So much focus this time of the year is placed on the biggest names on the trade market. And while it’s understandable that everyone wants to know where Madison Bumgarner, Marcus Stroman and other players of that ilk will land, it’s also true that smaller-scale deals can often have considerable postseason ramifications. To that end, while neither move will generate much in the way of national headlines, it’s worth noting that the Royals are all but certain to trade both Billy Hamilton and Terrance Gore (who has already been designated for assignment) in the near future.
The switch-hitting Hamilton has recently been dropped to a backup role following the promotion of former top prospect Bubba Starling and hasn’t started a game since July 3. “There’s definitely interest out there,” Hamilton tells MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan, noting that he’s regularly in touch with his agent about his future. It stands to reason, of course, that his representatives are in contact with the K.C. front office about Hamilton’s status.
As Hamilton further explains, Royals general manager Dayton Moore and the rest of the organization were professional and up-front with him about the fact that he’d lose playing time to Starling, giving him notice well in advance of the move: “I really appreciate it from [general manager] Dayton [Moore] all the way down. … I understand that that’s their guy. That’s part of the business.”
A trade of Hamilton seems likely and could come anytime between now and July 31. A move involving Gore might be even more immediate, though. The Royals designated Gore for assignment on July 12, which kicked off a seven-day period to either trade Gore, attempt to pass him through outright waivers or release him. As The Athletic’s Alec Lewis writes (subscription required), even if Gore hits waivers and goes unclaimed, Moore will likely find a way to place the speedster with a contender. Following Gore’s DFA, Moore said to reporters: “I told Terrance yesterday that when we signed him, we said, ‘Look, Terrance, if we’re not in this thing, we’ll look to find you a spot with a contending team so you can do your thing in October.”
Both 28 years of age, Hamilton and Gore are cut from the same cloth as elite baserunners and defenders who offer minimal value at the plate. Hamilton carries far more MLB experience, having spent a half decade as the Reds’ primary center fielder. However, while he authored four straight seasons with at least 56 stolen bases, he’s never even approached a league-average campaign with the bat. A career .243/.297/.327 hitter, Hamilton has only managed a .217/.284/.271 slash in his first season away from Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. He’s earning $5.25MM in 2019, with $2.76MM yet to be paid out. And, as Flanagan adds, he could earn another another $1MM via plate-appearance-based incentives.
Gore, meanwhile, has never received any type of extended look in the big leagues. In fact, despite entering the 2019 season with 27 career stolen bases, Gore only had 19 plate appearances as a Major Leaguer. He’s been used almost exclusively as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement with the Royals and Cubs. To his credit, Gore batted .275/.362/.353 in 58 plate appearances this season — including a perfect 4-for-4 showing when attempting to bunt for a hit. He’s only a .221/.304/.271 hitter in Triple-A and a .257/.333/.277 hitter in Double-A, however, so it’s understandable that teams have been reluctant to give him a regular look in the game’s highest level.
Gore’s glove and wheels have frequently landed him on postseason rosters as a pinch-running specialist, but the elimination of August trades in 2019 means any team wishing to utilize him in that capacity will need to acquire him sooner than usual. Hamilton could land a similar role, but one would think that with his MLB experience, he’d be in line for a bit more playing time. The return in each deal will be minimal, but both players have the type of niche skill set that can impact both a playoff race and a postseason series. The greater question may be one of whether a contending team wants to carry either player for the final 10 weeks of the season. It’s possible, particularly with Gore, that other teams will show greater interest once he’s cleared waivers and can be acquired without immediately requiring a 40-man roster spot.
lowtalker1
Whose going to trade for gore? No body
iverbure
A team that lacks speed should definitely be grabbing Gore. The Royals in my opinion were so tough to beat those years largely due to Dyson and Gore. If they got a runner on they pinch ran, either one of those two stole 2nd easily. Teams don’t even use 23 players in the playoffs let alone 25 you can get away with having a guy just used as a runner.
macstruts
KC was so hard to beat because of Davis. They played in a very weak division which allowed them to make the playoffs then they turned it over to their great pen once the playoffs started.
Anyone who wants to win in October better have a great pen.
Chicks Dig the Longball
You have to get the lead to keep the lead
macstruts
When they beat the Angels in the postseason, The first two games went 11 innings. And it was the HRs that killed the Angels that series, not the SB. An 11th inning HR by Hosmer and 11th inning HR by Moustakas.
It was Herrera, Holland and Davis A weak division got them in the playoffs, and their pen was why they advanced. Not their speed.
iverbure
I agree speed was the main reason they won
Ketch
Gore might have some appeal to a team like the Dodgers who know the postseason chances are good and might not mind having a designated pinch runner. After all, they are managed by Dave Roberts, who carved his own little niche in the hearts of Red Sox fans with that exact role..,
CottMan3
The Yankees will trade for Gore @lowtalker1
delete
Wow imagine how stupid this commenter feels now that Gore has been traded to the best team in baseball. @lowtalker1
Nick Stevens
Hamilton and Gore for a mascot and a batting cage?
bobtillman
HUGE overpay….the batting case has some value….
martras
Ditto on the mascot. Fan favorite brings a lot of publicity, gets parents to bring their kids to the game.
