The Astros haven’t been linked to David Price in free agent rumors, but that hasn’t stopped Dallas Keuchel from acting as a recruiter. “The baseball fan in me definitely would like to see [a rotation] upgrade but that’s not in my control. I know I’ve made pitches to David Price — it’s just the baseball fan in me at the end of the day,” Keuchel tells Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. “I just play. … I think (the bosses) know that we’re in a good position.” While Price may be a bit too expensive for the Astros, the team has certainly been connected to several other free agent arms as Houston looks to back up Keuchel with another first-rate starter. Here’s some more from around baseball…
- Two Marlins sources say that Jose Fernandez’s attitude is becoming a problem, with teammates annoyed that Fernandez “has become more entitled and cocky” due to perceived favoritism from owner Jeffrey Loria. Despite this issue, the team isn’t planning on trading Fernandez, though the Marlins know they’ll have a hard time retaining him once he hits free agency after the 2018 season.
- Also from Jackson, he reports that the Marlins have reached out to John Lackey, Scott Kazmir and Tim Lincecum, among other available starting pitchers. This is the first time we’ve heard of Miami’s interest in Lackey, though the veteran right-hander has been getting plenty of attention from several other clubs.
- If the Marlins change course on Fernandez and decide that a trade is necessary, the Dodgers, Red Sox, Royals, Twins and Astros could all be particularly good fits to acquire the star righty, ESPN’s David Schoenfield writes.
- Earlier this week, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told reporters (including the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes) that he’ll be looking to add a left-handed hitter to help balance out the Nats’ lineup. Starting pitching isn’t necessarily a big need, as Tanner Roark and Joe Ross look set to fill out the rotation behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, so while starting pitching isn’t necessarily a big need, Rizzo didn’t quite close the door on the subject. “I’m happy sliding Tanner and Joe in the rotation. With that said, you can never have enough good starting pitching,” Rizzo said.
- The Orioles haven’t swung any blockbuster trades under Dan Duquette’s watch, and CSNMidAtlantic.com’s Rich Dubroff doesn’t expect that to change this winter. Part of the issue this offseason is that the O’s don’t have much to offer in the way of prospects; Dubroff lists some of the notable minor league arms the Orioles have dealt in recent years, particularly three young starters traded within the last year just to address their right field hole (in the form of Travis Snider and then Gerardo Parra). As I noted in my Orioles Offseason Outlook piece, Baltimore has so many departing free agents that Duquette will need to be more aggressive than usual with trades or signings in order to keep the team competitive.
- The Yankees “fixate on high strikeout rates, low walk rates and high groundball percentages” for their starting pitchers, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman writes. With this model in mind, Sherman looks at ten pitchers that could be targeted by the Yankees in trade talks, though some will be harder to acquire than others since New York isn’t intending to deal top prospects like Aaron Judge.
Marlins would do well taking over Joey Votto’s contract and putting him in front of the big guy.
Jose Fernandez
Got cut off…. Jose Fernandez & Marcell Ozuna for Votto & Chapman as a trade base.
John Lackey added as well.
Stephen Strasburg to Seattle for James Paxton + others…
Stras to San Diego once a free agent. Hard to trade a guy that has never lost at home and could win a Cy Young or two any of the next 5-10 seasons
I would think Stras would go home. SD boy all the way.
Votto would block that trade. I seriously doubt he has any interest playing in Miami
I think Fraizer and Chapman would be better. They can move Martin Prado either out of the team or in another position so Fraizer can 3B. And Votto wouldn’t be that good of a decision cause he’s really expensive and Bour has 1st base
Man I’d be cocky too if I were that good
what team doesnt prefer pitchers with high strikeouts, low walks and high groundball rates lol? the yankees can’t be the only one…
after 2015 season it looks like the Padres were after starting pitching that had a hige HR rate – Yankees have done a good job the last couple years getting starters that do above, interested to see what happens in 2016 & if the guys can stay healthy
I would take the same attitude if were that good
Aren’t all teams fixated on high strike out, low walk, and high ground ball rate pitchers? I’m not sure I’ve heard of teams being fixated on pitchers who can’t miss bats and when they do, can’t throw strikes….
Here’s the thing if a team wants him but doesn’t want to give up the massive amount and quality of prospects needed to get fernandez, they can just trade him in a year or two and get probably a pretty similar haul as he gets farther and farther from his tj
I read the Joel Sherman article…wow truly riveting stuff…I’m sure no other team in the league would want those pitchers if they only had to give up Brett Gardner…seems legit
Price already has a dog named Astro… destiny
Will the braves have money to consider him as a free agent in 2018
i know the marlins would want a good haul, but i know the dodgers would have a hard time giving ups guys like seager and urias. but i bet they will easily give up almost anyone else.
not sure the Royals would be interested in Fenandez. Dayton Moore has mentioned many times character is his number one priority when scouting a player. Doesn’t sound like Fernandez has that.
Yeah, because Ventura is such a model citizen for the royals.
take it up with Dayton. going off what he said.
