The Mets have numerous top trade chips on the market right now, including marquee offseason acquisition Edwin Diaz. The talented young closer remains highly valuable despite his 4.95 ERA, though it’s likewise true that there’s little chance the Mets would be able to recoup what they gave up to get him over the winter. Beyond the fact that Diaz is now just months away from arbitration, the Mets simply paid a hefty fee for Diaz at the outset. In addition to parting with rising prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, the club took on $64MM in new salary (after netting out the cash and salaries exchanged).
While that’s a particularly painful price in retrospect, the New York organization must now think primarily about what it wants its roster and payroll to look like moving forward. The latest on Diaz and the rest of the closer market:
- Despite Diaz’s struggles in the earned-run department, there’s “significant” demand for his services, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (subscription link). At present, the Dodgers, Rays, Braves, and Padres are teams with active interest. Several of those teams have been linked clearly to Diaz of late.
- While Rosenthal had also listed the Red Sox, who were connected yesterday to Diaz by ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, it seems that possibility has already fizzed. That match “remains unlikely,” Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports on Twitter. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand adds Raisel Iglesias of the Reds and Shane Greene of the Tigers as other top relievers unlikely to end up in Boston. (Twitter link.) The Braves, on the other hand, do indeed still seem to be in pursuit of Diaz. Per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, via Twitter, the Mets have continued to examine the Atlanta farm. From the Braves’ side, it seems Diaz is the top target, with starters Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler of ongoing but lesser interest.
- If there’s a clear alternative to Diaz, it’s ace Pirates reliever Felipe Vazquez. The high-octane lefty has hit another gear in 2019, with 14.1 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9 to go with his shiny 1.87 ERA on the season. We’ve seen him connected recently to the Dodgers, but there’s no indication the sides have momentum. Indeed, Rosenthal adds (in the above-linked column) that the Bucs are putting such a high price on Vazquez that he “essentially is not available.” That may be a bargaining ploy to see if a rival comes forward with a monster offer, but it’s certainly understandable that the Pirates aren’t just putting Vazquez up for auction. Rosenthal cites anonymous front office opinion that the Pittsburgh roster doesn’t have enough to compete in the near-term to justify keeping an asset such as Vazquez. That may well be the case, but it doesn’t mean the club should sell him short — particularly after seeing what the M’s were able to pry from the Mets for Diaz last winter.
The Mets can keep all their players – their asking prices have been absurd…
Every baseball teams are absurd, that’s why there’s been little action. Teams don’t usually trade good players for nothing. The Mets and every other team with a good player to trade has the right to ask for whatever they want. It’s a poker game.
Mets are more redic than anyone else’s though. He only knows one thing. Give me number one prospect.
How do you know that the Mets’ asking prices have been more ‘redic’ than anyone else’s? They just traded Vargas, who has been a very solid 4/5 starter this year, for absolutely nothing.
Vargas is a 5 starter so they got nothing in return.
Perhaps drop by the grocery store and pick up a little cheese to go with that whine.
The Mets preemptively snagged Stroman and now are holding young, controllable pitching and refuse to trade them for scraps. That is good business acumen. Granted, The Mets have never been a team to look to for business savvy but in this case, they have been completely on point by grabbing the sexiest name traded to date while demanding to be convinced to trade away guys that are under team control for the next several years. If another team wants a known commodity like a Diaz or a Syndergaard they will need to pay up. Otherwise, roll the dice with what you have. But stop the dang crying about it already. It’s sad.
* this comment directed at ALL the babies whining and not jut the one I chose
You sound like you are whining just as much. People can be critical without whining. Calling all of it “crying” just sounds childish.
is this a serious reply? How is analyzing a business transaction whining? Obviously you fit the picture I painted so will it be muenster or gouda for you?
You clearly missed my rather obvious point completely. Calling people out for having an opinion on a team’s asking price by calling it “crying” isn’t an analysis of a business transaction, and that is what my reply was obviously about. Your reading comprehension needs a lot of work.
My reading comprehension is just fine. You took umbrage to my observation that you, along with several others, find it unreasonable for a team to ask for top “rated” talent in return for controllable proven talent. The glory of business is you can ask for anything you want. The art of negotiation is to try to find a common ground rather than saying the other team is being ridiculous for requesting equal or greater return of their known asset. Not understanding this makes you have a lot of room to improve understanding how a business runs. Getting offended by me stating that whining about not getting everything you want makes me guess you are a millennial. I think both my guesses there are accurate, and if so, I’m done wasting my time with you. Have a great day.
If anyone thinks Mets should trade with Padres and not get Gore in Syndergaard trade then they are absurd.
I would normally agree with this assessment but you are looking at a 20 year old that has dominated in very offensive friendly environments. I wouldn’t trade Gore for 2 years of Noah. If that’s the Mets ask then thanks but no thanks.
