The Diamondbacks have once again checked in with the Orioles on Manny Machado, primarily as a matter of due diligence, tweets Jon Morosi of MLB.com. There’s little surprise there, given that the Snakes were oft-linked to Machado in the offseason and were reportedly one of the more interested parties in obtaining his services. Beyond that, Arizona has received limited offensive contributions from both the third base (.216/.313/.394) and shortstop (.232/.296/.442) positions so far in 2018. The D-backs are currently hanging onto a 1.5 game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West, and adding someone of Machado’s caliber would be reminiscent of last season’s J.D. Martinez acquisition, though Machado has more defensive value even with poor ratings at shortstop so far in 2018.
More trade talk from around the league…
- Morosi also tweets that Blue Jays righty Ryan Tepera is generating trade interest. It stands to reason that virtually every player of even modest value on Toronto’s roster will draw inquiries, of course, considering that the team is 16 games out of first place in the AL East and is facing a similarly bleak outlook in the Wild Card standings. Morosi notes Tepera’s career-best K/9 rate in 2018, though in this instance, that hardly seems like a reason to expect his value to increase; Tepera’s 9.5 K/9 mark is only nominally higher than last year’s 9.4 K/9, and his overall 26.8 strikeout percentage compares favorably to last year’s 25.4 percent mark. Tepera has made modest gains across the board in terms of fastball velocity (95.3 mph), swinging-strike rate (13.9 percent) and chase rate (34.2 percent), but his greater appeal is simply one of club control. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason and controlled cheaply through the 2021 season. Tepera will turn 31 this winter, which won’t enhance his appeal, but he’s a hard-thrower with a 3.27 ERA and 137 strikeouts against 51 walks in his past 132 MLB innings.
- The Braves didn’t make a strong effort to acquire Kelvin Herrera before he was traded to the division-rival Nationals, tweets David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While the Atlanta front office liked Herrera’s arm very much, O’Brien notes that assuming his remaining $4.4MM salary (which the Nats were willing to do) would’ve burned through the majority of the funds the team has available to upgrade via trade this summer. That would seem to suggest that the Braves may struggle to land any big-budget players as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches. Certainly, given the team’s place atop the NL East standings, they’ll look to improve to whatever extent possible, but it appears that finances will be a fairly notable factor in any moves the team does make.
- There’s a widespread expectation that the Padres will sell some pieces this summer, but Dennis Lin of The Athletic (subscription link) takes a deeper look at a factor that could push the Friars into activity: the Rule 5 Draft. San Diego has more than a dozen prospects who’ll be Rule 5 eligible this offseason, Lin observes, which could create further motivation to open some spots on the 40-man by moving assets that are controlled beyond the 2018 season. Brad Hand, Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen all fit that bill and have all already drawn trade interest, Lin writes, and the Padres could also shop outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Travis Jankowski to other clubs as well. Lin speaks with general manager A.J. Preller at length about the upcoming roster crunch in a thorough look at some of the decisions the club will face in the not-too-distant future.
Jbigz12
Braves going to upgrade for under 5 mil? Goodluck holding off the Nats.
sufferforsnakes
Yet who’s in first place?
Vedder80
Because the Braves have never blown a 3 game lead (cough, 10 1/2 games on Aug 24 and got caught, cough).
homeunderdog
hahahha
Jbigz12
Yes, typically when one attempts to “hold off” another they happen to be in front of them in the standings.
chrisones
When the Braves blew that lead, they had no reserves in the minors to call on.
There are 15 pitchers in the minors that could possibly come in to a relief role ala David Price for a post season run.
GarryHarris
More money isn’t going to make the Braves a winner. If Ronald Acuna returns and performs the way he left, they’ll be fine with position players. Every team in MLB could use more pitching but the Braves are looking for just one piece to take the pen to a new level. They just need to stay healthy.
As for next season, 1/2 the total salary for this season will be off the books when the contracts of Adrian Gonzalez $22M, Scott Kazmir $18M, Brandon McCarthy $11M and Nick Markakis $11M expire. For this season, 1/3 the total team payroll goes to players not on the field (Gonzalez, Kazmir and RA Dickey buyout).
elmore80
Nathan Evoldi as a closer. Cheap and throws gas as a starter.Should be available. Craig Stammen could help too.
bravesfan
I don’t understand. Could the braves be any less clear on the direction they are taking this franchise, and what their budget is? This hasn’t been as clear to understand since AA took over
baseballfan90
I wonder if the Dbacks will ultimately trade for Moose to solve their 3B needs? They already have a lefty in Lamb though so I’m not sure it would be the best fit.
