The latest column from FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal explores how the luxury tax threshold’s relatively small annual increases as per the new collective bargaining agreement could lead to teams placing an even greater importance on locking their young talent up to long-term extensions. Rosenthal also shares some hot stove buzz…
- The Padres are “aggressively” shopping Yangervis Solarte. The third baseman has posted solid numbers over the last two seasons, including hitting .286/.341/.467 with 15 homers over 443 plate appearances last year. The 29-year-old Solarte is projected by MLBTR to earn $2.7MM in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and his three years of remaining team control would make him an intriguing trade chip for teams in need of infield help.
- The Astros are continuing to “pay really close attention” to the Rays’ starting pitchers, according to sources. Houston has made several lineup upgrades (Brian McCann, Josh Reddick and now Carlos Beltran) this offseason but Charlie Morton is the only addition to a rotation that underachieved in 2016. Tampa is widely expected to deal at least one of Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Alex Cobb or Drew Smyly this winter. The Astros are known to have interest in Archer, though he would command the highest price of the lot.
- Jorge De La Rosa is telling teams that he is willing to pitch as a multi-inning reliever. De La Rosa pitched three games in relief last season, his first bullpen outings since 2009. The veteran southpaw posted a 5.51 ERA, 1.71 K/BB rate and 7.3 K/9 over 134 innings for the Rockies in 2016, so between those lackluster numbers and his age (he turns 36 in April), it isn’t surprising that De La Rosa is willing to be flexible to increase his market.
- Dave Kaval’s new role as the Athletics’ president could potentially lead to some changes in how the A’s do business. With Kaval looking to secure a new ballpark in Oakland and generally trying to change the club’s profile, a “more of the same” deal of a star for prospects (i.e. dealing Sonny Gray) wouldn’t help Kaval’s objectives. That said, Rosenthal writes that “it’s difficult to imagine” the change in management having any impact on how Billy Beane does business.
How does a team ‘aggressively shop’ a player? Does preller just call up teams with possible openings at third and ask if they want solarte?
He must be injured lol
Haha
BEANE will never be influenced by anyone…does what he wants when he wants…have to respect the man.
They do it by hostile take-over or cunning ingenuity. Either way I’m making popcorn and kicking back to watch a heck of a show!
I hear he grabs GM’s by the scruff of the neck and insists that they getting a good deal.
Yeah. Make an offer. Get off his butt and go get it
Preller is secretly a Jedi.
“These aren’t the medical records you’re looking for…”
Matt Moore is in SF now so I don’t think Tampa will be moving him again
Yeah, that would be a hell of an accomplishment – trading a player that’s not even on the team anymore.
Matt Moore was traded at deadline to San Fran
Matt Moore was traded to the Giants at the deadline last year. Archer would be great on the Astros!!
I’d actually rather have Odorizzi than Archer in Houston. Archer is trending the wrong direction in ERA and HRs allowed, and our park is not ideal (left field) for guys who are trending that direction. Odorizzi has very similar numbers to Archer, with less strikeouts. I feel he offers just as much (possibly more), and should cost less to acquire.
Archer is elite in K’s .Correcting his HR/FB puts his ERA back under 3.50, and he’s in his prime…Archer is the prize. Odorizzi is a #3…a solid #3 but still a 3
Archer will cost much more than Ororizzi and the best overall result (based on recent history only) would be to go with the guy who costs you less but gives you the same or more. Yes, Archer gives you 75-100 more Ks, but also more HRs and costs twice as much in a trade most likely.
I think you are underestimating Odorizzi and how good he is.
“go with the guy who costs you less but gives you the same or more” Sure in an ideal world that’d be nice but I’m sorry that’s not at all relative to archer and odorizzi. While yes odorizzi will be significantly cheaper but the reason for that is bc he’s significantly worse and doesn’t have as high of an upside. Archer is capable of being an ace for 5 years while odorizzi would slot in at #3. While that’s not bad, it’s no #1/1a. You claim archers homerun rate is high but it was .1 hr/9 less than odorizzi last year (1.3 vs 1.4hr/9) and he’s averaged 0.8 over the last 3 years, which doesn’t sound THAT bad to me. You acknowledged the massive difference in strikeouts rates, but the stat I find most telling is the difference in FIP’s. Over the last 3 seasons, archer has roughly compiled a 3.30 FIP while odorizzi has closer to a 3.85 FIP. Both pitchers had down years last year but if luhnow does decide to go for one, I think you go for the one you feel most confident will succeed when the pressure is on, and in my eyes that guy would be archer. If his price is too high, then they should wait until the trade deadline. His age, contract, and skills fit exactly what the Astros need, and I think when the time is right they should figure out a way to get the deal done.
I’m all for Archer, at the right price.
If it came down to it would you do it, if Bregman or Springer had to be involved? In my opinion, no way we trade Bregman but Springer might be available if they believe Reddick, Beltran, Marisnick, Aoki, Tucker, Marwin, Teoscar and Kemp is a good enough squad to get the job done. Id imagine it would be really difficult to give him up, hes one of my favorite current players, but on top of all of that MLB ready depth they also have Kyle Tucker, Daz Cameron, Derek Fisher, and that new guy laureano as young prospects who also can add to that depth relatively soon.
Archer for Springer, Paulino, and a PTBNL? I’d be down.
They are not trading Springer
agreed, Springer is not available. I could see Bregman being available, but I would rather not see him be traded. Houston has a lot of young pitching talent in the minors that they could package together for Archer. Tampa likes pitching. It has been a formula for success for them with their ballpark. Think Martes, Paulino and Whitley. You do not give up all 3, but 2 of the 3 with one or two lower level prospects should win Archer.
