Yu Darvish has yet to resume throwing after getting a cortisone shot in his arm last week, but according to Cubs president Theo Epstein, that doesn’t mean the club is likely to go out and try to acquire a frontline starter prior to the July 31st trade deadline. Carrie Muskat of MLB.com compiled quotes from Epstein about the club’s deadline stance that leave little room for interpretation. “There’s no way we’re going to go out and acquire starters the caliber of a locked-in Kyle Hendricks or a locked-in Jose Quintana. The majority of our answers lie within, that’s for sure,” he said. Of course, he later added that the club is “still in the mode of assessing”; it’s not difficult to imagine that things could change quickly if the rotation doesn’t turn itself around. In regards to Darvish’s status, Epstein said the club doesn’t want to push him too hard in an effort to get him back on the field. ’It’s not about rushing. Just get back out there. Get back in your routine. Get back in your work. Then, as this plays, we’ll get you back out there. Of course, we want you back sooner rather than later, but if biology’s not going to permit it, it’s not going to permit it.” Beyond Darvish, the Cubs have gotten disappointing performances from Hendricks, Quintana and offseason signee Tyler Chatwood on the year.
More from around the National League…
- In Muskat’s piece, Kris Bryant also gets a mention. The former MVP reportedly had a good day in the batting cages on Friday and is nearing a return from the DL. Bryant’s been sidelined since June 23rd with shoulder inflammation, and the Cubs have anxiously been hoping to get him healthy again and back in the lineup. P.J. Mooney of The Athletic reports on Twitter that Bryant is heading to the Cubs’ AA affiliate to begin his rehab assignment; he’ll be joined by lefty Brian Duensing. Mooney also notes that righty Anthony Bass is headed to the DL due to an illness; fellow righty James Norwood will take his place, making his first trip to the big leagues.
- The Padres still believe in the offensive potential of elite defensive backstop Austin Hedges, says AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. But they’re more than happy with the value he’s providing them with from behind the plate. Manager Andy Green had this to say on the subject: “We’re patient on the offensive side, because we see the value on the defensive side.” Hedges was right at the Mendoza line on the season with a .200 average entering play today, and his OPS sat south of .600 as well.
- Breakout Dodgers slugger Max Muncy has been tearing it up this season, with an ISO of .347 to go with an 18.9% walk rate. But he almost didn’t play baseball at all this year, as Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports chronicles. Following his release by the A’s last season, Muncy was looking into how many classes it would take to complete his business degree. “You start experiencing failure and you don’t know if you’re as good as you thought you were. Mentally I wasn’t doing as good as I should have been. And then, last year was a chance for me to regroup and recover and focus on myself,” Muncy said. “I could just focus on baseball, remembering how much I love the game and how much I liked playing it. For me, that was the biggest thing.” Now, of course, things have turned around to an extraordinary level, and Muncy is practically a lock for his first All-Star selection.
Darvish will be fine, he’s just tipping his pitches.
Yeah that didn’t worry the Dodgers last year. Of course it cost them dearly
Any chance Darvish is available for a trade to the Brewers? We would be really interested.
They’d have an ace. I’d take Darvish over all starters if the brewers any day of the week. Brewers don’t have an ace or #2 or even a #3
It’s kind of crazy how you’re talking about where players rank when you called Addison Russell a top 3 SS
well he’s the 2nd best shortstop for the Cubs, so technically he’s a top 3 SS
Russell leads NL Shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved, but don’t let that detail get in your way.
What does that have to do with him being a top-3 SS?
Actually he’s third in the nl. And he’s 17th overall in fielding percentage, but don’t let that detail get in your way….
But yet the Brewers have the best….ah never mind. Don’t feed the Troll.
Cue the “Chatwood’s peripherals say he’s pitched much better than his results” comments.
His FIP and xFIP are even higher than his ERA…. what on earth are you talking about?
Tell me more about advanced stats? I’ve already been “educated” about how Dansby Swanson is a better ss than Andrelton Simmons.
Nobody said that
Peripherals are not a fan of walks, and he issues waaaaay too many of them.
“I’m gonna try to make a comment bashing advanced statistics while showing I don’t understand them!”
I bet you’re great at fantasy baseball
Lol, hook, line, and sinker. Every time.
The peripherals show he has been terrible.
If you wanted to show people you have no idea what you’re talking about, and you don’t even try to check your stuff, you succeeded.
Write about break out star Mark Reynolds. He went 5-for-5 with 2 homers and 10 RBI; game before, had walk-off HR. After going 2-for-4 today, he’s batting .300 with 10 HR.
Reynolds is the man!
(Sorry NL West.. NL East? Still NL! Didn’t know where else to give Reynolds the shout out^)
I’ll write…with so few AB’s a few good games can bolster but he is the epitome of an all or nothing streaky player. In the 21 previous games (6/2 – 7/5) he slashed .164/.273/.218. If history shows anything he will be right back to blah in no time.
It’s kind of crazy how some of the best players in baseball this year are Max Muncy, Jesus Aguilar, and Eduardo Escobar
We shouldve seen Aguilar coming though. I mean, look at his numbers for the Brewers last season or for AAA Columbus. Guys always been a masher and he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Second time around the league….
I have 2 of those 3 on my fantasy team and I still suck.
Darvish be afraid to pitch…..
Good on Muncy and good for LAD giving him the chance.
