2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

[proshares]

Your last comment, . Don't think the Royals did bad in the deal and it is being overblown by a lot of people.

we disagree on everything I feel. They basically gave up 3 top prospects to work their way to being 3rd place in the division. They have holes everywhere and Shields and Wade don't make them that much better. Shields is gonna find out how hard it is to pitch in front of a average/below average defense and a neutral park.

 

[finallyfamous]

Bauer

Donald was straight thrash and Choo never got better after his DUI.

I like the trade.

Kevin what do you think?

 

[jdcurt2]

I like the trade for the Reds and Indians. We get what we need with a proven leadoff hitter that gets on base. The Indians don't give up much and get Bauer, and maybe just maybe Stubbs will be better with a change of scenery.

Choo, BP, Votto, Ludwick, Bruce, Frazier, Cozart, Hanigan. I'll take that all day.

 

[proshares]

Think it works out for all 3 teams. Still feel bad for Justin Upton. Gotta be tough to have your name slandered and be out there in trade rumors every month and your GM refuses to trade you. The owner has bad talked him, what do they expect to get for him? They've had a hand in tanking his trade value.

 

[wildkycat]

and hopefully Choo has a typical contract year.

 

[wildkycat]

is there anything sports related that's harder to explain to a woman than baseball trades/free agency/arbitration/minor league assignments/options???

her: why you so happy they traded him? (Stubbs)

me: because he ******g sucks.

her: he must not "******g suck" too bad if the Indians wanted him. idiot.

 

[finallyfamous]

Smart girl you got

 

[what upp]

You: But they're the Indians ......

 

[wildkycat]

Smart girl you got

good luck with him... and Mark Reynolds.

 

[mr jordan04]

Skip Shumaker traded to the Dodgers

 

[mjshoefanatic]

LAD ws bound

 

[j steezzz84]

LAD ws bound

 

[kevin cleveland]

I just want to give Kevin Towers a high-five right now.

 

[jumpmanfromdabay]

LAD ws bound

How about they make the playoffs first

 

[proshares]

Indians come out well in three-way deal.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

The Cleveland Indians' strategy earlier this winter, going after expensive veterans such as Shane Victorino and Kevin Youkilis, made little sense given the state of the roster, and the team was lucky those signings didn't work out.



But in the three-team, nine-player deal completed Tuesday night, the Indians are flipping one year of Shin-Soo Choo for six years of Trevor Bauer and three years of Drew Stubbs; they've made a move that better reflects the talent on hand and the immediate future of their franchise. On the other end of the same deal, the Cincinnati Reds add a potentially significant bat but will give some of that gain back on defense, while the Arizona Diamondbacks end up with the shortest side of the triangle in giving up a potential No. 2 starter for a defense-only shortstop and a lefty specialist.



Indians do well


The net result in this trade has Cleveland dealing Choo, a free agent after 2013, lefty reliever Tony Sipp, and minor league first baseman Lars Anderson for Bauer, Stubbs, reliever Bryan Shaw and reliever Matt Albers. It's a small price to pay for two upside players in Bauer and Stubbs.



Bauer's major league debut in 2012 was disappointing, marred by a groin injury he suffered in his first outing and by his refusal to alter his pitching plan, drawing the ire of fellow D-backs players and management. But when healthy he still has swing-and-miss stuff and the intelligence to convert that into success on the mound. Bauer's fastball was 92-95 mph and touched 97 in college, but in the majors this year he was more 90-91 and touched 94 as he tried to pitch through the groin injury and adjusted to pitching every fifth day.



He has two varieties of curveballs that missed plenty of bats in college, but they typically finish out of the zone, so big league hitters just watch them go by. That's the main adjustment Bauer will have to make -- trusting his stuff in the zone when he's behind in the count because major league hitters don't chase that often when they're ahead. It's not mechanical, it's mental, and it's something Bauer will have to change to reach his potential in the majors. Bauer's an intelligent kid with a tremendous resume from college, and was good enough to race to the majors in his first full year of pro ball. There is no reason to assume that he'll never make this adjustment just because he couldn't make it in four major league starts at age 21.



I've never loved Bauer's delivery, which might be modeled after Tim Lincecum's but isn't as loose and doesn't get Bauer over his front side as well as Lincecum does. Even Lincecum seems to have worn down after his first 1,000 innings (very impressive ones, mind you). For the Indians, however, if Bauer should fade in his fifth or sixth season that's much less of a concern than extracting value from him now while he's inexpensive and their need for starting pitching is so acute.



