The Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants and Red Sox are showing the most interest in left-hander David Price, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal adds that while Price enjoyed his time in Toronto, the Blue Jays “are not expected to be a major factor in his free agency,” which isn’t necessarily a surprise considering the team’s previous reluctance to commit the type of expenditure Price will command to any player. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported today that there’s a “high expectation” among executives involved in the Price bidding that the Red Sox will make the highest offer (links to Twitter). Tom Verducci also said in a recent MLB Network appearance that Boston will aggressively pursue Price.
Other clubs will naturally show interest in Price and presumably already have. However, the common belief that Price is capable of approaching or exceeding Max Scherzer’s seven-year, $210MM contract from last offseason suggests that many teams will be priced out of serious consideration.
Each of the clubs listed by Rosenthal has a need in the rotation, though some to a greater extent than others. The Cardinals recently lost Lance Lynn to Tommy John surgery and saw several of their promising young arms slowed by injuries in 2015 (including Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzales). The Dodgers could potentially lose Zack Greinke to free agency and don’t know what to expect from either Hyun-jin Ryu or Brandon McCarthy in 2016. The Giants’ rotation was highly unstable in 2015 behind ace Madison Bumgarner, and the Red Sox struggled through 2015 with one of the game’s worst performances from their rotation. The need for the Cubs is less glaring on paper, as Chicago ranked third in rotation ERA in 2015. However, Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel wilted down the stretch, and adding another top-tier starter to pair with Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester in the rotation would give Chicago a highly formidable postseason rotation.
Price is coming off a dominant season split between Detroit and Toronto in which he logged a 2.45 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and a 40.4 ground-ball rate in 220 1/3 innings. Because he was ineligible for a qualifying offer due to this summer’s trade, Price won’t require a new club to forfeit a draft pick upon signing him.
Don’t think the Cubs should bother going after price. I would absolutely love trading quantity over quality of prospects for carrasco or Tyson ross. Dont think moving Baez or soler is the prudent move right now when they both have so much potential. Signing jordan Zimmerman and a 2 year stop-gap center fielder like denard span and then trading for carrasco would allow us to stay very young while also allowing us to get rid of hammel’s salary to offset a little of the Zimmerman cost
If trading quantity over quality for Carrasco would work, 28 other teams would also be trying to do that. You’re not going to get a stud like Carrasco without giving up quite a lot of quality.
Agreed. Tribe is in win now mode.
Atlanta makes more sense. They are building towards 2017 and loading up on pitching. But need player depth.
I think it is a question of wnen, not if there is a trade with the Cubs.
There are plenty of teams that would like to discuss potential trades with the Cubs. Who wouldn’t want to take a crack at trying to pry away some of their young MLB ready positional talent/highly regarded prospects with the current lack of offense/abundance of quality pitching in MLB?
With the Cubs primary need being accomplished pitching, the field narrows somewhat but still might include teams like the Mets, Braves, Padres, White Sox, Indians and Mariners who possess some depth with their hurlers. Add in teams that might have an available lead-off hitter/center fielder and the pool becomes bigger.
As a rare Chicago fan that roots for both the Cubs and White Sox, I can envision a blockbuster deal that could benefit both clubs and involve such players as Jose Quintana, Adam Eaton, Zach Duke, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Albert Almora, among others.
Do you think the Indians and padres are going to give you something for nothing?
Carassco costs Schwarber at a minimum and Ross is at least Baez.
Baez and someone better. Baez is a project, not a prospect. He’s the throw in.
But I’ve seen you say on this very site that Baez is “a bust and worth nothing” so why does Baez suddenly headline the package for ross? And also, no one is suggesting “something for nothing” that would mean the Indians would give carrasco to the Cubs and pay his entire salary which I think we both know makes no sense. A package of gleyber Torres, Jemier candelario Dan vogelbach, and a lower level lottery ticket like Dylan cease or someone like that. The Cubs still have one of the best farm systems in the MLB even after we promoted all of our best prospects.
Was that for me? My point was that Baez isn’t nearly worth Ross, but rather someone you add as a throw in with little value.
