2014 Winter Meetings Thread

[ukyah]

what does drew butera do for this team that carlos perez can't already do better? also, i'd take holt.

[Angel Oracle]

Butera makes Mathisn't look like Salvador Perez as a hitter.

.507 career OPS???????

[DW711]

what does drew butera do for this team that carlos perez can't already do better? also, i'd take holt.

 

depth

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@Alden_Gonzalez: Dipoto: "Some combo of Butera & [bandy/Williams/Perez] are gonna make up the games Chris doesn't catch, and we feel comfortable with that.”

Yuck.

[tdawg87]

Depth. Nothing more to it than that. He's pretty solid defensively it seems.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

They must be pretty good utility guys, because Holt was a bit of a catalyst for the Red Sux in the 1st half (albeit falling off to a mid .500s OPS after the ASB), not to mention playing all 7 non-battery positions in 2014.

@JeffFletcherOCR: @AFEL120 this story includes their top targets for that spot http://t.co/bygyKBL7wc

The Angels are not expected to fill their utility infield hole during the winter meetings, and perhaps not until January.

Their first choice is to re-sign Gordon Beckham, but Beckham is expected to need some time to determine if he has an offer elsewhere for more playing time and more money.

If the Angels don’t re-sign Beckham, they are likely to look to trade for an infielder rather than signing a free agent.

Among the infielders who would make the most sense for the Angels are Detroit’s Eugenio Suarez, St. Louis’ Pete Kozma, Colorado’s Josh Rutledge and Houston’s Marwin Gonzalez.

Kozma and Gonzalez are likely the most available of that group, but the Astros may be a better fit because they need the relief pitching the Angels have to spare. The Angels could trade someone like Vinnie Pestano or Fernando Salas to the Astros.

The Cardinals are believed to be more interested in a prospect with some upside, and the Angels don’t have many of those to spare.

[Angel Oracle]

Do not trade Pestano.    He is almost back to his 2011-12 form.

Trade Jepsen while his trade value is as high as it will ever be, and stick Pestano into the 7th inning role.

[SoWhat]

Butera's CS percentage last season was 3 percent better than league average and 7 percent better than Conger.

Edited December 9, 2014 by SoWhat

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@Buster_ESPN: The Tigers' focus is on retaining Max Scherzer. They are prepared to spend big, big dollars. Want to keep Price for 2015, too.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@MLBBruceLevine: Breaking:Cubs give up pitchers Jefferson Mejia and Zach Godley for AZ catcher Miguel Montero . Source confirmed

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Rangers Talking With Nationals, D’Backs On Starters

By Jeff Todd [December 9, 2014 at 2:14pm CST]

2:14pm: Texas has also engaged the Diamondbacks in talks on starting pitching, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Wade Miley and, perhaps, Trevor Cahill are the likeliest targets, per Grant.

1:45pm: Multiple reports suggest that the Rangers and Nationals have engaged in discussions involving the Nats’ starting pitching. It appears that the sides have mutual interest, but may not see eye-to-eye on the pieces they would like to move.

Texas has inquired about righty Jordan Zimmermann, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports on Twitter. But the club has received indications that the Nationals are uninterested in moving Zimmermann, though they will listen on Doug Fister.

Meanwhile, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post hears (Twitter link) that the Rangers have expressed strong interest in the D.C. arms. The Nationals, in turn, have asked about 20-year-old second baseman Rougned Odor, with Texas indicating it is not interested in dealing him.

[tdawg87]

Ceej for Beltre

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Padres Still Pursuing Kemp; O’s, M’s, Rangers Out

By Jeff Todd [December 9, 2014 at 3:27pm CST]

TODAY, 3:27pm: The Mariners and Rangers are also out on Kemp, Heyman tweets.

2:20pm: The Orioles are out on Kemp, sources tell Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore had concerns with Kemp’s long-term health and talks went nowhere after the Dodgers asked about young pitchers Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy.

1:20pm: Another name that has come up is 20-year-old righty Zach Eflin, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Wisler is not going to be included in any deal, Rosenthal now tweets, though righty Joe Ross could be.

[tdawg87]

Why are so many teams willing to trade for Kemp?

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: Clubs keep asking about Cueto. #Reds steer talk to Latos, Leake, Simon. Listening on Cueto, though. Would bring biggest return.

[Tyler]

Why are so many teams willing to trade for Kemp?

Because he is really good?

[ten ocho recon scout]

Why are so many teams willing to trade for Kemp?

exactly. Ton of talent, but how real his good spurts are is a question mark. Add his contract and age.....

[tdawg87]

Because he is really good?

Not really. He's had 1 truly great full season and hasn't been the same since.

More like just good. Not worth trading for that contract.

[Tyler]

Not really. He's had 1 truly great full season and hasn't been the same since.

More like just good. Not worth trading for that contract.

 

No, he's really good. His numbers will no doubt regress if he gets moved to San Diego though, yikes.

[tdawg87]

Semantics aside, I just don't see him being a wise investment considering his health. Doesn't he still have like 5 years left on his contract? Eww.

He did have a pretty good year last year, at least with the bat.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Dodgers Open To Trading Dee Gordon

By Mark Polishuk [December 9, 2014 at 4:34pm CST]

The Dodgers have let teams know that they’re open to trading Dee Gordon, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (Twitter link). Gordon played 144 games at second base last season but played almost exclusively at shortstop prior to 2014, so he could appeal to teams looking for help at either middle infield position.

Players who can get on base are a priority for the new Dodgers front office, Sherman notes, and Gordon has only a career .314 OBP. Still, Gordon certainly has some trade value following an All-Star season that saw him hit .289/.326/.378 over 650 plate appearances while leading the league in both steals (64) and triples (12). His production tailed off down the stretch, however, as Gordon posted just a .632 OPS over his last 68 games. If Gordon is dealt, Alex Guerrero, Justin Turner and Darwin Barney could all see time at 2B for Los Angeles, though some of those players could also address the club’s vacancy at shortstop in the wake of Hanley Ramirez‘s departure.

[tdawg87]

Get starvin marvin!

[ten ocho recon scout]

No, he's really good. His numbers will no doubt regress if he gets moved to San Diego though, yikes.

im with tdawg shane. Kemp (when healthy, in itself already a lulz) had one monster year and some good ones. Hes also had some very poor ones.

The main point being, his age and money arent worth the possibility he can get it back going forward.

[Lou]

what does drew butera do for this team that carlos perez can't already do better? also, i'd take holt.

depth in SLC

[ten ocho recon scout]

depth in SLC

sounds naughty