ESPN insider - 2015 FA's that should be traded now.

[leaffie]

This is from Jim Bowden, who probably read it here, but FWIW

 

 

3. Colby Rasmus, CF | Toronto Blue Jays

 

 

Rasmus finished with 4.8 WAR in 2013, ahead of such center fielders such as Adam Jones, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner. Despite missing more than 40 games, he still hit 22 homers and posted a .840 OPS.

 

There are a few teams that could use a player like him, such as the Reds, Cubs and Giants, and the Jays have Anthony Gose ready to play center field in his absence. That would be a downgrade on offense, but Toronto wants to upgrade its rotation and Rasmus is probably the club's best trade piece when you consider their in-house replacement.

 

Toronto can be a contender if it can get an elite pitcher, and Rasmus' value will never be higher than it is right now.

[connorp]

They should move his ASS.. Assuming quality return

[xposbrad]

He's gone at the deadline when it's obvious the jays are too far back. AA will have no choice, he can't just let him walk without getting something back. If he still hits like he did last year, even though he won't have as much trade value right now (for a full year) as he will at the deadline (FA), I think some team in the playoff hunt will toss up a nice prospect for him. That's in an ideal world with a smart GM. Now that I'm thinking about it, since we have AA, all bets are off, he actually might hold onto him and let him walk for nothing thinking right until the end the Jays might make the playoffs.

[connorp]

He's gone at the deadline when it's obvious the jays are too far back. AA will have no choice, he can't just let him walk without getting something back. If he still hits like he did last year, even though he won't have as much trade value right now (for a full year) as he will at the deadline (FA), I think some team in the playoff hunt will toss up a nice prospect for him. That's in an ideal world with a smart GM. Now that I'm thinking about it, since we have AA, all bets are off, he actually might hold onto him and let him walk for nothing thinking right until the end the Jays might make the playoffs.

 

 

Well.. I'm not a Colby fan. I will bet against him all the time..but hypotheticall if he's still a 4 WAR guy next year..you wouldn't mind offering arb and getting a pick for him if he declines (which he would)

 

Also pitchers are the ones who's value really skyrockets at deadline.

[TBJ12]

I really don't like the thought of Gose being the Jays everyday CF in 2014.

[LunchBox]

Would you mind posting the entire article?

[Chappy]

I really don't like the thought of Gose being the Jays everyday CF in 2014.

 

Neither do I. I would prefer him to be the 4th OF and get plenty of playing time giving rest to Melky and JB to keep them fresh, plus being a pinch runner and late inning defensive replacement. Let him get his feet wet so to speak and then have him transition into the OF next season when Melky walks. This of course hinges on extending Rasmus. If that can't be done then obviously he needs to be traded.

[jaysblue]

This is from Jim Bowden, who probably read it here, but FWIW

 

 

3. Colby Rasmus, CF | Toronto Blue Jays

 

 

Rasmus finished with 4.8 WAR in 2013, ahead of such center fielders such as Adam Jones, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner. Despite missing more than 40 games, he still hit 22 homers and posted a .840 OPS.

 

There are a few teams that could use a player like him, such as the Reds, Cubs and Giants, and the Jays have Anthony Gose ready to play center field in his absence. That would be a downgrade on offense, but Toronto wants to upgrade its rotation and Rasmus is probably the club's best trade piece when you consider their in-house replacement.

 

Toronto can be a contender if it can get an elite pitcher, and Rasmus' value will never be higher than it is right now.

 

If the Jays can't get a Rasmus extension then, I agree he needs to be moved. Homer Bailey would be the ideal target!

[connorp]

This is one area I think old-school GM'ing is as valuable as advanced stats.

Colby has an Adam Lind approach to baseball. Why he didn't fit in in a good org like St.L

Doesn't want to be best player he can be. He also K's like 1/3 of the time and when you mesh all his UZRs together..hes solid in the field but nothing ++ or anything. He's the kind that will mix replacement seasons with 4 WAR seasons just like he has

[connorp]

Gose can prob be a 2 WAR guy and thats about Colby when all is said and done...if there was a team to actually offer up something good..I would love to move his ass

[leaffie]

Would you mind posting the entire article?

 

Chase Headley

 

The tough competition in the NL West should force the Padres to trade Chase Headley.

Next year’s free-agent class is top-heavy, and features three of baseball’s best starting pitchers in Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Jon Lester. While seen some big-name players traded a year before free agency, that won't happen with any of these guys because their teams have a shot at the World Series and they all play for big-market clubs that can afford to re-sign them.

 

In fact, don't be surprised if these guys get contract extensions before hitting the market next winter, with Kershaw being the most likely of the three to get a new deal.

 

However, there are five players who will be eligible for free agency next fall who probably should have already been traded since they haven’t been locked up to multiyear deals. Some of these players are on contending teams, but none of which are large markets and really can’t afford to let them walk as a free agent and receive only a draft pick as compensation.

 

Here is the breakdown of the five players I think should be traded by Opening Day if they are not given a contract extension.

