Ok people need to stop with "ace hunting". How many true "aces" are there in all of baseball? Definitely less then ten. Cole Burnes Wheeler Fried Glasnow? Some fringe guys like: Nola Webb Some young up and comers: Strider Skenes Skubal Crochet JV and Framber use to be considered an "ace" but that is no longer the case. Yamamoto has the potential but needs to prove it over a few yrs. In my opinion the word "ace" is thrown around WAY too loosely.
Anytime they get a chance to get an ace at a semi reasonable cost they should do it. Aces win championships.
Of course, but anyone expecting an “ace” to be available at a “semi reasonable cost” isn’t being realistic or has a low bar for what they consider an ace. 21 of 30 teams are still in the playoff hunt and they will all be shopping for starting pitching. The 9 teams poised to sell might have 2-3 “aces” total available for trade.
My wish list (realistic): RP Tanner Scott - Miami SP Cal Quantrill - Colorado 1B David Fry - Cleveland Verlander, Valdez, Brown, Blanco, Quantrill, Garcia (IL) Hader, Pressly, Abreu, Tanner Scott, Taylor Scott, Martinez, Montero Fry has a slash line of .304/.410/.511. Altuve Bregman Alvarez Tucker Diaz Fry Meyers Pena Dubon/McCormick Bench: Singleton, Loperfido, Caratini The problem with Crochet and Flaherty is whether or not they'll be pitching come late September or on an IL? Really risky.
Why would Cleveland trade Fry? You think they want Meyers or something? I do think Quantrill is probably the most realistic, best option for us SP wise.
They've got Naylor already at 1B. He's expendable in that regard. You raise a good question, what would they want from us? They do need outfield help and with Loperfido and Cabbage contributing, maybe we can deal McCormick.
Even then they are going to want MLB talent in return so unless they want Meyers or Chas, I don’t see why they would trade with us. Not to mention I am sure they don’t want to help us out.
Astros get: 1B Yandy Diaz SP Zach Eflin Rays get: OF Joey Loperfido SP Spencer Arrighetti P Miguel Ullola OF Zach Cole
Good good good ! This leaves us w OF of Meyers, Cabbage, McCormick, Tucker and Dubon and Yordan (DH too). We keep Melton. We keep Leon. I think Yandy D will thrive here offensively.
I like both players and their contracts (under contract for 2025 @ $18M and $10M). I also think TB will likely trade them. However I don't think this is enough. I think it would be fine if Spencer and Joey had shown a bit more so far, but right now don't have the same value as top 50ish prospects. I think that means either adding a 5th guy from the Astros top 10 or upgrading either Ullola or Cole (maybe both) to Blubaugh or Baez. This is also true since as soon as it becomes known these guys are on the market other teams will be bidding too. The Rays aren't going to do the Astros any favors by keeping that a secret. They will shout it to the world to get the best return. And they should.
I think you are probably right and I originally typed Baez instead of Cole. Opinions on prospects vary greatly between orgs. This trade’s viability obviously depends heavily on Tampa really liking those young players. Probably not and this package may not be enough. Lotta variance in the market and Eflin would be sought after by 20+ teams.
I would be looking to shop Arrighetti and Loperfido as the headliners for an impact player. I would really not discuss Melton, Matthews, or Bloss except for something extraordinary. I would talk about Ullola, Blubaugh, Baez, Cole, and Dezenzo for the right player, but I would value all of those prospects pretty highly; except Baez I would really not discuss anyone below AA. I am hoping some team out there selling the right guy has scouted Loperfido and Arrighetti and fallen in love. If Houston is looking at rentals or relievers, I would hope they could get the right player using their upper level 2nd/3rd tier guys like Whitcomb, Wagner, Corona, Gordon, Whitley, Santa, Ferreras, Santos, Gusto, and Barber.
I do like club control thru 2026 for Diaz. And a reasonable average salary of $11 million. Eflin I don't like, especially with an $18 million price tag next year. Quantrill is only $6.5 million this year and ARB eligible next year. So both are under control thru 2025 and are essentially the same kind of pitcher.
I would give up Matthews (who I love as a prospect) Blubaugh and Melton for Crochet. He's that good, aces don't become available often and when they do the cost is prohibitive.