#Fantasygeekland
That makes no sense at all with Lamb there.
baseballfan90
True they’d have to do something with Lamb then. Braves are a better fit.
Yelsnit
Moose, Lamb, Cheetah whatever works.
nymetsking
Tiger’s been seen taking grounders.
Dicka24
Moose makes $5.5m this year. Prorated post a potential trade would mean there’d be about $2m or less remaining on his deal. I think he’s the guy the Braves will target, cuz the little that’s left would allow them to budget for additional help elsewhere if cash is truly limited. He’s a rental, and they need a bat at 3B. If
sr3895
What about Beltre
Solaris601
TEX unlikely to trade Beltre. They want to keep him until retirement so he goes into the Hall a Ranger. Not what I would do if I was TEX, but I’m not TEX
nymetsking
So they think if they trade him, he’ll go in as a Redsox?
Familia1931
Lol, could be a Mariner or Dodger
O Conchobhair
@solaris doesn’t the player decide what cap to wear?
Always the 1 day contract to return if it requires being your last teams cap.
Cat Mando
O Conchobhair….The HoF decides on the cap. Players used to and the HoF will consider the players request. It has changed a few times if I remember correctly. One reason they stopped letting the player decide were accusations teams were paying players to select their cap if they played for multiple teams and were elected.
k26dp 2
Moose is not a significant upgrade over Camargo.
GarryHarris
Camargo has more potential, he’s a switch hitter, a better fielder and can run the bases. The Braves have built their team the right way, IMO. Moose is not an upgrade.
xpensivewinos
Ah yes, the Padres…….an embarrassment of riches.
Their perpetual last place finishes and lack of being even remotely competitive year after year certainly attest to the genius baseball acumen and the skill level the Padres front office has.
#Fantasygeekland
Well at least right now, they have a very very talented farm system, so that will change.
socal-ewalk
You should research this concept called a “rebuild”. It’s where a struggling team sells off top players for prospects in the hopes they can create a winning team after additional losing seasons. Yes it may hurt the fans, but it could be fruitful in the long-term.
socal-ewalk
Although I am so certain your baseball operational skillset sets you far ahead of the pros. Would love to see you take over after hearing such great wise words !!!
letsplay2
Orioles of the Pacific
GarryHarris
That’s a shame. For 20 years, 1964 – 1983) the O’s were the model. Now they are the anti-thesis of that legacy.
Solaris601
Imagine for a moment a universe where all 30 teams are in rebuild mode simultaneously. What would that even look like?
Injediwetrust
Perpetual last place finishes?. 4 time in the last 10 yrs. 7 times in the last 20 year.. They are perpetually finishing in the middle, which is worse.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
Injediwetrust has it right on the money. The Padres have been bad to mediocre team for way too long. The current rebuild was a longtime coming.
Also, they are not the “orioles of the west”. The Padres actually spend money in the international market and have a mentally sane ownership group.
GarryHarris
That’s because the Pads drastically change their philosophies. If they would just stick to the plan… whatever it may be.
sameichel
I don’t see why people are surprised about AA, this is reminiscent of the Astros and cubs a couple years ago, neither one of them made a big trade in their first year of success but both of them made one the next year, in which they won the World Series, Verlander for the Astros, and Chapman for the Cubs
atlho
great point
realgone2
Well seems like they aren’t gonna be able to make a big trade even if they wanted to.
slider32
AA has never won a championship!
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
Most new general managers don’t make major trades for prospects in their first year. They have a better feel for their system after year 1- 1.5. They might trade low commodities to obtain minor pieces here and there, but it’s hard to rectify trading guys without a full understanding of everyone in their system.
lokinyc
Doesn’t matter where machado’s traded to in July. In November, he’s signing with the Yankees
doxiedevil
Atlanta will concede the East before spending for a couple decent arms… not surprised.
