Luis Castillo came. Luis Castillo has disappeared. A rumor appeared on the Internet on Sunday according to which the Reds’ ace was about to be traded to the Yankees.
GM Krs, Nick Krall, in texts addressed to the team’s writers, extinguished this by calling it “completely false”. A Yankees official called the report “BS.”
So let’s get past Castillo – for now. For Krall, he also told reporters: “We intend to have him as a member of our 2021 rotation.” “Intend” is an interesting word that offers room for movement.
But Cincinnati is in a NL Central region, has just made the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and knows how horrible it would be to play with its fan base to change its most talented primary school star.
However, teams – especially those in smaller markets – should always ask themselves about their best assets: 1. Can we compete for a title during this player’s control period? 2. Will this asset end its control period here or will it eventually be traded? 3. The commercial value of the asset will ever be higher than it is now: if done correctly, can a return of $ 1.25 be obtained for $ 1 of talent? If no, no and no, then why shouldn’t the player be available?
Which brings us to the Yankees, who I think should be willing to pay $ 1.25 in exchange for the right $ 1 holder. This is no longer the Yankee way. They believe that discipline and logic and the accumulation of good decisions will be rewarded with a sustained championship window. I understand.
Except that logic has to die with how many winners these Yankees are. I can’t look at the other Dodgers superpowers anymore and say they haven’t won since 1988. I can’t expect the Mets to be their gentle neighbor in Queens. Hi, Steve Cohen. Gerrit Cole cannot be expected to maintain this level of performance for too many years. Once you pay for Cole, you are in it to win it. NOW.
The Yanks, however, could look at their division and assess that no one is taking the Blue Jays money yet, the Red Sox are still in rebuild mode, the Rays have lost Charlie Morton and Blake Snell and calculate the win AL 2021 from the East in probably seven out of 10 times. So why expand now?
Because that was the theory last year and Rays won AL East. Because they were in game 2 with a Deivi Garcia / JA Happ hybrid, rather than with an uninteresting option.
They can see if Corey Kluber can be Cole’s number 2 at the beginning or if Luis Severino can be the one when he returns around July 1 after Tommy John’s operation. There is a scenario in which Cole, Kluber and Severino are backed by the talent and depth of Garcia, Domingo German, Michael King, Jordan Montgomery and Clark Schmidt.
The most likely scenario is that they need a starter by the trading deadline. Why wait? Especially if I can find someone cost effective with years of control. Castillo falls into this category, as do the following, but 1. I’ve heard that none of the starters below are available and 2. If and when they are, teams that need beginners with better farming systems than the Yankees, such as Blue Jays, Rays and Gemini, could beat them. However, Yanks should have a price of USD 1.25 available as an attraction for:
1. German Marquez, Rockies
The law is underestimated, sustainable and will not turn 26 until February. His killer stuff would play even better away from altitude. Due to either three years at $ 26 million or four years at $ 39.5 million, if his 2024 option is taken over and counts $ 8.6 million for the luxury tax.
Colorado is known for lack of movement in the commercial market, so don’t expect this. But I think the Rockies are built wrong. To cope with the physical and tactical disadvantage of playing a mile high, the Rockies should be $ 130 million in salary rays, filling their organization with arms of power and their list with versatility and depth. A list financially with Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story keeps the house stars as fans, but prevents adequate depth around. They need to deepen and disperse their funds.
If I’m Yanks, at least I offer a pack of Garcia or Schmidt, Clint Frazier or Miguel Andjuar and high pitched pitching prospects Luis Gil or Luis Medina and see if it comes close to $ 1.25.
2. Kyle Hendricks, Cubs
All options on this list are from NL, many of the weak ones from NL Central, so consider the competition. But think of Hendricks as a Jimmy Key, rightly, lastingly – a skilled artist. He has three more years at $ 43.5 million or four at $ 58 million if his 2024 option is taken over and costs $ 14 million to pay the luxury tax (so the chicks should take Adam Ottavino as a financial counterweight if the Yanks hope to stay below the $ 210 million threshold). The Cubs would rather move Kris Bryant or Willson Contreras and still try to win NL Central with Hendricks as an ace.
3. Pablo Lopez, Marlins
The Marlins love the first three rotations of Sandy Alcantara, Sixto Sanchez and Lopez. But they will have difficulty recruiting the crime. Offer an offer built around Frazier or Andujar plus Estevan Florial. Lopez may not be the owner. 2, but is durable with elite makeup and strike launch capabilities and not even eligible refereeing until the next off-season.
4. Brandon Woodruff, Brewers
Milwaukee has one of the worst farming systems of the majors. Woodruff is one of the few assets that helps deepen the talent base. His things are with Marquez and Castillo, but without durability or consistency. So it should bring less in return. However, he turns 28 in February, has four years of control with those state-of-the-art weapons and owes only $ 3.275 million this season.
5. Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks
Does Arizona look at the Dodgers and Padres and think it will be some time before they can win the NL West? Will Gallen be part of that club? He is not even eligible for refereeing until next season. Law has among the best pitch inventories, because it overwhelms not only with things, but with diversity.