In his latest notes column, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports begins by classifying the Angels, Giants, Tigers, Red Sox, Cubs, Cardinals and Dodgers as the expected “big spenders” of the offseason, breaking down some targets that each club could pursue. Heyman goes on to call the Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, D-Backs, Mets, Royals and Padres as “medium spenders,” noting that each has needs and could make one significant addition or a series of mid-range moves in order to address multiple areas around the roster. As he did with the big-spending clubs, Heyman examines a few plausible scenarios for each, noting that the Royals are still in the three- or four-year range on Alex Gordon, thereby casting some doubt on a potential reunion.
A few highlights from his column…
- While Andrelton Simmons’ name has been a hot topic over the past 15 hours or so, there’s a “good chance” that the Braves will make Julio Teheran available at some point this winter. Teheran’s value isn’t as high as that of Simmons at the moment, I wouldn’t think, due to a down year for Teheran in 2015. Moving him would be selling low, which makes it more difficult to envision a deal, from my vantage point.
- The White Sox were one of “many teams” to which agent Brodie Van Wagenen made a presentation regarding Yoenis Cespedes, though the greater needs for the ChiSox come at catcher, third base, second base and shortstop.
- The Rockies have again made Carlos Gonzalez available in trades, as many expected would be the case following the summer trade of Troy Tulowitzki. CarGo dominated the National League from June through season’s end after struggling with injuries in 2014 and early 2015 and undoubtedly restored an exceptional amount of trade value. Heyman speculatively listed the Orioles as a potential match when discussing Baltimore in his intro section.
- Pittsburgh has fielded offers on all seven of its players that are a year removed from free agency. That includes Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker, Mark Melancon, Mike Morse, Chris Stewart and Francisco Cervelli. However, the Pirates are also said to be considering an attempt at locking Cervelli up on a multi-year deal.
- Ian Kennedy is planning to decline the Padres’ qualifying offer, per Heyman. Both Tim Dierkes and I have noted that there’s little sense in Kennedy accepting the offer. The right-hander is fourth in innings pitched in the NL over the past five seasons and has averaged 8.5 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9 in that time while posting a 3.89 ERA, 3.87 FIP and 3.78 xFIP. Homer struggles in 2015 aside, Kennedy finished strong and should get paid somewhere. It’s hard to envision a Scott Boras client being the first to accept a qualifying offer, and if all else fails, Kennedy can go the Ervin Santana route and sign a one-year deal near the value of the QO late in the offseason.
- Similarly, Yovani Gallardo plans to turn down the Rangers’ QO. Heyman hears he’s expected to sign elsewhere despite being a Fort Worth area native. The Rangers will again attempt to re-sign Colby Lewis, he adds.
Could the Pirates go after Simmions or Freeman? For a blockbuster trade including Meadows Melancon and Pedro and walker
Absolutely not
Lol what value do the Braves have in making that trade? They’re not actively trying to contend this year and getting three expiring contracts makes no sense. Only possible way the Braves would take Pedro would be if the Pirates took back Bourn or Swisher.
I’m very intrigued to see how the Cardinals approach the offseason, for they have a couple of big decisions to make, regarding Heyward, rotation, and offense.
Especially now that Lynn is gone for the 2016 season
The Cardinals have ha a stranglehold on that division for a decade and for the first time they have to worry about the Cubs and pirates. But with the billion and a half tv contract they just signed you shouldn’t be worried. I bet they get one of those outfielders, most likely heyward because he is more of the type of player the cards normally would want, and one of the two top starters in price or greinke and maybe a lower level starter as well. Watch out NL central!
Well, ive been reading lately that its unlikely they sign Heyward AND a pitcher like Price or Greinke. Most likely go for one or the other, and a lower-level player for the other.
I would absolutely love it if the Pirates lock up Cervelli for a couple of years. I think Stewart should definitely be traded for whatever they can get and roll with Diaz as the primary back up for now.