Stubbs, meanwhile, is a first-time arbitration-eligible player coming off his worst year in three as a regular, one in which his bat was below replacement level and his value was saved only by his plus defense and his baserunning. Stubbs has a long swing and actually has 20-plus homer power that he can't get to because he swings and misses way too often at pitches in the zone, a combination of his swing length and poor pitch recognition.



He's an excellent defender in center, however, good enough to carry his bat even through a miserable season like he had in 2012, but for Cleveland's front office this is more like a one-year audition for Stubbs before he gets really expensive in his second and third years of arbitration. If he repeats 2012, they can just non-tender him after the season, but there is some upside here because of the glove and the raw power if the team can even get him to make more contact on fastball strikes. Bauer alone makes this a good deal for Cleveland, but if Stubbs regains a little of his lost offensive value it'll be an enormous win for the team.



Reds trade defense for offense


The Reds upgraded their offense, since they received virtually none from center field in 2012, but are left without a true center fielder on the roster. They give up Stubbs and shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius and get Shin-Soo Choo and utility infielder Jason Donald.



Choo has just 83 major league innings in center, none since 2009, and was awful in right field in 2012, according to both UZR and DRS. In fact, he is among the worst right fielders in the game, and asking him to play center is delusional. They'd probably be better off trying Jay Bruce, who hasn't played center since 2008, to handle it, although I wouldn't expect him to be even average out there.



The value of adding Choo is in his ability to get on base. His .373 OBP in 2012 was the worst he's posted in the three seasons in which he played at least 100 games. He has average power that might be of greater value in Cincinnati, given its hitter-friendly park. He's also pretty bad against left-handed pitching, enough that pinch-hitting for him late in close games is a good idea, if not outright platooning him. If Choo can regain his 2009-2010 form, when his defense was average and he showed more power and walked a little more often, he'll be a huge upgrade for the Reds, but it's more likely that he's worth 2-3 extra wins at most because of what the Reds will have to give back on defense. They also receive Donald, who can back up at all three infield positions he'd be asked to cover but doesn't have the glove to play short everyday or the bat to profile at second or third.



Dropping Arizona


The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, come out on the bottom of this pile, giving up way too soon on a pitching prospect who reached the majors at age 21 and was the third overall pick in the 2011 draft. I don't care what they think about Bauer's quirky personality or what fences he might need to mend in the clubhouse, intelligence does not equal bad makeup, and he shouldn't be written off for wanting to prepare himself a certain way.



In exchange for Bauer (my 21st-ranked prospect coming into the 2012 season), Shaw and Albers, the Diamondbacks got a plus-glove/no-bat shortstop prospect in Dutch-born Didi Gregorius, a lefty specialist in Tony Sipp, and a failed prospect in 25-year-old first baseman Lars Anderson. That's nowhere near enough of a return for a prospect of Bauer's potential. Kevin Towers openly discussed his covetous feelings toward Gregorius during the latter's stint in the Arizona Fall League, and if you just watch Gregorius play defense, you can see why, as he has great actions at the position with soft hands and plenty of arm, not quite in the territory of Andrelton Simmons but not that far behind, either.



But the 23-year-old Gregorius has no real history offensive performance, with weak pitch recognition and a long swing for such a slight build, loading his hands way too deep and then dragging the bat head through the zone. In a world in which Brendan Ryan and Brandon Crawford have value based almost entirely on defense, Gregorius might end up a 2-WAR shortstop, but that's about it. Bauer's ceiling is at least twice that. It's a very disappointing and premature ending to Bauer's tenure in Phoenix, and Diamondbacks fans have to be wondering how the team ended up with so little in return for one of the game's top pitching prospects entering the season.

Ripple effects of Choo-Bauer deal.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Executives cling to highly-talented young pitchers these days like family heirlooms, precious and almost irreplaceable. Big-market teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees sometimes struggle to gain access to those types of pitchers because of draft position, and for small- and middle-market teams, the pitchers are lifeblood. The Tampa Bay Rays have been who they are because of their ability to draft and develop young pitchers, and the Minnesota Twins were successful for a decade because of their homegrown pitching.



When this offseason began, it was the Cleveland Indians' mission to get young pitching talent, and they had been willing to talk about everybody from Asdrubal Cabrera to the ghost of Tris Speaker to make that happen. This is why it is stunning to folks in the industry that the Indians were able to land Trevor Bauer in a nine-player, three-team deal just 18 months after Bauer was the third player taken in the 2011 draft.



