The Reds and Giants are engaged in trade negotiations that are advanced far enough they’ve been described as “serious” according to Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The San Francisco Giants, a team with an obvious hole in center field, are engaged in serious discussions to acquire speedster Billy Hamilton from the Cincinnati Reds, a source confirmed to The Enquirer. ÂÂ
A deal could be finished by Thursday when the Winter Meetings in Orlando end.
The source said that talks are advanced enough that something could be completed before the Winter Meetings end Thursday at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.
There is no indication what the Reds would receive in return. Also, note this report indicates other teams, particularly the Texas Rangers, are talking about Hamilton.
It would make sense, if Zach’s source is in the Reds organization, that this was a strategic leak to prod the Rangers. The “could be done this week” quote is suspicious in that regard. Not that the Giants and Reds aren’t far along, just maybe the Reds prefer to deal with the Rangers given that Texas has a much better farm system and trade options.
There’s a lot more about the trade in Zach’s column. Go read it all.
From our post yesterday: Here are a few lists of Giants prospects: Baseball America, John Sickles, MLB Prospect Watch, Fangraphs, Baseball Prospectus. Some of these have been updated more recently than others. Keep in mind that every organization has a Top 10 or Top 20 list. That doesn’t compare the quality to the overall pool. For example, Christian Arroyo (#57) is the only Giants prospect in their Top 100 overall. The Reds have five players on that list: Nick Senzel (#6), Hunter Greene (#18), Taylor Trammell (#68), Tyler Mahle (#78) and Jesse Winker (#100).
Updates: Hard to tell if Buster Olney has a separate source for this claim, or if he’s basing it off the Buchanan report. Competitive bidding = good. Also doesn’t hurt Hamilton’s trade value to have a national analyst refer to him as “ultimate late-inning weapon.”
Reds also engaged with other teams other than the Giants on Billy Hamilton. For a big-market team, he would be the ultimate late-inning weapon.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 12, 2017
Here’s the counter-leak from the Giants side to tamp down expectations and slow down other bidders:
So far giants and reds not matching up on billy Hamilton trade
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2017
You can’t have a lineup with both Hamilton and Peraza. They are too similar…I’m more willing to see what Peraza has at this point. I don’t think Billy is anything more than what we have seen.
100th is stupid? I think they had Castillo rated pretty low too?
I’d take Winker over any Giants prospects
Machado wants to play ss, Orioles need pitching. Who goes?
Cubs pickup reliever Brandon Morrow while the Cards get reliever Luke Gregerson.
Unless they replace Hamilton, Ervin becomes the 4th outfielder and late inning defensive replacement for Schebler. Be a coup to get Yelich, though, and trade for Machado at ss. Suddenly you have one of the best lineups in baseball.
If the Reds were really close to contending in 2018, like projected at 81-82 wins, then trading for one season of Machado would not be the craziest idea in the world.
Especially factoring in things like potential dead money at the end of a 3-4 year deal to Cozart, another season to try and work with Peraza’s hitting, etc.
No way the Reds could re-sign Machado, entering free agency at age 27.
Alas, the moves would deplete the Reds farm system, even if you could get Baltimore and Miami to agree and outbid other teams.
And, the projected 10 WAR of Machado (6) and Yelich (4) would only put the Reds at 82 wins, still needing some breakouts and a little luck for a playoff spot.
Would be a heck of a fun team to watch for a season, though.
I agree,he’s probably been one of the top 3 c.f. in Reds history.That being said,not the answer as leadoff man,and just couldn’t hit enough
Billy Hamilton might a favorite of some at RLN (Havoc!), but the whole notion of any “fan favorite” and it affecting the Reds financial bottom line is a bunch of bunk.
The Reds have never drawn 75% capacity in any season at Great American Ball Park, not the first year there, not the playoff years…none of them.
Less than 1.9 million came out in each 2016 and 2017 to see Havoc!, a future Hall of Famer and several young talents.
Why the Reds can’t fill GABP, despite bottom 5 MLB ticket prices, is a mystery and something that directly hurts their ability to keep up spending-wise with Cubs, Cardinals and others.
Yeah, B-Ham is a crowd favorite, right up until trading him allows a better CF to play and B-Ham is quickly forgotten as we check the stats and see he is hitting .200 for the Giants or whomever and they can’t buy a run to save their life.
The trouble with the Olney quote, B-Ham is part of the reason of more 2-1 games and less 15-9 games. He helps a bit in saving a run every other week (no more than that regardless of the silly analytics), but he kills enough potential rallies to cost them a couple of runs each week.
Shifting gears from outfield to infield … how ’bout checking in with Tigers on Jose Iglesias … great glove, okay Bat (think Zack Cozrt BEFORE 2017) … .265 hitter but a terrific fielder and affordable right now at least. Free agent in 2019 … stop gap until Reds find out about inhouse options? Just a thought. With Tigers in full rebuild mode, there’s an opportunity there.
I also heard the Giants return offer for Hamilton wasn’t even close to be accepted.
It seems like the Reds are using the Giants to get the Hamilton trade done with the Rangers.
Let us hope, the Rangers have more interesting prospects. The Giants probably won’t part with their best pitching prospects and after that, they’re prospects stink.
Delete this post, Steve. The Reds would never trade Billy, right?
Right?
My son is not happy tonight either.
But, for the record, I explained to him why the Reds need to trade Hamilton. Or, at least, why it might make sense to move him right now.
Hey. I live in Sacramento and from what is being said around here is that the deal was most likely for Hamilton and Duvall and asking the Reds to take money back to help keep them under cap. They want to get under for next year when a couple big contracts come off the books. They want power plus defense and word is they want Duvall back.
would love to get Ramos for Hamilton
Exactly Cossack, and it would take multiple if we send both Hamilton and Duvall AND take back a bad contract, I mean it would take like #1, #3 and #8 prospect to get us to even think about it.
I hope this falls through if that’s the case and on to the Rangers or some other surprise team.
Yeah, it’s wishful thinking. My wife’s family lives in Annapolis, huge O fans, and I’ve been watching Machado for years now. Awesome 3b and plenty of pop. I can easily see him sliding over to short. The only way the Reds could take him would be to get a contract done before he’s a FA. But you’re right, it would be plenty hefty. Have to include Homer’s contract in the deal minimum. But that’s why I keep coming back to Senzel at short. It shores up a weak spot in the offense. Just hope he can play there.
They’re basing it on subpar defense, lack of power and lack of speed. That said, I am sure his power will be fine as he matures, he is just too big of a guy to be a gap hitter his whole career. He’ll be more like a 40 double, 25 HR type I think, with a very good OPS and OBP. He’ll be “slow”, comparatively speaking and never better than average (if he gets there) defensively, but we all want him starting full time sooner rather than later given our complete lack of any hitters outside Votto with a good eye.
I just hope we finally see one of those deals go down where the ante kept getting up’d and our GMs didn’t jump at the worst offer or get a great offer and not pull the trigger.
At this point, given the high confidence of rumors, to NOT get a deal done would be a major disappointment.
I just want to see Senzel get his 4 AB a game maybe at batting in front of Joey so he’ll have someone on base in front of him
This is gospel: Reds asked the Giants for 1st round pick Heliot Ramos in exchange for Hamilton. Giants couldn’t say no fast enough and said Reds asking price was ridiculous.