Potential Trade Deadline Targets
- Thread starter thepriceisright
- Start date
Yeah, that 2016 Cubs rotation was nails all year. Five guys making all but 10 starts on the year (each made a minimum of 29 starts) and the lowest ERA of the group was Hammel's 3.83. Really the exception to the usual...durablility like the 2004 Red Sox rotation (who made all but 5 starts) with the dominance of a classic 90s Braves rotation.
If DD did this, I'm not exactly sure how I'd react but it might involve breaking things. Ken Rosenthal opines that they could be a suitor for a Machado rental and give them Devers.
":*Boston Red Sox. Yes, Boston. The Red Sox rank 28th in OPS at third base, and a trade for Machado would be a vintage Dave Dombrowski stunner. Would the Sox give up say, five-plus years of third baseman Rafael Devers if the Orioles also included one of their potential free-agent relievers, Zach Britton or Brad Brach, and maybe a prospect?
The Sox’s top prospect is third baseman Michael Chavis, who is serving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHMCT). Like Chris Colabello, Daniel Stumpf and others suspended for DHMCT, Chavis denied purposely taking any prohibited substance and reacted with shock to his penalty. The Sox, if they traded Devers and lost Machado as a free agent, could turn to Chavis at third, or sign another free agent."
https://theathletic.com/392831/2018/06/14/rosenthal-big-shakeup-coming-for-os-machados-possible-suitors-bryces-struggles-the-padres-strong-hand/
":*Boston Red Sox. Yes, Boston. The Red Sox rank 28th in OPS at third base, and a trade for Machado would be a vintage Dave Dombrowski stunner. Would the Sox give up say, five-plus years of third baseman Rafael Devers if the Orioles also included one of their potential free-agent relievers, Zach Britton or Brad Brach, and maybe a prospect?
The Sox’s top prospect is third baseman Michael Chavis, who is serving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHMCT). Like Chris Colabello, Daniel Stumpf and others suspended for DHMCT, Chavis denied purposely taking any prohibited substance and reacted with shock to his penalty. The Sox, if they traded Devers and lost Machado as a free agent, could turn to Chavis at third, or sign another free agent."
https://theathletic.com/392831/2018/06/14/rosenthal-big-shakeup-coming-for-os-machados-possible-suitors-bryces-struggles-the-padres-strong-hand/
Long term I'd hate that. But Devers for Machado, Britton, and a prospect? That would make the Sox SIGNIFICANTLY better this season. By, like, miles and miles.
I can't see them giving up Devers with all of the other young stars becoming more and more expensive. His bottom dollar production is very much needed.
You have a grumpy superstar on your hands, and then a hole at the position when he signs elsewhere in the off-season.
The signing elsewhere part seems baked in to the whole hypothetical:
I guess the hope would be that playing for a contract would balance the effect of his grumpiness on his performance.
To be fair, he opined that Chavis would take the mantle moving forward. That solves that issue in theory. The salary/tax issues are the bigger thing.
Clearly it’s a win the World Series move. If that happens no one complains. But unlikely yes.
His job is to generate mouse clicks and to get as many people to talk about his stories as possible. Speculating about a big market team making a very controversial move accomplishes these goals.
I'd like to add someone to the Mark Canha bin of vLHP 1B/OF targets:
Jose Osuna (PIT) is pre-arb, but I think there's a decent chance he's available. He's 25 1/2 - he has a fairly stable record of production all the way through the minors - not BIG production, mind you, but some modest power with in control contact and BB/K rates. His prospect status was more or less negligible, as he is basically seen as your classic low end defensive spectrum guy who doesn't have enough power to play. AAAA guy.
Now that Austin Meadows has made a case to stick around, the Pirates are jamming four outfielders into three spots with no DH to play with. Their usual 4th OF, Adam Frazier, is in AAA to accommodate him. They still have David Freese sitting on the bench to back up Moran and the decidedly more prospect-y Josh Bell at first. They would probably like to give another COF, Jordan Luplow, a trial eventually.
In the meantime, Osuna is batting .328/.377/.519 in the IL with 8.2 BB% and 15.6 K%. He pinch hit 52 times last year and was brutal at it, registering a .120/.154/.200 line. I guess that's not really an argument in favor of carrying him as a lefty caddy since there's no point of adding the player if we can't count on him off the bench against LHRP, but his non-PH numbers were actually pretty good for a 24 YO last year. You could see a .270/.330/.470 guy if you squint.
Not sure there's much reason to get this guy instead of just using Sam Travis at the point you decide we simply must find room for that kind of 1B/OF vs LHP role, but I don't think we're going to do much better than this on the trade market, and I would definitely rather roster either player than Swihart. And I might really rather a pinch run only guy than the lot.
