In his column for Today’s Knuckleball, Jon Heyman takes a lengthy look at the Yankees’ rebuilding process, including the numerous deadline deals struck by the club. GM Brian Cashman says that the club would have traded Carlos Beltran to the Red Sox had their offer topped that of the Rangers, but obviously it did not. Per the report, New York was also willing to consider moving Brett Gardner, but “no serious takers” emerged.
Here are some other highlights:
- While the Braves checked in with the Brewers on Ryan Braun before the deadline, talks never progressed — in large part because it didn’t seem worth pursuing given his no-trade clause. As Heyman notes, the six teams that can acquire Braun without his permission are all based upon geographic preference, and it was deemed unlikely that he’d waive his protection for a switch to Atlanta. Braun’s wife is expecting, Heyman notes, and that factor (in conjunction with the no-trade clause) may well explain why trade buzz never picked up on him this summer.
- The Braves also were one of the teams to ask the Diamondbacks about struggling righty Shelby Miller, who famously changed hands between those teams before the season. That deal seemed favorable to the Braves at the time, and looks even better for them now. Arizona was prepared to move Miller, Heyman notes, but never was offered anything close to what was deemed needed to make a deal.
- In August shopping news, the Orioles are looking to add a left-handed reliever, per the report. As Baltimore’s depth chart shows, the club doesn’t have any southpaws in the pen other than ace closer Zach Britton.
- The Marlins are also still looking for pitching this month. Though the team hopes that Wei-Yin Chen can return for the stretch run in September, the team still wants a starter after sending Colin Rea back to the Padres. That move brought back prospect Luis Castillo, who remains a useful trade piece for the club as it pushes hard for the post-season.
- One bullpen piece that is freely available is veteran righty Joe Nathan, who was designated recently by the Cubs. Heyman says that there’s “strong interest” given the solid (albeit quite brief) showing the 41-year-old put on in his brief time in Chicago.
tim815
Nathan “freely available”. If the waiver claim is won. And terms can be agreed to.
Not really free.
Brixton
He was DFA’d, so anyone can claim him, and the one with the worst record gets him for free.
tim815
Uh, no. Not in August. A team can pull a player off of waivers. The put him on waivers again. Or trade him. Or release him.
Brixton
He was DFA’d, so he goes on normal waivers
AidanVega123
That’s if he was put on trade waivers, which he was not – he was DFA’d
tim815
See (Turner, Jacob) August 2014.
I guess we’ll find out.
BoldyMinnesota
Turner was on outright waivers, not revocable
tim815
The Cubs claimed him. The Marlins traded him to the Cubs. Why would the Cubs give the Marlins anything if it wasn’t revocable?
BoldyMinnesota
Oh I looked at him going from the Cubs to the white sox. I just know dfa’d players still are put on outright waivers. Was turner on the optional waivers like puig, Hutchison were this year?
tim815
Turner was DFA’d. Then put on waivers. As they couldn’t bring him back to the roster, they could trade him to the Cubs. Or decline, and release him. Or run him through waivers again. And get nothing. They took the two minor league players.
BronxBombers14
Why bother mentioning you were willing to deal a player that didn’t get dealt. I’m sure that bodes well with Gardner. In terms of baseball, I’m pleased with the moves they made at the deadline. In terms of treatment of players, management has been extremely disappointing.
Brixton
It happens all the time. In 2015 ST, the Phillies told Cole Hamels he wasn’t going to be pitching for the Phillies on opening day. 5 months later he got traded to the Rangers.
Teheran’s name was floated out there all this year.
BronxBombers14
I get it, I just don’t see how you’re going to keep Gardner motivated at this point by reporting that you actively shopped him but couldn’t find a good deal for him.
NickinIthaca
Garnder will keep himself motivated because he’s playing for his next contract, regardless of whom he is playing for….
MB923
He’s not a free agent til after next year I believe
ffjsisk
I would trade Aaron Blair back to AZ for Miller. No way they’d do it though.
RunDMC
If nothing else than pride, ARZ would ask more from ATL to try and save face. Wouldn’t be surprised to hear a return of the original get from the Braves for him. Would have loved to hear Coppy’s response.