With Kangs injury id be absolutely shocked (though not disappointed) if they deal neil
Looks like Boras got his lap boy to hit back at Samson and the Marlins for for Samson’s remarks about Boras.
Colorado can’t sign FA pitchers because nobody wants to go there. Detroit has 6 rookies competing for the 5th SP spot and nearly half of Detroit’s top 30 prospects are pitchers. They will also get to add a top prospect with the 9th pick this summer.
The Rockies have two young lefty hitting OF(Blackmon and Dickerson) and lefty hitting Carlos Gonzalez.
We could send Boyd or Lobstein with 1-3 of the middle to lower top 30 and get Blackmon or Gonzalez (plus cash to cover half his salary).No cash no Boyd. Dickerson has injury issues so he could be cheaper. Detroit gets Blackmon , Dickerson, orGonzalez(and cash) the $$$’s saved could help land Zimmerman or Cueto.
Then get K-Rod from the Brewers.
You ain’t getting Cargo for Lobstein AND Boyd, not even close, let alone either. (My goodness, Lobstein barely had a sub 4 ERA in the minors. You’re lucky to get a utility infielder for that.) And Dickerson is one of the best young hitters in baseball at the minimum salary. Forget that too. If the Tigers want Cargo or Dickerson, you’d have to start with Boyd and Norris. And certainly no cash going to Tigers.
Sike u aint getting norris
I guess it depends on how badly the Rockies want pitching. Young pitching for young outfielders. Car Go is on the downside of his career and his numbers will get worse away from Colorado. Slash line of .243/.294/.464/.758 away from home in 2015 and .160/.224/.319/.544 in 2014.Granted it was only half a year in ’14 but hit .336/.376/.569/.945 at home. Two years of lower numbers for several years of young pitching that Colorado can’t buy is fair.
Dude had 2 months hitting around the Mendoza line and ended up hitting .270. How is that on the decline? Once he got over his knee injury and got his mechanics back he was one of the premier hitters in the league.
“Half of Detroit 30 best prospects” means little for the 30th ranked farm system and baseball
Kennedy wont get anything even remotely close to $15.8 million.
You keep trying to compare Kennedy to Santana when they are totally different animals. Santana had four good seasons in a row under his belt, 3.0/3.0/1.3/2.9 WAR, in one of the smallest FA markets for starting pitching in the previous 20 years and STILL only got the QO amount on a 1 year deal.
Kennedy is coming into the largest and deepest FA starting pitching market in history and he had an injury plagued 2015 in which he threw only 168 innings and his peripherals point to the fact that his 4.28 ERA was actually a bit on the lucky side. While playing his home games in one of the best pitcher’s parks in the league, Kennedy only has a 3.97 ERA over the past 3 seasons. In only ONE of those 3 seasons has he had a positive WAR. His cumulative ERA+ is an 88 and in no year did he even achieve a 100 which is league average. He is NOT a good pitcher in a flooded FA market. Santana was a very good pitcher in a small FA market.
The chances of Kennedy even duplicating his $9.85 million salary from 2015 is slim and none. Boras knows this. If he turns down the QO, chances are he gets a one year deal in the $8 million range or if he is extremely lucky a 3 year deal in the $24 million range.
Another Rafeal Soreriono get another agent or go to Japan let Boris blow that deal also
O’s should be all over Gallardo. His extreme ground ball tendencies would serve him very will with their excellent infield defense.
Cargo and Cubs match made in heaven.
Could Cargo be a cardinal? If they can’t grab Heyward could they trade for him?
Watch the White Sox shock everyone and actually sign a few impact players all while finally spending more than 70 million on a player over the life of a contract
The Giants will sign either Greinke or Price with the money they have available. They have by far one of the most pitcher friendly parks and as a National League West team, Greinke has familiarity and gets to hit which he enjoys. If by crazy chance they don’t get one of them then a Cueto or Zimmerman with a big bat in the outfield would be a nice alternative.