8:57pm: In their conversations with the Padres, the Cubs have been focused on Ross, per a Rosenthal tweet. As he notes, that isn’t exactly surprising. The 28-year-old has been rather excellent dating back to 2013, and comes with two more seasons of control. There’s a good argument to be made that his contract is the organization’s single most valuable asset.
As Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today, a wide variety of teams have interest in Ross, including the Blue Jays, Astros, Dodgers, and Rangers.
8:02pm: Whatever other talks the teams may have had, Chicago is not making a run at Shields, Buster Olney of ESPN.com tweets.
7:35pm: The Cubs have had discussions with the Padres regarding shortstop Starlin Castro, Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports report on Twitter. San Diego does not look like a traditional buyer, but as noted in MLBTR’s overview of the shortstop trade market, the team makes sense as a future-oriented acquirer at the position.
Castro is still just 25, though he’s playing in his sixth big league season. He is owed $37MM over the next four seasons and can be controlled with a $16MM option in 2020 ($1MM buyout).
That contract once looked like an asset, but after a second rough campaign in three years, it looks more like a reasonable risk. Castro owns a .233/.268/.302 slash over 399 plate appearances, which falls well below his roughly league-average career output. He’s generally regarded as a mediocre defender at short, and metrics suggest he’s slightly to firmly below average in that department.
It’s not clear what kind of deal would be considered, but San Diego has a number of players who could hold appeal to the Cubs. Morosi suggests the possibility of a swap of James Shields, which holds at least some plausibility (as a starting point, at least) since both are owed significant future money and could arguably be better fits for the current needs of the other club. But he gave no indication that there is anything to that idea other than his own analysis.
Looking at the San Diego roster for other pieces that could be intriguing to the Cubs — whether or not as part of any deal involving Castro — the rotation certainly seems the place to focus. We’ve heard plenty in the past about the need for a rotation addition in Chicago, and both Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner are younger, controllable pieces that have been mentioned as possible trade pieces. On the rental side, Ian Kennedy should hold some appeal and could also be a theoretical fit for Chicago. Outfielder Will Venable and reliever Joaquin Benoit are two more pending free agents that could make sense.
Should the Cubs make a major move, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein has explained that it would likely be for a controllable piece. (Via ESPNChicago.com’s Jesse Rogers; links to Twitter.) While the team is entertaining rental options, it seems unlikely to pay a steep price to add a premium player that will hit the open market after the season.
“If we do something on the bigger end, it will involve players that will help us beyond this year,” said Epstein. “If we do something on the smaller side, it will probably be more for a rental. And if we do nothing, it will be because we couldn’t find anything rational that we could actually do.”
As for as larger possible moves go, we’ve heard the Cubs linked to Cole Hamels of the Phillies at various times. Per Morosi, via Twitter, the team is only on the “periphery” of the Hamels market at present.
I wonder if the Cubs have just offered Castro to every team for their ace. That seems to be a recurring theme.
Doesn’t hurt to ask
Shields for Castro looks like a good deal. Maybe some cash has to change hands but it frees Russell to play SS and gives the cubs the extra starter they want
They’d be selling low on Castro and buying high on shields. I don’t think that deal makes sense for the Cubs’ perspective
Shields value isn’t at a real high right now
This deal is most likely going to go down after the Mets series, Padres want to see whether they should become buyers left, would be interesting to see what might happen if the padres can get 2 or 3 of 3 against the Mets.
Who do you guys think the padres might trade for if they happen to become buyers?
Even if the Pads win the series, I still see them as sellers. They can’t beat contending teams in a series. Especially the Dodgers and Giants. It just goes to show that the isn’t going to work out.
The only way a Shields for Castro deal makes sense for San Diego is if they can unload Gyorko and his contract as well. Castro isn’t good anymore.
Shields is having the worst year since 2010, and hes owed twice as much as Castro. No way the Cubs would take Gyorko too..
Shields has the highest K rate of his career this year.
And?
And the highest homer rate. Ill take less ks for less homers.
And one of the highest BABIP of his career because of the horrendous defense for the Padres. He also has the highest # of unearned runs of his career. He also has one of the best xFIP of his career which is a fielding independent stat. And one of the lowest SIERA and DERA of his career. Shields is not having a bad year, the Padres are having a bad year behind him.
What does homers allowed have to do with defense? Xfip makes homers allowed league average which he is not doing. He also has the highest walk rate of his career and an abnormaly high strand rate for him. You ate a pads fan so of course will defend him though.
I could give you a full answer, but its a small book. Norris stinks as a catcher. His game calling is epicly bad. Take a look at what pitches Norris has been calling for Shields and the location of those pitches and you will have most of your answer. The biggest thing is Norris is calling for Shields worst pitch almost 50% more than his career average and his best substantially less. Also, Norris is a firm believer in the high pitch to get K’s. Guess what pitch gets hit for home runs most often.
But he’s owed far less them Shields who they clearly want to offload had decent upside andis superior to SD’s in house options and those on the FA market this year. If they can save some money and get a respectable shortstop in return that seems like A good play to me. I also think that Castro is a change of scenery candidate.
Castro is having an awful season and his stock is certainly down, but “[he] isn’t good anymore” seems like an awfully tough statement to back up for a 25 year old closing in on 1,000 hits.
Regardless, I don’t think the swap makes sense for either side.
2 RBI night for Castro
Yup……2-4 w/ 2 RBI’s
But……Cubs Need Kimbrel…….Soriano Blew the Save…..gave up 2 HR’s in the 9th…..one of them to Descalso!
That would have been the 14th blown save too. Bet the Cubs would like to have those 13 other games back. See what the Reds want for Chap or see what SD wants for Kimbrel. SD needs a SS right?
