The Reds could improve considerably in 2015 simply by getting the most out of their current roster, writes Richard Justice of MLB.com. With four starting pitchers a year from free agency, GM Walt Jocketty has the difficult decision to “hold ’em or fold ’em.” He could take one more shot at the postseason by luring a Michael Morse-type player, or he could begin the rebuilding process now. The market for his soon-to-be free agents could help him make the decision.
- Marlins GM Dan Jennings says contract extension talks with Giancarlo Stanton are ongoing, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). There is no time table on the talks. In Justice’s article, he mentions the Cardinals as a possible fit for Stanton is extension talks with Miami fizzle.
- We’ve heard everything when it comes to the Cubs and their place in the free agent market. GM Jed Hoyer showed part of his hand recently, reports Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago. The club would like to add some veteran leadership with Hoyer saying: “maybe a player in the starting lineup, maybe a bench player, maybe someone in the bullpen, maybe someone in the rotation.” That’s a lot of maybe’s, but the idea is that a veteran presence in each role can help the youngsters improve and develop character. Rogers has more comments from Hoyer that are well worth a read.
- The Mets need to answer three questions at the GM Meetings, opines Mike Puma of the New York Post. Assuming the club isn’t satisfied with Wilmer Flores, the shortstop market must be gauged. A trade with either Chicago team might be the way to go. Outfield is another area of concern, with only Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson scheduled for regular roles. Lastly, GM Sandy Alderson should measure interest in Daniel Murphy.
Thoughts on a Cincinnati-BoSox trade?
Depends what you mean, really. They match up perfectly if you consider needs, but Boston matches up with a dozen teams if you only consider needs
Depends on who each side is getting. I mean if it were a package centered around Cueto and Betts. Great idea. But a package centered around Latos and Owens/Swihart. Hell NO!!!
Betts for 1 year of Cueto is really steep
I don’t think so. Cueto just a CY Young year. If it was not for Kershaw being so nasty this year he would win it. So I think it might not be enough. Look at Cueto’s stat line this year. 20-9, 2.25 ERA, 160 ERA+, 242 K’s and a WHIP of .960
1 year of team control is a killer though.
Yea but I feel like the Sox would sign him to a long term deal though. If not he could get a QO. And they would not cheap him out like Lester because he is under 30.
Betts is too steep IMO, Owens or Swihart may be a possibility. Betts has shown success at the MLB Level, and in his short time, proved to be a very legitimate lead-off hitter. I’d say out of all prospects in baseball right now, Betts has the highest trade value, just because of this. If I was Ben, I’d hang up as soon as his name was mentioned.
I’m way too weary to give up a guy like Swihart because how often do you get the chance to have guy that has pop behind the plate. Not too often and I am not willing to give that away unless I am getting a guy back with term or is willing to resign and is a stud. Sorry for bringing this guy up but he is the only guy, I would be willing to give Swihart up for that is being talked about as maybe available but it’s Stanton.
I see what you’re saying, but Betts is going to be a bigger offensive threat as a whole IMO, as well as being able to solidify Boston’s lead-off spot, which they so desperately need filled since the lost of Ellsbury. I just think I’d rather give up Swihart instead of Betts just because of the additional insecurity, and the fact alone that Betts has such good offensive potential as a lead-off hitter. I’d be fine with Vasquez behind the plate if it means trading Swihart instead of Betts. The kid plays great D, and hopefully can get better at hitting.
Boston made a blunder when they didn’t resign Ellsbury.
Not really, not with the contract that the Yankees paid him.
Exactly. It’s not the Boston way to retain star players past their prime for exorbitantly high and risky contracts.
I don’t think so. The blunder was not being serious when it came to signing Lester. Jacoby is not worth the contract he got. I don’t think he will be worth the contract the Yankees paid him within 3 years.
The reds wouldn’t be at all interested in Swihart.
They have the catcher they want.
And he is already a all star with good pop. Meseroco.
I highly doubt you get Cueto without Betts.
That is expensive for the Sox, and they would be left with a serious OF problem, and holes at 3b.
What about Cueto for Cespedes + an mlb-ready pitching prospect? That way Cincy gets an exceptional left fielder and some much needed pop, and the short porch at Great American can’t hurt.
Depends on the prospect to be honest. Owens no but one of the guys we picked up at the deadline sure. Either Rodriguez or Escobar that would be good enough for me.
