Lukewarm Stove: Marlins, Blanks, Upton, Markakis, Scherzer, Peavy, Liriano, Santana, More

old stove featureThe tender deadline looms this evening, and the rumor mill churns in its advance …

  • The Marlins, having wrapped up Giancarlo Stanton to a monster extension, are trying to extend several other young players, including ace Jose Fernandez, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. That is according to Jon Heyman, who writes that the offer to Fernandez was for six years and close to $40 million. That would be a big number for a guy with so little service time, but it’s still nowhere near enough to get a deal done.
  • Kyle Blanks remains in DFA limbo following the Josh Donaldson trade, but Chris Cotillo reports that Blanks is likely to be non-tendered today by the Athletics (presumably as opposed to a trade or waiver), which will make him a free agent. Health problems and all, Blanks still has a very interesting bat. Indeed, Blanks pops up in a recent FanGraphs piece on affordable right-handed power out there.
  • Ken Rosenthal writes about some interesting trade talks a ways back between the Astros and Braves: if you want Evan Gattis, the Braves indicated, you’ve got to also take B.J. Upton and his contract. I’m not sure Gattis is that valuable, especially since the Braves also wanted a prospect in return, but it’s a reiteration of how much the Braves want to be rid of that contract. Seems like an opportunity for some team out there to “buy” a prospect from the Braves: send them a nominally useful player, take back Upton and his contract, and get a nice prospect from the Braves.
  • I get a lot of questions about Nick Markakis, seeing as how he’s no longer a lock to return to the Orioles. I haven’t said much about Markakis, because, well, I don’t have much to say. I don’t think he’s a fit for the Cubs at the contract he’ll command. And, adding to that, since there are no sourced rumors connecting him to the Cubs, I move right along.
  • John Harper wonders if the Yankees’ recently reported uptick in interest in reliever Andrew Miller might be a signal that the team could go after Max Scherzer (thus losing a first round pick) and let David Robertson go (thus picking up a compensatory pick). I don’t think you can make $175 million decisions based on a draft pick, but I remain of the mind that the Yankees have to pick up a top starting pitcher if they want to have a shot of competing next year. Scherzer remains the most logical fit, and I’ll believe the Yankees aren’t spending on big-time players when they actually do it.
  • We haven’t heard much on Jake Peavy since he was previously connected to the Cubs, but that likely has more to do with the exceptionally-slow-developing second tier pitching market than with the Cubs absolutely being out on him. Jerry Crasnick has a long piece on Peavy, which is a really interesting read, and he does mention the Cubs, among other teams, in passing.
  • Not only are the Pirates reportedly interested in bringing back Francisco Liriano (and Edinson Volquez), but they’ve also reportedly told other pitchers that they’re focusing on Liriano first right now, and will come back to others if they can’t sort it out with Liriano. (That first link, by the way, is a good read on how to calculate and discuss payroll, generally.)
  • The Braves may not non-tender Tommy John recoveree Kris Medlen today, and instead are reportedly discussing a two-year deal.
  • Speaking of the Braves, outgoing starter Ervin Santana is looking for a five-year deal, according to Buster Olney. Good luck with that. Not only is Santana a year older than he was last year when he couldn’t find a big long-term deal (he turns 32 in 10 days), and not only is he once again tied to draft pick compensation, but he’s also projected by BOTH ZiPS and Steamer to be a below average starting pitcher next year. You’ve not seen the Cubs connected to Santana much this offseason, and, unless circumstances change dramatically, you won’t.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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