Olney says no one should be surprised if the Royals deal one of their core hitters - Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, Mike Moustakas, etc. - to acquire pitching this winter. Hosmer presumably has the most value of the group despite his down 2012 season.
If Arizona wants a SS/3B for Upton, I wouldn't rule the Red Sox out. He's not currently major league ready, but Garin Cecchini has a ton of potential and a pretty valuable piece. Would he alone get the deal done, of course not, but he's be a pretty solid building block. However, if they only want Middlebrooks or Bogaerts, I'd say no thanks.
Walt Weiss is the Rockies new manager. I don't understand how Sandy Alomar Jr. is still available. I guess I'm not there for the interview process, but he seems like he'd make a great manager.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Red Sox are no longer pursuing a trade for Justin Upton.
Well, that was fast. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reported Wednesday evening that the Red Sox were targeting the talented young outfielder, but evidently they don't like the Diamondbacks' asking price or don't have what Arizona is looking for in return. Nightengale says the D'Backs want a third baseman or shortstop.
Would anyone do Garin Cecchini and Doubront for Upton? If you need to add more I would add some B prospects.
Would anyone do Garin Cecchini and Doubront for Upton?
Everyone but the Diamondbacks would do that. And a B prospect wouldn't change this.
Cecchini is farther away than anyone would be willing to countenance in terms of a potentiual Upton trade. If they can't do better than an A baller I'd advise them to keep Upton. And Doubs, while he has some value, isn't in this conversation at all.
You need to think more in terms of Will Middlebrooks if you want Upton. As in "Middlebrooks plus," and probably as in "Middlebrooks plus de la Rosa."
Above average offensive player, hits to all fields, good defensive player... there's a lot to like here.
I think I'd be more inclined to explore trading for a first basemen with the surplus of rule 5 eligible bullpen arms. Laroche would require the high second round pick, and in the semi-rebuilding mode that the Red Sox are in, they shouldn't sacrifice draft picks for guys that are not going to be part of the long-term answer. In terms of free agents, there isn't anyone that fits that, so I personally would avoid all of the players that were extended qualifying offers.
Everyone but the Diamondbacks would do that. And a B prospect wouldn't change this.
Cecchini is farther away than anyone would be willing to countenance in terms of a potentiual Upton trade. If they can't do better than an A baller I'd advise them to keep Upton. And Doubs, while he has some value, isn't in this conversation at all.
You need to think more in terms of Will Middlebrooks if you want Upton. As in "Middlebrooks plus," and probably as in "Middlebrooks plus de la Rosa."
Again, I don't doubt it would take much more than Cecchini, but I don't know who is available out there that would be on the level of Bogaerts or Middlebrooks. At that point, you are bidding against yourself.
Doubt all you want to. That's entirely your right. However, it doesn't impact the fact that any trade for Upton would take much more than Cecchini and Doubront.
If you think that Bogaerts and Middlebrooks are all that unique as prospects you have another think coming. They're exciting, but they aren't exactly Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton.
Doubt all you want to. That's entirely your right. However, it doesn't impact the fact that any trade for Upton would take much more than Cecchini and Doubront.
If you think that Bogaerts and Middlebrooks are all that unique as prospects you have another think coming. They're exciting, but they aren't exactly Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton.
I wasn't saying Doubront was the plus, like I said I think it'd take a lot more. I'm not saying they are once in a generation prospects, like Harper, or even Stanton to a degree, but they are very valuable, both with at least 5+ years of team control left.
If the rangers offered Andrus, which has been speculated, he is the same age as Middlebrooks (Andrus is actually a month older), only Middlebrooks is still at least a season away from arbitration, while Andrus has 2 arbitration seasons left before free agency. So if you are trying to outbid the Rangers, by giving up a cheaper player, that will be under team control for almost 3 times as long, than the player they are offering go for it. But you are bidding against yourself.
Just for the what it's worth, Andrus will hit free agency a season before Upton will.
I'm trying to think of other players that are available that would be equivalent of offering Middlebrooks or Bogaerts. Bogaerts, as a prospect, would probably be easier to match, just because he hasn't played beyond Double-A, and even at Double-A he's only played 23 games.
With all of that said, I'm not desperate enough to get Upton that I'd give up either of them, especially not in addition to others. The team is nowhere near contention presently, and creating a hole to fill a hole is counterproductive.
If you think Middlebrooks is in the same universe of value as Andrus just because Middlebrooks has more arb years, I don't even know what to say to that. Not a lot of young shortstops these days can do what Andrus has done over the last 4 years.
Above average defense with an OPS ~.700 and some steals- I would say many SS can do that. It also helps that he has such great protection in the lineup. Hitting in front of Hamilton would do wonders for a persons numbers.
Granted, he is still VERY young, but I would not be surprised if he is pretty close to a finished product at this point. Maybe a teeny more pop will be added, but he has also gotten progressively worse at stealing bases as he has gotten older.
He is worth a good deal though because he will be an above average SS for about 10-15 years. But I would still rather have Middlebrooks because he is a potential right handed impact bat, and those are just a beauteous sight to see in Fenway
If you think Middlebrooks is in the same universe of value as Andrus just because Middlebrooks has more arb years, I don't even know what to say to that. Not a lot of young shortstops these days can do what Andrus has done over the last 4 years.
Both are 24. Both field their position extremely well. Middlebrooks is a long-term middle of the order bat and andrus is a leadoff/#2 hitter. Andrus has done it for longer. Middlebrooks will make less than a million this year, then at least 4 years of arbitration. Andrus makes $5 million+ per for two years then he is a free agent.
Middlebrooks isn't getting moved, so his trade value doesn't matter much at the moment.
For what it's worth, the Rangers appear to have two shortstops that are young and can do what andrus has.
[QUOTE=Dojji;55617457]If you think Middlebrooks is in the same universe of value as Andrus just because Middlebrooks has more arb years, I don't even know what to say to that. Not a lot of young shortstops these d
How many 3b have been developed in the majors these past years? Middlebrooks is one and not many others. Also, are there a lot of LH SP who can throw 95 and are SO pitchers at the age of 25 or under who compare to Doubie out there, I highly doubt it. You severley underrate both players.
