The latest from Jon Heyman of Fancred…
- Along with the previously reported Mike Foltynewicz, the Braves don’t plan to trade center fielder Ender Inciarte or shortstop Dansby Swanson this winter, Heyman hears. Both Inciarte and Swanson have come up in trade rumors this offseason. Moving Inciarte would free up center field for Ronald Acuna Jr., but it would also take a capable starting outfielder away from a team which already needs help in that area as it is. The Braves are better situated in the middle infield, where a Swanson-less version of the club could deploy a combination of Ozzie Albies and Johan Camargo as its starters. Still, there’s reportedly hesitation on the Braves’ part to move Swanson. While Swanson hasn’t lived up to the hype that came with going No. 1 overall in the 2015 draft, he’s still young (24), just one full season into his career and controllable through 2022.
- The Angels were reportedly in the mix for free-agent starters Patrick Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi before they signed elsewhere, and the team hasn’t done anything since then to bolster its rotation. The need for high-end starters remains obvious, then, though the Angels are shopping in the second tier of the market – not at the top – per Heyman. As of now, the Angels are neither willing to go big on a free-agent starter (the priciest one remaining figures to be Dallas Keuchel) nor take a significant chunk out of their farm system to improve their rotation, according to Heyman. General manager Billy Eppler noted the importance of building a strong system earlier in the week, and it doesn’t seem he’s willing to take any steps backward in that department.
- The belief is that the Phillies have “considered” free-agent third baseman Mike Moustakas as a fallback if they’re unable to sign Manny Machado, Heyman writes. Needless to say, Moustakas is a far less exciting option than Machado. It’s also debatable whether Moustakas would serve as a substantial offensive upgrade over incumbent starting third baseman Maikel Franco, judging by the similar production the two posted in 2018. Of course, Moustakas certainly carries the more impressive track record of the two at the plate; further, unlike Franco, Moustakas hasn’t been a defensive liability over the course of his career.
Mike Moustakas is to Manny Machado as…
Steak is to gas station hotdog.
I rather eat a gas station hot dog then gas station sushi
Just stay away from their nacho cheese, especially in California.
Your first problem is that you think nacho cheese is something real. Taco Bell is not a Mexican restaurant.
Taco Bell is a little piece of heaven
Taco bell was voted a top 5 Mexican restaurant in the US…smh
Truth be told, stay away from all non-pre packaged foods at a gas station. Otherwise you’ll end up with more gas in your tank than your car’s.
Blasphemy!
WHAT???…insert Home Alone Face here?!?!?!
Machado would be the gas station hotdog.
They say once u had caviar there no going back to PBJ..
So caviar as to PBJ?
Maserati/Bentley as to… Honda Nissan
That’s a false call. PBJ>caviar.
I wonder what your version of pbj looks like.
Don’t ever disrespect peanut butter like that again
Chevette is to Corvette.
The Tortoise to the Hare.
ey is to Ocasio-Cortez or
Ocasio-Cortez is to ey
God you all got your analogies backwards. Moose is the hot dog to Manny’s steak.
Machado is a punk. Moose would hit over 50 hrs in that little park the Phil’s play in. Moose is the prime rib where Machado is bologia
Chevy Truck to a Ford Truck.
Anthopoulos won’t move current MLB guys on the 25 man roster, but that farm system is ripe for picking and about to be decimated. Now that expectations have skyrocketed he’s about to get trigger happy to get that top tier starter they desperately need.
he would have done so already.
I agree, maybe move a few pieces for a borderline “ace” but no more than 2-3 of our top 10 prospects.
Why? 2 biggest fish are still on the FA market. Lots of time to trade. What’s the rush?
I could see Greinke being a nice fit.
They already have that top tier starter …name of Folty
He is great at pitching a fit
He had a solid season but his ceiling is a #3.
He just finished 8th in Cy Young voting as a 27 year old. That’s more than a solid season, and puts him well above a #3 NOW, let alone his ceiling if he can work on his control.
