Here are the highlights from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe’s latest column:
- The Athletics, Phillies, Brewers, Rockies and Reds could have the best big-league talent on offer at the trade deadline, two executives tell Cafardo. Scott Kazmir is perhaps the top player the Athletics could have available, but there could be others, like Josh Reddick and Billy Butler. The Red Sox, Pirates and Blue Jays also could become sellers unless they play well over the next couple months, Cafardo suggests.
- Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux would have interest in a managerial job, says Cafardo. In the past, Maddux frequently removed himself from consideration for such jobs because his children were younger and he did not want his family to have to move.
- Executives believe the Rockies do have interest in trading Troy Tulowitzki, and feel they should have little trouble doing so if they’re willing to pay some of the $113MM remaining on his contract. “I think theyāll be able to move him,” says one GM. “Too good of a player to be out there without someone taking him.” Tulowitzki is hitting just .275/.291/.423 in 148 plate appearances and, for whatever it’s worth, his defensive numbers in a small sample so far this season aren’t nearly as strong as they typically are.
sdsuphilip
Carlos Gomez maybe?
Draven Moss
I think it’d be a mistake not to move him. They could net a serious haul. One guy I think they shouldn’t trade, however, is Lucroy, and it looks like they won’t.
Marinerjim
Don’t see him going anywhere to be honest. It would take a top prospect to get him
scann
Tulo’s an Rockie for life…just like Helton…..the media needs to stop trying to get him traded…
Brixton G.
It’d be best for the Rockies if he was moved..
Steven Garrison
It is best for the team to trade him but no other team will pony up to trade the rockies what they want or take on his contract. imo they are stuck with him.
Steven Garrison
Tulo could be a rockie for life just like helton, but atleast helton hit pretty well on the road.
DMC23
Zero chance the Red Sox become sellers. The AL East is way too mediocre. No way they fall far enough out to give up and sell.
Draven Moss
I don’t think so either. They don’t really have many guys they’d sell anyways. They’ve dedicated themselves to this core, and a lot of them have no-trade clauses. Matter in fact, I doubt any of the AL East becomes sellers. Every team has the capability to win it.
Sleeper
Agreed. It would take an absolutely ridiculous falling out for anyone in the division to become sellers this year, too open of a competition.
Brixton G.
Also looking at each team, how many have impending FAs anyway? The Orioles only have 2-3 notable impending FAs, the Sox have Masterson, Ortiz and Victorino, that isn’t gonna bring you anything.
Sleeper
Yeah, there are very few players who would categorize as viable trade options. Technically, players don’t HAVE to be going into their FA year to fit that bill, but even including those that aren’t, the list of guys you could see being shopped really isn’t all that long.
gorav114
The Orioles have ten free agents with at least 5 will command decent money. I see them trading a few and collecting comp pics on three ( Davis, Wieters, and Chen)
DMC23
Yeah I’d say if anything the Jays are even less likely to sell than the Red Sox too. AA may as well quit at that point.
Draven Moss
The Jays could sell if they fall out of it, though that’d be premature. If AA feels the heat, he may want to be credited with starting an effective rebuild. Their best bet would be to go all in again next year with the extra money off the books and see what they can do. With a healthy Stroman, they would still be a very good team. If all else fails, then they could start a rebuild following next year’s deadline. They have the pitching prospects to where they wouldn’t be too far away from competing again. Not sure how the fan base would react to a Bautista or EE trade though.
DavidL
If his job is on the line, giving up makes it more likely that he won’t sell. If he sells he’s failed. If he buys and they somehow pull it out he keeps his job. The Jays would have to be way back to sell.
TheRealRyan 2
This is what I’m thinking. My guess is the Jays end up getting desperate and overpaying.
redsoxu571
I was going to say the same thing. The team is only a few games under .500 despite the offense short-circuiting about as much as possible to this point, all in a division that may not take much to win. There are no guarantees that the team’s offense gets going, but it can’t really get any worse, and that would mean some level of contention.
Draven Moss
Both the Rockies and Tulowitzki.
NocaHoma
Problem with trading Tulo away from mile high is his stats. Career wise he is not as good when not playing at home. Sure some of that might be just being on the road and not being at home, but most IMO is due to not being in the very hitter friendly park. The other major issue is his continued health issues. The guy would have a much higher value if he could just play 140+ games a year which he has only done 3 times in a 10 year career. How much value can a guy have that only plays 100 games a year on AVG. Sure he might help you get to the playoffs but will he be there to help you win in the playoffs????
Brixton G.
Right now, what value does Billy Butler have? Ryan Howard is having a much better offensive season, his OPS is almost .200 higher than Butler, he’d cost less and he’d been a lesser commitment in year.
Ryan Howard could also have some actual trade value. .865 OPS, 135 OPS+ and he’d be cheap in the money department as well. He could be very valuable to a team in need of a DH.
Steven Garrison
What are the best moves the angels need to make?
alex navarrette
Trade for another outfielder and call up Kubitza IMO. Allow Freese to DH some days hopefully improving his performance.
Steven Garrison
I think ben revere would be the best choice, then maybe adam lind ryan howard or if the pirates fall out of contention, pedro alverez
alex navarrette
I feel a Revere trade is imminent. Out of the rest of guys you named, only Lind would interest me.
Steven Garrison
I bet the brewers would want an arm and a leg for him though
alex navarrette
He shouldn’t be that expensive. He’s only a rental and isn’t a qualifying offer type of guy. He’ll cost a top 15ish organizational prospect.
sacramento gold miners
Don’t know how much knowledge the Boston writer has about the Pirates, sounds like his point of reference is 2005, not 2015. Pittsburgh’s only three games out of the playoffs, and they started slowly in 2014. There would have to be injuries and a total meltdown for the club to write off a third straight playoff appearance.
NatKingCole45
In terms of a realistic dream scenario, I’d love to see the Bucs add Kazmir and Tyler Clippard.
oh Hal
Maybe I’m forgetting, but they seem to make more modest, strategic moves. It’d be interesting to see what they would do if they were more aggressive.
Interesting phrase – “realistic dream scenario.”
NatKingCole45
The reason I used that phrase is because my dream scenario would be to land Hamels and have a rotation of Hamels, Cole, Liriano, Burnett and Morton and just blow people’s doors off. However, the Pirates, for many reasons, will never make such a trade.
Swinging a deal for a pair like Kazmir and Clippard I could see them doing, though. Kazmir would slide nicely into the rotation, allowing the Bucs to remove Locke. Plus, it’s insurance if/when another starter gets hurt. Clippard would give them an excellent back end of their pen with him, Hughes, Watson and Melancon.
Steven Garrison
The a’s might ask for a lot
Boyd Frederick
Would like to see the Brewers trade Lohse, Garza, Gomez and Ramirez. (Just to give him a shot at a WS before he retires)
Jennifer Bellini
Bautista and Dickey to the Mariners might make sense as they are trying to get back into the playoffs to end the 14 year drought. Dustin Ackley as one of the major pieces in return w/ few other players would work similar to the Braves-Dodgers trade involving Callaspo & Uribe swap but better.