What the Indians gave up at the roots of the deal was Shin-Soo Choo, a player who is headed to free agency next fall and is destined to be a one-year rental in 2013. "Incredible value," mused an AL general manager.



This could be a big step forward for the Indians, and for Bauer, who gets an opportunity to re-set after a rough major league debut in 2012. Because the Indians accomplished their goal of getting a big arm without having to deal Cabrera, Cleveland will go into the next season with an interesting lineup, under new manager Terry Francona. It's still a work in progress:



CF Michael Brantley
2B Jason Kipnis
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
C Carlos Santana
RF ?
DH ?
1B Mark Reynolds
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
LF Drew Stubbs

The Indians are still negotiating with Nick Swisher, so perhaps he could be the guy who lands in the middle of their lineup.



The fact that Cleveland achieved its top objective, in upgrading its pitching, could buy the Indians some time -- to wait and see if the team gets off to a good start in 2013; to wait and see if Cabrera plays better than he did in the second half of 2012 and increases his value, as pennant-race needs develop; to wait for Justin Masterson and Chris Perez to re-establish some trade value. Because of this trade, this offseason represents a step forward, no matter what else happens.


The Indians feel like they've gotten players who will impact them for years to come, says GM Chris Antonetti. Bauer faced Didi Gregorius -- the key acquisition for the Arizona Diamondbacks in this deal -- last season.


The trade generated lots of ripples throughout the sport:



The Reds


Leadoff struggles
Cincy got very little out of the leadoff spot in 2012.

NL Rank
BA .208 Last
OBP .254 Last
BB 37 Last
SB 10 Last
Slug pct .327 15th


They struggled throughout 2012 to find a suitable leadoff hitter for an otherwise strong lineup, and now they have Choo, who posted a .393 on-base percentage when he hit in the No. 1 spot for Cleveland last year. The Cincinnati lineup will stack up this way:

CF Shin-Soo Choo
2B Brandon Phillips
1B Joey Votto
LF Ryan Ludwick
RF Jay Bruce
3B Todd Frazier
C Ryan Hanigan
SS Zack Cozart

That's a pretty deep group, in front of a really good rotation and strong bullpen, and the Reds were able to get Choo without compromising their roster at the major-league level. Some rival evaluators don't think Choo is workable as a center fielder, and predict that sometime early in the year, Choo will start games in right field, with Bruce in center. But there is time to sort all of that out, and for Billy Hamilton to develop as a replacement in center for 2014.



The American League has generally been regarded as better than the National League for the last decade, but it seems like there has been a power shift this winter -- and the powerhouse teams appear to be in the NL, with the defending champion San Francisco Giants, the Washington Nationals, the Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals and the revamped Los Angeles Dodgers.



The Diamondbacks


It's hard to imagine player's value in an organization descending more quickly than what happened with Bauer. Arizona picked the right-hander third overall in the 2011 draft over another the Diamondbacks loved, Dylan Bundy, believing that Bauer would have an immediate impact in the big leagues. But when Bauer reached the big leagues last summer, his velocity wasn't what they expected, nor was his fastball command. Bauer also got tagged, fairly or not, with a reputation for being too stubborn to make the necessary adjustments, especially in how he pitched to the upper half of the strike zone.



Although Bauer is just 21 years old, the Diamondbacks made it known to other teams at the GM meetings that they were willing to talk about him -- and they swap him for a shortstop they hope mans the position for years to come. But there is a wide split in the industry over what he can be.



The Diamondbacks signed Brandon McCarthy to a two-year, $15.5 million deal as a hedge against the possible trade of a young pitcher -- in the face of a lot of concern this offseason about the condition of his shoulder, borne out in his medical information.



Evaluators with other teams love Gregorius' glove, and think he'll be an upper-tier defender in the major leagues. But some teams also believe he'll never hit enough to hold down an everyday job, and view him more as a utility guy. In five seasons in the minors, he's posted a .323 on-base percentage, with a .699 OPS. He'll be 23 in February.



The Diamondbacks traded for Cliff Pennington earlier in the offseason, a good defensive shortstop with an OPS of .669 in the majors.



The question for Arizona is this: Is the upgrade of Gregorius over Pennington worth Trevor Bauer?



