Hot Stove

Winter meetings opened in AZ yesterday....

Being from Atlanta this is what is on the table for John Hart the Bravos new GM....

Deal BJ Upton somehow some way...eat the contract whatever...just cut him loose

Deal Gattis as he has great value and the Braves have a solid young C in Bethancourt

All others are open for consideration ..except for perhaps Freeman and Simmons.

What can the Braves get for two Uptons and a Gattis?

Obviously nobody is going to give anything for B.J. Upton. I don't even see any teams wanting to take him without Atlanta eating all but the minimum salary part of his contract. He has degraded that badly as a player. As to Justin, I have no idea why Atlanta would want to trade him unless somebody blew them away with an offer.

My theoretical trade for Gattis would be the Braves sending Gattis and medium prospect Rp James Hoyt to Tampa Bay for Jeremy Hellickson, Ryan Hanigan, and OF prospect Mikie Mahtook (if they negotiate well) or P Nate Karns (if they don't). Hellickson could step right into the rotation, with Santana, Harang, and Floyd all possibly leaving. Hanigan could mentor Bethancourt, and Mahtook could eventually take over for Upton. Gattis would perfectly fit the shifting-lineup Rays, moving from C to Lf to Dh.

And the Mets make the first "splash", signing Michael Cuddyer to a 2 year deal, if he can stay healthy, that's a power bat for the OF and potential platoon mate for Duda against tough LHP at 1b. There's also talk they are poking around Tulo...

And the Mets make the first "splash", signing Michael Cuddyer to a 2 year deal, if he can stay healthy, that's a power bat for the OF and potential platoon mate for Duda against tough LHP at 1b. There's also talk they are poking around Tulo...

Interesting imagery...

I think the Cuddyer signing is solid, park change and 1st-round pick forfeiture and all. However, I just don't see the Mets having what it takes to get Tulo. I don't even think Wheeler and Syndergaard together would be enough--even if the Mets would be willing to do so--and Plawecki, Montero, Nimmo, Cecchini, and even Conforto (as a PTBNL) aren't substantial enough prospects to effectively substitute as enticing deal-sweeteners.

It doesn't hurt to dream, though.

I will fix the Red Sox.
1, sign Lester back
2, Trade for Tulo move Bogarts to 3rd.
Sox could trade SS SP prospects for Tulo (Deven Marrero
or Michael Chavis, plus 1 of Webster De LA Rosa or High Level prospect.
3, Move Middlebrooks to 1st.
4, sign FA pitching

C.Vasquez (could be a -4 arm) check the numbers
1B. Middlebrooks (can't give up yet)/Napoli
2B. Pedroia
3B. Bogarts
SS. Tulo
LF.Cespedes
CF.Betts
RF.Victorino (if healthy/Bradley (can't give up yet)
DH. Papi
Looks good on paper except maybe too righthanded

I will fix the Red Sox.
1, sign Lester back
2, Trade for Tulo move Bogarts to 3rd.
Sox could trade SS SP prospects for Tulo (Deven Marrero
or Michael Chavis, plus 1 of Webster De LA Rosa or High Level prospect.
3, Move Middlebrooks to 1st.
4, sign FA pitching

C.Vasquez (could be a -4 arm) check the numbers
1B. Middlebrooks (can't give up yet)/Napoli
2B. Pedroia
3B. Bogarts
SS. Tulo
LF.Cespedes
CF.Betts
RF.Victorino (if healthy/Bradley (can't give up yet)
DH. Papi
Looks good on paper except maybe too righthanded

It's a nice idea but I don't think Boston has what Colorado is looking for in any deal for Tulo... Young pitching. Besides they are rumored to be a finalist for Sandoval's services with the Giants.
The young pitching angle is also why the Mets are a potential landing spot for Tulo if the price is right. Don't think they can get it done though. I also think they'd be better off with a lead off type at SS especially with the signing of Cuddyer.
You know someone like Reyes...
Oh wait.

I actully think the Red Sox would be perfect trading partners for Tulo and have quite the stable of young pitching to entice Colorado. Rodriguez, Owens, Ranaudo, Johnson, and Barnes would all interest and intrigue the Rockies. I do think they will specifically ask for those pitchers over De La Rosa and the declining Webster, though. As to shortstops, Chavis is not a viable major league shortstop prospect; so; I'm sure they will have to include the smooth-fielding Marrerro.

Now, here is where it might get painful, Alk. I don't see Colorado doing the trade without asking for Betts. If they were really hubristic, they would ask for Bogaerts, but they're smart enough not to. Marrerro and one (or even two) of those pitchers probably won't be enough. Boston will want a solid major league player in return, and will be thrilled to either play Betts at Center or trade Lemahieu for pitching with his Gold Glove having maxed out his value.

As to CF, for the Red Sox, they have Castillo firmly penciled in there over Betts already. They didn't sign him to that 7-year contract for him to sit, and he showed some surprising power to go along with his considerable athleticism last year. Anyway, your optimism is well-deserved. The Sox do look strong, and Tulo would make them beastly. If Cespedes actually starts getting along with the coaching staff, they could soar past the O's.


P.s. I would give up on Middlebrooks, dude. I think he was an overrated prospect from the start. But Lester is rumored back to Boston for a 6-year contract. So that should assuage the disappointment.

It's a nice idea but I don't think Boston has what Colorado is looking for in any deal for Tulo... Young pitching. Besides they are rumored to be a finalist for Sandoval's services with the Giants.

Major league young or AAA young?
Will Sandoval play 1st that would work

The Cuddyer signing is bad. Not "cripple your franchise" bad, but bad all the same. 21 million for an injury-prone, 36 year-old defensive liability with inflated Coors stats? Already have Duda to play first, and M-Cud is a stone in right field. I'm not as bearish as many are on the Mets short terms chances -- their young pitching really is talented enough to catch lightning in a bottle, maybe -- but that's an awful lot of money to tie up in a mediocrity for a team that still has significant financial limitations.

And giving up a mid first round pick to the Rockies is costly too.

I knew I was forgetting somebody in the OF.
was going to look-up hubristic but my pride wouldn't let me!

Being a talk show junkie I always get a kick when the callers say he sucks trade him, well he sucks who is going to take him. Maybe the same team who trades for BJ Upton.

Sox have what it takes to get Tulo or anybody if they want to.

I would trade Betts if Tulo came back in the trade now that I have Castillo As for Cepedes don't believe what the Boston sportswriter say.
Gordon Edes Sox to get Lester back
Dan Shaughnessy Sox out of picture for Lester
Shawn McAdams - Sox 50% of getting Lester
all this yesterday
Who should I believe? lol