Phillies2017
Personally, if I was the O’s, I’d take a look at Schuster– he’s also free on waivers and he has put up a 1.16 ERA in AAA (the hitter friendly PCL) and has only been given 6.2 MLB innings- worth a shot–
Regarding Nathan, he should draw a claim from a competitor
Matt Galvin
Some big names will get moved this month.
Ken M.
Plenty of time in the offseason to reengage talks with Gardner for Carasco or other young ace type pitcher. Everyone knows Gardner is a 5 WAR player.
Brixton
Gardner hasn’t been a 5 WAR player in 6 seasons. You’d need Gardner and some good prospects to get Carrasco
BronxBombers14
Yeah, you’re not getting corrasco for Gardner.
ThePriceWasRight
would take Gardner plus Sanchez and a pitching prospect to even get Cleveland to pick up the phone. plus they only need Gardner if Brantley never recovers
BronxBombers14
I wouldn’t trade Sanchez. Small sample size, but the kid looks like the real deal.
East Coast Bias
Please don’t feed the troll. Take a look at his other comments. I think he’s Judge Judy; same posting style.
Kayrall
“Give us your controlled, cost-effective, top of the rotation arm for our aging, declining, injury-prone outfielder.”
dorfmac
It’s not related to August shopping, but what are people’s thoughts on Britton’s Cy Young chances? Weak field of starters in the AL, meanwhile Britton hasn’t blown a save, his team is unexpectedly in first, and has an ERA under .60
chesteraarthur
If I had a vote, he’d get mine. He’s not chapman or miller, so I’m not sure if he has enough hype to win it, but I hope he does.
Priggs89
He has been absolutely fantastic, but even so, he’s only thrown 47 innings. That’s a tough sell.
davidcoonce74
I hate the idea of a reliever winning this award. They just don’t pitch enough. If Hoffman couldn’t win it in 98 then there’s no way Britton should win it this year.
BoldyMinnesota
I think guys like Quintana, Sanchez, kluber, and Estrada are having to good of seasons for a reliever to win it
yanksfan23
I wouldve swapped gardner for puig if LA ate some of Puig’s contract, not sure the dodgers will take that deal
BronxBombers14
Gardner had been a huge disappointment, in my opinion. I had high hopes for him when he first broke in. He bunted for hits, stole bases, and was a table setter. Then all of the sudden he fell in love with the short porch in right and forgot how to steal a base.
therealryan
Wow, Brett Gardner is a 3+ win player who is an above average hitter, above average base runner and above average defensive LF who is respectable in CF and you consider him a huge disappointment? Do all players have to be an all star every year to live up to your unbelievably high expectations?
slider32
Gardner is rated the 6th best LF according to Fangraphs the last 2 years with a WAR of 7.8, his ability to play center also will increase his worth.
BronxBombers14
I don’t need an all star at every position. Far from it. What I do need is a guy that knows what his role is on the team. Gardner’s value when he first came up was stealing bases, opening holes for other hitters when he was on bases by disrupting other teams defensively, and his defense. Since early in his career his average and stolen bases have decreased significantly while his hrs and rbi have increased. The yanks don’t need a lead off hitter that bats .250 and hits 16 HR and only steals 20 bases.
atlbraves80
The Dodgers wouldn’t even entertain that idea. First Puig holds more value as he’s younger and cheaper. Two Gardner is at the tail end of his career and Puig is entering his prime years. Puig is a good player and I think if he went to a team outside the big\entertainment media driven cities he would do fine.
ctguy
The Yankees wouldn’t want this deal either. Gardner is a disappointment, but Puig brings his own set of problems. That’s why he was sent down. He would have too many distractions playing in NY. Bad deal for both teams.
alanwslocum
I see Gardner as the far better player/contract than Jacoby Ellsburry. Yet Jacoby is never discussed as a trade option. Is it because his contract is so bad (overpaid) and so long (so many years left) that he is basically untradeable? Kind of like the contracts of Sabathia, Texiera and ARod, where you have to endure them until they expire of buy them out like they did ARod?
slider32
It’s all about the contract with Jacoby.
BronxBombers14
Contract and health.