Here's the latest from Bob Nightengale of USA Today…
- The Dodgers are "aggressively pursuing" Torii Hunter according to a team executive. GM Ned Colletti wouldn't confirm the team's interest, but he did say that he did not have any trade talks about Andre Ethier during the GM Meetings this week.
- The Dodgers will have meetings early next week to formulate a plan that involves signing Hunter and acquiring a frontline starter. They've already spoken to representatives for Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez, but are out on Ryan Dempster.
- The Rangers tried to acquire Andrelton Simmons from the Braves so they could flip him to the Diamondbacks in a deal for Justin Upton. Arizona wants a young shortstop, but Texas is loath to give up Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar. Atlanta wouldn't budge, however.
Heck no, Atlanta wouldn’t budge. They are doing great with Andrelton Simmons.
by great, do you mean eliminated in the play-in game?
hes 20 yeah he made a error big whoop
23, but your point still stands. Jeff was probably just taking a jab at the Braves in general. They finished with the same record as the WS champions and AL West leader. Finished 6 games ahead of the AL Central winner. Finished one game ahead of the two AL WC clubs. Finished 6 games ahead of the Cardinals. They would have had to finish with the best record in baseball in order to win their division(again). People like to assume that one game can determine how good or bad a team is.
Yep because we base all player values on one game. That would mean Brooks Conrad would’ve been a God after that Reds vs Braves game 2 years ago.
By great, I mean a player they can build around. Of course, we don’t expect you to understand, given that there is no major league baseball team in Oklahoma.
this deal would have made no sense glad the braves didn’t budge
I would like to know who TEX was proposing to include for our gold-glove caliber SS. They already fleeced us of Andrus and now they want our next SS of the future…
Still I wonder what they offered…..Nelson Cruz? not worth it
The rangers make me want to vomit
why?
Rather then trade one of their two all star/ potential all star shortstops for mvp caliber talent. They go out and try to get another one from a team who only has one ss unless you like pastornicky. Why I want to vomit is that they probably have the prospects to do it but now they realize is all of that worth it or should they just trade one of there ss. I feel so sorry for the rangers current situation in that they have too many good prospects and don’t know what to do with them.
No such thing as ‘too many’ good prospects. How on earth could you feel sorry for an organization that’s loaded with talent?
I was being sarcastic
Ahh, my bad. I missed the word ‘so’ in there.
If they’re the Rays I feel sorry for them.
Rule 5 draft.
I am a Braves fan but I also like the Rangers. They tried to exchange fools gold for real gold. Can’t blame them for trying. Luckily the Braves recognize Simmons as their future SS.
Wish they did the same for Andrus.
That doesn’t make sense, the Braves don’t have another SS in their system and the Rangers already have two.
The Braves do have Nick Ahmed, who is fairly close to major league ready and Jose Peraza who is even further away. However, I agree…there is no way the Braves give up Simmons without having someone ready to replace him next year.
And neither of those guys will be as good as Simmons defensively, and Simmons is just as likely to be the best of them offensively as anyone.
Simmons really has the potential to be anywhere between Brendan Ryan and Ozzie Smith.
So you are saying that he has the potential to be great defensively with little offense? Maybe you should see what the potential offer was before you declare him untouchable.
Nightengale is the same reporter who tweeted that ARod played his last game in a Yankee uniform during the playoffs.
I am not completely sold yet on what he’s selling.
He could still be right about A-Rod.
It is befitting a Nightengale to sing in darkness….
The Rangers must think the Braves are dumb enough to trade away great prospects for one year of a superst…oh, right.
Seriously, though, I don’t know what the Rangers could have offered to get the Braves to move Simmons. Even if it was Olt, that simply would have filled one hole for the Braves while creating another. When a team finds a great defensive shortstop, especially one who is even an average hitter, it’s wise to keep him for a long time.
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in
Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me —
you can’t get fooled again.”
where does hunter fit for the dodgers? and what happened to their interest in dempster? i dont want them bidding on sanchez and hunter because then the price will go above what i hope the red sox can get them for. but really how much money can the dodgers spend their payroll is already at 180 million, they just bidded 25 million for the reliever, and they are interested in a front line starter.
you mean starter
Are the Dodgers the new Yankees with their reckless spending? I still think Dempster will resign with the Cubs.
