Here’s the latest from around the NL West…
- The Padres and Brad Hand’s representatives began extension talks about a week ago, the reliever told Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune and other reporters. Those discussions resulted in the three-year, $19.75MM agreement between the club and the southpaw that Hand described as “a life-changing thing.” From the Padres’ perspective, general manager AJ Preller said that his team is “trying to build a foundation of guys going forward that fit for us and we feel like are winning pieces.” It would seem like the extension more or less closes the door on the trade speculation that has circled Hand for the last couple of years, though Preller noted that “you always listen on any player at any time. You’ve got to be open to all different possibilities.”
- Preller also said that the Padres are looking for a veteran middle infielder that can provide depth for shortstop Freddy Galvis. San Diego was checked in on Alcides Escobar earlier this winter, and in my view he would appear to still be an option given the lack of known interest in Escobar’s services.
- Evan Longoria shared some interesting details about his trade to the Giants in an appearance on the MLB Network on Friday (as detailed by MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer). Though Longoria didn’t have any leverage in the form of no-trade protection or 10-and-5 rights, he said he “kind of gave them [the Rays] a short list of teams that I thought would be a good fit for me,” specifically teams that “were going to be committed to winning, year-in and year-out.” It isn’t known how much, if at all, Longoria’s list factored into Tampa’s decision-making, though the Giants were one of the teams included. The Cardinals, another club linked to Longoria in trade rumors, were also on the third baseman’s list. Longoria said he felt a trade was coming after a talk with Rays GM Erik Neander two weeks before the Giants deal was completed.
- There hasn’t been as much talk about an eventual extension for Paul Goldschmidt as in past offseasons amongst Diamondbacks executives, which makes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wonder if the team is “subtly preparing for the possibility of life without Goldschmidt. Not that they’re expecting to move on; just that they might have to.” Goldschmidt is slated to earn $11MM in 2018 and the D’Backs hold a $14.5MM club option for 2019 that seems like a lock to be exercised. While the first baseman has posted superstar numbers over his career, Piecoro notes that the D’Backs will have to weigh the value of committing a huge salary to Goldschmidt in his age-32 season and beyond, especially when Zack Greinke is already taking up such a big chunk of Arizona’s payroll.
The Diamondbacks are in a tough spot with Goldschmidt. I personally think they’re about the 4th or 5th best team in the NL so they have a good shot at one of the wild cards, but if things go awry for them this year, then they could always try moving him at the deadline. Some team might pony up to get him for two potential postseason runs, and Arizona could get value for him before he’d walk, and they have Pavin Smith anyway. If they’d theoretically wait until next offseason then they might have a hard time getting value that corresponds to his talent like what the Orioles are experiencing with Machado right now (not to mention that he’ll be a first baseman in his 30s, albeit with defense and baserunning that’s still really good).
Now, I don’t think the Diamondbacks should trade him. At all. But if they somehow fall out of it this year, it’s at least something to think about.
4th or 5th best ?
Top ten for sure. They are very hit or miss. They’re definitely top 3 in the nl west though. Imo he is the number 1 hitting 1st baseman in the nl and number 2 with the glove
Well they were 4th in the NL last year. Hardly outlandish. Saying they’re top ten is basically saying they are a team that plays in the NL.
Thank you hahaha I didn’t think saying a playoff team being good was going out on a limb but I guess you never know
Saying they’re 4th or 5th best is saying they will have as good a season in 2018 as 2017, and that’s unlikely. Counting on the rotation to be as healthy in 2018 as last season is a lot to count on. They probably won’t be able to re-sign JDM, which means Yasmany Tomas will probably see more time in the OF. Greinke is a year older. And they’ve replaced Iannetta with Jeff Mathis.
Some position players may do better in 2018, but asking that of the pitching staff is asking a lot. I could be wrong, but I doubt they’ll be 4th or 5th best in the NL. After all the roster hasn’t changed that much since they lost 96 games in 2016.
“…I didn’t think saying a playoff team being good was going out on a limb…”
They were a playoff team in 2017, yes they were good, but that’s no guarantee that they’ll be one in 2018. The Jays, Orioles, Mets, Giants, and Rangers were playoff teams in 2016, and not in 2017. The D’backs aren’t an elite team like the Dodgers, Nats, Indians, and now the Astros, where not making the playoffs would be a surprise.
