D-Backs GM Kevin Towers might decide to hold onto both Justin Upton and Jason Kubel, reports Richard Justice for MLB.com.
According to Towers, instead of making a deal, he could keep Upton and Kubel and send Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollack to the minor leagues to start the season.
“Unless the Texas Rangers blow Towers away with an offer,” Justice explains, Upton is likely to with Arizona on Opening Day.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
Toward the end of the Winter Meetings, the talk coming from Arizona was that Kubel could be had for pitching prospects, so long as the team acquiring him payed all of his $7 million salary. However, reading Justice’s article, it now sounds like a deal for Upton or Kubel will only occur if it helps Arizona in a meaningful way. They clearly have specific needs they feel these guys can help fill in trade. But, if that can’t happen, so be it. Towers will punt before making a deal just to make a deal.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
I wonder if Eaton could interest the Mets? It seems like the Mets want to acquire and develop players that are under control for a long period of time. There’s no room for him right now in the Arizona outfield, and – as Justice says – he is probably big league ready at this stage of his development. He is small, doesn’t hit for much power and is left-handed, but Eaton has a .456 OBP in three Minor League seasons with 83 doubles, and he has posted a .966 OPS with stolen 98 bases in 122 attempts over the same time period. He’s fast, has a strong throwing arm and has gap-to-gap capability. In the big parks of the NL East, he could be a great catalyst for the top of the order.
While the Marlins are not actively shopping OF Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins will listen to offers for him, writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
“Sometimes I chuckle when I hear people say, ‘This guy’s untouchable,’ and ‘That guy’s untouchable,’ Marlins Assistant GM Dan Jennings said on SiriusXM Radio on Sunday. “You know what? They may be untouchable until someone either overwhelms you or you get a package back that makes such a significant improvement on your club going forward. So we’ve always been willing to listen.”
If a team is willing to “clean out” all of their top prospects in their organization, the Marlins could conceivably move Stanton, Frisaro explains.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
More and more, teams are valuing their top prospects in a greater effort to build from within. Maybe they’re being overvalued these days. But that’s partly due to inflated free agent prices and teams locking up their key talent through arbitration and the first few years of free agency, which thins out the crop of talent on the free agent market year after year. With that in mind, it’s hard to envision a team mortgaging everything to get Stanton despite his long-term potential for stardom.
In the case of the Mets, I just don’t see Stanton in the cards right now. In fact, I don’t see many options for Miami here, assuming they decide to put Stanton on the block. That’s not to say the Mets don’t need Stanton or wouldn’t want Stanton; the Mets are still not at the stage where they can afford to deal too many prospects, even in a more realistic scenario for someone who is reportedly available. They need to develop their farm system to a point where they have excess. While their farm system has greatly improved over the last 18 months or so, the Mets are not ready to consistently contend and still haven’t reached a point where they have excess to deal away for a big time, Major League talent.
According to Kevin Kernan of the New York Post, the Yankees would still like to add a right-handed bat even though they reportedly agreed to sign Matt Diaz to a Minor League contract.
The Yankees could be seeking a “low-cost solution,” and are still interested in Scott Hairston.
On Sunday, Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York said while the Yankees remain interested in Hairston, Hairston would prefer to return to the Mets where he can play everyday.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Dec. 23: I really worry about Hairston in a regular role. He is a career .229 hitter against right-handed pitching and his OPS is 121 points lower against righties than it is against lefties. I like Hairston and the Mets do need a right-handed hitting outfielder, but he is more valuable as a platoon player not just for the Mets, but for any team that signs him.
In a report for CBS Sports, Jon Heyman says the Diamondbacks could resume trade discussions for Justin Upton.
Heyman says one of Upton, Jason Kubel, or Gerardo Parra could be dealt, although Arizona wants to keep Parra for his defense, and they’re unlikely to get much in return for Kubel.
Heyman says considering how much D-Backs owner Ken Kendrick likes Upton, he would need to be convinced moving him is something the team needs to do.
D-Backs GM Kevin Towers had reportedly been seeking a shortstop in return for Upton, and while Towers recently acquired SS Didi Gregorius from the Reds, Heyman says Towers would still consider moving Upton for either Rangers infielders Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar.
