This Major League Baseball offseason is setting up to feature a bevy of activity. As always, pitching is going to be in high demand.
Cubs power-pitcher Jeff Samardzija is a hot name, but not nearly as hot at the Rays’ David Price.
Meanwhile, I expect a lot of rumors and some movement involving right-handed power bats. Mark Trumbo would appear to be the hottest name of the moment in that department.
Read on to get the latest buzz on all three of these players.
Jeff Samardzija, P, Cubs
Despite not enjoying a wealth of pitching, the Chicago Cubs appear to be willing to part with pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
ESPN’s Buster Olney passed along this:
Samardzija, 28, is coming off of a season where he set career highs in innings (213.2) and strikeouts (214). He posted a 4.34 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.
He also is under team control for two more seasons.
Given this, the Cubs have to be looking for strong value if they are going to part with Samardzija, and I don’t see him having enough value to the Diamondbacks for them to make this trade happen.
With the maturation of Archie Bradley and Tyler Skaggs, the Diamondbacks rotation is in good shape. Arizona needs to make adding offense a bigger priority.
David Price, P, Rays
Perhaps the hottest name this offseason is former Cy Young winner David Price. The 28-year-old is under team control for two more seasons, but the Rays have always been proactive in trading away big-name players before they hit free agency.
Given the Rays’ history, the possibility of being traded is something Price has prepared himself for.
Price won the Cy Young in 2012 and was second in voting in 2010. While he struggled at the start of last season and missed some time with a triceps injury, he finished strong.
Price had a 2.53 ERA over his final 18 starts.
It is going to take a valuable package of prospects to pry Price away from the Rays.
Still, it would appear the Los Angeles Dodgers have enough to land Price. Peter Gammons passed along this quote from an anonymous general manager:
They [Dodgers] have the minor league talent to get Price. If they would trade Corey Seager and Julio Urias (the 17-year old lefthanded pitcher) and a couple out of Zach Lee, Joc Pederson or Chris Withrow, it would get it done. Then if they post $80M for Tanaka, they could have a rotation with four number ones and a number two with Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Price, Tanaka and Hyun-Jin Ryu. But if they were to trade for Price, they’d need the draft pick to fill holes in their development system.
The Dodgers have been aggressive in acquiring talent. While this trade would undoubtedly set the farm system back, the chance to acquire pitching talent on the level of Price does not come around very often.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Price in a Dodgers uniform next season.
Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels
As a right-handed power bat, Mark Trumbo will garner plenty of interest on the trade market.
Trumbo hit just .234 last season and is a career .250 hitter. However, he also blasted 34 home runs last season and has hit at least 29 home runs over each of the last three seasons.
The Angels wouldn’t mind turning that power into some pitching:
ESPN’s Jim Bowden reports that Miami Marlins general manager Dan Jennings has admitted being interested in Trumbo:
Given the Angels’ desire to bolster the pitching staff and the value of a right-handed power bat in the current market, I expect Trumbo to be dealt. I’m not convinced the Marlins will be his ultimate destination, but I would be surprised if he is back in an Angels uniform.
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