Finishing 8th = one 4th place vote (Scott Miller – Bleacher Report) and one 5th (Mark Bowman – the Braves MLB.com writer) That means he was left of 28 ballots. Not sure how that translates to “well above”
Also have to take into account that out of 3.5+ years starting it’s the only time he has had a WHIP below 1.3 and ERA below 4.3.
If he can repeat in 2019 then a case can be made.
I’d agree that I want to see him repeat before we go crazy or call him an Ace, but to put him down as a “#3 ceiling” when he just put up a season better than (or at least in the running with) any #2 in the NL is too far to the other end of the spectrum in my opinion.
His ceiling is a number 3? Then how did he pitch like an ace last season?
Obviously the ceiling is an ace and you project him as a 3. There’s a difference
The Astros are so vulnerable in the West right now. Angels just have so many holes to plug tho. I wonder if management would be willing to splurge the next couple of years while getting nothing from Pujols at all.
If the Phillies miss out on Machado at 3rd, I don’t really think moustakas is the best fit.
He might surprise you.
If they don’t get Manny… But move Franco in a package for a SP, Moose would fit… Similar offensive production… But supply it from the left side for a right heavy lineup.
SD seems to have had interest in Franco for quite some time… wonder what they’d be interested in giving up?
Not much for Franco. Hes OBP challeneged kind of like Renfroe.
Theyd probably be willing to part with a lower prospect like Jeisson Rosario.
T_Rexx2 – 1 year deal with an option, maybe. Not a long-term solution. Could always try to make a trade for Nolan Arenado later or try to sign him in 2020. Maybe not going to happen, but just a plan B with Franco for this year.
The Phillies front man for talking points, Todd Zolecki is already laying the ground work of them not getting either Harper or Machado…They also seem to be ignoring Dallas and going for a much less talented Mike Minor..
oh, they’re definitely not going to sign either. Cutch was the backup plan for no Harper and they also went from Corbin, to Happ, to bleepin Mike Minor. i like the Segura trade but if he’s the highlight of this offseason that us fans have been waiting/promised for the last 7 years, i’ll be extremely disappointed.
People will be calling for Klentak’s head on a platter if Segura, Cutch and Minor are the mainmoves of this offseason. But honestly, I’ve been slowly getting myself prepared for us to whiff on all the big guys. Honestly, I would to see them sign like Pollock or LeMahiehu if they need to pivot from Machado or Harper
Truthfully would prefer to skip out on Keuchel and sign a couple of 2nd tier starting pitchers. Angels need DEPTH, not a splash.
though depth with mediocre players can’t take the team deep into the post-season. though that might be already out of reach for the halos.
Those 2nd tier starters are gonna make us an .500 baseball team. Although, I don’t think Keuchel is the answer either. Kikuchi is our best bet and then try and make a big splash next offseason.
Keuchel is a 2nd tier SP, haha. He’s not an ace anymore.
I agree. I think they actually need three 2nd tier pitchers. Then they would have much needed SP depth.
and how much is needed for those 3 second tier pitchers? $36 mil? $45 mil?
I feel like Eppler is waiting out the Kluber/Bauer market before committing to the current asking price on starters. We can probably get 2 from the Grenkie/Keuchel/Kikuchi/Gray/Stroman/Sanchez/Fiers/Duffy group. I’m hoping 1 trade 1 free agent so we can sustain the integrity of the farm.
This whole Nelson Cruz idea is the first rumor associated to Brodie Van Wagenen that I dislike. Although Cruz is a great hitter but at 38 y/o and having not played the OF in 2 years is too risky. I love BVM’s out of the box thinking but this is not a good one. Focus on Grandal or Ramos for Catcher and Pollock or Jones for the outfield.
U forgot Bryant for Syndegaard
@BasebaII1600
Move on troll. That’s why most ignore your comments, like I will be moving forward. Grow up.
you didn’t ignore
Hence why I said “moving forward”.
