The Blue Jays have shown at least some offseason interest in free agent right-hander Lance Lynn and center fielder Jarrod Dyson, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, who also lists the previously reported Lorenzo Cain and Alex Cobb. Whether they add any of those players, other free agents or go the trade route, the Blue Jays still have the payroll flexibility to make notable moves, Davidi explains. And general manager Ross Atkins suggested to Davidi and other reporters Saturday that the Jays aren’t yet satisfied with their their outfield or starting pitching, adding that they “could go several directions” for help. “We feel like we have one of the better systems in baseball, it’s not the best, we still have work to do, we feel that we’re probably in the top third, but we have plenty of depth to protect us throughout the major-league season, to provide options for us throughout the major-league season and to trade from,” Atkins said. “Whether that’s a bigger deal or a smaller deal, we’ll see, but we are now in a position where we have that option.”
More on a few other American League teams:
- The Rangers are still in touch with free agent right-hander Andrew Cashner, who’s interested in re-signing with the team, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports. After Cashner joined the Rangers on a $10MM guarantee last winter, the Texas native proceeded to toss 166 2/3 innings of 3.40 ERA ball, but that came with the majors’ worst K/BB ratio among qualified starters. Cashner, 31, is reportedly seeking a three-year contract this time around. If the Rangers ultimately do bring Cashner back, he’d follow Doug Fister, Mike Minor and Matt Moore as the fourth established rotation piece to latch on with them this winter (though Minor hasn’t started a big league game since 2014).
- Earlier this week, Tigers general manager Al Avila discussed the futures of shortstop Jose Iglesias, third baseman/outfielder Nicholas Castellanos and catcher James McCann with Dan Dickerson and Pat Caputo on 97.1’s The Ticket (via Katie Strang of The Athletic; subscription required and strongly recommended). Avila expects Iglesias to be the Tigers’ Opening Day shortstop, but he acknowledged that the 28-year-old’s time with the franchise is likely to conclude in the near future. Iglesias “may well be traded at the trade deadline, if not sooner, depending on the needs that teams have out there for a shortstop,” said Avila. Strang goes on to break down potential replacements within the organization for Iglesias, who’s in his last year of arbitration eligibility (he’ll make a projected $5.6MM). Castellanos is in his penultimate year of arb control, meanwhile, and he’ll collect around $7.6MM. Although the Tigers have come up short in extending Castellanos, “he might be a guy that we stick with,” commented Avila, who noted that the soon-to-be 26-year-old’s stock would increase “quite a bit” if he were to make a successful transition to the outfield. McCann is under control for the next three years, but Avila suggested that he could be a trade candidate, per Strang. (In case you missed it, MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently examined Iglesias, Castellanos, McCann and the rest of Detroit’s potential trade chips.)
- The Diamondbacks “doubled back with renewed interest” in Orioles infielder Manny Machado, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes. A deal is not imminent, though, as Kubatko notes that nobody has sent the pitching-needy Orioles an offer good enough to convince them to move Machado. As of December, Arizona reportedly wasn’t willing to part with third baseman Jake Lamb in a Machado package.
yetigonecrazy
So here’s my thoughts about Andrew Cashner. His league-worst strikeout rate is not pretty, and seems to be widely known around the league as a negative in the Andrew Cashner package. But, he pitched to a 3.40 ERA. We all know that ERA is a very skewed statistic and has a lot of influence from things beyond the pitchers control, i.e., defense behind him, etc. Here is my question: despite his low strikeout percentages, is it worth the Rangers time to consider him as a possibility, however small or large that interest is, simply because his ERA does reflect that he at least works well with the Texas defense behind him? I am not a Rangers fan, nor do I have feelings one way or another towards them as a team or Andrew Cashner as a player. Just trying to better understand the relationship between that low strikeout percentage and a “reasonable” ERA, and how that could possibly be looked at by both the Rangers and other teams.
