The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart of MLB.com Discusses Carlos Correa Trade Rumors

Episode Date: December 11, 2019

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com joins Matt to talk Astros as the Winter Meetings continue and rumors fly about a potential trade of Carlos Correa

is the Matt Thomas show. Matt Thomas with you from Cleveland, Rockets and Cavaliers, tonight. We go about, I don't know, 2,500 miles to the west to San Diego, California, where Brian McTaggart covers the Astros and MLB Baseball for MLB.com, and he was at the winter meetings and joins us here for a couple of minutes on the show. Tag, first of all, thanks for joining me. Did you buy into any of the, there are mystery teams out there, or was this the Yankees all the way through?

Well, I mean, it depends on, you know, what defines a mystery team. I mean, you know, how I think anybody can call and try to get in the mix, but, you know, who's willing to spend that money? And there are very few teams that they could have hit that level. And, I mean, it was clearly the Dodgers and Angels and, of course, the Yankees. But, you know, if you're Scott Boris, you know, it doesn't hurt to float mystery team, even if there isn't one, just to spread a little bit of panic.

But I think we all knew going into it. the offseason. It was going to be one of the big giant market clubs. And not surprised, the Yankees opening up the wallet big time for a move that probably swings the balance of power, I think, of the American League now of the Yankees. Yeah, we're speaking again of Garrett Cole's nine-year contract worth $324 million. I always felt like he wanted to be the richest guy. Steven Strasbourg started it with the seven years, $35 million a piece. You've been basketball a long time and have seen him some.

incredulous contracts. Get your crystal ball out like I've had my audience to the same thing. How do you portray this? How do you think this is going to ultimately end? Because of the fact that, look, Justin Verlander is in his mid-the-late 30s, and he is progressing beautifully and pitching in a high level. So it wouldn't be impossible so that Garrett can't do that.

But, man, you are putting a lot of pressure in yourself not to have any disappointing performances or many of them because he's going to be making more than a million dollars per start, per se, as long as he's healthy. Yeah, well, I mean, you know, I look at it two ways. I mean, yeah, it's a nine-year deal, and that's a long time, and a lot of things can happen. But, I mean, if they sign, you know, they sign Cole, I mean, if they win a World Series or two or three in the next, you know, four or five years, then it was worth it, I think, for both sides. Even, you know, at the end of the deal, even if, you know, if a 37-year-old Garrett Cole is making $36 million and has broken down.

But you look at a lot of these deals that have been signed, I mean, these massive deals like this, they usually don't pan out. I mean, just, and that's not a knock against Cole. It's just the length of the deals and the massive amount of money. It's hard for anyone to perform at that level to justify the worth. I mean, look at, you know, David Price at the time, a massive deal. And, you know, has he pitched up to the contract level? No.

But that's what you've got to do. I mean, that's the price of pitching nowadays. And Garrett Cole hit free agency. It's perfect time, perfect storm. Pitching is the best baseball of his career. and with teams, you know, the revenues are up and teams are willing to spend money, and he cast in big time. But the proof of the pudding.

I mean, if they win a World Series or two, and Garrett Cole is a big part of that, then it's probably worth it. Brian McTaggart, MLB.com, with us from the owner's meetings in winter meetings, I should say, in San Diego. What do you make of the Carlos Correa rumor mill? I don't make much of it. I mean, I think they probably kicked it around because in Jeff Luno told us yesterday,

today. If they're going to bring any high-end people in at any point in the next couple of years as far as free agents or any trades, they're going to have to free up some payroll. I mean, they're just, they're at unprecedented levels as far as their payroll. I mean, they're going to be over the luxury threshold next year. So it's kind of hard for them to really add anybody at this point. So they probably kicked it around. And you know what, Kare has, you know, got a couple years left. His money's getting up there. He's hurt a lot. He does have some value because he's a tremendous player when he's healthy. Maybe we can trade him. but, you know, I don't think it's going to happen. I mean, I don't think there's much to that. I wouldn't completely rule it out, but, yeah, I think Corby is going to be in an

Astros uniform next year. You know, maybe next offseason of his career, you know, maybe they think about it again because they have some huge contract extensions taking any next year. Breggman's contract extension kicks in. Two big is up to $29 million, Burlander, $33 million. So they're at a payroll crunch like we've never seen before, and they're going to have to at some point find ways to save some money. Do you think Carlos Correa has a realistic view,

a point of what he thinks he's worth? I mean, is he thinking, if I can play 140 games next year and do the things that I did maybe during the World Series run that the injury bug that I've been hit with the last two or three years will be just a bygone that I'll get what I think I deserve in the open market? Yeah, well, I mean, he's still a couple years away from free agency. So, you know, he's still got a couple years to, yeah, prove he's healthy, put together a full season, and sort of add to his value.

But, yeah, Carlos Correy had so up in the market right now, I think he would have a lot of suitors, and he would make a lot of money, but, you know, not as much if he plays 155 games and, you know, has OPS and 950. I mean, you know, if he plays a full season, he's one of the top two or three short stops in the game, but as we've seen, he just can't stay healthy. There's got to be questions about his back. You know, he's had a couple years now where he's had back problems, and he's 25 years old, and that's sort of a red flag.

but he was dancing around pretty good at his wedding over the weekend so he looked like he's healthy and happy so if he can carry that into the season and stay healthy then I think he's going to set him up set himself up pretty nicely for pre-agency in a couple years wait a minute did you go to the carols career wedding no but it was all over Instagram though I can't believe you didn't see any of the videos

I don't follow athletes I just follow Brian McTagrin and MLB on Instagram how about that for a lot yeah all right so let's invite Lance McCullors, according to Jeff Luno and Lance when he was talking before the end of the season, it's like, you know, I'm ready to go, ready to go. And I think you or somebody asked him about what kind of pitch inning rate he could give this team in 2020. And it was reported up between 100 and 120 innings.