The Mets and every other team with a good player to trade has the right to ask for whatever they want.
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Of course, just like you have the right to ask for whatever salary you want. So it is a moot point. If they want to trade their players, they have to accept market prices.
They don’t “want” to trade their players. They are seeking offers to see if there is something that gets them motivated to do so. It’s like having a three year old car and deciding to look around to see if the incentives or sales are good enough to replace a perfectly fine vehicle. Sometimes the deal is too good to pass up and you jump on it. Other times you drive home knowing you already have that reliable car in the driveway.
I think the Mets will be just fine if they are “forced” to go into 2020 with deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman, Matz as their first 4 starters and Diaz closing.
Add Wheeler to that rotation. The Mets won’t trade him for garbage offfered so they will make a qualifying offer and he’ll take it and try again next year. I make the rotation as deGrom, Stroman, Syndergaard, Wheeler, and Matz. If Wheeler does leave, they will move Lugo to the number 5 starter. He’s a starter anyway and will have better numbers on regular rest.
They don’t “want” to trade their players.
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If I were the NYMs, I’d do exactly what you suggest. But then they are not in the trade market, and again, the point is moot.
Lot’s of teams don’t want to trade their players. But if they do, they will have to accept market prices. Same with PT. Do they have to trade Vazquez? No. But if they do, they will accept a market price.
Same on the buy side. Maybe the RS have every intention of standing pat, which is what I would do. But if they want Diaz, they will pay the market price.
The Mets “will be just fine” in the rotation and on the bump in the 9th inning (every other day). Unfortunately, one reliever does not a bullpen make. And a baseball team is comprised of more than 5 pitchers. Brodie wheeled and dealed, and has a flawed product on the field. If he is going to fix it, he’s gonna have to trade some of that starting pitching for some position player prospects.
It’s a game of chicken. Tomorrow at this time we will see movement. Pittsburgh might be better served by waiting for the off season.
Well, unless LA or another team blinks and gives Pittsburgh what they want.. Otherwise, I agree. No need to make the deal just to make the deal and settle for less than the value.
Somebody will over pay that is what always happens.
@arc89 Exactly. Think about it. Diaz has 3 years of control left after this year. Syndergaard has 2 years left. I still think the Twins are in a prime position to get both of those pitchers and make a serious run this season. The Twins could probably get both without trading Lewis & Kirriloff. I think if the Twins offered the Mets Brusdal Graterol, Jordan Balazovic, Trevor Larnach & Nick Gordon, I believe the Mets would seriously consider trading both pitchers to one team.
@MetsFanaticDanny Say no to drugs.
@GoldenJabs Say no to being a troll. Just remember, when a girl says no, she means it.
twins will lose in first series of play with or without Diaz and Snyderguard
Not syndergard. The mets are asking for a top 20 prospect. Somebody that is most team’s #1 picks. twins has a deep top ten but if they didn’t offer their top 2 picks they would need to give up those 3 players for Syndergaard. mets would be a fool not to take that offer of those 3 prospects and maybe add in Jeffers for Syndergaard and Diaz. That would give the Mets a great farm system.
@arc89 It would give the Mets a good farm system but it would also give the Twins a heck of a rotation with Berrios, Syndergaard & Gibson. Not to mention a Closer who is much better than Taylor Rodgers. It’s like I said, the Twins have a deep enough system to get a deal like this done. Heck, they could even take out Gordon and the Mets would still have to seriously consider it.
Same thing goes when a guy says “no” to you @MetsFanaticDanny
Mets fans are so delusional.
Syndergaard had a 4.3 era in the National league and pitches in a pitchers park.
But these clowns think they are trading scherzer.
Newsflash RESULTS MATTER.
Other teams are interested in winning, not seeking bobble heads
LOL. They may not get what they want but at least 5 teams have asked about him. Syndergaard a career 44-26 record with a career 3.20 ERA and a career WHIP of 1.15. Yup, results matter.
Factoring in the DH that looks just about identical to James Paxton.
Maybe the Spankees should trade him for all these great young prospects? Lol
What do you think they could get for Paxton? Add about 25% more for thors extra year of control and that’s what they’ll get.
The Mets should of accepted a rebuild 2 years ago now they are just delaying the inevitable.
Every year they do is 2 more years of a total rebuild.
Good one…
Syndergaard is 4 years younger than James Paxton.
lol. There is nearly no scenario where the Mets would willingly move BOTH Diaz and Syndergaard and not get back at least Lewis/Kirriloff and 3-4 other pieces. If the Twins don’t want to do Lewis + Kirriloff, I can understand that…but BOTH being off of the table….good luck with that. I still think LAD is where Diaz lands (if he moves), HOU snags Wheeler, and Syn stays with NYM until at least the off-season. Unless HOU wants to move Tucker+ or LAD wants to move Verdugo/Lux/May+, I don’t see the Mets moving Syndergaard. TB could put together an interesting package for Diaz, but the BOS rumors have *finally* been squashed.