Neither one of those guys you mentioned wouldn’t even make the rotation.
Lets get real here. Neither one of them have good stuff.
Average at best all across the board.
The Red Sox would do that deal I would think, don’t know about Cincy though. What MLB-ready prospect would you have in mine? Maybe a guy like Jeff said? I’d be fine with that too. Or are you more interested in someone, per say, De La Rosa, Webster, or Workman (guys who have MLB experience)? I personally think the Red Sox might have to include a bit more too sweeten the deal, just because Cueto is an ace and should finish in the top 5 for the CYA. IF THE sox had to do this deal with Cincy, I’d love them to resign Cueto.
This sounds like a logical move from both teams. Still I think that the Reds would insist on a #3 or #4 existing MLB starting pitcher to go along with the package of Cespedes and 1 minor league prospect
Well, throw Joe Kelly into the mix, along with De La Rosa and Webster. I’d do Kelly and Cespedes for Cueto and a minor league guy I’d think, or one of De La Rosa/Webster + Minor League Prospect and Cespedes.
Let’s make this happen.
Haha, if only I was Ben Cherington.
It is a difficult thing to get Walt Jocketty to trade though. He prefers signing low end free agents or older veterans at the end of their careers.
As a Cardinal fan, I can attest. He hit some home runs here trade-wise, but signing Kip Wells after a World Series was… disappointing.
I can imagine that the negotiations would pretty much just like that as well. The back and forth banter. I would love for a trade negotiation to be recorded so that the fans could really hear what goes on.
Boston will likely hold on to Kelly as a solid back-end starter. Escobar/Rodriguez are young and have middle of the rotation potential, so I believe one of them are enough to complete a Cueto-Cespedes deal.
Maybe, and hopefully. Think you’ll have to overpay a bit to get Cueto though, so I think you could be right, just with a couple smaller pieces include as well.
lol
Cespedes really doesn’t have that much value.
Yes he doesn’t and he thinks he does and that’s the problem.
And that’s why Boston wants to get rid of him.
Agreed, Cespedes has a extremely low OBP, and Highs in K’s. I think a Cueto, Cespedes trade would have to include Owens.
I would say the Reds starting pitching would be quite valuable. Cueto for Cespedes has been circulating for someone. Both have one year contracts and both have similar WAR stats. I would have to say though that this trade would be in the Red Sox favor slightly and that the Reds should ask for at least one prospect in addition to Cespedes not a top 10 prospect but maybe something in the 11-20 range.
I would rather the Reds move Latos and Simon. Latos for 2 top 10 prospects and Leake for 3. (Leake is undervalued. He is healthy, innings eater, a good pinch hitter, and fields his position well on top of being a very good pitcher who is only getting better with age)
Adding Escobar or Rodriguez to a Cueto-Cespedes deal would probably even out the trade.
The Reds should wait to trade Latos when he is healthy and his value has gone up. When healthy Mat Latos is a solid no. 2 workhorse
I agree on the Cueto trade let’s make it so.
That is whyI want to trade Latos now, I don’t think he ever comes back to elite performance. He was shut down at the end of the season for good reason.
Latos is a one or two starter in all baseball teams.
NO way, Escobar and Rodriguez are both at the end of the rotation or off. Just look at there stats when it comes to stuff. Looks nothing but ave. if you ask anyone with a brain. Neither one of those guys would even make the rotation. And the reds re stocked in pitching they wouldn’t want a pitcher.
Cueto for Cespedes is more than slightly favoring the Sox.
Latos for two Leake for 3 ? Latos is way better than Leake.
How about Latos for two.
Leake if we’re lucky one.
I would say that the odd of a Reds-RedSox trade are greater than 50% considering that Cueto, Latos, Leake would all be very attractive pieces for the RedSox. I also can see the Reds jumping on the “I want Matt Kemp” wagon. Cueto for Kemp and Los Angeles eating some of his salary. The dodgers would be almost impossible to beat with Kershaw and Cueto back to back.
What do the Cards realistically have to offer in a Stanton trade?
Agreed. I think St. Louis is better off trading for a top-tier pitcher. They were rumored in the david price talks last july.
Nah. This team needs offense in the worse way. I’m not sure I would sell the farm to get Stanton (I think they could if they REALLY want to – they have pieces). But if they make a big move, it needs to be for someone who is going to produce in the middle of the lineup.
