Day 1 of the Winter Meetings is complete. Well, it's past midnight, so I believe that counts as Tuesday.

 

Monday was a busy day of rumors and a few things happened. Here is Monday's thread. 

 

Let's have this thread be the go-to place for rumors from Tuesday.

 

 

Shortly after midnight, there were several reports of a trade between Atlanta and the Cubs. Javier Baez would go to Atlanta in exchange for Shelby Miller. Less than 10 minutes later, the Cubs said that there was no deal. We shall see.

 

Late on Monday night, there were rumors (I believe started by Chris Cotillo) that the Padres were interested in Ricky Nolasco.

 

Let's keep the Day 2 discussion going.

If Terry Ryan can trade Nolasco for anybody on the Padres not named Melvin Upton I will consider that his best trade/move in a long time.

Edited December 8, 201510 yr by DaveW

If I were a GM and looking for starting pitching, the first 197,000 names that would come to my head would not be Ricky Nolasco on a 2 year $25 million deal. Godspeed, Padres.

Edited December 8, 201510 yr by Baseball Bat

Berardino Tweets:

 

Source that has been in contact w/#MNTwins front office: "They're trying" to move Ricky Nolasco (2 yrs, $25 million left). Tough task.

 

 

Second source expressed doubt Nolasco's contract could be moved during offseason: "Teams will need to see him in the spring --at least.

I'm not sure why Upton/Nolasco would be a bad swap. We could use an extra OF.  He only has 2 years left on his deal, and he plays CF.  He may be on the wrong side of his career arc, but if he's your 4th OF when Buxton is finally ready, I think we did something well.  In the mean time, he can hold down the fort. 

 

I'm not sure why Upton/Nolasco would be a bad swap. We could use an extra OF.  He only has 2 years left on his deal, and he plays CF.  He may be on the wrong side of his career arc, but if he's your 4th OF when Buxton is finally ready, I think we did something well.  In the mean time, he can hold down the fort. 

 

I'm not sure why Upton/Nolasco would be a bad swap. We could use an extra OF.  He only has 2 years left on his deal, and he plays CF.  He may be on the wrong side of his career arc, but if he's your 4th OF when Buxton is finally ready, I think we did something well.  In the mean time, he can hold down the fort. 

It makes room for May/Berrios so that is a real positive.  Having a viable 4th OFer is better than having Nolasco take a spot from May or Berrios.  It also provides a bridge to Buxton and Kepler.  I would prefer Nolasco to SD and C prospect to the Twins and use that $18M on a FA OFer, trade Plouffe, and put Sano at 3B.  It would make more sense to give Austin Jackson $18M on a 1 year deal.  He is young enough to play this year hoping to build his value with a big year.

Chris Cotillo's reasoning:

 

"San Diego has shown interest in Nolasco in the past, pursuing him in free agency two years ago and being linked to him at last July's non-waiver trade deadline."

 

"Nolasco may still be appealing to clubs looking for a bounceback candidate, especially if Minnesota is willing to pick up some of his remaining salary."

 

IDK, pretty thin.  Maybe a late Winter Meetings deal?

 

Chris Cotillo's reasoning:

 

"San Diego has shown interest in Nolasco in the past, pursuing him in free agency two years ago and being linked to him at last July's non-waiver trade deadline."

 

"Nolasco may still be appealing to clubs looking for a bounceback candidate, especially if Minnesota is willing to pick up some of his remaining salary."

 

IDK, pretty thin.  Maybe a late Winter Meetings deal?

Yeah I think Cotillo might be grasping at straws a bit there. 

Edited December 8, 201510 yr by Baseball Bat

Sounds like late in the night (or very early in the morning) the Nationals and Shawn Kelley reached an agreement. 

The legit relief options are shrinking fast. 

 

If plan A was to improve with top and 2nd tier arms through free agency/trade but they just weren't able to get it done, I really hope plan B is throwing the kids into the fire and not (re)signing the likes of Boyer, Cotts or their free agent contemporaries.

Relievers Jason Motte and Chad Qualls have reportedly signed with the Rockies.

I am beginning to wonder about their willingness to acquire an elite (or even good) bullpen....

 

I'm not sure why Upton/Nolasco would be a bad swap. We could use an extra OF.  He only has 2 years left on his deal, and he plays CF.  He may be on the wrong side of his career arc, but if he's your 4th OF when Buxton is finally ready, I think we did something well.  In the mean time, he can hold down the fort. 

It certainly wouldn't be a good swap.

Upton is owed 6 million more than Nolasco for starters, and I'm not so sure the Twins will make Upton a 4th OF when it is "time", more often then not they have given veterans way too much leash, wouldn't shock me to see it here.

If you want a no hit 4th OF, Revere was there for the taking.

 

 

Sounds like late in the night (or very early in the morning) the Nationals and Shawn Kelley reached an agreement. 

This signals that it is now almost a lock that Storen or Papelbon will be traded, the Twins would be wise to go after both.