I don’t understand why the Mets would be interested in Cruz. He can hit and hit for power but he’s a liability in the field and his numbers would take a hit if you platoon him and also use him a slower bat off the bench later in games. Makes no sense for him or the Mets really.
I see the interest but Cruz would block Alonso if he was there to play 1B or take play time from Nimmo or Conforto. It’s possible Cruz could be part of the plan if any of those three were traded for JTR.
Then again if that’s the kind of role they have in mind, Wilmer would be a lot cheaper.
I agree. Cruz is a great hitter but at 38 y/o he makes little to no sense for the Mets.
Idk the exact number but Swanson has 300 plus batting average 7th inning or later. His hustle, leadership and defence seem worth holding on too
Yup, Dansby runs the infield …and his D and clutch hitting are impeccable…Camargone’s 0-15 in the playoffs was quite nice (hard to be a team leader when you lack the motivation to even learn English huh ?)..he’s one chalk line away from a month on the DL..LMAO…as for Ozzie the pitchers figured him out, thus his floundering in the second half, when he couldn’t hit a beach ball
To me, it looks like a lineup effect for Dansby. He hits 8th, so later in the game, there is the threat of a pinch-hitter behind him instead of just the pitcher. Albies failed to grasp that there is such a thing as too much launch angle. Past a certain point, you’re just hitting a bunch of pop-ups.
I definitely see that Albies got to power happy after hitting all those HR’s early. Hopefully he is making the proper adjustments this offseason.
Be interesting to see the type of season Albies has. Very Unconventional for a smaller player to try to hit home runs
Such a hater bro. These are young guys brimming with talent. Growing pains sure. But their stat lines look great for low 20s. The eye test, they pass that too. I’m not sure why speaking English is brought up? My guess is about 1/3 of the team speaks Spanish in including Albies and Acuna. How many languages do you speak? It just sounds like maybe your life hasn’t gone according to plan and I’m sorry. However, trying to bring people down doesn’t do anything but make you seem pretty and bitter. Find the positive my dude.
Agree..as a Phan, I don’t care if they speak gibberish as long as they play hard to help the team win..
how does angels have prospects to get starters
LAAngels could have really benefited from either Corbin or Eovaldi. Tough to gauge what will happen in Halo town. They need help in multiple areas..
I remember when the Mets signed Michael Cuddyer to a 2 year deal worth more than the qualifying offer the Rockies just gave to him at 36 years old. It might’ve been a more reasonable deal if Cuddyer didn’t just annihilate pitching at Coors like a ton of other guys before him.
Nelson Cruz being an ageless wonder who has like Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz and Barry Bonds have all hit well into their mid 30’s but I still wouldn’t be tempted to get a bat first player playing field everyday in his late 30’s. He’s already pretty banged up every year without the toll of diving around everyday, or slamming into walls catching stuff. Fielding is a young man’s sport and his bat needs to be kept in that lineup everyday like what the Red Sox are doing with JD Martinez who played a career high in games this year by being the primary DH.
In 2013 (last full season before joining the Mets), he did pretty well away from Coors — .311 BA, .852 OPS.. Of course, he was better at Coors but not monster numbers.. In 2014 he did do much better at Coors but .282 BA was still nothing to be ashamed off.
sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6637/splits/?selected…{%20%22season%22:%202013,%20%22seasonPhase%22:%20%22REGULAR_SEASON%22,%20%22groupedBySeason%22:%20true%20}
Braves offseason has been a disappointment thus far, if the Mets add JTR and nationals add ANOTHER top SP it’s guna be even worse unless AA can start pulling some rabbits of his own out of his hat.. Going into an offseason with a GOOD chunk of money to spend and to have “2” 1 year contracts take up most of it isn’t ideal.
With the talent on the way, one year contracts are ideal. There will always be opportunities to throw long term money around but they won’t always be sitting on so much potential. Play it out to see which players realize their potential and fill in the cracks later.
