The Athletics aren’t the only AL West team interested in Jed Lowrie’s services, as the Rangers have been in talks with the Mets about a deal that would send both Lowrie and Dominic Smith to the Lone Star State, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (subscription required). However, “talks to this point have failed to progress” between the two clubs. It’s fair to guess that Smith was the Rangers’ real target in these negotiations, as Smith would be the sweetener added to the deal in exchange for the Rangers assuming most or all of the remaining $12MM on Lowrie’s contract. New York is reportedly trying to create payroll space by shopping high-priced names like Lowrie or Jeurys Familia to other teams.
Smith is perhaps a bit of a curious fit for the Rangers, given that Texas already has a plethora of left-handed hitting first base/DH/corner outfield types, and only just dealt from that surplus in sending Nomar Mazara to the White Sox. Still, adding a 24-year-old with five seasons of control has obvious value for the Rangers, as Shin-Soo Choo’s contract is up after the 2020 campaign, and Ronald Guzman could become expendable in the event of Smith joining the roster. While Lowrie missed virtually all of 2019 due to injury, he also offers more to Texas than just a salary dump if he’s able to stay healthy. If Lowrie was able to recapture anything close to his 2017-18 form, he’d represent a good third base answer if the Rangers weren’t able to sign Josh Donaldson.
More trade talk as we near the end of the Winter Meetings…
- Though the Blue Jays have been mostly linked to free agents this winter, the club is apparently being just as diligent on the trade front, Sportsnet.ca’s Shi Davidi writes. In addition to Toronto’s known interest in Yankees southpaw J.A. Happ, the Jays have checked in with the Red Sox about David Price and Jackie Bradley Jr., and with the Pirates about right-hander Chris Archer and Joe Musgrove. It doesn’t seem like any of these particular options are close, however, as Davidi notes that “the cost in both dollars and prospect capital remains too high” for Price, Bradley, and Happ. The Jays and Pirates have been speculatively linked as trade partners since Ben Cherington recently went from Toronto’s front office to the GM chair in Pittsburgh, though this familiarity may not necessarily be a plus. As Davidi puts it, Cherington “may think too similarly to his former colleagues for a deal to be struck.”
- As the Pirates weigh a lot of interest in Adam Frazier, the Athletics are involved but perhaps no better than Pittsburgh’s third option as a trade partner, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reports (Twitter link). The left-handed hitting Frazier would be an ideal fit to help balance out Oakland’s heavily right-handed lineup, and would provide some experience to a young collection of second base candidates. Frazier isn’t old himself (he is a few days away from his 28th birthday) and is still controllable through three years of arbitration eligibility.
- While the Cubs are reportedly working hard towards swinging some (potentially major) trades, the possibility exists that the 2020 roster will look a lot like last year’s edition, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times and other media. “The makings of a very good team is currently under control on our roster, with a chance to win a division. And do that, and you have a chance to have a great October,” Epstein said, though “status quo is not a bad option, but we’re obviously out there looking to make changes and change the dynamic and improve.” It could be that the Cubs won’t become big players in the trade market until most or all of the top free agents have selected their new teams. In the case of Kris Bryant, for example, “officials from two teams aggressively trying to fill third-base needs…said the Cubs were asking too much for Bryant to seriously consider him while other options remained available,” Wittenmyer writes.
Look for no major personnel changes for the Cubs. Again.
And that is not a horrible thing. The Cards and Brewers have not improved neither and the Reds are still catching up.
Hey mom did you enjoy that last 4 game series in Chicago last year? Hehehe
Can you say swept out of the NL Central?
Themed, water under the bridge, you old stupid fat man.
The cubs always seem to take the back seat when it comes to the Cardinals. Let’s check whose won the most NL Central Championships. Let’s see whose had a winning record for 12 years in a row never tanking always contending. Let’s see who does things right.
Not addressing the leadoff spot before going into next year would be a crime and a waste of the best remaining years of Baez, Rizzo, Schwarber, and company. Getting a top level leadoff will take making a trade of one of the other top talents from the current roster, i.e. Contreras or Bryant. The need to address the leadoff spot should be obvious to anyone who knows what it takes to be a potent offensive team. A top end starting pitcher is also a need but will be more difficult to address.
@kyleschwarbersmom;
NL Central is the weakest division in MLB.
That’s why the Reds can catch up.
Not even close. The AL Central is far and away the worst. All the other ones are in a five-way tie for best.
