While details are non-existent, Twins general manager Rob Antony dropped an intriguing note to reporters including Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press (Twitter link). Minnesota nearly swung a three-team trade before the deadline, the newly-minted interim GM said. That’s certainly fun to ponder, though it’s awfully difficult to assess what kind of scenario might have materialized with so many moving parts. (Don’t let that stop you from trying in the comments!)
Here’s more from the American League:
- Before he was traded by the Athletics to the Dodgers, southpaw Rich Hill was seeking around $28MM over two years in the extension talks between the sides, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. That’s certainly an interesting number to ponder: it’s shockingly high for a player of Hill’s background, but is rather cheap compared with the cost of top-end starting pitching on the open market, particularly given the dearth of arms coming this winter. Despite the risk, Hill has pitched at an extremely high level when healthy, and the guess here is that plenty of teams would be happy to take that chance for less than the expected annual rate of a qualifying offer (which is expected to be $16.7MM). Last fall, Marco Estrada commanded $26MM over two years in a deal struck while he pondered a QO, providing something of a comparable, though Hill is older and probably should come with wider band of reasonable performance expectations. Regardless whether that was a reasonable request for a raise over Hill’s current $6MM salary — which he landed despite only a four-start audition late last year — it provides some insight into the thinking of an interesting pending free agent. (Notably, the trade also means that Hill won’t be eligible to receive a qualifying offer.)
- The Indians considered a move for Padres catcher Derek Norris after their agreement to add Jonathan Lucroy was vetoed by the veteran backstop, according to Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer. Talks didn’t go very far, though, as Cleveland wasn’t enticed by a reportedly high asking price. The Indians also looked at Steve Pearce, but the team’s scouts weren’t enthused by his defensive profile at third.
- The Rangers’ efforts to strike a deal for a new ballpark are still moving along, as Robert Cadwallader of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The Arlington City Council voted unanimously to push ahead with a November ballot item seeking approval for the funding package, which has received plenty of criticism given its taxpayer-backed terms and the fact that the Rangers seemingly play in a rather acclaimed, quite youthful ballpark at present. Another vote is needed to send the matter to the voters.
krillin
It shows how thin the market for catchers is when Norris was the number 2 sought after catcher
kent814
Norris is a quite good catcher when he performs up to his career norms
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Derek Norris couldn’t throw out Big Papa if he tried to run on him!
mrpadre19
Huh?
Norris led the league in caught stealing last season and this year opponents are actually not running on him because of it.
You obviously haven’t watched much of him the last couple seasons.
His offense is obviously down but he’s pretty a hard much hitter this season.
Still think he will improve his BA and OBP before seasons end
mrpadre19
**pretty much a hard luck hitter**
Sorry
justinept
It shows how thin the Indians are at catcher when they thought enough of Norris to inquire …
SixFlagsMagicPadres
I think there’s still a chance they trade him this month, or even this offseason.
leftynate11
The Ballpark in Arlington, or whatever it’s called now, is a pretty good park. It’s not one of the old cookie cutters, so I’m not sure why the Rangers need a new one. I don’t like taxpayers picking up the bill, not like the Rangers are broke. but being the “Texas” Rangers, they probably could leverage other areas of DFW as options.
User 4245925809
It’s one of my favorites for that reason.. Being a typical, AL, hitter friendly park and the Rangers wisely build the teams geared toward it.
hopefully, when they do decide to replace it, they will build another not like those behemoth things in some cities where balls go to die. Fans like to see some offense and Texas has a park right now that is friendly enough for it.
how many remember the old “launching pad” Atlanta fulton county stadium that Atlanta had? it was friendly and Hank Aaron pretty much made that place, then they finally tore it down and put up that monstrosity.. All eye candy. Pitcher’s paradise, nothing else. Good old stadiums were replaced in several cases with decent dimensions for pitcher’s paradises, except for those real cookie cutter stadiums that Cinci/pittsburg/st looie and seems like every NL venue had back in the 70’s with fake grass and the dimensions all the same.
AUTiger7222
Turner Field has always played very evenly for both pitchers and hitters. Also the dimensions between The Ted and AFCS are very similar.
