JotCast | Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Tim Dierkes

1:59

For the first time ever, MLBTR writers Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Connor Byrne will answer your MLB free agency questions together in one chat!

We save the coolest stuff for our Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers! We've been working on free agency stuff all week.

1:59

Would the Cardinals consider resigning Ozuna after they let him walk? They need power but they are strapped financially due to bad contracts and potential resigning of Molina and Waino.

Tim Dierkes

2:00

While they could use his bat, I can't see this happening. They got his two mediocre years sandwiched between his two excellent ones. I don't expect the Cardinals to revisit Ozuna this winter. They've got some alternative bats.

Steve Adams

2:00

I don't really think the Cards are all that strapped financially, for one. With some crude arb guesses and assuming Wong's option is bought out, I have them $47MM below their 2020 payroll mark.

Connor Byrne

2:01

We've had a really hard time predicting where Ozuna will go because of the uncertainty surround the DH after this season, but the Cards weren't really a team we kicked around as a possibility.

surrounding*

Steve Adams

2:01

Yeah the DH thing makes a big difference for Ozuna

LeMachine

2:01

What do you see DJ LeMahieu signing for and is there any chance the Yankees don't end up resigning him?

Theo

2:01

Is there a chance I make up for one of my worst trades and sign DJ LeMahieu? I know a lot of teams would love to have him. But man, he's exactly the kind of bat I need.

Connor Byrne

2:02

At least 4/80, maybe something akin to the Donaldson deal (4/92) The Cards are a fit here, as are the Cubs, Yankees, Angels, to name some.

Tim Dierkes

2:03

We just discussed DJLM a bunch this morning. I do think the Cubs are a viable spot for him as a means of shaking up the offense with a contact bat, though it would leave Hoerner without a spot. I'll let Connor tackle the Yankees question. Cardinals, Nats, Blue Jays, Angels, Dodgers are some other teams we've batted around for him.

Connor Byrne

2:03

I know the Yankees haven't extended him yet, but he means so much to their lineup that it's hard to imagine they won't at least put up a fight

Steve Adams

2:03

I do like him in St. Louis -- hard to see them paying Wong $12MM when they so badly need to upgrade the offense. And people focus on the OF as the spot to do it, but they still have Fowler, O'Neill, Bader, Carlson and Thomas

Connor Byrne

2:04

Yeah, the Cardinals' offense was bad in 2020. They need help.

Jon

2:04

How are you tackling predicting contracts in the aftermath of baseball's COVID season? Coming up with a "normal" prediction for everyone and then reducing by a certain percent? Not making changes for the top-tier guys but doing so for the "middle class?"

Steve Adams

2:04

Quite bad (sorry Cards fans)

Tim Dierkes

2:04

We've mainly landed on the latter - strong contracts for the top guys, but a huge fallout afterward and a ton of one-year deals.

Steve Adams

2:05

There are some indicators, too, that the market isn't completely broken.

Mookie's deal, obviously, but also the Astros paying $7MM for Yuli out of the blue was weird.

Connor Byrne

2:05

It's been a challenge, but the cream of the crop should at least do well (or so we think).

those deals are indeed encouraging

Alex

2:05

What team is the man st worthy for Trevor Bauer

Steve Adams

2:05

Maybe that was just Jim Crane doing something dumb -- doubt that was a James Click move -- but it's a mildly encouraging sign for the market.

Tim Dierkes

2:06

I think we came up with more than a dozen: Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Mets, Reds, Blue Jays, Braves, White Sox, Cubs, Giants, Angels, Twins, Nats. We like a lot of things about the Dodgers fit despite their depth.

Connor Byrne

2:06

I've got Dodgers-Yankees-Angels for Bauer, but there are a lot of possibilities

Steve Adams

2:06

Yeah, they've tried to opportunitstically add elite pieces in the past despite a clear need

Harper, Cole

2:07

Did it successfully with Betts.

Bochy's Ghost

2:07

The Giants have stated publicly that they have three areas they plan to add or update in the off season: the starting rotation, a left-handed bat with pop and a veteran (or two) relief pitchers. Given that San Francisco has pretty deep pockets, what one or two free agents would you see the Giants going after?

Connor Byrne

2:07

Problem with the Yankees is Cole's presence (in terms of recruiting Bauer) and we're not sure how on board he'd be with reuniting with Mickey Callaway as an Angel

Tim Dierkes

2:07

I don't think we talked about them a ton on Liam Hendriks, but it seems plausible. Trevor May is our second-best SP I think.

Steve Adams

2:08

Rosenthal!

Connor Byrne

2:08

Bauer's not unreasonable. Gausman will be up there, so could Stroman. We discussed Ozuna as a possibility.

Tim Dierkes

2:08

Oh right, him too.

Steve Adams

2:08

We have May as the #3 RP

Connor Byrne

2:08

although Ozuna's obviously not left-handed

we all like May a lot

Steve Adams

2:08

I think they'll for sure try to keep Gausman. They paid him $9MM off a terrible year and held him in August.

SteveM

2:08

With the NL likely to keep the DH what kind of market would open up for Nelson Cruz, maybe even Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera and a few other, professional hitters. Would the TWINS offer Nellie 2 years to keep him or will a light hitting team like, say, St. Louis, throwing some decent money at him or some of the others out there?

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