NFT: MLB Trade Deadline Thread - Wednesday

for Lester. I don't see it happening though. If LA gets him that is a sic 1-4 rotation: Kershaw, Grenke, Lester, Ryu.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Dodgers and Cardinals "appear to be the teams most aggressively competing" for Jon Lester and David Price.
Lester is virtually certain to get moved after being scratched from Wednesday's scheduled start, while Price's status is more up the air with the Rays back in the playoff hunt. Heyman writes that the Pirates "are still involved to some degree on the Lester front, but they are reluctant to surrender top prospects for a rental, seeming to place them third in the derby at the moment." The A's have also been mentioned as a potential suitor for Lester, but it appears that they may have fallen back from the pack, as well. It could be an interesting battle between the Dodgers and Cardinals for Lester and perhaps Price, as they both have the prospects to deal and the room to add payroll.
Jul 30 - 8:58 AM

in the lineup today for the Phillies.

I think it's likely. Pulling him from his start is more of a "just in case" courtesy that would give him an extra start for a team that acquires him but it's still *if* one acquires him. I hope, and am pretty sure, that Cherington has a price in mind and if it's not met he'll be just as happy to move onto other Sox players and other deals.

The White Sox are looking at the affiliates of the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Red Sox as they consider offers for John Danks. And the Red Sox have scouted the Triple-A affiliate of the Braves, who are said to be very interested in lefty Andrew Miller.

says there is nothing in the Atlanta minors that Boston really wants. Actually, I think it really said that the SOx want a power-hitting corner OF and Atlanta doesn't have one that the Sox would want. Atlanta has a pretty poor farm system overall, I guess.

is the headline prospect Boston wants to pry from any deal with the Dodgers...he's ready to be called-up like yesterday and absolutely mashes.

do not have a power hitting CO prospect. Their system isn't great but they do have some intriguing names. I doubt they would give up Peraza for a rental so they don't have a headliner type.

says it's dodgers or pirates and most feel it's not if, but when Lester is dealt, no dodgers named specifically, but pirates was Josh Bell

they're often wrong (98.5 ESPN Radio), but sometimes pretty close to what actually happens.

Buster Olney �@Buster_ESPN � 2m
The Yankees are picking through the second tier of starting pitchers and one guy they've discussed is Brett Anderson.

.

Some speculation the Cardinals are "more open" to listening on Taveras than before... "for the right guy", that guy apparently would be a Tulo/Price and not Lester.

keep that in mind.

If he pitches well for them and they want him back, they'll be able to afford him.

Not sure what I'd give up for him though.

Brett Anderson is going to be one of the more intriguing FA options available. Career 3.57 FIP, 27 in Feb.

That is why the cards are willing to listen to offers. His trade value has to be no where near it was then let's say early June.

has 92 total ab's, Cardinals are far too smart to sour on a player with such a ridiculously small SS.

apparently has a team option which explains the Yankee interest/increases his price.

Mike Trout (who actually struggled in his first taste of big league action) is the exception. Most good players struggle in their first taste of big-league ball. Some players take years to hit their stride, and Taveras is just 22. He may fizzle, but his performance in his first couple months as a major leaguer is certainly not arguing one way or another.

Shoot, if first impressions were the end of the story Jesus Montero would already have a reservation in Cooperstown.

and there is only a small likelihood that he won't end up being a true stud.

has looked better than his numbers (IMO) if that makes sense. He'll be a star, just not at SS, which would have made him special.

If he stays there it will be out of necessity, not out of fit IMO.

In comment 11786590 Bill L said:

Quote:

and there is only a small likelihood that he won't end up being a true stud.

They could go into next season with Bogaerts, JBJ and Betts penciled in as starters, which is brave. All three deserve a chance and one or two of them could become studs, maybe all three, but they're going to rely a lot on kids.

In comment 11786598 Dunedin81 said:

Quote:

In comment 11786590 Bill L said: Quote: and there is only a small likelihood that he won't end up being a true stud. They could go into next season with Bogaerts, JBJ and Betts penciled in as starters, which is brave. All three deserve a chance and one or two of them could become studs, maybe all three, but they're going to rely a lot on kids.

Not sure that's even a maybe, it's almost likely, and of the three, JBJ looks like the most likely to not be good, I think he's a 4th OFer right now. Great defensive player with a great arm, but his bat is weak right now and he's getting up there in years. 25 at the start of next season, so it's not like he's a wet behind the ears kid.

the catcher could be a rookie too. If not Swihart than the kid up now (Vaszquez)

Bogaerts almost definitely starts, either at SS or 3B. Betts probably does too. If anything JBJ is the possible odd man out. Cecchini has struggled this year really for the first time in his pro career so I don't know if you can count on him as a factor for next year (not to say he won't improve, just that he seems to need time). Swihart is probably more 2016 or 2017 than next year.

but if you were the Mets, what would you offer for Tavares? We could sure use a young OF with major upside and STL needs pitching. I'm assuming they'd do it for DeGrom or Wheeler.

maybe. DeGrom, no. DeGrom has pitched very well but he's 26 and you need to have a much larger sample size. Hitters are much safer bets than pitchers.

Baseball Report �@NickHamelinMLB � 3m
According to @JonHeymanCBS, the #Cardinals and #Dodgers are the two teams aggressively pursuing Jon Lester the most.

that would make for quite a tandem. Vasquez likely will never be a great hitter but he is going to be a premier defensive catcher. Swihart simply rocks. I'll disagree on JBJ. I think his defense and OBP will keep him as a solid starter for a long while. I'm really high on all three players. Several years down the road, keep your eye on Rafael Devers too.