Houston We Have A Solution
Cashner should open himself to being a reliever, which would garner more interest.
He could get a 3 year 18 mill deal
As a starter he averaged 94.2 mph on his fb. As a reliever he could probably get back to touching 97mph on his fastball.
Brixton
Convincing a starter coming off a ~3.50 ERA season with a non-terrible track record to be a reliever is gonna be hard, no matter how bad his peripherals were. Someone will give him a decent sized 1-2 year deal.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
For real. Why does this Cashner to the bullpen keep getting pushed? Dude has only ever found success as a starter and is coming of a 3.40 ERA season as a starter. He stays in the rotation.
Tyler 20
let me introduce you to his FIP. dude got lucky
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
When he’s on, he induces groundball with the best of them. He’s always going to outperform his FIP. Anyway, moving to the bullpen would make him worse, not better. Idk why this Cashner as a reliever narrative keeps getting pushed, but it needs to stop.
CursedRangers
On one hand Cashner is just decent, and I think luck played into his ERA. On the other hand, the Rangers are woefully light on starting pitchers. On top of that, they are almost maxed out with their salary commitments. So Cashner could be another economically reasonable starter for the Rangers to add to the mix. But I don’t like the way Daniels keeps using a band-aid approach with the team. Seems like a recipe for the team
to be stuck at .500 for a while.
badco44
I wonder about the Texas staff as a whole, Fister has some good games in him but slot of bad ones also… consistancy issues galore and Cashner also will follow that problem
bzincked
Cashner works fast. Keeps defense engaged.
Chris Sale Amateur Tailor
I think the truth is somewhere in the middle if you expect him to be a three and a half ERA guy you will be willfully disappointed but I don’t think he’ll be one of the worst starter in the league like it’s KBB ratio was
marlins17
His 4.61 FIP suggests that things went nearly perfect for him defensively. I think it would be unwise to re-sign him and expect anywhere near thr same result. If you’re looking for 150+ innings of 4.80 era baseball then maybe he is your guy. But surely not a 3 yr deal
tigers182
Why do you always push your readers into subscribing to the Athletic? You making commission off each time you mention them?
driftcat28 2
No ones pushing anything. It’s more of just a heads up to the readers that if they click the link they’ll need a subscription to read the full article. Regardless the writers here take the time out to give a concise summary of each article whether they’re subscription based or not.
ottomatic
Actually they do push many subscriptions. It’s basically the only thing I don’t like about this site (it is awesome overall). Most of the people here are repeat readers, it isn’t necessary to put the “and recommended” (sometimes it’s even “strongly recommended”- jeez). Subscription required is fine. We all know that the site writers recommend those subscriptions. That being said, it’s an extremely minor gripe as MLBTR is an excellent and very thorough resource for baseball news and rumors.
22222pete
I dont mind them recommending so long as they tell you its subscription required, which is the case here. That doesn’t always seem the case although maybe I was not reading close enough. Nothing worse than clicking a link only to find you cant read it. I’d subscribe more if so many didnt force auto renew on you. Cant tell you how many I got stuck with due to difficulty cancelling. Some actually make you call which is a pain when you live overseas. Others just have convenientally buggy online cancellation pages
One Fan
Oh they push allright. They push and push and they recommend and highly recommend which I find so annoying
Tyler 20
complaining about the journalism of a free site? hmm. could it not be they liked the article and while they summarized it its still worth the read?
Out of place Met fan
I don’t think of it as pushing for a subscription, but as they are sourcing their material. More of “you enjoy reading our summary of the article, here is where you can read the original”. Where you are going to find more content and things in greater context.
xabial
Ultimate troll F U move if they didn’t tell us “subscription required” on the article link, I don’t care how “highly recommended” it is, as long as they tell us.
