MLB (Non-Phils) News and Notes 2016

[bigegypt0417]

I think we need to get over the numbers assigned prospects, especially if they're 18 and have never played above low A-Ball. This is a small bodied pitcher that throws hard. He'd have to be a lot closer to the Majors before I'd feel comfortable trading an in demand, LH starter, who has 2 more years of control.

Agree that his value is lower because he is so young. Espinoza is very good, however, with stuff that resembles Pedro Martinez. I would not be shocked if he is in the majors next year like Urias was this year.

I think Pomeranz should have drawn a little more return. But this is a good player they got. Preller is more interested in quality than quantity of prospects which is not necessarily wrong. It is a reason why the only deals I care about for the Phillies would be ones that get higher end prospects. Hellickson and maybe Rupp if we are bold. I just have a hard time thinking any other deal is going to net a difference-maker and deals might cause 40-man compression deal problems down the road.

They've now gotten Espinoza and Margot from the Red Sox who are 1 and 2 in their system. I get the risk but the padres got a very good prospect in return. Not sure this trade sets the price tag for Hellickson but it might be close...

[andyb]

Pomeranz came with 2 more years of control that have value over Hellickson. Better stuff too though stuff is not why Hellickson is a decent starter. Hellickson can get us a top 100 prospect, just not a top 20 prospect. That is fine with me though I can also see the argument to keep the one veteran arm if we can't get a difference-maker prospect back for him.

[Austinfan]

fangraphs.com/blogs/drew-pom ... e-pitches/

Pomeranz did make a big improvement this year, and it should carry over for a couple months with Boston, but I'm not sure it's sustainable in the long run once teams see him a couple times.

He's better than Hellickson, but not that much better unless you think his cutter has transformed him, 91+ FB, good three pitch mix, but this is his only sustained success as a starting pitcher.

[mdougherty12]

Arizona options Shelby Miller to AAA:

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/d ... inors.html

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[Slinging_Southpaw]

Anybody else hoping Aroldis Chapman gets dealt to the Nationals?
That should be interesting with Papelbon getting pushed into a set-up role.

[Philsmania]

Arizona options Shelby Miller to AAA:

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/d ... inors.html

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The Diamondbacks of 2016 look like the Padres of 2015, the team that was ubber-aggressive the prior offseason to the point that valuable prospects were traded away seemingly at the drop of hat but all for naught in the end.

[andyb]

Arizona options Shelby Miller to AAA:

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/d ... inors.html

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

The Diamondbacks of 2016 look like the Padres of 2015, the team that was ubber-aggressive the prior offseason to the point that valuable prospects were traded away seemingly at the drop of hat but all for naught in the end.

Though to the Padres credit they have rebuilt their minor league system in a year to one that is arguably top 5. A couple of trades plus a huge international signing spree went a long way towards a quick rebuild. The Padres are head and shoulders above everyone internationally this year including the Braves (who got the top prospect).

[California_Dreamin]

andyb...I love what the Padres have done and I really liked their stated philosophy. Preller said that once they decided to go over the assigned amount and knew they would get punished for a year they made the decision to spend enough for two years worth of prospects and has done that.

And by most accounts they signed not just quantity but quality. They have almost completely rebuilt their farm system in one year and are now considered a top 5 system as opposed to last year when it was basically Hedges, Renfroe and Wisler.

[allentown]

andyb...I love what the Padres have done and I really liked their stated philosophy. Preller said that once they decided to go over the assigned amount and knew they would get punished for a year they made the decision to spend enough for two years worth of prospects and has done that.

And by most accounts they signed not just quantity but quality. They have almost completely rebuilt their farm system in one year and are now considered a top 5 system as opposed to last year when it was basically Hedges, Renfroe and Wisler.

True, except that the penalty is for two years, not one.

[California_Dreamin]

Then they signed enough for the two year penalty. Preller said that they made the decision that if they were going to lose years they would have to sign enough players to make up for the penalty. I did read that what they have done is basically what the Yankees did a few years ago when it seemed they signed almost every prospect out there who could be signed.

[bigegypt0417]

andyb...I love what the Padres have done and I really liked their stated philosophy. Preller said that once they decided to go over the assigned amount and knew they would get punished for a year they made the decision to spend enough for two years worth of prospects and has done that.

And by most accounts they signed not just quantity but quality. They have almost completely rebuilt their farm system in one year and are now considered a top 5 system as opposed to last year when it was basically Hedges, Renfroe and Wisler.

True, except that the penalty is for two years, not one.

I've tried to find it but how many teams are on penalty for next year?

[Philsmania]

The Yankees a few years back and the Padres this year pursued an interesting strategy by going utterly wild on international talent. Doing so definitely gave a huge jolt to farm systems that were considered moribund at the time. Time will ultimately tell how well it works out over the long term.

[Philsmania]

There's some chatter that the Mets and Brewers are talking about a Lucroy for D'Arnaud swap. Hopefully, the Brewers go in with eyes wide open that D'Arnaud may need to be moved from behind the plate.

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/mets-interested-in-jonathan-lucroy-offering-travis-darnaud-in-return.html

[Philsmania]

Anybody else hoping Aroldis Chapman gets dealt to the Nationals?
That should be interesting with Papelbon getting pushed into a set-up role.

On a somewhat related tangent, the Blue Jays designated Drew Storen, the guy Papelbon pushed into a set-up role and guy who the Jays got for Revere (another Phillies tie-in!), for assignment.

espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/17134975/toronto-blue-jays-designate-struggling-reliever-drew-storen-assignment

[flyers19rw]

washingtonpost.com/news/fan ... -easy-fix/
It looks like Bryce Harper is having trouble with breaking balls.

[xogfog]

It really is true, you can always see something you've never seen before at any given time at a baseball game. The Nationals turned the first ever 3-3-5 triple play. Zimmerman caught a dipping liner to first that the runner on third (Crawford) thought was a short hop. Zimmerman ran to the first base bag to double off the runner on first and threw to third to triple off Crawford, who was running home.

[zambonir]

Fun Joe Maddon managing tonight in Seattle. Travis Wood pitches the 6th, moves to LF for the 7th, makes a big catch, gets an AB, and then returns to the mound in 8th.

[California_Dreamin]

Mets get Bruce, Dodgers to get Reddick and Hill from Oakland.

[Slinging_Southpaw]

Mets get Bruce, Dodgers to get Reddick and Hill from Oakland.

That's perfect for the Dodgers, pick up a pitcher already on the DL. That'll save them a transaction.

[andyb]

Rea (who got hurt in his first start for Miami) is traded back to SD for Luis Castillo (the 2nd best of the prospects in the deal behind Naylor).

I think this is a move to head off a damaged goods claim by Miami, though I assume they did physicals at the time of the deal. Preller does play things loose so anything is possible here.

Even with Castillo back I am not sure the Marlins have enough for Hellickson.