Joe frisaro is saying the attitude stuff is overblown, especially in comparison to how everyone wanted to punch Josh beckett in the face in the first half of 2003, and how everyone felt about Miguel Cabrera in 2005. Everything I’ve seen from Jose is the total opposite of the reports mentioned about his attitude
John Lackey and Scott Kazmir were 2 of the many potential targets I mentioned for Miami, and they were probably the top targets on that particular list. With everything I have seen in terms of reports since before the season ended, I dont see them getting either one of them. It also seems like they wont be planning on signing anyone
Based on the reports that have come out, they’re giving it a 25% chance he starts opening day for the Marlins. Personally, I can tell that if he isnt traded this offseason, he will be traded in the middle of the season or next offseason. The reports on Ozuna are way stronger, and as I have said since before the season ended, he will 100% be moved. That became all the more obvious with the “Loria cant stand him” report
This is my version of what I think has been happening. Obviously, I dont have any inside info, but this is what I’m reading from the reports, by looking in between the lines and using my Marlins experience to help me
The Marlins approached both Marcell Ozuna and Jose Fernandez for an extension last offseason. Both being in a situation where it didnt make any sense to sign one, declined that opportunity. Jeffrey Loria then became “insulted” and incensed by the situation. When Ozuna came to camp, and he wasnt in great shape, that only made Loria all the more angrier. When Scott Boras called the Marlins out on what they did with Ozuna, this took Loria to new levels of anger and saltiness, partly b/c he was called out on exactly what he was doing. With that being the case, the Marlins then approached Jose Fernandez about finding a new agent, and leaving Scott Boras, or strictly negotiating with them on all contract matters. This is when Jose started to realize what type of organization he was in, and who was running it. Obviously, knowing that it makes no sense to leave Boras, and knowing how the Marlins treated Ozuna, he realized that there is only 1 solution, and also realized that the Marlins knew this as well. This is why he reportedly approached Michael Hill and asked him when he was being traded. He knew it was happening. With Jose not wanting to leave Boras, this put him on Loria’s list as well.
First, the Marlins will attempt to trade Ozuna. If they dont entirely trade him for 25 cents on the dollar, they will be attempting to get a young, controllable SP (kind of like one of the young, controllable SPs we gave away a year ago). After that is accomplished, they will look to trade Jose Fernandez. They will ask the Dodgers about Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager, and one of their young SPs in the minor leagues. I personally dont see them getting Puig or Seager from the Dodgers, as they have repeatedly turned down those guys in trade talks for obvious reasons. Instead, I think they could get Julio Urias (b/c they would be getting Jose in the deal), 1 of the other top pitching prospects, and then someone like Austin Barnes (I know. I know.), and probably another piece like Scott Schebler. From the Red Sox, they will ask for Yoan Moncada and Rafael Devers, as well as Anderson Espinoza. I doubt they can get that from them. They’ll ask the Cubs about Addison Russell, and will be turned down, so they will ask about Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Pierce Johnson, and something else. Then they will decide on whether they should trade Fernandez for one of those packages now, or wait until mid-season or next offseason, where they can possibly get a similar package, as well as be able to tell people they arent trading Fernandez this offseason, and then tell everyone afterward that they kept their word on that
If you dont see the obvious, I would be surprised. They’re literally making attempts to put him down in the media (saying that Jose isnt the same person in front of and behind cameras). This last calendar year, Loria brought out a lot of his old school stuff, and has taken some things to new levels. Its really hard to stay a fan of this team, when the organization is so shady
This. The seasons been over months, how can Fernandez have an “attitude” now when they aren’t even playing and spending every day together? How does that even work? Is he group texting everyone with “This is MY team, you all are nothing!” No, that’s ridiculous. It just doesn’t add up.
This is actually an old Red Sox strategy they still do all the time when the media wants a player gone, they’ll start up non-stories to make the player look bad, they did it to Pedro, Nomar, pretty much every once-beloved player suddenly will have like ton of bad press out of nowhere, usually starting with “attitude” concerns, they even tried to do it to Ortiz but he wouldn’t ask for a trade, he then led them to 2 more titles so it all went away.
As a Red Sox fan, I’m aware of that, but it’s usually the media behind it. This is Loria himself
Agreed. That ill conceived statement above is commonly made about several Sox ex players and was made about Ted Williams with his lack of hustle, heart for the game, same with Yaz. Just about every star player who has ever played for the Sox and each and every time it’s been that raggedy bunch in the NE media in general the cause of it.
dude this comment is longer than the actual article
I know, and I should have said sorry for the wall of text, but I can almost guarantee that is what has been happening. I’ve been a marlins fan for way too long to not know it
I could see Chapman and Bruce to the Nationals for a package mixed with MLB ready talent and prospect position players
I don’t the Marlins wanting to trade Fernandez, especially after the Stanton contract BUT if they did – Fernandez, Ozuna and a piece to the Dodgers for Puig and Urias? Maybe too much for the Dodgers, but you would have to think that a Fernandez-Puig structure might work.
I dont think I do the deal if im the Dodgers if Urias is in the deal. Really only because of the injury questions around Fernandez. If it was De Leon and Puig, I think that is a very realistic trade.
I don’t think there is enough going back to the Marlins honestly. I think there would have to be another intriguing piece included in the deal for it to make sense for them. I would take Fernandez and Ozuna over Puig and Urias I think. If Puig had a better year, then that would be much different.