Texas has reportedly been reluctant to move either Andrus or Profar in a deal for Upton.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
I still don’t see the Mets and Diamondbacks matching up for Upton. There’s no denying Upton’s talent level and he’s as good of a fit as there is for the Mets. He had a subpar year in 2012 by his standards, but he’s young, right-handed, and comes with a combination of both power and speed the Mets
badly need. But if Towers wants a big league ready shortstop in a deal for Upton – or any other position player for that matter – the Mets just don’t have that to offer. And, now that the Mets have dealt
R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays, they can’t afford to deal someone like
Jon Niese for Upton, either.
Statistics and information on Justin Upton...
Contract: Upton will earn $9.75 million next season, during which Niese will earn $3 million. Upton’s salary bumps up to $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015, after which he is eligible to be a free agent.
Stats: Upton hit .280 with a .355 OBP and .430 SLG with 17 home runs and 67 RBI and 121 strikeouts in 554 at-bats in 2012.
Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York says while the Yankees remain interested in Scott Hairston, Hairston would prefer to return to the Mets where he can play everyday.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
I really worry about Hairston in a regular role. He is a career .229 hitter against right-handed pitching and his OPS is 121 points lower against righties than it is against lefties. I like Hairston and the Mets do need a right-handed hitting outfielder, but he is more valuable as a platoon player not just for the Mets, but for any team that signs him.
The problem for the Mets is that most of the appealing free agent outfielders left on the market are left-handed, and the Mets need a right-handed hitting (or switch hitting) corner outfielder who can play everyday. And so, if they are to fill this need before Spring Training, they might have to explore the trade market.
The Mets showed interest in A’s OF Coco Crisp, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, but, “the sense is that the Athletics will keep him.”
Crisp, 33, hit .259 with a .325 OBP, 11 home runs and 46 RBI and 39 stolen bases in 455 at-bats for Oakland in 2012 – he hit .265 against right-handed pitching, .244 against left-handed pitching.
Crisp is entering the final year of a two-year, $14 million contract he signed with the A’s before the 2012 season. The A’s hold a $7.5 million option on Crisp for 2014 with a $1 million buyout.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
The Mets need two things in the outfield: power
and speed. The Mets were too station-to-station up and down their lineup (i.e.: singles hitters), and acquiring both of those assets will go a long way towards fixing those problems. However, it’s going to be hard to find that combination in one player. But acquiring a player like (but not necessarily) Crisp, who gets on base, steals, and is a good first-to-third threat should be qualities the Mets are interested in adding to the outfield this winter.
SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt says the Mets are “very interested” in OF Grady Sizemore.
Sizemore, 29, did not play in 2012 and has played in only 210 games since 2009, while hitting just .234 with 28 home runs and 109 RBI.
He recently underwent micro-fracture surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss the first half of the 2013 season.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
There is no question Sizemore is a
big injury risk; and there’s no telling how he might respond from these knee surgeries over the long-term. However, prior to these injuries Sizemore was one of the best center fielders and most exciting players in the game. It will be awhile before he’s ready, and so the Mets would still need to acquire more outfielders (especially right-handed outfielders) in addition to Sizemore. Last winter, Sizemore was reportedly willing to move to a corner outfield spot, and so he could be a worthy gamble to take on an incentive-based deal.
Last night, Sandy Alderson said he intends to address the team’s needs in the outfield before the start of Spring Training. Here’s the latest on the outfield market:
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
A lot of people have asked me on Twitter if there is any chance the Mets will sign Bourn. Even on a short-term deal, it’s very unlikely the Mets go down this road.
Ideally, yes, Bourn is a fit and he would give the Mets outfield some instant credibility. He does strike out a lot, but he’s become an excellent top of the order catalyst as an outstanding base stealer with triples speed. The Mets don’t have much of that, and it’s something they have desperately needed since both Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan departed after 2011. But, a) he’s left-handed and the Mets need right-handed outfielders, b) they need power in the outfield, c) he’s a Scott Boras client, and there’s no doubt he will try and get someone to overpay for Bourn, and d) he received a qualifying offer from the Braves, and so the team Bourn signs with will have to surrender their first round pick in the 2013 draft. On top of that, Bourn depends on his legs to be successful, and it remains to be seen how quickly those skills diminish in the coming seasons.
