12/10/13

Mack’s Afternoon Report – 12-10 – Chris Sale, Power 1B Bat, Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy, Fitness Camp

 

The diagnosis on Juan Lagares’ knee is everything is A-OK and he’s been told to stay home and rest for three weeks (whew).
 

Word from the winter meetings is that the Chicago White Sox SP Chris Sale is available. Wow.

Sale was the 13th overall pick in the 2010 draft and spent about three minutes in the minors that season. He finished his first professional year in the majors (21-starts, 2-1, 1.93, 1.07) and his four year MLB stat line is: 32-25, 2.97, 1.10, 9.49/K-9, 1.93/BB-9.

He’ll pitch 2014 as a 25 year old and is signed through 2017… $3.5mil/2014… $6mil/2015… $9.15/mil/2016… $12mil/2017.

Wow.

This one would cost you a package with Noah Syndergaard. The White Sox have a lot of position players signed up for 2014 so I’m sure they would be looking for a package of team controlled prospects for Sale. You’re not going to get away with any package here that starts with the name Rafael Montero. In fact, it might take both of them.

Question:  Would you be happy with a 2015 rotation of Matt Harvey, Sale, Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese, and Dillon Gee?
 

I was listening to the 2-hour live Blog Hot Stove show on MetsBlog and I couldn’t help but smile when they got around to ‘all the teams’ that have approached the Mets about acquiring the services of one of their ‘power left-handed first basemen’, Lucas Duda or Ike Davis. I smile because at the same time the Mets are looking for a power bat. Are all these teams wrong in seeing the potential of these guys when the Mets can’t seem to recognize it? They specifically mentioned the Pirates who have publically said they are looking for a lefty on first to complete their plan to platoon there. I know they don’t match up well for a shortstop, but what about some pen help? I just hope the Mets recognize that other teams find these guys valuable enough to consider them. Trading one is fine, but please, play the other.
 

Adam Rubin reported Monday night that the reason the Mets parted ways with IF Justin Turner was because Turner had ‘irked the front office’ with his lack of running hard. I’m sure that was what Rubin was told and, as in 99% of the time, Rubin’s sources are impeccable. What I just can’t seem to remember is him not hustling. This is the first time I had ever heard anything negative about this guy. Oh well…
 

There are multiple reports that Baltimore is interested in Daniel Murphy. So, let’s assume that, if this happened, Wilmer Flores would become the Mets second baseman. Let’s review the Orioles and see what might be a good candidate for a trade here:

Shortstop:  J.J. Hardy has one more year left on his contract, $7.916667mil in 2014… he will play 2014 as a 30-yr. old. His backup, Ryan Flaherty, is their starting second baseman and only hit .224 in 2013. No, if you go infield here, you want the prospect… second baseman Jonathan Schoop (who also plays shirt) who is MLB ready and hits for power.

Pitcher:  The Orioles are probably not going to trade you either Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy, but I bet you could get them to package prospect RHP Mike Wright along with Schoop.

These two teams match up well. And who knows…  you could see an even up Murphy for Gausman deal here.
 

And finally, Ruben Tejada and Lucas Duda will be returning in January to the Michigan fitness camp they worked out these past few weeks along with Wilmer Flores. Let me tell you something… teams don’t send players to things like this and then trade them. If the Mets are sponsoring this, then these three guys are keepers this season.

7 comments:

steve said...

I'd totally be happy with Sale in the Mets rotation. I understand you would have to give up Syndergaard. But you have to give to receive.
I still think Colon is coming to the Mets after he tries to get a multi year deal elsewhere.
Sign me up for 2014 with Colon-Sale-Gee-Niese-Mejia or Montero.
The pitching in the minors will catch up,when Harvey returns

steve said...

Big 3 team trade, just went down.
Kinda liked Trumbo, oh well

jd said...

I would do Murphy for Gausman in about half a second. Makes me think the Orioles would never do it. I will dream on that for a second though.

David L. Whitman said...

Mack-I like Sale a lot but my thought is this. Why would you trade Syndegaard for Sale? I could see it if he were still a year or two away. But he's probably around 60-70 games away from his MLB debut. No, stay the course here, by mid-season of 2014 you have Montero and Noah joining the rotation. It's not like we're just one or two players away, and adding him means printing playoff tickets in 2014. Let's remain patient.

Herb G said...

I can't see Sandy making a bid for Sale (or Price for that matter) I'd say no sale, too pricey. LOL I did send Alderson an email Sunday asking if he would consider the following:

Noah Syndergaard, Lucas Duda, (or Ike Davis, if absolutely necessary) Wilmer Flores and Cory Vaughn (or similar) for Price, and perhaps adding Tejada and a better prospect (Mazzoni or Tapia?) for them to add Yunel Escobar?

No Response.

I would not do a Murphy for Shoop & Mike Wright trade. Shoop would probably be a .240 hitter in the majors, and he was moved from primarily SS early in his milb career to primarily 2B currently. Frankly, I think Murphy for Hardy straight up would be a very good trade for the Mets if we could get him.

Unknown said...

How bout a darnaud, montero, Murphy, cecchini for sale and Adam dunn

David L. Whitman said...

zozo-only if it were for a stairway to heaven and rover to be named later. Dunn is an absolute statue in the field.

Herb-It's been reported that the Mets are talking to the Rays. I have a hard time believing Price's name hasn't popped up. I don't think you'd have to give up Syndegaard to get him either. I'm still adamant that the Rays will not get what they want for Price.

On another note, the D'backs gave up too much for Trumbo. It's ironic that they traded Upton last winter, and now are their second replacement for him. JUpton is far from perfect but the Snakes messed up on that deal.

Trumbo's home/away splits will be interesting, especially considering that he will play the majority of his away games at Dodger Stadium, Petco and AT&T. Well, at least the Colorado games will help him pad those away stats a bit.