No, it was for “voice of reason”, I was just saying that people undervalue Cubs prospects all of a sudden for some reason. But to you, you could classify Baez as a project, but he’s a project that has 30 home run potential and the potential for a .275 average and good defense at a position where .275 and 30 home runs basically makes him a superstar. And if any young player that has already been deemed major league ready by their club has superstar potential, he is not someone I want to be trading at all. But to my earlier point about getting carrasco or Ross for the Cubs “prospects” not “major league players”, I don’t think just because we called up so many of our prospects this year that that means the prospects still in the minors suck, so I think they are attractive to a lot of teams, and if those teams are the braves and whoever else not including the Indians or Padres then so be it, Miller or Teheran it is
Baez has a ton of potential, but has not proven he can do it in the majors. Carassco has proven he can perform in the bigs and he has a very cheap contract. The Indians are trying to win now. They’re not going to trade a proven talent like carassco and hope that Baez can hit in the bigs.
The Indians will, instead, trade carassco to the Dodgers for puig. That’s the type of return the Indians would get for carassco if they were crazy enough to trade him.
If you think Carassco for Puig is a match then you are crazy. Puig when healthy is a top 5 outfielder and Carassco has never been even a top 20 pitcher in baseball. Power is the new premium in baseball with TOR pitching being second.
you call him crazy then label puig as a to 5 OF? puig isnt even top 10, maybe not even top 20.
Yeah neither Puig nor Baez is very valuable because there’s a better than average chance neither is an effective major leaguer from here on.
Carassco and Quintana are already good players signed to very exceptional deals for long term. This entire conversation is crazy.
Puig was an effective Major Leaguer playing injured. You’re delusional if you think there’s a “better than average” chance that he won’t be an effective Major Leaguer moving forward.
The Cubs could possibly get Teheran for a
Package of minor league players.
I call Baez a project because his plate approach and production to date makes your “ceiling” seem incredibly unlikely. He went back to the minors and played well because the talent level dropped, he made no adjustment. He came up late in the year and mashed against mostly September callups. He hasn’t really done anything to show he can be the player you think he can.
Baez has plenty of potential but in real life, Ruben Tejada has put up better offense at the Major League level. Baez is still struggling badly with his strikeouts. He’s a project, not a guaranteed success.
You are out of your mind to state that Javier Baez is “a throw in with little value” in any potential trade involving the Cubs…and most every GM in baseball or media pundit would agree with me!
You don’t get it. The Indians are trying to win right now. If they were crazy enough to trade carassco they would get a really good Major League Baseball player in return. They would look at the Cubs offer that you propose and quickly say no thank you. They are not rebuilding.
If they were trying to contend right now they wouldn’t even been fielding offers for carrasco or Salazar or Bauer but they are, and they wouldn’t have been doing it at the deadline either. They finished the season 5 games back of the Astros for the2nd wild card spot, and while I agree that is a very manageable improvement to make, it is not manageable if you trade carrasco at all, including for puig. That trade makes them worse right now. So you’re right, they probably won’t trade him at all, but if they do, then by definition they are looking more towards the future than trying to win now
The Indians are looking to trade from rotation depth to fill holes on their major league roster, not to empty the rotation for minor leaguers. This has been reported at several junctions this offseason.
That package makes zero sense for a competitive Indians team. They would be throwing in the towel before the season began.
Schwarber is going nowhere, nice try. It’s laughable to think that the Indians would give up their best pitcher for a bunch of nobody’s. But Schwarber?! Absolutely not
Schwarber is probably the most likely Cub to get dealt this offseason. His value is higher than his production (built on an insane first month) and he’s never going to be a league average defensive player at any position. Trading him now while his value is sky high is exactly the kind of move you expect from Theo Epstein.
I would think that Baez, Castro and/or Soler are the most likely to be dealt from the MLB Cubs. Schwarber would be one of the least likely, and only a Sonny Gray type of pitcher could pry him from the Cubs.
Castro isn’t likely to be dealt short of giving him away AND paying his salary. Scwarber is a hot commodity. Between his hitting and his low salary, in addition to the non-fit on an NL roster, he’s both the most valued piece the Cubs have and the worst fit on the team.
