Agreed Here is the problem though, the guys that make it through waivers aren't typically really good. I mean there are usually some guys that can help you, but nothing great. With the depth that we have on this team right now, there aren't many guys we could get rid of to add a guy like that. I mean pitching wise, we just send VV down and not because he can't help, because we just don't have room. I don't see a pitcher better than him making it thorough waivers?? Everyday players the bottom guy has to be Carter, agreed? Not maybe I could see us putting him through waivers and trying to move him, to open up a spot for someone? We are really deep, gonna have to be someone with nice ability for us to make a move...pretty incredible to be able to say that
Regarding bullpen, no one will get through waivers better than in-house options. Extra bat, Joey Votto may clear waivers...but then I don't know if Crane would want a bat that is too expensive for the Yankees.
We don't really have bad pitchers in the bullpen. It feels like some of them have been terribly unreliable, but overall it's a pretty solid pen. We were going hard after Kimbrel because he was dominant, and a dominant guy clearly improves the bullpen, but dominant guys don't get through waivers. The best we could hope to find are solid guys, and we already have those. The only hitters that will get though are guys will monster contracts, and we aren't gonna take on one of those.
Appel, Velasquez, Fiers, Feldman, Fields are arms that should be in the mix for bullpen roles in the playoffs
Anybody get wind of the package the Astros agreed to send the Phillies for Cole Hammels? Before Hamels nixed it!
Nice little article about the prospects that we sent the Brewers in the GoGo/Fiers deal. Liking the trade more and more. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/projecting-the-prospects-in-the-carlos-gomez-trade/
The obvious guys no, but there are some that might sneak through. K-Rod (age plus contract might keep teams in front of us from claiming, Grilli would be included if not for Achilles tear), AJ Ramos of the Marlins, Cody Allen of the Indians, Carson Smith of the Mariners (plus others in a solid bullpen), Tampa Bay pen has a few arms that could make it to us, JJ Hoover for the Reds (he doesn't have the K/9 numbers), and Benoit for San Diego. Kimbrel and Chapman might not but there are arms out there that could be had who could have an impact. Luhnow's trade comments were always left open ended when it came to the deadline, I expect him to add another piece or two if the right players makes it to the Astros on waivers.
Yea, there have been some pretty good players move in August http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/notable-august-trades-2012-14.html I would guess a guy like Benoit would make it through waivers, as when he was signed he was "likely the closer" and has an 8 million contract next year, doubt anyone including us would claim that. Shields would probably get through also, but then again not sure getting a deal done with Preller is very likely K-Rod at $5 million next year would likely get claimed, that doesn't seem like the kind of contract that would keep some teams ahead of us from taking him on. Key in a lot of this is that if you claim someone, you either work a deal for them or they are pulled back and that is it. For the guys that make it all the way through waivers with no team claiming them, can be traded just as if it was July
Also, guys like Ramos, Allen and Smith are not signed to big contracts, Smith is at 500K and the other in arb years. Those guys would be very unlikely to make it through waivers. It would most likely be older vets who teams are trying to get some salary relief from. Just a quick scan through rosters and salary commitments there doesn't seem to be many of those types this year, but i'm sure there will be a few get through
Torres is horrible. We should've got O'Flaherty as a pure lefty specialist. His splits are crazy v lefties...too bad the Mets got him first.
When he was with TAmpa he was awesome. Last 2 years he has struggle with walks. He is more of a left handed pitcher vs right handed hitter type of pitcher, but he is a plus 9K per 9 innings and less that a 1 hit per inning guy. Only 27 so i can see this guy rebounding.
What a total lack of confidence in yourself if you don't think you can pitch with the Crawford Boxes. Keuchel is sure making those look like a non-factor as a LHP. They haven't been consistent winners over the last 6 years because of a lack of young talent. If he came here, the team would have: Hamels, Keuchel, Altuve, Springer, & Correa over the next several years as to core of a multi-year contender.
Holy crap, I remember when he mowed everyone down in Pittsburgh in 04... and then proceeded to fade into oblivion
