Playing Fact or Fiction with All of MLB's Hottest Week 10 Buzz, Rumors
The annual MLB draft is over, the last big-name free agent has finally signed and the long-shuttered right field bleachers at Wrigley Field are finally set to open. It would appear that all is right in the baseball universe.
But it's not.
Playoff hopefuls are still scrambling to plug holes that continue to open as players around the league fall victim to injury. Teams that were supposed to be contenders don't quite look the part, while clubs that weren't supposed to be factors are proving everyone wrong.
That has led to increased speculation in the rumor mill, though we're still a ways off from the mill running at ludicrous speed.
Will a player's long wait for a new home finally come to an end? Can a team move extra pieces to not only fill a hole but create room for another young stud? Is one fanbase out to ruin baseball?
We'll hit on all of that and more in this week's edition of "Fact or Fiction."
Dioner Navarro Will Finally Get Traded
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Nearly seven months since telling Toronto that he'd be happier playing elsewhere, Dioner Navarro remains a Blue Jay—at least for now.
"We’re glad he’s on this team, but if there’s that opportunity we improve the club and it gets him an everyday playing spot, we would do that and I’ve said that to him as well," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos told the Toronto Star's Richard Griffin. "He understands that."
Limited to only 13 games due to a hamstring injury that forced him to miss more than a month, a chance to play regularly behind the plate would be a welcome change for the 31-year-old, who will become a free agent after the season.
Verdict: Fact
As Griffin points out, there's (potentially) a big demand for a player with Navarro's skill set:
"Consider there are currently 10 catchers on disabled lists around the majors. Teams that could use an upgrade in catching include the D’backs, Braves, Red Sox, White Sox, Reds, Marlins, Mariners and Rays. Of 65 players listed as catchers that have appeared in MLB games, 43 have averages under .210 and 40 have an OPS under .600.
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Combined with the fact that he doesn't fit into the team's future plans (or rather, the club doesn't fit into his), a deal seems inevitable.
The Mets Will Trade for Aramis Ramirez and Promote Steven Matz
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Sources within the New York Mets tell the New York Post's Mike Puma that they expect Steven Matz to be part of the team's starting rotation by the All-Star break, a timeline that ESPN.com's Adam Rubin hears has been moved up and could find Matz in Flushing by the end of June.
But there's a problem. Nobody's interested in their leftovers, whether it be Dillon Gee or Jon Niese.
In a perfect world, the team would be able to flip one of them for an experienced third baseman on a short-term deal, one who could hold down the hot corner until the injured David Wright (back) returns.
Milwaukee's Aramis Ramirez fits that profile, and the two teams have discussed a potential trade, according to Newsday's Marc Carig. But sources tell Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the Brewers have no interest in Niese, while Gee's name doesn't appear to have come up in talks.
Verdict: Fiction
Like Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard before him, Matz has front-of-the-rotation stuff and could be a major difference-maker down the stretch as the Mets look to end their eight-year absence from the playoffs.
But the Mets aren't going to give away Gee or Niese to clear a path for the 24-year-old, especially as they try to limit the workloads of Harvey, Syndergaard and 2014 National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom.
As for Ramirez, there simply doesn't appear to be a match between the two clubs—so the Mets will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements at the hot corner.
Philadelphia Will Trade Jonathan Papelbon Before Cole Hamels
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Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon are no strangers to trade rumors and speculation, which have swirled around the pair of veteran Philadelphia pitchers for the better part of a year. With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaching, those trade winds are once again picking up speed.
The latest rumors revolve around Papelbon, who has drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. While Philadelphia has discussed potential deals with both clubs, Rosenthal's sources say that nothing is imminent.
Toronto's interest in Papelbon goes back to this past winter, as CSN Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury notes, pointing out that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos personally scouted the 34-year-old in spring training.
Verdict: Fact
With Rafael Soriano off the market, Papelbon is the top closer available. As Rosenthal points out, he remains an elite option at the back end of a bullpen, despite his reduced velocity:
"Papelbon does not throw as hard as he once did—his average fastball is 92.16 mph, according to brooksbaseball.net—but he continues to get impressive results.