Sorry, but there is always a spot on the field for a bat like Schwarber’s. He will be just fine in left or right field, and a few games behind the plate.
Sonny Gray isn’t as good as you think he is.
Uh, Carrasco isn’t their best pitcher. That’s Kluber. Also, Schwarber for Carrasco could make a lot of sense, especially if House is recovering well from his injury.
Agree on the Price comment. Carrasco, would cost a Soler, at least.
Incredibly, Tyson Ross is worse at holding runners then Lester……..but, the only way I see Cubs getting Ross, is if they take on Shields also. Not a fan of that scenario! But it would be one stop shopping and not cost major prospects.
That’s probably the Cubs nightmare scenario after striking out on all of their free agent targets.
Hopefully!
So far the Cubs have signed 6! Bullpen flyers. Which is their MO; atack pitching with volume. Theo stated they want depth. If you figure Wood is gone to free up $.
I do not see them paying the price for Price…
And I do not see them dealing Soler, Baez or Castro, at least this season. They’d be selling low on any of them; again not their MO. Any one if them have enough upside and enough ?’s to warrant that risk.
I’m thinking a Kaczmir and/or Leake. Or one them and a trade for Teheran or Miller for MiLB’s.
I can’t say I disagree with you, it just makes me unhappy. LOL.
Would you trade a diamond for a pile of crap? No. Would you make the trade for a BIG pile of crap? No. So why would the Indians except a high quantity of crappy players for their ace?
VOICE OF REASON, carrasco will not cost schwarber, schwarbers trade value is probably twice that of carrasco.. The cubs could probably get sonny gray for schwarber and a couple mediocre prospects like vogalbach and cease.. You’re absolutely crazy if you think you could get schwarber for carrasco.. To get carrasco it will only take baez and a single A prospect. I still think the cubs will make a move for sonny gray and make it by trading soler and baez and vogelbach and 1 other prospect
The Indians will laugh if you offer them
Baez for carassco.
Baez might get you Salazar from the Indians, but not carassco at all.
You have to be a cub fan? Lol…. Everybody’s pig is prettiest!
How is a .246 hitter with poor defense and a high K rate worth more than a proven starter? Because he had power in his limited at bats? Sorry dude but what happens when people pick up on Schwarber’s tendencies? You are left with a position less bat you hope figures it out. That dude is DH bound and is as high as his value will get at this point. Trying to trade him for Carrasco is exactly what the Cubs should do if they are really sold on their minor league system.
Why would the Indians trade Carrasco unless they’re getting impact players back?
I really don’t see Price anywhere besides the Red Sox, Dodgers, or Cubs.
I think we need price. If we can sign price for a back loaded deal like the Nats did with Max, we will still have plenty of move for other moves. We have the talent to trade for another pitcher which would solidify our starters. We need pitching to go along with our young hitting to make that WS run.
Agreed. The Cardinals should definitely sign David Price. #Trolling4life
The interesting name on this list to me is the Cardinals. This team hasn’t had to significantly increase payroll during the last 5 years. In that time they’ve made the playoffs every season, how much money did the organization backlog in that time? With the new TV money being factored within the next two years, this team may have way more money than we know.
They have plenty of money right now.. but will they spend it? That remains to be seen.
As of 2014, St. Louis had the highest operation income profit in baseball at 73 million dollars. If that number has been relatively steady over the last 5 seasons, lets say 60 million dollar floor, this team maybe sitting on 300 million dollars of extra money.
Not to mention all the extra revenue coming in once Ballpark Village opened.
ballpark village money is still being used to pay off ballpark village, but yes in a few years that will be an additional source of revenue
I loathe their fans and many of their players from the past…but they know how to manage their finances and put a quality product on the field.
Im not sure if I should upvote or downvote your comment being a fan of the Cards.
If the Astros don’t inherit some of that $$$ from the foul play
Should have spent more on the international front.
Rest easy; Red Sox, Cubs, Pirates, Dodgers,
I’m sure most teams have more money than we know.
It’s a shell game w. tv networks and other affiliated/associated businesses.
