Here’s the latest on the market for position players:
- The Brewers have indicated some interest in veteran Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson, according to Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network (Twitter link). At this point, though, the sides don’t seem to have made any real progress toward a deal. The left-handed-hitting Granderson would add a new dimension to the lineup, which features a variety of right-handed outfield options.
- As they continue to work on upgrading their roster, the Rays are willing to take trade offers for infielders Tim Beckham and Brad Miller, per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (Twitter links). With the recent additions of Adeiny Hechavarria and now Lucas Duda, the Rays are perhaps a bit overstocked in infielders. Still, Tampa Bay is more interested in listening to potential offers than in shopping the pair around, Crasnick notes.
- The Nationals have scouted Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham along with reliever Trevor Rosenthal, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com (via Twitter). As ever, it’s hard to read too much into this sort of report, but it does seem notable that the Nats would be putting any thought into an outfielder at this point. While the team has dealt with injuries — highlighted by Adam Eaton but also including Jayson Werth, Michael Taylor, and others — indications of late have been that outfield additions wouldn’t be pursued in earnest.
- In other news on infielders, there’s some belief around the game that the Tigers could find a trade partner for shortstop Jose Iglesias, per ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (Twitter link). That’s a bit surprising to hear, given the lack of demand among contenders, though Iglesias is a controllable player who’d be of possible interest to a variety of organizations even if a run at the postseason this year isn’t likely.
- The White Sox have gotten “a little” interest in left fielder/designated hitter Melky Cabrera, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets, though he also notes that the ChiSox would clearly need to pay down some of the remaining $5.4MM on Cabrera’s $15MM salary. CSN Chicago’s Chuck Garfien tweeted earlier today that GM Rick Hahn is willing to do just that, however, so perhaps a modest market could develop for the veteran switch-hitter’s services. After this morning’s Dan Jennings trade, Cabrera is one of the few plausible trade assets that remaining on a gutted White Sox roster. Struggling pitchers James Shields, Derek Holland, Mike Pelfrey, Miguel Gonzalez and Tyler Clippard all figure to be plenty available as well, though none carries much (if any) trade value.
- Though it’s been more than a month since Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte suited up for a game, Rosenthal tweets not to rule out a trade. Solarte is embarking on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend and has drawn interest from other clubs, per Rosenthal. Solarte, 30, was San Diego’s hottest hitter in mid-June (.337/.427/.589, seven homers in 26 games/110 PAs) before incurring an oblique strain from which he has not yet returned. The switch-hitting Solarte can handle both second base and third base, and may even spend some time at short during his rehab, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets. That versatility at the plate and in the field both looked highly marketable prior to his injury — as did his contract. Solarte is earning just $2.625MM this season with a $4.125MM salary in 2018 plus a pair of club options for 2019 ($5.5MM) and 2020 ($8MM).
- Recent indications are that Mets infielder Asdrubal Cabrera will be dealt, and he’s still drawing interest from at least a trio of rivals, per Mike Puma of the New York Post (via Twitter). The odds that he’ll be targeted perhaps also increased with an injury suffered on Wednesday by Phillies infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick. As MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki writes, Kendrick did not suffer a fracture when he was hit by a pitch on the hand. But it’s not yet known if he’ll miss time. Given that he has already missed two extended stretches with other health issues, Kendrick will perhaps need to reenter the lineup and show he’s at full speed to factor into the deadline shopping spree. (Even if he doesn’t, he’d be a candidate to move in August.)
rocky2395
Melky, holland, and Gonzales have to have some value as they’ve had decent years. Wonder what sox would get if they packaged 2 of the 3 together.
kidbryant
Not much more than salary relief.
BeisbolBaseball
The market just is not there for hitters, especially outfielders. The sox took advantage of the starved SP and RP markets, but they won’t get anything substantial for Melky. I don’t think holland has any value – he’s been atrocious recently. Gonzales may be useful as a fifth starter for some team, but he isn’t much more than an innings eating and those don’t generally yield high returns either.
