A.J. Cole [Latest: Traded to Yankees for Cash Considerations]

[wildcat2237]

This spring the Nationals have had four guys competing for their #5 rotation spot. 1. A.J. Cole 2. Edwin Jackson 3. Tommy Milone 4. Erick Fedde.

 

Cole was looking good but apparently the Nats are all in this year.

 

On Friday they went out and signed Jeremy Hellickson. I doubt they sign Hellickson if they want to go with one of the original four candidates.

 

Cole is out of options. He was once the No. 60 prospect in baseball. He's not going to be free, but I would think he could be had for a very small return.

 

He's not a world beater but he is guy who I think actually has some potential. Cole’s 2018 numbers were decent at the MLB level: 3-5 with a 3.81 ERA even if his periperhals were bad (5.88 fip, 1.50 whip). His AAA numbers in 2017 were awful (5.88 ERA in 18 starts).

 

Should the Brewers consider making a play for Cole?

[Never Outhustled]

This spring the Nationals have had four guys competing for their #5 rotation spot. 1. A.J. Cole 2. Edwin Jackson 3. Tommy Milone 4: Erick Fedde.

 

Cole was looking good but apparently the Nats are all in this year.

 

On Friday they went out and signed Jeremy Hellickson. I doubt they sign Hellickson if they want to go with one of the original four candidates.

 

Cole is out of options. He was once the No. 60 prospect in baseball. He's not going to be free, but I would think he could be had for a very small return.

 

He's not a world beater but he is guy who I think actually has some potential. Cole’s 2018 numbers were decent at the MLB level: 3-5 with a 3.81 ERA even if his periperhals were bad (5.88 fip, 1.50 whip). His AAA numbers in 2017 were awful (5.88 ERA in 18 starts).

 

Should the Brewers consider making a play for Cole?

 

No. He's not better than what we already have, and the Nationals need him. Hellickson only signed a minor league deal.

[brewcrewdue80]

Don't see at before this season starts, to acquire him. Seems he lost velocity coming up, but did have that velocity a bit higher last year, not to any added effect unlike Anderson. I'd have to prefer waiting near the deadline on making a deal if he shows progress. He is just 26 and 6'5" so a minor tweak and improvement could net some very positive results. I just don't want to spend resources to get him at this time because generally speaking he has borderline AAAA results lately. Jorge Lopez was a top 100 too around when Cole was.

[wildcat2237]

I'd have to prefer waiting near the deadline on making a deal if he shows progress. He is just 26 and 6'5" so a minor tweak and improvement could net some very positive results.

 

I'd prefer to wait as well.

 

However, if Cole makes the big league club and puts up good numbers, I highly doubt he is available at the deadline. Moreover, if he doesn't make the roster now, I will be shocked if he's not claimed off waivers.

 

Gotta strike while the iron is hot.

[Boomer5]

And give up what? Our usual Thames/Aguilar/Broxton offer doesn't move the needle much when it comes to starting pitching trade talk. Thames and Broxton aren't getting much done in ST to generate interest.

[wildcat2237]

And give up what? Our usual Thames/Aguilar/Broxton offer doesn't move the needle much when it comes to starting pitching trade talk. Thames and Broxton aren't getting much done in ST to generate interest.

 

Who knows what it would take. The Nats stand to lose Cole on waivers if he doesn't make the 25 man roster.

 

I'd probably offer a package of Trent Grisham and a lottery ticket.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

And give up what? Our usual Thames/Aguilar/Broxton offer doesn't move the needle much when it comes to starting pitching trade talk. Thames and Broxton aren't getting much done in ST to generate interest.

 

Who knows what it would take. The Nats stand to lose Cole on waivers if he doesn't make the 25 man roster.

 

I'd probably offer a package of Trent Grisham and a lottery ticket.

 

An arguable Top 10 prospect for a guy they are likely going to cut? No thanks!

 

It would be a low-level minor leaguer or a non-prospect like Tristan Archer that they could stash for depth.

[wildcat2237]

And give up what? Our usual Thames/Aguilar/Broxton offer doesn't move the needle much when it comes to starting pitching trade talk. Thames and Broxton aren't getting much done in ST to generate interest.

 

Who knows what it would take. The Nats stand to lose Cole on waivers if he doesn't make the 25 man roster.

 

I'd probably offer a package of Trent Grisham and a lottery ticket.

 

An arguable Top 10 prospect for a guy they are likely going to cut? No thanks!

 

It would be a low-level minor leaguer or a non-prospect like Tristan Archer that they could stash for depth.

 

Grisham's .690 OPS in Low A, .708 OPS in High A, and 10 HR's in 678 A ball at bats do not inspire confidence that he will develop into much.

[pacopete4]

 

Grisham's .690 OPS in Low A, .708 OPS in High A, and 10 HR's in 678 A ball at bats do not inspire confidence that he will develop into much.

