The Blue Jays have had discussions with the White Sox regarding closer David Robertson, who’s “more than available,” writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Chicago isn’t in any rush to move Robertson, though, because the team believes he’ll possess significant value around the summer trade deadline. Robertson will be more than a rental if the White Sox move him in the coming months, as he has two years and $25MM remaining on his contract. While Toronto already has a high-level closer in Roberto Osuna, it could use another setup option to go with Joe Biagini and Jason Grilli.
More from Cafardo on those two clubs and a couple others:
- The White Sox are “100 percent committed” to keeping star prospect Yoan Moncada at second base, a team source told Cafardo. Moncada, who’s the centerpiece of the haul the White Sox acquired from Boston for Chris Sale last month, primarily played third base in his brief cup of coffee at the major league level last season. Notably, some scouts have suggested moving the athletic 21-year-old to center field, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told Chuck Garfien of Comcast Sportsnet Chicago on Saturday (Twitter link).
- Before they agreed to a minor league contract with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Blue Jays showed interest in free agent Matt Wieters, relays Cafardo. Toronto already has an everyday catcher in Russell Martin, of course, and also possesses no shortage of first base/designated hitter types (though Cafardo doesn’t specify whether Wieters was on Toronto’s radar before or after it signed Kendrys Morales, Steve Pearce and Jose Bautista). With the Jays out of the picture, the Astros and the previously reported Rays remain possibilities for Wieters, who wanted a three-year deal at the outset of free agency, adds Cafardo. The Astros are another curious fit, however, with Brian McCann and Evan Gattis behind the plate – not to mention the presences of first baseman Yulieski Gurriel and DH Carlos Beltran.
- The Royals’ interest in free agent right-hander Jason Hammel has picked up since Yordano Ventura tragically died last Sunday, per Cafardo. Kansas City was surely banking on quality production in 2017 from Ventura, who tossed at least 163 innings in each of his three major league seasons and totaled a career-best 186 frames last year. From strictly an on-field standpoint, Hammel’s track record suggests he would help replace the stunning loss of Ventura. Hammel has racked up three straight years with 166-plus innings and sub-4.00 ERAs, though he surprisingly hasn’t been able to find work this offseason since the Cubs declined his option in November. It’s worth noting that the 34-year-old experienced elbow tightness late last season and wasn’t active for the World Series champions’ playoff run.
- Along with Hammel, free agent first baseman Chris Carter has piqued the Royals’ interest, but Cafardo notes that they seem likelier to target a left-handed hitter. There are still several notable lefty-swinging options remaining in free agency, including Pedro Alvarez, Brandon Moss, Logan Morrison, Adam Lind, Justin Morneau and Ryan Howard.
Didn’t the Jays say after 2016 they were moving Osuna to the rotation because it’s what they and he wanted??
No
He said he wanted to stay in the pen.
Osuna does not want to be a starter, he wants to remain a closer, oddly enough. The Jays are fine with that because their rotation is set and they need relievers. They have considered making him a starter multiple times but he doesn’t want to.
And theres no pressure on them to move him either. Why mess with a shutdown closer with electric stuff? We don’t need Daniel Bard 2.0. After seeing the contracts given to relievers this year as well, he wont be giving up to much money since its no guarantee he’d be good as a starter anyways
Why would the Rays target a LH hitter? All offseason they have stated they need a RH and they just traded one of there better ones? Dickerson, Miller, Rasmus, KK all struggle vs lefties.
Its the Royals….
My bad,…carry on .. 🙂
Sure, if anyone on this site speculates about KC after Ventura’s unfortunate death, its poor behavior. But Cafardo is allowed to in his first column. Guess that makes it all right for everyone else now.
Some people are too sensitive. Yes, it is extremely sad that Ventura passed and it was a very tragic accident. All fans around baseball are heart broken, but there is now a need in the Royals rotation and people are allowed to talk about that and should not be ridiculed for doing so
I am a huge Kansas City fan and Ventura’s passing is a terrible event, but life is full of terrible events and we must overcome them. Baseball is a business and GM’s must win now or they too must find another job. How can it be too early to do your job?
Its so nice that the White Sox are committed to keeping Moncada at 2B, so much so that GM Hahn brings up that scouts think he could be moved to CF. Wonderful.
Garfien later clarified (which isn’t included in the MLBTR post) “Scouts haven’t told Hahn to move Moncada to CF, but say that he has the ability to play CF if Sox wanted to try that.”
Putting him in an unfamiliar defensive position could hamper his development with his bat as well as his glove. Seems like a lot of young players let one affect the other and the last thing the White Sox need is stunted development of a position player.
Agreed. I’m tired of seeing the front office and managers playing musical chairs with a player in terms of position, then wonder why his bat slumps. Never mind the obvious fact the Sox need a top second baseman, which is presumably why the Sox went after him in the first place. I would be quite content with a Anderson and Moncada DP combo out there every day.