Not sure I like this deal for the Cubs. Shields contract is $21 mill per year for another 4 years. I suppose the bright side is that they have a ready replacement at short and they are playing for this year.
Arrieta-Lester-Shields-Hammel is a serviceable rotation that can keep you in games.
Castro is actually very terrible at hitting a baseball, and moving to the worst hitters park just makes it even worse. Only way this happens is if the Cubs took Melvin Upton & Gyorko’s contracts as well as Shields’s for this to make sense.
Last year he was the 3rd best offensive ss.
Castro for any one except for Kennedy is a loss for us. Castro’s BA is not so great,heck, Barmes is hitting better. I understand the long term plan but he may not be the guy.
True Kennedy for Castro seems like a very good deal for the Padres, Castro could have potential but Kennedy seems to be past whatever prime he had. Padres Next move is Ross or Cashner for a 3rd basemen (Chris Davis Maybe?)
I think they need to worry about their SS problem before 3rd base. And why suggest Chris Davis? He is a free agent after this year and his main position is first base. That is just asking for trouble, which actually might make it a realistic move coming from the Padres…..
Castro is A SHORTSTOP if you didn’t realize need, that is why I commented on here in the first place, I just was curious to see whether Chris Davis could fit if Preller wants a first round draft pick next year as well as maybe some power (if he changes the padres into buyers). And why do you have to be so rude, calm down and read my comments first instead of saying false facts.
Preller is talking to Epstein / Hoyer? Without an experienced consultant?
The Commissioner needs to step in.
Kennedy for Castro is the best deal for the Padres but I could understand the Cubs asking for either Cashner or Ross, would rather see Kennedy and some money leave SD for Castro!
Kennedy is a FA
Exactly, you guys get a pitcher who can help you down the stretch and in the playoffs and get rid of Castro’s albatross of a contract!
Yeah, thats why SD should pay more for Castro as well!
If they get shields I doubt they’ll sign cueto or price. There not going to pay 3 pitchers over 20 million.
Cubs are receiving $30 million for 45 games on WGN this season and the next 4 seasons. Thats as much as most teams get overall. The contract with Comcast pays them an additional $58.5 million for 90 games and WLS is paying another $12.5 million for 25 games. Thats $100 million from TV alone. They can afford 3 starters making $20 million each as long as they are winning.
yeah they are. its a side effect of refusing to develop any pitching on their own
I wondered why the Cubs didn’t draft a pitcher this year. Kyle Funkhouser was there to draft. The damn Sux took the Vandy pitcher I really wanted. One pick before the Cubs. But this Happ kid has been doing pretty good. He doesn’t have Baez power but he’s smart at the plate and doesn’t strikeout as much.
I think they should trade Castro, Coghlan, and maybe Pierce Johnson for Ross, Upton, and Kimbrel. Kimbrel becomes the closer (for the next 2.5 years at least), Upton is a rental until either Almora or McKinney is ready…….
Castro, Coghlan, and (maybe) Pierce Johnson would barely get you Kimbrel alone let alone all three guys. Unless you are talking about Melvin Upton instead of Justin with the Cubs paying the full deal on him and Shields. Then I could see it maybe working.
I didn’t have Shields in on my deal….I had Ross. Kimbrel has a big price tag, and if the idea is to shed payroll, teams have accepted less to “get rid of a contract”. From what I am hearing, J. Upton brings doesn’t bring back a top prospect because he’s a 2 month rental (unless the Padres eat some of his salary). If you think he brings back a huge package, you’re probably a Padres fan. His numbers aren’t phenomenal, by any means.
Haha I thought you were talking about Melvin upton for a second… I could see it happening if the Cubs included more. I don’t think it will, but I’ve heard and seen crazier deals.
Remember, the object is “to shed payroll”.
What salary are they shedding here? They’re getting rid of an expiring deal, their best trade piece and the only big-money player that isn’t considered to be overpaid. When the Padres say they’re trying to shed salary, they mean Melvin Upton, James Shields and Jed Gyorko.
Just like the Braves, the Padres will need to trade an awesome player to shed Melvin’s contract……same for Gyorko.
Sounds good to me
Coghlan is a rental himself and hss been just as good as upton…
Nice to see Theo and Jed going for Ross, but I believe he is in store for a regression. The Cubs will be selling low and Castro and buying high on Ross, so I would expect more going to San Diego. Add Tyson Ross and try to compete for a wild card, then sign a big FA like Price or Zimmermann this winter, and the Cubs will compete for the NL Central next year. How about the Pads throw Kimbrel in the deal and we make it interesting…?
What indicators are there Ross is due for a regression? He’s been solid the last 3 years. You can argue he regressed some this year but still has a 3.45 ERA and look up the last time he allowed a home run.
Ross is an excellent bet as a 2/3 starter, likely would slot behind Lester and Arietta, on a cost-controlled deal. Unless the Cubs said they’d take back Upton Jrs contract, I can’t think of any reason the Cubs feel like Castro could be a center piece here. Something about the entirety of this report just seems a bit off.
Cubs have had multiple scouts in attendance for both of Shields last two starts, but none for Ross starts. Hmmm. I wonder who they are really interested in? CSN Chicago said Padres asked for Baez and Alcantara and were not willing to take on any of Shields contract. Cubs then asked for Ross and were told he is not available.
Cashner + Melvin Upton for Castro. Padres trade a horrible contract for a slightly better contract with more upside. Add a 2-year pitcher with upside for the Cubs playoff push.
Full circle. Cashner back with the team that drafted him. He was the main piece of the Rizzo trade.
Castro for Mike Leake?
Castro for cashner. Straight up