Heyman trade buzz: Cueto, Mets, more news
Veteran infielder Aaron Hill heads their list of trade candidates. They’d also part with reliever Addison Reed, starter Jeremy Hellickson and Oliver Perez, who is still a useful lefty (though a Mets person mentioned he might be better off on one of the other 28 teams). Atlanta was smart to start its sale months ahead of time, as it received quite a haul for Craig Kimbrel, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton. Now it has more bits and pieces to sell. Juan Uribe is on the block, and he’s been offered for a mid-range prospect so long as the acquiring team pays the $3 million or so remaining (or better prospect if the Braves chip in dough). They’ve talked to the Mets. The Pirates, Nationals or his old Giants team could also make sense, though he’d have to be a role player in San Francisco this time. Baltimore seems to have switched its priority from a starting pitcher to offense with Opening Day starter Chris Tillman re-emerging lately. They also have Bud Norris in the bullpen for starting depth … Injuries to a couple of their top prospects may limit what the Orioles can actually do, but they are said to still be getting hits on highly-regarded righthander Hunter Harvey, the former first-round pick who has been out with an elbow concern. If the White Sox wind up selling, Jeff Samardzija would be the big piece. The Blue Jays are one of a few that could be a fit, but the Dodgers seem to view him as a fallback candidate and the Royals appear to like others a bit more. The Yankees could be another fit. He’d make sense there as the Notre Dame football star doesn’t mind a big stage. Detroit is preparing to go either way, buy or sell, as USA Today suggested. Should Price become available, there will be a feeding frenzy, as he’s easily one of the best five pitchers in the game (Cueto isn’t far behind). Yoenis Cespedes also is having a very fine season. One thing to keep in mind, though, is their next nine games are against the Mariners, Red Sox and Rays, three teams with losing records, so they could easily improve their current .500 record. Houston remains focused on acquiring a starting pitcher, and with all their prospects, they should be able to come up with something. They appear to like Cueto and Samardzija more than Mike Leake (presumably, Leake, though very popular with other teams, has a metrics issue?) … Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported that the Astros are another team continuing to show interest in Cole Hamels , and while they have the desire and the prospects, it’s been reported here and elsewhere that he isn’t eager to go to Houston, which is on his 20-team no-trade list. A friend of Hamels said Tuesday that he still believes that the lefty isn’t likely to approve the Astros, adding “but who knows … if it’s a last resort.” Hamels is said to be tiring of being on the trading block. It’ll be interesting to see if C.J. Wilson could become even more available since Jerry Dipoto left the organization. Wilson was close to Dipoto, and was the one big signing Dipoto was actually responsible for (owner Arte Moreno did the Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton deals) … Dipoto did a fine job there, and he also may have done the right thing by easing the tension between manager and front office with his resignation. Or maybe the scouting and statistical information Dipoto wanted sent to the players (and is now being sent to them) isn’t hurting. In any case, the team that won 98 games last year again looks like the best team in baseball at the moment. The Dodgers and Rangers continue to be the teams most often connected to Hamels. LA has suggested it won’t include either of its top two prospects — shortstop Corey Seager or young lefty Julio Urias — leading one rival to wonder how they can make it work without them. (Though LA does have some other prospects: Jose De Leon, Austin Barnes, Zach Lee, Chris Anderson, Grant Holmes, etc). It isn’t known what names could be on the table, but trading Yasiel Puig, who is a bargain considering his talent, for Hamels would seem to be a risk. Even if he hasn’t always gotten along with his teammates, word is Puig prefers to stay in LA … Some see the Dodgers making a big splash — and Hamels or Cueto would be that — but they are also looking to shore up the underside of their pen. It’s improved from late last year, when the pen became the talented team’s undoing, but it still needs work. Milwaukee is officially a seller, according to one competing team. And they have