One of these days, I may try the Athletic, NO to ESPN Insider, I don’t care how much people love Keith Law
I’m not paying for ‘premium content’ from ESPN lol
dugdog83
Haha
dynamite drop in monty
Keith Law is awesome! If you love meandering and endless diatribes of someone on their high horse talking down to everyone and recipes for boysenberry chutney.
jdgoat
I gave the Athletic a try and I regret it. Not saying you would, I just don’t find their articles as interesting like others do.
stollcm
Lets keep in mind the site is free….
DVail1979
The Pitching needy Orioles need Jake Lamb as the headlining piece from Arizona for Machado? Is Lamb trying to follow Ohtani? Not sure what pitching heavy offer Arizona could offer Baltimore but Jake Lamb doesn’t need to be a part of it because Machado might be in Arizona for one season … Lamb could still play third and Manny short … If I remember correctly Machado wanted to play short again no?
outinleftfield
The O’s need a 3B to replace Machado. There is no one the depth chart behind him and no one on the farm ready to replace him.
steelerbravenation
Sign Frazier or Moose
kbarr888
Other than Davis, Jones & Trumbo….the O’s look like a pretty young team going forward. I seriously doubt that Arizona would trade their future 3B (who is pretty solid) for 1 year of Machado.
O’s should be targeting a team that has a blocked 3B mlb-ready prospect, or a plethora of left-side options (like the Cardinals).
The Asking Price is obviously too high for 1 yr of Manny, and they’ll get even less in July. Cards would probably part with Gyorko to play 3B, plus a couple pitching prospects (not named Weaver, Flaherty, Hicks) that will be ready by ’19 (Hudson & Fernandez maybe?).
cards81
That’s still to high for one year…but maybe it would happen…Gyorko is controlled till 2020…I could see Gryko, Wacha, and a prospect pitcher…then sign Arrieta or Darvish
Joshua Tallent
I agree. They may want first rights of nego with Machado but if he wouldn’t allow a big market like Boston that rift why would he for Az.
Az should add a heavier bat with j.d. if they can. Don’t know the hit Machado would have on the cap and wouldn’t know who they could package as help in dollars.
My opinion
jbigz12
Gyorko and wacha is not bringing back machado unless that pitching prospect is flaherty.
whereslou
I get on here everyday looking for a trade or a move that Dipoto has made and there is nothing. I am not sure if I should be worried or happy. We still need a few players but what is the cost going to be to get them?
SuperSinker
You’re feeling restless watching DiPoto? That guy makes more moves than Uncle Drew.
whereslou
I know that is what scares me. What has his mind been cooking up with all this time doing nothing?
22222pete
Why so many trade rumors but not many rumors on free agents. OK I get the name of this site here. It occurs to me trade rumors mainly come from team sources since agents /players generally have no say except when there is a NTC but FA rumors should come from both. Teams obviously prefer to play down their interest but still, agents do the opposite. So why don’t we hear more from them? Is there some policy against this?
lowtalker1
I’m over here waiting for the brad hand rumors to kick into gear
Rbase
The thing with Iglesias is that he only a bit better than for example Alcides Escobar. Also, not many contending teams are looking for a shortstop, and barring major injuries this will still be the case in july.
stymeedone
With San Diego trading for Galvis, what team is CURRENTLY looking for a starting SS? Not much choice but to wait and see if things change. Also, its not like the Tigers have a prospect ready to take over, yet.
kbarr888
Pirates need one…..but $$$ is always an issue there.
steelerbravenation
D-Backs get
Machado
Braves get
Greinke
Orioles get
Markakis
Kazmir
Newcomb
Fried
Wentz
tbonenats
lol….why would the Braves do that??
stymeedone
Same reason that the Royals traded for Big Game James. He fills the need for a one. It sends a message to players on, and off the team that they are taking winning seriously. It moves Kazmir’s contract. I have read many times that Atlanta has depth in their farm, so I would think they could afford this. You got to give to get.
southi
Stymeedone, I won’t deny your reasoning, but I just don’t think that it would cost NEARLY that much to acquire Greinke. Probably more along the lines of Newcomb, Wisler, Blair, and Kazmir coming from Atlanta at most. Wisler and Blair have serious question marks attached I know. In my opinion Greinke’s massive contract kills his worth despite his considerable ability.