Dempster was one of the few quality starters available at the trade deadline last season. They have more and better choices now. You are right to ask where Hunter would fit into the roster for the Dodgers. I have no idea, unless they are thinking of him as the 4th outfielder (and Crawford insurance). At his age that might be his best opportunity to play, and he might be open to a short term, a year or two, or a year and an option. As for Ryu (I presume your reference is to him), he’s been a starter in Korea for his entire career. The idea that he’s a reliever only got going when a sports pundit speculated that he might be used as a reliever in MLB, for no particular reason. We’re going to find out how much the Dodgers can spend. No point in guessing until we know.
With a 4 billion dollar (or more) Tv contract coming, the Dodgers are playing with monopoly money. Their ownership group was already rich to begin with, but that just makes them that much richer. I dont think they have much of a spending limit at all.
How does Hunter make sense for the Dodgers? He will get a starting job somewhere and I simply don’t see the Dodgers moving any of their outfielders. If they moved one it would be Ethier in an effort to get Kemp out of center, but they would need an everyday, long term solution in center (ie, BJ Upton, Michael Bourn) and Hunter doesn’t fit the bill as an everyday center fielder anymore.
I think you might have answered your own question. Hunter probably can’t be an everyday player for much longer. He will turn 37 this summer. He could lengthen his career if he’s willing to join a team as the 4th outfielder. No way do the Dodgers sign him to replace anyone already on the roster.
I think Hunter makes absolute perfect sense for the Dodgers. With injuries to Crawford and Kemp, they will need somebody that can play center field. With Ethiers well documented struggles against left handed pitching, Torii gives them somebody that can still play a high level of defense, and put some punch in the lineup against lefties. With Crawford, Kemp, Ethier, Hunter and Hairston, the Dodgers would have, by far, the best outfield in the major leagues. Torii also has a great relationship with Matt Kemp, whom he has mentored and helped become one of the premier players in the game.
Kemp is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Crawford, probably not. Hunter makes a good 4th outfielder for the Dodgers, and he can expect a lot of playing time early in the season. The Dodgers realistically can’t offer him more than two years, while an AL team might be willing to go for three.
Hunter makes sense for them. He would be a leader in the club house and would allow them to shop Ethier for a pitcher. Just think, if they could somehow turn Ethier into one of the Rays starters (maybe Hellickson, although they would have to include money in such a deal) then they still have a good outfield and they would have upgraded the rotation.
Also, Kemp is a fine center fielder.
So, the Rangers won’t part with either of their TWO major league caliber shortstops but they expected the Braves to part with their ONE shortstop. Yeah, that makes a ton of sense. If the Braves were willing to part with Simmons they could have gone after Upton themselves.
If the Braves were going to trade Simmons – why wouldn’t they go directly and get Upton from Arizona? He solves their biggest problem better than Texas could.
Hunter will end up with his buddy Ortiz in Boston. DRoss and Hunter will be excellent clubhouse guys and could contribute and making the Red Sox an attractive destination for bigger free agents. Without these “lesser” signings the Red Sox can’t compete next year.
Mike Napoli in sign and Trade with Altanta and Arizona?
This isn’t the NBA….
Hunter could fill in for Crawford until he is ready. Then he can platoon with Eithier. Hunter may want a chance to play everyday though.
They would have had to give at least Olt, Sardinas, one of their top outfield prospects, Perez, and another pitcher to even get the conversation started. There is no way the Braves would give up Simmons. Dude is a stud and will be a fixture for many years to come.
also, if I’m the Rangers, I’m not trading Andrus or Profar either. I dont care if I have to find a way to move Kinsler or move Kinsler to the OF. However, this is Juston Upton we are talking about. I dont know. I think I would have to bite on that one. Upton is controllable for a year longer than Andrus and is a franchise player who just turned 25. This is one of very few spots I would give up one of those shorstops. I still wouldnt trade Upton at all if I’m the Diamondbacks
Better plan on moving Kinsler to the OF then cause isn’t anyone going to touch that 5/85m deal he is owed.
agreed.
I think the braves will end up with Upton themselves
I can’t believe everyone saying that Hunter is great fit with the Dodgers…talking about him being a 4th OF or platooning with Ethier (are you for real?). They just signed Ethier to a big contract….don’t think they did that so he can platoon. Nor would he want to. He is in the prime of his career. Hunter is older but I don’t think he is looking for a back-up gig yet. Anyone look at his numbers last year, pretty good for an ‘old guy’. What would the Dodgers willing to play for a back-up? Dodgers would have to trade Ethier, period. Hunter will have several teams wanting to sign him as an everyday player.