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Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

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Connor Byrne

2:00

Hey everyone. I'm filling in for Steve this week. We'll get going in a minute.

Alex

2:01

Hi Steve! If Gausman really ends up getting 60+, do you really think Farhan will pull the trigger, given his historic distaste for giving pitchers long term deals?

Connor Byrne

2:02

We do think the Giants will try to retain Gausman, but if he does get into that 60 range (as we expect, at least for now), we don't have the Giants as the favorites.

Griffin

2:02

How low is Gary Sanchez's value?

Release the Kraken

2:02

Where do I call home next year? And if the Yankees move me, who replaces me?

Connor Byrne

2:03

I'll deal with the two Sanchez questions simultaneously. His value is obviously down, but given how weak the C market is in free agency after Realmuto and McCann, I think there would still be a demand in a trade. I expect the Yankees to keep Sanchez if they don't sign Realmuto, though. McCann just doesn't seem like enough of a sure upgrade.

Kirt Bennett

2:04

Will Charlie Morton's team option get picked up?

Connor Byrne

2:05

I don't see the Rays doing it for $15MM, but I think he could return for a lesser amount

ChrisF

2:05

With Devin Williams breaking out, do the Brewers finally trade Hader to fill their offensive voids? What teams are good matches? Reasonable return?

Connor Byrne

2:06

Well, they have at least listened to Hader offers in the past year or so. They'll probably continue to do so, and my guess is they'd want multiple top 100 prospects. As for who would be interested, it would take me too long to list. Basically anyone that plans to contend in 2021.

Marc

2:07

if Ricketts won’t open up his wallet for a Springer or LaMahieu quality FA this offseason, do you see any scenario where the Cubs would trade Contreras, Darvish or Hendricks?

Connor Byrne

2:08

I don't expect the Cubs to move anyone from that trio. Bryant and Schwarber come off as more likely trade candidates.

Beachcomber

2:08

You're AA, win or lose in the rest of the post season, what move(s) do you make in the off-season?

Connor Byrne

2:10

AA = Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos. The Braves need some more help in the rotation, but they have the luxury of not needing a top guy with Fried, Soroka and Anderson set to return. Someone like Stroman, whom AA has a connection to, could be a fit, but there are a lot of back-end innings-eating types who could also interest ATL. Offensively, Ozuna's probably going to walk, but the Braves still won't be in bad shape in the outfield. A guy like Justin Turner could be a fit at 3B, where the Braves haven't gotten much production this year.

SteveM

2:10

Nellie Cruz...$20 million for the year?

Connor Byrne

2:11

That's on the high side. Our projection is 1/16 at the moment. As good as Cruz is, his age is a detriment to a larger deal.

Griffin

2:12

Is Michael Brantley a good target for the Yankees or is that too many injury prone outfielders?

Connor Byrne

2:14

I don't think it's a clean fit with Brantley having done a lot of DHing this year. The Yankees have Stanton there. Corner OF seems as if it will primarily be Judge, Frazier and Tauchmann next year. The Yankees could also bring back Gardner, albeit on a deal worth less than his 2021 option (which we think they'll decline).

2:15

What trade scenarios could the Cardinals do to improve their offense?

Connor Byrne

2:17

It's a lot harder to predict trades than FA scenarios, but we have kicked around Realmuto, Springer, LeMahieu and Pederson as open market possiblilities for the Cards. LeMahieu depends on whether the Cards bring back Wong, though, and Derrick Goold reported the other day they could retain him with an extension. Likewise, if STL keeps Molina, forget the JTR idea. They could also use some SP help even if they re-sign Wainwright. Wouldn't be surprising to see Carlos Martinez on the trade block, though.

Bruce

2:18

By the time the Angels rebuild under a new GM, Trout will be in mid-30s. So Braves send Pache, Langeliers, Riley, Duvall, and three pitchers to Halos for Mike. Who says no?

Connor Byrne

2:18

The Angels aren't trading Trout, nor do I think they'll rebuild.

Home Field Advantage

2:19

I’m not sure the Top Seeds received enough “reward” for winning their Division or being a Top Seed. The neutral sites, beginning in the Divisional Round, pretty much Eliminated any Advantage the higher Seeds would normally enjoy. What say the MLBTR Staff?

Connor Byrne

2:20

My biggest problem is the way they did the seeding. I know the Rays beat the Yankees in the ALDS, but why did that matchup even happen in that round? Tampa Bay should have been playing the lowest seed, which was Houston at the time. Fortunately for TB, it has worked out so far, but still.

A's Fan

2:21

Does Billy leaving mean more people leaving like Forst and Melvin? Or is this just a formalization of Beane stepping away from baseball?

Connor Byrne

2:21

I think it's just Billy Beane pursuing other interests. No reason to think GM David Forst or manager Bob Melvin are going anywhere.

2:22

Here's the Beane story for those who haven't read it: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/billy-beanes-future-with-athlet...

Marcus Semien

2:22

Am I worth a QO?

Connor Byrne

2:23

I'll stick with another A's question and say no. Semien hit free agency a year too late. He was an MVP candidate last year but just average this season.

SteveM

2:23

What were the ChiSox thinking when they let Renteria go? He should just ditch Chicago all together and maybe go to Detroit?

Connor Byrne

2:25

It was a pretty surprising move, and it'll be even more of a stunner if they ditched Renteria to hire Tony La Russa. Hinch or Cora, fine, but La Russa at the age of 76? He hasn't managed in almost a decade. I don't mind the Renteria/Tigers idea. He has led two rebuilders in the past & is a respected guy.

How real is muto?

2:26

Is Realmuto really worth $200 million as a 30 year old catcher?

Connor Byrne

2:26

No. We're kicking around five- and six-year scenarios for Realmuto. None of them approach $200MM.

Joe J.

2:27

Which starting pitchers are most likely to be traded this off-season?

Connor Byrne

2:27

Lance Lynn comes to mind immediately. He'd be a fit for any number of contenders. Other than Bauer, there's no free-agent starter I'd take over Lynn on a one-year basis.

2:28

I fully expect the Rangers to part with Lynn in a cost-cutting/rebuilding move

Farhan Zaidi

2:28

Brandon Belt had a great 2020 (.309/.425/.591 with nine home runs in 179 ABs) . His final contract year salary is $16M. How much excess value is there?

Connor Byrne

2:29

Belt had a good year, but I don't think there's a lot of "excess value," especially after he just underwent heel surgery. However, it could help the Giants' cause that the FA market won't feature many decent options at 1B.

that's if they even try to deal him

MLBTR rules!

2:30

You and everyone seem to think Schwarber and Bryant are the Cubs likely trade candidates, but with both coming off such terrible years the Cubs wouldn't net much of anything, right? So why bother - just let them play 2021 and issue a QO?

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