2.42 ERA in post season. 1-0 in WS. Results matter. He is 27 years old not 31. Hand over your #1 prospect or we keep him and Twins go home in playoffs and Padres don’t get there.
All Yankees prospects are overrated.
Test
I am sick to death of hearing the rumours of the Mets dealing SP over the past 2 years.
If the right deal isn’t there for the Mets they should keep all their players. Mets control Syndergaard and Diaz past this year. We can wait. But can this years playoff bound teams?
And the Red Sox prospects are underwhelming,.
Perfect match.
No worries. Sox probably will make the post season but I don’t think they will be facing the Mets
I agree for the most part that the Sox don’t have as many prospects as some of the other clubs. But Casas and Dalbec are the real deal – two of the guys the Mets were reportedly targeting. Or another rumor was that they wanted one of either Benintendi, Bradley or Chavis. If I were Dombrowski – I’d be willing to give up Bradley in a deal for Diaz but certainly not Benintendi, especially the way he’s been hitting the past couple weeks or so… he really seems likes he’s putting it together now. As for Casas and/or Dalbec. It’d be hard to see either go because both are legit power hitting prospects – something the Sox have been lacking in recent years – but for a 25 year old Closer under control for 3 more seasons, I think you could justify trading one of them in that scenario.
There is no need for the Pirates to move Vasquez unless they are offered a franchise altering deal in return. They have inexpensive control over an elite closer for over 4 more years still. If they are not offered a deal that they can’t refuse, no sense letting him go now for peanuts when they can do that for 4 more off seasons and 4 more trade deadlines. Not a killer to hold on to him if other teams are being cheap.
What would you consider a good return from the Dodgers?
More than just 1 or 2 prospects. Would need to be 1-2 top prospects and a couple of mid tier prospects. If the Dodgers do not want to part with them, so be it. They should not settle for a couple decent prospects.
What specifically would you consider a good return from the Dodgers?
Ruiz, May and 2 more interesting prospects.
Pirates have asked for Gavin Lux on any deal from the Dodgers. And Pirates need starting catcher the most so Ruiz has to be included, too. Lux/Ruiz/one pitching prospect for Vazquez is Pirates price, I think.
I’d move Diaz in a second for that package. Yeah his ERA is up, but Diaz’s underlying peripherals are still looking good and have looked even better since July. June was a BAD month for Diaz, but April/May and July have all been much better.
Friedman would never trade Lux Ruiz and more for Diaz or Vazquez
Ruiz and May both have to be in the deal. Lux would be a….no pun intended…luxury.
Ruiz and May fill the Pirates most pressing needs and the Dodgers wouldn’t blink if they were gone.
If you want to argue that it’s too much based on theoretical value, etc so be it, but the piece you need most for pieces you don’t need seems like a pretty good deal when you want to win it all.
I miss exactly zero of the prospects the Penguins traded over the past few years.
Smart teams don’t build enviable prospect depth to overpay for relievers. The Dodgers are very smart.
If the Pirates don’t budge, they’ll be a mediocre team holding onto a declining asset who’s one talent is going to waste.
And if they do budge, they will be __________________________?
Dodger fans have to realize this guy is probably the best reliever in baseball right now and is probably the piece that puts the Dodgers over the top. What is that worth to a team is it worth horsing those prospects to finish second again?
So if the Pirates do budge, they will lose their best asset for a handful of middling prospects and still be a mediocre team. That is the reason why they should not trade him unless they get their price.
But there’s no guarantee he will deliver in the PS…Machado, Darvish to name two who should’ve delivered but didn’t. I agree with you, Vazquez is the best available but I’m not giving up Lux for him. Ruiz, May and 1-2 scrubs. That’s it. Lots of people were totally fine with trading away Bellinger, Buehler, Smith and Verdugo over the past couple of offseasons and I’m glad the Dodgers didn’t. The FO is smart and they know what they’ve got.
Ruiz, May and 2 scrubs gets it done. Especially if one of those scrubs is the next Oneill Cruz.
Ruiz and May would be tough. Just don’t see Friedman doing that trade.
With Will Smith playing well this year, and holding his own at the big league level, there could be more willingness to move Ruiz.
For the Dodgers there should be no such thing as a prospect arm. They have so much money that they can they sign who they want or need.
Ruiz, May, Edwin Uceta, Andre Jackson and the Pirates take it and the Dodgers don’t miss a beat.
I don’t think Friedman would do it either based on his history, but…
I can’t see why on Earth they wouldn’t, honestly? If I were a Dodgers fan (or if there was an equivalent situation for my Penguins) I’d want them to do it in a heartbeat.