I think trading for a pitcher or two out of the bullpen still seems the most likely bet. They could trade Nolasco and eat a chunk of his salary. They could trade Plouffe. They could trade some minor league talent. 

 

Relief help on the free agent market has gotten too expensive. Terry Ryan typically likes to build cheap bullpens. But he can't do that anymore, especially after Kansas City won a world series on the back of a shutdown bullpen. 

 

I think trading for a pitcher or two out of the bullpen still seems the most likely bet. They could trade Nolasco and eat a chunk of his salary. They could trade Plouffe. They could trade some minor league talent. 

 

Relief help on the free agent market has gotten too expensive. Terry Ryan typically likes to build cheap bullpens. But he can't do that anymore, especially after Kansas City won a world series on the back of a shutdown bullpen. 

 

Prospects are worth millions of dollars.......trading is expensive. And, I can't see a team trading a cheap RP that is really really good, why wouldn't they just keep said cheap player?

Sure Nolasco could be traded if the Twins take on most of (not some of) his remaining salary and/or take a less desirable contract back in return.

 

Would the return be worth it? Just like last year with Pelfrey (and to a lesser extent Nolasco himself), he's probably more valuable to the Twins pitching for MN than any player they could get in return for him.

 

He's not going to get the Twins a prospect, and if they are swapping bad contracts, the guy coming back is likely not going to fill a need.

 

I'm not sure he is a viable bounceback candidate, but I'd rather he bounceback here than somewhere else, with the Twins justifying playing time for a different bad contract in his place.

 

I do really like the idea of May and/or Berrios in the rotation, though. That would be the best result the Twins can hope for in a Nolasco trade.

It was announced yesterday that RP Mark Lowe signed a two-year deal with the Tigers. Today, they announced it was 2 years, $11M.

Nolasco for Melvin Upton makes sense to me.

 

You would, in effect, be getting Upton as a fourth outfielder on an approximate 2/7 deal.

 

I like Upton's chances of being an asset as a spare part better than Nolasco's chances of being an asset anywhere on the staff, and the Twins need an outfielder more than a starter.

Jason Motte's deal with Colorado - 2 years, $10M.

If you have a Nolasco type player with that contract, it's a fixed cost. The money is already spent. And you likely got no return. If you cut him, or trade him for even orginisational depth, and bring in a younger talent, in this case a Berrios, it will cost you about another 1.2M for two years. Money you will surely recoup in ticket sales, and possibly in wins. This applies to position players as well. The money should not be an issue if you are in the business to be competitive. It's the roster spot. On the other hand, if your criteria is the P&L, that's a different decision making process altogether!

per Ken Rosenthal, the Chad Qualls deal was two years, $12M.

Several things recently:

 

Reports that the Padres are going to trade Jedd Gyorko to the Cardinals (which because it's the Cardinals will likely mean he'll return to his pre-contract form).

 

Kenta Maeda is being posted today.

 

 

If Jason Motte and Chad Qualls can get two year deals, it basically signals the end of any kind of reasonable deal for the remaining arms. 

 

I'm not against unreasonable pay although I am against unreasonable years. I'll take Sipp or Bastardo, but I don't think there are any RH relief free agents left that I really care to offer more than a 1 year rebound deal to like Axford, Rodney or Broxton.

That Gyorko trade is weird. Cards have one of the better young second basemen in the league in Kolton Wong and then trade for Gyorko? Don't get that one at all. 

 

That Gyorko trade is weird. Cards have one of the better young second basemen in the league in Kolton Wong and then trade for Gyorko? Don't get that one at all. 

My guess is that Gyorko will be a poor-man's Ben Zobrist for St. Louis. Or failing that, a younger man's Nick Punto. Utility / bench bat.

My guess is that Gyorko will be a poor-man's Ben Zobrist for St. Louis. Or failing that, a younger man's Nick Punto. Utility / bench bat.

Didn't you mean "an older mans" ............. Only us elders can remember first hand the exploits of Lil Nicky, the youth have to rely on ESPN Classic! The daring headfirst slides into first base, the the the, oh well you know what I mean!

If Twins are trying to unload Nolasco's contract, they may have to package a B level prospect to get any takers.

 

Didn't you mean "an older mans" ............. Only us elders can remember first hand the exploits of Lil Nicky, the youth have to rely on ESPN Classic! The daring headfirst slides into first base, the the the, oh well you know what I mean!

Gyorko is the younger man...

 

However, the "poor man" is a bit of a stretch as Jedd has $33 Million left on his contract..

Not sure if this is in another thread or not, but the Chapman deal is being delayed because of an issue he had with his gun. Are they talking about his left arm? Does he need Tommy Gun...I mean, Tommy John?

(not trying to poke fun at the domestic abuse aspect, just couldn't resist). We'll see if the Dodgers pull out of the deal or not. The league is staying out of the decision and leaving it up to the teams involved. Maybe he'll be going elsewhere.