Hey Mark, TB already traded Matt Moore.
Matt Moore is no longer with the Rays… I think you meant someone else.
It would be in the Dodgers best interest to block any Matt Moore trades to a division rival.
It’s too late for that lol
I’ve always liked Solarte, I just don’t know if I’d be willing to deal a premium to acquire him.
He was 14th in WAR for 3B in MLB, but he only played 109 Games also so I assume any team willing to deal a plus prospect is confident in his improvement.
I don’t understand the need for Sale for the Nats. I do believe they should go hard on Cutch, but go for Archer, Gray, or the like instead of Sale.
I don’t think the Mets are good enough to beat the Nats either way.
Same here. They shouldn’t trade away whatever it takes to get Sale, IMO. They have Scherzer, Strausburg, Ross, Cole, Gio, Roark in the rotation now with Robles and Giolito on their way possibly, unless they go to the bullpen.
Robles is an of
I’m guessing he meant Lopez.
How is Solarte defensively? Depending on what the asking price is, seems like he could be a decent fit for the Cardinals?
How is he a decent fit again??? Cardinals already have a surplus of bad defensive infielders (diaz, peralta, wong, gyroko) how is adding one nore going to solve anything?
-0.4UZR at 3B in both 2015 and 2016 so he’s an average defender, but his speed is pretty bad. His nickname is Slowarte
Not the greatest but definitely not the worst. He’s a better bounce around guy on a playoff team. He has three of team control the Pads are probably looking for a lot of young pitching most likely.
The Cubs trading players to the Cardinals? Has hell frozen over?
Solarte is pretty bad defensively but he can fake it at third. He’s unbelievably slow, like Mike Lavalliere-level slow, so he can’t really play second or short, although he’s gotten a few innings there over the years. The bat doesn’t play anywhere except third, and he’s hitting 30 and will probably lose even another step, at which point the bat doesn’t play anywhere.
Interesting on Solarte, no real replacement on the team(a lot of 2B players but not sure how they would do on the corner but with three years left of control, might be able to flip him for something worthwhile
Schimpf seems like the most likely to take over 3rd if Solarte is dealt. The early returns were quite positive for him at 3rd last year( 3 DRS, 19.9 UZR/150) albeit that was in an incredibly small sample of 108 innings.
He also has 151 games of experience at 3B in the minors, notably spending most of his time in his 2016 AAA campaign there. The organization knows what he can do at the hot corner. They can move Schimpf to third, let Spangenberg start at second and hope he doesn’t get hurt, and Carlos Asuaje backs both up. With Amarista’s release, there’s a need for a backup SS, so I expect to see an Adam Rosales or similar signing as well.
It might be worth noting that the team signed Dusty Coleman and Jamie Romak already this offseason, adding minor league depth in a couple of journeyman players who have both had at least a cup of coffee in the majors. Romak is a 3B/1B/LF/RF with power and Coleman is a SS who sounds like an Adam Rosales type with less pop. These are lower profile signings than Rosales and Jemile Weeks a year ago, but much in the same vein.
I like to see Solarte to comeback to Yankees if they can unload Headley.
Gattis for Cobb?
It is looking more and more that Gattis might be the odd man out in Houston. I can see a package involving him, Preston Tucker and maybe a minor league arm for a SP.
the odd man out will be Springer. he will go to WS for a deal for Sale. The only 2 guys that might get traded are Springer and Bregman. those 2 have value. McHugh is on the market as well. I would rather see the Stros trade for Jd Mart than sign EE. should shake out to be very interesting.
Sorry, but I don’t think any of your previous reply makes any sense at all. There is little to no chance that the Astros trade Bregman, same for Springer. Also, where have you seen McHugh on the market?? He was our best starter overall last year and there is no way they will trade him and keep Fiers.
We don’t have to worry about a reunion of JD Martinez or a signing of EE, as they have solidified a very deep lineup when the icing on the cake agreed to a come back (Beltran).
Trading any of our young players already on the team and that have proven their worth makes zero sense for long term plans. I’ve been wrong once or twice in my life, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I was you in regards to Sale or JD Martinez.
I’ll PayPal you $10,000 and let you name my first born son if Springer gets traded
Does Gattis still catch?
Sure, you can call it catching. He’s actually got a cannon for an arm when he manages to get the ball in his mitt.
How about Cutch and Josh Harrison to the Nationals in one trade? Harrison can be the super utility guy to cover if Zim, Murph, or Rendon get hurt. It would be really weird to see Cutch in anything other than a Pirates uniform, though. I’m not saying I want the Nationals to improve their team, though. Go O’s! Beltway rivals!
Orioles will trade Wade Miley to Miami to help their rotation! How about Miley for a Rookie ball backup infielder?
I wonder if Rox could land EE. They could trade CarGo back to Oakland to help their outfield for a Double-A pitcher to clear some salary. Parra, Dahl, and Blackmon in the outfield and EE,LaMahieu, Story, and Arenado in the infield.
seems like Blackmon would be the odd man out…for some reason the Rockies are in to keeping CarGo.
EE is chasing 60+ HRs in Colorado.
With the continuing off-the-field soap opera that is Jung Ho Kang and the apparent desire by the Bucs to move Josh Harrison, Solarte could be of some interest to Pittsburgh.
Solarte had an .808 OPS last year. That is a quality everyday Major League third baseman. So any return for him will have to be a fair return for a quality everyday Major League 3rd baseman with 3 years of control.
I wonder if the A’s could move Gray
To the Cubs for some of their log jammed prospects/players such as Soler etc.?
A’s upper brass – Beane is just a minority owner – should give BIlly the resources to stay competitive and be on the winning column again, new stadium or else…