The Reds are catching up because they have an insane pitching staff and some really good bats. The NL central far from the worst division.
Yeah I’m with you there Schwarbs. The AL central is clearly the most garbage division in baseball. You have easily 2 of the 5 worst teams. Royals and Tigers.
Tigers are probably the worst or second worst team in baseball again. And quite honestly the Royals could be the third worst. The ChiSox? Yeah, we’ll see about them. They’re better than the Pirates but they aren’t better than Cincy, ChC, StL, or Milwaukee is right now. That could change but they’re relying on Giolito, Lopez (meh) and a bunch of rookies in that rotation. . I don’t think the Twins are necessarily a lock to repeat last years success either. That team doesn’t strike me as being better than the Cards, Brewers, or even Reds or Cubs. They all seem pretty comparable as it stands today.
I like the Indians as much, if not more than I like anyone in the NL Central. But you’d have to be a fool to say top to bottom that the NL central is weaker than the AL central. That division is hot garbage.
Thats not a strategy
You mean like acquiring Castellanos last August? I’m glad most fans aren’t running the Cubs. They’d have a 500 million payroll and 12 shortstops.
Haha. If Maddon was still there, I’d guarantee Atleast 5 options at SS! (And he would be praised for his teams flexibility!)
Remember when jim Hendry had like 5 2B? It was during the Alfonso Soriano era. He gave Lou Pinella 5 2B
Amen. All the cubs really need to do is bring Castellanos back find a good hitting lead off hitting second basemen, and move either chatwood back to a starter or Alec mills they can compete if they stay healthy
Cubs don’t really need any big moves, just to get their roster back to playing closer to their ceiling than their floor
^ I think Yu especially is a huge factor as to whether they succeed or crash and burn.
You mean their basement! They are in decline mode and just like the 85 bears, both were great young teams that were set up to win more than 1 championship. Cub still may prove that theory wrong but I’d fade cubby blue big time
isnt hiring a new manager a personnel change?
Unless Ross can pitch or hit, no.
cubs fans should lower their expectations for Ross, considering he has a lot to learn about managing the team. He even admitted it himself in a press conference at the winter meetings the other day. So status quo could mean more regression from the pitching staff, less runs per game with Castellanos gone, and some mistakes from a new manager.
do you have a life? Or do you just thrive on making idiotic comments on EVERY Cubs post on here?
So tell me how I’m wrong and “idiotic”.
Cubs are destined for no better than 4th place in their own division!
If they were smart, Cubs should sign Yolmer before Bryant is traded for a bag of balls.
For real, this moron literally comments on EVERY post about the Cubs.
Oh the Cubs are trading Bryant for a bag of balls huh? No value? Well you are on record with your opinion which shows what you know about baseball which is not much ChiSox Fan
You’re a Sox fan projecting daily, hourly, on Cubs stories. You fail to realize that Bryant, Baez, Contreras, Schwarber, and Heyward haven’t even hit their prime years yet. Bryant is just reaching the start of his at 28 in 2020. Calling them in decline is laughable. The current roster needs a few changes to compete for the WS, not just the playoffs. Almora needs to be consistent and develop or get replaced. We need Yu to be an ace. We need bullpen to rebound. This team faltered at the end of the year because of management and failed signings on pitching staff. There no need to blow up the offense to appease fan feelings. And Ross can focus on pitching staff support as a former catcher.
That’s because he’s the only fan they have
“And Ross can focus on pitching staff support as a former catcher.”
I literally LOL at that closing sentence. Seriously, cool story dude. It’s ridiculous, but at least it has a happy ending.
Well, look for the Rangers on a deal for Castellanos
(if they’re willing to take just 2bits and a fungo)
Rangers deep pockets – NOT
Which means we are treading water
I wonder if the RS feel a NO, trading in the division, where as Toronto n TB have dealt.
If Bloom feels a trade improves the Sox more than hurts by sending players to Toronto, he’ll do it.
With the fact that there’s no salary cap there’s no reason for the Mets to be dumping prospects to unload salary
Teams treat the luxury tax as a hard salary cap.
The Yankees dont…
Asking too much for Bryant??? Tough Shiitt! Every team asked the Cubs for the world when they were sought after for trades. Fah Q if you think any different.
Ok. Then enjoy your “broken offense”….again. Your GM’s words there by the way. Not mine.
from 2018… When’s the last time he said that? And hes the President of Baseball Operations, not the GM.
