This week in baseball blogs…
- The Fro Zone ranks the top 50 free agents and predicts landing spots for each of those players.
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The 3rd Man In proposes a Yankees-Indians trade centering on Corey Kluber; The Runner Sports regards James Paxton as a more realistic target than Kluber for New York; and Pinstriped Prospects ponders the possibility of the Bombers acquiring Madison Bumgarner.
- The Giants Cove wonders what the future holds for Bumgarner and Buster Posey.
- Chin Music Baseball examines potential trade destinations for Paul Goldschmidt.
- Prospect Universe names teams that could have interest in acquiring Zack Greinke.
- Mets Daddy wants the club to trade for Kluber.
- Angelswin.com (links: 1, 2) shares the first two parts of a Halos offseason primer.
- District On Deck lists six free-agent starting pitchers the Nationals should pursue.
- Blue Jay Hunter has a piece on Saturday’s Toronto-Houston trade.
- SportsRadio 94 WIP (podcast) discusses Chase Utley’s Hall of Fame chances with HOF voters Jerry Crasnick and Danny Knobler.
- Reviewing The Brew talks to Brewers prospect Mauricio Dubon about his return from an ACL tear, playing with Keston Hiura, and making it to the big leagues.
- East Village Times identifies three Mariners trade targets for the Padres.
- Call to the Pen (links: 1, 2) delves into Noah Syndergaard’s future and takes a look at left-handed starters the Phillies could land.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed argues the Dodgers have underachieved in recent years.
- Everything Bluebirds wonders how productive a healthy Troy Tulowitzki would be in 2019.
- Sox On 35th reacts to Rick Renteria’s contract extension.
- Notes from the Sally previews the 2019 Augusta Greenjackets, who are the Giants’ South Atlantic League affiliate.
- Rising Apple plays Mets GM and asks readers to do the same, while Mets Critic analyzes 2019 Steamer projections for the club.
- Rotisserie Duck offers some observations from the latest version of “The Bill James Handbook.”
- Foul Territory compares Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.
- The K Zone interviews Rays prospect Jim Haley.
- Jays From the Couch looks ahead to 2019 for Brandon Drury.
- Amazin’ Prospects credits Mets minor leaguer Tim Tebow for the strides he has made as a pro baseball player.
- The Point of Pittsburgh enlists a Phillies writer from The Good Phight to provide his take on the Pirates.
- The Runner Sports has “a potentially crazy plan” centering on Twins center fieder Byron Buxton.
Submissions: ZachBBWI @gmail.com
Does anyone realize Paul Goldschmidt has very similar numbers to Mike Trout. How come Bryce Harper is talked about more than Goldschmidt it makes no sense. If Goldschmidt has a few more all star seasons he could be a hall of famer
Paul Goldschmidt, while a great player is not anywhere near in Trouts league. It’s really not even close there is no offensive or defensive number that doesn’t favor Trout. Goldy has about half the WAR in similar time as Trout. So no Goldy isn’t even in the same area as Trout not a knock on Goldy because there is no one in Trouts league over the last what 6 or 7 years.
In terms of home runs, runs batted in, and on base percentage, Goldschmidt is still better than Harper and you’re right no one is good as Mike Trout he’s the best all around but Goldschmidt’s offensive numbers are highly underrated. He deserves the contract that Bryce Harper will likely get
Because Goldschmitd won’t be a free agent until he is 32. And no one is saying he wont get a big contract, just wont be the biggest of all time. I agree he will make the HOF tho
Raytown I agree Goldy is great and his numbers stack up well with Harper. It’s just Trout is in a league by himself the dude has 70 WAR in 8 years insane.
Goldy reminds me of Bagwell.
Bagwell juicer no comparison
WAR is meaningless made up geek crap. WAR yawn
You choose a stat and Trout has been the best even if you don’t believe in WAR. So doesn’t matter Trout is still in a league of his own.
