The Blue Jays traded for Clayton Richard. They’ve now recently added him and Matt Shoemaker. With those 2 plus Pannone, Foley, and Borucki they may have an extra starter. I wonder if they are prepping to trade Stroman or Sanchez.
Is that site anything more than some fan writing on a blog? I read through the top 100 and it was pretty weird, and at one point included a link to a discussion about a trade in his fantasy league.
Yes, it’s a popular blog by Ray Butler, who started prospects-365. It’s not Baseball America or MLB.com. It’s just an additional perspective from a highly revered baseball fan. I enjoy the read.
I mean, if he's just some dude who reads fangraphs and MLB.com, that's cool and all, you're welcome to enjoy his stuff, but you probably shouldn't give it anymore weight than if Snake wrote out his top 100 favorite prospects.
As far as prospect rankings go, they are all analytical guesswork. I don’t mind the hard work of a dedicated fan. It’s just another perspective.
If anyone cares about news around here: Interesting move for SEA. Wonder if the Ichiro/SEA connection played a role in landing him...had to have, right?
Historically the west coast and especially LA, San Fran, and Seattle have been the favorite destinations of Asian players. Shorter flight home, larger Asian communities.
Yeah, that signing in totally unsurprising. Mediocre stuff, but he's a lefty, I'm sure I'll hate him soon.
I'm okay with the Astros not making another move during the offseason. Look at the possible trade deadline candidates. These are guys that are currently free agents after next season, still on their teams as of today, and depending how their teams do in the 1st half COULD be available at the deadline if they aren't moved or extended during the offseason. Cervelli Jose Abreu Goldschmidt (Cardinals have to battle Cubs and Brewers in division and a bunch of wild card teams....possible they could fall out of contention) Justin Smoak Scooter Gennett Nolan Arenado (Dodgers look like clear favorites in NL West and crowded wild card with Cubs, Brewers, Cardinals, Phillies, Mets, Nationals, Braves) Josh Donaldson Anthony Rendon (battling Philles, Braves, and Mets for division plus all the wild card contenders) Corey Dickerson Marcell Ozuna Castellanos Puig Nelson Cruz (12 million option for 2020) Khris Davis Bumgarner Chacin Kyle Gibson Cole Hamels Jake Odorizzl Zach Wheeler Alex Wood Addison Reed Will Smith We know that the Astros had a deal in place at the deadline to get Harper for Bukaukas and Garrett Stubbs, and then the Nationals owernship stopped the deal. Obviously, not all of the players above will be available because some of the teams will be in contention. However, imagine adding a Nolan Arenado, Goldschmidt, or Abreu at the deadline to be DH/1B down the stretch and only paying a similar or lower price as the Harper deal we had in place last year? That sounds like a Luhnow style move more so than giving up what the Cardinals gave up for 1 year of Goldschmidt. Then add a Bumgarner, Alex Wood, etc and we are good to go.
My only issue with the stand pat and wait approach is that deadline deals don’t always work out. If we can make the right deal now, pull the trigger. If not, stay the course. I think your post is well representative of the FO’s mindset however—there is no desperation to do anything quickly.
With AZ in need of a CF, would it make sense to attempt a trade that would send them Marisnick and Kemp? They could use Marisnick in center, push Peralta to RF and use Kemp in LF. If successful, I’m thinking that Straw could be used as our OF4. Kemp, Marisnick and prospects in return for Greinke or Ray (or both)—Greinke with returned salary relief.
In a trade for a Greinke or Ray, Marisnick is nothing more than filler and/or salary relief. Kemp is a marginal 4th OFer or a 2nd baseman on a non-contending team. So yes, Marisnick and Kemp COULD be included in a trade for Greinke or Ray. However, they are the 3rd, 4th, or 5th piece of the package. The prospects will be the meat of the deal. WIth Greinke's insane salary I am starting to think a deal for him at the deadline makes way more sense. At the deadline he will be owed about 17 million for the remainder of the year (without salary relief from Arizona). That still leaves the Astros with around 10 million in payroll to add someone else now or at the deadline and remain under the cap. Plus, they can afford his salary in 2020 with Verlander, Cole, McHugh, etc likely leaving. If they add Greinke now he blows out their salary cap unless the D-Backs eat significantly more than 10 million per year.
Wonder if the Kikuchi acquisition greases the wheels on a potential Marco Gonzales trade. Would be a fine arm in our rotation; I’m sure a ton of teams have already checked in with SEAs ongoing fire sale...
I don't see why they would trade Gonzales. Mariners control him until 2024 and he only makes 900k in 2019 and 1 million in 2020. Then he hits arbitration in 2021.
Dipoto has said that Haniger and Gonzales are the two players they want to build around. Not that it would ever be a shock to see Dipoto trade any player, but I don’t think they are actively shopping him like they were Cano, Diaz, Segura, and the others they’ve shipped out.
It depends on the type of deal in play. A trade for Greinke would require less prospects and more consumption of the crazy salary. A trade for Ray would require a large prospect haul. I’m suggesting Kemp and Marisnick because of their obvious need for OF help given the departure of Pollock. It would be a starting point, at least. I think your assessment of Greinke being a deadline deal is on point. The less cost that Greinke carries, the more appealing he will be to interested teams. It’s a huge commitment to make that type of deal now, without a large payoff from AZ, and I think AZ would prefer to get some miles out of Greinke rather than just cut ties to save $.