GM Kevin Towers says Gregorius reminds him of a really talented player that we've all heard of. From Nick Piecoro's story:

"When I saw him he reminded me of a young Derek Jeter," Towers said, referring to the Yankees' longtime shortstop. "I was fortunate enough to see Jeter when he was in high school in Michigan and he's got that type of range. He's got speed. He's more of a line drive-type hitter, but I think he's got the type of approach at the plate where I think there's going to be power there as well."

Whether Gregorius turns out to be really good or much less than that, this is a quote that will follow the shortstop through his career -- as prophetic, or as a big miss.



The Rangers


They went after Zack Greinke, and missed. They liked James Shields, but he landed in Kansas City. They have coveted Justin Upton, but after the big deal Tuesday night, Towers said it's highly unlikely that Arizona will trade the right fielder -- echoing the words of a highly-ranked Diamondbacks executive, who told friends over the weekend that he didn't want to trade Upton.



The best available free agent remaining for Texas is Josh Hamilton, of course, at a time when the Rangers are very comfortable with their stance in their negotiations with him. It's unclear whether that's enough for Hamilton, or if he'll take bigger money someplace else.



The Rangers could follow up on discussions about R.A. Dickey, who would cost them at least one top prospect. Texas places a high value on defense and Michael Bourn -- baseball's top-rated defender in 2012 in some measures -- is still on the board. Anibal Sanchez is unsigned.



No matter which way the Rangers turn at this point, however, they probably won't be getting anything close to exactly what they wanted.

The Mariners


It's apparent that Seattle is not the top choice of the best free-agent hitters, and while the Mariners are pressing to land someone of note, they're probably going to wind up with a leftover -- somebody who grudgingly takes a deal in the northwest in order to get paid. The fact that the Diamondbacks are now unlikely to trade Upton could effectively eliminate an option for the Mariners, because if Upton had been traded to the Rangers, then Hamilton or Bourn or Nick Swisher might have been naturally nudged in the Mariners' direction. Many top free agents are hesitant to play for Seattle, a team that doesn't look particularly close to winning.

• Speaking of Hamilton, folks in the sport have wondered all offseason if other teams would jump into the bidding if his offers stayed in the short-term range. And all along, Phillies officials have said privately that they'd be OK with a three-year deal for him. Now that may or may not be happening.


Moves, deals and decisions


1. R.A. Dickey has been one of the most efficient pitchers in the majors the last three seasons, throwing 616 2/3 innings and posting a 2.95 ERA. So you can't blame him for being a little put off by the New York Mets' crawl in their negotiations. The team's new offer to Dickey was $20 million over two years, which suggests their old offer was worth something in the range of the two-year, $15 million deal that Joe Blanton got. Heck, Dodgers reliever Brandon League got more money offered to him than Dickey, in signing his $22 million deal.



The Mets continue to make a mess of this situation, writes John Harper.

2. The market for Brian Wilson is gaining clarity and he'll have some choices among big-market teams.



3. Skip Schumaker has been dealt to the Dodgers. He and Nick Punto will be a good pair of bench guys for this clubhouse.



4. Anibal Sanchez is no longer a realistic option for the Detroit Tigers, writes Tony Paul. Sports Some rival execs believe that eventually, Sanchez's best offer might come from the Tigers. We'll see.


5. The Royals signed some minor-league veterans.

6. The Chicago Cubs picked a manager.

7. The Red Sox hired a manager.


8. The Mike Napoli deal hasn't been finalized. If there is an issue with his physical, it is a real problem for the player. The team can ask for an adjustment in the terms of the deal, with the inherent threat to the player: If this gets out, then your negotiating leverage will be hurt.



9. The Pirates continue to listen to teams interested in Joel Hanrahan, who could be fit for a number of teams. The Pirates told teams early in the offseason that they would be willing to trade the closer.



10. The New York Yankees are adding Kevin Youkilis.



Their lineup could look like this:

CF Brett Gardner
SS Derek Jeter
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Kevin Youkilis
LF Curtis Granderson
DH ?
RF Ichiro Suzuki
C Francisco Cervelli



11. The Phillies are looking for a No. 5 starter, writes Matt Gelb.



12. Zack Greinke was introduced to the media in Los Angeles and didn't bring an entourage. A meeting that Greinke had was beyond impressive. Big spending doesn't guarantee anything, writes Steve Dilbeck.