At least 1 high upside bat and an MLB ready pitcher + a high risk/high upside prospect IMO.
That’s far too little to get a stud like Stanton. With Oscar Taveras’ passing, the Cardinals don’t have that elite prospect needed for a guy like Stanton.
Who is this high upside bat? Like Dynasty said, Taveras has unfortunately passed, so I don’t know who your talking about.
Wong, Martinez, Piscotty and a high upside guy like Alex Reyes might get it done
Martinez, and Piscotty are nice prospects, but they would turn that away in a heartbeat.
I kinda meant WHO do they have that would entice Florida to trade Stanton? I could easily see any package they throw out there being topped by the Dodgers, Cubs, etc.
Maybe a couple low end prospects because we are not even certain Stanton can see at this point.
32 in the post steroid era is old man material. I would pass on this one.
Cardinals have nothing to offer
No offense, but the Cardinals shouldn’t give the Marlins anybody for Stanton. Nobody is sure he can even see at this point.
Cueto for Matt Kemp with the Dodgers taking on 60% of the remaining Kemp salary. This would almost guarantee the Dodgers a world series.
Perhaps getting 2 people who aren’t abysmal defensively at the most demanding positions in the game would guarantee them a World Series.
For as many outfielders as they have, none of them can actually play CF.
Yeah there will likely be a new shortstop this year, and ideally, the OF would be Kemp in LF, Pederson in CF, and Puig in RF. Van Slyke fills in at the corners and 1B.
I kinda thought that last season.
The Reds get Matt Kemp at 5 years $43 million?
That is worth more than one season of Cueto.
I didn’t say it was fair. I said it would get them a world series. The dodgers are very close to having an overpowering team and they have an abundance of outfielders. They have 6 that they could easily unload. It makes sense that they target Johnny Cueto, JC knows also that whatever the Dodgers offer him is going to be the most that he is going to get from any team right now.
I still don’t understand the fascination with trading Daniel Murphy. He’s under contract for one more year and they don’t have anyone in the system who has shown that they are MLB ready to take over the spot. They have two guys who could be ready soon, but aren’t quite there yet (Reynolds and Herrera), but neither ARE ready right now. Murphy was one of the few people on the team last year who hit much at all, and his projected contract for the last year is not THAT outrageous. They haven’t been getting any solid offers for him in the past because his defense is spotty and his he has no power. At this point, he’s more valuable to the Mets than what measly return they would get, because he holds the position down for another year until one of those two is ready to take over. They certainly aren’t going to replace his production for the money they would save by moving him. It just doesn’t make any sense.
Sure, if someone offered a good package for him, they should take it. But it hasn’t happened yet, and it’s not likely to happen this winter either. So sit back and enjoy watching one of the hardest working players in baseball for one more year, because after that, he’s gone.
Agreed
Unlike everyone else here I get what you’re saying, basically demanding that if Florida wants to keep me while continuing to be a joke of a franchise then they better pay through the teeth. Stanton knows he’s not going to get $400 million, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for $350 million and if Florida bites you cashed it if not you can pick your team when you’re free agent.
You hit the nail right on the head but somehow get it and don’t get it at the same time. You’re right that Sandy hasn’t received an appropriate offer and that there isn’t a guy in the system with proven MLB experience at the position. However, you also get that if trading Murphy makes the team better, he should be traded. More importantly, the team’s performance is the sum of its parts. If the Mets can trade Murphy as part of a package for Céspedes, the team would likely drop a bit in performance at 2B (Flores/Herrera/Reynolds) but that drop would be more than outweighed by the improvement from Chris Young/Eric Young to Céspedes.
So yeah – Sandy doesn’t have to trade Murphy but if he can make the team better, he should.
There’s someone cheaper who can do the job, kind of. That’s fascination.
If I’m Stanton, I would demand this deal from the Marlins:
8 year, 400 million
Player option every season the total team payroll is under 150 million.
If the Marlins agree to that, great. If not, seeya later.
Yea that will never happen!!! Just saying we haven’t even hit 325 million contracts yet.
It would never happen. Stanton has shown that he is prone to injuries and there is no way he is even remotely as valuable as Kershaw. Could he get $200 million? maybe there is a sucker born every day.
