With the trade deadline fast approaching, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Red Sox infield logjam coming to a head:
Red Sox infielder Pablo Reyes has been on the injured list for just over a month due to an abdominal strain, and most of that time has been spent on a rehab assignment. That rehab assignment is set to expire today, meaning the club will be forced to either roster or DFA Reyes, who is out of options, by the start of tomorrow’s game. That will create a logjam of middle infielders who can’t be optioned on the roster, with Enrique Hernandez, Yu Chang, and Christian Arroyo all also fitting that description.
While this logjam would seemingly create a situation where the Red Sox must trade or DFA a player in that group, MLB.com’s Ian Browne indicated yesterday that Arroyo is dealing with a jammed right thumb. If Arroyo, who hasn’t played since July 18, were to require a trip to the 10-day injured list, that would kick the can down the road for Boston until after the trade deadline on August 1, allowing them to keep all four players in the organization for longer and preserve leverage in trade negotiations.
2. Wainwright to return:
The Cardinals are turning to veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright to start today’s game against the Diamondbacks, as manager Oli Marmol told reporters (including Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). It’s been a disastrous season for Wainwright to this point, as the 41-year-old hurler posted a ghastly 7.66 ERA with a strikeout rate of just 11% against a 7.5% walk rate in 11 starts before going on the injured list with a shoulder strain earlier this month. Upon returning, Wainwright will look to rebound as he sits just two victories away from the 200th win of his enduring 18-year major league career.
3. Series Preview: Reds @ Brewers:
The Reds head to American Family Field in Milwaukee today for a three-game set against the Brewers with the NL Central lead on the line. In back-to-back three-game sets separated by the All-Star break, Cincinnati has ceded significant ground to Milwaukee by losing five of six. Outside of those games against the Brewers, however, the Reds have gone 10-3 in the month of July and are currently riding a five-game win streak. That success has allowed them to stay just half a game back of Milwaukee headed into the coming series.
Tonight’s game will feature young right-hander Graham Ashcraft (5.77 ERA) facing off against journeyman Colin Rea (4.64 ERA), while tomorrow’s game will offer a pitching duel between rookie Andrew Abbott (2.10 ERA) and ace Corbin Burnes (3.48 ERA). The series will wrap with Brewers hurler Freddy Peralta (4.72 ERA) taking the mound against Reds righty Ben Lively (3.88 ERA). The series kicks off this evening at 7:10pm CT.
Keep beating each other up the Cubs are coming
As a cubs fan, I very much disagree with this statement
I’m with Sheep on this one. The Cubs offense seems to be clicking, but the rotation hasn’t looked all that impressive, and no lead is safe with that bullpen. I’m glad they’re beating teams below .500, but 24-37 against teams with a >.500 record really shows that not quite a playoff caliber team.
@Wheeler Dealer
Cubs have been playing some garbage time teams since the break with the Nationals & Cardinals. They have a favorable schedule in the next 6 games but reality will set in when they have to play Cincinnati and Hotlanta. But after that, they have another favorable schedule of 21 games against more terrible teams like the Mets, Jays, W-Sox, Royals, Tigers & Pirates.
Thanks for reinforcing my optimism, yes garbage teams that’s why they will make up ground, just get to even and I like our chances head to head against Milwaukee
@Wheeler Dealer
Yes, given that easy schedule, I could see them making some decent ground.
Cubbies will prob trade away bellinger and stroman
Of course the networks aren’t covering the Crosstown Series between two garbage teams but they gave their full attention to the Subway Series between two garbage teams. Anyway, cubs fans should definitely watch Wednesday’s game when HR King Lance Lynn is pitching. There should be a lot of pitches heading for the bleachers.
I wouldn’t call Toronto a “terrible” team by any measure.
@SJKinMD
How do they lose 2 of 3 to Seattle over the weekend and to San Diego? Even if they make the playoffs with the extra WCs, they’re out in the first round.
One of those teams doesn’t belong in the terrible teams list
Thanks for injecting some much needed humor.
That’s funny, they’re not beating each other up because the Brewers are smoking them. 8-2 this year vs my Reds. Reds are killing pretty much every other team they’ve played since June and this is the last series vs these two this season. Even without trades the Reds will be getting pitching reinforcements down the stretch when Greene returns in August and Lodolo in September. Cubs had a chance and blew it
What a stupid and idiotic statement
@tangerinepony
Oh, no! Someone doesn’t like what I said. Better ask Big Government to censor me. Haha!
He just didn’t say what I think he did? Did he? I think he’s married to Kim? Hehe? Little snitch put me on blast on MTV?
Saying my mommas on ur lips
My mommas on ur lips
And if the whole world is fortunate
She’s gonna give it a little kiss?
Of course there gonna know by the time they hit 4th grade they got bally sports don’t they? Not in Arizona, here we play Chicago old time WGN in case you didn’t download a VPN upload an audio and MP3 and show the whole world how you gave it a MPD
Huh?