5 playoff runs with Vazquez for pieces they wouldn’t miss?
You know what Steve, Vasquez is a pretty known commodity yes there is always a chance he chokes in playoffs but there is a much higher chance the prospects don’t pan out. The Dodgers need to pull the trigger flags fly forever.
Losing my mind as a Dodgers fan waiting for them to do something different and they have the last two seasons
Among the highest pedigree Pirates starters over the past decade would have to be Gerritt Cole. He was traded because of the money the ever-cheap Pirates ownership wanted to bankroll. The return the Pirates ballclub received for him was deemed negligible, but it is doubtful that the Astros would have seen (and won) the WS in 2017 without him. The Dodgers have one blaring flaw with their roster, and it can be filled with 3-4 prospects not from their MLB roster. In return, they would receive a 100 mph All-Star reliever, low cost controlled left-hander filling a pronounced roster weakness. Seems like a no-brainer for LAD, or they can do as the Yankees did with Cole in 2017, and overvalue prospects, conceding a genuine WS championship.
I agree with your logic, but not your history. Cole was not part of the 2017 team, Musgrove was. The trade happened the winter after Houston won.
Thanks, I stand corrected!
The Pirates need to get two for sure can’t miss prospects,a pitcher and catcher,one strong pitching prospect,and two lower level very good prospects,one of whom is a pitcher.
Otherwise,a no go,and if anything less,NH should be run out of Pittsburgh.
Agree 100%. Somebody is going to have to part with a top prospect or 2. And my guess is they will. I’ll put my money on the Dodgers finally biting the bullet with Lux or Ruiz
I could see the Dodgers including Ruiz in a deal, but not Lux. Ruiz would probably only be available because Smith has been doing well. The Dodgers do not really have a long-term solution for 2B other than Lux and he has been tearing up AAA.
Lux should be a top 10-12 guy next year, so if a team can’t get him now…they likely will not be able to get him. Dude is not only just raking now…but he has sustained the raking.
He already is and will be starting for the Dodgers at 2B next year
Remember, this is Neal Huntington pulling the strings. We gave our top 2 prospects (each with MLB experience and 5+ years team control) and their prior year #1 pick for a mid-rotation 30+ yr-old SP. Nothing is out of reach when dealing with this swashbuckler.
Glasnow was regarded as a AAAA type pitcher and a bust this time last year. Meadows never hit for power in his pro career till April and May of this year. Has hit .233 since June 1st with 3 HR. The addition of Reynolds allowed for Meadows to be included and Glasnow is hurt and had a set back in rehab. Who knows if he will ever pitch like he did to begin this season because he could not do it at the highest level since.
Top 2 prospects? That would be Mitch Keller and KeBryan Hayes calling on Line 1.
The Braves have the prospects to do this. Package Vasquez with Marte and the Braves pay a hefty price that still wouldn’t even gut their farm system. With Bullpen needs and Markakis out, this trade would be ideal.
Iglesias and Puig would be as good and yet cheaper.
Go ahead and bring Alex wood back in that deal
What wood those 3 cost the Braves in your opinion?
There’s no “need” for anyone to do anything, if you take that point of view. But the nature of a successful transaction is both sides get something that improves their situations.
Using Kimbrel as a comp, Vasquez has around $30M in excess value in his contract. Now you can start thinking about equal excess values in controllable players who might make sense to trade for him. Pure prospects are difficult to value but someone on the verge of breaking through to the majors not so much. Does Lux have that much excess value in his contract? Not a bad bet that he does. A bunch of other combinations probably pencil out just as well.
So, that’s where you get “need” and that’s how you get to yes.
Here’s the thing…
Without a salary cap, the Pirates aren’t going to win the WS. EVER. So, it’s really just a question of how they want to fall short.
The Dodgers actually want to win it, right?
A TV is worth more than a smoke detector. But, if you decide you’d rather have 8 TVs and zero smoke detectors…you might get burned.
I wouldn’t say never for any team, but I think your overall point is, it’s about situation. The situation for the Dodgers is obviously now, and the postseason. For the Pirates, it’s about when they can foresee an opening competitive window. Do they see that coming next year, in two years? Three? If it’s more than two, does it make sense to spend their current capital on player who’s on the threshold of the majors (e.g., Lux), and start his clock ticking? Or is their situation served better by spending it on players who are a bit further off (e.g., Ruiz, Cartaya, etc)? They can probably get two or more of that type for Vasquez but only one of Lux. What’s a better situation for them?
If the Pirates intend to reload by only trading Vazquez, it’s Ruiz and May.
If they rebuild instead of reload, maybe a deal with Ruiz and multiple other SP’s who aren’t May.
But, same thing for the Dodgers. They have the pieces lined up to contend for the foreseeable future. What is 5 playoff runs with Vazquez worth?
