MLB Hot Stove Rumours Thread

jasvlm

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I would be surprised if we see a big ticket free agent starter sign before the winter meetings.  I think Lester will go first, mainly because he has no draft pick attached to him, and because Scherzer/Shields want to have him help set the market given that there are big numbers floating about attached to his contract offers.  I guess we'll see soon enough.  Cruz going to Seattle was a nice piece to have come off the board, because it creates that much more of a demand for RH OF power.  The Red Sox have a bunch of that to offer, and they'll be answering the phones from teams who are suddenly looking at Rios and Hunter as their primary options there.
 

soxhop411

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“@JimBowden_ESPN: 2015 FAs who could be traded: Pitchers”

You don't say.
 

E5 Yaz

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soxhop411 said:
“@JimBowden_ESPN: 2015 FAs who could be traded: Pitchers”

You don't say.
 
He released a tweet 8 minutes later that linked to his article on the subject. If you want to mock him for making a Twitter mistake, the Rumors thread isn't the place to do it
 

JimBowden_ESPN Jim Bowden
Pitchers that are free agents after 2015 who could be traded between now and July Trade Deadline:http://t.co/Dyl6KLGRef
 

jasvlm

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The main speculation seems to be centered on pitchers that can be traded because they'll be free agents after 2015, which makes sense, since those guys have value to the team getting them in a number of ways (short term contract, nets an extra draft pick if you make the QO).  However, given how many pitchers emerged from nowhere in 2014 (see Hammel, McHugh, Hutchinson, Richards, Duffy, Shoemaker, Odorizzi, Kuechel, just to cherry pick some AL names), I have to think that teams are going to be a bit more patient with their own in house (and low cost) arms first, and supplement their rotation midseason rather than before it.  I know the Red Sox have their sights set on at least 1 free agent, and maybe even another trade candidate, but they have 5-6 legitimate candidates to take the next step forward and become one of those names (RDLR, Webster, Workman, Barnes, Raunado, Owens, Johnson, etc.) They might just wait to see how it shakes out early in 2015 rather than chasing costly trade targets.
 

E5 Yaz

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Now that Hochevar has re-upped with KC, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them break up the bullpen troika in a deal for a starting outfield bat.
 

MakMan44

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Isn't Hochevar a midseason return though? I don't disagree with your premise but I don't think he moved the needle on a trade all that much.
 

E5 Yaz

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MakMan44 said:
Isn't Hochevar a midseason return though? I don't disagree with your premise but I don't think he moved the needle on a trade all that much.
 
Good point.
 

Stan Papi Was Framed

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nattysez said:
upside I guess (?) at a relatively cheap price..but yeah, I wouldn't be interested personally.  and the price isn't cheap if he pitches like he did last year.  but I guess he can be released without much pain
 
Buster Olney also provides this by way of explanation:
 
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN  ·  12m 12 minutes ago
Part of the reason why the Braves are taking a shot w/Jim Johnson is Roger McDowell's excellent history working with sinker ball pitchers.
 

MakMan44

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https://twitter.com/JHickey3/status/540258758903885824
 
Indians are attempting to acquire Brandon Moss from the A's. 
 

jasvlm

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Moss to the Tribe makes lots of sense both ways. I can't imagine that the A's get a huge piece in return, but the Tribe could certainly use a DH upgrade (assuming they want Santana at 1b full time), and Moss has strong lefty power and is still arb eligible, on pace to make less than 8 mil in 2015.  He is coming off hip surgery, and that does matter for someone who develops torque through his core to drive the ball, but I would imagine that the Indians would take a chance on such a fellow given their need and the A's surplus there.  I wonder who the Indians would send the other way?  
 

sean1562

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jasvlm said:
Moss to the Tribe makes lots of sense both ways. I can't imagine that the A's get a huge piece in return, but the Tribe could certainly use a DH upgrade (assuming they want Santana at 1b full time), and Moss has strong lefty power and is still arb eligible, on pace to make less than 8 mil in 2015.  He is coming off hip surgery, and that does matter for someone who develops torque through his core to drive the ball, but I would imagine that the Indians would take a chance on such a fellow given their need and the A's surplus there.  I wonder who the Indians would send the other way?  
 
Is Cespedes much better than Moss? Moss had better numbers last season hurt and was even better the year before that. If the Indians arent gonna give a good piece up for Moss, why should anyone give up anything decent for Cespedes? Moss is under control for two more seasons
 

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sean1562 said:
 
Is Cespedes much better than Moss? Moss had better numbers last season hurt and was even better the year before that. If the Indians arent gonna give a good piece up for Moss, why should anyone give up anything decent for Cespedes? Moss is under control for two more seasons
If I was looking for a power hitting outfielder I would want Moss more.
 

