The Nationals will win the NL East this year, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Bryce Harper appears to have solved the team's center field dilemma in the short term and the team's run prevention has been tremendous. General manager Mike Rizzo says his team's first half success isn't a fluke. “I’m very pleased with it — don’t get me wrong — but I’m not shocked by it," he told Morosi. Here are more of Morosi’s notes from around MLB:
- Peter Bourjos would likely intrigue the Phillies if the Angels ask about Cole Hamels, Morosi tweets. The Angels could explore the market for starting pitching depth given Ervin Santana’s first half struggles.
- There was once talk of the Pirates listening to offers on Kevin Correia, but it’s hard to see that happening now that Pittsburgh leads the NL Central, Morosi tweets.
- The Cubs will listen on Bryan LaHair, but their asking price remains high at the moment, Morosi tweets. Here’s more detail on LaHair and other potentially available first basemen.
- A rival executive expects the White Sox to look hard at possible relief help, Morosi tweets. Deunte Heath, Brian Omogrosso, Leyson Septimo, Hector Santiago, Nate Jones and Addison Reed join Matt Thornton in Chicago’s relatively inexperienced ‘pen.
I’m happy that the Pirates are finally starting to get it together. A nice miracle year by Grilli and McCutchen are making things happen. The addition of Drew Sutton is surprisingly making an impact. Let’s see if the bullpen holds up.
Grilli is a bulldog! Hurdle gave him a shot in Colorado a few years ago too and he pitched well…
No kidding. His emergence as a stud actually began last season. I love watching him because he never beats himself with bad pitches.
The Pirates back end of the bullpen is starting to remind me of the dominance of the Padres bullpen of a few season back with Gregerson/Adams/Bell shut down everyone just about every single day.
I agree, it’ll be nice to hopefully see newly good teams like the Pirates, Orioles, Blue Jays, and Nationals in the playoffs this year, fans of those teams deserve it.
No one deserves anything, you earned it.
what
Hopefully the Mets make it this year they deserve it more than anyone in the east (except for Washington)
How does Washington deserve something? It boggles my mind. Is it because they have finished in last ever year and now, because sports rewards the annual losers with the #1 draft pick, that they’ve finally entered first place? They’re picks of Strasburg and Harper were no brainers to even the most lazy baseball fan. If anything, with a new park, the ability to spend in free agency the money the new park is making from the attendance in “fans” (a term i use very loosely since Washington already allowed a baseball team to leave years ago, so seriously, how dedicated are these fans) and they’re abundance of top draft choices, they should be in first.
before i get all over you and correct you on multiple accounts, who is your team?
Why does there seem to be this perception in Los Angeles that Bourjos has so much trade value? Don’t get me wrong, he’s got Shane Victorino-like talent, but the trade rumors the writers make up seem to exaggerate his value.
I don’t think he is that awesome or anything either but then again he could go off in that tiny yard in Philly.
So basically I don’t really know but I don’t think he has the value that is thrown out there either.
A lot of teams could use a speedy center fielder.
Its 3 months of Hamels with NO pick compensation if he flys the coop. The Phils would be lucky to get Borjous and a B level prospect.
Why would they be lucky to get only Bourjos? Teams have given up so much more for a rental player. Look at the Rangers with Cliff Lee when they gave up a big prospect in Smoak.
4.3 WAR in his first full season in the bigs at CF. How is that not a ton of trade value
I would be scared to death if the Yankees have to face a rotation of:
1- Weaver
2- Hamels
3- Wilson
4- Haren
in the playoffs.
Haren has been pretty weak this year no reason to fear him
exactly. weak for a few months means weak forever
he is believed to have a back injury
haren has pitched ok this year and wilson we know cant pitch in the big playoff games.
Haren has NOT “pitched ok this year.” He’s given up four or more earned runs in over half of his starts, and he’s being hit hard almost every time.
Wilson pitched really well in three of four postseason starts in 2010. One rough postseason (2011) doesn’t mean a guy “can’t pitch in the big playoff games.” If that was the case, the Braves never would have started John Smoltz in the postseason after 1995.
Pretty cool Trout and Trumbo are going to be at the All-Star game, them two and Weaver are the best players on that team.
don’t forget Santana too!
The Pirates will absolutely still listen to offers on Correia even though they’re in contention. They have three guys in AAA poised to take his spot anyhow.