He’s hit 34 or more homers 3 of the past 4 years. If that’s “injury prone”, sign me up. He is significantly more valuable than Kershaw because Kershaw is a pitcher. Pitcher injuries are usually career-threatening; injuries to position players are rarely career-threatening.
right, uh-huh, some team out there is going to guarantee 1/3 of the necessary payroll to fill out a 40-man roster to one player or risk losing him…
the Pujols mega-deal is already being viewed as a disaster for the Angels, so i don’t even see Stanton beating that in free agency, let alone with an extension.
Solidly missing the subtly of the point being made…
If you were trying to make the point that he wants out of Miami then i’m not entirely sure you know what subtly means
Also not entirely sure it’s a point that even needs to be made, as most people assume he’s of average intelligence which makes it a given….
That wasnt the point he was making at all.
Dont worry Derpy, your point wasnt lost on all of us…
I would love to see Stanton in Cardinals red, but I’m not sure A) that we have the prospects to get him or B) that I would want us to give up as much as would be needed to get a guy like Stanton. The Cards’ system has some good depth, but lacks guys who are viewed as “elite” prospects. We have some players with decent major league experience who could draw varying amounts of interest from the Marlins (Martinez, Miller, Wong…maybe Jay, although he’s more of a “round out the trade” kind of guy) and a few prospects that aren’t bad (Piscotty, Marco Gonzales, Grichuk, Reyes, Kominsky), but without an elite prospect it would probably take at least four of the players listed to have a chance at getting the job done. And, in having to include some major league talent and not just minor league guys, we’d be tempering the actual positive effect of getting a guy like Stanton. As much as it hurts to say it, I think we should probably look else for that middle-of-the-order bat and let the Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc. fight it out to decide who gets to deplete their farm system to get Stanton.
I mostly agree. I made the point elsewhere on this page that if the Cardinals make the trade it will be because they give up a lot of good prospects as opposed to any elite ones. And some of those pieces would otherwise be important pieces on the 2015 roster. I’m not sure how big I am on filling one hole by creating two or three others.
any team that wants Stanton should wait until he is a free agent. The Marlins owner is a tool and there is no need to give away the farm for one player.
True, but if Stanton would do a trade and extend, I think the trade would be worth.
You cant do sign and trades in baseball. Illegal.
I didn’t say “sign and trade”, I said “trade and extend” which a team is allowed to do.
Example of such is the Red Sox trading for Adrian Gonzalez then extending him a couple months later.
Won’t happen because Stanton ONLY wants to live in either Miami or LA. The large market Cubs, Yanks, and Red Sox would HAVE to trade for him if they want to convince him to sign long term
If Cueto happens to be traded which I dont think he wont because I think he’ll have more trade value at the deadline if the Reds are out of it…you gotta trade him with Brandon Phillips included to get out of a contract. Jocketty is still going to ask for the moon and no he’s not gonna take an outfielder on a long contract. He’ll be looking at SS, 2B, SP, RP. A deal with the Dodgers for Dee Gordon, Corey Seager, Chris Withrow, and Scott Van Slyke could make a deal
That’s asking a lot. I gotta think trying to shoehorn Phillips into the deal would seriously hinder the likelihood of a move. Even if he’s playing back to his 2011 form, taking on 2 yrs/27 million, after 2015, would hurt what the return could be.
The proposed deal would be a no-brainer for the Reds and “we have no brain” for the Dodgers.
What about Cespedes to mets for
Murphy+Montero/Gee+ Taylor/Reynolds
Murphy could be a above average hitter for the Sox at 3rd since middle brooks hasn’t done his job.
That’s quite a lot for a 1 year of a guy who hit worse than Daniel Murphy the past two seasons and doesn’t bring back draft pick compensation when he leaves. Murphy+Niese for Céspedes and Brian Johnson seems like a better trade. Red Sox get a cost-controlled lefty who represents Brian Johnson’s ceiling while getting a versatile, offensively-adequate 3B without blocking prospects long-term. Mets get the power-hitting RF they need without blocking their own OF prospects, a lefty with #4 starter or LOOGY potential, and salary relief.
Why aren’t the Mets going after Hanley
They already have a 3B under contract and it’s unclear Hanley would be willing to play RF.
He’s a cancer and injury prone. Stay clear
I was hoping the New York Mets get better not by signing an over the hill outfielder