The Mets and Mariners could be trade partners on a deal that would send a young shortstop to Citi Field, multiple sources tell ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin. Seattle has a pair of young middle infield options in Brad Miller and Chris Taylor, and both could be expendable should the M’s acquire a more proven veteran to play shortstop — for instance, the Mariners reportedly have a strong interest in Hanley Ramirez. Here’s some more from around the NL East…
- David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter links) would “be surprised” if the Braves don’t trade Evan Gattis or an outfielder in exchange for “a good/very good young starting pitcher in the next several weeks.” The Braves are known to be looking to add pitching given Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy’s injury situations and the fact that Ervin Santana and Aaron Harang are free agents.
- Despite recent rumors, it is very unlikely that the Nationals would trade Jordan Zimmermann, CSN Washington’s Mark Zuckerman writes. Nats GM Mike Rizzo would need a massive offer to even consider moving Zimmermann, as while the righty is only under contract for one more season, losing him would be a blow to a Nats team that wants to win a World Series in 2015.
- Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley have consistently said they want to remain lifetime Phillies and aren’t willing to waive their 10-and-5 rights to accommodate a trade, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News writes. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has spoken to both players about the club’s rebuilding plans, and Lawrence wonders if either Rollins or Utley would be more open being dealt now that the Phils are openly planning for the future.
- Also from Lawrence, he lists the Reds, Cardinals and Tigers atop a list of 15 teams who he sees as possible trade fits for the Phillies’ Marlon Byrd. Last week, we heard that Byrd was drawing a lot of interest on the trade market.
Rollins and Utley might be more willing to waive their 10-and-5 rights if RAJ actually manages to trade some other players first.
Not sure why, honestly. The only “movable” guys they’ve probably got a major rapport with are Ruiz and Hamels, and while the latter could be moved, I doubt the former does – based on his contract.
I suppose Howard could be moved as well, but I just find the odds of that – and the advantage of doing so – particularly miniscule.
why would the Mets trade a SS with a 1.4 WAR for a 1.5 WAR SS? unless they make some 3 way trade or get some good haul on Tejada as well
I dont know maybe because they are young and rookies who just play some games
Yea, what’s wrong with being patient with Flores and giving him 400AB’s this year? Sometimes making a deal just for the sake of making a deal is a bad strategy
Flores is suspect defensively (and with Murphy partnering with him that could be awful) and his OBP is just terrible and in conflict w/the front office’s organizational goals. I have no problem w/them shopping. It’s also conceivable that if they acquire a SS, they slot Flores in at second where he’d be more palatable and try to flip Murphy to clear some salary.
I agree, Murphy + Flores is a bad risk. I like Flores, and although his range is poor, he was very good at all of the teachable aspects of SS this year. If he was paired with a better 2B, like Herrera, I could live with him. The Mets have three choices:
1) Go with Flores/Murphy until Murphy can be traded, then bring up Herrera
2) Trade Murphy now and go with Flores/Herrera, hope Herrera improves quickly (he was not overmatched completely last Sept).
3) Trade for a SS and move Flores to 2B; wait until next year to choose between Herrera and Flores.
…decisions made by other teams probably determines the answer.
I wonder why everyone thinks the M’s need to bring in a veteran SS if they move Taylor or Miller. Both of those guys will give you at least league average production next year. Spend the money on Tomas and an SP. Keep the prospects for the trade deadline.
Oh, and I would rather move Ackley than Miller or Taylor. Not that the M’s are getting much back for the Ack Attack.
The Mariners need an offensive upgrade a lot more than they need a SP. Can’t say Im convinced spending 100MM+ on Tomas is any smarter than signing Hanley.
Also, why would you want to save the prospects for the trade deadline when asking prices are generally higher.
7/$105M is $15M a year. I would much have a 24 yo RH power bat for 7 years than an oft injured Hanley for 5 years at a higher $/yr and it doesn’t cost a draft pick.
That’s why I think the M’s should go hard after Lester and Tomas. Keep the picks.
I like the idea of Tomas too, but Seattle is not the type of organization that is going to give $100 million (or even $80 mil or $90 mil) to a guy that’s never played in a Major League (or minor league) game. They just aren’t going to take that kind of risk.
Did anyone take Seattle serious at this time last year as the winner for Cano’s services? Nope. We will have to wait and see. They are in a better financial position than a lot of teams right now because of the volume of young talent pre-arb and their new TV deal. If the scouts think he’s MLB ready and can hit 4th, they will do their due diligence.