Perhaps that means a little less certainty in their ability to win in 2019 but not greatly diminished. Waiting on Pache, Waters, Contreras and Riley may give them plenty of money to use with so many low cost options.
Obviously it isn’t likely that all four develop but it isn’t impossible. The more of them that do, the better 2020-2025 will be for them. There are too many SP to list all but it’s likely they have the ace on the way and possibly more than one who will be that good.
I like the patient approach.. They’re probably going to trade some prospects but it won’t be a situation where the future is gutted. That probably means the names they acquire will disappoint some who want to believe they can be the Red Sox south.
Forget Realmuto. Keep both Inciarte & Swanson. Sign Carlos Gonzalez on a 1 year deal contract based off his injuries, incentives built in on plate appearances and performance. That way Cargo, much like Josh Donaldson, is playing for his next big contract. Braves can still hope Duvall can bring a more to the field that what they traded for last season. Play Johan Comargo all over including the out field. Go get David Robertson & Kelvin Herrera to help the bullpen. I SP,who desperately needs a new Home whom the Braves could trade for at minimal cost is Jonathan Gray of the Rockies. Is just like to see the Braves give it at least another season with their top 5 young minor league arms around unless they A can get Thor. Give a player like Jon Gray a shot…send the Rockies Bryce Wilson & Travis Demeritte and get Gray
Swanson is not going anywhere. Inciarte either.
Riley & a SP prospect will headline a package for Realmuto
A top prospect SP will be moved at the deadline for MadBum
Markakis will resign
Bullpen pieces will come thru free agency
Steeler, this is what I don’t get, in your trade proposal, in two years who is going to better off. I don’t know if we have an ace in our farm system but I don’t know why we just don’t give our system a chance. I’m not a GM but if it’s me I would sign two free agent relievers and I would sign an outfielder for no more than two years, Pache is coming. I would sign Gonzalez to play in our outfield and I would sign two good relievers and at the end we will be there at the finish line.
When does 2 years become now. How does anybody know what Riley is going to be ? His K rate is high and hey he may be the next Arrenado or Mike Shmidt who knows but there comes a point when all these assets could be used to make a team better for now & getting the best player in the league at his position doesn’t always come along everyday.
Ask Met fans how many times they would trade their top prospect for Mike Piazza even when they had a 40 hr hitter at his position in Todd Hundley. Or ask Houston fans how many times over they would trade for a supposed washed up Verlander ?
Point is there are certain gambles need to be made when a team starts to take the next step and my opinion it’s now time to take a gamble.
Contreras is not ready and his timeline says he should be ready as Realmuto is looking at the door. Either he extends and Contreras gets traded for another asset or he walks and AA gets a draft pick. It’s a no brainer to make this deal if the main piece going back is coming from a position of strength. He may be better than Camargo but he more than likely won’t be better than Camargo & J.T. over the next 2-6 years.
No one has a problem with Riley’s k rate until trade rumors makes it out to be an issue. Lol relax. Our system has the tools to work itself out. I agree we trade some prospects for either JT or an ace like pitcher. But I think we have to hold on to hitting prospects considering how few we have and how rare it is to get a good one. Never know… could be the next trout. Everything can simply click at the right time
When you’re good, use free agency and trades to get better and dominant. Winning divisions isn’t good enough, being medicore/beating up on bad and mediocre teams isn’t good enough. Being dominant and making teams fear your lineup, staff, and BP wins championships.. Streaky lineup with holes plus an inconsistent starting staff who like to put batters on via the BB equals laughing stock first round exit..
Folty is a good #3 until he’s consistent and gausmann same story.. Freeman needs to stay away from his bad streaks after May 31st is done with. Swanson/camargo need not to pull their heads when swinging and only be focused at hitting the ball up the middle.
We need an ace like greinke/kubel and an outfielder who can change the game with his bat period.