13. The San Diego Padres picked a bullpen coach.



14. A possible shift of Ian Kinsler to first base has been discussed with him.



15. Pat Hentgen will be with the Toronto Blue Jays this year.

Rumors.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Hanrahan could be shopped
11:20
AM ETJoel Hanrahan | Pirates Recommend0Comments0EmailAccording to various reports, the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a two-year, $6.75 million contract with righthanded reliever Jason Grilli that will be announced shortly.

The 36-year-old Grilli saw his market value spike upwards following a 2012 season in which he posted a 2.91 ERA and struck out 90 in 58.2 innings. The Pirates now have an elite set-up reliever and possibly a back-up plan at closer.

With Grilli signed, the Pirates could again entertain offers for closer Joel Hanrahan, a two-time All-Star who had 36 saves last season. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark lists the Dodgers and Tigers as potential matches for Hanrahan.

Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review notes that Grilli's deal has no performance clause for games finished. That could change if Hanrahan is dealt.

- Doug Mittler



Buster Olney
Pirates are all ears


"The Pirates continue to listen to teams interested in Hanrahan, who could be fit for a number of teams. The Pirates told teams early in the offseason that they would be willing to trade the closer."
Tagsetroit Tigers, Joel Hanrahan, Jason Grilli, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tigers priced out on Anibal?
11:00
AM ETAnibal Sanchez | Tigers Recommend0Comments0EmailThe Detroit Tigers may no longer have a realistic chance of signing Anibal Sanchez, and they can blame Zack Greinke.

Once Greinke agreed to a six-year, $147 million deal with the Dodgers and set the ceiling for free agent starters, it became painfully evident that Sanchez will not be back in Detroit unless he gives a huge hometown discount, writes Tony Paul of the Detroit Free Press.

While no one expects Sanchez to get anything in Greinke's range, he is viewed as the next-best available free agent starter. Paul says Sanchez still has been priced out of the Tigers' "comfort zone" - which is believed to somewhere around four seasons and less than $60 million.

This could all change if the Dodgers, who are believed to be interested in Sanchez, decide to put at least some limit on their mammoth spending spree. Sanchez is thought be asking for $90 million, which seems unrealistic. So if the price comes down enough, maybe the Tigers can be in the same financial ballpark.

- Doug Mittler



Buster Olney
Could Anibal stay put?


"Some rival execs believe that eventually, Sanchez's best offer might come from the Tigers. We'll see."
Tagsetroit Tigers, Anibal Sanchez
Can the Phillies land Hamilton?
10:35
AM ETJosh Hamilton | Rangers Recommend0Comments18EmailFor weeks, the Philadelphia Phillies have been mentioned as an outlier in the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes. With the market for the free agent slugger moving along slowly, it may be time to make a move.

The Phillies have offered Hamilton a three-year contract, reports Anthony Gargano of 94WIP in Philadelphia.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro has a reputation of flying under the radar when it comes to acquiring top-shelf talent, so a pursuit of Hamilton should not be a major surprise. Two offseasons ago, the Phillies came in at the last minute to sign free agent pitcher Cliff Lee. A three-year deal, however, may not be enough to get it done.

The Rangers, Red Sox and Mariners have been linked to Hamilton in recent weeks, with Boston remaining in a holding pattern, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reported Tuesday

Edes reports the Red Sox won't make offer a Hamilton a deal in the six-year range the outfielder covets, but Boston remains in the mix if the former MVP settles for a deal of a shorter duration. Boston reportedly has been willing to offer three years, but a baseball source tells Edes it is "doubtful" that the Sox could sign Hamilton for fewer than four years.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Texas Rangers, Josh Hamilton, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies
Ichiro could get two years
10:04
AM ETIchiro Suzuki | Yankees Recommend0Comments2EmailUPDATE: All signs still point to Ichiro signing with the Yankees, but it might be for more than the one year that has been reported. With Ichiro just 394 hits from 3,000, the Yankees are wondering if a two-year deal would create marketing dollars, particularly in the Japanese market, tweets Joel Sherman.

--

The chances of Ichiro Suzuki returning to the Bronx seemed to fluctuate over the past few weeks. It was no secret that the 10-time All-Star, who enjoyed a bit of a career resurgence with the New York Yankees late last summer, was interested in returning, although the stalled pace of the talks may have prompted him to look elsewhere.

But with Christmas two weeks away, the Yankees are in hot pursuit of Ichiro and the two sides are expected to finalize a one-year deal this week, reports Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com.