I completely agree. I think the other point that backs that up is the fact that we have 2 SS’s that are already above average, and will just get better. They get the WAR from their defense. What we NEED is an OF. Signing Tomas fills that. Signing Hanley still leaves a need for an OF, and you replaced a position that we don’t truly need to upgrade.
If we’re going to upgrade SS, make it a full on upgrade and go after Tulo. He would give the hitting and defense all at once. I’m not saying that’s what I want, but I definitely don’t want to sign Hanley. Lester and a big OF bat.
The Mariners need to get better. With at least one opening in the rotation, an SP would be an upgrade. If they can do that more cheaply or receive a greater improvement then it’s the right choice. Just by putting a replacement player at DH and RF the team will improve at those spots next year.
The value of Taylor and Miller could be much higher at that time, too. Yes, I’m a big homer, but I think Miller is going to be an .800 OPS bat in the next couple of years.
As far as saving prospects goes, you can never have enough.
Walker in a Upton trade probably. Walker or Paxton in a Gattis trade not happening. Back to Upton: If I am a GM I am not giving up one year rental player for huge top prospect.
Did you accept elias for Gattis
Mike I am not huge on Elias. Ton of M’s fans are. Would I do it? Maybe as a back up plan. It sounds like the M’s are pushing hard for Martinez.
I have this weird suspicion the M’s land a big-time hitter and Max Scherzer.
I think you should check Mariner’s pitching staff
Paxton threw 87 innings last year. Walker threw 120 innings last year. Elias threw 160+ and wore out. Hultzen didn’t throw last year but could be ready to go this year but likely no more than 100 IP.
The M’s need a 200 IP guy.
I mean there is a really big need to go for Max Scherzer, I mean they should go for veteran or mid level pitcher
I would like to see Lester as the primary target. He grew up in Tacoma so maybe that’s a draw for him. Then Shields or Santana. Sherzer getting a max deal at his age is scary.
Yes, spend 20+ million a year on another pitcher when they have no DH and 1 good outfielder who they alienated and might trade. I’d rather them spend that money on a legitimate threat in the lineup, a proper OF, and just sign another vet to soak up some innings like Young did last season.
Yep. They need a bat, too. They have the money for Lester and Kemp or Tomas. It’s all about whether they are going to spend it. I don’t want the M’s to have a DH. I would like to see a platoon with Taylor/Miller at SS and then have those two fill in at 2nd and 3rd regularly when Cano and Seager DH a bit. I would also like to see Zunino get more games at DH. A DH rotation means guys are fresher come September. I think Hicks beats out Sucre as the backup catcher and he hits better than Jesus does as well, so you get both righties in vs tough lefties. Not having a DH also means a 5 man bench vs a 4 man bench. I’m not a big fan of DH only guys.
Yeah, I’d rather have VMart in the lineup everyday instead of relying on our shortstops to solidify the offense. Seems like a wasted opportunity to actually upgrade the offense. And I doubt standing next to a base a few extra games a year instead of sitting on a bench is going to have a dramatic effect on their endurance.
VMart for 4 years is costing more per year than Tomas over those same 4 years which will help the M’s pay for Lester right now.
Seager has a career OPS of .713 in August and .673 in September. The kid needs days off in June and July.
I think the wear comes from travel, working out, and practicing every day. Numbers fluctuate. The only difference between his August last year and his September was 1 single, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. He had a horrible start last season, too. Does that mean he should head to ST early to get ready for the season?
Those are career numbers. I’m tired of watching Seager fade every year because the manager has no one else and plays the kid every day. Yes, the Mariners have the toughest travel schedule in baseball so the guys could use some extra rest. The M’s travelled more before the ASG in 2013 than all but 10 teams travelled over the course of the whole season.
Cano isn’t getting any younger, either. He could use more days at DH as well.
So now what since Martinez is in Detroit for 4/$68M?
I would do what I wanted to do last offseason and trade for Van Slyke. Or even Souza from the Nats. Re-sign Young to a cheap contract if possible. Maybe trade for Kemp to serve as the DH/4th OF. It all depends on how much the Dodgers eat and what the M’s have to give up. Z will likely do something like sign Butler, because he’s been lusting after him for years, or go after Hanely and trade Miller and Taylor for a lousy 4th OF and a relief pitcher, or something.
No Butler please. I think the online crowd has been after Butler more than Z. Butler was awful this year.
If Van Slyke or Souza are available, nice. If not?
Hanley would be further down on my list than Tomas.
Tomas
Kemp
Hanley
Hanley is older and has to switch positions.