Considering Bryant is the most overrated player in baseball, it’s easy to ask too much for him
The whole team was overrated as proven by the 3rd place finish.
Overrated by whom? Certainly not by you…in fact you were so off on them being a fifth place team that you should instead follow soccer. Or find the band room like your athletic ability should have warranted around little league.
Imagine what the cubs would have looked like without Castellanos. It is the most overrated $200MM team in league history.
The Red Sox would like to have a word with you about that.
Wow in National League history huh? What is your source for that?
The Cubs were third in the NL for earbsd runs against per game, and fifth in the NL for runs scored per game. Not top tier, but very good, and in my judgment, this likely represents an underperformance of several of their players.
ChiSoxCity, you are a cartoon. I’m very certain you aren’t as clueless about baseball as you sound in Cubs threads.
Please show us on the Cub doll where Leo Durocher touched you.
What a stupid comment it’s funny how people can say how much someone sucks at something.. I don’t see you playing Major League Baseball you couldn’t pick up Kris Bryant bat..
The Cubs should be looking to extend Bryant. But the burned that bridge by manipulating his service time.
Oh really geg? Just yesterday Boras was stating Bryant would like an extension with the Cubs. Only ignorant commentors think a bridge is burned as if Bryant would not stay if the money was right
He stole an MVP from Daniel Murphy because of it! I’m still upset about that.
Ke’Bryan Hayes, Chris Archer, Brian Reynolds to Cubs
Kris Bryant to Pirates
Who hangs up first?
The Pirates do they are not one move away from contending so I doubt they trade 2 of their keystone players & Archer for 2 maybe 1 year of Bryant How about Marte, Cal Mitchell & Archer for Nico Hoerner, Miguel Amaya & Brailyn Marquez. Who hangs up first?
Agree with you that the Bucs hang up on the Bryant trade but the Cubs hang up on your proposal.
What would a reasonable return from the As be for Frazier? I know nothing about farm systems outside of the Bucs. An catching prospects close to the majors?
Wonder if he’d be part of a Marte trade to the Padres. The price on Merrifield might be too high, and he’d be a great fit for the Pad’s lineup.
Good idea. I like Frazier a lot but dealing him now makes a lot of sense. I’d like to see them try and deal Bell as well but it sounds like there aren’t any takers.
I keep trying to come up with a scenario where the Pirates can get Ruiz from the Dodgers, but I’m not sure if Marte or even Bell would fit on the Dodgers unless they did some major shuffling. Maybe a 3 team deal where the Dodgers can trade Pollock or Muncy opening up space.
Hedges, Quantril, Margot, and Morejon for Marte and Frazier would be my 1st offer if I’m AJ. And if we need to, throw in Myers +25m.. seems pretty fair for both sides.
“The cost in both dollars and prospect capital remains too high for Price“
Wait, the Red Sox think they can receive ANYTHING in return for anyone taking on that contract? Surely that is a joke.
Again, it appears some folks aren’t reading the room. Have you seen the contracts being given out for starters?
It depends how much of his contract they might be paying down… 3 years of Price even at $20-25 million would be very valuable in this market.
Those signings of Strasburg and Cole for the value they got made Price’s contract look much better than it did prior to the winter meetings. Is it a great deal? No, it still isn’t. But it looks a lot better in light of everything else.
Cherington “may think too similarly to his former colleagues for a deal to be struck.”
Condolences to every Pirate fan.
Boston management is out of their mind(s) if they think they deserve prospects for Price.
Or Yankees for Happ. If anything they would have to send a prospect.
No. Just send them Grichuk. Then they’d have Roark and Gurriel under guaranteed contract with plenty to spend. Perhaps take a real run at Betts or Springer a year from now.
So, the Pirates have a thin OF and are threadbare at catcher. They don’t have starting pitching. And all this includes the minors. So the answer is to ship off perhaps the one pitcher (Musgrove) who shows some fight out there? Seriously?
Fight doesn’t really matter at this point, it will matter when we are contending again. I don’t really want to deal Musgrove but if the return is very high, they have to listen.
Yeah it seems that Musgrove has the most value on the team. I doubt he will be traded though since he seems to inspire the team environment the Pirates desire and trading him may have negative results in that area.
