They are not going to fix what isn't broken. There's absolutely no reason to rock the boat and create drama. Ken Giles is performing well and has not earned a demotion. Also, you're approaching this like it's 1993. They'll utilize Britton in what are likely to be higher-leverage situations across any late inning, essentially anywhere from 6th-9th. He's 15MM times more valuable in that role. Would you rather he face Seager-Turner-Bellinger in the 7th or Puig-Utley-Grandal because it's the 9th?
Nightengale also thinks the Dodgers might go after Felipe Rivero... if the Pirates would entertain trading Rivero to LA, I can't see why they wouldn't take a Houston offer seriously. The Pirates are 14-3 since Rivero became their closer. That's a guy I'd feel much more comfortable giving up valued prospects for in comparison with Britton. https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...line-rumors-sonny-gray-jd-martinez/484205001/
You are overthinking it. They would bring him in to close because he's better than Giles. It's not that complicated. It's not rocking the boat, and it won't cause "drama", baseball players are not 12 years old. They will move Giles down, you need to accept it doctor phil.
Britton certainly fills the much needed role of a great lefty in the bullpen. He may be the best Astros lefty bullpen specialist since... Mike Gallo (lol).
Arguably one of the greatest post season performances in history. 7 games, 12 batters faced, 36 pitches thrown, 1 hit, 1 walk (intentional), 0 runs.
Yes, right - only 12-year olds get upset when they're demoted, especially without cause.... And his teammates won't care, either, uh-huh... Sure. As I said, "closer" will be a relative term in the postseason so I'll ask you again: Would you rather Britton face Seager-Turner-Bellinger in the 7th or save him to face Puig-Utley-Grandal because it's the 9th? You can effectively leverage Britton without causing any disruptions. But to think balancing egos and various agendas within the locker room isn't at the top of any manager's priority list hints that you may be new to organized sports. If Giles falters, sure - make the "official" move. Otherwise, Hinch can effectively deploy his relievers without making any changes.
Out of ALL of the bullpen arms available he's definitely the #1 closer on the market but is he really available? The guys numbers are freaking insane.
Yeah, so let me school you to what happens in organized sports. When an elite player is brought in via trade to help win a title, the depth chart is reorganized instantaneously, without anybody throwing hissy fits. It happens in every major sport, every year, at every trade deadline. You are equating it to an internal demotion, which is incorrect. Also, why are you complaining about Giles being crushed if he's demoted, but you don't mention that even in your scenario, someone would be demoted, and thus the same "drama" would be created. By your logic, no good teams should ever upgrade at the trade deadline, because it will cause "drama" when a lesser player who has been with the team longer gets demoted. It don't make no sense. I'd rather devo/harris take the 7th.
Usually because they are filling what's been a hole and there's little-to-no disruption. But Ken Giles has been a very good closer the past year and a half. BTW, do you remember when they dealt for Giles?... Who did Hinch name closer at the start of spring training? (Hint: it wasn't Giles.)
I'd think the Bucs are going to have to go on a losing streak between now and the 30th for them to consider moving Rivero. Right now they're at .500 and sitting 7.5 games out of the wildcard. Do Fisher, Alvarez, Kemmer, and Kemp get Rivero? I don't know. Raisel Iglesias is said to be available, though for a pretty penny, and the Reds are certainly not going to be in contention this year: http://www.12up.com/posts/5290591-reds-gm-won-t-rule-out-trading-star-pitcher Would KTuck, Teo, and Stubbs get the Reds to move Iglesias? I'm not sure. Interesting article came out today in Baseball America profiling some of the Astros prospects that teams are likely to target: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-july-21/#ouOPqqC0QyHp6Ygk.97 If the SP market only has Grey, Verlander, Darvish, and Garcia to offer, I'd go with two elite relievers rather than a mediocre SP and a mediocre reliever. The price of Iglesias+Rivero is probably equivalent to that of getting deGrom from the Mets. Two relievers expected to throw 90 IP each over the course of a season can be counted on to get the same number of outs as a SP who is expected to pitch 180 IP in a season. So it's a fair alternative. As for team chemistry, I think it would work well - Rivero is from Venezuela so it would be easy for Altuve to make him feel welcome, and Iglesias is from Cuba, where he probably got to know Gurriel at some point.
Trying to debate rationally when somebody is fixed in their view ("Giles isn't good").... is like having a Martian talk to a fungo.
That's not true. There is always more than a little disruption when you bring an elite guy to a title contender. You are just failing to mention that Harris or Devo being demoted would cause the same "drama" you are saying will happen with Giles. You are neglecting to mention this because the "not rocking the boat" argument is stupid, and its not what front offices think about. I don't care if he doesn't close immediately, but they would bring him in assuming he would find top form, and close.
Gotcha - so here's where I'd disagree. I don't think the important pieces of the bullpen have been overused. I was concerned a while back, but they've done masterful job of running scrubs out there. It's turned out great - all sorts of players that won't be on the post-season roster are getting tons of MLB experience while the team just kind of floats along. We have 6 potential starting pitchers right now - I'd really like to use the next two months to see who's best of the McHugh/Morton/Fiers/Peacock crew than replace several of them (we're already replacin one when Keuchel comes back next week) and never find out. I think running a Verlander out there in the regular season takes away valuable time to see which of these guys should have what roles in the postseason. It solves a problem (bullpen overuse) that we don't really have, thanks to our absurd lead.
I'm not the only one apparently, They are the ones looking at a better closer than Giles. Accept it. They aren't bringing him on to be a left handed specialist lol.
Britton has been terrible since coming off the DL. The O's have also not used him in back-to-back games. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
from Reddit agree with others here that we don't really need a starter, reliever/closer is the only thing I would consider giving up prospects for
‘Scared’ teams running from Zach Britton blockbuster “Britton is such a red flag for me,” said a scout from a team that badly wants to add top-flight relief. “Your medical people are going to earn every dollar if you agree to a trade for him. He is just not consistent. I am not sure if it is elbow or the fact that he missed two months and needs time to get consistent. “But what scares me is the Orioles gave him all the time he needed to get healthy, gave him plenty of rehab outings and I am watching a guy who just pounded the bottom of the strike zone last year and now the ball is spraying all over the place too often.” One top executive for a team that also wants to add a big-time reliever said, “His salary is only going to climb (for 2018) and if he gets hurt in the next two months, which is a serious consideration, you probably have to non-tender him and not have him next year.” If right, Britton would probably close for the Astros, deepening an already talented group. For the Dodgers, he would go in front of Kenley Jansen, creating one of the best finishing combos ever. But what will teams give up for this version of Britton? And how bad is that for the Orioles, whose farm system needs the kind of a reboot it would get with a healthy Britton? As one official from an AL team that wants to add a reliever said, “No hitter wants to face [Britton], and no front office wants to pay for him.” Darvish Perhaps the team that fits Darvish best is the Astros. But would Texas help an in-state, AL West rival possibly win its first World Series ever and would Houston hand over elite prospects to help the Rangers’ future? One AL official said, “I think that at the GM level they would make a trade. But it is hard to say from an ownership/business level if it would get done.”
You kind of are. Most reasonable people are expressing concern that Britton doesn't look close to what he was last year. Some say he's not fully healthy... others say there's rust. If the Orioles sell him for 50 cents on the dollar, what do you think it is?
Trade deadline is soon. You don't have 2 months to figure it out... and then get somebody if one of those guys is ineffective or gets injured. In the end, they need to improve the pitching core with the multitude of prospects that won't be playing a key role for this team this year, next year, or maybe even the year after. Window is now.
