About half of the teams in the league have expressed some level of interest in Padres lefty Brad Hand, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune reports. Evidently, those discussions have yet to get truly serious, as Lin adds that the Friars aren’t believed to be closing in on any swaps. A significant portion of the rest of the pitching staff has received attention of some kind, too, Lin adds. There are a few other interesting pitching trade candidates on the San Diego roster — Trevor Cahill chief among them, perhaps — and it wouldn’t be surprising to see several deals go down before the deadline.
Here’s more from out west:
- The Astros announced that reliever Will Harris is headed to the 10-day DL with right shoulder inflammation (h/t Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle, via Twitter). That’s somewhat troubling news at first glance, though Harris says he doesn’t anticipate a significant layoff (video via MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, on Twitter). The 32-year-old has continued his stellar run in Houston, compiling 34 2/3 innings of 2.86 ERA ball on the year — with 10.1 K/9 against just 1.3 BB/9. Clearly, he’s a key member of the pen and a big part of the team’s planning the rest of the way. (Harris is also controlled through 2019 at very appealing rates.)
- Meanwhile, the Astros are likely focused on adding a starter and a lefty reliever. As regards the latter, the team is said to have an eye on Tigers lefty Justin Wilson, per Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network (via Twitter). The teams discussed Wilson over the winter, per Rosenthal, and the southpaw’s quality effort early over the first half surely hasn’t reduced the interest. Wilson currently carries a career-high 12.8 K/9 with 3.4 BB/9 along with a 2.36 ERA over his 34 1/3 innings.
- Giants closer Mark Melancon seems unlikely to make it back before the trade deadline, likely removing him from consideration as a trade candidate, as Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News writes. The veteran righty, shelved for the second time this year with a forearm issue, has been able to pick up a baseball. But skipper Bruce Bochy suggested the team plans to bring him along slowly. As Baggarly suggests, it never seemed particularly likely that Melancon would end up being dealt regardless. For what it’s worth, though, I would add that Melancon would represent a very plausible August trade candidate if that proved desirable.
- Angels righty Garrett Richards still hasn’t been cleared to throw, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register writes. The unfortunate hurler discussed the frustrations of his long-running effort to get healthy, telling Fletcher that he is at least encouraged that his current problem (with a biceps nerve) has improved somewhat — and that it doesn’t implicate his elbow, which he says still feels great. “Nobody knows anything about this injury,” said Richards, who says it isn’t clear when he’ll be deemed ready to begin throwing again. “I can’t worry about getting all caught up in playing right now,” he added. “I’ve got to worry about getting healthy first. When that happens, I’ll be ready.” Meanwhile, Fletcher notes that both Andrew Heaney and Tyler Skaggs are continuing to progress while working off of a mound, which seems to hold out some real promise of bolstering the team’s injury-riddled rotation in the relatively near future.
Philliesfan4life
The angels have had the worst luck with their rotation the last 3 years
justinkm19
No depth makes rotation injuries hard to deal with. The Rangers know all about this in recent years
chaseturrentine
Yeah, but the loss of an entire starting rotation (Richards, Heaney, Trop, Shoe, and Skaggs) is tough for any organization to absorb. Last season was similar (Richards, Heaney, Trop, Skaggs, Wilson, and Weaver (while not injured, only threw like 20 MPH).
Yes, depth is needed, but that doesn’t negate the terrible luck.
halos101
you can have all the depth you want when you lose 4 of your top pitchers it’s bad luck
Kylesamac
So what does that make the Astros then?
stymeedone
Luck does factor in. Banking on Peacock for depth was not in the original plan.
