The Reds will have until 5pm EST on Friday to reach agreement with second overall pick Hunter Greene. As MLB.com’s Jim Callis explains, he’s among a few top picks who have yet to agree to terms, but is still expected to do so. Indeed, as Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer further explains, it’d rate as quite a surprise if Greene doesn’t take a record-setting bonus offer to turn pro before the deadline.
Here’s more from the NL Central:
- Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein warned today that outside additions won’t solve the club’s woes, as Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com was among those to report. Epstein says the defending World Series champs “can’t force anything” at the trade deadline. Whatever changes to the roster are ultimately made, he says, the organization’s “biggest fixes are inside the clubhouse.” That hardly establishes (or even really suggests) that Chicago won’t look to improve at the deadline, of course. And it certainly doesn’t hint that Epstein lacks in confidence in the existing talent. Indeed, he also says he expects the club to return to the high level of play it has carried over the past two seasons. Caveats aside, Epstein did indicate that the Cubs aren’t exactly looking to structure any deadline blockbusters. “We’ll do what we can to look to augment that,” he said, “but there’s not going to be a fundamental shift in the player personnel that we have.”
- The Reds may or may not have much interest in dealing away 27-year-old reliever Raisel Iglesias, but other teams are surely eyeing the quality righty and his appealing contract. It’s unsurprising to hear, then, that the closer-needy Nationals have at least some degree of interest in Iglesias, as MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweets. On paper, the fit is plenty clear. But it remains to be seen what kind of asking price the Reds will place on Iglesias — who is currently sitting on a 1.59 ERA while maintaining a jump in velocity this year — and whether the Nats will be willing to offload significant prospects to get him.
- Similarly, rival organizations are surely wonder whether the Pirates have any inclination to take offers on righty Gerrit Cole. There’s nothing definitive in that regard, but Jon Heyman of Fan Rag writes (among many other National League notes) that the Bucs are giving indication that Cole isn’t likely to be traded. Perhaps an overwhelming offer could shift the thinking, but it seems clear that Pittsburgh isn’t itching to cash in on Cole with two more years of arbitration control remaining — particularly with his value perhaps tipping down somewhat. While he has been healthy, Cole has had the roughest year of his career thus far, allowing 1.59 home runs per nine and carrying a 4.43 ERA over 107 2/3 frames.
a1544
Gerrit Cole has been garbage for over a calendar year now. I don’t get the fascination of constantly putting his name out there on the block. I doubt any team that’s contending wants to deal with him right now and I highly doubt the Pirates would want to sell him at his low point when he still has several years of control.
Ilikesox
2 years not several
julyn82001
The Pirates are with Gerrit Cole as the A’s are with Sonny Gray, you will need to entice them teams to trade theirs ace’s, good or bad season aside…
THE JOKER
Theo is right about the. Clubhouse. needs to fix it’s own from within … injuries come & go U can’t point fingers..a one player…the Cubs shot them selves in the foot by letting Fowler walk to St.louis …who is the going to leadoff… Now..if it was me…I would try Javier.B.. there
Mikel Grady
Fowler has been less than stellar this year. He wouldn’t have made that big of difference
gainer34
Actually this has been Fowler’s best offensive year in his career
wellhitball
Fowler may be a quality player now, but are you confident that he will continue being a 3-4 WAR player for the next 4.5 years when he’s only had 2 seasons of +2.3 WAR in his entire career?
Are you confident he’ll still be playing CF throughout his current deal when it’s well established that he’s already a below average CF?
Playing for an NL team, would you feel confident letting him clog up a corner OF spot when his only standout offensive capabilities are his plate discipline and his comfort with hitting leadoff?
Would you have been willing to give him a full no-trade clause and tolerate him being on the DL for an average of over a month every season, especially when the proportion of time he spends will likely go up as he ages?
Would you be willing to give up 2 late first round picks to sign him? The Cubs seriously need arms and they were able to grab an extra one because Fowler decided to bounce.