While that's nice, that means they're going to have to come in and think about a six starter because no way in the world can you go with a five-man rotation with one of your guys, especially one of your top end guys throwing that few innings. So how much is starting pitching going to be talked about, not only because Cole is gone, but the fact that McCullors is clearly going to be on a pitch and inning count this year. Yeah, when we visited with Jeff Lindell, yesterday, and his suite, he brought that up.

McCullough threw out that number 120 innings, and then he elaborated on a little bit and thought that was probably going to be about, you know, where they would have McCullors, you know, I'm 120, 130. So, yeah, they're going to need starting pitching. But I think it's going to be a case where they're going to use 12, 13 starting pitchers at any point next year. They're going to have, you know, a couple of years ago, they had this five-man rotation that made every start until mid-August. It was just automatic. And, you know, those days are over.

We're going to see, you know, Josh James is going to get stressed out. He'll get some starts. We're going to see, you know, maybe later in the year, Fort Whitley gets in the mix. but guys like Framber Valdez, maybe Christian Javier makes his debut. They're going to have a lot of people make starts, and they're going to look at the innings that they lost cold through 250 innings, even Wade Miley through 170 innings that were really quality, and so the last few.

It's not going to be a case where you're going to have the same five guys take the ball through five games. It's just not the way they're going to have to piece the in it together. They're going to have a lot of different guys. You know, I wouldn't say a six-man rotation. I just think they're going to have a lot of starters. They're just going to have to go about things differently than maybe we were used to seeing the Astros. The pitching rich Astros do in the last few years just because they have, even Archie is the guy that is not going to, you know, is he going to go north of 150 innings?

If he does, he's going to have to be really good. So they've got the piece of rotation together in different ways. A few more minutes here with Brian McTaggart, MLB.com at the winter meetings in San Diego. Well, where are we on free agency with relievers? and is there any danger of anybody leaving that was a core part of that bullpen group last year? Yeah, I mean, I certainly think they need to bring back Will Harris. I mean, they need a reliever or two. I think right now they're trying to get a catcher, obviously.

That's their number one priority because they don't have a starting catcher. They want to have a starting pitcher and a reliever. But, you know, Harris is out there. Joe Smith's been here at the winter meetings, believe it or not, every day sort of walking around. He's not like looking for a job, but he's just been here. I mean, that's the guy that could be back. You know, they're not going to bring both those guys back. But if you look at their bullpen, they have Osuna coming back.

You have Ryan Presley coming back. And then what? You know, I mean, Da Vinciky, Peacock, you know, guys who had up and down seasons, there's some depth there. But, you know, maybe the quality depth isn't there that they need. So, yeah, they're definitely going to have to get a reliever or two. You know, I think, you know, Harris would be a very comfortable fit to come back. But, again, Will Harris is a free agent for the first time.

So he's going to want to strike it rich as much as he can and take advantage of his situation. So there's no doubt they need a reliever. No doubt they could use a starter. It's not going to be Madison Baumgartner or anybody like that. But right now, catching is a top priority because they really don't have a starter. All right. Last question for you. Jeff and AJ did speak to the media.

Obviously, we're peppered with questions concerning the cheating and the allegations. You were there for both of that. What was that like? And did you happen to see two gentlemen who are pretty forthcoming with the media put in different situations than they normally are, especially in AJ's case? Yeah, it's weird because at the owner's meetings, when you meet with the general manager, what happens is all the, and this happens for every team. The media goes up to the suite. I mean, each team has a suite where, you know, they have the big, they have the big white raceboard and they have names on it. So at the end of the day, the media comes up there.

and, you know, Luno's sitting at the corner of the suite, and we just sit around a table and sort of talk, and it's pretty informal. But, yeah, I mean, he was asked certainly about the allegations, and, you know, he declined comment. Now, Hinch's thing yesterday was completely different because it's in the press conference room. He's sitting at a table.

There were probably 50 or 60 reporters around this table, and Hinch started it with sort of an opening statement saying, He can't comment on the investigation. And then was peppered with probably seven to ten questions about the investigation. And, you know, it was a tough spot for him to be in. But, you know, he kind of towed the line and kind of had to you because he's been told not to talk and not say anything. And I think there are things he wants to say that he will say eventually. But, you know, a couple of the reporters were trying to get some stuff out of them and just, you know, I didn't go anywhere.

So, you know, I think once this is all settled, I think we'll hear more from both of them. And, you know, I certainly think AJ wanted to get out there and really tell what he feels, but he just can't do it. What is your guess on the timeline? When do you think we'll have an eventual decision on this? Yeah, well, that's tough. I mean, basically baseball shuts down for a couple of weeks right before Christmas. So if this isn't settled in the next 10 days, I think we're going to look at this carrying over into 2020. And there's no way they let this leak into spring training.

It wouldn't surprise me if we hear the results of this investigation in the next 10 days. It seems like they've been pretty thorough. I mean, AJ says he's talked with him a couple of times. Alex Cora, Carlos Beltron, were here, of course, managers. They were asked about it as well. They said they're cooperating. So it seems like they've done a lot of the due diligence already. So, you know, maybe in the next 10 days, I don't know.

That's just kind of a guess, though. All right, we'll leave it at that. Safe Travels back to Houston. Thank you, Tech, for the time, as always. We really appreciate it. All right. Talk you later. You got it.

Brian McTaggart. and astros.com with us here on the Matt Thomas show.