If the Blue Jays get Happ and eat the full salary, and the Yankees throw in Frazier to do so, I hope the Jays would jump all over that. And add another young potent bat to the core. Outfielder as well, even though Frazier struggles out there, it would be an amazing get for the Jays. Make it happen Atkins. Show us you’re smart! Lol
Yankees aren’t attaching Frazier just to move one year of Happ. They should be able to just ship him out while eating some of his money(7-8 million).
Not sure where their comfort level is with the luxury tax, but they may have to not retain any salary.
The price for Happ will go down once we get closer to spring.
And it might be 2 years of Happ. He gets an extra year if he hits an innings target.
Happ, Schmidt and Dominguez for Giles. No cash needed.
Now that Gardner has re-signed, the Grichuk idea is off the table.
Dominguez isn’t going for a rental. That’d be a better package than what they got for stroman. They’d just sell Happ with a smaller prospect to another team.
Johnny, you want Happ and his salary off the team while boosting the bullpen? This is the cost. Call another team with stronger bullpen options who will take on Happ’s salary in-full. Good luck.
Green, Kahnle, Ottavino, Chappy, and Britton are already in the pen. That’s 5 very solid to elite arms as it is. There’s no need to panic and pay a premium for a relief pitcher. Especially volatile Kenny. We’ve already seen him melt like a popsicle in October.
That’s fine that he’s pitching well for a losing team. Maybe a desperate team would overpay. The Yankees have no reason to overpay.
Giles would be fine in the 7th or 8th. Plus he has a ring. Can’t say the same for most of the bullpen not named Chapman. Yankees are actively looking for 1 more bullpen bullet and can do it while saving $$$. The alternative is paying Betances or someone else.
Dodgers should look into grabbing Familia and Lowrie…we need all the help we can get in the back end of our bullpen and some infield depth wouldn’t hurt
Ken Giles?
The Cubs only have 4 rotation spots filled and two of those options stink with Lester and Quintana. Not sure what Theo is drinking, but if the season started today they would be in big trouble. They absolutely need starting pitching, but with the budget restrictions, trading Bryant or Contreras is the only way they can get it. I am hoping that the recent Mets deal with Porcello giving them 6 starters means that something is finally in the works. Byrant for Thor and Nimmo would be fine for both clubs. The Rays, A’s, and Padres have great pitching prospects, but not sure they would be willing to part with them for Bryant.
I’m a Brewers fan and even I gotta admit that maybe the Cubs could be a very much better team with a new manager that goes in there and kinda starts giving everyone a regular position day in and day out. Flexibility is good but sometimes using it too much can be detrimental too.
The guy just said the cubs have holes to fill, and you’re talking about the manager.
Manager is likely to be an upgrade in terms of getting more out of his players. I believe that Maddon is very overrated, apart from being smart in picking the teams he manages.
Totally agree with Maddon being overrated. I think that Schwarber and Happ would have made more progress under a different manager. I still believe Happ can be a star in this game under the right coach.
You consider a brand new manager with zero experience an upgrade over someone with 25 years of experience and a winning record that includes 2 manager of the year awards, 2 WS appearances, and a championship with the worst franchise in league history an upgrade? You’re clueless. And you still choose to ignore the glaring holes and declining rotation on the cubs roster? No manager can “fix” that. Baseball isn’t magic. These details you keep overlooking are the reasons the cubs aren’t making the playoffs. Aside from the fact the players kinda don’t give a s### anymore, but I can’t prove that one.
I just want to point out in case you don’t follow the NHL but Mike Babcock was a highly successful coach with a lot of accomplishments but treated his players poorly. I’m not saying Maddon did it does but success doesn’t overshadow behind the scenes conversations and such. Just an insight
I agree with you on Quintana, but I would expect Lester to put up about 2 WAR.
I think Lester is likely a solid #3, and Quintana a pretty typical #5. Hendricks is a good and dependable #2, and I would put Darvish about there, too.
They need an ace, but they won’t get one. They also have to improve greatly on their 1.3 relief WAR and almost 5.00 bullpen ERA from last year. again, apart from hoping the Chatwood, Kimbrel, and Wick really step up, which isnt impossible.
All in all, the pitching is likely to be pretty good and i think that they are more likely to be lucky on the upside than on the downside. still wish they would buy a bit more, though.
Lester didn’t look good down the stretch but he’s a reliable innings eater and so is Quintana. Cubs have Chatwood and Mills as possible 5th starter both did a fine job last year. I really like underwood in the bullpen for the cubs and maybe cotton or winkler hits. I want to see them get casty back if not happ better be starting everyday with almora being used very little.
