08 Dec 2020 07:45:43
Let's bail some teams out of big contracts.

#1
Blue Jays get: Nolan Arenado, Jon Gray
Rockies get: Randal Grichuk, Alejandro Kirk, Alek Manoah, Trent Thornton.

Saves Rockies $175M (21M in 2021).

#2
Twins get: Sonny Gray
Reds get: Jhoan Duran, Keoni Cavaco, Matt Cantetino

Saves Reds 20M (10.2M in 2021)

#3
Nationals get: Kris Bryant
Cubs get: Joe Ross, Drew Mendoza, Mason Denaburg

Saves Cubs: ~17.1M

#4
Angels get: Yu Darvish
Cubs get: Jordyn Adams, Chris Rodriguez, Taylor Ward

Saves Cubs: 60M (21.5M in 2021)

#5
Marlins get: Francisco Lindor
Indians get: JJ Bleday, Monte Harrison, Jon Berti

Saves Indians: ~18.5M

1.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 17:19:23
No from Indians although Miami is supposed to be a wild card entry for Lindor and certainly would put butts in seats. Two unproven Of's and a Utility INF won't get it done. Believe the Tribe will want at least a ML proven OF with some pop.

2.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 17:24:33
As a Jays fan, I would love this. But the price will be much higher to get those two.

3.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 17:24:59
Replace Berti the 30 YOA utilty INF with perhaps Jazz Chisholm and it would be getting warmer and a little more acceptable.

4.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 18:20:02
The "cash cow" in the Lindor trade would be Bleday, who is a top 25 prospect, 23, and very close to MLB ready.

Frankly, between Berti and Chisholm, if I'm Miami, I'm far more worried about losing Berti. Berti's production is a lot more challenging to produce at the cost (they'll need a 2B regardless) than Chisholm's.

Chisholm-type players haven't exactly had stellar track records transitioning from the minors to the majors. Berti, while 31, is much more of a reliable player. I'd wager he'll produce DOUBLE the wins in the next three (3) seasons than Chisholm will in the next six (6).

But the extra pieces can be discussed as you wish, the point was to get Bleday, who can hit the #### off the ball, to Cleveland.

5.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 18:23:20
Minnow, I'm not sure I agree.

Arenado's trade value will be difficult because he's either a rental or an albatross.

It's far less likely, considering the financial state, that Arenado opts out. So a team is probably stuck with contract into his declining years. Obviously, Colorado's FO is among the worst in baseball, so they might give him up for much less, but if they don't like Kirk and Manoah, then I'm not sure they'll have a reasonable view of a trade.

To be fair, I think Toronto may be paying a bit much for Arenado and a year of Jon Gray.

6.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 18:31:07
I'm not sure what "proven OF with pop" you think a team will just hand over for a year of Francisco Lindor.

Lindor is spectacular, don't get me wrong, but OF with pop, and ones with years of control, aren't a dime a dozen in the majors. And teams, rightly, loathe giving them up for anything, let alone a rental SS who is coming off a season where there several concerning signs about a decline. These weren't "regression" issues, mind you.

Add in the financial state of the game, who is going to give up a young, MLB OF with 5-6 years of control, plus several prospects, for a SS set to make ~20M next season?

If the Indians can get a JJ Bleday for Lindor, they should accept it almost immediately.

7.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 10:24:18
I think it's almost certain that he won't opt out because he won't be getting 35 mil per year anywhere else but I do think the Rockies will want a top prospect in return for those two.

Jays might be a little nervous, they went down this road with Tulowitzki a few years back and he was a bust.

8.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 15:31:14
So, if he doesn't opt out, we're talking 6 years, 200M. That's a lot of money that takes him into his age 35 season.

For what it's worth, the trade I have above gives up a 50 FV prospect (Kirk) and a 45+ prospect (Manoah) .

That's over 16 years of team control, plus three years of Grichuk for Arenado and his massive contract. I think the Blue Jays are giving up more than they should for Arenado, but I think it's a necessary move for them if they want to compete in the AL East.