The Cubs have been in discussions with the Phillies regarding Cole Hamels and are interested in adding him to their long-term rotation outlook, sources have told CSNChicago.com’s David Kaplan. The Cubs may also add an additional starter as a depth piece, though that acquisition isn’t expected to be significant, he continues. Kaplan also writes that, contrary to previous reports, the Tigers haven’t yet decided to market David Price. A final decision on whether they’ll take a shot at the postseason or sell veteran pieces could come either this weekend or by next Wednesday, Kaplan hears, though I’d imagine that wasting a gem from Price on a 3-2, extra innings loss to the Mariners was a tough pill for the Tigers to swallow as they determine their deadline strategy.
Here’s more from the game’s Central divisions…
- CSNChicago’s Dan Hayes spoke with Jeff Samardzija following an excellent Thursday start in which he fired eight innings of one-run ball. “It’s been totally silent on my end,” said Samardzija when asked about the possibility that he could be traded. Hayes asked a handful of scouts about Samardzija, with one feeling that he’s overhyped and more of a No. 2/No. 3 starter than a No. 1/No.2 starter. A second said that the White Sox could get a B-level prospect back, to which another replied that if that were the max return, Chicago would be better off holding Samardzija and taking a draft pick for him. Hayes writes that the Sox could potentially keep Samardzija in an attempt to re-sign him in free agency. He’s also since tweeted that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Sox tried to re-sign Samardzija this winter even if they do trade him.
- The White Sox haven’t yet publicly waved a white flag, but they’re currently active in trade talks, hears ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link). The Sox reportedly discussed Samardzija with the Astros prior to Houston’s acquisition of Scott Kazmir earlier this afternoon (also via Crasnick).
- Despite injuries to Alex Gordon and Jason Vargas, Royals GM Dayton Moore tells MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan that he’s not feeling pressure to make a trade. “I don’t know if [losing Vargas] changes our approach,” said Moore. “But it does hurt our depth. He was a big part of our team last year and we expected him to be a big part this year. We haven’t had him much of the year. When we’ve had him, he’s been great.” Moore says adding to the current roster is not a “must,” and any trades would depend on the cost of acquisition.
- ESPN’s Keith Law reports that Cardinals southpaw Marco Gonzales is now being represented by CAA Sports (Twitter link). Gonzales, a former first-round pick, was previously represented by Rowley Sports Management. The 23-year-old made an appearance in the Majors last season, posting a 4.15 ERA in 34 2/3 innings, but he’s been limited to Triple-A action this season and also missed time due to injury. Gonzales’ change in representation will be reflected in the MLBTR Agency Database. Remember that if you see any errors or notable omissions, you can let us know via email: mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
By this time next Monday Detroit will be ready to sell….and trade Price…….
The Tigers are 4 games out of the playoffs and play the Red Sox this weekend. The Red Sox have lost 8 in a row.The Twins play the Yankees. They’ve won 4 in a row. By this time Monday the Tigers might be ready to buy.
If Boston wins 2…….Tigers will be selling by Monday………
Putting the season on the line for a 1 game playoff isn’t very smart.
Having a 1 game playoff isn’t very smart. Atleast make it best 2 of out 3.
154 game season with 2 of 3 in round 1 would be perfect. Very unfair that a #4 or #5 pitcher is matched up with a #1 sometimes in the wildcard games because of urgency (or lack of urgency) in the last week of the season for the wildcard participants.
How is that unfair? If you have your best against another team’s mid-rotation guy I assume it means you’re the better record. They SHOULD be rewarded for that, especially in a one game situation. You want to lose your division and not even be the next best team? Earn your way into the real postseason.
Tell the WS champion Giants that. Beats giving up. What will happen to attendance if they sell? What about TV ratings? The Tigers have a new contract to be negotiated soon. Might not be a great time to sell, if it ends up effecting the revenue from that TV contract!
They could very well sign Price and or the other big name starters in the off-season while restocking their farm system. The Giants aimed for the Division and fell short getting the consolation price. Nobody should ever aim for a wildcard because there’s way too much competition.
The Tigers are not the 2014 Giants, nor are they the 2014 Royals. There will be no Cinderella story here in Tiger Nation. If Dave Dombrowski and !ike Illitch are worried about TV ratings and attendance in 2015, perhaps winning is secondary Illitch Inc.