Jose Osuna (PIT) is pre-arb, but I think there's a decent chance he's available. He's 25 1/2 - he has a fairly stable record of production all the way through the minors - not BIG production, mind you, but some modest power with in control contact and BB/K rates. His prospect status was more or less negligible, as he is basically seen as your classic low end defensive spectrum guy who doesn't have enough power to play. AAAA guy.
Now that Austin Meadows has made a case to stick around, the Pirates are jamming four outfielders into three spots with no DH to play with. Their usual 4th OF, Adam Frazier, is in AAA to accommodate him. They still have David Freese sitting on the bench to back up Moran and the decidedly more prospect-y Josh Bell at first. They would probably like to give another COF, Jordan Luplow, a trial eventually.
In the meantime, Osuna is batting .328/.377/.519 in the IL with 8.2 BB% and 15.6 K%. He pinch hit 52 times last year and was brutal at it, registering a .120/.154/.200 line. I guess that's not really an argument in favor of carrying him as a lefty caddy since there's no point of adding the player if we can't count on him off the bench against LHRP, but his non-PH numbers were actually pretty good for a 24 YO last year. You could see a .270/.330/.470 guy if you squint.
Not sure there's much reason to get this guy instead of just using Sam Travis at the point you decide we simply must find room for that kind of 1B/OF vs LHP role, but I don't think we're going to do much better than this on the trade market, and I would definitely rather roster either player than Swihart. And I might really rather a pinch run only guy than the lot.
Pearce is a logical fit. Besides, it would complete his mission to play for all five AL East teams.
I agree - but he could say they are a suitor, come up with something more logical and get the same results. Ignoring their payroll concerns is lazy.
The Sox are going to have a tough time making a deal other than a swap of someone like holt for an equally maligned player on another team. You can make the case that they have the worst farm system at this point.
Holt is maligned? By the team? By the league? Who would be some equally maligned players that he might be traded for?
FWIW, Bleacher Report just reranked the systems this week and they have BOS in 27th, ahead of the Mets, Mariners and Cubs (NY is 10th, down from 3rd, after graduating Torres/Andujar).
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2778737-bleacher-reports-updated-farm-system-rankings-post-2018-draft#slide3
Have we discussed AJ Pollock?
He seems to be perpetually injured/recovering - but when he isn't, he's damn productive. I'd think he could be had for less than Machado and if the thumb checks out, might be as valuable and would take care of the JBJ problem. Could such a deal be had for Bradley + stuff?
He seems to be perpetually injured/recovering - but when he isn't, he's damn productive. I'd think he could be had for less than Machado and if the thumb checks out, might be as valuable and would take care of the JBJ problem. Could such a deal be had for Bradley + stuff?
If JBJ sucks, why would the D-Backs want him? If AJ Pollock were hurt, why would the Red Sox want him? If AJ Pollock is healthy why would the D-Backs trade him.
Edit: Desnarked. Don't want to be that guy.
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He’s essentially the 24th man on the roster. Usually. Trade him for a pitcher who is also someone’s 24th man on the roster. That’s probably the best this team can hope for. Groome is damaged goods and Chavis got popped for PEDs other than those two they really have nothing down there.
However, how long does this team give JBJ? I know there’s a financial reason why Rusney is down In Pawtucket but the guy is hitting .310. Might be time to give him another shot and hope he works out. If he doesn’t maybe some team claims him and takes the financial burden off the Sox.
You're absolutely right - I hadn't checked the standings in a while and just assumed LA was up 15 games and Arizona wasn't even in contention for a wild card slot.
But... Pollock is an unrestricted free agent after the season, so maybe something to keep an eye on as we move toward the trading deadline.
I think Holt's position as 24th player as a utility position player has higher value to the Red Sox than a middling pitcher struggling to stay on a major league roster.
SSS, but Osuna also seems like a nice guy. On Sunday, my six year old was on the field at McCoy pre game with his Little League team. As they were walking off, Osuna was running in from stretching in the outfield. He stopped, held my son's hand and walked along and chatted with him for a bit before heading off to the dugout, which was remarkably chill for a visiting player
I agree. I was using him as an example of the type of trade the Sox could make. Anyone who believes they can get a decent player with the prospect pool they have is delusional.
He also has a 5% BB rate and .116 ISO, with a .362 BABIP that is pretty far above his previous AAA BABIPs. So if you want to bet a huge amount of money on nothing but batted ball luck, sure.
I can't either. Not just the money but his ceiling is too high. Despite our frustration with him at the plate he is SO young. I really think the Sox are thinking long haul. I don't expect any spectacular adds this season. The best ones would be getting Thornburg and Pedey back healthy. (Or even semi-healthy)
He consistently kills lefties though, even this year. He would make a lot of sense if it weren't for the contract.