Yanks is up and coming too though, two likely Top 50 guys at the end of the season in Severino and Judge, a few more breakout performances and then that IFA binge too.

LOVE this Devers kid bat. Not just those who suck off the Red Sox.

In comment 11786625 Bill L said:

Quote:

that would make for quite a tandem. Vasquez likely will never be a great hitter but he is going to be a premier defensive catcher. Swihart simply rocks. I'll disagree on JBJ. I think his defense and OBP will keep him as a solid starter for a long while. I'm really high on all three players. Several years down the road, keep your eye on Rafael Devers too.

We'll see about JBJ this is really his first full season. I think he strikes out way too much, but no denying his defense.

did you see him throw the ball from home plate over the center field wall at Fenway? Maybe it's not that impressive, but I've just never seen anyone do it

is a very good defensive player but I don't see the potential with his bat. He's not 20 years old either, he's 24. Not old but also not insanely young either.

Now Bogaerts I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out to be a stud down the road.

He just isn't, and it's not that small a sample size anymore.

here are my comments:

Quote:

.... JBJ looks like the most likely to not be good, I think he's a 4th OFer right now. Great defensive player with a great arm, but his bat is weak right now and he's getting up there in years. 25 at the start of next season, so it's not like he's a wet behind the ears kid....

google the throw from home plate though, not sure why I find it so impressive. He basically threw a ball further than he can hit it. LOL

But IMO you don't need much from a CF. I think Jacoby is an exception.

on that. You better have big power hitters in the corners if you're going to get zero power and shitty average from your center fielder, especially in fenway

Nava is about as good as he's going to get and that's not good enough. I don't know how I feel about Victorino going forward. Hence, the interest in Bell or Pederson in return for Lester.

get Lester.

That means Cardinals may force to turn to Hamels and overpay. Taveras, Miller, and Gonzalez please!

In comment 11786625 Bill L said:

Quote:

that would make for quite a tandem. Vasquez likely will never be a great hitter but he is going to be a premier defensive catcher. Swihart simply rocks. I'll disagree on JBJ. I think his defense and OBP will keep him as a solid starter for a long while. I'm really high on all three players. Several years down the road, keep your eye on Rafael Devers too.

Hope you aare right Bill about JBJ. I was starting to sour on him. Hate to see Lester go. There is definately an inevitable changing of the guard with the Sox. I don't like it. Its gonna take some time for these new guys to grow on me.

I think there's a lot of potential with some of the position players but even more so with some of the pitchers. But you're right about it taking time. Likely one more year after this before they can think about playoffs.

as a hitter but as a 4th OF'er I can live with him.

Very sad to see Lester go. Hoping he can bring a nice return and then return himself in the offseason.

I doubt the Rockies will move him...

"The 26-year-old has been injury plagued over the last several seasons and has totaled just 33 1/3 frames this year, though the results have been favorable: a 3.24 ERA with a ground-ball percentage just north of 60 percent. Anderson�s 18-to-13 K/BB ratio in that same time isn�t as encouraging, of course.

Acquired from the A�s in an offseason deal that sent fellow hurlers Drew Pomeranz and Chris Jensen to the Rockies, Anderson is earning $8MM in 2014, $2MM of which is being paid by the A�s. His contract also contains a $12MM club option ($1.5MM buyout) for the 2015 season.

Anderson was once looked at as one of the game�s most promising young pitchers, but injuries have derailed some of that shine. He still sports a career ERA of 3.77 (with identical FIP and xFIP marks of 3.57) to go along with 7.0 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 55.3 percent ground-ball rate, but he�s totaled just 196 1/3 innings since Opening Day of 2011.

It remains to be seen, however, if the Rockies will be willing to move Anderson at all. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported this morning (Twitter link) that the Rockies don�t consider Anderson a trade candidate. The team is planning to pick up his $12MM option or sign him to a longer-term deal. It would seem that Anderson�s ground-ball arsenal is appealing to the Rockies, who play in the hitter-friendly Coors Field. Colorado has shown an unwillingness to move any of its starting pitchers, as reports have indicated that they�re unlikely to move Jorge De La Rosa as well, despite his status as an impending free agent."

showing interest in Bartolo Colon.

In comment 11786772 Rory said:

Quote:

showing interest in Bartolo Colon.

Dumping a contract on the Royals? Ladies and gentlemen, your 2014 New York Mets!

I think of it more as signing a veteran who plays very well and then gets flipped for more usable parts. But I'm one of those rare Met fans who thinks its not uncommon or stupid to do what the Mets are trying to do with Colon.

In comment 11786784 Deej said:

Quote:

In comment 11786772 Rory said: Quote: showing interest in Bartolo Colon. Dumping a contract on the Royals? Ladies and gentlemen, your 2014 New York Mets!

Do it Sandy, take some OFers from the Royals.

take Tim Collins for Colon. 5'7 makes him cooler.

Bill Shaikin �@BillShaikin � 34m
Carl Crawford on trade rumors: "You never know. I thought I was stuck in Boston for seven years."

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 1m
Source: �Very good chance� that #RedSox trade Lackey along with Lester.

realized his tweet was confusing... he meant both traded not together.