I could understand not wanting to part with top prospects for one or two or even three shots at it, but 5?
I am pretty sure the answer always should be start the clock ticking now. Friedman’s not a dummy, but Huntington is a dummy. Friedman’s the master of keeping his team young enough to compete annually by keeping his farm system loaded and then reloaded. The question becomes does he think Diaz is an asset he can flip to replenish what he has to give up for him or does he think Vazquez can be flipped to replenish what Lux brings to the table. The answer is obviously Vazquez can bring a bigger return if they wish to flip him for more prospects down the line. Friedman probably wants Vazquez and cash for Lux only. Huntington doesn’t understand the value of letting the Dodgers play with house money for a prospect like Lux.
@joshbell: The Dodgers are only ringing the bell for Vasquez because of their present situation, so it’s kind of a step removed from what drives a potential trade to use that as a measure of his worth. To use another analogy, you don’t go shopping for a toaster unless you need one. That doesn’t mean someone with a toaster for sale can set the value for toasters. Got to keep coming back to the excess value in the contract for Vasquez. It’s less than what some top closers are getting but still pricey. It’s a big carry for the Pirates and hard to justify if they aren’t likely to be competitive during the time they control him. So these ledgers have two columns. That’s the overall point.
I literally made an account just to reply to your comment saying the pirates will never win a World Series without a salary cap ever. You have Josh Bell in your name so I almost assume you would remember this but in 2015 the Pirates put up arguably the best team they ever have in the past 3 decades. They were a 98 win team 2nd best record in the MLB if I remember correctly and if they had won the division they easily could have made a World Series run. They unfortunately lost to Jake Arrieta when he was unhittable in the wild card and their season ended like that in one game. Look back at that team though starting pitching was a huge strength but the entire lineup quietly produced all season. People like Sean Rodriguez doing great out of nowhere but that one game blew up the entire team the pirates had been building and they never returned to that level of play, that was only 4 years ago and yes they haven’t signed any great free agents but who would have impacted the team that they could have signed? You need to build the team around young talent like Newman and Reynolds and Bell then you can add the bigger pieces, like when Russel Martin filled a huge need years ago. Anyways don’t give up on the pirates they are in straight rebuild mode for at least this season and I honestly hope everyone over the age of 30 gets traded for the future to get back what we lost from the Archer trade.
@bluesky What are you willing to give up for Vasquez?
Personally? I have a couple of twenties in my wallet right now and could head down to the ATM for more.
Seriously, I think Lux is probably too tall a price (and apparently the Dodgers think so too), but without naming names (since it’s kind of pointless) somebody else in the top ten or so, plus one from a lower shelf and a lottery ticket could make sense for both teams.
In the end I think a trade happens. Vazquez and some cash for Lux or Vazquez and a reliever (Richard Rodriguez) along with Cole Tucker for Lux another prospect most likely a pitcher.
The Indians and Padres set the market value for a high value reliever plus a closer being enough for a top 10 overall prospect. Friedman wants to keep churning his system and Huntington wants to not pay cash.
I agree, they could probably get a great return this off season or next trade deadline. But don’t forget that the Pirates are gambling that he stays healthy and doesn’t regress.. His value might be at its highest right now. That’s the gamble the Pirates would take if they don’t trade him now. Look around the league, relievers are notorious for injuries and regression.
Not sure if I’m on board with a struggling Diaz but I’m guessing the Braves are also thinking long term here since they’d control him for quite some time.
Think Swarzak. The Braves see something in Diaz and know what he can do when he is right. He would be a huge get for us. I’m thinking him and Wheeler for Wright, Allard, Wentz and Demeritte gets it done. Big price from us, but we keep the top 3 while getting significantly better this year. I’d hey want one of those 3 I’d move on.
Highly unlikely Mets and Braves do any deal.
“Rosenthal cites anonymous front office opinion that the Pittsburgh roster doesn’t have enough to compete in the near-term to justify keeping an asset such as Vazquez.”
But trading him for an inadequate package….and WORLD SERIES here we come!!!
Have been listening to the Pkttsburgn morning drive and the mid morning/mid afternoon shows on the local big sports station. Most are parroting what Rosenthal is saying. They need to just trade him just to trade him cause they don’t need him. They mid morning show brought on their usual Tuesday guest host from their TV station and he was saying what we have been saying that they need to keep asking for the world because Vasquez does have so much value. Of course one of the usual hosts keeps whining that they just have to trade him now no matter what the return is. smh….I am now dumber for having listed to these long, rambling rants…..
Well that just makes so much sense!
*sarcasm*
Smh…doing anything just to do it is a fool’s errand. Especially when dealing with valuables.