I agree WAR has gotta be the dumbest thing to ever come into baseball. Anybody that mentions WAR immediately loses credibility with me.
Ok then choose a stay and tell me who is better then Trout in the last 8 years. The only thing I have to say about WAR is the best players seem to have the highest WAR every year so must be something to it.
Sure but dont come in and act like batting average or RBIs are an important stat
“Anybody that mentions WAR immediately loses credibility with me.”
Which makes your opinion suspect.
Aha so i guess people know not to take you seriously then.
WAR is a great stat especially when taking into account a better way to judge the whole player on a full season basis. It’s a guide more so, and does have its flaws being cumulative. But I’ll take it over oh judging a players offensive/defensive prowess of BA, RBIs and errors.
People fear and often hate things that they don’t understand. It makes them feel stupid and small. WAR is as “made-up” as any other baseball statistic
until there is one standard for calculating WAR, I classify it as more “made up” than ops obp
lol. both goldy and votto are as good.
What about Brett Gardner?
I think the Indians should trade Corey Kluber to the Yankees for Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen.
Thoughts anyone?
Are you kidding?? Frazier and Sheffield are an overpay. Then you add in Heller and Feyereisen??? My goodness.
The real question is “Are you kidding?” To get Kluber it likely take more than the players mentioned above.
He’s trolling
I would be fine with that package. Kluber would the Yanks a true #1. If the Yanks were to trade for Kluber and let’s say sign Corbin then it gives the Yanks one of the best staffs in basaball.
Kluber/Severino/Corbin/Tanaka/Sabathia and you can allow German, Loisaiga, Adams and Mike King to hone their skills at AAA. and in line to replace Sabathia next season.
I disagree with ranking Tanaka behind Corbin on that list (because, please, look at their numbers), but, other than that, yes, that’s a great battle plan for the Yankees.
Of course, landing Kluber is going to be tough. Imo, more of a dream than a realistic goal. I know the Indians are floating him, but my guess is they’re hoping to snag a huge overpay, not a fair trade. There are teams that can produce a huge overpay (the Astros top 3 prospects, for instance, would count as such). The only way the Yanks could produce an overpay is if they included a star player off the major league roster (Sevy, Andujar or Hicks).
I think the only good play the Yanks have here is to offer Sevy (plus prospects), but ask for both Kluber and Bauer. If they’re not willing to give up Sevy, this whole exercise is pointless…just go for more realistic trades.
Speaking from a pure baseball stand point that’s pretty much how they would line them up. Breaking up the lefty’s for a series where u throw ur 3-5th starters
Your idea of a “Yankee overpay” is so out of line with reality. The Indians absolutely would not settle for 3 top prospects from team A but expect one of Hicks, Andujar or Severino in a trade, especially Severino who produced a higher WAR this year and is much less expensive than Kluber.
Look at what past stars have garnished in a trade and their haul was no where near what you suggest,
If the astros were dangling Whitley and tucker in a trade the Yankees could not compete based on prospects alone. They simply cannot beat that offer with their minor league system. I think that’s more or less his point with his post. And it’s true. The Yankees cannot beat that with minor leaguers. The astros top 3 prospects are much better than the Yankees top 3 and that’s not even a subjective argument. They just are. You make andujar available and then you’re talking differently.
I think you are on it would take Sheffield and Frazier plus to pry Kluber. As a Red Sox fan I would hate to see Kluber with the Yankees.
Funny, Miller for a player to be named 2.5 years in the future. Realistically any package for Kluber that features Sheffield and Frazier will need at least one more major piece.
Bold statement saying Harper to the Cardinals…I don’t see it happening but stranger things have happened
theyre one of the best run franchises in baseball and and have a young and talented rotation. I’d be surprised if the handed out that contract but I have to admit it does seem like a good fit.
Congrats on getting a World Series ring
Crazy to put a package of Frazier, Sheffield, AND Florial for Kluber. Frazier, Sheffield and a ptbnl is good enough imo
It would start with at least Andujar and Sheffield, less than that I would be shocked, and pleased.
