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Saturday, June 04, 2022

Trade chatter starts with these 7 players

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
Under club control through 2022
(signed through 2025, opt out clause after 2022)

J.D. Martinez, OF/DH, Red Sox
Under club control through 2022

Bogaerts has an opt-out clause in his contract that he is expected to exercise, which would make him a free agent at the end of this season. He’s slashing .323/.393/.473 through his first 50 games, though that hasn’t helped the Red Sox, who entered Friday at 24-27, 12 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees. Bogaerts plays an excellent shortstop and will be highly sought after by a number of teams if the Red Sox decide to become sellers.

Martinez entered Friday with an AL-best .360 batting average and a .976 OPS, and while he clubbed only five home runs during his first 42 games, he remains one of the most consistently reliable hitters in the game. Now that the NL is utilizing the DH, the group of potential suitors is twice as big as it was before. Martinez is earning just north of $19 million this season, the last of his five-year, $110 million deal with Boston.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 04, 2022 at 07:23 PM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: andrew benintendi, frankie montas, j.d. martinez, luis castillo, xavier bogaerts

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1. Walt Davis Posted: June 04, 2022 at 09:28 PM (#6079906)

I didn't realize Benintendi was doing a Gwynn impersonation this year.

All sensible trade candidates although as I've mentioned in the JDM thread, I'd think the Red Sox will bring at least one of them back. But I suppose that doesn't rule out failing to get X to agree to stick around, then trading both, then re-signing JDM in the offseason.

2. The Yankee Clapper Posted: June 04, 2022 at 09:48 PM (#6079914)

As poor as they have played, the Red Sox are only 1 game out of the last Wildcard spot. Might be difficult to throw in the towel if that remains the case as the trade deadline nears. With the Angels fading, the AL East might have 4 playoff teams, if Boston can play semi-respectable ball the rest of the way.

3. Dillon Gee Escape Plan Posted: June 04, 2022 at 10:56 PM (#6079930)

Alfonso Soriano is available.

4. Walt Davis Posted: June 05, 2022 at 01:41 AM (#6079943)

The list of available Cubs is rather long; the list of desirable Cubs ...

5. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: June 05, 2022 at 10:40 AM (#6079954)

The Yankee should be all over Willson Contreras. They need a CF too.

6. Bad Fish Posted: June 05, 2022 at 12:25 PM (#6079963)

While I don't expect the RS to trade either X or JDM, in fact I think they will resign Martinez, trading either of them wouldn't necessarily be tossing in the towel.

7. The Yankee Clapper Posted: June 05, 2022 at 02:49 PM (#6079974)

Nelson Cruz’s slow start with the Nationals may have put a damper on any trade interest, but he seems back to his old self of late, hitting .359/.438/.522, for a .960 OPS, over the last 30 days. Anything remotely in that neighborhood going forward should be sufficient to attract the interest of contenders looking to upgrade at DH on or before the trade deadline.

8. Walt Davis Posted: June 05, 2022 at 03:57 PM (#6079980)

The Mets should also be all over Contreras. And the Astros (though they still seem convinced Maldonado is worth like 4 wins a year in framing). And probably several other contenders.

Jump the line and overpay now!

Nelson Cruz’s slow start with the Nationals may have put a damper on any trade interest, but he seems back to his old self of late, hitting .359/.438/.522, for a .960 OPS, over the last 30 days. Anything remotely in that neighborhood going forward should be sufficient to attract the interest of contenders looking to upgrade at DH on or before the trade deadline.

Maybe ... Those are great numbers of course but they aren't Cruz numbers. Even in that stretch, just 1 HR in his last 85 PA. He's hitting 359 on a 448 BABIP. I wouldn't put it past Cruz to turn into George Brett at 41 but I wouldn't bet on it.

9. Ron J Posted: June 05, 2022 at 05:25 PM (#6079990)

#8 I wouldn't put it past Cruz to reinvent himself as a young Rickey Henderson. Or a prime Randy Johnson for that matter.

I've given up prognosticating on his career arc.

10. Rough Carrigan

Posted: June 05, 2022 at 10:08 PM (#6080082)

Xander plays a good enough shortstop. I don't there has ever been any metric that actually given him numerical stats that would be described as "excellent" as the blurb does. He makes all the routine plays. He makes very few exceptional, surprising range plays.

11. Astroenteritis Posted: June 05, 2022 at 11:16 PM (#6080098)

And the Astros (though they still seem convinced Maldonado is worth like 4 wins a year in framing).

After 50+ years of following the Astros, I am convinced there is a persistent organizational philosophy that insists that catchers shall not hit too much.

It's the Ausmus protocol.

12. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: June 05, 2022 at 11:28 PM (#6080101)

Alan Ashby was a pretty decent hitter. Biggio before they moved him.

13. Walt Davis Posted: June 06, 2022 at 01:35 AM (#6080108)

After 50+ years of following the Astros, I am convinced there is a persistent organizational philosophy that insists that catchers shall not hit too much.

All the more reason for them to overpay as soon as possible -- that way they'll be sure to have him on the roster when his production returns to earth and he wears out in the 2nd half. (Career 1st half 844 OPS; 2nd half 775)

14. Buck Coats Posted: June 06, 2022 at 08:22 AM (#6080119)

That's why they moved Biggio!

15. Rally Posted: June 06, 2022 at 08:40 AM (#6080122)

#8 I wouldn't put it past Cruz to reinvent himself as a young Rickey Henderson. Or a prime Randy Johnson for that matter.

I’m going out on a limb here, but I predict that Nelson Cruz will not re-invent himself as a young Devon White. At least on defense.

16. Rally Posted: June 06, 2022 at 08:48 AM (#6080123)

After 50+ years of following the Astros, I am convinced there is a persistent organizational philosophy that insists that catchers shall not hit too much.

The curse of Mitch Meluskey. That guy raked in the minors, and as a rookie in 2000 hit 300/401/487. But the team dropped from 97 wins to 72. So they traded him to get Ausmus back, and went right back to first place. Meluskey had a mere 36 at bats after that rookie year, lots of injuries.

The Ausmus-Meluskey trade also involved Nelson Cruz. But not THE Nelson Cruz.

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Trade chatter starts with these 7 players

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