Coming off a dreadful losing streak, the Reds have dangled right-hander Mat Latos in trades, according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark (on Twitter).
The 26-year-old Latos would represent a huge impact on the starting pitching market. He’s posted a 3.31 ERA with 5.6 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and a 32.5 percent ground-ball rate in 55 1/3 innings this season since being activated from the DL. While those strikeout and ground-ball rates are down, Latos has been among the NL’s best young starters over the past several seasons. He owns a a 3.27 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 850 2/3 innings dating back to 2010.
Latos is eligible for arbitration for the final time this offseason and would be a free agent following the 2-15 season, so he’s much more than a rental for interested parties. Of course, the Reds are looking for a huge return for their No. 2 starter, as Stark notes.
This is the guy the Jays really need to target. I would be thrilled if we got Latos. Get it done AA!
You’d be looking at giving up Stroman plus.
I don’t know. Lester only got Cespedes and 0 prospects.
I also assume that the Reds want players that can help them push for the playoffs.
If the Reds trade Latos, they’re no longer thinking about the playoffs.
They shouldn’t be thinking playoffs. Phillips probably isnt back for another 3 weeks and no one knows about Votto. Their is no offense to support their pitching. 🙁
“Only” getting Cespedes a proven 30 HR power hitter and top 25 OF with defensive value who is 29 making less then 11 million for a half of year of Lester isn’t the prospect package you might have expected but no where near peanuts.
Latos has an extra year of control so I think the Jays would have to do Sanchez, Norris, and another pieces.
I’m sorry…when did Cespedes hit 30 HR?
26 in 135 games with half of them in the giant Colleseum. If you don’t think he can hit 30 in a 150 games with half at Fenway then that’s fine I just disagree.
Okay calm down the guys just hitting .256 with an OBP barely over .300 so what he knocks in some 20 odd home runs. This deal isn’t the home run you seem to think it is. Also Lester is absolutely lights out this year. Latos is coming off an injury and has shown a major dip in FB velocity. I still like Latos but he’s not worth much more than Lester even given the extra year of control because teams trading for him would be looking to win now and with his health concerns he may not be able to provide that much extra talent.
Never said its a home run deal for the Red Sox just think its not a bad trade either. If the Red Sox extend Cespedes or resign Lester its a great trade. If they don’t it does not make much sense but Cespedes for Lester shows the value of SP right now and I think Latos would recieve a larger package then Lester.
Agree to disagree though.
Maybe after the year and Latos proves hes fully healthy, otherwise question marks and health concerns will plague his trade value.
I mean he has a 3.3 ERA and a 3.4 FIP and has been worth 1 WAR in just 8 starts and previous 4 years was worth 12 WAR with an ERA and FIP of 3.25 over the 4 years. As I don’t follow the Reds I don’t know for sure but any health concerns should be abated by now.
Not really. His K/9 has dropped to a 5.5 after routinely being around 8. His GB% is the lowest in his career and so is his HR/FB % but that number is unreasonably so and seems due to regress. And his FB velo has dropped by almost 3 MPH which is actually quite a lot. Those are the question marks which hinder his trade value
I don’t know. Lester only got Cespedes and 0 prospects.
I also assume that the Reds want players that can help them push for the playoffs.
stroman is going to be twice the guy Latos is. Wishful thinking if any team thinks Latos is worth him. Stroman has top of the rotation potential and Latos has never been and never will be seen that way.
So keep Stroman and trade Norris+Pompey.
I would try to keep hold of Pompey aswell due to the fact we have a few holes appearing in the OF coming up,
I could see an ozuna, Anderson, Davis package being enough for Latos. The Jays are going to have holes in the rotation that Sanchez and Stroman fill, but Norris is their top prospect now and he doesn’t warrant a Latos. As said, Pompey is having a good year and if he can keep climbing the ladder, he is currently their 3rd best prospect that will be needed in the outfield when Rasmus leaves at the end of the season. Latos wouldn’t get their 1st and 3rd ranked prospect, unless Cincy agree to pay most of the salary for Latos and throw in a top prospect or two at the same time.
Nope nope nope. Norris profiles to be better than Stroman and he’s a lefty! You don’t just give up a top lefty arm like that. And the Jays havent seen a meteoric rise like Pompey by a truly athletic outfielder since Marisnick. That isnt the best comp but still, we need some hitting prospects to take the reigns once Jose and Edwin decline
A few years ago, the Jays drafted Tyler Beede who didn’t sign. The Jays also drafted Norris and he was projected to be near the top of the draft, but signing problems lowered him to the Jays. He profiled at the time as a top of the rotation arm and the scouting reports were accurate. He has every projection to be an Andy Pettite clone that can throw 200 innings, high strikeouts, few walks, ground-ball type, and that is the type of pitcher Toronto needs when Buerhle and R. A Dickey are no longer on the team. He also has a low salary with six years control minimum. Those are the pitchers you keep, not trade to other teams.
