Break up the Juggernaut: 2022 Trade Deadline thoughts, & rumors

[Slateman]

Back on the topic of trade thoughts, perhaps we could get the MAriners interested in Cesar.  They're getting nothing out of Frazier, and Cesar looked pretty good last year in the AL.

Mariners mightvwant Bell

[JCA-CrystalCity]

See what they'd give for both

[UMDNats]

Mariners will press to make the playoffs finally. Offer them Cesar, Bell & Rainey and tell them we want a top-100 guy and then two guys from their #11-18.


Speaking of Cesar another Rizzo move that has not worked out at all. The list since 2019 is basically Schwarber and Bell. Almost incredible how low his batting average is on moves since the WS.

[Slateman]

I agree that the Mariners will push, but I dont think Bell is what they really want. They need a pitcher. I mean, everyone does, but the Mariners are poised to have a window and should use this deadline to go for it.

[Elvir Ovcina]

I sometimes log into threads just to see your take. I can't articulate your knowledge of baseball, and I didn't play like you did. Great stuff as always.

Just a dude who was good enough to see the train of failure barreling down the tunnel in my teens; proceeded to fail and attend a lot of minor league games.  (But thanks - glad someone reads my crap!)

[Slateman]

I know it will never happen, but the prospect of trading Bell, Hernandez, and Carl Edwards to the Padres for Eric Hosmer, Robert Hassell, and Andres Munoz makes me 

[Slateman]

https://www.audacy.com/national/sports/gallery/mlb-trade-rumors-5-potential-landing-spots-for-josh-bell#new-york-mets-cl5ik5h8n00263f77md72v4la

There you go, only one AL East team

Astros, Mets, Guardians, Brewers, and Red Sox

[Natsinpwc]

https://www.audacy.com/national/sports/gallery/mlb-trade-rumors-5-potential-landing-spots-for-josh-bell#new-york-mets-cl5ik5h8n00263f77md72v4la

There you go, only one AL East team

Astros, Mets, Guardians, Brewers, and Red Sox

I am sure that writer is the ultimate authority. 

[Slateman]

I am sure that writer is the ultimate authority. 

Meh, at this point, who is. But the Astros are getting nothing from first base, the Guardians are offensively inept, the Brewers have struggled offensively since Yelich got hurt in 2019, the Mets have already been shopping for a DH, and the Sox .... well, the only real hole in their lineup is Bobby Dalbec right now.

[UMDNats]

I know it will never happen, but the prospect of trading Bell, Hernandez, and Carl Edwards to the Padres for Eric Hosmer, Robert Hassell, and Andres Munoz makes me 

A move like that is way too savvy for someone like Rizzo to make.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Meh, at this point, who is. But the Astros are getting nothing from first base, the Guardians are offensively inept, the Brewers have struggled offensively since Yelich got hurt in 2019, the Mets have already been shopping for a DH, and the Sox .... well, the only real hole in their lineup is Bobby Dalbec right now.

And right field (Red Sox).  We'll see how they play it.

[Slateman]

A move like that is way too savvy for someone like Rizzo to make.

Ownership would have to approve of taking on the rest of Hosmer's deal. And they arent going to look to add more dead payroll right before a sale.

[Mattionals]

Ownership would have to approve of taking on the rest of Hosmer's deal. And they arent going to look to add more dead payroll right before a sale.

Only way Hosmer becomes a Nat is if the Padres took Corbin and we swapped bad contracts.

[DPMOmaha]

Only way Hosmer becomes a Nat is if the Padres took Corbin and we swapped bad contracts.

Unless they're going to cut Hosmer, just keep Corbin in that scenario.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Only way Hosmer becomes a Nat is if the Padres took Corbin and we swapped bad contracts.

Probably, but I'm not sure that's actually the smart approach. 

Hosmer's contract was awful, but it was very frontloaded and is significantly less bad after this year - the last 3 years are $13m each, and he's owed a little less than $9m for the rest of this year.  Those are too much for what he produces, but $13m in particular isn't so out of bounds as to be unworkable (especially given that the Nats will have a giant hole at 1B anyway).  He's basically on a 3.5 year, ~$48 million contract that expires right when Soto would need a gigantic raise (Corbin also expires then).

If I were in Rizzo's chair, I would be very willing to swap Bell for Hosmer plus Hassell and a couple lottery-ticket or overage arms (i.e., someone with some promise but who needs to go on the 40 this winter). 

[Slateman]

Rizzo probably would too. Its ownership that would say no

[Smithian]

Tyler Clippard for a fringe Top 100 prospect? Think Capps-Ramos? Do it Rizzo

[Natsinpwc]

Tyler Clippard for a fringe Top 100 prospect? Think Capps-Ramos? Do it Rizzo

Bwahaha.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Tyler Clippard for a fringe Top 100 prospect? Think Capps-Ramos? Do it Rizzo

Which GM has recently started doing shrooms at work?

Capps was 26 and in the middle of a 42-save season in which he'd spent zero seconds in AAA and that was still a pretty awful trade; MLB-ready catchers with 6 years of team control don't exactly grow on trees.  Compared to that Clippard is...um, well, not exactly any of that.

[Smithian]

Which GM has recently started doing shrooms at work?

Capps was 26 and in the middle of a 42-save season in which he'd spent zero seconds in AAA and that was still a pretty awful trade; MLB-ready catchers with 6 years of team control don't exactly grow on trees.  Compared to that Clippard is...um, well, not exactly any of that.

Yes, but Clippard also has the veteran grit factor

[welch]

So far, Josiah Gray looks like Phil Ortega, unfortunately.

[DPMOmaha]

So far, Josiah Gray looks like Phil Ortega, unfortunately.

go compare Josiah's age 24 season with Max's.

[Slateman]

go compare Josiah's age 24 season with Max's.

Scherzer had almost half the home run rate (in Arizona) and a FIP almost a run and a half better.

[DPMOmaha]

Scherzer had almost half the home run rate (in Arizona) and a FIP almost a run and a half better.

A lot of the numbers are similar enough that my point is we shouldn't be jumping to any conclusions about how good he's going to be. I've seen a lot of encouraging signs from him so far.

[UMDNats]

Imagine what Gray could do if he had a real pitching coach and coaching staff.