That's silly, but I could see Bregman (plus maybe another lesser prospect like Moran or Feliz) for Sale and another of Chicago's short term assets (Frazier, Abreu, or Robertson). Or Bregman and Fiers for Sale and Shields (there are rumors Chicago wants Sale buyers to take on Shields' contract).
Is Sale really a top notch pitcher? He's had one (1) sub-3.00 ERA season in his entire career and he doesn't appear to be getting better. I think people are mostly enamored with his K/9, which fell off considerably last season. His contract is nice, though.
I have probably said this much earlier in the thread but I would concentrate on trading for Robbie Ray and be done with the pitching. He is much cheaper salary wise and will come many fewer prospects than Sale. I would give him a 50/50 chance at being better than Sale over the next three years.
Only somebody convinced Sale will be injured could make that claim. Ray certainly has the breakout potential, but to be better than Chris Sale is to become Clayton Kershaw.
[QUOTE] Edwin Encarnacion’s free agency may not last much longer, as the slugger’s agent, Paul Kinzer, told TSN’s Rick Westhead today that his client will probably agree to a contract later this week or early next week. Kinzer told Westhead that the Blue Jays remain in the picture and have been “showing Edwin the most love,” though the agent didn’t handicap any one team’s chances of getting a deal done. According to Kinzer, three teams have told him that they’re waiting for the resolution of the collective bargaining negotiations before making a formal offer. He added that two teams have made “serious” offers to Encarnacion already. [Related: Edwin Encarnacion’s Free Agent Profile] One team that doesn’t appear to be in the running for Encarnacion is the Red Sox, though, as WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford writes that a source has informed him that Boston “probably” won’t be a finalist for Encarnacion’s imposing bat. Boston remains focused on adding a shorter-term option to fill its DH vacancy, according to Bradford. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported earlier today that the Astros bid big on Yoenis Cespedes before he agreed to return to the Mets, and his colleague, Jerry Crasnick, added that the Astros are still a possible landing spot for Encarnacion (Twitter links). While a big bid on Cespedes doesn’t necessarily indicate that the ’Stros are willing to make a market-beating offer for Encarnacion, their willingness to make a competitive bid for a player that agreed to a $110MM deal does suggest that they can at least afford to make a legitimate play for Encarnacion. It remains unclear which teams have made the aforementioned serious offers to Encarnacion. The Blue Jays reportedly offered Encarnacion about $80MM over four years earlier this month, but that offer seems light to constitute the “serious” adjective utilized by Kinzer, considering the agent’s previous comments implying that a five-year deal and/or a $25MM annual value both seemed reasonable. Furthermore, Kinzer tells Westhead that he hasn’t talked dollars with Blue Jays brass since that initial proposal. The Yankees have also been connected to Encarnacion on multiple occasions, and the Rangers have reportedly reached out to Kinzer as well, though the extent of Texas’ interest isn’t known at this time. Encarnacion, like most agents, should be reasonably expected to end up with the highest bidder, but Kinzer did imply that there will be other factors at play when speaking to Westhead. “We won’t put any restrictions on any offer like years or anything,” he explained. “[Encarnacion is] going to decide where he’s comfortable. One of the things we have to look at is the big difference in the tax base between some of the teams that are interested. Plus, there’s a comfort level we need to consider..[/QUOTE] http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/edwin-encarnacion-rumors-redsox-astros-bluejays.html Did not think the astros would be in on Cespedes and sucks to lose out on another outfielder to the damn Mets. I know I am in going to be in the minority but I just don't want EE for five years so I hope he signs elsewhere but I do hope the get Fowler.
AL ERAs under 3.00 aren't super common, only a handful of guys do that each season. By Fangraphs WAR he was the 4th most valuable starter in the ML over the last 5 seasons and had the best cumulative ERA (3.04) of any AL-only starter over the last 5 years. He's never been dominant enough in any one season to win the Cy Young but he's always a contender. Unquestionably an ace.
Please please no EE. Fangraphs projects him to provide similar value (or less) to Evan Gattis last year. It would take a massive overpay to watch the decline of a slugger with no defensive value. Maybe if the new CBA gets rid of draft pick compensation it would be easier to stomach but I'm still not a fan. Especially if it's to set up trading Bregman for a SP. If the team is so desperate for a big name #1 SP and has the money to throw around, why not trade 2nd rate prospects to ARI to take on most of Grienke's ridiculous contract.
Haha. Coincidentally, wouldn't Carlos Lee be perfect for this lineup? I mean, he'd be no Carlos Delgado, that's for sure, but still a nice stabilizing bat in the middle of the order.
Yeah I don't want EE because I just think he will be the next Carlos Lee. Now if it is a three year deal I say hell yeah. Four years is pushing it but five years is to many. I'm all for trading Bregman if the Astros are getting one of the best arms in the league. Something better than Sale. Now Grienke will cost more than what you think one bad year out of his whole career is not going to kill his value even with that contract.
Carlos Lee averaged .285 with 22 HRs a season here...hit over .300 with over 100 RBIs in each his first three. I'd love to add that to our lineup
For a lot of guys it is. Look at what happened to Pujols or Dale Murphy. In the age of steroids players hit well in their mid-late 30s. Berkman & Bagwell started to fall in their mid-30s (injuries were a factor, but that always comes with age). Biggio's decline started about that age. In the mostly post-roid era, with guys throwing harder than ever, age is a significant concern. I still want him, as I think he will age well, but his age during his contract is definitely a big concern.
So thought the Angels before signing Pujols to 10yr $240M beginning at his age 32 season. Since then his baseball value based on WAR has been about $74M while LAA has paid him $120M. (I borrowed the method Fangraphs used in the article I mention above.) Now they're stuck with him chasing milestones for his age 37-41 seasons as the team reels off mediocre season after mediocre season wasting Mike Trout's prime.
