Winter Meetings Thursday Evening: Price on the Move, Free Agent SP Market Humming, Marketing Bryant, More

Dec 12, 2019

Well, there’s still more rumors, but I’m all out of intros. So.

Sure sounds like David Price is going to be traded by the Red Sox, as they look to get under the luxury tax. Per Mark Feinsand: “According to a source, the Red Sox have held trade talks with at least five clubs about David Price, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner who helped lead Boston to the 2018 World Series title. Among the teams in play for Price are the Padres, Cardinals, White Sox and Reds, while the Angels have also been in contact with the Red Sox, according to sources.”

Getting Price is pretty darn easy if you’re simply willing to take on his contract, but obviously no one’s jumping at that. So it would take some other financial maneuverings – for example, the Cardinals could send the Red Sox Matt Carpenter ($37 million owed over the next two years) to defray the cost, according to Feinsand. That’s interesting.

Chad Jennings (The Athletic) also believes that the Red Sox will ultimately ship Price off this winter, but concedes that they’d have to pay down some of his remaining deal (3-years, $96M) to get something done, and doing the attach-a-prospect thing is not likely: “If the Red Sox do trade Price, they might not follow the Angels model of including a prospect to offset the cost (the Angels traded a 2019 first-round pick in order to dump Zack Cozart’s salary).” New Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom didn’t seem particularly keen on going this route (who would, if you’re not planning to turn around and spend that money?).

Of course, Jennings also wonders if, instead of a prospect, the Red Sox might attach a young player like Andrew Benintendi, though he admits that’s much more difficult to imagine. For what it’s worth, he’s heard that the Red Sox are looking for a team to take on at least “roughly $20 million” – presumably annually – of Price’s salary. Just something to keep in mind, as the pitching market continues to hum:

Sources: #STLCards met this week with the reps for Dallas Keuchel and Hyun-Jin Ryu — who are, of course, represented by the same agency. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 12, 2019

Braves are thought to have checked in on Hyun-Jin Ryu. Uncertain level of interest. Also on Ryu: dodgers, jays, twins

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2019

#LAAngels appear to be exploring trade market first for starting pitching. As for free agents, as @Ken_Rosenthal mentioned, lefties Ryu and Keuchel (and also Bumgarner and Mikey) would fit with Simmons and Rendon manning the left side of the infield
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2019

The Dodgers, Blue Jays, Twins, Cardinals, White Sox, and Angels all seem to be circling that pool of upper-middle-tier starters (Bumgarner, Keuchel, Ryu), just waiting for someone else to make their decision easier (or, perhaps, cheaper).

According to Jon Morosi, the Tampa Bay Rays have showed some interest in Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who’s drawn some recent interest from the Dodgers already, as well as Shogo Akiyama, who is a Cubs target, albeit one who … doesn’t fit their price range? In reality, it’s more complicated than that, and, when the dust settles, I actually think Akiyama does end up on the North Side of Chicago.

The latest on the Kris Bryant front had the Nationals showing some interest, with Victor Robles’ name popping up as someone the Nationals would totally not want to discuss in such a deal! Well, since then, another favorable report has popped up, only this time it works for the Cubs (it really is a battle of the media leaks, eh?):

The market place for the Cubs and Kris Bryant can become robust after Josh Donaldson gets paid soon . Numerous teams love Bryant at 3B or the outfield . Don t forget his versatility and love for playing multiple positions.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 12, 2019

Don’t you forget, interested GMs, our boy Kris can play third base, left field, right field, and he even played center that one tim… No, no, he can’t be OUR center fielder. No, I know we’re looking for a center fielder, but we have other plans with Sho-with someone in our “comfort zone.”

The White Sox are looking to add not one, but two veteran starting pitchers this offseason – presumably one of whom will come via free agency. Bruce Levine expectedly mentions Keuchel, Ryu, and Bumgarner. He also mentions their interest in adding another bat: “they’ve discussed designated hitter types like Edwin Encarnacion. They would also like to add an infielder who can play shortstop and second base.” Got all that? The White Sox would like two starting pitchers, a DH, and a middle infielder … on top of the catcher they already added via free agency and the outfielder they added via trade. Busy winter on the South Side.

The Red Sox have made a move:

Source confirms INF Jose Peraza and the Red Sox have a one-year deal worth in the $3M range, pending physical. @ByRobertMurray 1st.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 12, 2019

Peraza, 25, was a theoretical Cubs target for about a minute after he was non-tendered by the Reds earlier this month, given his youth, expected price tag, and ability to play up the middle as a back-up with upside. But despite his ability to make contact and avoid striking out, his bat has been a pretty big liability. Still, $3M from the Red Sox isn’t a terrible outcome. If he has a solid season at the plate (like even in the 90 wRC+ range), with his defensive capabilities and youth? That’s a big value.

Brett Taylor contributed to this post.

written by

Michael Cerami

Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

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