Well, yeah, if he's about to take a big leap and put his health issues behind him. But Duran would have been relatively cheap to acquire last offseason because no one knew that was about to happen. I would expect even Chicago doesn't expect that to happen with Crochet or they'd hold on to him till the deadline and sell him for a higher return than they can get now.
To me, Mayer straight up for Crochet seems a fair deal for the Sox.
Because fewer years of control? Or because they are looking for multiple players?
Duran has more control than does Crochet, but rebuilding clubs aren't going to want to consolidate value onto the MLB club, particularly for a guy like Duran who plays the same position as their top OF (Robert), and his secondary position (LF) is filled by Benintendi. It just doesn't make any sense for the White Sox. They need long term building blocks, ideally full rookie scale contract control. A guy like Duran would just be a trade asset for them.
If the Red Sox want to trade Duran and get back Crochet, they'll need a third team involved that wants Duran and is willing to give up prospects for him that you can then trade to Chicago.
I don't think they can wait. I don't think they'd get more at the deadline because fewer teams are in the picture, and the risk of injury (as with any pitcher) could torpedo their rebuild.
It's pretty amazing how well they actually did last year considering they started the season with Pivetta (inconsistent), Bello (very green... lots of potential), Houck (couldn't get past 4 innings), Crawford (at best a back-end of a rotation guy) and Whitlock (can't stay healthy) as their starting rotation. Then quickly lost their second best hitter, best middle infielder and a promising 2B. I still think if they SERIOUSLY addressed the bullpen and traded for Flaherty or Eovaldi by the middle of July they could have snuck into the playoffs... Mayer's value was likely higher then than now, they possibly could have gotten Crochet then. Clearly debatable, sure.
Part of it was they got one outstanding, surprise performance through Houck, three league average performances from Bello, Crawford, and Pivetta, and then a lot of weirdly really good innings from part-timers: Whitlock, Fitts, and Criswell were all really good when they were starting. And the "openers" all pitched really well, except for one awful Chase Anderson start.
Yeah, and what if their asset blows up in their face?
I think Abreu + Mayer is a pretty good starting point for Skubal, but are we sure that the Tigers are even shopping him at this point?
There is no way the Tigers trade Tairk Skubal. None. They just made the playoffs and they're going to trade the best pitcher in baseball?
But, but, but ... they can get a good-fielding outfielder who hasn't hit lefties yet and a minor leaguer who might be pretty good if he stops getting nagging injuries!!!
I'm in agreement. They were shopping him at the deadline and ultimately had a fantastic August and September. They also are positioned similar to us with one of the best farm systems in baseball. If I'm Detroit I'd be looking to add mid-term contracts (3-4 year) type additions to the team with the expectation that Jobe can contribute in 2025 and Clark and McGonigle can contribute in 2026. Honestly, they'd be a pretty good landing spot for Pivetta and Tyler O'Neil.
The Trade Machine isn't allowed to lie. It's the first law of the Trade Machine.
Ha, no, I was totally joking in that part of my post over there. I do not believe the Tigers have any interest in moving Skubal. I should have put a sarcasm notification in there.
I would be shocked if the Padres traded either of those guys for Duran, no matter how much Preller likes him. These guys are their Teel and Campbell and are pretty much off limits.
If you've signed Sasaki, why in the name of all that's holy would you pay the toll on Skubal? Which would be even more than that. But they already have a bunch of good/solid starters. At Saski you have five legitimate middle of the rotation or better starters. Are you planning on going to an eight man rotation?
I would be fine trading Duran in a three-team deal for Crochet if it opened up left field for Juan Soto, or Anthony Santander, or Teoscar Hernandez.
I wasn't suggesting a straight up trade.
Like this idea and justification.
I would love Vlad Jr. on the Sox but we’d be getting him at 1-year, $30~ million. Casas seems like too much to give up, to me.
Yeah, you don't do it without getting a feel for what he'd take for an extension.
I’m not about to mount a campaign against acquiring Vlad Guerrero but
This is very cherry picked.
Yeah, you're right, I double-checked and initially got bad data.
Do you seriously think that there is any trade proposal where the difference between an offer being accepted or refused is Chase Meidroth?
You are going to accuse someone else’s data of being “very cherry picked“ and then use Casas’ “average“ of games missed the last two years?
Yes, I think a mid-level prospect, like Chase, could be the difference between a deal being accepted or not. Happens all the time in trades. Chase doesn't have tools, but he's proven everything he can prove in the minors, grades very well in statistical models, and has proven he deserves a shot at the big league level in a low pressure situation, but there just isn't room for him on the sox with our glut of better talent.
OK, so we trade Casas for Vlad, in theory to balance out batting handedness at 1B, and now we’re acquiring him to DH? What’re we, the Phillies?
How about this 3 way instead: Casas to Toronto, Abreu+ Hamilton or Crawford (whichever gets the deal done) to CWS, Crochet and Vlad to Boston. Decent positional prospect from Toronto to CWS…
Seems like a lot moving out of Boston to facilitate Crochet to another team for one year of Guerrero.
The 30 games he missed in 2023 were not all for injury. He spent the last 15 games of the season on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Something he and Cora at the time acknowledged he likely could have played through if the team had anything left to play for. The rest were normal rest days and an early season platoon with Justin Turner.