Ezemann
A bag of balls …
white_sox9195
ILL KEEP MELKY AND BE A VETERAN NEXT YEAR WITH ABREU
shelteredsoxfan
He’s a free agent at the end of this season and I don’t see why any free agent would want to sign with the white sox right now
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Well, there’s the very bright future. Nobody will want to sign for just a year or two unless it’s on a make-good deal, that’s true. But there are people who see a future with Moncada, Kopech, Lopez, Robert, and others. It’s not too different from what the Cubs pitched to free agents to get them to come to Chicago.
frontdeskmike
Your caps lock is on. That’s the one immediately left of ‘A’.
padresfan
Solarte!
Padres2019ha
terrible timing but I don’t they move him out of respect for him and his family after losing his wife…and his value isn’t necessarily high. he’d be a great asset, along w Hand!!
alexryanperry
Ya might as well keep him til the offseason unless somebody wants him packaged with Hand. Unfortunately, Spangenberg and Asuaje have been playing very well so I’d hate to see their playing time get squeezed. I think Spangenberg should get some time at SS. He can’t be any worse defensively than Cordoba.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
I think if someone is willing to make a good offer, they’ll trade him, regardless of the circumstances. He probably would have been traded by now if he didn’t suffer that oblique injury.
max l
Why would the Cardinals trade Pham?? He’s only like their hottest hitter. And the Nats don’t need any more OF’s they already have a surplus of them in the minors, unless someone like Goodwin is potentially involved in another trade, so Rizzo needs to fill that spot??
CompanyAssassin
The FO just really hates to see the team succeed.
EndinStealth
They’re not trading Pham. Grichuk will go first.
CompanyAssassin
I hope that is the case, I’d like to see Dejong to too. Sell high, don’t deal with the regression.
Sec 3, My Sofa
Nats *probably* aren’t in too deep on another outfielder, they do have people, but …. Werth is on the DL, with no timetable yet, he’s 38, and his contract is up after this season. Eaton will be back next year, but not before then. Fourth OF Michael Taylor might or might not come back this season from his oblique strain — those are notorious for extended recovery time — and he has been playing above his career averages so far this year before he got hurt, so who knows which player they get back when he’s healthy? They don’t want Trea Turner going back to the outfield when he comes back from his broken wrist, which may or may not happen in August, if then. Adam Lind is a DH on an NL team; he’s a bench guy, not a starting OF on a contender. Brian Goodwin is a pretty good fill-in, for a fifth or sixth outfielder, but he’s not a starter on a good team. Difo is an infielder they put out there in emergencies. Andrew Stevenson is mostly glove, and wouldn’t be up now if not for all the injuries. Robles and Soto are at least a year away, if not two. Oh, and they still have to figure out how to pay Harper after next year, which won’t be easy. So they *probably* aren’t too in on Pham, but …
tbonenats
If Nats are in on Pham it is because he is inexpensive and they want OF depth to be able to rest Bryce a bit down the stretch and ease their injured guys back. He would also give them flexibility come playoffs if their injured guys don’t come back or for defensive value late in a game.
comebacktrail28
If the Sox pick up a lot of Salary on Melky he would seem like a good fit on Nats for a lotto type prospect …….. He can rake
tbonenats
He wouldn’t be bad, but I think they want more versatility for defense. But if their goal is a bat more than glove he’d be great.
Wainofan
I like Pham, however he’s probably playing above his ability right now and they should consider selling high before regresssion and injury sets in. He’s injury prone. I’d rather see grichuk go, but he has very little value. I feel gyorko and de Jong are other sell high candidates. But Pham, gyorko, de Jong should only go if return is good. Lynn and oh should be the only “must trades”
Vedder80
Because he is playing well beyond his actual ability right now, is 29 years old, and has a degenerative eye condition which has cost him entire seasons in the past. The Cardinals have too many outfielders, so they absolutely should trade Pham if a team is willing to give them a decent return. His value will never be higher as he has almost 6 years of control left, makes nothing, and is producing at an elite level.
fstop13
If they can get anything decent they need to trade him. 29 year old performing over his head
draushaus
Granderson:Twins. They could use a veteran out there.
Melky: Brewers. Sox would have to pay down salary. But is Milwaukee serious about making a run, or aren’t they?
Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey
I can’t envision Granderson netting much of a return.