Philliesfan4life
The astros had depth in the farm system for the rotation, Unlike the angels don’t really have any arms close to mlb ready except nate smith
Phillies7459
The astros have ten times the fire power in the lineup and bullpen then the angels. They also had better depth. Depth plays a factor but, losing five + starting pitchers in one season is terrible luck
aerainier
An offensive fire power. Without the offense carrying the team, Houston would be 10 games worse I bet. The guys that filled in, Martes, Paulino and a couple others haven’t fared well at all. Good bullpen and great offense helped them thru. That won’t work in the playoffs though, so gotta get the rotation healthy. Which is why they’re nursing Kuechel and McHugh back slowly
angels fan 3
Who has also been injured
padam
The Mets: ‘hold my beer.’
bastros88
Adam Wilk, the real MVP
RiverCatsFilms
You clearly have never heard of the New York Mets
redsfan48
The Mets and Reds would like to disagree. They’ve had worse luck with their rotations.
astros_fan_84
I understand the Astros wanting to add a reliever, but not a starter.
The SP options on the market are only marginally better than the guys we have and they’d cost a bundle. Plus, every SP on the team is controlled through at least next year.
A rental makes no sense because they’d only be needed for the postseason, and a controlled starter for next year isn’t exactly a need.
I hope they’re doing this just to drive up the cost.
I Believe We Can Win
Don’t get a Hand deal you like wait till the offseason. He will still have 2 more years of control and there will be more suitors at the winter meetings when teams not in contention think they can contend. Plus prospects that were recently drafted become eligible in trade after the world series.
Only real pieces padres have to deal are chacin, stammen, richard, and cahill.
Other than that Hand, Buchter, Yates, etc you can wait on trading till you get a deal you like.
filbert10 2
Oh man I don’t think Hand’s value will be higher than it is right now. Trade him to high bidder.
paulnewman
I agree, value does not have much room to grow.
padreforlife
Chacin, Buchter, Yates etc are not getting much back
Ryan619
Not sure how controllable yates contract is but i think buchter could fetch a decent prospect because is a good lefty and is controllable like hand. Lets hope chacin has a good start tonight….i think he can net us a mid level prospect!
CNichols
Buchter is a FA in 2022, based on service time I think Yates would be in 2021. No rush to move those guys unless they’re getting something good back. Yates has been great but he was on waivers just a couple months ago, teams might want a bigger sample size before buying him. Could be a piece to move this offseason.
I Believe We Can Win
Chacin- no
Buchter and Yates- thats fine theyre controlled long term and dont have a lot of miles on their arm. Buchter only has roughly 100 career innings and Yates has 127. Padres can afford to let them build value rest of this season and in coming seasons.
outinleftfield
Like Tatis for Shields or Naylor and Capps for Cashner?
PBABowler27
Last time I heard someone say they didn’t know what the injury was, Tyler Thornburg ended up needing Thoracic Outlet Surgery.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
If Brad Hand is worth Gleyber Torres, what is Felipe Rivero worth?
Aaron Judge, Yankees Stadium and a PTBNL?
Ryan619
Nobody has ever said hand for torres str8 up….im sure it would be hand and a good prospect coming back but even that prob wouldnt be enough! Lots of other good options for the pads to look at thou, the future is bright!
rocky7
Hand and a good prospect….not if that prospect was Jesus himself….you’re a bit delusional regarding Hand as pretty much every Padres commenter has been that we’ve seen.
Torres is the second best prospect and a pretty sure ML ballplayer and maybe even a very very good ballplayer when his career is over.
Hand is,,,,well Hand.
He’s having a good year but is far from establishing himself as a perennial All Star in the pen. This guy isn’t a game changer the way a Miller is which is what you all keep making him out to be. The only reason he was an all star is that they couldn’t nominate an every day guy from the team (wow what happened to Solarte) and every team has to have one.
The Padres seem to be in a continual rebuilding process, especially since your Rock Star GM showed up on premises. I suggest that if Hand is so reliable, that the Padres keep him and some of this talent that we’re reading about and start building around them….Gosh it must be tough to be a fan in San Diego..
lpothe
You guys believe to much of the writer by in here. I am willing to be you have never seen Torres play for an extended period of time. He is not the second coming, he is not on par with other highly touted prospects that were ranked just as high. He is potential at this point and not production to warrant that ranking. So stop with all the talk like it would take so much to get him.
