Speaking about the team’s recent promotion of top prospect Byron Buxton, Twins GM Terry Ryan told Kris Atteberry of Twins Radio (audio link): “We brought up Buxton because he’s the best one we had available at the time. We have a few guys down there that we considered, but they aren’t as good as Buxton, so we brought up Byron to give him a shot. … I’m hoping that things go well enough that we don’t have to worry about it.” Based on Ryan’s comments, it seems that Buxton will have the opportunity to play his way into a regular role moving forward. A productive Buxton would certainly increase Minnesota’s chances of remaining in the hunt for the division and could also eliminate a potential area of need in trades — an upgrade in the outfield.
More from the AL Central…
- Asked by MLB.com’s Scott Merkin about the possibility of the White Sox becoming deadline sellers, David Robertson said that he would be understanding of any route that GM Rick Hahn felt was best for the team. “If that happens, you know, that’s just part of the game,” said the closer, who signed a four-year, $46MM contract this winter. “That’s obviously a decision that I’m not even involved in. The organization has to do what’s best for them. If that’s the way this season turns out, then so be it.” Robertson, however, feels that the Sox still have the pieces to contend and believes a turnaround is possible with strong performances against division rivals in Kansas City and Detroit. Chicago is currently seven games under .500 and nine back in the AL Central.
- Victor Martinez will rejoin the Tigers this weekend in New York and could be activated from the disabled list at that time, writes James Schmehl of MLive.com. Martinez has been out since May 19 but looked strong on a Triple-A rehab assignment to date, going 4-for-12 with a double in 12 plate appearances.
- In a mailbag column, Schmehl addresses potential trade scenarios for the Tigers this summer, reporting that the team will consider adding starting pitching. Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir are two seemingly speculative names tossed out by Schmehl. He adds that Detroit is likely to add a relief arm as well, though not an elite closer like Aroldis Chapman, as the team is happy with Joakim Soria in the ninth inning.
- In a piece for FOX Sports, Dave Cameron of Fangraphs examines the unique nature of Chris Young’s ability to drastically outperform his FIP by virtue of consistently posting one of the lowest BABIP marks in baseball. While there’s a good amount of luck involved in BABIP, Young’s extreme fly-ball tendencies — specifically his ability to induce infield flies — has allowed him to post a .240 BABIP dating back to 2006. Cameron notes that in such a heavily analytical era, it’s not surprising that teams were so reluctant to gamble on a 36-year-old soft-tosser with a 5.02 FIP in 2014, but Young’s mastery of a rare skill set has made him a bargain.
I don’t see how the Tigers could out bid everyone else for Cueto, the top of their farm system is pedestrian at the moment.
Their farm system was pedestrian last year as well and they still managed to land Price. I would not count Dombrowski out of any trade… The man finds a way.
Without exception, from Scherzer to Anibal to Fister to Price, Detroit has defied conventional wisdom (“weak farm system” refrain) and has been able to get the pitcher they want.
They may need to give up a guy like JD Martinez, who may be a monster in a smaller park, or Castellanos, who is still under 25… but they can make a deal happen if they want.
The Reds would have absolutely no interest in Martinez nor Castellanos for that matter. Martinez is only controlled for 2 seasons and Frazier isn’t going anywhere. The Reds will want and will get a top 100 near major league redy prospect for Cueto.
Chapman will cost double that since he’s under control through the 2016 season.
Why no interest in JD Martinez? That seems odd. Seems like his power could get 30 HRs consistently in smaller park.
Frazier plays 3rd base. JD plays outfield. Castellanos plays 3rd or Corner OF.
If the Reds are rebuilding they’ll want players with more years of control than Martinez. Frazier is unlikely to go anywhere and their top offensive prospect is a LF’er…so they won’t look for Castellanos either.
Chapman would offer similar value as Cueto for the Tigers at a lower trading price tag.
The upgrade from Chamberlain to Chapman is much bigger than than the upgrade from Greene/Verlander to Cueto.
Are you sure Chapman is lower value? He has team control left after this season? Chapman is actually a really nice chip for the Reds at the deadline.
Chapman is signed through 2015, just like Cueto. Nice chip, but not nearly the value of Cueto.
Tigers can afford Chapman for sure. They can afford Cueto, but they have to trade chips on their current major league roster to make it work.
I agree with Red Line on Chapman’s worth.He is a FA in ’17. That extra year of team control tips the scale. Detroit needs to stay away from rental SP who will cost too much for only 2 months. They will be better off in the wide open FA market this winter if they have a clean slate to go after a #1-2 SP and not feel handcuffed to one guy they already spent trade chips on. They will not be able to get Cueto and Price as FA and need to make a decision as to how much they will be willing to spend to get even one of them.
I also agree with bobbleheadguru regarding the BP. The need to upgrade the BP with a solid 8th-9th inning guy is far more urgent than the SP now. Maybe they will be able to get the BP help they need and also get a #3 type SP to upgrade the rotation. A combo of Leake and Hoover from the Reds could help.
He is signed through 2015 because of arbitration. He has another year of arbitration after this one so he will not be a free agent until 2016.
Thanks!
Buxton will become a great player, but will take a lot of time. I have the sense that he will take the Carlos Gomez track.