BusterMove
With the Yankees and Red Sox filling their 3B needs, who is a good fit for Solarte?
padresfan
I rather have solarte over Frazier
Shocker
thegreatcerealfamine
I’d rather have the Chargers then the Padres.
padresfan
I rather have the padres than the chargers
reflect
Id rather have pizza than cereal
thegreatcerealfamine
You’d rather have whatever mom fixes you
Little Whirl
Is “neither” an option?
If so, neither.
goldenspikes19
I can’t really see a fit for him, maybe a small market team like the Pirates or Rays, maybe a team like the Indians, if they are concerned Kipnis isn’t coming back full strength, also some other teams that might be contenders this year or next few years, hes got a great contract
angelsfan4life
The Angels. Escobar is a free agent after this season. They need to get someone who can play third base for next year. And then they can have Cowart play second base. And can go into this off-season with one less hole to fill.
CompanyAssassin
If the Cardinals trade Pham, it will be the dumbest move that the FO has made, and they’ve made some doozies.
Wainofan
You don’t trade your worst players, because you don’t get anything for them. You have to trade some good ones to get value back. Pham trade would be selling high. I like idea of piscotty, bader and fowler when he returns in OF. So if value for Pham is highest I’d say go for it. Name some of these “doozy trades” FO has made?
jlmini10
Thanks for speaking logically Wainofan. Most ungrateful St. Louis fans don’t. Unfortunately when people try to diss Mo on his trades and smart people call them out on it, they just choose not to respond cause they know they’ll be roasted.
fstop13
I agree. 29 years old and playing over his head. If you get anything decent for him u have to do it.
gocincy
Wainofan is right – trade quality to get quality. Pham is unlikely to be valuable to the Cards down the road because of his age and the consensus evaluation of his low ceiling, but maybe he could help a team now while he’s playing especially well. A good trade is possible and you can only declare a trade stupid after the trade has actually happened. In other words, every player has value and if you get more value in a trade, then it was wise to make the trade.
moe 3
Trading Matt Adams didn’t work out to well I know he wouldn’t have gotten the chances in stl but that’s mathenys error
cardinals25
Adams’ trade is a bit misleading. While it’s true he caught fire and went on a power surge shortly after, he was traded to a team whose stadium is a launching pad for lefties.
bsb129
If the cards don’t trade Pham it would be a huge disappointment. I like the guy but his value will never be higher than it is right now.
zheller4
Exactly. Who knows how long it is before his vision issues become a problem again.
vacommish
Braves should target Solarte as the need a 3B who can hit and is affordable. They’ve hooked up with the Padres a few times over the last couple of years.
padresfan
Going to cost you highly rated prospects
Don’t think preller would give the braves a good deal after the past
jimmyz
Pirates should be all over Jose Iglesias. Low cost addition that can let Jordy Mercer have days off or slide to second on occasion and let Harrison bounce around more or also get more rest. Then next year he can push Jordy to second and slide Harrison to third given there’s no realistic expectation Kang will be able to play. Enough of having Hanson, Gosselin, and Moroff’s just sitting on the bench.
Danthemilwfan
.223? Granderson sucks. Passsss
Bleeding Blue&Orange
Because batting average is everything
jleve618
If I had a dollar everytime someone said that. Smh
metseventually
261/403/586 since June 1st.
hojostache
Exactly. More than his slash line is his still decent range in the outfield and great veteran leadership in the clubhouse. I’m hoping the mets can get a good upside lotto ticket. I’d also like to see Grandy get one more shot at a ring…..since the Mets blew it in 2015.
cmancoley
The Angels could try to make a move for Tim Beckham to fill in the 2b spot. Could be a nice and relatively affordable pick up
Cardinals17
I’m sure John Mozeliak will go after the Mets Cabrera. Why not add another second baseman before next year?? True to form.
bobbleheadguru
I did not realize that Iglesias is the 3rd best defensive SS in the league this year according to Defensive WAR (Baseball Reference). He is 14th overall at that position. He is like a SS from the 70s.
Little Whirl
That definitely matches the eye test as he is fantastic afield. Only the almost otherwordly Andrelton Simmons would be clearly above him, to me.
SupremeZeus
Redbirds should try to move Matheny for a MTBNL.
Wainofan
Pham and Matheny to pirates for Clint hurdle 🙂
moe 3
You couldn’t get a half eaten donut for Matheney
Wainofan
That’s why I threw in Pham !