some pretty good things to sell — though some are up and some are down. Gerardo Parra‘s very nice season means he has plenty of interest, but shortstop Jean Segura‘s struggles have curtailed the interest in him … Many Brewers’ names are coming up, as they may be considering a rather big sale. Mike Fiers, Wily Peralta and Francisco Rodriguez are other names being heard (Ken Rosenthal mentioned Toronto’s interest in Fiers), some in packages. GM Doug Melvin is believed to be in his final year in that role but he is an adept and experienced trader so it makes sense he handle it this year. Add Parra to the list of hitters who interest the Mets. Also on the list, as noted here last week, are Justin Upton and Carlos Gomez. Cespedes would fit if the becomes available, though he’s a bit of a free swinger for their taste … The Mets may consider bringing up top hitting prospect Michael Conforto after first seeing that as unlikely. That could happen if Michael Cuddyer has to go on the disabled list (though the front office is still split on whether that’s a good idea) … The deal the Mets spoke of earlier would have sent right-hander Rafael Montero to the A’s for Ben Zobrist, but the A’s waited to see whether their luck would turn, and Montero has since gone on the DL. (He’s back throwing). Some Mets people are reluctant to trade a controllable righty for a rental, anyway … Jon Niese, who’s been one of the better lefties in the game the last six weeks, doesn’t seem available. “He never was,” one Mets person said … The Mets have talked about Uribe, but say they have others higher on their list. Likewise, they don’t seem all that interested in Aramis Ramirez, though perhaps more bad news on David Wright could change their thinking there … Beyond the great young pitchers, the Mets are very reluctant to part with Conforto or top shortstop prospect Amed Rosario. Zobrist should draw quite a crowd, between the Nats, Pirates, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Giants and potentially others, since he can play anywhere but catcher. Jonathan Papelbon continues to mow ’em down, but teams remain leery of the $13-million vesting option for next year. Toronto is at least at the moment concentrating on starters … Hamels is said to be unhappy and distracted at this point to have spent months on the trade block (but unlike the more vocal Papelbon, he remains professionally quiet). That is a perfectly good explanation for his back-to-back bad outings (19.91 ERA over the two games) … Aaron Harang‘s foot injury halted his trade market. Pittsbugh has been linked to Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur, but many think they are aiming higher. Marlon Byrd, ex-Pirate Aramis Ramirez and Zobrist are among others who’d fit. With Jordy Mercer out six weeks and Josh Harrison out another four, they do need to shore up the left side of the infield in some way. Mike Zunino, the former No. 3 pick overall, had three RBI Monday, but one scout says, “He needs to be in the minors.” Hitting in the .160s, that wouldn’t seem to be a stretch. Zunino was rushed to the majors, and the pitchers like throwing to him, but the Mariners need to go get a veteran catcher now. Word is, they don’t have much faith in Jesus Sucre, who does have a wonderful name, at least … Seattle is in a tough spot, as it’s believed they may be tapped out after the Mark Trumbo trade, which cost them Welington Castillo, a catcher who’d help. Dioner Navarro, who has about $2 million to go through the end of this year, may be worth looking into. Yovani Gallardo could be another excellent pitcher to enter the trade market if Texas decides to sell. He’s had a fine year in his first season pitching for his hometown team (he’s from Ft. Worth) but apparently isn’t up for a quick hometown deal. His agent Bobby Witt, the ex-Rangers pitcher, is said to have told Texas that Gallardo’s looking forward toward free agency … The Rangers will have a lot of outfielders once Nomar Mazara and Nick Williams come up, and a lot of lefthanded hitters, too, and at some point they may need to reconfigure to become a bit more balanced. The Padres and a few others are righty-heavy, so they should be able to do it. Toronto is focusing on starting pitching help. And while they are in on Cueto and will be in on Samardzija, Toronto’s offense is the best in baseball, so solid No. 3- or No. 4-type starters will still be considered. Among those who’d fit that category would be Dan Haren, David Phelps, Niese and many others.

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