Like a lot of teams that made the playoffs in the past, Rockies, Royals, Jays, Giants, Mets, etc., the margins are narrower and things need to break right. IMO the D’backs over-achieved in 2017 and are going to field a team this year that’s not quite as good as last year.
Hit and miss. Ups and downs.
trade greinke and sign goldy long term no question
Good luck trying to trade Greinke. Most likely eating a lot of salary and receive nothing special in return.
A LOT easier said than done. Good luck with that AZ.
Hard to trade ZG when no one will want him with that stupid contract.
Would you pay a picher 34.5 million at the age of 36, 37, 38. No pitcher is worth 34.5 million at the age of 36 let alone the age of 37 and 38. AZ would have eat most the contract. If your going to eat the contract why trade him then you paying for nothing. AZ stuck with him. ZG knew what he was doing when he signed this. ZG will be a snake for years to come no mlb stupid enough to pay someone 34.5 a year for the next 3 years straight got news for you. Would you sign at picture who’s 36 or 37 got 34.5 million a year. That’s a year not over the course of the contract.
Hmm yeah you trade him. Good luck lol
You lost me.
You forget to turn off the “force trade” and “force extension” settings on MLB The Show again?
Reminds me of my Cardinals team for several season ago. Pujols was to become a free agent in a couple seasons and they gave the big contract to Holliday, which felt like a contingency plan. Arizona has a similar timetable with Pollock and Goldy. Should they extend Pollock now/soon and hope they can sign Goldy? Or will Arizona have neither in 2020? I guess the possibility of Martinez resigning with Arizona makes more sense than I thought because he could just take place of Pollock resigning.
Cardinals would not have given contract to Holliday had it meant losing pujols. They knew they could afford both, which was true until angels offered insane amount that was over the top of cards offer and pujols went with the money. Cards would have gladly paid pujols $200 million and he retired s Cardinal.
But he didn’t. That all that matters.
What if this what if that.
The Bulls would have had Magic Johnson had the coin flip landed heads.
No sense of thinking past and wishing get you nowhere. But I do agree with you Waino
Remember nothing is a for sure thing in life. Never assume
Greinke plus $$$ to Braves
Newcomb, Markakis, Folty, Anderson & Drury to Orioles
Machado & Kazmir to D Backs
Who says no & why
Machado worth more then just drury.
Unless its half or more of greinkes salary braves are better off betting on newcomb and anderson.
I say no because it will never happen.
One Arz won’t pay most the contract
2 The Braves don’t need an aging pitcher at that price.
3 the O’s. Would have to get more
Ask that question on the live feeds. Lol
Atl…They would be giving up 3 rotation pieces for this year and only getting 1 in return. Grienke’s contract would have to be almost entirely paid for the Braves to give up Folty, Newcomb, and Anderson!
Seems like quantity over quality to the Orioles to me, and I’m not sure why the Braves would want Greinke so much more than Darvish/Arrieta/Cobb (ie: at the cost of so many players). Depending on the dollars involved, I guess it would be a good trade for Arizona, but they would need to follow up this trade by signing a pitcher or two.
The math doesn’t fit.
I agree with you. AZ not paying half ZG so you can wipe that out already.
But let’s say they do pay it which they said they won’t already.
If the did trade him they have to replace him with Darvish or JA maybe Cobb.
So your looking at 20/26 million a year. Add the fact they say eat half ZG contract. Now your paying 26 million for a Darvish or JA at the very least. Maybe go cheap with Cobb at 17-18 million which is a far far drop from ZG Add ZG partial payment 17.25 million so now your paying 43.25 million for a replacement and a few unproven players. Yeah good bye Goldy n Pol maybe a few others.
The math doesn’t hold water. WO replacing ZG with a Darvish or JA or even Cobb you have completely went against the original purpose of even signing ZG. Like buying a house for 500,000 then flipping it for $400,000
What?
No way braves pick up an aging Greinke (still good, but by the end of the contract who knows) and lose 2 prospects. And AZ couldn’t possibly keep Machado long term
Getting rid of Grienke’s contract is the big get for AZ. No one expects or requires them to sign Machado.