Those aren’t Grisham’s numbers, those are Clark’s.

 

 

But I hope you realize that’s a joke and so would be giving this guy up for the guy you want.

[Boomer5]

I’m not sure what Clark/Grisham’s value is on the open market. On one hand he draws a lot of walks and was a former first round pick. On the other hand he can’t even hit A ball pitch and those guys rarely make it in the majors.

 

Cole would be an interesting cheap get for us but the FO seems hell bent on giving old guys the first crack.

[pacopete4]

Trent was young for the level he was at by almost 3 years.

[adambr2]

Holy cow, Grisham for another borderline starter to add to the Miley/Suter/Guerra/Woodruff pile? No thanks.

 

I realize opinions differ on Grisham, (I really like him personally), but if we wanted to give up a quality prospect for rotation depth we would have just outbid the Twins for Odorizzi.

[Boomer5]

Trent was young for the level he was at by almost 3 years.

 

True. His value would be zero otherwise. At some point, first round picks shouldn’t have 700 ops playing against mostly non prospects regardless of age.

[Boomer5]

Holy cow, Grisham for another borderline starter to add to the Miley/Suter/Guerra/Woodruff pile? No thanks.

 

I realize opinions differ on Grisham, (I really like him personally), but if we wanted to give up a quality prospect for rotation depth we would have just outbid the Twins for Odorizzi.

 

I can’t believe Jake was acquired for so little. I would have loved him at that price.

[DR28]

Holy cow, Grisham for another borderline starter to add to the Miley/Suter/Guerra/Woodruff pile? No thanks.

 

I realize opinions differ on Grisham, (I really like him personally), but if we wanted to give up a quality prospect for rotation depth we would have just outbid the Twins for Odorizzi.

 

I can’t believe Jake was acquired for so little. I would have loved him at that price.

 

No kidding!!

 

Anderson

Davies

Chacin

Odorizzi

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Holy cow, Grisham for another borderline starter to add to the Miley/Suter/Guerra/Woodruff pile? No thanks.

 

I realize opinions differ on Grisham, (I really like him personally), but if we wanted to give up a quality prospect for rotation depth we would have just outbid the Twins for Odorizzi.

 

I can’t believe Jake was acquired for so little. I would have loved him at that price.

 

No kidding!!

 

Anderson

Davies

Chacin

Odorizzi

 

I know why Odorizzi was acquired for so cheap. He's basically a right-handed Miley.

[MrTPlush]

Odorizzi is significantly better and has shown that for years.

[DR28]

Odorizzi is significantly better and has shown that for years.

 

Yes, absolutely.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Odorizzi is significantly better and has shown that for years.

 

Yes, absolutely.

 

I guess in my opinion Odorizzi is more name than substance at this point.

[wildcat2237]

Found this on mlbtraderumors tonight:

 

It’s up in the air whether right-hander A.J. Cole will earn the final spot in the Nationals’ rotation. Regardless, the out-of-options 26-year-old is “going to make the team,” general manager Mike Rizzo told Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and other reporters Monday. Rizzo added that veteran Jeremy Hellickson, also a contender for the No. 5 job, is “way behind” right now – which seems to bode well for Cole’s chances of starting. Given that Hellickson only just signed with the Nationals, they could elect to keep him in Florida for extended spring training so he’s better equipped to succeed if he does get a regular-season opportunity, per Rizzo (via Jamal Collier of MLB.com). Rizzo noted that a couple of the Nats’ signings last year, catcher Matt Wieters and reliever Joe Blanton, struggled mightily because neither had a full spring training. He doesn’t want to go down that same road with Hellickson.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/nl-notes-diamondbacks-nats-mets.html

 

Guess you can stick a fork in any speculation that Cole gets dealt any time soon.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Bumping this as Cole has been DFA'd. Worth a flyer? With the results the young pitchers in AAA are putting up, I don't know if it would be worth dedicating a 25-man spot to Cole. He does have a lot of talent, though, and Derek Johnson has proven in the past that he can get the most out of some guys.

[MadThinker88]

I can't see why not take a flyer, especially if the cost is a waiver claim or swapping out a piece of "our junk" for him..

I wouldn't give up anything of real value..

[JosephC]

I know 4-pitch guys always get looked on as having to be starters, but I think Cole's control is just shaky enough where I think a team should be looking at re-making him as a reliever. Slash line against Cole the first time through the order this year is a staggering .364/.440/1.091/1.531 which indicates a move to the bullpen might not be a immediately smooth one.

 

The problem is that it's almost like obtaining a Rule V pick. He's attractive enough where I can't see bottom end teams like the Reds, Marlins, etc letting him pass through waivers. So you have to trade for him with the idea he has to stay on the 25 man roster the rest of the year.