I don’t think that package then would net you Machado.
steelerbravenation
Wisler & Blair hold absolutely no value right now & I would want Markakis in for salary relief alone so that leaves Newcomb, Markakis & Kazmir so in order to entice the O’s you need to give up something of value which would be a Fried a mlb ready SP now if Wentz is to much after that than I could live with a substitute but I don’t see the O’s doing I️t without something else of value so this maybe where the Dbacks would have to add something else I wouldn’t expect them to add in Lamb and I am not familiar with their minor league prospects to add in
southi
Oh I know well that Wisler and Blair have almost zero value (which I included them as fillers and emergency depth in AAA for Baltimore only). I just don’t see with that massive contract Greinke requiring much of anything coming back from Atlanta.
stymeedone
Its still just one year of Machado. I dont know enough about the Braves system to know which prospects would be fair, but Kazmir would be affordable risk for Baltimore, and Markakis might sell tickets. As we saw with Verlander, teams will pay for on field value, even if the player is being compensated for that value, or they just wont get that player. Quality prospects will still be needed. The basic framework holds potential.
melfman1
D-Backs dump Grienke’s contract & get Machado without giving up anything else of value. Lmao… keep dreaming.
Meanwhile, the Braves give up a mix of vets & top prospects for the pleasure of overpaying $30 mill a year for a head case like Greinke. I doubt that is in their game plan.
steelerbravenation
Greinke is a legitimate 1 right now by the time the contract gets to be terrible the Braves would have 2-3 guys in the rotation making peanuts
Also the mix of vets would be 1 yr salary dumps to cover Greinke’s contract or at least part of it for this year and Arizona would be getting Machado for 1 yr but for the sake of the trade if you pulled a prospect from the Braves and put a DBack 1 in his place than fine but whatever I can still see it want it to happen
stymeedone
So what you are saying is, the D Backs would do this move. I would think the O’s would do it, too. So the only question is figuring the right mix of dollars coming along with Grienke, and perhaps adjusting the prospects going to Baltimore to satisfy Atlanta.
steelerbravenation
I️ don’t know if they would do it or any of them would do it this it’s just a proposal I am putting out there to gauge a reaction and stir up conversation but to me it fits all 3 teams needs
Greinke=Ace
Machado=SS
Markakis=lh corner OF/salary relief
Fried/Newcomb=Young controllable SP
Wentz=sp prospect
Kazmir=salary relief
Also Greinke off Arizona’s books provides them the ability to allocate that money to an extension for Machado but if he chooses not to resign there they have the money to lock up Goldy with absolutely no problem
tonypro7
That is a terrible deal for the O’s. Markakis? Kasmir? 3 prospects with highest rated one being 7th in the Braves organization? Those offers are why the O’s haven’t traded Machado yet. Also…. just an FYI… Duquette has trouble trading with 1 team. A 3 team deal would make him dizzy.
Sam.rhodes16
That’s so awful for the Braves that it necessitates no discussion besides “stop.”
Prozack
How about this…..
Orioles get Brandon Drury, Anthony Banda, and Alex Young.
Dbacks get Machado.
This can fill what the orioles would want; young starting pitching and a ready third baseman. now considering Machado did not have a very good season and only one year left on his contract is why i would not include Duplantier or Taylor Clarke. Also for the Dbacks Lamb could stay at thrid, Machado could move to short, Owings could move to the outfield and Marte could move to second. Also, that could push Tomas (Worst baseball player ever) to be a fourth outfielder. To me this would help out both teams tremendously.
