This week in baseball blogs…
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed makes a case for the Dodgers to trade Clayton Kershaw.
- Musings Of A Baseball Addict has a different idea for the Dodgers, arguing that they should trade for Manny Machado.
- NY Yankees Digest advises the Bombers to pass on Kershaw if he hits free agency in the offseason.
- Chin Music Baseball names eight players who have gotten off to surprising starts this year.
- Clubhouse Corner’s Bernie Pleskoff discusses several players who have gotten off to slow starts.
- STL Hat Trick tries to find out why Matt Carpenter is off to such a poor start.
- Orioles Hangout shares an extensive piece on the O’s front office, and opines that the team should choose one person to be the unquestioned leader of its baseball operations department.
- Pirates Breakdown says the Bucs are better off without Andrew McCutchen.
- Rox Pile focuses on first base trade possibilities for the Rockies.
- Bronx To Bushville wonders if a turnaround will come for the Brewers’ struggling offense.
- SportsTalkPhilly.com praises Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera.
- BP Toronto makes an argument for Blue Jays third base prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to stay in the minors for the time being.
- Foul Territory Baseball writes about Vlad Jr. and a couple other high-end prospects, outfielders Eloy Jimenez (White Sox) and Juan Soto (Nationals).
- Notes From The Sally scouts Royals catcher prospect MJ Melendez.
- Sports Talk Florida explains why the Rays haven’t promoted infield prospect Willy Adames to the majors yet.
- PhoulBallz profiles and interviews Phillies outfield prospect Cornelius Randolph
- The 3rd Man In does the same with Oregon pitcher/draft prospect Matt Mercer.
- The Point of Pittsburgh studies stats and video to see what is wrong with Josh Bell’s swing.
- The Loop Sports interviews Dr. Demetrius Lopes, a Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, about White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar’s future.
- Rotisserie Duck runs down who has and hasn’t benefited from BABIP luck so far.
- Dodgers Way offers scouting reports on some of the team’s top High-A prospects.
- Everything Bluebirds notes that three inexpensive relief signings have come up big for the Blue Jays thus far.
- Camden Depot doesn’t have much hope for the Orioles.
- Locked On Pirates notices a downward trend in the Bucs’ pitch-framing skills.
- 216Stitches (podcast) discusses James Paxton and Luke Weaver, among other subjects.
- MetsMerizedOnline.com and Mets Daddy each have pieces on Matt Harvey’s exit from the organizaion.
- The Sports Tank is thrilled with J.D. Martinez’s performance in his first month-plus as a member of the Red Sox.
- The Runner Sports rounds up some first-round draft pick possibilities for the Astros.
- Call to the Pen (links: 1, 2) ranks the most prolific “three true outcomes” hitters of all-time, and takes a look at some of the Phillies’ early season performances.
- Motor City Bengals names some of the best draft picks in Tigers history.
- Rising Apple hopes young infielder Luis Guillmore sticks with the Mets.
- Jays from the Couch argues that Toronto needs to move Joe Biagini back to the bullpen.
- Friars On Base sees Padres outfield prospect Franmil Reyes nearing the majors.
- The K Zone still has hope for Mets infield prospect Gavin Cecchini, their first-round pick in 2012.
- Pinstriped Prospects has a piece on young Yankees hurler Mike King.
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I agree on the Kershaw piece. While I think he winds up re-signing with the Dodgers simply based on the money that they have, I think they would be best served trading him
To who and for what would get in return hoping that he returns
No way no how is Kershaw traded. #1 the return would be poor … big contract and possible opt out. If he doesn’t opt out it’s because he’s been injured
I think it’s hard for anyone to imagine Kershaw being traded, but that was the attitude prior to the Mets trading Tom Seaver to the Reds in ‘77. Mets got 4 starters in return. Always better to trade a player too soon than too late.
That’s a bit of a cautionary tale, no? All four of those players ended up being bad, while Seaver was very good for the Reds. The Mets eventually got Seaver back and he had his last good seasons with them anyway.
Doesn’t he have a full no trade clause in his contract though ?
Yankees should sign Patrick Corbin this offseason, looks like he wants to be a Bomber.