He is 12-for-12 in save opportunities this season with a 1.13 ERA. In 24 innings, he has struck out 29 and walked only six and allowed just one home run.
Last season, he was 39-for-43 in save opportunities with a 2.04 ERA. In 66 1/3 innings, he struck out 63, walked 15 and allowed only two home runs.
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While his $13 million salary in 2016 is an issue, the Phillies have maintained all along that they'd pick up some of the money left on his deal to facilitate a trade (and a better return).
Ultimately, acquiring Papelbon is a far less costly endeavor for an interested team than swinging a deal for Hamels would be, both financially and in terms of the talent they'd have to give Philly in return.
Papelbon might not be the first player the Phillies trade (outfielder Ben Revere may go before him, as Salisbury noted the Blue Jays checked in on him), but Philly will move him before Hamels.
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Houston Will Trade for a Front-Line Starter
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A person familiar with Houston's thinking heading into baseball's trade season recently told CBS Sports' Jon Heyman that "the goal is a No. 1 or 2 (starter)," leading Heyman to speculate that Philadelphia's Cole Hamels might be the team's primary target.
It makes sense that the Astros would be on the hunt for an experienced arm like Hamels. After ace Dallas Keuchel and the inexperienced Lance McCullers Jr., the team has gotten mediocre performances from the likes of Collin McHugh, Brett Oberholtzer and the injured Scott Feldman.
The Astros have pieces (aside from Carlos Correa, McCullers and the recently promoted Vincent Velasquez) that intrigue Philadelphia, according to Heyman, a list that includes High-A outfielder Brett Phillips and Preston Tucker, currently part of the outfield mix in the big leagues.
Verdict: Fiction
Despite the fact that Astros Executive Adviser Nolan Ryan is a big fan of the 31-year-old southpaw, per Heyman, there are simply too many hurdles to clear to make a Hamels trade work for the Astros.
Not only would they have to satisfy Philadelphia's asking price, but they'd need to convince Hamels to waive his no-trade clause, which would likely require the club to guarantee his $20 million option for 2019—when he'll be a 35-year-old starter on the downside of his career.
That said, they're going to add another starter to the mix—but someone more along the lines of Cincinnati's Mike Leake or Philadelphia's Aaron Harang, a player who doesn't require a massive long-term financial commitment and won't cost nearly as much young talent to acquire.
Kansas City Fans Are Ruining the All-Star Game
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If the All-Star Game was being played this coming weekend, seven members of the Kansas City Royals would be in the American League's starting lineup, per the latest voting update from Major League Baseball.
The only non-Royals to garner starts would be Houston's Jose Altuve, the reigning AL batting champion, and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, the best all-around player in the game.
It's a scenario that has some upset and pointing fingers at the fans. That includes Detroit Tigers ace David Price, who took to Twitter to vent his frustrations with the entire process:
"#mlb please do something about the Allstate voting...not that's it's funny but it's kind of a joke...#VOTEMIGGY
I wanna know how many votes Jeter has right now..I know people have written him in and voted...my guess is 1.5 million #votemiggy
An all star game IS NOT a popularity contest...it's for home field advantage (for whatever reason) for the World Series!! Best players play.
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Verdict: Fiction
Whether the fans vote them in or Royals manager Ned Yost, the skipper of this year's AL All-Star squad, added them as reserves, the Royals were going to be well-represented in Cincinnati at this year's Midsummer Classic on July 14.
It's Yost's right as manager of the defending AL champions to include as many of his players as he deems worthy, and it's nothing new. We've seen managers fill out All-Star rosters with their own for more than a decade.
The issue Price and others have is a valid one, but the fans aren't the problem with the All-Star Game. It's the ludicrous decision by former commissioner Bud Selig to tie home-field advantage in the World Series to an exhibition game in the middle of the season, which is a separate but bigger issue.
And if you're one of those people who has a problem with a Royals-dominated starting lineup, I've got some good news for you: There's still plenty of time for you to vote—up to 35 times—and get your favorite players into the starting lineup.
Unless otherwise linked or noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through games of June 10. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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