Tigers should just get creative. They can’t risk losing Price for nothing more than a comp pick just take a chance at a 1-game playoff. They should hedge their bets in a similar fashion that Boston did a year ago.
Knowing that they had no interest in a full rebuild, the Red Sox dealt 2 months of Jon Lester for a full year of Yoenis Cespedes. Doing that allowed the team to regroup over the winter and figure out a course of action – as opposed to being constricted to the trade deadline season. Essentially, it bought them more time – and in the end, they wound up dealing Cespedes for a guy in Rick Porcello who simply wasn’t available the previous year.
Similarly, the Tigers should just trade Price for Strasburg. It’s clear that this team doesn’t want to rebuild. And it’s clearer that teams aren’t willing to give up elite prospects for rentals. In Strasburg, the Tigers would have a guy who might be able to help them make a run in 2015 – but more importantly, they’d have a guy who they can either use in 2016 or trade to acquire difference pieces.
For the Nationals, this move is two-fold. There’s no question that Price would help them in 2015 more than Strasburg has. So it makes sense in that regard. But it’s also a forward-thinking move that would allow them to hang on to Jordan Zimmerman at season’s end. As it is, the Nats are prepared to let him walk so as to pay Strasburg in 2016. Considering the cost difference between the two, the injury risk of Strasburg, and the overall effectiveness of Zimmerman – I think the Nats would be better off keeping Zimmerman over Strasburg long-term, trade or not.
What would it take for the Royals to get Cueto?
Raul for sure. I wouldn’t take anything less.
nope, Mondesi we heard of.
Not available. Tigers will be sell anybody that can rebuild it’s Farm System. Hamels,Zobrist,Clippard,Revere gone by this Weekend,Gomez,Venable,Lind,Lohse,KROD,Rodney,Bruce,Leake by Tuesday
Then the Reds might be in trouble because Mondesi is probably be the best the Reds could hope to do for Cueto.
Teams don’t trade elite prospects anymore for rentals. The safety net of receiving 2-first round picks when said rental signs elsewhere no longer exists. And the ability to massively overpay premium “unsignable” talent in the 6th-10th round of the draft no longer exists either. Bottom line – the new restrictions make it more difficult to acquire prospects, and so teams hold on to them in favor of two-month rentals.
Since these rules went into effect, only one ace has been rented on the trade market for prospects – Greinke, 2012. And his return was nothing more than the 55th ranked prospect in baseball (Segura.) Mondesi is currently ranked 25th. So that’s quite a leap to make – especially when you consider the market in 2012 compared to 2015. In 2012, Greinke, Anibal Sanches and Ryan Dempster were the top-3 pitchers being dangled. In 2015, Price and Cueto are both available with other names like Gallardo, Samardzija, Leake, and Latos available. And that’t not even taking into consideration that teams comfortable moving major prospects would probably turn to Cole Hamels or James Shields due to their being singed long-term.
So perhaps the Reds can squeeze out Mondesi in this market, but they’d be incredibly lucky to do so.
Two promising, low level, names we never heard of players, who are having good years. Mr. Kazmir has set the market.
Not necessarily, because they are different deals involving separate teams. Any deal involving the low level prospects could be coincidental. I’m not sure Jocketty and Moore start mentioning Kazmir.
The Cubs offered Baez and Castro. They’re going to have to do better than that for Hamels.
You don’t know for certain they offered that package. But I expect the Flustered Phills to want at least two arms, (1 MLB ready) along with a top 20 prospect and possibly another off the mlb roster.
“The Cubs have even reportedly offered a deal, which the Phillies are unimpressed by. According to CBS Sports, the Cubs have offered top prospect Javier Baez and current young shortstop, Stalin Castro. Baez was the Cubs’ ninth overall pick in 2011 draft. In five minor league seasons, the 22-year-old has batted .282 with 84 home runs and 267 RBIs. In 92 games for the Cubs this season, the 25-year-old Castro has hit .239 with five home runs and 40 RBIs”
fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/2…
Wow. That is a pretty awful package for Hamels.
I hope they trade me for a bucket of baseballs. I want out.