I agree as of right now Corbin looks a good bet to replace CC next year provided he stays healthy and contract is reasonable
The article from Tony Pente, at the Orioles Hangout seemed more like his resume.
How many articles do we need weekly on the Blue Jays, Bucs, Orioles and Dodgers…….
Braves, Nationals and Yankees! Way too many articles!
I agree!!! I f a team is not from the East or West Coast, the National media, Radio, Television and yes, Trade Rumors, do not consider other teams as news worthy.
The online karma of outbound linking must be really valuable. These are crap resources.
I agree. The only Yankees blog worth a read is RiverAveBlues but they seem to be no longer featured on this now garbage compilation of amateur bloggers. Strange.
That article written about LA trading for Machado is a joke. The writer admits he’s incorrect. Delete that link.
The Dodgers should trade Kershaw to the Yankees, for a player to be named later. That player will be Stanton, that will come after the season. Kershaw will opt out, with a WS ring
Ok, Pal.
Besides that being completely preposterous on all levels, the Yankees couldn’t take on Kershaw’s contract anyway.
If they chose to the Yankees could take on anyone’s contract. Where have you been the last 50 or so years?
I think the Yankees have made it pretty clear that they are staying below the threshold this year. Where have you been?
First of all I was answering to david proclaiming “the Yankees couldn’t take on Kershaws contract anyway” not saying I felt they would or will, just they could. To answer your question been right here following the Yankees since the Reds ran all over them in 1976, been with them through all the highs and lows.
Gotcha, sorry to sound so snarky.
The Yankees have said they are NOT blowing over the tax. Silly fans think this is like in the good old days. It’s not. They didn’t make a run at pitching because of the tax and they certainly won’t now.
They have money. But they have limits. Blow over the cap this year you can forget FA next year. That tax goes up big time each year. You guys are getting mad at each other but TBH he’s right. Yanks could get CK. but you think their going to blow the tax n give up 3-4 top prospects. Don’t come up with junk trades like your over paid CF.
a straight Stratton for CK may work both ways. Other than that the money doesn’t work. Start thinking reality and not stupid cause you think the Yanks are getting this guy that guy Harper Macho you think Yanks are going to have a 3/4 Billon dollar payroll for 3 guys plus Staton n having to sign all the young players your high
I doubt it. I’m not sold on the Yanks. As a matter a fact for all the hype in the Winter I’m not impressed.
If I was a betting man I put all my cash on Houston. They have the best pitching in MLB. They have shown no slippage of WS hang over. 2 of their pitchers are ranked 1 n 2, in MLB and they can hit. They also improved while the Yanks are in a battle w Boston and should have went after pitching instead of a RF with a huge contract that going to bite them more sooner than later.
L.O.L. all the hype over them and your are not impressed?….;.wow do you have a high bar for standards geez…for one they’re tied best record in baseball despite a plethora of injuries ( 6) in key positions i.e. 3rd base, 1st base, starting pitching, relief pitching and outfield despite that where would had shut most teams out of contention let alone the winning streak the Yankees just completed. . I agree Astros have solid starting pitching their relief is nothing close to Yankees
Keep in mind while your Astros or Red Sox other then playing the Yankees the majority of their games have been vs weak sister teams the Yankees playing Twins Angles, Astros’s, Indians Red Sox A’s now Washington while winning like 16 of 18 games.
I think you need re-access the Yankees a bit more I think you are way off.
That trade Kershaw has to be the most rediculous thing I’ve read on MLBTR, and I’ve been here since the beginning. It’s the 2nd week of May, and the Dodgers are out of the playoffs already? Sounds like a drunk Mets fan that thought his team was a World Series shoe in after the first two weeks of the season.
The 2nd one, with Machado. I’m sure the Dodgers would love to have him, but with the Luxury Tax reset being the main objective this season, there’s just no room. I mean, Stanton flat out said, I’ll only accept a trade to the Dodgers. It wasn’t until he knew that they were completely out of it, that he agreed to go to the Yankees. With bonuses due to both Kershaw and Maeda, there’s no room for Machado. They’d have to move other pieces, like a Kemp or Grandal. Problem is that those two have been their best two hitters so far, and Grandal‘s real value comes behind the plate anyways. Grandal/Barnes is far better than Barnes/Farmer. Trading Grandal doesn’t really get you all that much salary relief anyways. The Dodgers don’t have much starting pitching depth, especially if Kershaw’s first arm injury is anything serious. And the pen, which looked to be a strength at the outset, has been a mess. Machado doesn’t fix either of those issues, and actually hinders their ability to fix those areas if they need to. I think the Dodgers are hoping the offense clicks when Turner gets back.
