Discussion

zambonir 2018-05-31 19:43:11 UTC #602

Stuff happening:

Also from Salisbury tweets: Hutchison DFA'ed, Leiter Jr., up, Hoskins DL, Cozens up.

zambonir 2018-05-31 19:54:58 UTC #603

I am not at all worried about the Phillies doing anything in response to Hoskins, let alone overpaying for Machado, which they would be doing by definition if they tried to acquire him at any point in the next six weeks. Plus they just made it through May without Hoskins doing anything. Williams, and hopefully improvements from Kingery and Crawford, will be the focus for June.

And if they do start to trend towards .500 and five or six games back, they're not going to make trades to try and reverse that. They need to keep winning to be a deadline buyer, and if they keep winning they're not desperate. If they falter, the move is to just keep playing your rookies and second-year guys, not to replace one of them with a rental player in hopes of adding a win or two. Of course you still keep an eye on Machado, but he remains a longshot, and a pitcher is probably the bigger need (two weeks ago it looked like Eflin had something and Eickhoff was at least someone who would make a few starts when the need arose but now neither of those things is true).

Lawman 2018-05-31 19:57:28 UTC #604

I don't see why.

For Machado you'll probably have to overpay. For Hamels as well but, unlike Machado, he's not a Free Agent to be at season's end. And, I'm not sure I view Starting Pitching as a real need at the moment. 1-4 seems to be doing well, given their slots in the rotation. 5th starter seems to be something of a revolving door - Eflin and Lively so far - but I think I'd try Irvin or De Los Santos before I overpay for a Hamels.

EDmuch 2018-05-31 20:22:58 UTC #605

Well the rationale that I saw was that our offense is really, really slowing down and we could have uses a boost even b4 Hoskins was DL'd. Without him the need, the argument goes, is even stronger for more offense. And I have to say I do not see Crawford as adding anything at all to the offensive output. Now if Cozens starts slugging, the need could disappear.

andyb 2018-05-31 20:23:35 UTC #606

Hutchison move likely gives them another 40-man spot when they need it. It will solidify Walding's spot if nothing else when he likely gets sent down (though the choice of Valentin or Walding will be interesting when Crawford is ready).

I suspect they just thought that Leiter was better than Hutchison and that it was greater than 50-50 that Hutchison passes through waivers.

Maybe they think Tocci is coming back this week (end of TX minor league rehab assignment) and needed the spot by the weekend.

Lawman 2018-05-31 20:32:41 UTC #607

I see the need for offense, just not sure it has to be Machado.

Squire 2018-05-31 20:33:06 UTC #608

LHV outfield has now lost Quinn, Cozens and Pullin. Wonder if Jan Hernandez might earn that promotion.

EDmuch 2018-05-31 20:44:54 UTC #609

I agree it does not have to be Machado. But one of the writers was speculating that the FO might feel the need to make the move.

zambonir 2018-05-31 20:52:00 UTC #610

I don't think Cozens will play enough to make a difference. I also kind of think he's the one who goes back down when Crawford returns, he's better off with more ABs and Walding can play the OF a few innings (or a game) a week, as can Kingery and Valentin.

I'm hoping Crawford starts to find his on-base skills is all. But it's still more important to play him, Franco, Kingery and Williams than it is to add a new bat to line-up. Machado is obviously a special case because if you get him you probably include one of those three IFs in the trade, and you're hoping to keep him. But otherwise, I see no reason to add a new starting position player, or even a 4th OF (Kingery will be that for now, once he's not playing SS).

allentown 2018-05-31 21:02:24 UTC #611

What spot? We wouldn't have to put Tocci on 40-man.

zambonir 2018-05-31 21:17:52 UTC #612

My guess is that with Eickhoff out and Eflin faltering they are preparing to add one of the other AAA SPs to the 40, even if it's not for another 10 days.

andyb 2018-05-31 22:00:06 UTC #613

I guess that is right. Was not really thinking. Assuming they are having no thoughts about De Los Santos now, but I guess having a spot available if they spot a bench bat while Hoskins is out is not the worst thing. Guessing Cozens is not quite ready for a bench role if Hoskins is out more than a couple of weeks. Wish Quinn was available because this would actually be a decent opportunity for him and his speed could be a nice change of pace for a slumping offensive squad.

zambonir 2018-05-31 22:08:17 UTC #614

Kapler talked about why he wanted to play Walding - that throwing him out there without any time to think or get nervous might have been good. Didn't quite work out, but anyway, great story here. The scout who signed him even rushed to the game.

David_Criss 2018-05-31 22:17:10 UTC #615

That was my thought, too. Lively has pitched well at AAA, but De Los Santos and Irvin have been better and will have to go on the 40-man this winter. Hutchison made the team because Leiter got hurt. He had a good Spring. Hopefully he passes through waivers and accepts a spot to AAA. He had gone two-weeks before pitching last night, so maybe he could be the fill in starter at AAA.

tom81 2018-06-01 00:08:08 UTC #616

I’m glad he didn’t use the same logic tonight and start Cozens. A lefty facing Kershaw right off the bat is not a great idea.

zambonir 2018-06-01 00:53:46 UTC #617

Well, he also said he would do it if the player can help you win. Which Walding could not. But he did get to face a righty.

Williams probably wouldn't be playing tonight if there was another option.

Lawman 2018-06-01 02:47:53 UTC #618

If you think that Irvin or De Los Santos are legit starters, do you take service time into account in choosing between either of them or, say, Lively?

zambonir 2018-06-01 03:04:50 UTC #619

I certainly would if the Super Two cutoff is a consideration, but I also think that kind of takes care of itself. If one of those guys gets called up soon and pitches well enough to stay in the majors all season, more power to 'em. And if they hit a bump or get replaced by a trade-deadline vet, it likely won't matter.

EDmuch 2018-06-01 14:39:42 UTC #620

Question: if we had to give up 2 minor league SP prospects as part of a trade for Machado, who would you offer to the O's?

I will start: Jake Thompson and Ranger Suarez

andyb 2018-06-01 15:01:34 UTC #621

Athletic on pitchers with "elite" pitches. Velasquez ranks in the top 15 in baseball in three different pitches (fastball, curve, change) in terms of movement and/or velocity. Command is poor on most of these, but the raw tools suggest the Phillies should start him.

"Many have said he’s headed for the pen. But a pitcher with this many good pitches is a starter."