Official 2016 MLB season thread

[JPhillips]

The Cubs should be willing to trade every damn prospect they have. One championship there is worth more than a twenty year playoff spree.

[Logan]

Scary thing is they probably can add a couple pieces and still have a strong shot at that length (well, maybe 10 year...) playoff spree.

[rjolley]

I'd rather see them get Miller instead of Chapman, especially for that many prospects.

[Neuqua]

Originally Posted by rjolley

I'd rather see them get Miller instead of Chapman, especially for that many prospects.

Yankees wanted Schwarber for Miller.

No chance.

[dawgfan]

For those that aren't obsessive stat junkies, just wanted to point out that since he was called-up earlier this year, M's reliever Edwin Diaz has racked up 44 K's in 21 2/3 innings - a rate of 18.28 per 9. Who knows how long that rate will hold up (not to mention his elbow & shoulder), but he's striking out batters at a higher rate than basically anyone in history. Higher than Chapman, higher than Kimbrel.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

For those that aren't obsessive stat junkies, just wanted to point out that since he was called-up earlier this year, M's reliever Edwin Diaz has racked up 44 K's in 21 2/3 innings - a rate of 18.28 per 9. Who knows how long that rate will hold up (not to mention his elbow & shoulder), but he's striking out batters at a higher rate than basically anyone in history. Higher than Chapman, higher than Kimbrel.

Wow that's nuts. What sorta pitch set does he roll with? Is he a high velocity guy?

[rjolley]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Yankees wanted Schwarber for Miller.

No chance.

Yeah, unfortunate, but with that contract, they could hold out for a big haul. Surprised the Cubs gave up what they did, but Theo has done well so far with his deals...well, except Heyward at this point.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Wow that's nuts. What sorta pitch set does he roll with? Is he a high velocity guy?

He's hit 100mph and averages just under 97 per FanGraphs. He's got pretty good deception to his delivery, so it probably plays even faster. His other pitch is a slider which has decent bite, but I'd guess it's mostly effective as something to play off his heater.

He was the M's highest-rated starting pitcher prospect entering the season, but they converted him early this season to the bullpen. Given his size and his pitching motion, it's probably going to keep him from breaking down as quickly, but that arm-action is going to lead to an injury at some point.

[Johnny93g]

Melvin Upton dealt to the Jays for an A-class prospect, not named yet. Love the deal. Upgrade our speed, and defense. He's got good pop and has hit lefties well, something the team hasn't done enough of this year. The Padres are supposedly covering a portion of his remaining contract.

[lungs]

My preferred destination for Jonathan Lucroy has to be Cleveland.

Talks of Lucroy to the Mets for a deal centering around Travis d'Arnaud just don't make any sense for the Brewers. Doubtful the Brewers want anybody that has already accumulated service time.

Not sure if there are any Indians fans on here but my deal would look like this:
Brewers send Lucroy and LHP Will Smith
Indians send: 1B Bobby Bradley RHP Triston McKenzie C Francisco Mejia LHP Juan Hillman

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Johnny93g

The Padres are supposedly covering a portion of his remaining contract.

Apparently all but $5 million of it. The Blue Jays robbed the Padres on this one.

[EagleFan]

So the Cubs got Chapman to "throw the last pitch of the season."

Is it evil that I want it to be like Mitch Williams' last pitch of 93? They would be getting their wish...

[JeeberD]

Good grief, the Rangers are desperate. Trading for Luca Harrell? Yikes...

[cartman]

He's light years better than the minor league guys they've been calling up. Take out the starts of Yu and Hamels, and the starter's ERA in July is over 8.00. Just need some stopgap stuff until Holland and Lewis come off the DL middle of August. There's still a chance they pull the trigger on a trade for Sale or Matt Moore. The trade deadline should be interesting once again.

[HomerSimpson98]

Originally Posted by cartman

He's light years better than the minor league guys they've been calling up. Take out the starts of Yu and Hamels, and the starter's ERA in July is over 8.00. Just need some stopgap stuff until Holland and Lewis come off the DL middle of August.

Hahaha. This is what Rangers fans keep pointing to and I laugh. Lewis and Holland? Yeah, if that's who the hopes are riding on, then Texas is screwed. A 90-year old with no gas left (plenty of heart tho) and a dipshit headcase that throws an impressive round of BP.

Go Stros.

[MrBug708]

Royals breaking rules for advantages?

Why the Angels played Wednesday's game vs. the Royals under protest - CBSSports.com

[Logan]

Mets are so, so done.

[Logan]

Marlins getting Cashner and Rea from Padres.

[Atocep]

Rumor is the Yankees turned down a Giolito for Andrew Miller trade.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Rumor is the Yankees turned down a Giolito for Andrew Miller trade.

rumor is the Nats turned down a giolito for miller trade...

[claphamsa]

apparently someone on twitter tossed it out and both sides said they wouldn't do that.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

rumor is the Nats turned down a giolito for miller trade...

MLB.com's Jon Morosi reported, citing sources who talked to the Nationals, would be willing to give up prized pitching prospect Lucas Giolito in the deal straight-up for Miller.

3 places I've read are saying the Nationals are willing to do the trade straight up but the Yankees want more.

Example:

MLB Trade Deadline Rumor Buy or Sell: Nats willing to deal Giolito for Miller? - CBSSports.com

[Atocep]

If it was offered, the Yankees should be accepting a trade like that before the Nationals can change their mind.

Even putting Giolito on the market at all would be questionable.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by Atocep

3 places I've read are saying the Nationals are willing to do the trade straight up but the Yankees want more.