Lastly, with Almora, Happ and Schwarber knocking on the door and the front office’s known preference for prospects, Fowler’s departure at the end of the year was imminent.
cxcx
What two first round picks?
jdgoat
Fowlers had two better seasons offensively
chinmusic
Agree.
Ry.the.Stunner
That maybe true if you’re someone who only looks at home runs.
2016: .276/.393/.447
2017: .245/.336/.481
Considering he’s a leadoff guy, OBP is the most important stat, and his OBP from 2016 blows his 2017 out of the water.
2012 and 2016 were the best offensive years of his career. 2017 doesn’t stack up unless like I said, all you care about is home runs.
Mikel Grady
Agreed. He hasn’t played since 6/24 and been on DL a couple times . He wouldn’t be worth keeping happ almora and Jimenez off field for 5 years
chesteraarthur
“Actually this has been Fowler’s best offensive year in his career” yeah, except for the fact that, you know, it hasn’t…
wellhitball
Whoops, that should actually be just 1 extra first round pick.
Djones246890
There’s absolutely no way to know that. There’s a hundred million variables that could’ve changed the future, had he stayed in Chicago. Who knows? He might’ve had a career year in Chicago, this year.
JKB 2
Fowler is hitting .245
thebare
Stick to the plan count on the Kids that got us to prom 2 years and this. Happens but back to wait till next year . The plan is good the kids are coming
thebare
Pitchers are coming remember Archer deal we’re still crying over that trade
thebare
Stay the curse Theo we got game but boredom set in this time next year we will still wonder about this in are way to WS 2018
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Fowler was only a temp fix. He wasn’t suppose to be back in 2016, but he came back. Helped win a world series. He wasn’t never gonna be a long term fix. Almora Jr should be in center every game.
I Believe We Can Win
If for some reason hunter greene doesnt sign literally watch the padres sell everyone and spend the rest of the season tanking for that 1st overall pick.
padresfan
If he stays with his college commitment then he couldn’t sign until his junior year
Unless, he decided to go to community college
padresfan
But, the Reds won’t get a chance to link up with him again unless he allows them.
If he doesn’t sign
He runs the risk of blowing out his arm
Chances are he signs at the last second are high
Not too many top 5 don’t sign
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
Sure he runs the risk of blowing out his arm, but the secret is he’ll just take out insurance based upon his current draft status. So essentially he doesn’t lose anything except for maybe the ability to sign overslot value. I don’t know if he will sign, but to assume that the number 2 draft pick will sign simply because there are worries about his arm and money is kind of inaccurate. We’ve seen this before who held strong commitments before to UCLA.
sixpacktwo
Insurance is not free and I’m pretty sure his family would have problem supplying it.
I Believe We Can Win
What did brady aiken and jacob nix do for a year? He could got
pitch at IMG academy like Aiken and Nix did.
padresfan
Aiken? Bust
I seriously doubt he won’t sign
I Believe We Can Win
Aiken had TJS 2 ish years ago. Little early to call a 19-20 year old kid a bust when hes probably still regaining velocity and command after TJS. When hes 24 and still in A ball then you can count him as a bust. But if they transition him to the pen lets say next 2 years and he excels and is a useful ML pen piece not a bust.
fisher40
Aiken made a mistake not signing with the Astros. Karma bit him in the ass. Now look where his career is, almost down the toilet
padresfan
Where is he playing still? A ball?
padresfan
He sure did
Dude had damage
davidcoonce74
Aiken is in A-Ball, He’s thrown 79 innings, allowed 78 hits, walked 58 and struck out 50. He’s also hit 4 batters and thrown 6 wild pitches. His ERA is only 4.46, mostly because he’s given up a huge number of unearned runs, which is common at that level. I doubt Cleveland pushes him much past 110 innings or so this year. T
he control part is the big issue, obviously; most TJ guys have control issues after the surgery but his have gotten worse as he’s gotten further from the surgery, which is worrying. Last year, in low-A and rookie ball, he walked 4.1/9, K’d 11.1/9 for a 2.71 K/BB ratio. This year he’s walking 6.6/9 striking out 5.9/9 for a 0.90 K/BB ratio. He’s got a long way to go.
dodgerfan711
He can go to valley college 2 minutes away from his high school and get drafted next year.
padresfan
You think he will get more money next year?
