The Blue Jays acquired Yangervis Solarte, a versatile infielder with sneaky power, from the Padres for 2 significant minor league players. Solarte is a 30 yo switch-hitter who batted .255 with 18 HR's last year while playing multiple IF positions, mostly 3B. You have to wonder if this trade is a prelude to the BJ's trading Josh Donaldson who is in his final year of arbitration and looks to be paid about $20 M in 2018. It is also interesting that the BJ's had already traded for IF Aledmys Diaz earlier in the offseason.
The Padres acquire OF/DH Edward Olivares who will be 22. yo in 2018. Olivares had a power breakout in 2017 in single A Lansing slashing .277/.330/.500, 26 2B, 9 3B, 17 HR, 18 SB in 464 PA, although he scuffled a bit after a late-season promo to A+ level.
Jared Cardiff is a minor league reliever who pitched at 4 levels in 2017: 3-4, 3.86, 63 IP, 15 BB, 51 K's.
I thought Solarte would be a great, affordable fit for the Giants 3B needs. I don't know if a Giants trade for Solarte was ever possible. intra-division trades are pretty rare. In the end, it seems the Giants were more concerned about the CBT hit for 2018 than the total size of the contract. Somehow the quirks of how the CBT is calculated gave them more room in 2018 with the Longoria trade than Solarte would have even though Longoria's contract will be a bigger hit in future seasons.
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I really like Solarte. I've mentioned in the past I draft him in my fantasy baseball because he covers multiple positions and puts up some great numbers for a guy who will get drafted as low as he does.
ReplyDeleteToronto has a way of turning 30 year old average players into superstars. I wouldn't be surprised if he hits 30 bombs with their hitting coach and ballpark. I wasn't going to draft him but I am now.
ReplyDeleteTaking the Giants at their word, and why not after they traded off Arroyo for Longoria and made some payroll space, they plan to compete in 2018.
ReplyDeleteAnd every blogger and sentient being know they have to get another hitter and fix the outfield without breaking the bank, but (probably) NOT make a long term commitment on an OFer and block what they have coming in Duggar, Slater, Reynolds, and ultimately Ramos, Fabian, and Canario.
The high end FA's that can hit mostly don't project fielding well, will require beaucoup money, and 5 or 6 year commitments. IMO, they won't go that route. Cain can field and matches the Giants needs well but that will require paying him a lot of money for a long time (he'll be 32 in April), and has onerous draft pick considerations.
It really comes down to McCutchen to play RF and some backup CF and getting a cheap CFer that can handle AT&T space. In house, they may try Alen Hanson in CF: he's really fast, hits lefties some, and has not terrible numbers in CF.
Duggar is everyone's favorite but is he ready? Will he have a credible spring and be just a phone call away?
They need some payroll relief for McCutchen but could give him a QO after the year and get some draft benefit. In a contract year, he'll be busting his butt to do well.
If Gerrit Cole is traded to Houston it means the Pirates are unloading for sure and Cutch will go. He's worth a good prospect not named Ramos, and the Giants need to be very sure of Belt before they trade Shaw. The best trading chip they have is probably Beede.
It does thin the Giants options for #4 & #5 starter: Blach, Stratton, Gregorio, Suarez, & ? Could hardly be worse than Moore and Cain!
Report: Bruce to the Mets 3 yrs $39 MM so money's not being thrown willy-nilly.
ReplyDeleteGiants dodged that one so they must not be "in that" or they're not going to commit $39MM.
Whew! That means no Martinez either.
What a relief!
No one-sided players no more?