Well, like @forwhomjoshbelltolls has said, the local media just loves to bash the Pirates and they want Vasquez to be traded for peanuts so they have some new ammo to bash the Pirates.
we need a good:
McGriff and Fernandez
for
Alomar and Carter
Trade
Oh Them good ol’ days
how many of these trades do you think we see again?
Trade market been so slow.. makes you wonder if tomorrow will be pure chaos or if nothing much happens.
It’s really due to a lack of impact rentals. Teams don’t want to give up top prospects and teams don’t want to trade away impact players with multiple years of control without top prospects.
Not much, other than a lot of BS.
I don’t believe that Diaz is going anywhere. They would be selling low in a suppressed market, ironically, that BVW helped create with his low purchase price of Stroman.
It kills me the Padres keep coming up as a team interested in buying. Other than a starting, young, controllable P like Thor, where it would help them in 2020 and beyond, one has to think these “interest” rumors are just the selling team(s) floating it out there to scare other other teams into overbidding since the Padres minor league system is stacked,
Cooperstown just came out with an announcement today, they are building a new Core Fore Hall of Fame Statues for next April, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, and Felipe Vazquez. Really looking forward to the new display!
*thud*
… the sound of that joke falling flat.
No more jokes….. stick to being bad at fantasy football
Syndegaard, Diaz, Ramos & Cano for Stripling, Will Smith, May & Pollock
“click”
Interesting idea but I don’t think the dodgers want to give up will smith or take on that much $
I just don’t see this. The Cano contract is toxic–exactly what the LAD have worked hard to avoid the past 4 years. I do think that Friedman would deal Smith and Strip. Given the obvious importance Friedman places on young premium pitching prospects, I don’t see May being dealt. Josiah Gray, Santana and Mitchell White I can see–not May. I think Joc could go in a deal and he would probably be more attractive to the Mets than AJ anyway. AJ is a better CF right now than Joc and this will matter a great deal to Friedman.
Friedman will not take a veteran position player unless they are cheap and fit a need off the bench. See David Freese.
Let me see…Syndergaard and his dwindling trade value along with Diaz…both combined with 2 Mets contractual mistakes for a deal that nets them good prospects?
One thought…HA!
It’s always funny how Mets fans drink the Mets Kool-Aid, then when it makes them have a tummy ache, they think they should offer it to fans of other teams who know better than to drink that Kool-Aid that the Wilpons, Mets PR Department, Mets beat writers, and the NY media serve up.
lol…..I want some of what you are smoking!
If you put a better prospect in for Stripling……then I could see the Mets doing it, but as it stands…they would need to take Cano’s entire contract and event then…meh. If they added Lux instead of Pollock, then I don’t care what the Mets pay on Cano…lol.
It looks like what you’re smoking is more potent.
My sources are telling me that the Pirates plan to keep Vasquez and stretch him out in their rotation…
Your sources the same as Rosenthal’s ? 🙂
Diaz for benintendi straight up swap
I’ve thought that would be a good trade that would help each team. I also proposed a week ago Iglesias and Puig for Bene and a couple of Sox prospects.
Bene is a tough kid to give up but you need to trade someone good so both teams benefit.
Bene, Barnes and Dalbec to NY for Diaz, Conforto and Fraser or some combo of talent.
Bene, Barnes and Dalbec to Cincy for Iggy, Puig and a prospect.
As a Reds fan, I would like to see Iglesias and Winker go to the Sox in exchange for Benintendi and prospects. Brings the hometown boy back and puts butts in seats.
If im the Pirates i want C/3B Will Smith and P Julio Urias/P Dustin May. Two of those three have to be in this deal if im dealing Felipe. Im sorry but C Keibert Ruiz seems to be vastly overrated with below average stats the last few years so id be weary and avoid him. 2B Gavin Lux would be nice but the Bucs already have Newman, Tucker, and Frazier to man the infield. Also would need a decent hitting OF like DJ Peters/Zach Reks, another decent Pitcher like Marshall Kasowski/Jordan Sheffield or if the Bucs are lucky Caleb Ferguson. Also id try to throw something else in the Dodgers would like so we could get P Yimi Garcia
Would love to see a trade with Detroit to help the Rotation, Bullpen and Outfield/Bench. More specifically, Mathew Boyd, Shane Greene and Niko Goodrum (Fulmer too while he has little value) could be acquired for a bevy of prospect pitchers. Offer the Gwinnett Rotation: Wright, Allard, Ynoa, Wilson and Toussaint and a couple relievers Winkler and Parsons. That is a seven for four deal with Detroit getting four to five MLB ready starters (they will never be for the Braves). This add a nice lefty controllable starter to the Braves, probable the #1 or #2. Adds a solid reliever who could have saved yesterday’s game from the Nats. Adds a up and coming outfielder/infielder ready for prime time and brings Michael Fulmer to the Braves to rehab for 2020 and Beyond.