To all you Addison Russell haters: who is dead last in MLB at shortstop in defensive runs saved? It’s Manny Machado. Who is number one in MLB in defensive runs saved at short? Not Javy Baez. If you said Addison Russell you are correct. Machado is a liability at short. Granted he is better offensively than Russell, but Russell is batting over .270. No brainer, keep Russell and his 2 more years of control and get Harper in the off season.
Machado thinks he’s a shortstop and perhaps once was. But he no longer has the range for it. At 3B however he’s like an all time great. To get paid what he wants he’d have to be the acquiring team’s third baseman. He just don’t cut it at SS.
At last… a well stated thought. Agreed 100 percent
I agree. He’s batting .281 right now. There’s absolutely no reason to move him.
Here’s my out if left field proposal for the Cubs that would put there World Series Title odds at close to 50/50 the next 2 years:
Do not trade for but sign Macahado in the offseason for 10/350 to play 3rd.
Harper is having a brutal year and will not get $400 mil let alone $500 mil I don’t think. He will want to prove himself again. Cubs sign him for 2 years / $80 million.
Trade Bryant, Schwarber, Happ and a minor leaguer for Trout. Angels would be crazy to trade him but to acquire all that for 2 years of Trout is pretty good.
Cubs for 2 seasons have a starting 9 of Contreras, Rizzo, Baez, Russell, Machado, Harper, Trout and Heyward. When Harper and or Trout leave in 2 years you’d still have Almora plus C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, CF and RF locked up.
I really don’t think I’m all that crazy in this.
Lol ^
Grandma Clayton u need to tell me which part is exactly “lol”. In my opinion the least realistic thing is Harper taking 2 years and $80. Philly even with him coming off a bad year probably will offer $350 mil. But if Harper really wants $400 or $450 he’ll need to prove himself.
Anaheim probably would not trade Trout. However if you can acquire your starting 3B, 2B and LF for 2 years of him it would be worth considering.
This is not as easily dismissible as a some people will want to initially scream.
You’re right about one thing. That proposal is definitely out of left field.
Not crazy. Unlikely but not crazy. Not sure which side would say no.
Hahaha, what about maybe Max and Severino for the rotation? We can throw a couple starters in the pen for depth, maybe get Kimbrel to set up Morrow. We’ll need another lefty too, perhaps Chapman as a LH specialist.
OR, maybe let guys like Baez, Russell, Almora, Edwards, Contreras and Happ continue to improve and develop, as none of them have even hit their peak years yet. Get the rotation healthy and locked in by September, win the division AGAIN and go back to the World Series AGAIN with a better team actually than the one that already won a ring.
But, I do agree with staying out of the Machado sweepstakes. Keep in mind, our young COST CONTROLLED SS leads the league in DRS, is doing just fine at the plate and hasn’t even hit his peak yet.
Bryzzo seriously I 100% agree all those guys need to play better than they did in April and almost across the board they are and now they are rolling. The team is a Juggernaut and has a very solid chance of making their 4th straight NLCS. Just trying to think of ways to give even a better chance of getting Title #2 this decade.
Harper, Machado, AND Trout?
Ha ha and trade Kris Bryant?
For Sh*+# and giggles… what’s your lineup with those guys?
The proposal is nutty enough. But the the cake taker is when you say, “ I don’t think this is all that crazy.” But gimme a lineup for fun.
1. Trout
2. Russell
3. Harper
4. Machado
5. Rizzo
6. Baez
7. Heyward
8. Contreras
Of course it’s absurd but if you break it all down and really look at it the 3 ways those guys get to the Cubs none of them is completely unrealistic. I don’t like your batting order though. If and only if Harper regains his Touch I’d go:
Harper
Baez
Trout
Machado
Rizzo
Contreras
Russell
Heyward
Again I know this is crazy but I honestly think legitimately possible.
Your pants are wet.
Hey it’s Casey’s partner but this time he’s rooting for the cubs. Listen, there’s no way one team lands both machado and Harper. End of story
Totally agree if you’re talking 2 ten year contracts. This scenario was only if Harper ends the year still hitting .215 and doesn’t get the $400 mil offers. He might consider the 2 year $80 mil option I suggested probably with an opt out just to give him a chance to rebuild his value and get that $400 mil contract in a year or two.
^^^^never gonna happen. BUT I think CHI could KEEP Russell and put Machado at 3b. KB to left field. Trade Kyle Schwarber to AL so he can thrive at DH. CLE is a perfect match. He plays well in his home state. But Schwarber and others should get you a front line starter. Or maybe Machado needs onve trade for so he has a chance to play third base at Wrigley. Maybe he likes it. The Cubs window is now and the other teams are better than them. And Your too 2 prospects for Quintana, letting Arrieta walk, signing Yu Darvish, and signing Chatwood have not worked. Maybe Chatwood
Should be a closer or setup guy. Now I know at first glance that sounds terrible because of his control issue. But it may be because he doesn’t trust his stuff, and he’s trying to be too perfect and careful. Maybe if he’s only got 1 inning to throw and he can add 2-4mph on his heater? Maybe his trust in his stuff goes up and he is finally worth a darn. But I’d pitch that to a new team.
Actually, Kyle has made himself into a decent outfielder with his workouts and changing his diet during the winter. He holds his own making the plays and the icing on the cake is his arm saving several runs so far. UZR, DRS, and FRAA all have him well into the positive this season.
Muncy strong 2018