation pieces in Davis and Nieman and I think Davis isn’t all that bad either, but Suzuki is just one of the better ones around, much less probably available right now.
Friedman had better forget he is trying to fleece one of the majority of the other GM’s out there and pay up what Suzuki is worth if he wants him.
Why would the White Sox want a prospect “a notch below A level?” Isn’t A level the lowest or is Rookie League lower?
Rookie league is lower, but I think he was referring to the quality of the prospect and not the level they play at. He’s basically saying two really good prospects and a good prospect.
That makes a lot of sense! Thank you!
Why would Chicago want “a prospect a notch below A level?”
Isn’t A level the lowest or is Rookie League the lowest?
A level meaning top prospect, not the level where they played
Wow..”two A level prospects and one a a notch below” for Danks or Floyd. Roy Halladay only garnered one A prospect (Kyle Drabek) one B prospect (Travis D’Arnaud) and one C prospect (Michael Taylor).
For those not familiar with the grading, Baseball America has a grading system 0 to 80.
70+ is A (franchise player)
(presuming) 65 is a B+ (perenial all-star or No. 1 SP)
60 is a B (No. 2 SP or Division 1 Positinal Player>>AL East)
55 is a C+ (Division 1 Positional Player; No. 3 SP; or Div 2 Closer)
50 is C (Div 2 Position Player; No. 4 SP; or Setup Man)
45 is D+ (Bench Player; No. 5 SP; or Middle Relief)
Great analysis. The writing between the lines is either: we aren’t trading either one of them, or we want teams to up their offers a little bit. Either way there is no way they think they’d get that type of return.
Yep…I am reaching the same conclusion…however, it is unclear to me if White Sox don’t want to trade them or simply don’t know how.
Chisox were just ranked 27th of 30 teams in organizational rankings, so there system is probably thin with prospects any way.
Edit: Baseball America rankings above.
Actually, White Sox are ranked 30th amongst organizations. They have to climb out of a deep hole.
Thought read 30th a few days back, then looked to double check and make sure before posted and saw the brewers as 30th?? was like whoa!!
Thx for the correction.. Williams, on most any other team would have been long gone and hard to find a couple of years ago.. he is living on laurels from a WS still from 2005 and done nothing since.
True, but the price of pitching via trade wasn’t at the level it is now, even for someone of Halladay’s caliber.
After the astronomical returns for Gio Gonzalez, Trever Cahill and Mat Latos, I’m thinking that anyone is going to have to pay big.
I get your point…however…in my opinion…high market value is only temporary when it is set by “stupid money”…eventually, “smart money” adjusts it back to normal.
Doc’s value was considerably lowered because they had to move him and they only had a whopping 2 teams to work with
Yes…those are overwhelming constraints for any mere mortal GM….BUT….for AA…..
return has been good in hindsight because of d’arnaud..
and because he turned wallace in to gose.
Trout for Zimmermann is an interesting trade. Trout is perfect for the Nats.
Only if “interesting” to you means laughable.
Ahh another person not aware of our secret weapon J-Zimm..
that said i agree Trout is certainly better, but JZ always seems underrated.
Absolutely underrated. I love that dude.
I’m fully aware Zimmermann is a solid pitcher, but he isn’t a guy you build a franchise around. Trout very well could be a 5 tool player that a franchise builds around.
It wouldn’t make sense to trade him away for a 4 or 5 starter (in the Angels rotation).
How is it laughable? Zimmermann just had a 3.18 ERA season with the Nats, while Trout hasn’t proven anything at the MLB level yet. I’m not saying the Angels would do it (they probably wouldn’t), just saying it’s interesting to think about.
So by your logic, Bryce Harper straight up for Ervin Santana then, 3.38 era last year, threw a no-no and over 200 innings? Ya, kinda thought not.
Who isn’t Trout perfect for?
He is extra perfect for the nats..his strengths are everything Rizzo has been saying hes looking for..high on base, speed, leadoff guy
Pretty sure he’s be extra perfect for a ton of other teams.
But he’s SUPER extra perfect for the Nats.
I don’t see that as a match. Nats need pitching and Angels need Trout in near future when Hunter, Abrue, Wells leave. Why would either team be willing to trade away their young, controllable guys is beyond me?
The Angels just need to be rid of Abreu, Wells and the Hunter contracts period. *maybe* take back Hunter at 1/4-1/3 of the current 18m he is making after the season, but moving Trout is the last thing they need to do when their OF will be needing an almost complete overhaul, other than Bourjos.
exactly. after those veterans leave, Angels need Trout. Similarly once Wang and Ejax leave next off-season, Nats need JZ.
Abreu and Hunter are up after this year, but Wells is a different story. They got three more years of that piece of garbage and it’s gonna cost them 63 million. And to think they traded Napoli for him because Napoli was about to get “REAL EXPENSIVE” in Arbitration. They would rather pay 21 million annually for four years to get a replacement level leftfielder than pay Napoli about 15 million for last year and this year. That was such a dumb trade. Everyone knew it was dumb at the time but it appears even dumber now, NO?
Actually would not be surprised if Vernon has a decent year this year. Yes he is among the most overpaid players of all time.
The reason Slowey may have to earn the No. 5 rotation spot in Cleveland is because he is actually NOT out of options.
As a Red Sox fan I don’t want Iglesias and Lavarnway to break camp with the team. Both accrued a bit of MLB service time last year. I’d like to see them both start at AAA at least long enough so they can be under team for 6 years after this year. I’m not worried about them reaching super two status, I just want them around from 2013-2018. I think they will be fine at catcher with Salty/Shoppach and hopefully Avilles/Punto will work out. If Lavarnway and or Iglesias is needed (and they appear ready at AAA), the Red Sox should wait long enough to keep them locked up through 2018. Does anyone know if time on the big club as a September call up counts toward service time. Also does anyone know the precise dates Iglesias and Lavarnway can be called up as to: A) Keep them under team control through 2018 and B) keep them from becoming arbitration eligible (Super Two) until 2016.