The 39-year-old Ichiro hit .322 -- and posted an impressive .794 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) -- in his 67 games with the Yankees, suggesting the 39-year-old outfielder isn't yet finished. With Nick Swisher expected to sign elsewhere, Ichiro figures to be the everyday right fielder.


Marchand says a deal for Ichiro would not preclude the Yankees from continuing to seek offers for center fielder Curtis Granderson. With Ichiro in the fold, the Yankees have more options.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Ichiro Suzuki, New York Yankees
Cubs shopping Soriano
9:47
AM ETAlfonso Soriano | Cubs Recommend0Comments0EmailThe Chicago Cubs would love to find a new home for outfielder Alfonso Soriano, who has two years and $36 million left on his mammoth $136 million contract - still a big number but a bit more manageable than at this time last season.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports the Cubs talked to the Phillies about a swap of Soriano for Domonic Brown, but ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says such a deal would be a long shot.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweeted that the Cubs tried to peddle Soriano to the Astros as a designated hitter, but Houston balked, even with Chicago eating plenty of salary.

Soriano did bounce back with a 32-homer, 108-RBI season in 2012, so a deal, once deemed impossible, may finally be plausible.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Alfonso Soriano, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs
Napoli deal in jeopardy?
9:23
AM ETMike Napoli | Rangers Recommend0Comments0EmailThe Boston Red Sox have yet to formally announce their three-year, $39 million deal with free agent Mike Napoli, prompting Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com to question whether the deal could be in jeopardy.

Rosenthal says the Red Sox planned to introduce Napoli Tuesday, but did not go forward with the event. The holdup could be over a physical - Napoli missed more than a month last season with a strained left quadriceps and more than three weeks in 2011 with a strained left oblique.

Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com notes the report could have easily been shot down by the Red Sox, Napoli's agent Brian Grieper or Napoli himself. But neither general manager Ben Cherington nor media relations director Pam Kenn responded to messages seeking clarification as of late Tuesday night.

Edes reported earlier Tuesday that the Red Sox were among the teams interested in free agent Nick Swisher, who could be an option at first base -- a position the Sox plan to give to Napoli.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Boston Red Sox, Mike Napoli
Dickey talks getting testy?
9:00
AM ETR.A. Dickey | Mets Recommend0Comments20EmailWe know that the New York Mets and R.A. Dickey are still several million dollars apart in their negotiations on a contract extension, but are the talks turning a little bitter?

According to a New York Post report, the Mets' organization is "not happy" that the Cy Young Award winner used the forum of a Citi Field holiday party for children to voice his frustration with the pace the negotiations.

If the Mets chose to bring him back next season solely on the remaining year of his contract, Dickey says he almost certainly will enter free agency next winter, reports Adam Rubin. Dickey insists he is asking for a below-market deal given his recent success.

This may be only a bump in the road, but the pitcher did say it was a "flip of the coin" as to whether he will still be a Met next season.

While still refusing to rule out a trade, the Mets are the process of increasing its offer to the Cy Young Award winner to approximately three years and $25 million, reports Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

The breakdown would be about $10 million per season on top of the $5 million the knuckleballer is scheduled to make in 2013. Dickey reportedly was asking for a two-year extension of $26 million for 2014 and 2015, so the sides are obviously in the same ballpark.

A Dickey trade remains a viable option despite the progress in extension talks. The Texas Rangers are looking for a front-line pitcher after missing out on Zack Greinke and James Shields, both of whom who landed elsewhere over the weekend. But the Mets continue to drive a hard bargain and have made it clear to the Rangers that if they want Dickey, it would need to part with more than just highly regarded third base prospect Mike Olt.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Mike Olt, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, R.A. Dickey
Kinsler at first base?
8:30
AM ETIan Kinsler | Rangers Recommend0Comments0EmailThe Texas Rangers have the pleasant dilemma of a shortstop surplus, and one option they are considering is having Jurickson Profar play second base as part of a double play combination with Elvis Andrus.

With that in mind, second baseman Ian Kinsler said general manager Jon Daniels talked to him to gauge his interest about moving to first base, reports Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.

Kinsler said nothing was decided, adding he would play first if asked.

Kinsler has never played first base in the majors, and such an experiment would make for an interesting spring training story line. The Rangers' current first baseman is Mitch Moreland, but he could end up getting more at-bats at DH following the trade of Michael Young to Philadelphia.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Ian Kinsler, Jurickson Profar, Texas Rangers
Upton deal unlikely
8:09
AM ETJustin Upton | Diamondbacks Recommend0Comments6EmailThe Diamondbacks' Justin Upton was at the center of winter meetings rumors that had the outfielder leaving the Arizona desert. A week later, all signs point to him staying put.

