Trading from our strength (the pen) and what teams we match up with

[BohKnows]

With alleged payroll constraints and the window of opportunity closing as it's so often talked about, in order to actually be a World Series caliber team it's obvious we have to improve via trade. The value of relievers right now and the interest in Brach make it obvious that we have the pieces to move in order to acquire help in the OF, and some of the teams in most desperate need of difference making relievers just so happen to have a surplus of OFers.

With the free agent market playing out how it has so far I see us matching up best in a trade with the following; Mets, Rockies, Dodgers, and Braves. More teams could be added to this list once they miss out on Jensen, but none with any trade pieces as attractive to us as these four have. With the Braves not being seen as a serious contender for next year and their reluctance to give up Mallex Smith they seem to be the least likely partners.

So opinions, who do we realistically match up with and which reliever do we trade? If our goal is WS contention, I say Britton is held on to and Brach is dealt.

 

[esmd]

How about Brach for Eaton?

[BohKnows]

Only if 3/4 of his salary is picked up obviously 

[pastorfan]

The only problem I have with trading anyone from our great bullpen is that our starters are not very good, thus we MUST have a great bullpen. The Red Sox have the luxury of having three starters that should get them over 600 innings, thus not taxing their bullpen. We might not have a guy reach 200 innings. So we need all the arms we can get.

[Justinlstn]

9 minutes ago, esmd said:

How about Brach for Eaton?

Eaton went to the Nationals I thought?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/white-sox-trade-adam-eaton-nationals.html

 

[esmd]

3 minutes ago, Justinlstn said:

Eaton went to the Nationals I thought?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/white-sox-trade-adam-eaton-nationals.html

 

He did - I just saw it.  Smdh....a day late and (several) dollars short.  Can't believe the Nats gave them Giolito plus two other pitchers.  Wow.

[Justinlstn]

Yeah they gave up a lot for Eaton. I don't think they have any trust in Giolito.

[e16bball]

The one thing that just keeps dangling out there as a possibility this offseason is the Dodgers very possibly losing Jansen from a bullpen that doesn't have a whole lot beyond him. 

That's a team that is in full-out compete mode. They're not going into this season with a big hole in the back end of the bullpen. 

Hard to imagine them dealing Urias, even for Britton. But with high-upside prospects like Cody Bellinger and Yadier Alvarez behind him in their pipeline, you can't help but wonder if the O's could inject some major talent into the farm system by taking advantage of the team that lost closer musical chairs this offseason.

 

[Camden_yardbird]

This is a copy cat league.  Lock down bullpen's are the big thing.  That means the Orioles match up with everyone as far as what they can give.  They can choose two paths if they make a trade.

1.  Trade to refill on prospects. (I.e. Thornburg trade)

2.  Trade to fill an OF need. (Miley, Brach and prospect for Cargo)

3. Hybrid approach.  (i.e. Mellex Smith trade)

[Aristotelian]

Brach for Cargo or Granderson makes a heck of a lot of sense. The Mets are more in contending mode so they make a little more sense. It's possible the Rox may be more interested in someone like Givens or a SP prospect that we don't want to give up.

We could end up with Parra in a salary dump.

[sportsfan8703]

The Marlins and Dodgers seem to be battling over Jansen.  Whoever misses out on him could make a run at Britton.  

Players of interest from LAD:

Puig: Headcase, but kind of cheap and plays RF.  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puigya01.shtml

Alex Wood LH SP: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml

Trayce Thompson RH OF: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomptr01.shtml

Dodgers Top 30 list http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016?list=la

The Marlins don't have anywhere near the pieces the dodgers do to make a trade.  We should root for Jansen to sign with Miami just to see if the LAD get crazy with an offer.  

[Number5]

4 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

The Marlins and Dodgers seem to be battling over Jansen.  Whoever misses out on him could make a run at Britton.  

Players of interest from LAD:

Puig: Headcase, but kind of cheap and plays RF.  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puigya01.shtml

Alex Wood LH SP: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml

Trayce Thompson RH OF: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomptr01.shtml

Dodgers Top 30 list http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016?list=la

The Marlins don't have anywhere near the pieces the dodgers do to make a trade.  We should root for Jansen to sign with Miami just to see if the LAD get crazy with an offer.  

It has been reported that teams that have inquired with the Orioles about Britton have been told that he is not available.  For better or worse, that's what's been reported.

[Redskins Rick]

DD interview with Roch, pretty much tells me, that they are not trading Britton, O'Day or Brach.

 

Quote

Duquette praised the bullpen again and noted how other teams are trying to build similar ones. A bullpen that’s “returning, by the way, with Zach Britton anchoring it.”

 

Is Brach definitely going to be an Oriole in 2017?

“I like Brad Brach on the team,” Duquette replied. “He has gotten a lot of interest, which he should. I mean, the kid had a great year. He made the All-Star team, he’s got three good pitches, he pitched effectively in the playoffs against the Blue Jays. He’s had two really good years actually for the ballclub, but there’s a lot of interest.

 

Britton is off the table despite the hefty return in a trade. Is this a tough call for Duquette?

“It’s pretty easy. I love to see the guy pitch,” he replied.

“I mean, he’s the best pitcher in the league. He perfected the sinker and he’s with the O’s. I like him with the O’s. I think he gives our team a lot of confidence, and having a good closer is like having a cleanup hitter. He makes everybody better around him and that’s what Zach Britton has done for our ballclub.”

 

[sportsfan8703]

7 minutes ago, Number5 said:

It has been reported that teams that have inquired with the Orioles about Britton have been told that he is not available.  For better or worse, that's what's been reported.

Of course that should be our stance publicly.  Doesn't mean we can't still be blown away with a trade offer.  I'd say the Dodgers are really capable of doing that.  They have young guys at the MLB level and a loaded farm system.  They have six players in the top 100 prospects.  

[backwardsk]

1 hour ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Of course that should be our stance publicly.  Doesn't mean we can't still be blown away with a trade offer.  I'd say the Dodgers are really capable of doing that.  They have young guys at the MLB level and a loaded farm system.  They have six players in the top 100 prospects.  

Of course.  I'm always surprised when I see people take DD's offseason interviews at their word.  He's posturing.

I don't like the Dodgers ML players you listed, but they are the team you go after.  If you could get a deal centered around De Leon and Bellinger/Verdugo, I'd be all for it.  You'd need a corresponding move to address RF for 2017 though.