I’d counter the ask with a Snickers bar as Hamilton is still worth more than Canseco was back in the day.
sufferforsnakes
Substitute a bullpen cart for the mascot and you have a deal.
deweybelongsinthehall
Hamilton has value as a reserve outfielder/base stealer. Problem is the new deadline being early. This used to be the 25th man position that would get filled at the 8/31 playoff roster deadline.
agentx
I somehow had not processed before now how the single July 31 deadline would affect pinch-running specialists and teams that may not want to carry them on their 40-man roster a whole extra month.
Could be that a greater proportion of those pinch runner acquisitions may be of players signed to minor-league deals.
deweybelongsinthehall
Agreed. Especially if they know they will be brought up before 08/31. Many wrinkles though as he has to clear waivers or be traded. Difficult unless he has an option left which is not the case to my knowledge.
Socrates Curveball
Givens cheap but not going to command a big haul of premium relievers this season. Orioles best route is keeping Givens & shopping Paul Fry & Shawn Armstrong. Both on minimum deals with yrs of club control. That’ll be attractive to luxury tax conscious teams (Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees). Fry is the really intriguing one. With every contender needing lefty relief help only one can land Giants Will Smith. That’ll leave others shopping in the Jarlin Garcia, Diekman, Roenis Elias market. Andrew Chafin has a ton of value plus control through 2020. Tony Watson is a rental, and then there’s Roenis Elias.
Fry would return more than Givens at this point, and probably has reached his value peak.
Rayland#1
Hamilton a fit for the Cubs?
clepto
Rayland OH?
Socrates Curveball
Unconventional Club that’ll be intrigued by Billy Hamilton is the Rays. Given their style of close games reliant on their pitching staff, having Hamilton off the bench could prove valuable down the stretch. Bit crowded on their 25 man roster currently, but that’s an intriguing fit for BH. With Gore Braves strike me as the fit. Especially if they find a way to move Inciarte.
bobtillman
Asking seriously, would they do a Hamilton-Inciarte? I know there’s money involved, but I think Ender needs to get out of town.
SalaryCapMyth
The Braves have plenty of speed in Acuna and Albies. But if the Braves had to pick up Gore because they moved Inciarte then why not just keep Inciarte with his gold glove? If the Braves did trade Inciarte I would think they would sooner promote Pache, their budding center fielder.
Questionable_Source
The Braves could just use Inciarte in the pinch-runner/defensive replacement role. No need to trade for something they already have.
leefieux
And these guys are why we need to expand to Designated Runners and Fielders. Who wants to see guys like Jay Bruce Or Kyle Schwarber play the OF or guys like (pick one of the many slow catchers) run the bases?
Just using the same argument pro-DHers use about pitchers hitting. 🙂 🙂
Cave
Well, you can make a designated runner. (Insert tidbit or joke about Herb Washington here.)
Zach725
They are worth a baseball and a bat. Gore is fast but is only good as a pinch runner, Hamilton is a gold Glover with good speed, but can’t ever get on base.
martras
Honestly… DFA them. If somebody is actually interested in trading for them, the designating team will find out. There’s no reason to block MiLB players who are fast and have options with players you know won’t meaningfully contribute.
Ketch
They’ve both been DFAd
RoyalsFanAmongWolves
Hamilton has not been DFAed. I would much rather trade him for cash than DFA him. In fact he starting tonight in CF against Lucas Giolito Probably to get the attention of a scout.
Matt Galvin
Cardinals or Indians could use Hamilton.
batty
The last thing the Cardinals need is another OFer who struggles to get on base.
DarkSide830
Gore can be a 3rd OF for a team with some OF injuries. NYY would probably do better with him over Tauchman and maybe even Maybin.
Ketch
Not if they value offense. 28yo Gore has 3 career extra base hits and 1 career RBI. And all of that came this year.
caws
Soler was also a Cubs spare part, and he’s realizing his potential as a Royal. Hamilton is going to be traded, so Almora brings great defense to CF, along with a better bat. Happ strikes out a lot, but so did Soler. Maybe a coaching change will help him develop into a serviceable replacement at 2B
Meanwhile, Merrifield is on the wrong side of 30, and Diekman will likely walk if the Royals don’t trade him now.
2012orioles
I’m surprised that speed guys aren’t more sought after for playoff teams. When you’re trying to win in the playoffs, having a guy like gore or mallex smith off the bench can be huge late in the game. I guess they’re not worth the roster spot
JSC Cubbs
Hamilton to the padres,
Myers, big P prospect Morejon, and 5mil in 2020 and 2021 each to the royals.
Why not?
allweatherfan
The Royals don’t want Myers or anyone similar to Myers in salary on the roster. Will never happen.
batty
Because Hamilton isn’t that valuable.
ThePriceWasRight
Hmmm? Comment not found
Questionable_Source
Those are legit players. You’re talking about Billy Hamilton. If the Padres have a mid-thirties career minor league DH, that would be the ceiling.
trendysayings
Gore will get released and sign a minor league contract with a team for a September callup. there’s no way a team rosters him for two and a half months as a fifth outfielder.
jeffk-2
I will take Willie Mays Hayes over either of those two.
Monkey’s Uncle
“Well you might run like Hayes, but you hit like s—t!”
Rob66
Could either one or both be Mariners soon? As soon as they clear waivers of course…
msqboxer
With an OPS of .555 an OBP .270 your a pitch runner…with 3 or 4 player benches can’t afford one dimensional players.