NMLB Headline News: Winter Meetings Begin
stadiumreport.bbn December 25th, 2021
The flights have arrived, the check-ins at the hotels have been completed and the bags have been unpacked. With that, the annual congregation known as the New Major League Baseball Winter Meetings can now begin in earnest. General managers from across the league will engage in three days of talk and debate, and fans, reporters and rival ballclubs will all await the developments with keen anticipation. Trade and contract talk will no doubt be heard almost everywhere a team GM can be found and the close proximity of so many club officials will make for rapid feedback on any proposals.
And things got off with a bang as the
Vancouver Canadians and LF
Brian Ward(28, 3.5*, .311-37-123 .928OPS 3.9WAR) agreed to a 4y/$78.4M contract to bring the 74-88
Canadians back into contention.
As for us, we tried to talk to some people about a package of prospects we were willing to give up… maybe. The main piece of trade bait for us was 3B
Will Alfaro(21, 1.5/2.5* HS, 1.5/3* OSA, .186-6-27 .498OPS 108G -0.9WAR A). His defence is not good enough for 3B for us, his power potential is not showing properly, and he is Rule 5 eligible.
After some hard negotiations, we had a deal in place to trade for
Kansas City Royals catcher
Gabriel Cervante(26, 3.5*), a definite upgrade with the bat over our catching team as he has hit .254-23-65 .782OPS 2.9WAR. The thing was… we had to add A 1B
Matt Talbert(24, 2.5/3*, .241-10-32 .709OPS 1.0WAR A) to the mix. The thing is… his name has come up OFTEN in trade talks. VERY often. I feel like Dave G. is undervaluing him. I don’t want to give him up without having a long look at him in spring.
So, the deal was off and the first day over.