They probably do have a bundle, but I don’t think going after Price is the best way to spend it. They’ve already got a bunch of great starters and really only need a durable innings eater to hold down the fort until Lynn comes back in 2017 and some of their top prospects are ready to crack the rotation. They’d be better off spending the money on resigning Heyward or some other high-priced bat.
Not Heyward.
Might be interesting, but it’s just due diligence. The Cardinals are not going to sign the most expensive pitcher and the most expensive hitter in the same offseason at a combined 50m+ per season. Just ain’t gonna happen.
Not that they can’t afford it, but they don’t get to the spot where they can afford it by locking down 50m/year for the next 5 years at minimum.
I think Heyward is a better choice than Price if you’re gonna spend 25m/year and they have to pick one or the other. The only problem is if you miss out on both, that sorta sucks… so you have to expect them to at least kick the tires on Price and maybe see if he’s going to sign before or after the hitters.
Im guess this might be a way to drive up the price for the Cub (which everyone thinks that will be his landing spot).
Also important to remember the Cardinals have a new stadium to pay off and there’s no reason to think they aren’t using their big surplus and revenue to knock down that debt before spending big, especially when they’re still winning without breaking the bank.
It’d be different if the team had been in 4th place the last couple years with payroll to spend, but they’ve been 1st 3 out of 4 years in a row and it’s hard to argue you shoulda coulda spent more money, knowing that the playoffs don’t necessarily depend on having the big money guys on the roster. If it did, Los Angeles would have won every year instead of dropping a deuce in the first round the last couple years with the highest paid pitcher.
The ballpark was paid off in 2011.
the cards have been the most profitable team in baseball and that’s before their new 1.5 billion tv deal kicks in. they money coming off the books next year and tons of untapped resources. Derrick Goold of Stl Post dispatch says that the cardinals are willing to increase payroll enough to sign Heyward and a front line starter like price.
Price is a workhorse, great athlete, good clubhouse guy, stays out of trouble, doesn’t say the wrong things to the media….I think he’ll get $30M AAV for 7 yrs where ever he goes and they should get 5-6 decent years out of him if they don’t over work him.
Bar none, Price is one of the elite pitchers in the game today… but the problem is that he is pretty much only dominant during the season. So if anyone outrageously pays for him, keep him OUT of the rotation in the Post Season or maybe try pitching him in relief or try something new. 2 and 7 out of 14 starts with an ERA north of 5.
If you think Price deserves to be in the bullpen in the postseason and that a team might do that when paying him $200~million, then you’re quite mistaken
If you pay a guy $20m+ a year…you are doing that so he can deliver in the playoffs.
Case for the Cubs: I think the Lester deal was way overpaid so Price probably won’t get the money he wants from the Cubs but he would be with a winning club and two other aces in arrieta and Lester
If you think Price will sign with the Cubs for less money just because Arrieta and Lester are there then you’re quite mistaken. The Cubs can still afford the large contract he’s looking for anyways
Price is using the Cubs to get a better deal from an AL team. He doesn’t want to pitch in the NL, he’s been pretty adamant in his career about hating the fact that the NL doesn’t DH.
Um……Price likes to hit. He even penciled his name on a Tiger line up card
Price LOVES hitting. Stop making stuff up sportingdissent. There isn’t a shred of evidence that Price hates the NL because the players can hit.
Where did you see that? Maybe I’m wrong and it was someone else, but I swear I remember he complaining about batting for years, going back to his Rays days.
twitter.com/DAVIDprice14/status/626793026032148480
I mean he wouldn’t tweet this if he didn’t want to hit. His goal all year was to hit a HR. I think you might have him mistaken for someone else.
Lester pitched to the value of last years salary.
Some think the Cubs signed kershaw when they signed Lester. Lester put up the numbers the Cubs expected in 2015.
Red Sox are rumored to be the highest bidder
I’ve been watching MLB Network and they were saying the Dodgers want to lower their payroll to about $200 million. Signing Price surely don’t help that
Unless St. Louis decides to spend heavy, I think Price goes to Boston
They don’t plan on lowering their payroll by $100 million in a single year, you can’t do that. Over time it’s still possible even if you sign Price considering how much money they’re paying to players not on the team
The Marlins would sure try if they could.
