NEWSLETTER
One of the key rumors this offseason – in terms of (potential) tangential impact to the Chicago Cubs – is the Rays interest in adding not one, but two catchers to replace Mike Zunino and Michael Perez. The Cubs are reportedly “very open” to trading Willson Contreras, but also have Victor Caratini as a capable big league starter on the roster, plus Miguel Amaya isn’t likely too far away.
I bring that up, because earlier today, the Rays did make a trade for a catcher, but not one that will fulfill their big league needs:
The Rangers have acquired 1B Nate Lowe, 1B Jake Guenther, and a PTBNL from Tampa Bay for INF Oselvis Basabe, C-OF Heriberto Hernandez, and OF Alexander Ovalles. Roster now at 40.
— John Blake (@RangerBlake) December 10, 2020
Heriberto Hernandez (heading to the Rays) is a really intriguing young player, but he is a part-time catcher at best (corner infielder/1B otherwise) who’s never played above Low-A yet. He’s got really intriguing upside – particularly at the plate – but he’s not a starting (or even backup) big league catcher in 2021.
Nate Lowe (heading to the Rangers) was a top-100 prospect after 2019, and his big league career has been all above average offensive production, but he’s got some serious strikeout issues to work through yet. All things considered, this is a really interesting trade. It’s not exactly the rare “prospect-for-prospect” deal, but it’s pretty darn close.
Either way, the Rays still need two catchers.
Pros and Cons of a Blake Snell Trade
There’s nothing ground breaking in Ken Rosenthal’s dissection of the Rays difficult decision with respect to trading Blake Snell this winter, but although he weighs the legitimate pros and cons to a deal, I think he nailed the gist of it right here:
The safe path for the Rays is the one they’ve chosen before, a trade of an elite starting pitcher for young talent. That way, the team would avoid the potential downside of a major injury to Snell, an outcome that would represent a crushing setback for a franchise that operates on the thinnest of margins.
The Rays don’t have to trade Snell right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised – in the slightest – if they do. It’s what they do and they do it well.
If they do look to trade Snell, Joe Maddon’s Angels could be waiting to pounce:
Folks are convince the #LAAngels are determined to add a top of the rotation starter. Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer is the obvious option, and the LA/UCLA product may relish a homecoming. The top trade options may be Sonny Gray and Blake Snell; the list of No. 1 guys is short.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 10, 2020
The Market Is Waiting
The market is waiting on Sandy Alderson to hire a GM. The market is waiting for teams to set their budgets (more on that later). And the market is waiting for the league to set some dang rules:
Six weeks into the MLB offseason, teams’ biggest problem isn’t their budget or their imagination. It’s that they don’t know what the rules will be next year.
“It’s just hanging over everyone’s heads. Like, What is the deal?”https://t.co/7q0zZMYYdO
— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) December 10, 2020
Not only are teams awaiting a resolution on key rules like the DH, roster sizes, season length, etc., they don’t even know if there’s a deadline by which the lack of a special 2021 agreement will no longer be negotiated. In short, there’s nothing but uncertainty for all parties, and until that gets resolved (at LEAST on the rule front), the transactions may continue at a drip-drip pace.
For what it’s worth, Nelson Cruz is pretty clearly the most individually impacted player (as a pure DH waiting to determine his true market), but even someone like Eddie Rosario or Kyle Schwarber is going to be dramatically affected by the lack of a decision.
Best Free Agent Fits
At The Athletic, Eno Sarris uses some on-field projections as well as some logical deduction on things like competitiveness, budget, willingness to spend, outlook, etc., to determine the best fit for the remaining 10 top free agents.
Shockingly, the Cubs are mentioned on George Springer, Marcell Ozuna, and even Trevor Bauer, but that’s largely because of their needs/vacancies and *should be* budget. Sarris isn’t dumb. He knows they are unlikely to end up with any of the three.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are *not* mentioned for Ha-Seong Kim, which breaks my heart, especially at a projected four-years/$30M (not including the posting fee). The Reds, Tigers, Orioles, Pirates, and A’s are all mentioned. I think Sarris just wasn’t being open minded enough about how long-term the Cubs are probably looking to be right now (for better or worse), but again, these aren’t rumors, just surface-level fittings.
I mean, after all, Kim met and had dinner with Hyun-Jin Ryu, so the Blue Jays at least part of the story here, right?
The Blue Jays Had Hyun-Jin Ryu Get Dinner with Ha-Seong Kim, So Clearly They’re Very Interested – https://t.co/Brbt3aEQLX pic.twitter.com/fNdJKy0C3e
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 8, 2020
Justin Turner
Justin Turner is going to return to the Dodgers. I just know it. I can feel it in my bones. But also, if he doesn’t, the Blue Jays are standing by, as they are with seemingly every free agent, to welcome him to their crowded infield with open arms:
Blue Jays are among teams to show interest in Justin Turner. They’ve looked at a multitude of infielders, outfielders and others so hard to tell which way they’ll go. They did have success signing Turner’s teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu, who had a big first year in Toronto/Buffalo.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 10, 2020
The Blue Jays have been connected to every available infielder this offseason. They’re going to get one of them and one way or another that’s very likely to affect the Cubs.
