Collin McHugh’s recent struggles have only sharpened the Astros’ need for starting pitching help, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle writes. McHugh has a 7.77 ERA over his last four starts, leaving ace Dallas Keuchel as the only truly reliable rotation option, as it’s asking a lot of rookies Lance McCullers and Vincent Velasquez to immediately help carry a playoff-contending team (though McCullers has been outstanding in six starts.) Here’s some more from around baseball as we head into the new week…
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington tells David Manel of the Bucs Dugout blog that the club will again “walk that balance between now and the future” in making any deadline additions. “We want to do everything we can to put this club in a position to make the playoffs this year, win a World Series this year. At the same time, we want to be able to be in that position as many years in the future as we can,” Huntington said. Pittsburgh will face a lot of competition in making deals only a few teams are truly out of the race at this point; as Huntington puts it, “this is absolutely a sellers market, at this point in time.”
- The rising costs of youth baseball has led to fewer young athletes choosing the game, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. The Pirates value having versatile players who are able to play multiple positions, and the best fits for this model are those who played baseball and other sports growing up, so they have a larger athletic toolbox. With more youngsters specializing only in one sport growing up, however, these well-rounded athletes are harder to find.
- Despite the Reds’ struggles, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer doesn’t think manager Bryan Price’s job is in jeopardy. “It would be hard and foolish to fire Bryan Price given all the injuries” the Reds have had to deal with, Fay writes.
- Most scouts feel that the Reds wouldn’t trade Aroldis Chapman “if push came to shove” and they became deadline sellers, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports. There hasn’t been any indication that the Reds are willing to deal Chapman, though his name has at least been floated in talks with the Nationals.
- Also from Cafardo, some scouts following the Reds have mentioned Brandon Phillips, but while he’s having a good season, Cafardo feels the second baseman’s large contract is still a deterrent to a trade.
- The Padres, White Sox and Indians are three of the many clubs still relatively close to a postseason spot but unsure if they’ll be able to make a legitimate run, ESPN’s Buster Olney writes (Insider subscription required). San Diego’s situation is particularly tricky given their major winter expenditures and rival evaluators doubt that the Padres would engage in any major sell-off if they continue to struggle.
- Top Phillies pitching prospect Aaron Nola has been promoted to Triple-A, the club announced earlier today. Nola, the seventh overall pick of the 2014 draft, posted a 1.88 ERA and 6.56 K/BB rate over 76 2/3 innings at Double-A this season, with the only minor red flag being a middling 6.9 K/9. At this point, Nola seems well on pace to earn a promotion to the Show late this season.
Nola seems likely as the steal of last year’s draft….great pick Ruben….
Pirates should offer Neil Walker, Jameson Taillon, and Adrian Sampson to the A’s for Sonny Gray and Ben Zobrist.
No way from either Side. Walker is under control for one more year and could command a decent return by himself. Sampson should be ready later this year along with Taillon. Where do you put Zobrist. and his .219 average??? Pirates need an upgrade on a bat and Gray would be nice but you give up 2 starters ready for the end of this year and 2 for the rotation all of next year for 1. Makes not much sense.
Zobrist can join the infield rotation of Kang, Harrison, and Mercer. Perhaps play some outfield. Allen Hanson will be ready next season to Walker will probably be dealt at some point. The Pirates won’t miss Taillon with Gray under control through 2020. A rotation of Cole, Gray, Liriano, Burnett, and Morton can make a DEEP playoff run.
Then Next year, a replacement is needed for Burnett. That is where Sampson/Taillion come in wither longer control. I do not have a problem so much with Walker being gone but a 2 for 1 pitcher swap hurts for next year.
Sonny Gray is Burnett’s replacement. Then the Pirates will just have to find a 5th starter next year, shouldn’t be hard. Could be Casey Sadler, Clayton Richard, Worley, Locke, or some other reclamation project. Also Brandon Cumpton and Nick Kingham will be back from TJ surgery. And there’s also Tyler Glasnow on the way up. The Bucs are not short on options.
@ ronnsnow, was no reply button after your comment re Sonny Gray Replaces Burnett. I don’t think that Billy will give up Gray for 2 guys that may help late. He is in the mix to compete as well. Walker may help him now but kinda a push with Zobrist. He would then have to trade for pitching that he just gave up.
@gozurman1 The A’s are 26-39, 10.5 games back. They are not contending this year. Zobrist is a free agent at the end of the year, and will no doubtfully be traded this season, and Walker is signed through next season. No one on Billy Beane’s team is untradeable, see Donaldson.
I looked up the players but did not look at the record of the A’s. Thought they were still closer than they are. My bad. Billy might pull the trigger on that deal after all.
By the way, have you looked at Walker’s numbers? .257/.313/.381/.694 with 4 HR and 23 RBI. It’s not like he’s performing.
Sonny Gray has the most total value (most on-field value, cheapest, under team control) of any player in MLB not named Bryce Harper. Pirates would have to give up so much more than that package, Meadows, Glasnow & Bell would have to be in the deal, for starters. Then 2-3 other pieces if you want Zobrist too.
Unless your Sonny Gray proposal contains mulitple top 5 prospects, don’t bother making proposals.
You are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over-valuing both players. Must be an A’s fan. Or Ruben Amaro Jr.
Pirates in need of a bat – SOON. Will not catch the Cards without an upgrade.
Why???? Pirates finished 2 games back of The Cards last year with a weaker bench than they have now. Cards Lost Molina for a part of the season but they still had great pitching. They are without Wainwright and Lynn Now also Adams for the year as well. Pirates were below .500 this time last year. No time to panic. Look to upgrade without giving up what ronnsnow suggested above.
You realize the Cards are without Wainwright, Lynn, Adams, and Holliday right? The Pirates have kept almost the same pace with the Cards since May. The division is going to comedown to head-to-head matchups between the Bucs and Cards. They still have 15 games against each other. Including a 3 game series in Pittsburgh to end the season.
Yes I do know that which by looking at last year, they will be in better position as the season wears on. They just lost Lynn, Adams and Holiday recently. They will fall back sooner than later. I agree that moves can be made but you I do not want to throw away everything for this year and then have the 90’s again when they had the cupboard bare for years. The Bucs are just now getting to where the Cards have been. They will be able to trade away older guys ie Walker and then move a younger guy In. They rarely trade younger guys out of the system.
I was replying to lonleylibertarian here
Sorry, Did not realize. You and I are on the same page on that then.
I am starting to think that Reds management only want a compensation pick for Cueto and Leake.
Think again.
then think some more……. Sorry, about thinking the A’s were closer. Billy might do that deal after all that you suggested. I was thinking they were closer in the standiings. I was wrong.