Any thoughts?
stevebaratta
You know who I’d like the Jays to sign? John Jay! Jay the Jay. Instead of a number just put a J on his back. Decent 4th outfielder too.
baseballpun
And Jay Bruce!
dynamite drop in monty
And JAYson Hayward!
steelerbravenation
It has been reported the Braves want an Ace pitcher he is a local kid so I would see him accepting the move and how else would they get their ace they want other than trade for 1 signing 1 would have to be an overpay and they can afford this contract moving forward because as the kids come up they won’t be making much money he leads a future rotation of
Greinke
Allard
Wright
Soboka
Gohara
Trade Folty for Clint Frazier
Trade for Chase Headley to hold down 3rd until Riley is ready if not then sign Brandon Phillips for 1 yr with an option to do it
Bring back Jaime Garcia for 1 yr & sign Matt Garza to a 2 yr deal to reestablish themselves and to eat innings giving the kids time to develop
Also bring back Moylan to give a veteran presence for the bullpen
iverbure
I love these convoluted plans that require 4 trades 5 signings lots of ifs and buts. Pitching is so viotile that I doubt teams look much further than 2 years down the road. Especially the braves for whatever reason seem to chew through young arms at an alarming rate faster than most. Hanson, Medlan, Beachy just off the top of my head.
steelerbravenation
Yeah and McDowell & Gonzalez are no longer with us so that has nothing to do with it anymore
Tyler 20
im a braves fan but i find it amazing that you think that rotation will work. like pitching prospects havent fizzled before
madmc44
Nick Castellanos, Iglesias and Fullmer to the R. Sox in exchange for Xander, JBJ , Swihart and ERod–possibly add Chavis or Travis or Brian Johnson. ERod’s injury may require substituting other options.
Castellanos is definitely an up and coming player @ 25/26. I could see him as a 1 B, 3B, LF, DH. He came up @ 21 and has consistently played a lot of games. Sox fans were divided between Xander and Iggy when he was in Boston. Fullmer has the potential to be a 3,4,5 in the rotation.
MLBTRS
?????
mookiessnarl
That really doesn’t help either team.
Familia1931
Not here to troll, but by gosh this is terrible. Why would the Sawx need Nick? Ever heard of Devers? Why would we want to sawp a better SS for an often hurt, not nearly as good? And then you suggest we send even more. Sheesh. I thank god you arent running any team.
iverbure
It’s actually fabergasting how you actually thought that was a reasonable proposal.
Any time trades involved multiple big league talent everyone’s proposals are awful. Trades like this just don’t really ever happen for several reasons
adshadbolt
Why does everyone want to trade Xander bogarts I just don’t get it he’s young, a solid defender and and really good hitter sure he doesn’t hit the 30 hr that people thought when he was in the minors but he had 200 hits and hit .300 two years ago in today’s game guys just aren’t doing that as much. Who would they get that’s better I can think of only a couple short stops that are better Lindor, Correa, Seager, Xander is equal to didi and a healthy Crawford in my opinion.
Familia1931
Xander is solid, which is exactly why he has trade value. You cant expect to trade and give nothing in return. X is an average defender, and he goes cold for months at times. But the sox can just get a great defender at SS since he isnt providing pop anyway. He needs to be in a package for Machado. You cant replace real proven talent with just potential. I remember when Will Middlebrooks came up and did great, I was hollering about a trade for him fir David Wright. But we loved the potential too much and look at what happened. Give me One year of Machado, and send Pedro and Papi to convince him to stay, and I guarantee he stays.
Tyler 20
i see you play mlb the show a lot. your proposal is awful
edreed20
Jays have the best system in baseball….. wut
shane
Except that’s not what he said.
jimmertee
No the jays do not have the best system in baseball. It is very good but I suggest that the Astros or Yankees or Atlanta or St. Louis is much better
Tyler 20
they have the best farm in canada though!
axisofhonor25
If that’s the starting rotation for the rangers, it’s going to be a long season
OHHenry992
I really want the jays to land Cain.