No way. He’s not worth a top prospect. I don’t care if you have control of him for next year or not.
Latos just got back to healthy. He is 30 and 14 since joining the reds. What else can I say.
As much as i’d love Latos at Toronto i dont think i’d do that trade straight up. Stroman is awsome
They do have other prospects. Pompey+Norris would make it happen, I’m sure.
Lol would he now.
I think a deal around Sanchez could get it done
Fire sale over in Cincy. Latos/Ludwick… whose next Bruce? J/K on Bruce.
Things a little dicey in Cincinnati these days. Fair point on Latos but moving Ludwick is hardly “fire saley.”
Not with that albatross of a contract.
I love it. Now it’s like a free-for-all. Everyone jumps in the water (market) and let’s see what happens.
They should be shopping Cueto. Reds are done for the next few years.
Cueto, Latos, Simon and Leake are all Free Agents after the 2015 season. Doesn’t matter who they shop in my opinion. They will probably only be able to afford one of them and maybe two tops. My guess is they would prefer to try to resign Cueto when the time comes.
Yeah but Cueto is actually pitching well this year. He might be worth more.
Jays send Rasmus + Francisco for Latos?
Not even remotely close.
Literally one of the worst hypothetical offers I have ever read.
Fine… throw in 1 prospect.
Look at the market: Lester didn’t even get 1 prospect.
He got an all star back in return. Cespedes is far more valuable then Rasmus.
theres not as big a difference as most would assume. Just look at Colbys numbers last year, by far better than Cespedes. The year before Cespedes was by far better and this year Cespedes is too but Colby has been hindered by injuries. He’s actually been picking it up a bit as of late and plays some great defense in CF. Way better tracking and range than Yoenis. Yoenis just makes up for it with that canon of an arm, probably top 5 arm out of all OFers. So I wouldnt say Cespedes is far more valuable. More, yes, far more, no
Latos isn’t an impending free agent.
Ah. I misread the article. I thought it said he entered his last year of arbitration last summer.
Sorry if I came across rude, but it was Rasmus, a free agent to be who is struggling and Francisco who literally won’t appeal to many teams, for a strong starting pitcher with an additional year of control
No no it was my mistake. I can’t read.
Lester had two months left on his contract. Any team that gets Latos has him for the rest of this year and next year.
Yeah… My bad I misread the paragraph. Thought it said he just entered his last arbitration season.
Not close. Latos is an ace or close to it. He’s one step down (barely) from Price. You aren’t getting him for those two.
He’s not all that close to Price tbh but i would be prepared to part with the likes of Sanchez + to get him.
The Jays could trade Happ and Buerhle for Cosart and Latos and both are ground ball pitchers which would play into their team defense perfectly. They might lose Ozuna, Davis, plus, but the rewards would be instant.
There is no way the Reds would trade Latos for Happ and or Buerhle. The Reds have one of the better rotations in baseball and are either looking for a bat and or prospects in return.
The Reds’ window is closing. This year is toast and 2015 is their last shot with Cueto and Latos at the top of the rotation. Hard to imagine them extending either, but also hard to imagine them winning in 2015 without Latos ….
Not to mention Leake and Simon. 4/5th of their rotation are free agents after next year.
They should be going all in for next year. Too bad they don’t really have any viable pieces to unload now that will help them do that.
Could the Dodgers get him without giving one of the big three? Would the Reds be more interested in pitching or offense??
Maybe Dodgers can build a package around Zack Lee for Latos.
My guess is the Reds would want 1 pitching and 1 positional prospect in return.
Doubtful. He’s young in AAA, but his numbers this year aren’t pretty.
Bat first for sure.
The Padres are selling hard, not buying, so there isn’t a chance in hell they would make a move for him… but oh, I’d love to see the look on his face if someone told him he was coming back to San Diego.
Pompey and Norris for Latos. And go.
Really wan’t to see Latos in a Jays jersey. I’d like to think Sanchez and Pillar or something similar could get it done.
White sox should go after Latos, he’d be a perfect fit between Sale and Quintana. If the reds are looking to compete the sox send them Alexei Ramirez and prospects.
I dont think the Reds are looking to compete. If they were they would probably be trying to acquire a piece instead of selling off a piece.
In my opinion, the Reds would trade Latos only if they got a viable LF bat they could control for a few years. Other options would be a shortstop that can hit, or general salary relief. If it’s salary relief, Ludwick/Broxton would have to be packaged with Latos.
He’s not making enough for the Reds to make the trade for salary relief. He’s going to get roughly 10M next year in arbitration, which is a bargain for a 4 win player while healthy.
I was referring to what the Reds would want back in trades – so if they are looking for salary relief, they’d have to include Ludwick/Broxton as well.