Fan_since_Boggs

I mentioned this in another thread, but I like the idea of trading Chavis or Dalbec to the Mets for D.Smith. The Mets don't have a spot for Smith, whereas they could use Dalbec at 3b. The deal could be expanded to include a rental like Wheeler.

It sounds like Astros are hot on the trail of Syndergaard. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up there. How about M.Chavis and T.Ward for Bumgarner? And then move Porcello to the bullpen. Alternatively, would anyone be willing to trade for E.Diaz while his value is low? How about M.Chavis and Feltman to the Mets for Wheeler and Diaz? I don't know if the Mets would want Chavis -- they could play him at 3b, I suppose. The Red Sox could expand the deal to include D.Smith but the Red Sox would need to add another good player to the trade proposal. I wouldn't mind acquiring D.Smith, he could be the Red Sox first baseman for the rest of this season and into the future. Edit, or maybe take out Chavis and put Dalbec into the deal. The Mets could use Dalbec at 3b.

I agree that Dalbec is the guy who could be traded. But I wonder if DD likes Dalbec more than Chavis (DD drafted Dalbec, he didn't draft Chavis) and as such maybe Dalbec stays and Chavis is traded. I would also think that Chavis, since he has had success at the major league level, would bring back more in a trade than Dalbec.

Cashman talked to the media yesterday and was bitching about the cost for starting pitching. It is clearly a seller's market. The problem with the Yankees now is that they don't have a good enough farm system to pull off a trade for a top starter. The Yankees don't have the prospect resources beyond D.Garcia. The Yankees are offering Frazier and Florial to anyone who will listen, but Frazier is a poor defensive outfielder and Florial isn't hitting. To make a trade for a guy like Stroman, the Yankees will need to include a major league piece, such as Torres. Maybe the Yankees can put a deal together involving Garcia and Andujar, that might be the compromise. But Cashman doesn't like making deals unless he can squeeze the other team to death. I'm not sure if he can compromise. If the Yankees don't come out of the trade deadline with a top starter, and the Yankees go on to lose in the playoffs due to a lack of starting pitching, the Steinbrenners really need to consider replacing Cashman. Just as Cashman concluded that Joe Girardi wasn't the guy to take the Yankees over the top, maybe Cashman isn't the guy to put the final pieces in place for a championship. Historically, Cashman has made brutal decisions on the starting pitching front. In the offseason, Cashman found his new Sonny Gray in James Paxton, signed a loser in JA Happ, and inexplicably passed on signing P.Corbin. At the time, I called out Cashman for his failure to sign Corbin and I continue to highlight the error. Paxton, 95 ERA+, 0.3 WAR Happ, 86 ERA+, 0.5 WAR Corbin 140 ERA+, 3.7 WAR I recently heard a fascinating thing about the Yankees. If the Yankees don't make the World Series this year, this will be the first decade in their history that they didn't play in a World Series game. Could that be right? I immediately thought of the 1980s, but the Yankees lost to the Dodgers in the World Series in 1981. We know about the 1970s and 1990s and the 2009 championship. Without looking it up, I'm pretty sure the Yankees played against the Pirates in the World Series in the early 1960s (I think the Yankees lost?). Obviously, the Yankees dominated baseball in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, with guys like Gehrig, Ruth, Dimaggio, and Mantle. And so maybe it is true: the 2010s might be the first decade that the Yankees don't play in a World Series game. That is a sad state of affairs for an organization that outspends just about every other MLB team, providing the Yankees with clear and indisputable competitive advantages. Such facts reflect poorly on the guy who is responsible for the organization's personnel decisions.

He looked completely lost the other night against the Yankees. If the Red Sox acquire a RP, I suppose they could put Hembree back on the IL and then send him out on a rehab stint when he returns. He looks like he needs it.

I would like to see the Red Sox obtain a rental like Wheeler if the price is right. If the Red Sox do acquire Wheeler, maybe Porcello goes to the bullpen? If the Red Sox advance beyond the wild card game, do we really want Porcello to be part of the post-season rotation?

The Red Sox bullpen can be pretty good with Eovaldi taking over as the closer. Workman has earned the 8th inning role (main set up guy). That would leave Barnes, Hernandez, Walden, as the 6th/7th inning relievers. If the Red Sox do acquire a relief pitcher, I would think that Brewer is sent down. Taylor has moved in front of him IMO and Hembree is out of options.

Who cares what soxprospects has to say--the website is amateur hour, run by a guy who drinks too much Sam Adams beer. The idea of moving Mata to the bullpen speaks to the fact that soxprospects doesn't keep its site updated.

I wonder if D.Hernandez will get opportunities to pitch in more high leverage situations? With Eovaldi taking over the closer role, will Hernandez eventually take over the 8th inning set up role? Hernandez has dominant stuff, but his walks are concerning.

It'll be interesting to see what the Red Sox do with D.Hernandez next year. He looked dominant last night against the Yankees. Do the Red Sox see him as a long term starter or reliever?

Eric Van wants the Red Sox to acquire Sergio Romo as a bullpen upgrade. I guess Romo is tough on right-handed hitters and the acquisition cost would be minimal.

