Justin Upton for David Price?

[Second Base]

This is one of those fantasy scenarios, but hear me out. Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell are clearly the future corner outfielders in Anaheim. They're both set to begin 2020 in AAA and they're both doing quite well in the Arizona Fall League and figure to be ready sooner rather than later.

The Red Sox ultimate goal is to drop back under the luxury tax this next season, and they have potentially 70 million in arbitration owed, so guys like Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. figure to be talked about in trade negotiations. David Price himself said last year that he can see the Red Sox trading him away this winter, despite his no trade clause.

Price is owed 32 million a year for the next three years, while Upton is owed 22 and 23 million over the next three years. This would save the Red Sox a considerable amount in regards to their luxury tax issues, and if they do indeed trade Bradley Jr. as anticipated, Benintendi will slide over to CF, opening up a spot in LF. 

Upton is just the sort of player whose skill set would work with well for the Red Sox. LF doesn't require much range and his has clearly diminished, and the Red Sox would clearly welcome his offense as an upgrade over Bradley.

Price is the exact sort of pitcher the Angels could use, someone who has pitched the big game before, a leader among pitchers in the clubhouse, the still remaining upside to continue in a big way, and assuming Maddon is indeed hired to manage this team, an extensive history with Joe Maddon.

Simply spoken, the Red Sox will need a LF and salary relief, the Angels need a starting pitcher with pedigree.

The last hurdle here would be for Upton and Price to waive their respective NTC to make this deal happen for both sides. If Price is already talking about it, and weighs the opportunity of pitching for Maddon, and in front of Trout and Simmons and alongside Ohtani, I think he'd be open to it. And Upton, I think if Eppler approaches him and says he'll be taking a back seat to Marsh and Adell when they are ready, which comes probably in May or June, and that Upton's only other path to playing time in Anaheim would be a position change, I think Upton would waive his as well.

And so now I present it to AngelsWin, would you trade Justin Upton for David Price?

Edited October 13, 2019 by Second Base

[Claude]

It’s a trade that not only could help both teams but both players. I’d pull the trigger on that deal right now. I think we would have a much easier path to transition Price to the bullpen than trying to put Upton at 1st base. I still don’t understand how Eppler got hooked into extending Upton in the first place. He wasn’t going anywhere. 

[tdawg87]

Yes.

[failos]

I'd trade Upton for a sack of potatoes.

[Second Base]

And for me, the answer is definitely yes.  I like Justin Upton, but the Angels need starting pitching in the worst sort of way, and this gets some starting pitching, while only increasing payroll by 10 million, and it opens up playing time for Brandon Marsh.  I do think it would slightly hurt the Angels offense in 2020, but that value-loss I'm hoping would end up being negated by the inevitable bump in defensive value that putting Jo Adell in LF (Marsh in RF) would bring.  Also, I think the offense would eventually be fine, because I can't picture Tommy La Stella fouling a ball off his leg and quite literally breaking it again, that doesn't happen very often, so having him a full year will help.  

[T.G.]

27 minutes ago, Second Base said:

This is one of those fantasy scenarios...

 

[Dick B Back]

I voted no cause I really think his best days are well behind him. Now Chris Sale would be another story...

[Second Base]

12 minutes ago, RBM said:

Yes, but two concerns. 

1. Who plays LF in 2020? Marsh is not ready.  

2. We would be picking up an additional $24 M over the next 3 years. I doubt the Red Sox would pick up any of that.

contract for contract. The Red Sox would be saving some pretty serious money. 

[Inside Pitch]

96 mil .vs 72 mil.   One guy falls off he's a 30+ mil RP..    

Price threw 105 innings last year, only threw 74 innings in 2017 -- he's due money through his age 36 season.   Upton's deal is over by the time he reaches Price's current age.

This seems like an awful lot of risk for a team that really can't get something wrong moving forward.

[eligrba]

Why would the Angels want an expensive pitcher who has trouble pitching in the post season?

I completely understand the motivation for Boston.

[Second Base]

3 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

96 mil .vs 72 mil.   One guy falls off he's a 30+ mil RP..    

Price threw 105 innings last year, only threw 74 innings in 2017 -- he's due money through his age 36 season.   Upton's deal is over by the time he reaches Price's current age.

This seems like an awful lot of risk for a team that really can't get something wrong moving forward.