How do you know Realmuto is going to be like his past, how do we know that Realmuto does not become average. What I’m saying is we have two average catchers if we want to improve, the bullpen is where we need to start.
The Angels LOLZZZ!!!
Expecting the typical 20 games out, under 500, and can’t sniff the playoffs.
You don’t think Shelby Miller and Josh Tomlin guarantees at least 90?
What kind of fan are you
youtu.be/gSccwmmrS5A
He’s not a fan. He’s a troll.
If the Phils are interested in a guy like Mike Minor, why use a prospect or two to trade for him when you could get similar (or better) production from Derek Holland on a similar investment, 2 years ~20 million. Holland quietly put together a pretty decent year last year in his first run through the NL with a career-best 8.9 k/9 rate. His velo isn’t what it used to be but the FB still sits around 93 which is plenty good enough to fool hitters with decent off-speed stuff. I think he could be a pretty damn good under-the-radar pickup this offseason.
I’d much prefer a FA Derek Holland sigh than trading useful prospects for Minor.
After Keuchel and Kikuchi, the pickings get kind of bare…I’d rather roll with an Enyel De Los Santos than trade for Minor.
Still hoping Miller/Britton could happen.
Nice…I agree with both raltongo and halfbakedmcbride..I think at this stage, save the prospects, and try for Kikuchi..The only problem with that is, that you won’t know if you can get him till late January..If you miss, you come away with nothing..is Klentak a gambling man?
granted, Minor won’t cost much–not like they’d be giving up Sanchez or anything–but even aside from prospects, I just think Holland is a better pitcher at this point and would be a good depth move. Keuchel, eh… he would bolster the rotation but he pitches to contact and the Phils defense was terrible last year (although it should be improved with Segura at SS and Rhys back to 1st). Kikuchi is going somewhere out west, I’m thinking SD brings him on board. I am 100% with you on Britton and if the Phils gotta overpay to get him here, so be it; he is a true difference-maker with that ridiculous 97-98mph sinker movement. He will be coveted by many teams, though, so we’ll see. Maybe the Phils could offer him the chance to be the “opener” on the day after Nola’s starts, and have Vinny come in after, so you get that lefty in the “rotation.” He WAS a starter in his debut season with the O’s, I think
Phils will have to overpay to get any of Harper/MM/Britton/Kimbrel…which was the whole point of THIS off-season and all that Comcast money. It’s not my money…Get silly…I just wanna see our guys in red get back and stay in the conversation.
Another X factor? Grienke/MadBum/Kluber?…lot’s of moving parts still left move.
I honestly LOVE the Hot Stove this go ‘round…myriad possibilities
Derek Holland pitched great for the Giants. Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t been signed yet. Starter, bullpen, left handed, etc. Holland is solid.
The phillies and angels need to make some moves. The angels should trade Calhoun to the braves for Tehrean. Sign Cargo to a 1 or 2 year deal until Jo Adell is ready. Take a flyer on matt harvey and trade for sonny gray. The phillies need one of the big fish like harper or machado. Sign Britton or Miller for the bullpen. Then go after Keuchel or trade for robbie ray.
and the snakes are going to trade ray???
The phillies have prospects
we dont want garbage calhoun
This is where Saber metrics mean nothing about Moose and Franco,you go by the Eye test and anyone that has seen the two should know Moose does way more for a Club(Leader,Post Season Performer,ETC)than Franco,you don’t hesitate here if you have a choice!
Agree here too…Sabr-stuff should just be a guideline and NOT “the rule”
Phillie Nation has been pulling for Franco for years….heck, feels like he’s been a Phil for 10 years.
The kid can play and is only 25-ish….I just don’t think we have the luxury of a Kingery/Quinn/Williams/Altherr/Franco collective project.
Time to poo or get off the pot…Moose brings a lot to a team and can handle the D at 3rd.
Let’s do one better…Trade for Castellanos….I’d do Adonis/Ranger/lesser others for that.