A no brainer trade for the Red Sox now after losing Portello is to trade Price (eating partial salary) and Benintendi to the Cardinals for Baby Pedro, Tyler O Neill, Genesis Cabrera and Arozarena.
The trade is going to be JBJ and that ridiculous salary he has. Benintendi is going to play Centerfield and is cheaper!
As a fan, I knew going in to the winter meetings that all I could do was watch. Theo himself has said that to win a championship, you need to be average or better in every facet and position. We are and have been far from that in cf, 2b and in the leadoff spot. With that in mind, I was hopeful that Theo would do more than just watch. I guess they spent all our money on video boards, premium seating and restroom upgrades.
No way Price goes to Canada because of the taxes he would be subject to. The guy finally did something in the playoffs in 2018 and played up to what he was being paid for. He then acted like a petulant child with the special elbow and holding all the cards crap. I do not like the way he treated Dennis Eckersley and how he tanked against the Yankees last year ! He was gone by the second inning, almost like he wanted out of the game because he wasn’t into it.
Yes the Eck thing along with other examples made Price look like weakling. Also doubtful he’d go back to Toronto. Boston would have to take Grichuk and Giles plus eat $15-mil, minimum, just to start the conversation.
How is getting 4 players asking for too much? Anything less than 3 players is steal. After all the prospects the cubs get back for him are just that prospects
Rangers are creeping slowly in the Winter Meetings.
They just don’t have the HEART to compete in their West Division.
Turning away from Josh Donaldson shows they are going with rag-tags and kiddos… another four year build. with a VERY shallow pocketbook it shows.
Mets have options of where to move Dom Smith. Teams like BOS, COL, TOR, MIL and DET if not more need a long term option for 1B (Dom’s natural position). Curious to see if he’s moved with a bad contract to dump salary or swapped out for another position of need (Bullpen/CF).
Giles and Grichuk fit your needs. Unload Familia and Smith, then add whoever’s needed to balance the trade.
Toussaint Incarte and another top prospect from Braves for KB?
Schwarber to Oakland for Mengden
Resign Castellanos … play Happ at 2b
Incarte
Castellanos
Rizzo
Baez
Contreras
Heyward
Happ
Bote
You anti-Schwarber morons at it again? You basically just listed a lineup from last year but replace Schwarber with Inciarte which is beyond delusion. Unless you meant somebody named “Incarte” whom must be some unbelievable player we never heard of
The Pirates should trade Archer & Clay Holmes to the Blue Jays for 3B Miguel Hiraldo, C Reese McGuire & RHP Adam Kloffenstien. The Jays would get 2 starting pitchers while the Pirates get their catcher back to platoon w/ Stallings and 2 pieces from the farm. It seems capable that those 2 prospects Sanders & Cherington choose while w/ Toronto may be more available than the #5-8 prospects acquired by the Jays during the Pirates front office’s time in Toronto
The A’s don’t seem to have many appealing prospects that would be available for Frazier which would get over bid by another team.
Cherington should contact the White Sox to see about a trade w/ Adam Frazier & Kela for RHP Jonathon Stiever, 1B Gavin Sheets & LHP Bernardo Flores. Frazier can platoon w/ Madrigal when he is called up and be a super utility. Kela would fit right into the back end of their pen & Flores will fit our need for a lefty in the pen while Stiever is still 2-3 years away he is better than all of our prospects except Keller and Sheets is blocked behind Abreu & Vaugn but offers depth for 2021 behind Craig.
I think the jays are too high on Kloffenstein to trade him for Archer. The decline Archer has gone through wouldn’t appeal to trade away a towering young arm
If the Jays are high on Kloffenstein then the Pirates will be ok substituting Peterson for him in a trade. In reality, Kloffenstein is the 6th pitcher down the line of prospects in their top 30 at #10 and the Jays seem to be having a hard time finding a FA pitcher they don’t have to overpay that is better than Archer. Clay Holmes has shown promise with 5 years of control not even in arbitration and has shown the ability to handle MLB batters and would be a possible SP or long innings relief pitcher. The both of them should be worth the Jays #9, 10 & 25th prospects. There is a good chance Cherington and Saunders can land this trade.
Blue Jays aren’t dealing 3 prospects for 1 year of Archer or a soon to be 27-year old AAA pitcher. That’s absurd and insane. Go back to the drawing board. Cherington and company can’t pull that off.