The Yankees are 5-3 since the All-Star break, which further complicates the question of whether or not the team should buy or sell at the deadline, NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller writes. “I don’t know how much the organization actually has publicly said (about the trade deadline),” said Andrew Miller, himself a regular candidate in trade speculation. “I feel like it’s been rumor and things that kind of have been assumed, and in reality I think all we can do is focus on the game at hand.” New York is 49-47 for the season and sits 4.5 games behind Toronto for the last AL wild card slot. Here’s more from around the AL East…
- The Orioles have been getting calls about Double-A southpaw Tanner Scott since the offseason, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports. It’s possible Scott could be one of the prospects desired by the Padres in the rumored Melvin Upton-for-Ubaldo Jimenez trade talks between the two clubs, though Kubatko feels the O’s should keep Scott. A sixth-round pick from the 2014 draft, Scott has posted a 4.63 ERA and 6.6 BB/9 over 114 2/3 pro innings (mostly out of the bullpen), though he averages 11.5 K/9 and owns a 101-mph fastball.
- The Blue Jays have been talking to multiple teams about both starters and relievers, FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi tweets. Bullpen is the more pressing concern for Toronto, though if Aaron Sanchez is shifted to a setup role as planned, that leaves a big hole in the rotation (especially given Marcus Stroman’s inconsistency and Marco Estrada’s recurring back issues). Then again, Sanchez has been so good this season that the Jays could reverse course and keep him as a starter, which would increase their need for relief help.
- Though trading Evan Longoria makes some sense for the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times believes the club won’t and shouldn’t entertain the thought of dealing its longtime star. Longoria has too much value as Tampa’s franchise player on and off the field, and moving him would only fit if the Rays were pursuing a total rebuild, which doesn’t appear to be the case. There has been whispers that former Rays boss Andrew Friedman could be exploring a reunion with Longoria with the Dodgers, though the Rays are reportedly uninterested in Longoria trades now and perhaps whatsoever.
- Alex Rodriguez had “a very positive conversation” with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner prior to Friday’s game and the subject of releasing the veteran slugger didn’t come up, sources tell ESPN.com’s Wallace Matthews. The meeting was initiated by Steinbrenner, though the reason isn’t known; it’s possible it could simply have been the owner touching base with A-Rod on any number of topics. It has been rumored that the Yankees could cut ties with Rodriguez in order to create roster space for younger players, as A-Rod hasn’t hit well this year and can only handle a DH role at this stage of his career.
- A Kyle Schwarber-for-Andrew Miller deal between the Cubs and Yankees has been one of the hottest rumors of this deadline season, though Chicago management has repeatedly said Schwarber isn’t on the market. Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron takes an interesting look at Schwarber’s fuure value, arguing that there are signs he may not develop into the top-tier slugger the Cubs believe he can be (though Cameron’s Mike Napoli comp is still flattering). While Schwarber has more value than Miller as a long-term piece, Cameron that a Yankees trade package of both Miller and Aroldis Chapman would justify the Cubs pulling the trigger on a deal.
Miller AND Chapman for Schwarber? That’s funny.
Maybe if the Cubs throw in Kris Bryant. Haha
Topkin’s comments are spot on. Trading Longoria would be a death sentence for a franchise.
The farm system isn’t elite, but it’s respectably decent(also looks like they’ll have a top 10 pick in the draft next summer). Add more prospects through Moore and/or Odo trades; then unload some prospects in offseason for ML players that can help for next season.
Longo’s big money years are upcoming is an issue.
Fangraphs site ran a story a day or 2 regarding this also and went into detail about why this might be the time for Tampa, with it’s history of shedding money contracts to move him. It makes sense since they have already extracted every inexpensive year from the 15y deal he signed way back in 2008 and the years, which in Tampa terms would look expensive are coming up.
Tampa could seemingly still get 1-2 really decent prospects back and move him and still draw less than 10k fans per game.
I hope the O’s don’t trade for Melvin. We don’t need more offense or his salary. It would suck if they traded Scott for something we don’t need, with such a thin system. It would be nice to be rid of Ubaldo though.
8-4 over the last 12 and DOMINATING the top teams in the league. A deal for both Chapman and Miller is gonna cost at least Schwarber, Happ and Baez.
That’s it? We’re not getting the Cubs to throw in Torres, Cease, and Jimenez as well?
Seriously, stop trolling.
5 of those 8 games were 1 or 2 run games, and two that weren’t was against one of the worst rotations in the league, I fail to see how that’s dominating
Another Yankee fan who thinks they have a shot hahahaha
Except Judge Judge isn’t a Yankee fan. He’s a Red Sox fan with a Yankee avatar trying to make real Yankee fans look ridiculous with those kind of offers
Even if he Was a Yankee fan, why do people feed the trolls such as him, or Braves fans who act like Teharan is the next Maddux, or Cubs fans acting like Schwarber is the next Babe Ruth. Orrrrr, Yankee fans thinking they will get Schwarber for Miller straight up.