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Marlins people either heard via the baseball grapevine or read a report suggesting rival teams were hearing from the agents that he [Headley] had an offer for about $65 million for four years. The report was written by Jeff Passan of Yahoo.
 
Wherever they heard it or read, it apparently gave the Marlins pause.
 
 
Heyman
 

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Free-agent right-hander Jason Hammel is a close to a deal to return to the Chicago Cubs, sources say.
 
Hammel had a big start with Chicago last year, going 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA for them, before a trade to the A's. Overall, he was 10-11 with a 3.47 ERA.
 
Hammel signed last year for $6 million over one year but was expected to get a multiyear deal this year. He was thought to be looking for three years.
 
 
Heyman
 

E5 Yaz

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Royals not just receiving interest in Holland & Davis. Also getting hits on Kelvin Herrera, whom one exec described as a "potential closer"
 

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MakMan44 said:
Padres "most likely" team to acquire Matt Kemp.
 
And supposedly they offered Grandal.  Can't link it here because it's blocked at work.
 

ehaz

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Gonna chill in this thread so I don't get too worked up on Jon.  Some rumors that have occurred since we all went to the Lester thread, Montero to the Cubs and White Sox leading the chase for Shark.
 
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/542144660345344000
 
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/542134393595117568
 

ehaz

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Looks like it's heating up: Samardzija on the verge of being traded, White Sox likely.
 
Rodon, Sale, Shark, Alexei, Abreu, Eaton is not a bad core.
 

edoug

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Bob Nightengale on MLB Network said Padres telling people interested in grandal that he's going to the Dodgers.
 

MakMan44

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Yeah, the White Sox got pretty good really quickly. They've got a good a shot as any to compete in the Central.   
 

Wingack

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MakMan44 said:
Yeah, the White Sox got pretty good really quickly. They've got a good a shot as any to compete in the Central.   
 
Absolutely, I thought they were potentially a break out team last year.
 
And supposesdly they are in on David Robertson, they really need a closer.
 

MakMan44

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They probably can afford him, off the top of my head I think they've got a lot of cheap talent so they have the payroll space for him. 
 

ehaz

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https://twitter.com/miggymont26/status/542173722925228032
 
Nick Pierco says if it happens, it will be for two Single-A pitchers.
 

soxhop411

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“@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: #Padres, #Dodgers working hard on Kemp deal, getting closer. LAD wants strong piece besides Grandal. SD’s Wisler one possibility.”
 

Laser Show

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https://twitter.com/RobertMurrayMLB/status/542380034984804352
 
Looks like the run on starters has begun, with Shark, Liriano, and soon Lester coming off the board here.
 

soxhop411

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“@Ken_Rosenthal: Dan Uggla is a free agent and eager to play again. Seven teams have inquired about him, according to a source.”
 

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Rumors of the Mariners going after Melky Cabrera raise a couple interesting questions, IMHO:
 
1) Is recidivism risk for "reformed" PED guys the new market inefficiency? A full year or so past their suspensions, Cabrera and his would-be teammate Nelson Cruz have re-established their value (as compared to no market for Cruz before he'd hit post-PEDs). Still, an efficient market doesn't tend to let power hitters go to Seattle for anything less than a massive overpay, whereas they got Cruz for a garden-variety overpay (tolerable contract length), and should they get Melky, there are few indications of serious Panda-like competition for his services. So I'd say their markets are still somewhat depressed, even in an environment of scarce offense.
 
2) Would the Mariners be the AL West favorites? Projections already had them at or near the top (though trading Saunders was a downgrade). A 2-5 of Melky, Cano, Cruz, Seager should play a bit better than their individual projections (where Cano gets pitched around all day). 
 
Smart move for the Ms if the price is tolerable. At some point Ms fans have to start freaking out about the dollars, but having a rotation with minimum guys like Walker, Paxton and Elias makes up for a lot of spending. Also, there really are no other good options, thanks to the team's lack of depth. Practically every other rumor out there about the Ms has them trading someone they're actually counting on next year. Iwakuma for Cespedes! Let's solve our offensive issue by blowing a hole in our rotation! Jack Z is a wild card, but he's not a complete moron.
 

grimshaw

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So many drool worthy players on that Nats team.  Obviously hoping it's with the Sox, but watch Billy Beane come swooping in dangling Sonny Gray or something.
 

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Man, I'd really like Jordan Zimmermann. I don't know what it would take to get him to sign an extension, but I'd give up any young gun who's not Betts or Swihart for him, while keeping 1 of Owens/Rodríguez.
 

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Jake Peavy's Demons said:
Man, I'd really like Jordan Zimmermann. I don't know what it would take to get him to sign an extension, but I'd give up any young gun who's not Betts or Swihart for him, while keeping 1 of Owens/Rodríguez.
What reason would he have to sign an extension, other than getting blown away by an offer?