Good point. And not only did the Red Sox win a championship, but they did so in an historic way, winning 108 games and then going 11-3 in the playoffs, completely destroying the Yankees, Astros, and Dodgers!

I would not trade Mata, Casas, or Jimenez--3 stud prospects. I see Mata as a top-of-the rotation starter in a few years. At best, the Red Sox are looking at a wild card this year, and I wouldn't trade a stud prospect just to improve the team's wild card chances. I see Chavis as the Red Sox's best trade chip, but who knows what DD is thinking when it comes to Chavis and Dalbec--he might have a strong preference for one over the other.

I just think another team has a better chance to get Syndergaard. Not the Yankees, their minor league system is too weak. However, a team like the Padres could put a deal together. How about Chavis, Hernandez, and Feltman to the Blue Jays for Stroman and Giles? While that is a pretty generous offer, I suppose another team with a strong farm system could top it.

Maybe Severino can throw underhand, like they do in softball.

And Scherzer won't be available now that the Nationals are back in the race. For me, the Nats are the dark horse team to go all the way this year--they have 3 stud pitchers in Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin. I can't think of another team that has a better 1-2-3 in their rotation. Each one would be the ace of the Yankees starting rotation. If Brian Cashman was a better GM, he would have signed Corbin.

Wow, Marcus Stroman is even smaller at 5'7". I have Lincecum and Cueto at 5'11".

Only way the Yankees win a title is if they acquire a top flight SP. I'm not sure if that will happen. Cashman has a poor track record when it comes to acquiring starting pitchers. I just realized that Deivi Garcia is 5'9". How many aces in MLB today are 5'9"? Serious question.

He is making the adjustment: Duran has 10 hits in his last 16 at bats at Portland. Admittedly, Duran will probably need another year in the minors, but it is conceivable that if he continues to hit in Portland, the Red Sox could move J.Bradley in the offseason, free up 10 million, and start Duran in CF next year.

A pretty good summary of why the Yankees probably won't win anything this year: It is now very clear that Cashman made a huge mistake when he failed to sign P.Corbin, who is having an excellent year with the Nationals--3.4 WAR, with a 135 ERA+. While Corbin has a 3.4 WAR, James Paxton has a 0.7 WAR. And JC Happ has a 0.8 WAR. Typical Cashman. I was trying to think of a deal that would work between the Mets and Yankees with the Yankees getting Syndergaard but the two teams just don't match up that well--the Yankees farm system has thinned out. Sure, the Mets would love D.Garcia but the Mets don't have a spot for C.Frazier (another corner outfielder DH type). Andujar isn't a third baseman, he is a first base DH type and the Mets already have two talented hitters at 1b. Florial is hyped prospect who is falling fast, a 21 year old who isn't hitting in Single A. To make a fair offer, the Yankees would need to include Torres and you know the Yankees don't want to do that. The Twins, Astros, and Padres are in a better position to obtain Syndergaard--they have better farm systems. Moreover, the Wilpons probably don't want to trade Syndergaard to the Yankees without getting a huge return. It sounds like the Red Sox have some interest in Bumgarner. If the price is right, they could trade for Bumgarner and move Cashner to the bullpen. It might be easier to trade for a rental than a top flight reliever. Then again, Bumgarner is a special case and I would think the Giants will want a huge return for him if they even make him available. Perhaps the Red Sox could target Wheeler instead and then move Cashner to the bullpen.

I was surprised when they placed Reyes on the roster in order to protect him, but maybe the Red Sox knew something. While he has been excellent in July, the strikeouts aren't there. He profiles as a bottom of the rotation starter, maybe a middle starter at best, but those guys can be costly on the free agent market. Thus, a cost-controlled 4th or 5th starter has value for an organization.

Voting against Rivera would have been in good faith: no one has ever received 100% and so why should a closer who played a leading role in the most epic collapse in sports history be the first? I would have understood if a few voters voted against his first-year candidacy, not even N.Ryan, T.Seaver, B.Ruth, W.Mays, T.Williams received 100% of the vote. But Rivera should?

Unless he turns it around quickly, I doubt the Red Sox make Porcello a qualifying offer. At this point, I suspect Porcello would accept the qualifying offer. The other big difference: Porcello has an ERA+ of 85. Keuchel entered the free agent market with an ERA+ of 109. If Porcello doesn't significantly improve his ERA+ by the end of the season, I would expect Porcello's offers to come in below whatever Keuchel was offered.

With so many teams in the wild card hunt, it sounds like only a couple of really good starters and relievers will be available at the trade deadline. In other words, this will be a seller's market. Pitchers like Boyd and Stroman will cost a small fortune with teams like the Yankees, Twins, Astros, Phillies, etc., bidding on them. I haven't been keeping up the Brewers, but they might be looking for an SP too.

Casas is a stud. The Red Sox have a few studs in their farm system including Mata and Jimenez. Unfortunately, these guys are a few years away from the big leagues but they are stars in the making. Hopefully, a year from now, we will be saying the same thing about J.Groome.