Trying way too hard. Eminem sold out years ago.
Cubs, Mets, Yankees and possibly the Padres should be getting out the old golf clubs because we won’t be seeing them in the PO.
2003 world series CHAMPIONS!
What was that guy’s name again who caught that ball? You know the one who recieved death threats?
“Wish I woulda met you… now it’s a little late?”
You know the illuminati needs a fall guy too….
I think the guy’s name was Bartman. It was hysterical. Typical of cub fans to blame the loss on him. Someone online put up a picture of a straight jacket with the cubs logo on it. It said it would be given out to the first thousand people in the first ten rows. On the bottom it said, in pure Chicago, “Keep ya hands in da stands.” The whole thing is just too funny.
I think the guy’s name was Bartman. Typical of cub fans to blame the loss on him. Someone put online a picture of a straightjacket made out to look like a cubs jersey. It read something like, it would be given to the first ten thousand fans sitting in the first ten rows. On the bottom it read, in pure Chicago-ese, “Keep ya hands in da stands!” The whole thing was hysterical.
You wish
Where? Back to .500? Come on, man!
Just watch my friend the Reds and Brewers are going to run out of gas unless they get pitching reinforcements
Sadly I have said this for a month now.
The Brewers posses the deepest arsenal of arms in MLB. And they’re getting Woodruff back in a couple weeks. All they need to do is find another bat or two. The pitching will carry them.
And half the Cubs will be traded in two weeks.
If they don’t sell the Brewers summer is over
Outside of getting Woodruff back Ashby and Justin Wilson are close to follow. Wilson will likely be #7 in our pen. Ashby more a swing role. Woodruff coming back will allow us to move on from a journeyman like Rea. Same with Miley coming back shortly. Pitching is the least of our worries. We need about 7 bats to add to our lineup.
For July, 2023, Reds sps: Ashcraft 2.00 ERA, Abbott 3.12, Lively 3.14, Williamson 2.25 & Weaver 8.22. Same period for Brewers sps: Rea 4.96 ERA, Burnes 1.33, Peralta 4.96, Houser 3.78, & Miley 3.27. Not quite a mismatch. Reds pitching is shaping up and Antone, Greene, & Lodolo (+ Phillips) returning in August will bolster their staff.
Well they have Greene back in 2 weeks and Lodolo hopefully shortly behind
Lodolo not back until September now.
After the Brewers series, it doesn’t matter anyway so the kid GM will sit on his hands and probably sell Newman and Senzel. He has shown he won’t bring in established major league talent. Hopefully cut bait with Weaver too because we are tired of seeing batting practice every start. They will probably only get some scuffed baseballs but that’s better than nothing.
WTF are you talking about. Krall and his scouting department are proving that they are some of the smartest minds in baseball. What’s the Reds record when Weaver starts? 11-6 I believe.
If you think that those comebacks every time he pitches are sustainable, you know little about baseball.
Sometimes if you just go by stats rather than watch the games, you are misled.
Personally, I’d rather see them go a long way.
You obviously paid no attention to my comment two below. They will acquire a pitcher at the deadline. Weaver’s era is so inflated, because he gives up 3-5 runs in 5 innings or less and the bullpen has done their job. Would I like a better option? Of course. I wouldn’t of minded them rolling the dice on Bumgardner,but they obviously didn’t think he was any better. Weaver has good stuff. It’s his head that needs fixed.
Sorry, but as far as acquiring pitching, I will believe it when I see it. The kid GM has not shown the ability to acquire established major league talent.
That being said, I hope I am wrong, but I am not believing the hype they are telling the media.
Weaver, if his head isn’t fixed by now with his time in the big leagues in different organizations, it isn’t going to be. I have seen plenty of guys with good stuff that don’t make it on the bigs. It is all about adjustments.
The “the kid” GM has done a pretty good job acquiring established major league talent. Gray, Bauer, Miley, Castellanos, Puig. Ok he missed on Moose, but that was probably more Moose’s fault, than his. Wood was just hurt the entire time. Will Myers this year was just a flyer, for a bounce back. The organizations direction changed as these guys that he has signed, traded for and drafted matured. He’s done a damn good job putting this bullpen together as well.
Connor Phillips and Luke Weaver are both scheduled to pitch 8/2 and then 8/8. I see Phillips on the mound for the Reds by 8/8. 3-4 starts by Phillips and then Greene enters the picture for Phillips or Lively. Krall will probably shore up the pen, but I don’t believe obtaining a sp “rental” is in the Reds best interest.
For sure the Reds, the Brewers pitching staff is more deep
The Red’s offense is absolutely stacked. They will acquire a pitcher at the deadline. They lead MLB in come from behind wins, because of the offense and the bullpen is good. They also have like the fourth best road record in baseball. This team is for real.
1. How far the Red Sox have fallen. That infield looks more like their AAA-team not the MLB team. Dump them all and get a real infield.