Solaris601
The Pirates serve as a cautionary tale for the Braves. Pirates’ window is arguably closing, but from 2013-2017 they added little or nothing at the deadline, and they have nothing to show for those resurgent years. It makes me sick when an organization uses the excuse that they can’t afford to add players when they’re in the thick of a pennant race. The truth is you can’t afford not to.
its_happening
AA won’t give up the farm system unless his job is on the line and he’s looking for an extension.
baseballfanforever
“… assuming his remaining $4.4MM salary (which the Nats were willing to do) would’ve burned through the majority of the funds the team has available ”
Hahahaha.. I KNEW IT. From the pattern I saw from last year, the comments AA has made, and the lack of any significant trade during the off season (trading contracts was the only big move). I KNEW the Braves were out of money. Unbelievable when Suntrust increased the Braves coffers by 50% and yet they couldn’t see increasing the budget hardly anything? They are at $117 million right now. This is ridiculous. To really compete they need to raise their budget at least another $10-$20 million. They need third base help and a couple of relief pitchers. I’m a big Braves fan and have been for decades, but seriously if a team doesn’t make a few moves to improve–spend money–they often die out in the playoffs.
bobtillman
Don’t worry, you’ve got some really good years coming. I’m not sure I’d mess with that farm system either.
southi
It seems Camargo has been playing MUCH better of late including great defense. I am not convinced Atlanta thinks thirdbase is in as big of a need of improvement as it seemed a few weeks ago.
slider32
AA could trade one of their young minor league pitchers like Allard, Soroka, Gohara, Fried, or Anderson for a relief pitcher.
bravesandcrewfan
Out of those I’m only OK seeing freid go. Soroka for a relief pitcher? Get outta here. That’s like people saying Torres for Hamels.
dwilson10
I wonder what it would take for Arizona to land Machado? I’m thinking something like Jon Duplantier, Kristian Robinson, and Domingo Leyba.
prestigeworldwide
lol
James Hall
Not even close. Look at more of a JD Martinez return for Machado, if the Orioles even trade him. Leyba plus other low prospects probably will be enough
lokinyc
DiDi will be on the market. Manny at SS, Migggy stays at 3B
stansfield123
Didi is the most popular player on the team (with everybody, fans, clubhouse, staff), and he’s not going anywhere. The guy had a curtain call on the road this year.
He’s also been clutch in the playoffs. So he’s definitely Yankee material, possibly a lifer.
So even in free agency, the Yankees will very likely match his best offer and keep him…if they don’t extend him this winter.
jdgoat
Do you have a link to where he’s most popular? And honestly trading him and acquiring Machado might make sense. You’d have an upgrade at short and would be getting a good pitcher back.
thegreatcerealfamine
Last time I checked Didi didn’t have two national commercials, didn’t make the cover of Sports Illustrated, his own section at Yankees Stadium, among other things. Unless you have a recent link for a pole of “with everybody, fans, clubhouse, staff” that statement is so far from being right it’s nuts.
TheTrotsky
Other than Andujar staying at third you’re completely wrong.
stansfield123
Let’s get something straight: the Yankees have a shortstop already. And he’s not going anywhere.
While we’re on the subject of getting things straight: the Yankees also have three outfielders who are not going anywhere.
So enough with the Machado and Harper hype. The Yankees don’t need any position players. They also don’t have infinite money. They have a lot of it, but it’s a finite amount, and they’re going to spend it to address actual needs.
iibng76
They are also interested in buying back YES from FOX/COMCAST/DISNEY. Money doesn’t always go toward payroll.
Pax vobiscum
Perfectly spoken.
GarryHarris
Their front office is pretty smart (and lucky) too.
TradeAcuna
Cant wait for the August/September quotes making excuses as to why this team fall out of the race late in the season. “We have a lot of young talent but inexperience came to bite us at the end.”
Also can’t wait for next year when they fail again and regret not taking advantage of winning when the team was playing well.
its_happening
Dodgers need Machado. They can move Taylor to 2B and hope Machado’s presence lifts the rest of the lineup, taking pressure off other guys. This is the right time to go all in if you are LA.
athingortwo
Trimreaper is right…..Dodgers NEED Machado.. They would dominate division for a long time and he would thrive in that atmosphere.
bleacherbum
A long time meaning 2.5 months? lol
stormie
I’m sure the Jays would eat whatever salary AA needs them to in order to get a deal done for some of their players. Is AA willing to give up what it will take to make those deals though? I’m sure he doesn’t want to start selling off his farm already, but he’s in a tough spot to get much of anything done if ownership won’t support him with a little more payroll flexibility, short of overpaying with prospects.
J leathal86
I’ll take lamb and Corbin for machado
RedRooster
I fail to see how trading their best starter helps the Diamondbacks and I fail to see how Patrick Corbin the pending free agent helps the Orioles.