Run the risk of hurting himself? Get torn up in junior college ball
Or making getting drafted lower?
padresfan
Maybe*
bbatardo
I suspect if he doesn’t sign issue won’t be money but the Reds organization and how they planned to develop him.
ksoze
I’m sure he’ll sign. If not, you probably wouldn’t want him in your organization. I think he’s a pre-madonna. Hopefully I’m wrong and it’s just contractual delays.
outinleftfield
LA Valley doesn’t have a baseball program. What I have heard is he enrolled in Glendale CC. They have one of the best JC programs in the country.
outinleftfield
Padres will trade 5-6 of the 8-10 guys they have said are available in trade. Cahill, Chacin, Hand, and maybe Yates, Stammen, and Buchter as well. Richard, Pirela, Solarte, and others have been mentioned as available in trade. The second half will be more like April than it will be like June for them if they do get all those guys traded.
padresfan
They started strong in April and may
outinleftfield
Padres had a winning percentage in April of .407. Then .393 in May. In June it was .440 and in July it’s .600. They have been playing well as of late, but started really bad. The 2nd half will more closely resemble April and May if they trade 5-6 off the current 25 man roster as they are expected to do.
baseball-reference.com/teams/SDP/2017-schedule-scores.shtml
beaubeadreaux
The Cubs need to trade Davis, Jay, & Strop to the Nationals for Tyler Watson, Jesus Luzardo, & Feede. The Cubs might win the division but they aren’t winning the World Series. The team has to fill 3 rotation spots next year & need to plan for next year. The Nationals need to push their chips in & go for the WS this year before Harper leaves. The Braves & Mets won’t be as bad next year, so this needs to be the year to go all in
Mikel Grady
Cub fan , I like it. Wonder if Cubs do sell Davis lackey and arrieta.
teufelshunde4
Never happen in a winnable division. If Cubs were 10 back already maybe. But not in 2017.
I Believe We Can Win
Not sure why the nats would want jay. Also Strop Davis and Duesing would be better for the Nats to part with Fedde, Watson, Luzardo. Literally 3 relief pitchers who are pitching well this season
ray_derek
There is zero chance the Cubs would trade players to improve the Nationals roster. This is just ridiculous
24TheKid
What are you talking about?
SuperSinker
The Cubs are doing nothing but adding to the existing talent. This is lunacy.
themed
You mean overrated talent.
Bleeding Blue&Orange
Granderson and Rivera to the Cubs makes too much sense to actually happen.
padresfan
Cubs arent buying
They have a club house issue
You should dl bleacher report to your phone
TrueOutcomeFan
Whaaaaaaaaaat?
Bleeding Blue&Orange
Yes a clubhouse issue, missing Ross, and Granderson would help remedy that.
As for Cubs not buying, don’t believe everything (or anything) you read on Bleacher Report
SuperSinker
Probably best to just never read BR.
padresfan
Not everything
Some things are trash
thegreatcerealfamine
BR is the worst sports site there is. Used to be ok but has fallen off the proverbial cliff,they have writers who are too bias one being a huge Cubby homer.
Ry.the.Stunner
The Cubs are within 5 games of 1st place with half the season to go. They will most certainly be buyers if anything.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
They are buyers.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
The cubs don’t need granderson. They have Almora. He wouldn’t be a starter. He would play for his hometown though.
s2alliot
With the pre-draft info about Greene preferring Padres/Twins over Reds, it would be a sight to behold when Greene not sign with Reds; but, I may be dreaming. I still would love to see Padres draft Turang at this point than Greene because of thr obvious need in SS. Still, Greene’s 102MPH heater is enticing though.
davidcoonce74
You don’t draft for need in the MLB draft. The players are way too far away for it to matter. You draft best player available., period.