I Believe We Can Win
1. Hand is top ten in the NL for relievers in xfip, war, innings, holds, inherited runners, and inherited runners scored meaning he’s put up all star worthy numbers.
2. He would be an all star with his numbers this year on any team in the NL.
3. Isnt a game changer, but pitches multi innings, faces right and left handed batters- effective against both. Nobody has claimed hes as good as miller. But hes performed at a dominant level the last 18 months since becoming a full time reliever.
4. Cause prospects always pan out lol. Yeah 50 50 chance torres is a bust vs him being an all star. Hand isnt worth torres as torres is worth more to the yankees long term at a premium position, but 0 guarantee torres actually lives up to his talent at the MLB level. Kid could come up, stink up the place like byron buxton- consensus #1 prospect or see his career derailed by injuries like profar and stink up the place- a former #1 prospect. No guarantees and wont know till hes back in 2018 2019. But again hes worth more fiven his talent control and position.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
Like Ryan was saying, nobody is expecting Hand to bring back a guy like Torres. That’s been blown out of proportion. If he can bring back at least one top 100 prospect, plus maybe another piece, that would be more realistic. He’s not Andrew Miller, but a contending team could still find good use in a guy like him.
Preller has only been the GM for a little less than 3 years now, and the rebuild itself has been basically been going on since last year. I don’t know about other Padres fans, but I’m glad that he’s finally having this team go through a legitimate rebuild that’s it’s been in need of for a long time. It’s better than past regimes that tried to jimmy-rig a “contending” roster every year, only to finish in the middle of the pack.
outinleftfield
Profar was a much better prospect than Torres is now. He has flamed out after the injuries.
padres_2020
GMs are basically at the mercy of the ownership. Padres ownership has finally wised up, and decided to do a full-fledged rebuild. Preller is finally allowed to do what he does best, and I’m optimistic about the long term results.
padreforlife
Glad when Preller gets fired
driftcat28 2
What would it take for the Yankees to land Wilson? (Don’t start with Frazier/Torres….ain’t happening)
JKB 2
Hand does not get Torres
beersy
You are correct, but there is. O harm in asking.
JKB 2
I get it but there kind of is. Its an insulting offer so there is harm as then they may not be taking seriously. GM’s are not stupid. So to think there is any possibility Cashman would say yes would mean Preller is stupid and no one is hat dumb. Its just a time waster.
I Believe We Can Win
Preller and cashman have a history.
Cashman low balled preller on kimbrel- something to the tune of mateo and something else for kimbrel gyorko and like half or more of gyorkos contract.
So all the torres hype might just preller reversing the situation. In all honesty maybe preller doesnt want to trade hand to the yankees given his history with cashman and its torres or bust to deal him to the yankees. He pulled a similar situation with the dbacks of kimbrel for goldschimdt. And the funny thing is the industry wasnt appreciative of the dbacks front office revealing that info moreso than prellers trade proposal.
Doubt Hand goes to the Yankees though or Brewers. Dodgers Nationals Astros with my money on nationals
outinleftfield
What is really insulting is Yankees fans thinking that a kid that just had TJ surgery and was only hitting .270 in AA before the season ending injury is somehow a guaranteed superstar.
Byron Buxton, Jurickson Profar, and a long list of better prospects have flamed out and never made an impact at the major league level.
Hand might not get the Padres Torres in trade, but he is a proven MLB top ten performer as a reliever for 2 seasons now. Torres is a dream. If a team is looking to make the playoffs this season they trade dreams for proven big league performance.
I think Hand is going to get Preller and the Padres a top 50-60 prospect like Fedde and another very good prospect, much like the trade the Giants made last year for Will Smith. That is what writers and MLB Network hosts like Heyman, Morosi, Rosenthal, Verducci, Gammons, and O’Dowd have been saying lately.
But there is no harm or insult in asking for an injured Torres straight up for Hand.
padreforlife
Brad Hand really creating a frenzy not
padreforlife
Like I said no one wants to deal with liar Preller who still has not made significant trade since Red Sox debacle.