Plus, the Mets are talking to an old friend about a camp invite with about ten to days to go before pitchers and catchers begin to report to Port St. Lucie
Any talk about a "sign and trade" for Cease or King? Wouldn't that be in both teams' best interest? If I'm Stearns, I'm willing to offer a nice juicy package if he's signed for 3-5 years.
Id like for that to be a possibility, but there's no evidence this front office wants to give out long-term contracts to pitchers who are 30+. I Think this would be a total rental situation for the Mets if they pull of the trade, at least right now.
Something about Cease's mechanics gives me the heebie-jeebies. Great stuff, and he's a strikeout machine. But every time I watch him pitch, I'm waiting for something to crack.
Not for nothing, but I'm not surprised to suddenly see Cincinnati in the mix. I made that call myself a few weeks ago.
But I would be surprised if they have the resources to make a real run at Pete. If we take the current deal on the table as a baseline, the Reds would have to commit at least $70 million over three years.
That looks like a pretty steep hill for them to climb, especially since Elly De La Cruz is arbitration eligible in a couple years.
Still, strictly from a baseball perspective, it's a good fit. Cincinnati needs pop, and Pete could go bombs away in the Great American Ballbark with speed on the basepaths in front of him. Lots and lots of fastballs.
That's a really big number for Cincinnati's ownership group. I would imagine, if they're talking at all, they'd be looking at $25 million per year, max. And even then, they'd want to defer a big, big chunk of it.
Could they get there with a four or five year contract? Maybe. I'm sure the Reds would love to have the big bat in the middle of their lineup as Elly continues to develop and Hunter Greene blossoms into a true ace (he's arguably there now).
It's just really hard to see them pulling together that kind of scratch.
Any talk about a "sign and trade" for Cease or King? Wouldn't that be in both teams' best interest? If I'm Stearns, I'm willing to offer a nice juicy package if he's signed for 3-5 years.
Id like for that to be a possibility, but there's no evidence this front office wants to give out long-term contracts to pitchers who are 30+. I Think this would be a total rental situation for the Mets if they pull of the trade, at least right now.
Something about Cease's mechanics gives me the heebie-jeebies. Great stuff, and he's a strikeout machine. But every time I watch him pitch, I'm waiting for something to crack.
Not for nothing, but I'm not surprised to suddenly see Cincinnati in the mix. I made that call myself a few weeks ago.
But I would be surprised if they have the resources to make a real run at Pete. If we take the current deal on the table as a baseline, the Reds would have to commit at least $70 million over three years.
That looks like a pretty steep hill for them to climb, especially since Elly De La Cruz is arbitration eligible in a couple years.
Still, strictly from a baseball perspective, it's a good fit. Cincinnati needs pop, and Pete could go bombs away in the Great American Ballbark with speed on the basepaths in front of him. Lots and lots of fastballs.
How about one year 30+ with possibility to trade him in July to contender?
That's a really big number for Cincinnati's ownership group. I would imagine, if they're talking at all, they'd be looking at $25 million per year, max. And even then, they'd want to defer a big, big chunk of it.
Could they get there with a four or five year contract? Maybe. I'm sure the Reds would love to have the big bat in the middle of their lineup as Elly continues to develop and Hunter Greene blossoms into a true ace (he's arguably there now).
It's just really hard to see them pulling together that kind of scratch.