JotCast | Trade Rumors Front Office Chat | 2/12/2021

Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

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Steve Adams

2:04

Greetings everyone!

Thanks for joining another front office chat -- happy to have you guys here. Let's get underway

Peter

2:05

The Giants starting rotation is woefully inadequate, and clearly they need another left-handed starter. James Paxton make so much sense. What do you think it would take to sign him? And if he's out of the equation, who—in your opinion—would the next best left-hander available?

Steve Adams

2:06

Paxton wants north of Kluber and Smyly -- a year around $12MM. He makes sense in San Francisco in that he'd obviously improve their club, but he's an expensive piece who's looking for a one-year deal in a season where the Giants know they aren't likely to compete with the Padres and Dodgers, so not sure they'd agree that he's a fit.

2:07

I don't think it's necessarily try that they NEED another lefty -- better to just focus on the best pitcher, period -- but I'd say Rich Hill on a per-inning basis with Brett Anderson serving as a passable option as well.

2:08

I sort of doubt they'll add another starter of too much note, though. They have Cueto, Gausman, DeSclafani and Wood locked in, and I'm sure they want to get a look at Logan Webb, get innings for Tyler Beede, eventually check out Sean Hjjelle and others.

Hjelle*

Jeremy

2:09

Any news on pitchers like Aaron Sanchez or Roberto Osuna?

Steve Adams

2:10

Sanchez threw for scouts a couple months ago, and he's going to do so again this weekend. If he looks OK, I'd imagine he'll land with a new team in the next week or two.

There were some bogus rumors about Osuna and the Angels, but those were shot down by Angels beat writers. I'm not sure who's going to take a chance on that guy, but I assume someone will. I'd be more than fine if we never saw him again, though.

Dean

2:11

What will yanks due with Angular this year.? Would it be worth sending him back to AAA to build value and then see what you can do trade wise mid year. There will be NL teams looking for a DH for next year.

Steve Adams

2:13

It'll be just that -- AAA depth in the event of an Urshela or Voit or Stanton injury. I don't think he's going to build much value... teams have a good idea of what he is now and his skill set isn't going to radically change. They're not going to suddenly clamor for him in a trade if he rakes in Scranton for a month or two.

I do think the likely implementation of a DH in the NL will help drum up more interest in him, though, and the fact that he's out of minor league options in 2022 hastens the Yankees' chances of trading him.

2:16

It's pretty clear there's no long-term spot for him in the Bronx at the moment, but I also think his lack of defensive value probably hinders his market.

Sorry, had a quick phone call there.

Old_Chief

2:16

Are the Braves actually going into the season without reinforcing a bench that looks pretty thin

Steve Adams

2:17

There are tons of bench types left still unsigned. They did grab Ehire Adrianza on a minor league deal, and he seems like he'd have a chance to make the club, but I bet they bring in someone else as well.

KB in Queens

2:17

Should the Mets really be considering Bryant? They would have to give up JD Davis and do not have a replacement if KB leaves (unless they think Guillorme is the replacement)

Steve Adams

2:18

I wouldn't bet four years of control over Davis on a one-year rebound for Bryant when the upside is probably two to three wins (WAR-wise) over what you can reasonably expect for Davis.

2:19

I can think of more intriguing fits for Bryant: Braves, Twins (left field), Nationals,

That said, if they think he's a good bet to achieve that ceiling and/or that Davis will regress, they should make the move. They have oodles of cash, and the fact that they don't have an in-house replacement in 2022 shouldn't matter at all.

2:20

Someone will emerge, or they can spend on a free agent there. Winning in 2021 should be the top priority.

StevieM

2:20

Odorizzi seems to be on several radars. Could he be had, by the TWINS for example one year at 13mm to build his stock back up?

Steve Adams

2:21

Think he's pretty set on a multi-year deal. I personally heard before those reports of a $36-42MM asking price that he was looking in the three-year range around $15MM per as well.

Maybe his priorities change as spring approaches, but right now I don't expect him to sign a one-year deal.

Nick Krall

2:22

Semien; Simmons; Gregorious; Villar...I missed out on all of these free agent shortstop options. Do I stay internally (Farmer, Holder, Blandino) or explore the trade market?

Steve Adams

2:23

Yeah, Reds fans should be pretty irritated about the shortstop situation. Not because of Krall, mind you, but because it's pretty clear that ownership has zero interest in spending anything. I suppose you'd have a right to be a little miffed with Krall for acting like they might reallocate the Raisel/Bradley resources to a shortstop. It's pretty clear those saved dollars are being reallocated to Bob Castellini's bank account.

2:24

I'd imagine they'll keep looking guys like Amed Rosario, Willy Adames and others as spring wears on.

GBS42

2:24

Knowing there's still lots of time before Opening Day, let alone all the in-season injuries and maneuvering, who are you division picks at this moment?

Steve Adams

2:25

Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves, Yankees, Twins and in the AL West a legitimate tossup between Houston and Oakland. Obviously additional moves can change that outlook

Anthony

2:25

What is JBJs worth, the Red Sox way over paid for his services last year at 11mm/year?

Steve Adams

2:26

If he signed a two- or three-year deal worth that same $11MM per year, I'd nod my head and say "That makes sense."

I think you're underrating him.

(I don't think he'll get that, by the way -- probably more like $8-9MM/year -- but just saying I thought that's a fine price)

Agent 86

2:27

I quickly searched through the PDF of the most recent CBA and could not see language referring to this. Is it allowed (while unorthodox) to include multiple years contingent on vesting options? I've only ever seen it for one year.

Steve Adams

2:28

I would imagine so. The Mariners have like a three-year club option on Kikuchi. The Phillies had a two-year option on Arrieta. I don't see why it'd be disallowed as a vesting mechanism when it's allowed as a straight-up club decision.

To be clear, I don't have a definitive answer off the top of my head, but the structure of the Kikuchi and Arrieta contracts makes me think it probably would be.

Zack Britton's deal, too.

Rays fanatic

2:28

The Rays rotation has taken a giant hit this winter. I now see Glasnow and a bunch of back-end rotation types. That might be enough to make the playoffs (with a strong offense and bullpen), but I doubt its enough to go far in the playoffs. Your thoughts?

Steve Adams

2:30

It's taken a huge hit, no way around it, but I also trust the Rays to convert on at least one of these cheap rotation signings and get themselves a playoff-caliber starter out of it -- be it Wacha, Archer, McHugh or some combination of the three. They also have Shane McClanahan knocking on the door, and Luis Patino has legitimate No. 1/2 starter upside.

Jeremy

2:30

Is Brad Miler a bench bat for the Phillies or think we will get a shot at starting?

Steve Adams

2:30

Bench guy. Segura's contract will keep him starting. But I can see Miller and Kingery being pretty oft-used bench pieces.

Kris Bryant

2:30

I’m a former MVP, yet I’m not worth JD Davis? What’s a fair price, then? Dave Peterson?

Steve Adams

2:33

It's been five years since Bryant won an MVP. You can't reasonably project him to return to that maximum, 7-8 WAR ceiling when he hasn't been there since 2017 and has been injured the past couple seasons.

I think the most you optimistically project for Bryant is a 5-win season -- that'd be pretty bullish, but plausible -- whereas Davis is probably a comfortable 2-WAR guy. So you're buying three-ish extra wins but also picking up $17MM or so in salary to acquire him, unless you offset that to an extent (say, attach Familia or Betances).

Do you surrender four years of Davis for a possible three-win upgrade and $17MM in extra payroll? I suspect the Mets would not.

Maybe if Bryant were coming off a very good, but still-less-than-MVP season, it'd be another story. That's not the case.

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