JotCast | Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

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Joe

2:42

Jose Berrios is a very talented pitcher entering his prime, who also happens to be popular among his teammates and fans, very durable, and has an incredible conditioning program. My question is why would the Twins even consider trading him if they intended to compete again next season, given he's under contract for 2022 and should instead be extended? No contender intentionally gives up MLB-ready equal value in these deals, instead offering multiple players who are of lesser quality and may not ever be difference makers. Why create a hole that will be difficult to fill anytime soon? The same question applies to Byron Buxton if he should prove healthy again before the deadline.

Steve Adams

2:43

This is sort of my general stance on him, too. I don't think they'd move him without getting back one piece they could immediate put into the 2022 rotation and multiple high-end prospects.

That said, extension-wise, Berrios is going to probably ask for more than most people realize. I'd imagine his camp is envisioning something in the $150MM range over six years. Zack Wheeler got five and 118, and he had an offer of five and 123 from the White Sox. Berrios has been vocal about wanting to move the market for future pitchers forward. Extending him isn't as straightforward as some would expect.

2:46

One scenario that would make sense -- at least to me -- would be if a team like the Cardinals offered up Dakota Hudson (controllable four more years but recovering from TJ right now) and then said, OK, here are some near-MLB prospects as well. Basically a tailor-made 2022 replacement (albeit a lesser one) and some additional near-MLB talent to sweeten the offer.

I don't think it's going to happen, and I think the Cardinals would tell the Twins "dream on" if Minnesota asked for say, Hudson, Matthew Liberatore and then some -- but I also think that's the type of offer they'd insist on.

Mercedes Bends

2:46

Are the White Sox bringing up Burger and Sheets to showcase them as potential trade bait, or just to address current needs (which they definitely have) and see if they can fill some holes without having to trade from their relatively thin farm system?

Steve Adams

2:48

I don't put much stock in the "showcase them" notion in 2021. A couple decades ago that was probably more of a thing, but now you have video access on demand to literally every pitch a guy sees/swings at/throws, every play they make in the field, etc. -- and that's in addition to all the in-person scouting looks. I'm sure clubs are happy to get the opportunity to take a look at Sheets or Burger against MLB pitching, but I don't think that changes the calculus all that much. Player development has come a long way in recent years, and I don't think a team's evaluation of Jake Burger is going to change much if he hits .300 for a week in the big leagues.

2:49

More likely -- Yermin isn't hitting. Vaughn hasn't been great. Half the lineup is injured. They want some more production, and maybe they want to see how their own guys handle MLB pitching before they decide if they're going to give up a prospect for Adam Frazier or Eduardo Escobar or whoever.

Daniel

2:49

What is Monfort going to do? No use in hiring from within after this season. I sometimes felt Monfort was causing issues with the lack of allowing his FO to be aggressive especially after extending Arenado and a post season appearance. Unless Im wrong here, I feel it's going to be a long road for Colorado's new GM and AGM.

Steve Adams

2:50

I don't think you're wrong, and unless he makes Schmidt or Zack Rosenthal (the last remaining assistant GM who hasn't resigned) the new GM, I don't see how he can hire from within. He'll have to go outside the organization, and despite Monfort's meddling and generally ridiculous reputation, someone will take the job because there's only 30 baseball-operations-leader jobs out there at a time.

2:51

To your broader point, though, I think it's going to be hard for this organization to find sustained success unless Monfort gets out of his own way.

2:52

Never verified this personally or anything, but I still remember Peter Gammons reporting six years ago that the Rox and Orioles had a trade lined up that would've send Jorge de la Rosa to Baltimore at the deadline, in exchange for Eduardo Rodriguez, but Monfort veto'ed it because he'd grown attached to De La Rosa.

Rockies extended De La Rosa the next month.

Robert

2:52

With multiple Pitchers hurt for the Indians and not much ready at AAA Columbus. What Teams do you see the Indians turning to for trades as well as possible Waiver Wire claims?
Thank You MLBTradeRumors is my favorite site.

Steve Adams

2:54

They signed Zack Godley last week, and I was told at the time of that signing that he has a good chance of being up before long. That's a stopgap/band-aid option, of course, but it's something.

I generally think that because of owner Paul Dolan's lack of willingness to spend, they're going to look to lower-cost (salary-wise) starting pitching options. Merrill Kelly in Arizona. Maybe try to pry a Kyle Freeland or (less exciting) Antonio Senzatela from the Rockies. Chris Flexen in Seattle, if the Mariners are willing?