Stanton listed the Dodgers, Astros, Yankees, and the Cubs as teams he’d accept a trade to.
Yes, that’s ultimately how it played out. My point is that the ball was very much in the Dodgers court, more so than any other team, and they still passed because their mo was to stay below the tax.
When Stanton was interviewed he stated that was the list he provided the Marlins when he was finally approached by them to waive his NTC. That’s why the Giants and Cardinals never stood a chance, and no one team of those four had a priority…his words. People just read into the Dodgers always being his first choice.
They were his first choice. He grew up a Dodgers fan.
My bet the Yankees will not go after Kershaw this year (can’t afford him) they will not part with Stanton (he will enjoy success and teammates in NY won’t go nowhere nor have a need for Machado. Dodgers are likely not going to take on any contracts this year either. All this speculation is nothing but click bait
Just imagine the revolt of a beleaguered Dodgers fan base, where 90% of the fan base is blacked out from even watching them play in the first place. Trading Kershaw, while he’s hurt nonetheless, would be a PR disaster. There’s just no way.
TBH reading the Dodger board a lot and I mean a lot of LAD fans are starting to see reality. LAD need new young pitching and they all say the same thing and I agree. LA not going nowhere this year let’s be honest. This is their one chance to get as much as they can for him. TBH resigning him is not the answer. The pitching is so so and getting old. The hitting is ok esp after everyone gets healthy. But they need a bull pen which ranks near the bottom in MLB. This might be a blessing in disguise. It hard but sometimes it’s time to think with your head and not your heart
To be honest, May isn’t even half way done. Anybody that thinks the Dodgers are out in May just hasn’t watched baseball very long. I’m a Dodgers fan, but 90% of the fan base is clueless. You’ll find me on those boards saying there was no way that the Dodgers would blow past the tax this year, and I received a bunch of comments saying I didn’t know anything about baseball. Well, here we are, and the Dodgers are staying below the tax. The Dodgers aren’t going to trade Kershaw, I don’t care what their clueless fan base says or thinks they should do. First of all, he’s hurt, and they’d be selling as low as possible. Not exactly the front offices MO.
I agree as of right now Corbin looks a good bet to replace CC next year provided he stays healthy and contract is reasonable
Most impressive so far this season are the Yankees. Despite all of the injuries, and challenges they have been the most exciting team. Many of their starters are playing under their averages despite without argument have had the toughest schedule in MLB When the Yankees schedule gets easier baring any major injuries other teams will be wise to fear the Yankees potential. I think they will be looking for a key starting pitcher but debate remains who will be available
I would trade Torreyes, Drury, plus Walker for Machado. Move DiDi to 3rd. Keep Manny at SS. Have Andujar play 3rd 1 or 2 times a week and play DH most of the time. Keep Stanton in LF when DiDi is at 3rd and at DH when Andujar is at 3rd. They all get off days and keep winning like they have been. I’d even possibly trade Andujar and Walker for Machado. Manny is only 25. Not turning 26 till July. Andujar is 23. Not a huge age gap. Machado would be a better long term fit for the Yankees. Love Andujar, but I’d rather have Machado. Yankees will get Harper next year and he will be the starting CF. With Hicks manning LF when Stanton is DHing. Heres my line-up for the 2019 season after the Yankees win the 2018 WS.
1. Hicks-LF/DH
2. Judge-RF/DH
3. Stanton-LF/DH
4. Machado-SS
5. Harper-CF
6. Sanchez-C
7. Bird-1st
8. DiDi-3rd/DH
9. Torres-2nd
Pitching Rotation
1. Severino
2. Corbin
3. Tanaka
4. Archer
5. Ğermań
Just my opinion,but very reachable