Next year, JBJ may cost just as much/close to Castillo. That might be an interesting conversation to have at the end of the year depending on how it finishes.
edit: Of course they could probably get better value elsewhere so neither would be more likely.
There are something like 10 qualified left handed starting pitchers in the AL who have an ERA under 5 and don't pitch for the Red Sox. I don't know that a lefty killer is worth all that much. I guess there would be more relievers, but that still means parts of games for him. Still not worth that contract.
There are only 35 pitchers total in the AL who are qualified, have an ERA under 5 and don't pitch for the Red Sox. And only 41 total regardless of ERA. So the fact that only 10 of them are LHP (if that's accurate; I didn't check) hardly means the Sox can ignore lefthanded pitching. That's about a quarter of their games facing pitchers against whom, so far, they're batting like a catcher. The fact that Xander and Mookie have only both been in the lineup for 42 of their 69 games may have something to do with this, so there may be good reason to expect it to get better on its own now that both are healthy. But it's a thing.
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Castillo turns 31 in a couple weeks and still hasn't shown anything special in AAA.
If we get to the point of making Castillo comps by the end of the year, the conversation would first revolve around why we'd even be tendering JBJ in the first place. Just saying.
Fair enough on the total pitcher count. I still think bringing up Rusney and getting on the hook for his crap contract isn't worth doing so that he can maybe hit left handed pitching. Maybe you do pick up someone who hits lefties, but there must be a cheaper, more certain way to do it than Rusney.
Late to the Canha party, but not sure why his name is being thrown around. He has a reverse split over his career (worse than JBJ against lefties in fact) and isn't a good fielder. https://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=11445&position=1B/OF&season=0&split=0.3
I'm not sure how available Nick Castellanos is but I think he is the best overall bat they could afford. I'm not sure a positionless guy is what they need but If DD likes him, he knows him as well as anyone.
I think they are best off upgrading 2b, There is no time table for Pedey's recovery and Nunez has been a train wreck.
Lowrie, and Asdrubel Cabrera seem like no-brainers to get dealt regardless. The Sox would need the Mets to eat some of Cabrera's salary but getting a Cabrera at the deadline has worked once too.
Available outfielders seems like slim pickings.
I'm not sure how available Nick Castellanos is but I think he is the best overall bat they could afford. I'm not sure a positionless guy is what they need but If DD likes him, he knows him as well as anyone.
I think they are best off upgrading 2b, There is no time table for Pedey's recovery and Nunez has been a train wreck.
Lowrie, and Asdrubel Cabrera seem like no-brainers to get dealt regardless. The Sox would need the Mets to eat some of Cabrera's salary but getting a Cabrera at the deadline has worked once too.
Available outfielders seems like slim pickings.
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Castellanos is terrific and I was banging the drum for him all offseason. He’d be great here, but I don’t think we can afford him and I’m not sure where he plays with Devers, Betts, and JDM on the team. His contract lines up with JDM’s first opt-out.
Canha was a swing change dude who looked great early on and faded hard. I liked his ability to play first for a potential Moreland platoon next year, but you’re right that he’s less attractive now. OTOH, he’s still playable against lefties (especially away from O.Co) and should be close to free after Oakland graduates some prospects this summer.
Castellanos might have a contract the Sox can afford to add (truthfully, he doesn't unless they shed salary or the Tigers eat money), but there's no chance they can outbid any other team that might be interested in getting him.
Of course not. If it weren't for the crap contract though, he's a perfect fit on the roster and would definitely fill a need. Last year he actually showed some pop and it didn't look like it was going to carry over this season, but he has shown signs of life lately.
First 194 PA (44 games): .293/.314/.370 on a .351 BAbip with 14 doubles, 0 HRs.
Last 73 PA (16 games) : .364/.425/.621 on a .385 BAbip with 5 doubles, 4 HRs.
Last year .314/.350/.507
This year .312/.345/.436
If the power trend continues, he could end up with a similar line to last year. He'd definitely have a job in the Majors somewhere if not for that terrible contract. He'd may even get a shot at starting on some team given he is a CF. Hell, if it weren't for the contract, I'd be tempted to start him over JBJ.
Noted, but I don't think there will be a ton of competition other than a few NL teams, and I think one of them (the Braves) would probably step up for Machado if they were really going for it.
I could see maybe the D-Backs (RF), or Phillies (wherever).
The Diamondbacks have a terrible farm system too and also just added Jon Jay, so I don't think it would be impossible to beat that offer.
Of course the Tigers are only 2.5 games out at this point, so who knows.
A conversation for next year. JBJ is walking a tight rope on being non tendered. He’s making $6.1 and heading into arb 3; he’ll be close to Rusney’s price tag. Just a matter of which they choose and how the season finishes for both.