2:55

Getting someone controlled beyond '21 is important, too, because some of the guys Cleveland was counting on (McKenzie, Allen, etc.) have looked overmatched.

Randall Gilmore

2:56

Steve, thanks for the chat! I have read about pitchers who might be adversely impacted by MLB enforcing the foreign substance rule (Gerritt Cole, for example), but are there successful pitchers with low spin rates who will flourish and perhaps bypass some of the goo-meisters?

Steve Adams

2:56

Just look for guys whose primary pitches are sinkers/two-seamers, splitters and changeups. You don't want high spin rates on any of those pitches.

mmddyyyy

2:57

Which other sport fanbases most overlap with baseball?

Steve Adams

2:57

I would assume football, but I haven't read a study on it or anything.

Sellers

2:57

If the Yankees continue to fall apart, who can they realistically sell at the deadline?

Steve Adams

2:57

Hal Steinbrenner said just yesterday he hasn't contemplated selling

2:58

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/yankees-trade-rumors-sellers-de...

But, if we want to go the same hypothetical route I did with the Cardinals before and pretend the Yankees drop 15 straight games or something and give in...

3:00

I'd say Justin Wilson and Darren O'Day are easy targets since they're likely to become free agents this winter. Zack Britton, if he's pitching OK, because he's signed only one more year and comes with a notable luxury hit. Miguel Andujar because they just don't have a great long-term spot for him. Gary Sanchez, Jameson Taillon, MAYBE Chad Green.

Will

3:01

Which is a higher probability … Kim Ng is able to get Starling Marte to resign, or he gets traded by the deadline?

Steve Adams

3:01

Doesn't have to be an either-or. They could opt not to trade him, keep trying to extend him, and make a qualifying offer as well.

3:02

I have a hard time seeing the Marlins paying market value for him, since I'd set a floor of like 4/72 on a contract for him (or maybe three years at a higher AAV). If I have to choose between extension or trade, I think a trade is ultimately likelier.

Ross Atkins

3:03

I have a math problem pending. Danny Jansen and Aljeabdro Kirk are on rehab assignment. Riley Adam's can go back to AAA but I can't really send Reece McGuire out again can I...who is going to be the odd catcher here?

Steve Adams

3:04

Jansen's offensive struggles have lasted long enough that I think he'd probably be the odd man out. I was bullish on his bat picking back up in 2020, but it's been a rough stretch for him.

I agree that McGuire has hit too well to be sent out right now.

Nick Plummer

3:05

isn't irritating that "resign" and "resign" are the same word but have nearly opposite meanings?

Steve Adams

3:05

Ha, it is. I always go with "resign" (step away, quit, etc.) and "re-sign" for MLBTR purposes for that reason.

Sandy

3:06

Does the Phillies poor play surprise you? Their pen was a disaster last year and is again in 2021. Their fielding and clutch hitting has also been awful.

Steve Adams

3:08

It does surprise me. I look at that roster and see Harper, Realmuto, Didi, Hoskins, Nola, Wheeler, Eflin, Neris -- Phils fans are obviously fed up, but he's talented -- Segura ... there's so much talent there, and it just seems like they can't get it going for whatever reason.

Perhaps that's on the coaching staff, perhaps it's just random bad luck -- I'm not really sure, but I'm constantly thinking to myself, "These guys should be ... better. That's it. They should just be better."

Anthony Franco

3:09

I'm not too surprised about the Phillies actually. The defense and bullpen looked like weaknesses going into the offseason and they didn't do a whole lot to address the former and signed some reclamation projects to handle the latter.

They always felt like a .500-ish team to me. I think they'll probably end up in that 79-81 win range ultimately.

Steve Adams

3:09

I thought KIntzler would be better, thoguh.

3:10

But yeah, they looked like they had some depth issues. They needed KIngery to return to 2019 form and Howard to do more than he's done.

Minasian

3:11

What do you think I can get for Raisel Iglesias and Jose Iglesias?

Steve Adams

3:12

I doubt much for Jose. There's a reason he got one year and an option from the Orioles and was traded for a pretty meager return this past winter. He's hitting fine, not great. Defensive marks are down. I doubt teams see him as more than a bench rental.

3:14

Raisel is one of the best reliever rentals on the market. 40% strikeout rate, 5% walk rate. It's power stuff that's way better than the ERA indicates (and even that's begun to come down). Reds were crazy to salary dump him, and the Angels, if they trade him, will come away with at least one notable prospect from the gambit -- someone who slides into their own top 10. Maybe a second piece that's lesser regarded. He's too good not to get something of note in return, and every contender should want him.

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