House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: what’s the trade market hold-up now?

By Alan Carpenter

HAIKOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 19: Vehicles jam at a port as the route across the Qiongzhou Strait is closed in fog on February 19, 2018 in Haikou, Hainan Province of China. Traffic jam occurred at ports in Haikou as tourists drove cars back, and the route across the Qiongzhou Strait was closed many times sine fog hit the Strait on the fourth day of Chinese lunar new year. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
HAIKOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 19: Vehicles jam at a port as the route across the Qiongzhou Strait is closed in fog on February 19, 2018 in Haikou, Hainan Province of China. Traffic jam occurred at ports in Haikou as tourists drove cars back, and the route across the Qiongzhou Strait was closed many times sine fog hit the Strait on the fourth day of Chinese lunar new year. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 16: Brian McCann #16 talks with Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 16: Brian McCann #16 talks with Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

So why are we still on hold?

Let’s try and guess this by checking on some key elements of the MLB off-season market:

BRYCE HARPER.  His decision impacts big decisions still to be made by the Dodgers and Cubs.  I don’t think that Philly or the White Sox are involved.

MANNY MACHADO.  At this point, it’s probably the Yankees for him as the White Sox and Phillies would have to overpay to sway him.  As such, the Yankees may try to avoid that trap, and thus this could drag on for a bit.

STARTING PITCHING.  There’s the trade market and the free agent market.  These are controlled by the Indians (Corey Kluber) and by Dallas Keuchel, respectively.  There could be some news on the latter front:

No, not Harper… Keuchel.  The pitcher is also repped by Scott Boras, and a reunion with Houston makes a heckuva lot more sense than anything else.

As for Kluber, the rumblings continue to suggest that he’s on the move somewhere, but the Dodgers (#1 on the list) may have to wait on Harper to know what they can spend…or they could decide that they go get Kluber only if they also have Harper – that would be their ‘all in’ scenario.

Teams pursuing Kluber/Keuchel will turn to Sonny Gray and others once the Big 2 are off the board.

One name that’s almost vanished from the news?  Japanese transfer Yusei Kikuchi.  However, that will change shortly, as his decision deadline date looms… we will know next week.  If he happens to choose the Dodgers, then that could cause yet another shuffling of their priorities.

RELIEF PITCHING.  This is a little surprising to me, as I figured this was ‘Craig Kimbrel and everybody else’ when the Silly Season began, but recently developments make me think that the market for bullpen help is about to burst open.

Initially, Craig Kimbrel’s agent was letting teams know that he could be had for 6 years at around $18 million per year.  “Thanks for letting us know, David (Meter – his agent)…. we’ll get back to you ‘soon’. ”

That number may be dropping, however, and that may cause the next tier of closers – David Robertson, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino – to get moving on any offers they might have before Kimbrel gets down to their own preferred prices.

CATCHING.  It’s almost settled.

Jonathan Lucroy just signed with the Angels, so it’s pretty much down to Yasmani Grandal, J.T. Realmuto, and a few guys who profile best as backups.

It’s hard to know who is actually in on Realmuto still, but it’s hard to see the Dodgers involved heavily if Harper and Kluber are their main targets.

OUTFIELD.  Prices are still high.

"“We’re not really listening to offers,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto told MLB Network of Haniger (via TJ Cotterill of the Tacoma News Tribune). “They would have to blow us away, and they haven’t even come close.”"

"But the Dodgers have found the Tigers’ asking price to be prohibitive, per Castillo, who hears that Detroit initially requested either young outfielder Alex Verdugo or catcher prospect Keibert Ruiz from Los Angeles."

Likewise, the Braves have also balked at Detroit’s demands, yet have chosen not to engage a free agent, either.

Home/Braves Rumors