The latest development was Tuesday night's three-team trade with the Reds and Indians that netted the D-backs shortstop Didi Gregorius, left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman/outfielder Lars Anderson. With several offseason needs taken care of, particularly the acquisition of a shortstop, there may be no need for an Upton deal.

"I would say with all the areas we've addressed, I would say it's highly unlikely that we move Justin," D-backs general manager Kevin Towers tells MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.

According to various reports, the D-backs, Rangers and Indians last week came very close to finishing a deal that would've resulted in Asdrubal Cabrera going to the Diamondbacks and Upton going to the Rangers.

The Rangers clearly coveted Upton, but were unable to part with shortstops Jurickson Profar and Elvis Andrus. The D-backs looked elsewhere and found their shortstop solution in Cincinnati.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Elvis Andrus, Jurickson Profar, Justin Upton, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks
Short-term stay for Choo?
7:46
AM ETShin-Soo Choo | Indians Recommend0Comments1EmailThe Cincinnati Reds got the leadoff hitter they long pursued Tuesday night, obtaining Shin-Soo Choo in a three-team trade with the Indians and Diamondbacks.

Cincinnati was desperate for an upgrade after its leadoff men combined for a .208 average and .254 on-base percentage in 2012. The trade was completed after the Reds missed out on free agents Angel Pagan and Shane Victorino and failed to work out a deal for Ben Revere, who ended up being traded from the Twins to the Phillies.

The two main questions for the Reds are: 1) will they be able to re-sign Choo when he reaches free agency after the 2013 season and 2) can he play an effective center field after spending the bulk of his career in right?

As for the first question, Choo made $4.9 million this year and is eligible for arbitration. His agent, Scott Boras, has rebuffed several offers to extend Choo's contract and has a history of taking his clients to free agency, so an extension seems unlikely, writes John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Reds would get a compensation pick in the draft if they offer Choo arbitration and he leaves through free agency, and GM Walt Jocketty admitted that was a key consideration in the deal.

The Reds also have minor league stolen base king Billy Hamilton ready to take over in center field as early as the end of 2013. As for this season, our Keith Law has concerns whether Choo will be a defensive fit:

- Doug Mittler



Keith Law
Choo was acquired for offense

"Choo has just 83 major league innings in center, none since 2009, and was awful in right field in 2012, according to both UZR and DRS. In fact, he is among the worst right fielders in the game, and asking him to play center is delusional. They'd probably be better off trying Jay Bruce, who hasn't played center since 2008, to handle it, although I wouldn't expect him to be even average out there. The value of adding Choo is in his ability to get on base. His .373 OBP in 2012 was the worst he's posted in the three seasons in which he played at least 100 games. He has average power that might be of greater value in Cincinnati, given its hitter-friendly park."
Tags:Cincinnati Reds, Shin-Soo Choo
Porcello as trade bait
7:05
AM ETRick Porcello | Tigers Recommend0Comments4EmailThe Detroit Tigers have fielded a few phone calls as to the availability of righthander Rick Porcello, but the uncertainty of whether Anibal Sanchez will remain in Motown has them hesitant to make a deal, says Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.

The Tigers would be more willing to deal Porcello if they are able to re-sign Sanchez, but Knobler hears Detroit's early offers weren't close to getting a deal done. In fact, MLB.com's Jason Beck says Zack Greinke's six-year, $147 million deal with the Dodgers makes it more difficult for the Tigers, or any team, to sign Sanchez.

While no one expects Sanchez to get anything in Greinke's range, he is viewed as the next-best available free agent starter, so something in the annual range of $14 million-15 million sounds plausible. If Sanchez leaves Detroit, the Tigers aren't expected to chase another free agent and will round out their rotation with Porcello and Drew Smyly.

Porcello may have taken a step back since a 14-win season as a rookie in 2009, but he is still just 23 and has four seasons of double-digit wins. He could be a bargaining chip in the Tigers' quest for a closer. Maybe the Pirates could be a trade partner if they are willing to deal Joel Hanrahan.

- Doug Mittler
Tags:Anibal Sanchez, Rick Porcello, Detroit Tigers
Emerging market for Swisher
6:53
AM ETNick Swisher | Yankees Recommend0Comments0EmailThe market may be rounding into shape for free agent first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher.

The Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians all have expressed interest in the 32-year-old, a baseball source tells Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.

Edes says the Red Sox look at Swisher as a fallback plan if they are unable to lure Josh Hamilton, a scenario that is considered unlikely due to the club's reluctance to go beyond a three-year deal. In Boston, Swisher could share time in right field with Shane Victorino and at first base with Mike Napoli. With Swisher at first, Napoli could spend more time behind the plate and the Red Sox might be more inclined to deal from their catching surplus that includes Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway.

The Yankees' interest in bringing back Swisher could indicate more of a willingness to trade outfielder Curtis Granderson, especially with New York expected to officially re-sign Ichiro Suzuki later this week.

There was some speculation that the Indians might pass on Swisher after agreeing to a deal with Mark Reynolds, but the Ohio native apparently remains on the Tribe's radar.

Swisher would appear to remain a fit in Cleveland even after Tuesday night's three-team trade that sent Shin-Soo Choo to Cincinnati since he represents an offensive upgrade over Drew Stubbs.

- Doug Mittler

 

[rawex5]

Skip Shumaker traded to the Dodgers

I was fine with all the moves before this trade. I now favor the Dodgers winning the NL West.

 

[mrdozo]

I cant believe all the spending the Dodgers have done in less than 12 months. This has to come back and bite them in the future. In the mean time, they better start winning championships ASAP !

 

[xxpizzo]

lets go hamilton if the offer is true for the phillies, Please take it !

 

[stillin729]

lets go hamilton if the offer is true for the phillies, Please take it !

I'd be so stoked I could care less about the end of the contract

Phillies prob make his first year in jersey sales lol

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

Do it, Philadelphia.

 

[SoleByThePound]

Hamilton is not mentally strong enough to play in Philly. That fan base would eat him alive.

 

[ooiron manoo]

we disagree on everything I feel. They basically gave up 3 top prospects to work their way to being 3rd place in the division. They have holes everywhere and Shields and Wade don't make them that much better. Shields is gonna find out how hard it is to pitch in front of a average/below average defense and a neutral park.

, baseball is very polarizing when it comes to discussions depending on what side of the spectrum you fall in. The traditionalist who rely on terms like "grit", the new age statisticians that beat you over the head with acronyms, then there are those that fall somewhere along the middle.

WAR, UZR, etc, etc are great statistics but they are as faulty as the old scout saying "I have a feeling this kid..." simply because there is no way to measure the mental side of the game, and there probably never will be.

The key word is they traded three prospects. Some people put a very high value on prospects and potential, others don't. There is no way to get an instant answer either, so in order to deem this trade a boom/bust you have to throw instant gratification out the door and wait 3-4 years for these prospects to pan out.

I believe, and this is my personal opinion. You gauge the market for your prospects and if you can get a proven commodity or commodities you pull the trigger. It's a crapshoot whether they will pan out.

Big leaguers know are aware of the holes in their game and they adjust accordingly.

Don't get all the bashing, so let's wait a couple seasons to see if Myers is the second coming of Mike Trout (...which I doubt).

For reference, let's look at the CC Sabathia trade, safe to say the Brewers would do that trade all over again for 10 weeks worth of CC Sabathia. It's also safe to say that the package the Indians received has performed below expectations (collectively), based on the potential they thought they were getting.

James Shields/Wade Davis you know what you are getting. Prospects, it's boom or bust.

 

[stringer bell 32]

For reference, let's look at the CC Sabathia trade, safe to say the Brewers would do that trade all over again for 10 weeks worth of CC Sabathia. It's also safe to say that the package the Indians received has performed below expectations (collectively), based on the potential they thought they were getting.

or you could look at Casey Blake for Carlos Santana

 

[venom lyrix]

Hamilton is not mentally strong enough to play in Philly. That fan base would eat him alive.

I agree, even more so with NY. That doesn't mean I wouldn't want him on the team.

Dodgers should just say F it and sign Hamilton, at this point - what's another 180 mil to spend.

 

[ooiron manoo]

or you could look at Casey Blake for Carlos Santana

Nope, will not use any Ned Colletti trade for reference. Worst GM in baseball. Including a top 5 catching prospect so the Indians can pick up the tab on the rest of Blake's salary, .

Justified why: Oh because we have Russel Martin as our catcher and he's young... proceeds to flame out in two years.

**** Ned Colletti.