Magicgames II » Could Cincinnati’s 3B depth help them land them an ace?

"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Farmers onlyFeaturesPlayoffsHistory/Hall of FameHot StoveCincinnati Reds RumorsPadres looking to Reds for 3B help in potential three-team deal involving Cleveland’s Corey KluberNew http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey ,139commentsCould Cincinnati’s 3B depth help them land them an ace?ESTShareTweetShareSharePadres looking to Reds for 3B help in potential three-team deal involving Cleveland’s Corey KluberTroy Taormina-USA TODAY SportsThe Cincinnati Reds have been on a thorough search for pitching for years, it feels like. Decades, even, if you care to consider that they’ve never once had a Cy Young Award winner.Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres have been in rebuild mode for as long or longer than the Reds, and while they haven’t exactly entered ‘win-now’ territory, they have been looking for their long-term answer at 3B for awhile now, especially since their experiment with Wil Myers fizzled out last year.Up in Cleveland, the Indians have managed to sit atop the AL Central for several years now, and while they do still seem poised to continue that reign, they’re looking to move some money around to help keep their payroll in check. And Cleveland, in case you haven’t noticed, is chock full of dominant big-league starting pitching.If three teams have obvious needs and they all are well aware of those facts, is there any chance a blockbuster could go down? According to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, that seems to be exactly what the Padres are thinking - and they’re looking to both Cincinnati and Cleveland to potentially make that happen.The Reds, of course, have been tied to Kluber all offseason, and have top prospect Nick Senzel currently blocked at 3B by All Star - and recently extended - Eugenio Suarez. That certainly isn’t new to Padres GM A.J. Preller Travis Wood Jersey , as San Diego has eyes on Senzel as the potential return that could send Kluber to the Reds, Lin added.That the Reds absolutely do not want to move Senzel has been rather apparent for awhile now, and that that seems to still be the case. Moving a consensus Top 10 prospect who is MLB ready at potentially three (or more) positions is a tough thing to do for any franchise, let alone one with consistently middle of the road payrolls that doesn’t appear to be a legit contender right this minute. Still, picking up Kluber - the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner - would instantly give the Reds the top of the rotation starter they have long sought, and it’s that kind of shiny prize that just might have the wheels in their front office noggins spinning at a great rate.The interesting question here, though, is this - what if the Reds were to consider moving Eugenio Suarez instead of Senzel in a deal to land Kluber?Suarez, obviously, just had a monster 2019 on the heels of a great 2018 and a favorable contract extension. He is now inked thorugh potentially the 2025 season for a max of $76 million, and just turned 27 years old this past year. In fact, you could realistically make the argument that his production and team-friendly contract might well even be more valuable than the 33 year old Kluber’s 3 years of team control at some $52.5 million, which means the Reds could even potentially extract an additional piece from either San Diego or Cleveland in a deal that would involve Suarez. And, if you consider the Suarez/Kluber move to be more or less cash-neutral - more overall guaranteed money to Suarez, more immediate money due to Kluber - that could well allow the Reds to continue to explore more pitching additions and still be within their estimated ‘record’ payroll range for the 2019 season. Senzel would take over 3B for Suarez, Kluber would top the rotation, and the Reds could conceivably still pursue Dallas Keuchel - and a Kluber, Keuchel http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , Luis Castillo, Alex Wood, Tanner Roark starting rotation is the kind that would actually, finally look like a strength on paper for the Reds.Either way, this sure seems like something that would require each of San Diego, Cleveland, and Cincinnati to part ways with significant pieces, likely with Cleveland ending up with big-league ready OF pieces or legitimate bullpen help, which both appear to be serious holes on their roster at the moment. Since the Padres might well have those kind of pieces, the concept of this blockbuster does at least have some legs - provided that each of the three teams is willing to sign off on such a major, franchise-changing move. HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve needed video review to confirm his first home run Wednesday night.His second shot was a no-doubter — just like the Houston Astros‘ status as a team to beat in the American League.Altuve hit two homers, Carlos Correa homered with three RBIs and the Astros completed their first ever sweep of the New York Yankees with an 8-6 win Wednesday night.The Astros required late-game comebacks to win the first two games of the series but used a four-run fifth inning to break the finale open and held on for their sixth straight win despite a big eighth inning by the Yankees.It’s the first time since 2004 the Astros have swept a homestand of at least two series. They beat the Athletics three times this weekend before the Yankees arrived.The 5-foot-6 Altuve didn’t have an explanation for his recent power surge.“I want to know, too to do it again,” he said. “I’m as surprised as you are. I’m not used to hitting this many homers in two or three games, but I’ll take it.”Manager AJ Hinch said Altuve’s health and timing have contributed to the recent barrage, but he isn’t surprised by anything the 2017 AL MVP does.“He’s seeing the ball, sure, picking the right pitches of course (but) he’s just pretty damn good Jose Iglesias Jersey ,” he said.Altuve hit his first one off James Paxton (1-2) to tie it at 1 in the first inning after Brett Gardner hit a leadoff homer for New York. Altuve’s hit was initially ruled a double, but a review showed it cleared the wall.The Astros were up by 1 with no outs in the fifth inning when Altuve connected off Paxton again. The towering shot clanged off the light pole atop the wall in left field to make it 4-2.A single by Michael Brantley chased Paxton, who was replaced by Tommy Kahnle. He was greeted by a two-run home run by Correa that extended Houston’s lead to 6-2. Houston made it 7-2 on an RBI single by Jake Marisnick with two outs in the inning.Houston starter Collin McHugh (2-1) allowed four hits and two runs while striking out nine in six innings for his second straight win.Yankees slugger Luke Voit hit a two-run homer off Josh James with no outs in the eighth, DJ LeMahieu hit an RBI double and Clint Frazier added a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6. There were two outs in the inning and a runner on third when Ryan Pressly took over and struck out pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez.Pressly stayed on for the ninth, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning for his first save.The Astros jumped on Paxton for eight hits and five runs in four-plus innings after he went 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts against them last year while with Seattle. He wasn’t helped when Gardner badly misplayed Yuli Gurriel’s drive to center, resulting in an RBI triple in the first.“We got to tighten up a little bit, play a little bit better, but I believe we are really close to turning the corner … this is a little bump in the road,” manager Aaron Boone said. “That is inevitable in a major league season, and we will work our way out of it.”TRAINER’S ROOMYankees: Sanchez didn’t start Wednesday because of tightness in his lower leg. … 3B Miguel Andujar (right shoulder) made 25 throws from 60 feet Wednesday. “I think he felt a lot better than he expected,” Boone said. He will play catch and swing a bat Friday. If that goes well, he’ll start throwing from 90 feet Saturday. … OF Giancarlo Stanton (left biceps strain) hit off a tee on Wednesday. … OF Aaron Hicks (lower back strain) will do soft toss, hit off a tee and run on a treadmill this week, and Boone said they hope that by next Wednesday he’ll be hitting in the cage and be on the field running and throwing.Astros: 3B Alex Bregman was out of the lineup Wednesday after leaving late in Tuesday night’s game with a sore hamstring. Manager AJ Hinch doesn’t think the problem is serious and hopes that he can return Friday.YANKEES MOVENew York optioned RHP Jonathan Loaisiga to Triple-A after Tuesday’s game and recalled RHP Joe Harvey from Scranton before Wednesday’s game. Harvey made his major league debut in the fifth inning and yielded one hit in two scoreless innings.UP NEXTYankees: New York is off Thursday before beginning a series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The Yankees haven’t announced their Friday starter, but Boone said CC Sabathia will come off the injured list to make his first start of the season Saturday.Astros: Houston has a day off Thursday and opens a three-game series at Seattle with Wade Miley (1-1, 2.31 ERA) on Friday night. Miley allowed four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win against Oakland in his last start.