outinleftfield
Will Greene be back in the draft next season. He wanted to play for the Padres and they will have another top pick, 2-4, next season. An old teammate’s son plays for Glendale Community College and he said Greene is enrolled and has talked to them about playing SS for the Vaqueros. Chris Cicuto is a great baseball coach, so going there certainly would not hurt Greene’s shot at being picked at the top of the draft again. As long as he stays healthy.
s2alliot
The big *if* question I have, if for a miraculous reason that Greene does not sign with the Reds and Padres draft him next year, who would they view as a long term candidate as SS? Tatis? Almanzar? Urias? If Padres intend to compete from 2019 onward, Padres needs to develop/add SS talent sooner than later as it is a big hole Padres has to fill in their lineup.
outinleftfield
Don’t most of the prospect gurus think Tatis will eventually have to move to 3B? If he continues to play like he hs the 1st half, he could jump into the top 30 prospects in baseball next season. What a steal by Preller.
Almanzar is the J2 kid they signed last July right? He is 16 or 17? Way to far from the big leagues to count on him contributing by 2019-2020 when they are hoping to be contending.
Urias? Isn’t he a 2B?
With all those guys they will be trading this year and all those prospects already on their farm, they have the players to go after a great SS prospect or even an established player.
s2alliot
Maybe, void in SS is something that Padres need to address via FA or trade. I was putting those names up because they at least are classified as SS prospect at this point. The real question is, which team is willing to give up a talented SS prospect when best SS prospect are the best among all other positions?
66TheNumberOfTheBest
If you are getting low balled, sure, keep him, but otherwise, the Pirates should absolutely trade Cole.
Trading him now with 3 playoff runs of team control likely gets a bigger return than trading him next year even if his numbers look better then.
And unlike Cutch, who they could keep if they are willing to pay him, there is literally zero chance of the Boras lead Cole staying. Trade him.
padresfan
So what this I heard that hunter Greene has enrolled in his local community college?
Rumors got anything on this?
Sky14
Can’t imagine Greene will not sign. This is the same guy who was shut down in April to protect his draft stock, doubt he’d risk waiting another year or more.
schellis 2
If he doesn’t sign I hope he blows out his arm and is reduced to changing tires at Walmart. Starting to sound like Matt Harrington who wouldn’t sign unless he was getting record breaking contract and was drafted five times.
Priggs89
Wow. You’re a great person.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
Sweet. First off get a life. Second off I’m glad he’s a smart kid and has a bright future beyond just baseball. It’s people like you that makes me glad there is draft position insurance and he will get every darn penny that the slot allows. God forbid he may want to do more than just pitch. Sorry that you feel so crappy about your life that you wish that ill upon him. That’s pretty pathetic.
outinleftfield
He shut down pitching, not playing SS and he did it to lower his draft stock, not enhance it.
sidewinder11
After last night, the DBacks should be looking into every bullpen option available. Iglesias would be a nice addition if the price is right.
theduke
Iglesias has 4 years of control after this year. The price will be astronomical. They couldn’t get him if they unloaded the top 4 in their system.
The Nationals probably won’t get him because they won’t deal Robles. Juan Soto could maybe headline a deal, except he’s still in Low A.
In the end, I doubt Iglesias gets moved, the price will be too high.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
They have one of the worst farm systems in the league. They should be looking at marginal improvements. I think they’re fine in terms of CL, because Bradley is clearly their best reliever. I’m not sure they have the ability to make significant bp moves.
theduke
They could probably get Drew Storen from the Reds. He’s been pretty solid this year and has closing experience. Could possibly be a setup guy for them this year. Maybe something like Storen for Taylor Clarke and Marcus Wilson.
JGubb1
Most teams that win the World Series experience the let down factor so it no surprise!
sixpacktwo
Why would the Reds trade Iglesias as they need him and 3/4 more like him. The rebuild is over. Their ‘D’ and on field players are great. Give them two sub 4.00 Starting Pitchers and there right in the thick of things.