Quote from LynchMob on January 13, 2019, 11:47 pm

FTJ was 0-for-3 with a walk and an SB in Sunday's game for Estrellas ...

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2019_01_13_estwin_licwin_1&t=g_box&sid=l131

That's quite a lineup he's in ...

Estrellas Orientales
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG*
Gustavo Nunez	2B	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.314
Fernando Tatis Jr.	SS	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.254
Miguel Sano	DH	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.222
Hector Gimenez	1B	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.389
Junior Lake	LF	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.222
Yasmany Tomas	RF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.343

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 14, 2019, 5:32 am

Quote from 3fingersplit on January 13, 2019, 9:46 am

Thank you Fenn.....I've been saying that all along

Let these young guys have a rip at it and develop this staff and then when the Padres are on the cusp....then get the lead dog aka Kevin Brown

And I third that sentiment.

But I will say if the cost of Gray is minimal.....adding him to eat innings and possibly rebound in the NL and add trade value for at the deadline...or even to re-sign to an extension would be pretty low risk.

I also think Kuechel is a fairly low risk option who won't cost prospects and who,for the type of pitcher he is has less chance of injury and will also rack up innings over the course of his contract.

So signing Kuechel and trading a mid range prospect for Gray would not be bad moves IMO.

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 14, 2019, 8:01 am

Quote from David Nevin on January 14, 2019, 5:32 am

Quote from 3fingersplit on January 13, 2019, 9:46 am

Thank you Fenn.....I've been saying that all along

Let these young guys have a rip at it and develop this staff and then when the Padres are on the cusp....then get the lead dog aka Kevin Brown

And I third that sentiment.

But I will say if the cost of Gray is minimal.....adding him to eat innings and possibly rebound in the NL and add trade value for at the deadline...or even to re-sign to an extension would be pretty low risk.

I also think Kuechel is a fairly low risk option who won't cost prospects and who,for the type of pitcher he is has less chance of injury and will also rack up innings over the course of his contract.

So signing Kuechel and trading a mid range prospect for Gray would not be bad moves IMO.

 

"If" and "minimal" are the key .... and very unlikely to come to fruition (although "minimal" is different for different people") for the likes of Gray or Keuchel. Maybe for some FA who don't have a home as ST starts.

Considering 30 teams would like to upgrade their SP .. the NYY came out this winter clearly indicating they wanted (willing) to deal Gray ... Gray is still a NYY .... probably a good deduction that the asking price is not "minimal" for 1 year ($7.5MM) SP seeking to rebound.

For me Keuchel's commitment will be too long ... bigger issue than the AAV. He is 31 seeking a 5 year deal ($100MM) and likely will end up with a 4 year deal ($80MM). Not loving a 4 year commitment to a 31 year old pitcher who will be in his declining years ... especially since SP is the primary strength of the farm system. What would be minimal for Keuchel? 2 - 3 years maybe?

Side note: "flipping" always sounds easy but really is not that easy .... and unless it is a true top flight player ... the return is usually not that great (unless as Preller does and deep mines the DSL/Rookie Ball and gets lucky).

 

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 14, 2019, 10:07 am

Gray is still a Yankee possibly because the Yankees asking price has not "yet" come down.

Doesn't mean it won't yet still.

We can offer a better quality prospect than most....or a solid major league reliever if they prefer.

I agree on Kuechel....4 years may be too long.

But his ask could drop as well and again,he's the "type" of pitcher who could still be effective at age 35.

More than likely neither happens anyway.

 

 

Quote from sportwarrior on January 14, 2019, 5:41 pm

Dennis Lin posted something interesting on Twitter today.

In their search for a third baseman, the Padres have explored three-team trade possibilities, including one that would send Corey Kluber to Cincinnati, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me. No is deal close.

San Diego’s interest in Kluber is primarily to flip him, sources say; he does not fit the Padres age-wise. Pads struggling to line up with trade partners. If they could get Kluber, they likely would want top Reds prospect Nick Senzel, whom Cincinnati does not want to move.

This makes a lot more sense than going hard after Kluber for purposes of 2020 and beyond. I'd probably prefer Suarez to Senzel in a move like this, but if it netted us a stud 3B I'm definitely interested. Especially if it takes us for something like Naylor/Paddack/Margot or whatever for it to happen.

Quote from TatisJr on January 14, 2019, 8:40 pm

I thought Senzel or Suarez was only a pipe dream and it may end up being one, but I think Cincy, Cleveland and SD could line up well. Preller putting an elite young 3rd base talent like Senzel in the infield with FTJ, Urias, Hosmer would be exciting. Cleveland needs OF help, a catcher and will want some young pitching in a return for Kluber. Maybe something like Renfroe, Jankowski, Hedges, Logan Allen or Morejon(id hate to lose Morejon)  to Cleveland. Reds send a young miL arm or two Cleveland’s way.

Kluber, Lauer to Cincy.

Pads would get Senzel from Reds and Greg Allen from Indians.

C Mejía

1B Hosmer

2B Urias

SS Tatis Jr

3B Senzel

OF mix of Margot, Myers, Cordero, Reyes, Allen

Quote from fenn68 on January 15, 2019, 6:02 am

The 3 way deal has got to be a real challenge to construct with a lot of different wants and player evaluations.

CINN has a choice (probably) between putting Senzel OR Suarez in the deal ... the choice may affect if they have to add more to the deal .... getting Kluber is going to cost more than Senzel but trading Suarez might actually get them more back in the return. IF they think Senzel can step in at 3B immediately ... Suarez in the deal would be compelling since he is just 27, under 6 control years (plus an option year) at a very team friendly deal, and hit 283/366/526 in 2018.

Guessing they would opt to deal Senzel and add another piece to the deal (either to CLEV or SD) ... Suarez is just too productive at the ML level and if they are dealing for Kluber to win now can't really take the risk on the unproven Senzel's development pace.

Quote from fenn68 on January 15, 2019, 6:14 am

To trade Kluber (which they do not have to trade) from a clear playoff contender, CLEV will have to get 2 ML starting OF (much bigger need than a light hitting catcher such as Hedges).

More likely they would be interested in Margot AND Renfroe (with some prospects). I would not underestimate the value of Kluber ... especially to CLEV as a contender ...

Quote from fenn68 on January 15, 2019, 6:33 am

Now SD .... clearly Senzel is a key (but remember he is still a prospect). SD would also need a CF option if they move Margot since they would be only left with Jankowski (4th OF type) and no real CF options in AAA with "long shots" Reed / Olivares just arriving in AA. Also, can't include Lucchesi or Lauer (or any other 2019 ML SP option) from the current weak group (remember not get Kluber). Can't really trade Hedges since none seem to think Mejia (or A.Allen) are ready to be a ML #1 (if they ever will be).

So, I try this:

CINN: gets Kluber from CLEV

SD: gets Senzel and Ervin (27 year old OF ... hit 252/324/404 with long control) from CINN

CLEV: gets Margot (who they seem to really want), Renfroe, A.Allen (future catcher or 1B or DH), and a ML RP (maybe Stammen or Stock or Erlin ... that level as the 4th piece). That group fills ML needs ... low cost ... and overall long control.

=========

SD's OF becomes Myers - Ervin / Jankowski - Reyes / Cordero .... with the potential of Cordero going to CF if he can defensively handle CF (oh yes, and hit in the ML).

Don't hold your breath for a deal.