The braves say no
No team will give the O’s what they demand for a 1 year rental of Machado. . The only way He gets traded is if he agrees to an extension with the new team.
And obviously that won’t happen so they’re screwed.
Who says no? Every knowledgeable baseball fan.
Trade Zach to Seattle! Dipstick will take all his salary and give the dbacks his best prospects
Dipoto^*
Zero chance of Archer going to St. Louis. The Rays extract real value and St. Louis never gives up real value.
Alcidies to SD makes sense as a veteran back-up for middle infield depth. Could also be a nice little cherry on top for Hosmer, knowing one of his boys is on the roster. After trading Solarte, and DFA’ing Rondon. There is nobody that can play SS on the ML roster now. So Escobar makes a ton of sense.
Nobody behind Galvis obviously.
Now, either sign Hosmer or move on.
Bring in Alcidies Escobar for veteran middle infield depth. Can back up Galvis and Asuaje.
Trade Headley for more SP depth, possibly to NYM for one of Gsellman, Lugo, Wheeler or Pill.
Trade one of Pirela/Jankowski/Dickerson if Hosmer is signed because Myers will be moving to LF and that may options isn’t necessary.
Bullpen looks all but complete. Rotation has 9 to 12 options at this point which is plenty, only other glaring hole that I didn’t mention was backup Catcher. Green has said nice things about Rafy Lopez but I think they bring in someone with a little more of a track record/veteran presence. AJ Ellis possibly, Miguel Montero, Alex Avila type.
Why would the Mets trade any of those guys for Headley? At this point we are looking at Headley and $ for an org filler type.
Yeah that’s true. Maybe the asking price of Moustakas and Frazier remain steep so NYM may prefer trading for a 3rd baseman than signing one of the guys mentioned.
If Preller threw in 5 million, that would take Headley from 12.5M to 7.5M for this year.
Headley at 7.5M should get SD back something a little more than just a filler hopefully from NYM.
Only reason I mention NYM is because they seem to be one of the only teams with a glaring need at 3B, SF could be a other option, but doubt SD trades within the division.
I don’t care what we get back. Getting Headley’s mopey ass out of SD would be a blessing in disguise, especially with all the younger players behind him on the depth chart.
The Pads continue to put out confusing and inconsistent signals. They have one of the 3 lowest payrolls in MLB yet they make noises that they want to offer one guy a contract as large as the rest of their annual team payroll???
Where will they move Wil Myers? He’s decent at 1st but terrible in the OF. He’s also been more productive on offense and is far cheaper than Hosmer and under team control for a long time. Replacing him at 1st with Hosmer makes almost no sense.
If the Pads really want to improve, they should instead pour that 140MM into improving their rotation in their pitcher friendly park. They already have a good BP. Everyone knows pitching is where it’s all at.
I’m starting to wonder if the Giants will ever get a center fielder, or if that position will just be played by the fans in the outfield bleachers.
That might be a valid concern had any center-fielders been signed as FAs or acquired in trade. It’s not like a ton of guys who can play CF have come off the board. The market is as flush as it was when the off-season started. With more players available than spots it’s a buyer’s market. The Giants are just waiting for the inevitable price drop.
I’m wondering if Langoria still feels the same about the Cards reputation to improving after Moz recent statements about being satisfied with the current rotation and our BP?
Improving what? The team or the DeWitt portfolio? As of now it seems like the later is most likely ..as long as Cards fans continue to reward the owner with sellouts after several years of charging us a kings ransom to watch AA defense, little league base running and a burned out pitching staff.
Why is this the case after 20 plus years of seeing team values skyrocketing upward and the Cards sitting on a mountain of TV money?
It has become painful for folks like myself who have been loyal fans for over 6 decades.
Or maybe there’s nothing better on the FA market that represents an upgrade over what’s in house. The grass isn’t really greener at the moment for either market. They’ve got strength in numbers regarding the rotation. They’re currently projected at a hair under 90 wins with the current additions. The market is slow for all teams and next year’s FA class is better if they want to commit to someone like Donaldson. Hold on to the pitching depth and trade for the stretch run at the deadline.
Saying good bye to Evan is sad and awful. He helped build the team and now is swept away. How can the team survive? Rumor has it moving to Jacksonville or Ft Meyers