 

1. Chase Headley, 3B | San Diego Padres

Headley, 29, had 31 doubles and 31 homers in 2012 and finished in the top five in NL MVP voting. His power numbers were down this year (.400 slugging), but he still plays a position where there is a lot more demand than supply and could fetch a lot in a trade.

 

The Angels, Dodgers, Marlins and Yankees all started the offseason with needs at third base and could have matched up well in a deal for the Padres, though the Angels and Dodgers have patched that hole for at least the next couple of years with David Freese and Juan Uribe, respectively. The Padres think they can be a surprise team in 2014 if some of their young pitching develops, and would rather hold on to Headley with a better chance to win.

 

The problem is the competition in the NL West is fierce and his trade value will be at an all-time low when he becomes a two-month rental in July.

 

2. Justin Masterson, RHP | Cleveland Indians

The Indians are already trying to deal with the loss of Scott Kazmir via free agency to the Athletics and are bracing themselves for the possible departure of Ubaldo Jimenez as well. So you're probably thinking: How can they trade Masterson as well?

 

They probably wouldn’t, but as the A's and Rays and have shown, teams in small markets have to constantly be reloading for the future, and the Indians aren't a legitimate World Series contender anyway. Trading Masterson to the Braves, Blue Jays or Dodgers would allow them to get significant pitching prospects back and being a perennial contender should be more important than taking the risk your ace leaves for just a draft pick.

 

3. Colby Rasmus, CF | Toronto Blue Jays

Rasmus finished with 4.8 WAR in 2013, ahead of such center fielders such as Adam Jones, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner. Despite missing more than 40 games, he still hit 22 homers and posted a .840 OPS.

 

There are a few teams that could use a player like him, such as the Reds, Cubs and Giants, and the Jays have Anthony Gose ready to play center field in his absence. That would be a downgrade on offense, but Toronto wants to upgrade its rotation and Rasmus is probably the club's best trade piece when you consider their in-house replacement.

 

Toronto can be a contender if it can get an elite pitcher, and Rasmus' value will never be higher than it is right now.

 

4. Homer Bailey, RHP | Cincinnati Reds

This one is a bit tricky, because like Kershaw, Scherzer and Lester, he could be the key for his club making the playoffs. Bailey, 27, is coming off his second straight season with more than 200 innings and an ERA below 3.70.

 

Of course, if he has another season like that the Reds have no shot at re-signing him, and with Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani, they have good starting pitching depth. There are teams who would pay a big price for a pitcher like Bailey, and the Reds could re-sign Bronson Arroyo on a two-year deal and shop Bailey to get a right-handed bat or significant prospect package.

 

5. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS | Cleveland Indians

Unlike Masterson, the Indians will not even consider re-signing Cabrera, as they have top prospect Francisco Lindor ready to take over at shortstop at some point in the next year or so.

 

Although Cabrera had a poor year in 2013, he is still just 28 years old and posted a .778 OPS across 2011-12. The Cardinals came calling before they signed free-agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta, but there are several teams that could use Cabrera. The Athletics could move Jed Lowrie to second for him, and he would also represent an upgrade for teams like the Mets and Pirates.

 

Like Masterson, his trade value is higher now than it will be in July, and if the Indians wait to deal either of them and end up in the race, then they won't be able to get anything more for them than draft-pick compensation.

[leaffie]

I never mind posting the entire article, but not sure how much anyone wants. Just let me know.

[saskjayfan]

This is from Jim Bowden, who probably read it here, but FWIW

 

 

3. Colby Rasmus, CF | Toronto Blue Jays

 

 

Rasmus finished with 4.8 WAR in 2013, ahead of such center fielders such as Adam Jones, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner. Despite missing more than 40 games, he still hit 22 homers and posted a .840 OPS.

 

There are a few teams that could use a player like him, such as the Reds, Cubs and Giants, and the Jays have Anthony Gose ready to play center field in his absence. That would be a downgrade on offense, but Toronto wants to upgrade its rotation and Rasmus is probably the club's best trade piece when you consider their in-house replacement.

 

Toronto can be a contender if it can get an elite pitcher, and Rasmus' value will never be higher than it is right now.

 

How does Colby who has one year left get an elite controllable pitcher? He doesn't. Anyone trading a elite of at least number 2 type pitcher isn't competing and would rather have an extra prospect than Colby for one year. Maybe Tampa would want Colby for price, because they still have enough pitching to compete and they would take rasmus but would obviously want additional prospects

[saskjayfan]

They should move his ASS.. Assuming quality return

 

They should wait till the deadline...if they are out of it...deal for a quality prospect....

[leaffie]

I think they should do everything they can to get an extension. Our OF in the minors is poor, and the FA market isn't looking any better.

[flafson]

I never mind posting the entire article, but not sure how much anyone wants. Just let me know.

 

I find it useful.

[TheHurl]

Would you mind posting the entire article?

 

Just use Wilner's account that's what the rest of us do