Pirates Club has enough to compete. They just need the starters to not give up 10 runs in the second inning.
they’re runs/game isn’t near the bottom of the pack, if they had semi quality pitching they’d still be in the race for the NL central.
What do they do about that is the question.. where are you going to find semi-quality starters? That’s the question.
Pirates have basically floated Vázquez for package built around Keibert Ruiz won’t get a deal done. A Vazquez for Gavin Lux gets the deal done. Dodgers envision Lux replacing Corey Seager in the near future. Potentially before Seager hits FA after 2021. I agree with the Dodgers stance, Lux is too valuable of a player and it makes sense to shop elsewhere. I’d be calling the Reds on Amir Garrett.
While I agree with your final assessment, I have to disagree on the Lux/Seager point. Lux will be an average MLB 2B- he lacks the range and arm to play SS. It’s his bat that they have fallen in love with and combined with his age, he is damn near untouchable. They are certainly not going to deal him for a closer. I could see a Syndergaard/Diaz trade involving Lux, Strip, Joc or other prospects; but, Lux will not be dealt for a closer.
He likely will. At the end of the day Friedman knows he doesn’t need the bat more than he needs an elite high leverage arm. He really needs two of them. Right now it’s about extracting as much value out of Lux as possible.
Re the NY Mets –
“Is this anyway to run an airline?”
Thanks Jeff for the very current and comprehensive article.
As far as the relief market and, more specifically the LAD are concerned, I believe that Andrew Friedman is not going to pay the price Huntington is demanding for Vazquez. Likewise, I also sense that given their history on the guy, the Reds will place too high a price on Iglesias. Boston and the Cubs are much more likely to overpay than Anthopoulos or AF. Giles is now dinged and so I’m thinking the likely addition for the LAD will be from: Shane Greene, Givens, Elias, Buck Farmer or Kennedy. Perhaps two of the above? Edwin Diaz is an interesting wildcard. Van Wagenen is as unpredictable as a rabid and cornered cat. Given his overpay for Diaz a year ago he is also unlikely to be able to accept a reasonable offer given the current performance level
I would like to see them buy low on Diaz
So you can fire Dave Roberts for Diaz blowing games 5 and 7?
lol
The Mets aren’t going to sell Diaz low though. Every indication is the Mets are looking for a package based closer to what he did last year. Is that realistic…I don’t know, it’d likely take a perfect storm of events. It’s definitely a tall ask, but Diaz’s underlying numbers are more promising, his upside is high, and he has 3 years of control left. The Mets likely pull him back unless they can get a Lux type player or two quality prospects and some lottos tickets.
Lux just isn’t happening, unless its something super crazy and Thor is in there.
I agree with that. An expanded deal involving Syndergaard, Diaz, Lux, Stripling, Will Smith and prospects in the LAD 7-20 range would not surprise me.
I also have a sense that Joc is moved in the next day. Might not be to the Mets; but, I think Friedman would flip him for a more controllable piece. Perhaps to the Braves.
…and that should be expected. Lux is a stud prospect who is still rising. He’s a guy (along with Gore) that is worth Syn + Diaz for a package back.
BVW should just hold onto Diaz for the rest of the season and hope that he can rebuild some of his value, because if dealt today, there’s no way he’ll get back what he gave up to get him and Cano; even by himself.
Anybody else hear something bout The Rockies sending McGee, Orberg & Gray to Braves for Pache ???
I don’t know if somebody is messing with me or if it’s true I can’t find anything but he is not somebody that usually plays like that. He is in Atlanta & said he heard it on the radio down there.
This thread shows the difference between the logic of Mets fans in contrast to everyone else. Pirates fans know the value of their commodity. Mets fans think Syndergaard has the same value he had a year ago, before his injury.
FYI to Mets fans – Syndergaard’s value has dropped and is spiraling downward. The Mets are clearly trying to unload him while they can still salvage a prized return.. If they don’t get a deal done because no team meets their demands, they will be gambling on him getting injured again or declining further along with his dwindling trade value. If that happens, a year from now, they’ll still end up trading him for a whole lot less than they can get now. Keep thinking that the Mets are in the driver’s seat. Other teams are checking in now to see what they can get him for, with the hopes that for the right price, they can get a low-risk/high-reward type of deal. If the Mets turn their demands into a high risk proposition, teams will look elsewhere.
This is Noah Syndergaard – not Scherzer, Kershaw, Verlander, or even deGrom.
If you’re so confident in Syndergaard’s tarde value, do offer him to the Marlins along with Wheeler and then Cano and his contract for Wei Yin Chen and Martin Prado with their contracts. The Marlins would reject that trade in a heartbeat because Syndergaard is not worth taking on Cano’s contract in exchange for taking off Chen and Prado’s contracts. With the same trade type, but with the other pitchers I mentioned, the Marlins do it.