Hammel’s inability to find a place (I’m assuming he’s not asking for 5/$100M or anything ridiculous like that) is one of the reasons the word “collusion” has been lurking in the back of my mind for awhile, official or, more likely, via wink & nod. Inexplicable.
The cubs chose to not even pick up his option for 1 year. I think it’s far more likely that his medicals look like total dookie
34 years old with elbow tightness and missing post season play because of it….I wouldn’t touch him, that could be a serious loss of money with no payback if he goes down with TJ at 34.
First off, his option was declined because both sides talked and came to a agreement that he would be better off testing the market for what he thought would be a big payday. Secondly, he has been horrible in the second half of the season for each of the past three seasons. He didn’t warrant a spot on the playoff roster. His medicals might be one thing, but I highly doubt they’re bad enough that he hasn’t even signed for 3/30.
If you’re going to collude, why would you do it on a 34-year old with a potentially serious injury who wasn’t outstanding to begin with?
Lol collusion give me a break, teams want to go the playoffs and he’s not the answer
Very interesting considering nats dont have much to offer anymore other than robles which i know they wont. But in jays case I saw this coming. I would do a straight up deal Roberston for vlad jr and maybe sean reid foley. thats it. maybe add melky in deal to sweetin the deal. he hit 295 ,12 hrs. up there in rbi.
Yeah no kidding you’d do that. Robertson is good but he’s not getting you a Vlad Jr. Reid-Foley had a great year last year too, can’t see the Jays moving him for an expensive reliever. If they took on the full salary, it’d be a lesser guy. If the Sox paid a portion, Reid-Foley maybe.
We have other pieces in bull pen to move. i see it happening to a blue jays team that world series window is still open but for how much longer?
are you on some of that wacky tobaccy?
Sox would do Robertson for Vlad, Jr. in a heartbeat, but Blue Jays wouldn’t offer it unless Osuna got hurt and they were desperate for a closer. Reid-Foley with the Sox paying a small portion of Robertson’s remaining salary seems fair. Maybe Reid-Foley straight up at the deadline if Robertson has a strong first half.
No way does the Astros pick up Wieters….. nonsense!
Only if they use Gattis as trade bait to get Archer.Rays need power right handed bat,but you are right don’t really need him!!
Why not? He is going to get way less than 13 mil/year or he would have signed by now. If they do get him my guess is they carry 4 outfielders (Reddick, Springer, Aoki, Marisnick). So he would replace Kemp or Tucker on the bench. Switch hitting power bat for 1/2 to 3/4 the price of Rasmus? Plus insurance at Catcher/DH if Beltran gets hurt or Gattis doesn’t perform?
Napoli is a winner and needs to go to a winning team to push them over the top.
As a White Sox fan, I like the idea of trading Robertson before Spring Training–they should be able 2-3 decent (not elite due to his salary) prospects for him. Then, the Sox would use Nate Jones as a closer and bump his value up prior to the trade deadline since he’s got a major team-friendly contract to boot (he won’t fit into the Sox rebuilding plan since he’s 31 years old). I truly don’t see the White Sox getting either Foley or Guerrero for Robertson unless you also add Todd Frazier or Melky Cabrera to the mix.
For just Robertson, I see the Sox going after the likes of McGuire, Tellez/Bichette, & Perdomo. For Todd Frazier,, Robertson, & lefty reliever Dan Jennings who had a 2.08 ERA last year, I’d then ask the Sox to add Guerrero to the above mix, for Cabrera I’d add Alford instead.
Robertson would give the Jays a solid setup guy with legitimate closer experience, Frazier would be a vast upgrade over Smoak at 1B with his 40+ homer/15 stolen bases, & Jennings would give them a quality lefty.. The Blue Jays will be better equipped to make a major playoff run with these guys (what a lineup with the likes of Tulowitzki, Bautista, Donaldson, Frazier, Morales, Martin, etc.!.) while still keeping most of their other elite prospects. Plus, the Jays wouldn’t lose anybody who’d be expected to make a significant impact on their playoff run this year.
The White Sox would get 1 elite prospect & 3-4 good-but-not-great prospects in the deal while also freeing up Jones as their closer.
Although as a Jays fan I’d love to add Robertson as a good arm and closer insurance, I doubt the FO will give up anything significant prospect-wise. Reid-Foley maybe. As far as adding Frazier or Melky, I don’t know what they are making but Shapiro/Atkins are NOT going to take on any significant money. Vlady Jr, Alford, Tellez are not going anywhere, because beyond this year I feel the Jays are going to tear down and rebuild.
Buy now for decent prospects, or pay dearly later if a team is in the playoff hunt and needs bullpen help. Robertson is better than what he has shown, especially when the White Sox had a ‘know nothing’ manager at the helm costing the team wins left and right. Even with his ‘problems’, Robertson had a pretty decent season with 37 saves considering how poorly he was utilized with the Sox.
Don’t destroy his Sprite Moncadais ready now the rest laterthis year and most by July18– others are ready make this there year