True, but it also allows the Angels to go in harder on specific pitchers this winter.  The Angels need at minimum, two good starters from trade or free agency, but I'd argue it's more like three good starters.  If they're able to add one of those on what is basically 3/34, who still has the potential to pitch toward the middle or front of a rotation for extended periods of time, it basically means the Angels have the depth they require and can now spend on a Gerrit Cole type.  

Whereas their current situation suggests the Angels not only need Gerrit Cole, they need another upside starter AND depth in addition to Cole. 

[wopphil]

Great trade idea. If Price is healthy and if the Sox ate a little of the money, I'd pull the trigger. If the Sox ate 4 mil per year of the money owed Price, he would effectively become a $6 mil per year pitcher for us. That would leave plenty of money for two additional rotation pieces.

[mmc]

Done, Price is overpaid, but his 3.73 xFIP is still better than any pitcher on this team.  Much more value to us than Upton.

[Vlad27Trout27]

Yes and No.

No, because Price is a Risk. As other's have pointed out, he hasn't gone over 150 inning the past two years.   

2. Upton contract looks much better than Prices. he's making 21 next year, and 23,28 the following. While Price is at 32 for the next 3 years. that's an addition 24 mil

3. he's overpriced....

Reason for while i would do this trade

1. Basically take's us out of needing an extra pitcher, but we still have money.

2. The Big yes. I would only do this if the Sox, add more to offset that addition 24 mil. 

IDk Maybe something along the line's of:

Boston: Upton

Angels: Price (full Salary), Houck and Groome

So why?

Boston, gets to cut salary, 24 mil thru the next 3 years

Angels

- Add a starter that can be a 3 for them

add two good prospects

1. Houck: a big arm, looks like a middle of the rotation arm or a closer ( Kinda of a similar pitcher to G Rich)

2. Groome: he has been mostly out due to having Tj, but a big arm with front of the line rotation potential. 

Now why would the red sox make this trade.

Price has no trade value, it's going to be either an salary dump trade or he's staying. plus an addition 24 mil  is alot.

[tdawg87]

I will say this only works if Price is the 3rd pitcher we acquire. We need guaranteed innings, and at this point Price is a huge wildcard. 

 

[greginpsca]

If JD Martinez opts out, Upton would be their DH. To make the money part of this hypothetical trade work, we would have to send them Cozart's final year of his deal. And the Sox might have to send us a low level org filler prospect. In the end, the Sox clear $20 mil from JD's salary.

[Angelsjunky]

Yes, although hesitantly. The Price contract is bad, as he dropped off immediately after signing it and has been a #3-4 being paid like he's a #1. But the Angels need SP, and Price--while no longer an ace--has a pretty high floor. You know you're going to get at least a solid #3-4.

I'm not an Upton hater, but at this point I think Eppler would get rid of him if he could.

[Docwaukee]

price is at 32m for each of the next three seasons which are age 34, 35, 36

Upton is owed 21, 23, 28.  for age 32, 33, 34.  

I agree that he'd be the third guy.  

One way to get a little creative with it is to have Bos give 6m for 2020 and then the halos give 6m in 2022.  

I think I'd do that trade.  maybe.  tough call.  

[totdprods]

Would Calhoun possibly stick around for another year? Either by way of his option or a restructured two-year deal until Marsh and Adell are totally ready? I feel like I’d have to know more about what else is realistic in the offseason plans.
 

It is a lot of money and risk but overall I’m interested. 

[Lou]

over the last 3 seasons, Price has pitched 358 innings (119.1 ip/yr) and has made $93 million.

pass.

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said:

I will say this only works if Price is the 3rd pitcher we acquire. We need guaranteed innings, and at this point Price is a huge wildcard. 

 

That's what I pictured him being.  Like rather than spending 2/30 or 3/45 on Cole Hamels as the third guy, it basically comes out to the Angels spending 3/34 on Price.  It's a close. 

[Lou]

so you want to pay our #3 starter 3/$96M?

crazy 

[CanadianHalo]

God no.

[Stradling]

11 minutes ago, Lou said:

so you want to pay our #3 starter 3/$96M?

crazy 

The way they are spinning it is they are only paying the difference between Upton and Price.  

[Lou]

8 minutes ago, Stradling said:

The way they are spinning it is they are only paying the difference between Upton and Price.  

Boston won't want Upton 

Plus, that eats up $11M we have to spend this offseason