That’s how far Sundergaard’s trade value has dropped from where it was a year ago.
The problem with the fans in Queens is they know Syndergaard is still a good pitcher but, they would rather get a couple of garbage prospects from almost any team then getting two good prospects from the Yankees. Pretty much the same thinking as the ownership. Unless the Wilpon’s sell that franchise they are not going anywhere anytime soon.
See, the thing is that’s what Mets fans may see in him, but fans everywhere else see a guy that has been overhyped for the very little and short term success he’s had, has been injured, and does not look good right now…even fans of teams within the division that see the Mets regularly, see things this way. Why would a team trade an insane package when this is what is seen by those other front offices and their fans? Any team that trades a truckload of talent will be taking a major gamble that would get people fired if Syndergaard doesn’t work out. It’s better to let the Mets front office take the risk of getting stuck with him and having to explain why they didn’t trade him when he doesn’t bounce back or gets injured again.
2015-2018….Syndergaard has the 4th best ERA in the majors. Kershaw, deGrom, and Scherzer are in front of him…and EVERYONE else is behind that group. He is having a down year, but his numbers are of a top 5-10 starter. He isn’t going to get moved for scraps. 2.3yrs of control is max control for a guy of his caliber. The dumpster fire ownership and their in-fighting is stupid, but hopefully not stupid enough to move him for .50 on the dollar.
Enjoy keeping him. See what you get next year when his trade value is even lower than it is now.
Don’t you get it. His value is not what it was a year ago. He’s been injured and pitched like trash. You are not getting what you would’ve gotten a year ago. And if this downward spiral continues, a year from now, you are getting even less.
Thor looked pretty damn good today so if he reestablishes himself as a top 10 type starter he isn’t losing any value.
Yes, because one start against a mediocre team that rarely sees him solves everything.
I love the “reestablishes himself” part. Yeah, I wonder how many pitchers that has been said about in the history of the game. I wonder of those, how many were able to do that. Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Josh Johnson, Matt Harvey, Dontrelle Willis, Craig Swan, Ubaldo Jimenez…and the beat goes on and on and on and on to the break o’ dawn…
Im 100% sure that the Padres are not interested in the horrible closer, Diaz. Even if they do trade Yates, Munoz is still waiting on the wings to follow him up.
Iglesias won’t come cheap.
if you are really looking for a closer, vazques is the solution no diaz, the mets what they are doing is dropping the garbage so that another team grabs it. Vazques right now is better than diaz
I don’t think the Dodgers will trade Lux or May. They would move Ruiz or Connor Wong, Edwin Rios, perhaps another couple of prospects like Jeter Downs or Tony Gonsolin, of course, not all of them in one deal, but I also have a strong feeling that Joc Pederson is going somewhere. He’s not in today’s lineup, and while that may be for not running out the groundout in the 8th yesterday. I think it’s more that he’s going to be traded before the deadline. I have felt this way for the past few weeks because Verdugo has more upside for the Dodgers. Pederson is still good for 25-plus homers and is a decent outfielder for somebody, just not the Dodgers. If you team ends up with Pederson, I hope he is given a chance to excel in the outfield. He needs to take time in the off season and 2020 Spring Training to properly learn first base.
Pederson has been the odd man out for a couple of years now and especially this year with the Pollock signing and Verdugo’s presence. The problem is finding a team that needs an outfielder (nobody else is going to ask him to play first, that’s for sure) with his last year of arbitration coming up. With Taylor and Hernandez both out though I think the Dodgers hang onto him, at least until the offseason, when the trading is easier. This seems like an almost impossible time to move him.
I think they should send Diaz to the minors to get his confidence back. Too much pressure now on this kid.
Ruiz, May, Kasowski, Gonsolin for Vasquez. Yeah it’s a lot but Ruiz is now a luxury to keep with Smith promoted. May is key to this trade. Pirates don’t need Lux, if Huntington is serious about wanting Lux, fire him now!! Vasquez not a rental(4 plus years), at his peak, roll the dice or watch the window slowly close. Kasowski candidate to close in a year or so, Hanrahan for Melancon, Melancon for Vasquez, Vasquez for Kasowski.
Atlanta GM will do nothing will come out with the same promises last year and nothing will There is no solid rotation, only an eternal prospect like Julio Teheran who has been in the braves for years and it was about time that he was the team’s AS and is still an eternal prospect a Fried and Soroka who are still young and in these two is that this GM has to look for 2 solid SP no toark that is a mediocre .. could not grab Bauer, let alone Stroman that is a failure In the end nothing will be done, it will come up with the excuse that nobody wanted to change and we will continue with a rotation nothing big and when we enter the playoffs a team will come like Dodgers or Cubs or Stl and they will give us 3 kicks and goodbye to 2019. I’ve seen this movie for years nothing will be great … until you don’t think big we won’t be world champions again