Do you realize that around $80 Million is coming off the books for guys that did not play for the Dodgers? (Gordon, Kemp, WIlson, Haren, Arruebarruena, Morse and Arroyo). With the possibility of Greinke leaving, we could easily shed $100 Million in payroll in one year.
Isn’t most of that next year. I thought they were on the hook for about 80m this year still.
I hope he signs with the Red Sox. It will be funny when it turns out to be a bad contract and he never win them a playoff game. Plus the Yankees normally hit price good, so will be fun beating him at that small stadium n
I hope you are wrong MB. While the current talent he has is awe inspiring, I wonder at how the negative media will change his psyche and rag on him, causing frequent outbursts and worse once his stuff starts to diminish. Not all players can handle that zoo and am thinking he might be one that can’t, much like Carl Crawford was another.
For that reason? Think they should target players who can handle the media 1st, which actually used to be done under previous ownerships in trades and FA signs. Thinking either Cueto, or Zimmerman on the mental “toughness” standards that can handle the intense pressure of constantly having lies written about them.. Etc.. Though they maybe are not the 2 most talented this offseason.
Dont think he’ll sign with St. Louis. Again, their offseason depends on whether Heyward resigns with them or not
I think the angels get Heyward
Didnt they fire JD because of his poor decisions on long term contracts? Im sorry but Heyward is not worth 200Mill sorry.
Or they could go after Alex Gordon
I thought Arte was behind those big contracts?
Arte was behind those contract, And he said this year he is willing to go over the luxury tax for the right players, and it seems like Eppler is going after defense, Gordon Heyward and Parra would fit well
No RedFeather, as a fellow Cards fan, I dont believe Heyward is worth that much either. Hes young, has great defense and all, but the Cardinals need an impact bat in the lineup
They could target Chris Davis
Yes, he’d be cheaper than Heyward, but again, it depends on Heyward resigning or not.
I have been a huge fan of price throughout his career and he really seems like a great guy/teammate but I would much rather the Cubs move Baez and other prospects for carrasco or Quintana, Lester and price will be regressing at the same point and I doubt any team wants 2 extremely highly paid pitchers doing that on their staff…not to mention the fact that we will have to pay jake at some point as well
Well, of course you want that deal. But Baez and prospects aren’t going to give top shelf rotation arms like Carrasco or Quintana because they have long term low money deals. Those teams don’t need to trade them for risky players, they’ll still be around and cheap in five years.
You want those players on those contracts, think Scwarber or Russell. Or think keeping those guys and adding a $200 million free agent contract. Those are the options to add elite pitching. End of list.
While reading this it has changed my perspective a little bit…I could see how carrasco would command schwarber, that deal just won’t happen…but like these are just opinions man…relax
Well, opinions are one thing. But the original post was really just a pipe dream that could never happen.
It’s offseason baseball pal…it’s all a pipe dream until we hear the actual press releases of the actual deals
Where do you see Price regressing? He’s a top tier starter.
To keep saying the Jays do not give out this type or that type of contract is to assume Beeston and AA are still in charge. Shapiro (now with a real budget) may be in a position to give Price exactly what he wants. If he truly wants to be in T.O he may get his wish.
If not, I see Price landing in Boston or LAD.
Doubt the Red Sox will get Price, but if they did it may motivate them more to deal Hanley ($$$) even if they got noticeably less in return.
I say the Dodgers make the final bid for Price. They want to lower they’re payroll “in theory” but they know they can out bid anyone when they really want them. So I expect they’ll wait to see what everyone else bids.
If the Blue Jays don’t land a legit #1 pitcher (because Rogers is so cheap) then they might as well deal Bautista, EE, Tulo and Donaldson too because there is no way they can win what they have now and all the scrap pile acquisitions like Chavez will not move them one inch closer to winning. This team is a Price/Grenkie/Zimmerman etc and a pair of quality relievers away from being a legit WS contender next season. They either go for it RIGHT NOW, or tear it all down because halfassed measures don’t cut it.
I see Blue Jays fans complain about their payroll situation more than any small market fans. They have plenty of payroll to build a winning team.