There’s not much of a history showing a team trading a player like Andujar with one outstanding season under their belt. People assume they’ll throw Andujar out there because of Manny but I really see the Yanks having more interest in Harper to play LF than switching out Anduar for Manny,
My wish list?
1B-Voit
2B-Torres
SS-Resign Adeiny Hechavarria
3B-Andujar
C-Sanchez
RF-Judge
CF-Hicks
LF-Sign Harper (or Markakis or Brantley)
DH-Stanton
Bench-Resign Walker or sign Murphy as a backup at 1B, 2B and emergency 3B along with Torreyes, Romine, Gardner, Ellsbury
Trade for a true FOR, sign Corbin, resign Robertson and look for a lefty. I think Britton will want a team that will guarantee him a closer job. Maybe Miller?
I like this south beach. I agree the yanks are in on Harper and signing Murphy will be great. However I do believe they resign Britton and they shouldn’t resign walker, they could bring Toe back up being the cheaper option
Chris sale, who was 27 at the time with 3 years of control, was brought in for the 2nd and 33rd prospect in baseball at the time. Kluber isn’t worth that, not after this postseason and being 32 years old
Kluber also has 3 years of control and I’d say that the cost of front of the rotation starters is very high at the moment, since so many competitive teams need them and there are few selling this type. Supply and demand. Kluber has had a very dominant run of seasons and one postseason start isn’t going to diminish his value very much at all. He won 4 postseason games in 2016 (including two in the WS)
Sale had 3 years of control when he was traded too.
No it’s not.
So basically you’re saying 2.5 years of Miller is worth more than 3 years of Kluber.
Florial is the #11 prospect with Sheffield in the 60s and Frazier extremely low rated in the 70s of the top 100. Gtfo if you think these 3 PLUS will net an aging Kluber who stunk it up when it mattered. Miller at the time got Frazier #21 and Sheffield 69th. Miller was 31 off a 1.45 era
Yeah Kluber is trash, he fell all the way to third in the Cy Young voting. Gtfo if you think prospect rankings carry any meaning.
*nick young “???” Meme*
They actually do
Sheff is listed as a top 50 by BA and a few others. Florial was injured for half of 2018 but still considered a top 30-50 guy. Frazier no longer appears on top 100 list because he has 183 mlb PA.
Also, you can’t decide someone’s value based purely off of what they did in the playoffs. Kluber is a legit #1 starter.
What it means tho is that we probably should try and extend Hicks on a 3-4 year deal since we don’t have anyone near ready to challenge him. Florial will probably start 2019 at A+ or AA.
It would wide us out as far as legit top 100 guys but Cash has done a good job rebuilding the farm and I would move Sheff, Florial and Frazier for Kluber. The fact that Kluber has more trade value than Miller did is irrelevant.
“They actually do”
Only to fans making up hypothetical trades. Well, admittedly that overstates the matter a bit, but they don’t mean nearly as much to teams as they do to fans. Every team has a propitiatory list of prospects that they do not share. It’s not unusual for teams to have differing opinions about players.
If the Indians take a certain package for Kluber it’s because of what they think of those players, not because of where any one of them ranks on a prospect list. That’s borne out by the number of top prospects that fail, and the number of allstars that never made a top 100 list. For teams to base anything on what MLB.com or Baseball America, or any other list, would be a stupid way for any team to operate.
Baseball America writers would be working for mlb clubs if they got it right time after time. However the list gives you a good baseline on where prospect a is compared to prospect b. I’d rather have the prospect in low A tearing it up at an elite clip due to the fact they’ll be a viable trade chip for years if they continue producing
It really is just a thing for fans. Actual teams have their own scouts and internal ratings on prospects in their own systems and other teams. They aren’t googling the prospect rankings of players they have or are looking to acquire. It is just a thing for fans
What’s your point with miller and Kluber? Kluber is a TOR starter and miller was a reliever. I don’t see the correlation.