Example:

MLB Trade Deadline Rumor Buy or Sell: Nats willing to deal Giolito for Miller? - CBSSports.com

checking out twitter...looks like nonsense started by the yankees fan blogs. all reputable sources say its insane.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Eibner for Burns???? That one's not going to be very popular at all.

[Suicane75]

Padres send Matt Kemp to the Braves for that Cuban 3B who can't hit. Like two dumpster fires, passing in the night. Only thing better would be if they used Kemp to get McCann.

[Suicane75]

I don't know if this says more about the Phillies or the Braves, but the Phils just scored 4 runs in an inning on 4 walks, 2 steals, 2 errors and a HBP. What they didn't do? Get a hit.

[cartman]

Indians have made some big moves the past couple of days. They refreshed their battery with a couple of trades. One with the Brewers to get Jonathan Lucroy and another with the Yankees to get Andrew Miller.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by rjolley

Yeah, unfortunate, but with that contract, they could hold out for a big haul. Surprised the Cubs gave up what they did, but Theo has done well so far with his deals...well, except Heyward at this point.

I was a little surprised too. Torres is the top prospect in the organization (top 25 in all of baseball). McKinney has fallen a bit out of favor but he was a decent prospect coming into this season. And Warren is at least an ML arm you can use in relief or as a starter. That's typically what you give up for a top of the rotation starter at the deadline.

Then again I think bullpen arms are becoming more valuable with how talented they've become. It's also a huge advantage come playoff time because you can use the same guy in every single playoff game if you need to with the days off.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

The Cubs should be willing to trade every damn prospect they have. One championship there is worth more than a twenty year playoff spree.

I still think you can be smart about it. They did give up a lot for Chapman. But I'd be pissed if they gave up someone like Ian Happ for a bat off the bench.

The playoffs are still kind of a crapshoot once you get to them. I'd rather have a team that makes the playoffs 7 of the next 8 years than having the best team in the league going into the playoffs for 1.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Padres send Matt Kemp to the Braves for that Cuban 3B who can't hit. Like two dumpster fires, passing in the night. Only thing better would be if they used Kemp to get McCann.

The Pads spent $10-12m to save $60m over the next 3 years. All they had to do was to find someone to off-load Kemp contract to and the Braves took the bait. That dumpster fire from the Braves was DFA immediately.

[lungs]

Lucroy vetoed the trade to Cleveland. WTF, I hope the Crew doesn't take whatever the Mets were offering

[Suicane75]

Seems like an odd thing to do. He must really not like Cleveland.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Seems like an odd thing to do. He must really not like Cleveland.

Possibly tried to extract some more money out of them or maybe even demanded they not pick up his option for next year. Kind of makes the talk this past winter from Lucroy about wanting to go to a winner a little laughable.

[lungs]

Sounding like it was the option thing. I don't blame Lucroy at all, and I don't blame the Indians for not wanting to do it.

I wasn't enamored with the package in return, though I do think the catcher from Cleveland is going to be good. I wanted a pitcher in return.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Nice. Wish that Country Breakfast would have shown a bit more of this in KC.

Billy Butler Beefs With Catcher, Crushes Huge Dong, Flips Bat

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Padres send Matt Kemp to the Braves for that Cuban 3B who can't hit*

*anyone except his domestic partner.

[stevew]

Yankees did extremely well for Miller.

I thought the pirates did well for Melancon.

[lungs]

Rangers swoopin on Lucroy now. Maybe a pitcher to come along? This could end up being like the Carlos Gomez trade last year. I liked the return package in the second trade to Houston than the first with the Mets. Hopefully I can say the same this time.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

The Pads spent $10-12m to save $60m over the next 3 years. All they had to do was to find someone to off-load Kemp contract to and the Braves took the bait. That dumpster fire from the Braves was DFA immediately.

Isn't the savings less than half that though, since they'd still have to pay off the DFA, right? That's $25.5m remaining to pay, then another $10.5 mil to the Braves in cash over the next four years.

I mean, $28m or so isn't chump change & it's still a nice savings but it's not as though they get the entire $63m off the books clean.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Isn't the savings less than half that though, since they'd still have to pay off the DFA, right? That's $25.5m remaining to pay, then another $10.5 mil to the Braves in cash over the next four years.

I mean, $28m or so isn't chump change & it's still a nice savings but it's not as though they get the entire $63m off the books clean.

Yep. Although the way the math works out they're basically passing along the money they're getting from LA to Atlanta.

They've been eating a lot of money this year in moving vets and blowing past the international limits. Are these the Padres?

[cartman]

The AL Central has been good to the Rangers as of late. They are 6-1 against the Royals in the last 10 games, including a just concluded 4 game sweep. Then they got some help from the Tigers, who completed a sweep of their own against the Astros. The lead is back up to 6 games.

[Suicane75]

Orioles bolster rotation, trade for M's lefty Miley

I can't figure out if this is a factual statement or not.

[Shkspr]

Sadly, he's probably their #3 starter.

[Suicane75]

Remember that 3 month period where Ubaldo Jimenez was the best pitcher in the majors. Seems like a world ago.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Remember that 3 month period where Ubaldo Jimenez was the best pitcher in the majors. Seems like a world ago.

Yeah I was looking at his stats. He had a great half season, IIRC.

[Logan]

Looks like Bruce to the Mets in a deal built around Nimmo. I'm not a huge Bruce fan but that works for me as long as the lower level guys joining him aren't high end.

[Suicane75]

The White Sox front office wants Puig in any deal with the Dodgers, because The White Sox front office and Puig together seems like it'll work out just dandy.

[cartman]

Less than 3 hours to go. There have been a metric crap load of deals discussed, but very few have been made.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Dodgers sell the farm to get Josh Reddick and Rich Hill from the A's.