You make me wish upvotes were still a thing here.
Enough of the Teheran crap. Atlanta is not giving him up with out an over the top, we fleeced you type trade like they got in the Shelby Miller trade. Braves fans know that. They also know he isn’t worth that in a normal year, but if a team wants him, that’s what it’s going to take.
No one will value him as much as Atlanta does – and the fans know that. So if you want him, it’ll take a kings ransom. Of course it’s an overpay, but it’s a weak market for SP and he’s one of the better ones that could be moved.
He’s a solid #3-4 on just about any other team, maybe even a #2 on some rotations. Is he an Ace? No. Is he Atlanta’s Ace? Yes.
All teams have fans that do the same exact thing. Yankee fans do it. Red Sox fans do it. Padres fans do it, etc. You’d think that the 2nd coming of Babe Ruth is Andrew Benintendi to listen to the Red Sox fans. It’s no different.
I agree with you J J. Even assuming the comparison to Mike Napoli, which is not a sure thing, Miller or Chapman is a more necessary piece to a championship than a power hitting OF with limited range, especially an injured one. Schwarber would possibly be a fair return for the rental, Chapman. No unproven DH prospect (less than one full year in MLB) is worth Miller, even up.
It never ceases to amaze me how velocity has gotten so overrated. Sure Tanner Scott can throw 101, but if you have no control it’s not going to play in the big leagues. 6.6 BB/9 is not a big league pitcher. At least not a very effective one.
Nobody is a sure thing, but Randy Johnson was a ~6 bb/9 guy for his first 5 years in the majors. Sometimes the issue fixes itself. It usually doesn’t, but when it does you can’t teach 100+ MPH.
Great point. The Orioles don’t have enough pitching in the organization now – you can’t give up a live arm like this, especially for an over-priced OF whose team couldn’t give him away last year.
The yankees need to sell.
Though his velocity has dipped, I think the Cubs should ask about Jake McGee from Colorado. McGee wouldn’t cost as much as Miller, and Maddon would probably love to have him in his bullpen. Chicago might even be able to acquire McGee for cash, since Colorado is eating Jose Reyes’ salary.
The Yankees absolutely should not trade miller unless they get someone so desperate they are willing to over or Miller is part of a huge deal for a superstar He just far too valuable.
I wouldn’t trade him for Schwarber.
If they want to talk about Bryant I would add more. If it’s a real number 4 hitter with some defensive ability I’m up for talking, but not someone with a good month or two. Especially after a major injury and who is a bad fit for Yankee stadium now that the shift seems to hurt more than the short porch helps and with such a huge left field.
The only Miller news BTW was the Yankees telling him he wouldn’t be traded…Unless someone really blew them away. This was to assure him he wouldn’t be traded. Not that he would be traded.Let’s keep fair value trade discussion limited to Chapman. Miller doesn’t get traded for fair value and no one has ever indicated he was available for anything close.
Bryant?? BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH
Its not like the Yankees are going to compete this year or next year. Might as well sell off Chapman and Miller for some decent prospects, then go sign everybody and their brother in 2018.
Yankee’s management doesn’t understand how prospects work. They’re so set on 35 year old has-been players to focus on youth.
I’m not even a Cubs fan and I laughed out loud at that one. Bryant isn’t being moved for anyone other than a Harper or a Trout, and even then, it’s hard to imagine.
Is it really even a “hot rumor” if the Cubs have already said no? Sounds like NY media thinking that if they say it enough, it’ll come true.
Theo, Jed, and the boys know what they are doing and have had a plan they have stuck to.
Agreed, I think Theo is one of the greatest baseball minds of all time. Especially if he brings a WS to Chicago, there will be no doubt.
if the Cubs want Miller that have to pay the price.guy like Miller can be the last piece they need to win a war.
The Yankees brass should ask themselves this question: “Can they make the ALCS this year?” If they answer yes (the answers really no, don’t get suckered into thinking this recent hot streak is making them a championship caliber team, they are still an average-bad team that will be lucky to end the season with 87 wins) but they can stand pat with what they have and hopefully they get a couple breaks, sneak into the 2nd Wildcard spot and see what happens. If the brass answers no to that question than at the very least Beltran & Chapman have to get traded. I wouldn’t trade Miller unless the Cubs were willing to include Schwarber, the Rangers including Gallo AND Profar, or the Nats including Giolito OR Turner. Beltran has no future in the Bronx, so you take what you can get for him, and regards to Chapman, if you think you can resign him anyways in the offseason, not only do you get him back, you can get a prospect or too as well.