Toronto isn’t a “small market”. The city, ie the metro area, is Chicago sized. It is in fact the 4th largest market in mlb, add to that that the Blue Jays have a larger national market of the whole country… They also have the richest owners in mlb too. It’s just that Rogers Inc are hilariously cheap considering just how rich and big they are.
They outspend one of those Chicago teams…and by a lot.
They lose money that other teams don’t on pretty much every transaction having to use that currency. Keep that in mind, as well as their right to turn a profit. Keep it in perspective. They won their division last year. SIgning a fireballer on the other side of 30 to a long term deal isn’t the smartest move for most teams.
I understand wanting carrasco or Ross but if the Cubs do land price it would be a great add for them because they would have him and Lester for multiple years and then arrieta on top of them and then all the young great prospects they have in the field I mean that team is set up to just win win and win on paper, but I guess you never know because Detroit had scherzer prize and JV and were bounced easily so who knows either way the Cubs take will be a good one for the team regardless
The angels could be a dark horse, I think the cubs do sign him but I think the cubs could be better off going after zimmermann and lackey.
Can’t imagine Giants going 200 mill since whatever Price gets, they’ll have to give Bumgarner more.
We need 2 SP, so I’m more than happy with either Greinke or Zimmerman and Maeda, Leake or Kazmir
I really believe the giants will get greinke
My dream signing since it helps Giants and hurts Dodgers… but not expecting haha
I am expecting it, I don’t see the dodgers bringing him back since they want to lower the payroll.
I’m not convinced at the assumption that Price goes to the Cubs. For one thing no free agent signs based on who the manager is and leaves millions on the table. They go where the money is, period. Cubs need a starter but not necessarily a $30 million dollar a year for 7 years pitcher. They already had 3rd best ERA in baseball and might not want another expensive free agent guaranteed to be on the decline halfway through the contract. Cubs certainly have prospects to trade for a controllable younger pitcher. But I don’t know; it will be interesting to watch.
The Cubs stuff started in the middle of the year when it was apparent Detroit wasn’t keeping him. They’re leverage. That’s all. Price has been a pretty adamant opponent of NL ball in his career, and has called the non-usage of the DH in the National League “backwards”.
Where has he said that? Seriously where? Follow him on Twitter and see how he really feels.
“Price has been a pretty adamant opponent of NL ball in his career, and has called the non-usage of the DH in the National League “backwards”.
Interesting, first time II have heard that. Source?
I’d think it would be opposite for most pitcher’s. Regardless, $ has a way of working them things out. Either probably have as much sway as playing for a certain mgr. when it comes down to it.
please provide any evidence to your bs posts. You have no idea what you’re talking about and just continue to ramble on here.
Learn baseball, come back, make informed posts.
I think the cubs should target Jordan Zimmermann and John Lackey
If they want to lose, sure.
Lackey might have something left in the tank, but Zimmerman’s arm is regressing. Stay far away.
I see the Cubs getting Zimmerman or Shark than Price. Jed basically said they are not going to spend a lot on one player. I think if they make a trade it would be for either Ross or Wheeler or for a pitching prospect that is in AAA and is ready to be mlb ready.
I think the Dodgers have little interest in Price. With Kershaw, Anderson, Wood, and Ryu all left handed pitchers, it makes less sense to sign Price. They need right-handed pitchers. Greinke and Zimmerman are LA’s main targets this offseason. Unless they trade Anderson, Ryu, or Wood, I realistically don’t see Price in a Dodger uniform.
I agree that the Dodgers have a bigger need for premium righthand pitchers, but the medical history (or bad luck) of Anderson, the medical condition of Ryu, and the inconsistency of Wood, might make Price desirable. I sometimes think that although the Dodgers have the money to outbid other teams, the current FO is best known for getting the best player for value and they are not comfortable spending money just to beat out another team.
Wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up in Boston at all. People might cite the Ortiz/Price rift as a reason why not but if they are on the same team, wouldn’t be surprised to see selfie after selfie with those two together. People forget how many former rivals end up on the same team and all of a sudden they are buddies. I expect nothing less here.
