Phillies 2018 Season News/Notes/Discussion

[allentown]

I think Thompson has almost no trade value today. Lively isn't super valuable, but he has some value. They'll likely demand Eflin.

[Philsmania]

I think Thompson has almost no trade value today. Lively isn't super valuable, but he has some value. They'll likely demand Eflin.

Thompson's career really turned on a dime the moment the Phillies called him up to the Big Leagues in August of 2016. Dominant at REA and LHV then didn't do so well after the callup and hasn't done all that well at any level since. Kind of like how D.Brown's career turned on a dime when he was first called up in August of 2010 (he raked against all kinds of pitching at all levels, got called up, then never raked again aside from three months in early 2013).

You can see the night and day difference in Thompson pre and post callup.

Jake Thompson Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

[EDmuch]

I tend to agree that they would ask for Elfin and I would give him up. But I would not open the bidding with Elfin or they would be demanding Los Santos as a counter. To me that question would be which of our AA pitchers we would be willing to include. That would be teh prosect that might hook the O's into the trade.

[Lawman]

Even for a 2 month rental, I don't see Baltimore as willing to accept Eflin as the centerpiece of any trade involving Machado.

Who else are you trading along with Eflin?

[bigegypt0417]

Darick Hall up to Reading.

[zambonir]

You're probably gonna have to give the O's one of Medina, Kilome or Romero. AAA pitcher would be a throw-in. Ideally they'd take one of the last three first-rounders. That's probably the same or better than what the Phillies got for Lee. So maybe that's what they use to get Hamels.

In the end they can't/won't trade Crawford for him because what happens if you don't re-sign Machado? If he agrees to a deal, of course, that's a different trade.

[Lawman]

Matt Provence (PigsRadio)

[EDmuch]

Well Crawford would go. Eflin and either Medina or Kilome I guess. See if you can dump Randolph on them. Maybe offer to add Moniak. The only one I would hate to lose would be Kilome. But Crawford, Eflin, Medina and Randolph probably would beat what the Cubs offer and get it done. Once Machado is a Phillie, it is up to Kepler to make him feel at home. I think Middleton will match plus an additional $ 5 million any other offer once UFA season starts. So, see if Manny gets involved with a playoff chase with his new team, knowing he will get the max money here, I like our chances.

[andyb]

Darick Hall up to Reading.

Good for him. Now we get a better age appropriate test and see if improved strike zone control is for real.

[Philsmania]

Well Crawford would go. Eflin and either Medina or Kilome I guess. See if you can dump Randolph on them. Maybe offer to add Moniak. The only one I would hate to lose would be Kilome. But Crawford, Eflin, Medina and Randolph probably would beat what the Cubs offer and get it done. Once Machado is a Phillie, it is up to Kepler to make him feel at home. I think Middleton will match plus an additional $ 5 million any other offer once UFA season starts. So, see if Manny gets involved with a playoff chase with his new team, knowing he will get the max money here, I like our chances.

Moni is showing signs of life lately. But, I like your proposed deal. Do the O's throw in money (or international allotments)? The Orioles don't strike me as one of the sharpest, most modern of organizations. I could see them being swayed by "Major League ready" talent. The sad part of that is that once upon a time, the Oriole organization epitomized smart, cutting-edge thinking. And, speaking of the Orioles front office, twenty-five years after 1993, Lee Thomas is still kicking around as the Orioles' Special Assistant to Executive Vice-President for Baseball Operations Dan Duquette.

[andyb]

Minor leaguers having bad years (Thompson, Moniak, Randolph) just don't have much trade value. And we know the players better than other teams. If we think they are better than their performance so far we won't want to trade them. If we think they are lesser prospects now, then the other teams won't give us much for them.

While there are exceptions like with Appel where we clearly took a chance on him at reduced cost, generally trades happen with players having good seasons (like De Los Santos). Darick Hall may have more trade value than his true worth for instance since he is playing well. Players like that are the ones that tend to get traded in big name deadline deals.

[EDmuch]

It is not like we have to prepare the greatest possible trade package ever. We just have to beat the Cubs and their system is a bit depleted after moves they have made the past two years. And, as noted by another poster, Moniak is showing "signs of life". The O's would get their replacement shortstop (and there is nothing showing Russell to be that much better than Crawford) two solid pitching prospects, one of whom could go right into their rotation and another "former first round pick" who is still developing. That is not bad considering that they pretty much "have to trade" Machado.

[bkeich]

Crawford, Eflin

Just these 2 together is too much for a rental.

Machado has said he will be testing FA, honestly I dont see a team that is probably still unlikely to get to the postseason and has a history of not making the playoffs in Machado's ML lifetime so far convincing him to stay. When we were consistent contenders / the best team in the NL this was an easy sell, but at the moment we are a team with a bad recent history and a low payroll. I don't see a rental giving this team a huge discount or even much consideration until the team shows it is better than we have been recently. Obviously if we get a rental and then we have a good season and get in the playoffs and hopefully deep in them, the outlook changes.

[David_Criss]

While we are talking about adding players, how about a prorated league minimum offer to Hanley Ramirez to allow Walding or Valentin to play everyday at AAA?

[EDmuch]

BK, seriously. There are really only about a half dozen teams with the finances to compete with Macado. The Big 3, the Sox, Yanks and Dodgers already have their "shortstop of the future" on board. Houston (Correa), St. L (Dejong) and Cleveland (Lindor) are also set. There are really only 3 teams left to compete for Machado, the Angels, Cubs and Phils. Only the Cubs have more recent success. So get him here, let him get comfortable with his new team and then let Middleton give him $400 million plus reasons to stay. i think we are definitely in the running. And I doubt that either Eflin or Crawford is part of another championship core.

[Lawman]

Just Say No.

[zambonir]

I think that is too much for a rental too, but that's also why I think a Randolph or Moniak could be included.

For me his value is one top prospect, one guy with value, throw in a third piece because you are also acquiring the "recruiting period." I would not make any real effort to outbid the Cubs or any other team that is much further along in its growth, with more legitimate World Series goals this season. Not when you can just sign Machado this off-season.

And I'm not worried about that because I think this front office already knows they can get him. There is nothing unattractive about the Phillies - they have talent, money, and a deep history with him. If they are trying to trade for him in July that also means they're in the playoffs (as they would be if the season ended today). The market should also appeal to him - if he wants to keep it low-key he can and if he wants big-city stuff he can get that too.

The other reason to wait is you can then figure out what do with the four infielders after you've already got Crawford signed. Trade for a pitcher or re-stock the farm.

They gotta keep an eye on Machado obviously but I'll be surprised if they go get him. Stick with the team that's already winning, hope Hoskins and several others keep improving, add a pitcher if need be.

[Austinfan]

Surprised Listi didn't get the call first, given his age and the fact he's putting up ridiculous numbers - you'd think they'd want to challenge him and find out if he's just an overaged player or a late bloomer.

[LoneStarPhan]

Cozzens being on the 40 man roster was a huge factor, I'm sure. Also, they probably would like to see what he can do. They face another roster crunch after this season just as they did last year.

[zambonir]

Cozens. (I never realized it was pronounced the way it was myself).

(Also if you were responding to AF he was talking about Hall vs. Listi getting called up to Reading. But for sure, once they added Walding they weren't gonna add Pullin or even a Colin Cowgill to the 40, despite the extra opening.)