Last week, the Cardinals agreed to sign Ty Wigginton to a two-year contract, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Cardinals had expressed interest in Scott Hairston, but now that they’ve signed Wigginton, a suitor for Hairston might have been eliminated.
Rubin says the Mets, Yankees, and Phillies all still have interest in Hairston, although Joel Sherman of the New York Post said last week the Yankees do not want to commit 2014 dollars to Hairston.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Based on this and Jonny Gomes’ agreement with Boston, it looks like Hairston is in position to land at least two-year deal somewhere. However, Rosenthal reported last week the Mets don’t want to give Hairston a two-year deal, even though Sandy Alderson acknowledged at the end of the year Hairston has earned a multi-year deal in his next contract. I’d like to see Hairston back – he is a strong fourth outfielder and could also find playing time in a platoon role in at least one outfield position. Even if the Mets acquire another full-time outfielder, the Mets need depth and versatility, and Hairston is an ideal fit for that role.
The Angels are very likely to trade either Peter Bourjos or Mark Trumbo for a pitcher, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
Knobler says the return will determine which one the Angels ultimately trade, although Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says Trumbo is less likely to be traded than Bourjos.
Alternatively, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Angels could look to move Kendrys Morales instead of either Trumbo or Bourjos.
In 134 games for the Angels, Morales, 29, hit .273 with a .320 OBP and a .467 SLG, 22 home runs and 73 RBI in 522 plate appearances.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Morales is a switch hitter andhad a very good bounce back season after missing most of the previous two seasons due to injuries. He projects more as a first baseman in the National League, although he has played the outfield in his big league career. But he doesn’t have a lot of experience out there and hasn’t played in the outfield since 2008. That and the fact he is eligible for free agency after the 2013 season (and represented by Scott Boras) makes him an unlikely fit for the Mets.
To read Matthew Cerrone’s and Michael Baron’s thoughts on Trumbo and Bourjos, click here.
Statistics and information on Mark Trumbo...
Stats: In 144 games with the Angels in 2012, Trumbo hit .268 with a .317 OBP, .491 SLG, and .808 OPS, 32 home runs and 95 RBI in 586 plate appearances.
Contract: Trumbo will be eligible for arbitration after the 2013 season, and can become a free agent after the 2016 season.
Statistics and information on Peter Bourjos...
Stats: In 101 games for the Angels in 2012, Bourjos hit .220 with a .291 OBP, .315 SLG and .606 OPS, three home runs and 19 RBI in 195 plate appearances.
Contract: Bourjos will be eligible for arbitration after the 2013 season, and can become a free agent after the 2016 season.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
I understand if people feel like Sandy Alderson might never make a move this winter, but the reality is he has to. Right now, if the season started tomorrow, he has so few players under contract, he’d have to dip in to Double-A to find a starting outfielder. So, believe me, there will be additions in some way, shape or form.
The thing is, I have no idea what those moves will be, because the options are limited…
Scott Hairston, Cody Ross: The Mets have a good shot at one of these two guys. However, right now, they’re both waiting to see what happens with Nick Swisher and Michael Bourne. Ross and Hairston each want a three-year deal, and, while no team is offering it yet, they know the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals and others all have interest.
Nick Swisher: As far as I can tell, the Mets are not among the large number of teams still pursuing Swisher.
Michael Bourn: New reports suggest he and Scott Boras might give up looking for a long-term deal and instead seek a one-year contract, so he can reapply next winter. If that’s the case, I bet the Mets show interest.
Jacoby Elsbury: Today, it seems very unlikely he gets traded. I think teams question his health, and are scared off knowing his agent is Scott Boras and he’ll be a free agent one year from now.
Dexter Fowler: Rockies people say he isn’t available, but the Braves and others keep asking. In early December, people at the Winter Meetings said Colorado will only consider moving him if a team overpays with major-league ready pitching.
Josh Willingham: The Twins had been listening to offers for him, and teams keep asking, but it looks like he’s staying put now that Denard Span was traded away.
Diamondbacks: The word in Arizona is that the D-Backs are more likely to trade Jason Kubel than Gerrardo Parra or Justin Upton, and they’ll likely pick up talks with teams who just lost out on Josh Hamilton (like the Phillies, Rangers, Mariners, etc.). It doesn’t sound to me like there has been much talk between the D-Backs and Mets, though I believe they were one of the early teams to inquire about Dickey.