Turner Field
Left – 335
Left Center – 380
Center – 400
Right Center – 390
Right – 330
AFCS
Left – 330
Left Center – 385
Center – 402
Right Center – 385
Right – 330
So the stadiums are basically the same size.
Globe Life Park in Arlington
Left – 332
Left Center – 390
Center – 400
Right Center – 377
Right – 325
So the Rangers ballpark has a smaller right field and a slightly bigger left field than Turner Field.
drum18
I think it’s kind of sad that the Rangers are looking to do a new park. Arlington is 20, 22 years old? Again, let’s ask the taxpayers to add funds. Ugggggh.
Same in Atlanta. That park is 20 years old but the Braves are building a new one.
It bums me out when this is happening and the A’s and Rays have been struggling for new parks for years.
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Drum I’m totally with you pretty sad!!
Aflurry88
Because the average Temperature in Dallas in the summer gets around 102 and even hotter in average in August. So a lot of casual fans aren’t going to go to the ballpark during those days. Also it’s hard to get free agents here especially pitchers because he injury risk is high. So by making it indoor it’ll get rid of a lot of those problems. If you look at a lot of the cities that are hotter on average in the summer they all have roofed stadiums.
astros_fan_84
It’s only really hot for about 6 weeks or 20 games. They knew it when they built the park.
I know this bond will pass, but they should wait at least 10 years.
I hate publicly funded stadiums.
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I don’t think they have much trouble getting free agents!
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That’s exactly what I was thinking what is wrong with there ball park!?!
1tav
Two yrs $28 mill for Rich Hill looks a lot better than the 2 yrs $16 mill the Tigers gave Pelfrey last offseason. My guess if he stays healthy and pitches just decent the rest of the year, someone will give him 2 yrs and at least $26 this offseason.
AUTiger7222
The Diamondbacks and Rangers are both trying to get new stadiums but everyone wants to complain about the Braves leaving Turner after just 20 years. Seems legit.
TennVol
I think the Jays would have been part of that 3 team deal as they spent a lot of time with the Twins discussing Ervin Santana.
Kayrall
I think it’s pretty obvious what the 3 team trade was going to be. I’m pretty sure that bravesfan4life filled us in a couple of weeks ago:
Twins get: Markakis and Jim Johnson
Angels get: Meyer and Nolasco
Braves get: Mike Trout
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Yep that sounds about right!
Bluesman
LOL!
Groucho
Total shame they want a new park, even if the new one will have a roof…that’s what? Always closed because it’s always 100 degrees? People go anyway and always have. Nothing’s sacred in stadiums anymore. Cubs and BoSox fans: fight like hell to preserve your landmarks.
thedudesaysthis
It was going to be a three way deal between Pirates, Blue Jays, and Twins.
Pittsburgh was to give up Liriano and two prospects, receiving Hutchison and other players. The Twins pulled out (that’s what SHE said), and the Pirates ended up sending everyone to Toronto..
SixFlagsMagicPadres
What are the odds that Norris gets traded this month? I wouldn’t be surprised if he was. Hedges is doing well in the minors, and they’re doing to have to call him up eventually.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
*going
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Next to nothing. He’d have to clear waivers and given his affordable salary I don’t see that happening.
bleacherbum
But even if he goes through waivers the Padres can then pull him back once he is claimed and try to work out a deal with the claiming team. If they don’t like the way the talks are going they can just nix the conversation and keep Norris.
I think best case is that Atlanta claims him because they will have first dibs, worst record in the league in which the player plays for, and an obvious need at the Position with the player being on a controllable cost effective contract. The Padres then pull him back, work out a trade with Atlanta, get a nice prospect of two in return and move on.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Best case is to wait until the offseason after someone else signs Wilson Ramos and Matt Wieters. Then Norris will be basically the only catcher available.
rooster79
Tired of non-DFW people bark about what the DFW Metro taxpayers should and shouldn’t do…eff off! Ain’t nunya biz! If Oakland wants a new park, maybe they should try to field a better team. Who made them the standard anyway? Maybe they should just fold it up and concentrate on Lacrosse or Rowing.