Too much of a price tag for my liking. I wouldn’t blame Cleveland for wanting that package; Kluber is a great pitcher and their asking price for him should be sky-high, but to me Frazier, Florial and Sheffield should be kept and groomed for the future. Frazier should start next season in left, Florial should be ready by the time Hicks ages out and Sheffield could be ready for the rotation as soon as next season. Kluber is great, but it would take too much to get him.
That’s not how it works. A prospect that is major league ready is a lot more value than a prospect who’s still in single A…even if they’re ranked the same by the various lists, because the lists only try to quantify a player’s potential, not their current value.
Sheffield was traded to the Yankees when he had re;atively little value. A few mill. at most, he was second fiddle to Frazier. Now, he’s a major league ready lefty, with a lot more value (pretty sure that even his ranking on the prospect lists went up).
As for Clint Frazier, that’s hard to say. If he didn’t have the concussion issues, it would be easy to say: he would be far more valuable than he was when the Yanks acquired him, because his numbers have been great….but, as things stand, I have no idea. Concussions are scary, and fear is hard to quantify.
It depends on how ready that ball club is to contending. For example the marlins wouldn’t want a prospect ready next year for realmuto when they got victor victor and victor
Sheffield was a first round draft choice and a top 100 prospect at the time of the Andrew Miller trade. To say he had relatively little value is total nonsense. Frazier’s value is a little lower now due to his concussion problems. The level a prospect is at whether low A or AAA means nothing to a player’s ranking or value. What is important is the ability and potential a player has. Vlad Guerrero was not less valuable at A or AA than at AAA.
A deal with Kluber will start with either Torres or Andular. Cleveland wants MLB ready players as part of the package. Remember that other teams besides the Yankees will be talking with Cleveland as well. I doubt Cleveland trades a pitcher unless they get exactly what they want. They are a smart organization.
Frazier was clearly the higher rated prospect but Sheffield was already on most top prospect lists anywhere from 60-85.
In general I do agree that people read way too much into top 100 lists. I mean they’re handy for fans to have a general idea of evaluations and are fun to follow but there are dozens of non-top 100 guys that are all-stars.
Frazier, Sheffield, and Florial might not even get a conversation started. The Indians don’t NEED to trade Kluber, so they’re not taking an offer unless a team borderline overpays.
Sheffield and Florial with a ptbnl and we got a deal
Braves, Dodgers and astros beat that offer pretty easy.
Kluber grades out as the best pitcher in the major leagues over the last five years. He has two Cy Youngs and was in the top three in Cy Young voting four out of the last five years. His WAR averages 6.5 per year over that period.
Also, the Indians don’t have to trade him. We can simply take another year like last year, try to pick up some short term vets at the trading deadline and take our chances in the playoffs.
The Tribe will ask for three top 100 prospects and a major league reliever. Might even get it. Not sure we want Frazier when Houston probably offers us Tucker.
If you think you’ll get Kluber with Sheffield, Frazier and a couple other players, you’re crazy.
Sheffield and Florial are top 100 prospects and I think Frazier can be valued just the same. His issues have been recovery from the concussion but I think he’s proven his bat deserves a shot to hold an mlb starting job. A great showing at AAA .305/.388/.562 w/ 11 hrs in 54 games at age 23. A decent .743 OPS in 15 games in the majors. A bullpen arm wouldn’t be a problem. Maybe Kahnle?
Kahnle was generally pretty terrible last year so I don’t really see him moving the needle at all, especially since he has enough service time to start getting reasonably expensive soon
That’s why Kluber will not be a Yankee. Cash is not gonna trade Florial, Sheffield, Frazier, Abreu for a 32yo pitcher with a ton of innings on his arm when he can sign Corbin and Kikuchi and then perhaps put some of those prospects into a deal for Bumgardner or if he were willing to take on Grienke big contract work out something with Arizona. I don’t see Indians trading the Yanks Kluber especially since the Indians lan on competing and may have to play the Yanks in the playoffs unless the Yanks completely overpay which is not a Cashman move.