2. Guy should have retired with Molina.
3. Reds have struggled against the Brewers so I don’t expect that to change. Bring out the brooms.
Best thing for a young team is to deal with some adversity against the favored. This is how steal gets hardened. The Young Red Machine needs to play the Brewers, Dodgers and Braves as much as possible.
Hi York, this is Chaim Bloom.
I’m going to take your advice to heart and DFA Devers tomorrow. It amazes me that laypeople such as yourself can contribute such astute observations as “get a real infield.” High IQ thoughts like those are usually reserved for the most clever front office personnel!
@FletcherFan69
I was responding to this article about the players in a logjam. I don’t see Devers mentioned in the article.
And yes, I’m probably one of the better baseball minds on earth. I just don’t want to participate because I would put an end to competition in baseball.
Anyone watching should realize as great a bat that Devers has, the team’s chances of winning another WS increase if he moves off third. How about down the stretch if there is one and trades aren’t made, switching Devers and Turner? What good is range if Dever misplays easy ones? I’d consider that down the stretch only because of Turner’s age.
Cringe
Dewey, then you have to justify a 30+ million/year man, who is only months into his deal, is only a dh.
As true as that reflects his fielding and throwing abilities, it’s such a bad look they will keep him where he is to justify the bad extension.
“Bad extension” forced on GM by angry fans.
Remember “ This team cannot survive if they don’t sign either Bogarts or Devers”. It was said several times last season and off-season.
GM was painted into a corner because whining fans couldn’t handle a few bad years. Now those same fans whine it’s a “bad extension”.
Yeah, extending a young future Hall of Famer, to basically assure he plays his entire career in Boston, sucks.
I don’t understand why people say Devers is over paid. Maybe you can explain it to me lol.
He is 26. If he stays healthy, the dude is going to give the Sox at least 300-400 homers over the next decade. 30 mils/yr for that? I’m good with it.
I am not a Bloom lover, but it was a good signing. Maybe it came a little early because of the bad press earlier over Bogey, but that reaction feels more like a Henry panicking over PR thing to me, not Bloom.
All the players mentioned as Red Sox infielders would be DFA’d by any other team.,
Nah, Detroit is rotating McKinstry, Ibanez and Short thru 2B/3B and still letting Javy stink up the lineup everyday.
Hey, don’t sell Zach short now.
Well, the White Sox have a first baseman in right, a DH at third and a SS at second. If this was European soccer, the WSox would be relegated at the end of the season.
There shouldn’t be one moment of hand-wringing done on the part of the FO over those 4 infielders. If one has to go it’s a no brainer – Yu Chang. Yes, he’s a decent fielder, but he’s hitting .171 on the season which is about par for him.
LOL! I see that occasionally in here. Simply because a team has an excess of marginal players doesn’t mean they have a glut. I like Chang as AAA depth, and I like Kiki as a UIF/#5 OF, but that is not a glut. Even Arroyo, who I like as a UIF, is not a glut.
Release Kike. Tell Wainright and Zack Grienke to retire. I don’t care about their “goals” of 200 wins and 3,000 K’s, respectively. They’re horrible. And keeping a young player from moving up. Enough of the sentimentality.
Username checks out.
Who is Greinke blocking?
It’s going to be hard for Greinke to get 3,000 Ks since he’s not a K pitcher anymore. Still, I hope he gets it. Even if he doesn’t, in this era where the standards have been lowered as far as who gets into into the HOF, he’s still got a shot even if he doesn’t.
I think the only egregious selection for the HOF recently was Baines. Other than that, I’m not sure how the standard has been lowered. The percentage of players who get in is much lower than in the past.
It’s more difficult for a modern player to stand out relative to his peers because the talent level continues to rise. Cobb and Ruth were the best white American players, whereas now a HOFer has to be notably better than the best players from around the world.
No series preview for Rangers-Astros??
trade away kike/Arroyo + some prospect to get another infielder and a SP…
Reyes will be DFA’d unless they surprise everyone and dump kike or Arroyo. Reyes played well enough but isn’t really better than what the Sox already have
Couldn’t disagree more. Kikè is a MASSIVE liability in the infield defensively. Reyes brings stability there, for roughly about the same offensive output. Possibly even more. The conundrum is that Kikè is such a well-liked presence in the locker room
The second problem is that Reyes is more or less the same player as Chang. Both are very marginal UIF level players. Ideally on sticks until Story returns, and one sticks around in AAA for depth.
I like Kike in CF. Just my opinion.
Run to your local sportsbook and bet the farm on the Diamondbacks tonight. Waino is pitching.
Already there. The only way Wainwright squeezes out a W in this one is if the Cards erupt for 10 runs early, Waino staggers and stumbles through five giving up “only” 5 or 6 runs, Cards continue to score, and the Dbacks run out of innings and fall 12-9.
This didn’t show up in my Ted Sox feed