“Rosenthal adds that while Price enjoyed his time in Toronto, the Blue Jays “are not expected to be a major factor in his free agency,” which isn’t necessarily a surprise considering the team’s previous reluctance to commit the type of expenditure Price will command to any player. ”
Jays have a new president and GM, things could be much different. President Mark Shapiro said he doesnt believe in absolutes.
BAEZ : after watching him, he needs a guy like Mike Maddux who can get him to settle down and focus on each pitch he throws. See Nathan Eovaldi.
PRICE : honestly, IMO, Price makes the most sense from a signing aspect. No lost draft pick, AGE, controllable years, and the Dodgers need a solid 2 next to CK for upcoming years.
GREINKE : it will be a sad day seeing him pitch elsewhere, and I wish him the best. Age and pitch counts as he ages may be what diminishes his later years. But, in comparisons to Greg Maddux, GREINKE could survive 5 years down this road.
Time will tell…
the giants need another starter
I seriously am as baffled as to why people are dismissing Kyle Hendricks and saying he had a bad run down the stretch as I am when people say Lester had a mediocre year……. despite the numbers saying otherwise. Lester actually did great and as for Hendricks, well his first half ERA was 4.15 and his WHIP was 1.18. Second half? 3.78 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Seems as if he was doing better in the second half than he was in the first half, and his best month on the year????? September. 3.03 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP…… His July wasn’t too shabby either with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. I’d say Hendricks did pretty d*** good for his first full MLB season. His numbers thus far in his career are almost identical if not better than Zack Wheeler’s and everyone seems to think Zack Wheeler has fairly high value. You hear Wheeler’s name and NYers act like he’s worth as much as Harvey. The media perpetuates this. Wheeler and Hendricks have such similar numbers it’s aggravating that when you say the numbers don’t lie, people still laugh at you. Sure, Wheeler strikes out 1 more guy per 9 IP than Hendricks 8.5 vs 7.4, but Hendricks walks way fewer per 9 than Wheeler, 2 vs. 3.9. So it must mean people just tee off on Hendricks and his 89 MPH fastball….. nope, each give HRs up at almost the exact same rate. Wheeler has 25 more MLB innings under his belt than Hendricks…. not that much…. they have identical ERAs and Hendricks WHIP blows Wheeler’s out of the water, 1.14 vs 1.34. Wheeler and a backup SS caliber player were almost traded for a power+speed outfielder in Gomez. You offer Hendricks and La Stella for Gomez and I bet you get laughed at. Makes no sense. Now I’m not saying Hendricks is destined for the top of the rotation. I am saying he is better than people are giving him credit for. He was more just inconsistent this year than sputtering down the stretch as many people describe him. He had a cold April, hot May, cold June, hot July, cold August, and hot September. And still finished with an ERA around 4. Not bad for a 5th starter. I think he has the brain and the skill to build off this year and be better next year. I think he can be Doug Fister-like.
How about….
Cubs trade Schwarber, Castro (and 10 mil of his remaining 60 mil), Baez, and a mid-tier throw in prospect for Harvey.
Mets get cost-controlled fixtures at their positions of need in the outffiled, SS, and 2nd base at a very friendly price. Mind you, there’s a lot of question marks in that trade, for instance how long schwarber will be able to play in the OF, Castro’s inconsistency with the bat, Baez’ strikeout problem. But overall, 15 years of cost-controlled elite potential talent is nothing to overlook. And even with a all the questions that the group comes with, they are MLB ready players. Not some highly-touted 19 year olds in A-ball.
Pair them up with 1 more less questionable, albeit less upside, mid-tier prospect and I would say its quite the haul for Mets. Sure the trade could sting if it doesn’t workout l, but every trade comes with the risk and the Mets have set themselves up very well to take this risk that could turnout to be a bargain due to their excess of young pitching.
Cubs receive an ACE without throwing around 200+ mil (or sign price anyways and create a 4 ace staff).
Mets fill their biggest positions of need while staying very young and cheap. They save lots of money that they would have used on filling in those holes for arbitration raises and extensions and a possible big signing in the next couple of years. Its a great fit for both teams
In other words, Blue Jays won’t make the postseason again if they don’t sign Price. The deal for the Jays ends up being a pretty bad one in AA’s tenure as he gave up prospects for less than half a year of Price.