Wade Davis for Jorge Soler

[Fountain City Blues]

That forearm really didn't do the Royals any favors it looks like. Soler is a plenty intriguing return if nothing else. Crossing my fingers he has the lightbulb come on.

 

[Bmurph]

That forearm really didn't do the Royals any favors it looks like. Soler is a plenty intriguing return if nothing else. Crossing my fingers he has the lightbulb come on.

Not sure how I would feel about this one from a KC fans perspective? If Soler had hit as projected, up until this point, I wouldn't be all that concerned but he still needs to progress offensively and from the few games I watched him defensively he was pretty bad

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Not sure how I would feel about this one from a KC fans perspective? If Soler had hit as projected, up until this point, I wouldn't be all that concerned but he still needs to progress offensively and from the few games I watched him defensively he was pretty bad

Yeah, his routes are terrible from what I've seen. Hoping Kuntz can work that out but I am not sure what to think besides Davis' value being low after forearm problems. Just a crummy hand to be dealt. Needs to cut down on the senseless strikeouts as well.

 

[Bmurph]

Yeah, his routes are terrible from what I've seen. Hoping Kuntz can work that out but I am not sure what to think besides Davis' value being low after forearm problems. Just a crummy hand to be dealt. Needs to cut down on the senseless strikeouts as well.

Davis had a couple strong seasons but the forearm must be an issue possibly. Yeah I just remember Jorge kicking balls in RF or over-running balls on the ground multiple times, to go along w the bad routes you mention. Hope it works for both teams.

 

[Bmurph]

MLB Hot Stove Rumors: Cubs close to trading Jorge Soler for Wade Davis
Swapping a high-upside outfielder for one year of an elite closer?

• by Matt Snyder
• @MattSnyderCBS
• 6h ago • 2 min read UPDATE 4h ago

Coming off their first World Series title in several generations, the Cubs had few glaring needs heading into the offseason. Much of their young core is still intact, but they did need some bullpen depth. It appears they're going to bolster it by adding an elite arm to the back end.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that the Cubs are "close" to completing a trade for Royals closer Wade Davis that would send Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler to Kansas City. There's also this from Jeff Passan of Yahoo, though:


Davis, 31, saved 27 games in 30 chances with a 1.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings. He was bothered by forearm soreness during the season, limiting him to a much smaller workload than normal. There were two DL stints and slightly diminished velocity late in the season.

That said, Davis was arguably the best reliever in baseball in 2014-15, posting a combined 0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 187 strikeouts in 139 1/3 innings.

Will Wade Davis be headed to Wrigley? USATSI
Obviously Davis would take over as the Cubs' closer. If they acquired him, they could use some more depth, sure, but they would have an impressive stash of power arms in Davis, Hector Rondon, Carl Edwards Jr., Pedro Stropand Justin Grimm, among others, as setup types. So it would be the makings of a good bullpen.

It's not just the Cubs here. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reported a few hours earlier that the Nationals were making a late push for Davis. Other reports indicated the Dodgers were involved here as well.

So while the Cubs are the clear favorite, we need to keep in mind how the Chris Sale trade unfolded. Everyone had him going to the Nationals and the Red Sox swooped in.

Davis is set to make $10 million this season before hitting free agency. If they decide to deal him, it would appear the Royals believe those resources are better served elsewhere as they face a remarkable number of free agents after 2017. They could then slide Kelvin Herrera into the closer role. As things stand, Joakim Soria and Brian Flynn would look like the top setup options.

The Royals are trying to stay competitive in 2017 without having the entire team fall apart afterward, as the following remaining players hit free agency after next season: Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, Danny Duffy, Jason Vargas and Davis.

Soler fits the profile on what the Royals would be looking for in return for Davis.

In parts of three seasons, the 24 year old has hit .258/.328/.436 (107 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 27 homers and 98 RBI in 765 plate appearances. There have been spurts that illustrate his massive upside, such as his performance in the 2015 playoffs, but he's also had lots of injury woes, namely on his hamstrings.

Again, Soler has huge upside and is signed on a nine-year, $30 million deal that runs through 2020. Given his upside, that's pretty cheap, though it should be noted he has a clause that says he can opt into arbitration once eligible. Given the structure of the Royals' roster with all that free agency coming after next year, his fit here is very evident. He could easily slot as a middle-of-the-order DH in order to protect his hammies or grab the right field job once Jarrod Dyson is traded, as has been rumored.

Consider the situation relatively fluid, even if it looks like the Cubs are in the driver's seat here for Davis' services.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

What do you think the Nats are offering?

 

[rmilia1]

Soler will be great if he gets enough at bats, Cubs just can't get him in the lineup consistently and it'd only be worse next year. He will be good for KC

 

[The Q]

i can't believe this is the best deal you can get for a year plus QO opportunity for Davis.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Think it's a good deal for both sides.

 

[Lions=TeHsUcKs]

That is a pretty nice deal for both sides. Hopefully Soler puts it all together.

 

[tducey]

A good win win deal here both sides IMO.

 

[scoutyjones2]

i can't believe this is the best deal you can get for a year plus QO opportunity for Davis.

What QO????

 

[The Q]

What QO????

Davis is a FA after this year, and unlike a deal for Chapman last year, the Cubs will have a chance to drop a Qo on Davis next year and recoup a pick. That adds value to the deal and the Cubs still gave up more for Chapman.

Soler is living off his initial contract hype and like 9 post season at bats. He's never even been worth 1 win. And he's bad defensively and now is moving to a huge defenisve OF that he can't play. He's basically already a DH at this point.

 

[Clayton]

F*&#!

What are the royals doing?

 

[scoutyjones2]

Davis is a FA after this year, and unlike a deal for Chapman last year, the Cubs will have a chance to drop a Qo on Davis next year and recoup a pick. That adds value to the deal and the Cubs still gave up more for Chapman.

Soler is living off his initial contract hype and like 9 post season at bats. He's never even been worth 1 win. And he's bad defensively and now is moving to a huge defenisve OF that he can't play. He's basically already a DH at this point.

I thought with the new CBA these went away

 

[The Q]

I thought with the new CBA these went away

They get a pick. Not the same pick as the old CBA.