Phillies have JP Crawford on the farm. That’s a poor deal of too many overlapping pieces. To me its a way for the Cubs to flash that Castro is available. I’m thinking the Phils would like to pull down two arms or an arm and a catching prospect. Maybe Texas if they can get it done
The issue with Baez is not position. If his bat pans out he’ll play, whether it’s third, second, first or outfield. The question is whether he is going to make enough contact to become a middle of the order guy. I can see why reasonable minds would differ on that.
Worst case, Baez is Luis Valbuena. That’s valuable… But not someone you want as the centerpiece of a deal you’re cashing you’re biggest chip in on.
I’d like to see Milwaukee take a run at Baez if his value isn’t too high. Hes worth that shot for a team like the Brewers
I understand the Phillies not wanting Castro. More expensive. Shorter controllability. Not having a good year.
Want SP back for him. Must love Galvis at SS intill Quinn or Crawford is ready.
Quinn is a CF
5 years of control after this year…
At mediocre results potentially with locked in money. It’s just not an optimal deal. I said above that I believe it’s a way to leak Castro is available. Maybe the Mets jump in..cause this deal won’t go in Philly. They can hold Hamels.
Castro was almost a 4 win player last year. Hes most likely playing hurt.
I think Castro has value..don’t get me wrong…but he’s all over the place…and wrong for Philadelphia right now. I see this as a leak to press a different deal involving Castro… Maybe the Mets
Digging through the trashcan Ive discovered the pirates will acquire john axford and ben paulsen from the rockies.
IMO, Tigers do NOT want prospects. They want controllable solid major leaguers (like they gave up in Smyly, for example).
Consider that Miller and Maybin are finally both above average MLB players EIGHT YEARS and 3 teams (each) after the Cabrera trade.
The best deal for Detroit would be both Price and Cespedes for Puig.
a LOT for LA to give up for two months.
Puig has way more value. Cueto, chapman and bruce is more in line with puig.
We are starting to hear some names connected with these Cole Hamels rumors,its getting interesting maybe he is actually going to be moved?
There have been lots of names linked in the past… Boston and.Texas players
Moore has to do something, fan base will be so upset if he does nothing and this team doesn’t pass the Alds
Give me Shark to the Cubs for a B- and C prospect then…plus the Cubs got both SPs back after the Russell/McKinney trade tirades would be fun to read.
idk why the cubs would make that trade except to make fans happy
That’s a return of like Vogelbach and Danny Torres or something. Not exactly exorbitant.
It seems crazy to me that no team will give more value than a sandwich pick for Shark.
Might not need to…much more value and a team is in Cueto or Price territory
Javier Baez, Billy McKinney, and Carl Edwards Jr. for Hamels. Thoughts?
Replace Baez with Schwarber (which won’t happen) and I think you have a deal
Replace Baez with Schwarber (which won’t happen) and you have a deal!
I think from the Phils perspective, Baez is way too risky to be the center piece of a Hamels deal. He’s doing good in AAA now, but that 40% K rate (in over 200 PAs) in his call up last year is a huge red flag.
That was my initial thought too, so I added the other guys (both top 100 prospects). I don’t think the package has a “marquee” guy, but it has a few solid guys.
It’s hard to put together a package because the Cubs won’t be trading any of the prospects currently in the majors, which leaves a few guys as options. They are solid players, but not to the level of Bryant, Russell, Schwarber, etc.
you are so right! if cubs throw schwarber in the trade happens if not its up in the air.
agree completely, baez is more or less a lottery pick player due to a kind of hazy future for him. I could see something like cj, johnson, almora, vogelbach, baez and that is a high price imo. I don’t see the phillies just giving hamels away when they’ve been so reluctant to trade him in the past. Anything more than those guys and cubs may need to rethink their thought process a bit
Closer it gets I’m thinking shark to the yanks for jagielo/bird and mason williams. Outside of Bird that isn’t a major hit to the yanks as an outsider to both orgs.
If the cubs get hamels they better not trade Russell or Baez. Theo and jed better hang up if the Phillies ask for either one of them. Package Castro is pass
How about Hamels for Schwarber and Baez?
the key to whether the Tiger’s are buyers or sellers, IMO, is Justin Verlander’s performance between now and when they make their decision. If he looks like he can be relied on to provide some decent, not spectacular, but decent starts the rest of the way, they should be buyers. If his one nice start looks to be a fluke, they will need two starters along with a bullpen arm, and I don’t think they have enough to trade to get all of that.