Former Blue Jays scouting director Bob Engel is heading to the Reds organization as the new international cross-checker, according to reports from Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com (via Twitter) and Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun (on Twitter). Cincinnati has made some notable international signings in recent years with Raisel Iglesias and Aroldis Chapman.
Here are a few more notes from the NL Central:
- Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli is coming off of a breakout campaign in which he contributed in all facets and stayed on the field, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry writes. Cervelli says he’d love to stay with Pittsburgh for the long term, though he added that he has not been contacted by the front office regarding extension talks and would let his agent handle any such matters. Certainly, it would be interesting to see how negotiations would progress if they do occur, as Cervelli could be a highly sought-after free agent if he can repeat his 2015 campaign. But there’s also plenty of downside, as that was the first time he put it all together over a full season.
- Young outfielder Yorman Rodriguez could find a chance with the Reds this spring, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon writes. The out-of-options 23-year-old will likely compete with other inexperienced players like Scott Schebler and Adam Duvall. Rodriguez put up a .269/.308/.429 slash last year over 326 Triple-A plate appearances.
- All of those outfielders would benefit, of course, if the Reds end up trading Jay Bruce, of course, although it would stand to reason that the organization will bring in some low-cost veterans once the market shakes out. As for Bruce, Sheldon reports that the Indians have replaced the Blue Jays on his limited no-trade list — likely a reflection of the fact that Cleveland has been pursuing outfield help this winter. The other clubs to which Bruce can block a deal are the Yankees, Red Sox, Athletics, Rays, Marlins, Twins, and Diamondbacks. Sheldon breaks down the possible suitors for the left-handed hitting veteran.
There’s a couple of mistakes with the links in the initial paragraph of the article, especially the fact that Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun is not a baseball player from the 1940s….. the link to his Twitter account is pointing to the wrong place, too….
Cervelli was simply outstanding last year. If the Pirates were committed to winning they would sign him. Yes we have talented prospects in Elias Diaz and Reese McGuire and Tony Sanchez really but Cervelli is now almost playing at an All Star level, the prospects can’t be expected to be ready to deliver at that level at this point.
As a Cubs fan, I would love to see Cervelli in a Cubs uniform. I’m sure that the Pirates are not stupid enough to let him go.
These “committed to winning” comments need to stop. Of course the Pirates are committed to winning, within their budget constraints. And don’t give me that “Nutting is the 10th richest owner” crap, because that’s not how the economics of baseball work. Pirates fans said they team wasn’t “committed to winning” when they replaced Russell Martin with Cervelli, yet Cervelli had a breakout season and is an extension candidate. Fans need tor realize Huntington knows much more then they do, and he will continue to put a contending team on the field as long as he’s the Pirates GM.
Most Yankee fans at least the diehards knew Cervelli was going to be a solid starter. He was the reason they let Martin walk. The guy just couldn’t stay off the DL and ARod threw him under the bus with Biogenesis. He was having a breakout campaign in 2014 before he hit the DL with an OPS of .802 in 49 games. He showed he was the heir to Posada with his 2010 season. I am glad he was finally able to stay healthy once he was traded. One thing the Yankees do well is bring along quality catchers. Cervelli and Murphy will be starters next year and I think Murphy will even out produce Cervelli. Sanchez will be next but I could see him going the route of Montero and being traded for the young cost controlled arm Cashman has been chasing. Torres is supposed to be McCann’s heir and will hopefully come back 100% from his surgery. I am hoping they actually give him a real chance and don’t sign another 30 year old aging catcher. We all know that in baseball catchers age like milk.
What would you say is his market value at this point?
Cervelli will always be tied to PEDs. Some teams will continue to steer clear of players that have been proven users. That will depress his market a bit. With that being said he is still a solid option in a thin market next year. If and that is a big if he can stay healthy he should not have a problem getting a 4/$60 contract. If he gets injured yet again he will probably get around a 2/$20 contract maybe less and would probably take a QO if offered one like Wieters to rebuild value. He needs to do everything possible to stay healthy (wrapping himself in bubble wrap after games if need be) if he wants to cash in next year. Lucky for him Wieters will be his main competition and he also has the injury label following him.
I don’t think his value will be effected at all by the PED situation. It didn;t stop other users from getting paid (see Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz and Jhonny Peralta). I don’t see a $15 mil a contract in his future tho. He turns 30 in March and has a history of injuries. I could see a 3/$30 mil in his future with some team options.
If they extend Cervelli, Diaz should probably be traded. One of the better catcher prospects that is and probably should be in the MLB next year his return should probably be good. I highly doubt it happens though with Diaz and Reese looking so promising and cost a fraction of what Cervelli would cost in the open market if he stays healthy.
Jay Bruce is the remaining piece that the Reds have to trade. Hopefully they will move him and his manageable salary for an actual prospect that will excite the pundits. While the return for Frazier has been criticized, I am a believer that the teams know more than the fans do about these prospects, and they seemed pretty intent on getting what they got. I do question why they didn’t wait until the trade deadline to move Chapman though. I cant help but think that if his suspension was already served, he would have more value (even though the receiving team would no longer get a QO opportunity). There might be more competition for his services then, and if he does get more than 45 days in suspension, he would be worth more as he FA would be delayed. I wonder if Cincinnati would consider Steven Moya from the Tigers as the key piece in a trade for Bruce. The Tigers are playing for now, and may not have time to wait out Moya’s growing pains.