I would rather keep Miller and Taylor if all you’re getting back is a lousy 4th OFer. I would move one in a deal for Taylor or Sauza.. if they are available. Not giving them away though.
Both are young pitchers AND they both got injured. They will improve. They have great stuff. All the M’s need is offense. Adding V-Mart and staying healthy might be all they need to get into the playoffs next season.
The M’s are going to need another 200 IP pitcher. Walker may get into the 160 IP range, I wouldn’t push over that. Paxton is a little older so maybe he can reach that level, too. Elias may be good for 180 IP. Then what? Hultzen?
The Mariners are definitely a franchise to watch this offseason. They have no long-term commitments to multiple over the hill players that are going downhill as their salaries rise. They have a lot of flexibility. And they can build on pitching – both starting and relief.
I agree on the need for a hitter (OF) and pitcher, but I don’t think it will be Scherzer. I would say Lester. He’s a top of the rotation lefty, and he’s from Tacoma.
Felix, Lester, Kuma, Paxton makes an amazing 1-4 in the rotation. Find a power bat to hit behind Cano and you’d be set.
I think it’s more likely they add a bartolo colon or Jon Niese from the Mets as part of a package for one of their shortstops than add Scherzer.
Depends on what they want to spend. Scherzer will break the bank.
Colon is a better idea than many might realize; given the IP of M’s pitchers last season, and their youth, a guy who provides tons of IP can help rest bullpen arms, which helps to ease the pitching load of the rest of the staff.
The Mariners need to get out of the mindset of high oWAR and negative dWAR. Offense is important but every player can’t have poor defense.
How is Ruben Amaro a MLB General Manager??? Beyond me…
So is Evan Gattis a major league catcher or not? If he is at least average defensively at catcher I can see the M’s dealing Walker for him. Walker has potential, but his shoulder issues last season are going to decrease his value. However I would not trade him for a DH unless that DH is an exceptional hitter. Gattis is like a slightly more disciplined Mike Zunino…he’s no Victor Martinez.
Seriously?
2014 Zunino K rate = 36%, BB rate = 3.5%
2014 Gattis K rate = 24%, BB rate = 5.5%
Gattis’ slugging and OBP are also much higher. “Slightly more” is just plain wrong.
Yeah, I don’t know how a good catcher like Zunino could be so clueless at the plate. You’d think he knows enough about sequencing and has seen enough breaking balls to have some idea at the plate.
Zunino is five years younger (although Gattis still has lots of team control) and his career numbers are closer to Gattis’ than last season when he struck out more. Their steamer projections are similar:
Gattis: .243/.295/.444, 105 wRC+
Zunino: .220/.275/.406, 94 wRC+
Gattis has the edge, but they’re similar types of hitters. Neither walks much, they both strike out a lot, have a lot of power and are right handed. Gattis is more advanced which is unsurprising since he had about 600 more PA’s in the minors. I don’t think the M’s should give up Walker for 11 points of wRC+ if the guy can’t catch.
I put ZERO stock into projections. They aren’t even close to being correct the vast majority of the time. “Both strike out a lot” 24% vs 36% is a HUGE difference. Gattis >>> Zunino
First time I’ve heard Chris Taylor come up. As a Mets fan, I would much rather have him than Brad Miller. Seems more like Alderson’s kind of player as well.
Its hard to type or even breathe because I am laughing so hard after reading that the Marlins are supposedly in the running for any big free agent.
Lets be real, any top free agent already knows that the Marlins max payroll is around $75 million and you cant field a competitive team with one guy making 25-30% of your total payroll.
Plus, the last time they signed any decent free agents they traded them before the ASG the same year.
Gattis won’t take Paxton or Walker. Heyward maybe and Upton is a toss-up. But the Mariners are going for Hanley right now and then they’ll turn their attention elsewhere.
At this point, I think it would require an extension for the M’s to trade Walker or Paxton for those two. I can’t see the M’s dismantling their rotation for a rental. Especially when the M’s almost no rotation depth.
Brad Miller, yet ANOTHER guy the Ms rushed. Only 122 PAs at AAA before getting the call up in 2013, does okay the rest of that year, then struggles in 2014. Taylor had 346 PAs at AAA before being called up last year, and did okay before teams started to figure him out, as he faded towards the end. He was only called up because Miller was struggling.
I hope the Ms acquire a SS, if only so that they can keep one of those guys at AAA and let them develop. Much rather see Tulo though instead of Hanley, even if that’s an unrealistic idea.