I would rather put Tulo at the hot corner at league min and trade Franco. Moose will cost a but wont he?
Eppler is clueless as well as inefftive as a GM with unrealistic goals (i.e. thinking he has a pitching staff that just needs one or two rejects to top it off.) Time to dump Albert and eat the contract. ( better now than later.) Demand The Kid sign a 7 year @40 per to remain a lifetime Halo or trade with 2 years left and recieve value in return. Trade Calhoun for a relief pitcher of value . Few pitchers are good every season, so taking a flyer on Lynn for example, instead of Texas, and there are othets. Go after a 3b/rf in Detroit. Signing srubs has not worked, so make the commitment to get smart. The group we have here is not going to the playoffs. Admit it now, you never really wanted Corbin or he would be here now. Step up, be a GM not a cluless and weak leader. You are surrounding yourself with yes men, you need some to challenge you. If Albert bats higher than 7th you will have failed.
Youre blaming Eppler when most of that stuff likely comes from Moreno – an owner with a history of meddling to the detriment of the franchise.
And they’ve been trying to move Calhoun (to free up money so they even can add better pitchers) since the offseason began. If anyone was willing to offer anything for him, he’d likely already be gone. Not sure who would though when similar to better players are on the market with expected lower costs.
it is going on 4th year. you cannot keep blaming pujols contract every year for epp’s ineptness.
That wasn’t what I was doing
– BUT –
Pujols will take home 17% of the Angels payroll in 2019, while Pujols, Trout and Upton will make 49% of what the Angels spend.
A team can’t compete like that. I’ll bet money that all three of those guys are only on the roster for next season because of Moreno though – I think he was behind both the Upton extention and we kind of know he’s behind Trout not being traded
A GM investing in what is one of the quickest rising farm systems in the game is clueless? How do you think they got 6 playoff appearances and a championship in 8 years a decade ago? Eppler is the first Angels GM to actually invest in his farm system since Bill Stoneman. Eppler inherited a mess and is cleaning it up. I think he knows the band aid acquisitions he made last offseason are a much bigger crap shoot. I think he knew that either it would work or he’d have to unload for prospects at the trade deadline, which he did. Some of his short term moves have still brought in valuable youth for their future. He’s doing what the front office has needed to do for almost 10 years. And if he can’t extend Mike Trout, he can get an enormous haul for him, and then the Angels will have more young depth than any team would know what to do with. It’s not his fault the franchise put off rebuilding for so long just because of Mike Trout. Now he’s doing what an Angels GM should be doing.
Machado’s attitude BLOWS…substantially detracts from his obvious baseball skills. The game is more mental than physical. Bad psychological makeup = bad investment.
Agreed. Hope the Nats or Phillies sign him. They will have Many years to regret that decision.
Machado’s attitude BLOWS…
Arrogance and refusal to work hard if he doesn’t feel like it. The complete opposite of a guy like HOFer Roy Halladay. Significantly detracts from his obvious baseball skills. The game is more mental than physical. Bad psychological makeup = bad investment.
Let’s call the Rangers and make a Merry Christmas deal. The Braves would receive Joey Gallo, Jurickson Profar, and Jose Leclerc for Christian Pache, Kolby Allred, Huascar Ynoa, Jacob Webb and Darren O’Day. Yes, I realize that they have little interest in O’Day, but it is required to offset salaries and besides they will probably be able to flip him at the break for a couple prospects. Rangers get two Starters, two MLB top 100 prospects, two relievers and the Braves most valuable prospect. Braves get left-fielder with power, a versatile bench piece or trade asset and a decent closer or late inning pitcher. Leaves nothing left to work on except Starter. As a thought, may want to check in with Oakland on LHP Sean Manaea (FA 2023) for TOR piece. Oakland needs starters very much so a three for one might be right up their alley, say: Max Fried, [Mike Soroka or Ian Anderson] and Bryce Wilson, two or three guys with MLB experience