1. Even that package you suggested that Cashman wouldn’t do is probably too light, honestly.
2. Corbin is being evaluated off of a career year that might be an outliner and has a ton of injury concerns. Kikuchi is a complete unknown, and each of them would cost significantly more financially than Kluber would.
You’re high. This isn’t Kershaw we’re discussing. This is 32 year old Kluber who had a 4 digit postseason era in 2017 and a above 7 postseason era in 2018
Kershaw has significant injury problems. He’s still one of the best in the game when he’s healthy, but he’s much more of a risk than Kluber would be. Also, Kluber’s postseason ERA this year was based on one game, a game that he actually pitched pretty well in before the wheels just totally fell off. But again, one game.
Finally, Kershaw definitely isn’t the guy you want to bring up if you’re trying to make a point about postseason success. Just a thought.
Harry P. Shave it. Let’s stop with the small sample size postseason ERA. The horse is dead. It was never a valid point
Utley In the hall? lol not even close. how do you count all the seasons he hit 350+ over 100 or less games. you have to play to be in the hall. Mauer deserves it way more
Isn’t there a better Giant’s Blog than Giant’s Cove? Although this one was better than most, referring to Bumgarner as a RHP, is an indication of how on the mark this blog is.
I wrote the above before reading the Fro Zone’s top 50 FA predictions. That makes the Giant’s Cove guy look like a baseball genius; brutal.
i find it interesting that he has no one being signed by the giants, you could say that it is because he thinks they are in rebuilding mode but he still has guys going to the Orioles, tigers, etc.
Yep, he has Donaldson going to the Orioles, no less.
The best part about The Fro Zone’s predictions was how smug he was on his predictions.
Go check Frascella’s Twitter out. If you can read past the dozens of hashtags in every post, he thinks he’s king of the internet. Even calls his site, “the hottest new sports website in the game.”
Your site needs more than 50 views a post and more than your own contributors liking each others’ tweets to be good.
But don’t tell him that. He thinks he’s the best. It’s hilarious.
I enjoy reading these lowball Kluber offers. It’s gonna take a lot more than reversing the Andrew Miller trade for the Yankees to get Kluber.
The Indians don’t need to trade him, so it’s not a matter of just taking the best offer. They’re not dealing him unless they get an offer that they know will make them better now and in the future, and that kind of offer would probably have to be an overpay on the part of the acquiring team.
Well said Michael Chaney! I agree with your post 100% Cleveland is a smart organization. They will due what is best for the Indians.
Mets Daddy wants the club to trade for Kluber.
———-
Is Mets Daddy a special needs child?
I remember last year Yankees said no to gerrit cole for just Andujar. And y’all want 4 of the Yankees top prospects for 32 yr old Kluber lmao y’all are funny
Goldy is more valuable than Kluber and even he won’t command as much as these Indians fans want
Goldy only has one year of team control. Kluber has three years of control. That makes Kluber more valuable than Goldy.
Kluber is significantly more valuable than Goldschmidt if for no other reason than Kluber plays a premium position. They both play at a very high level – but Kluber’s new team, if he is traded, will get one of the top starters in baseball for three years. That is much more valuable than one of the best 1b’s for one year.
That was reported, but it may not have been the entire, or even the true, deal. Even if it was it’s not the best example to bring up. Given what Andujar is defensively and what the Astros got with Cole, I bet the Yanks regret turning down that deal.
What if the Astros would eat all of Grienke’s pay in a Goldy deal?
Connor, I never see you reference “TotallyTigers” in your column. There is often a lot of good information not read on other sites. Thanks.
Voit, Frazier, Loaisiga for Greinke, Goldschmidt.