Exactly…the reports saying the Pirates wanted to deal Correia didn’t come from the Pirates looking to sell off an asset, they came from the fact that Correia is a terrible pitcher. If the Pirates really are a “contender” this season, they certainly shouldn’t be comfortable running a starter out there every 5 days with a 5.25 FIP and 3.45 K/9…maybe they bring up Jeff Locke or Justin Wilson to take his place or they might look to trade for an upgrade like Matt Garza or Anibal Sanchez. In any case, trading Correia certainly shouldn’t be seen as the Pirates “selling” at the deadline…
I would hope so. I see Correia as the weak link. If Morton hadn’t been lost for the season, I think he would have been the first one out of the rotation. If they could get a better pitcher, or if they deem one of the youngster ready, they should have no problem telling him bye.
Correia is fine as a fifth starter, but that’s about it. He can’t keep the ball in the park or strike guys out, but he gets quick outs and can go at least 6 innings a start.
Is Erik Bedard any better than Correia right now?
At least Correia can make it 6 innings or so. Bedard has been good for giving up 3 or 4 runs and barely making it 5 innings. He started off pretty well but just isn’t pitching well right now. Thinking he may be better served out of the bullpen, and I’d like to see the Pirates bring in someone like Hamels, Greinke, or Anibal Sanchez to replace Bedard or Correia.
Have to wait another 2-3 weeks on Anibel now after the Fish just got Lee. Loria is clearly looking for that last WC desperately and will probably hang onto him until near the end of the month to see if the Fish have a chance before moving him now.
In 9 starts since leaving with back spasms, Bedard has gone 6+ five times. In his last 9 starts, Correia has gone 6+ five times. People are simply focusing on Bedard as this week’s whipping boy because Tabata just got demoted so they needed a new target. Bedard needs to pitch better but he’s fine as a 3-4 starter. KC is a trainwreck waiting to happen.
Also, Hamels and Greinke are sure to be cost far more in a trade than the Pirates should be willing to give up. Sanchez, while still costly, might be a decent target, but I’m not sure the Fish are willing to be “sellers,” at least not yet.
I think Bedard and Correia are each pretty inconsistent with their starts, can’t really say who is better. Just because Bedard gets strikeouts doesn’t make him a solid starter. 82 innings in essentially 15 starts is pretty bad however you want to look at it, and the innings aren’t quality enough to make up for the work he makes the bullpen do.
Correia is not much better in terms of innings, but is slightly better. He works quick but has no out pitch to speak of while Bedard takes 30 seconds to pitch and nibbles around the strike zone.
Also, regarding Sanchez I’ve been bringing his name up because I don’t understand why he’s not coming up in any rumors. I know Miami isn’t ready to give up on the season yet, but there have been no steps towards getting Sanchez signed long term, and they have a lot of money already invested in their rotation so I figured he’d be a natural trade candidate at some point.
Bedard can also strike batters out. Correia simply can’t.
Bedard is what he is-he’s going to always be an injury risk and he’s going to run up high pitch counts. He’s not comfortable pitching to contact, and that’s been true his whole career.
Haren is nasty but sure does give up the dingers.
To think we wouild not move Kevin Correia is almost laughable. He has no long term future with us plus we have 3 guys in AAA who should get a look to see if 2 of them can become our 4 and 5 guys next season all 3 of the AAA guys are soli LHP with Willson being able to reach 95 with ease. I dont think we would get anything more than a bag of balls fo Kevin.
I dont think any team should give up 4 or 5 propsects for rentals period
i wouldnt give up more than 2, unless they were fringe-prospects
so the Nationals have won the divison excuse me but the Mets have played hard this season too and are only 4.5 back shut it John.
Really. How about those Mets! I didn’t see that coming-and I probably can’t name more than 5 members on their team.
It’s why I love baseball. You can look at the teams on paper, know who’s going to be good and who isn’t, then they play the game and everyone ends up wrong!
They will still finish in last place.
just like the jays?
Kenny-Please go out a get a solid veteran or two for the pen! Balfour, Street, K Rod, someone that can help solidify the bullpen for the stretch run
That would be a good move for the White Sox. K Rod would be good here because he can close too if necessary.
Pirates are in first, a.Reds gm fails to see problems or he has no solution,b.Pirate field staff better than Reds (Hurdle under-rated,Baker over rated) THIS RED FAN says good job Pirates, but nothing has been finalized yet.
Correia is a trade candidate if used in a package deal. I think we need to go after someone with a good OBP but not sell the farm for them. I definitely don’t think we go “all in” this year. I’d rather keep building this team up to compete for years not just one year.
Bourjos and Scott Downs for Jeremy Hefner and Justin Hampson
u wot m8?
? i don’t know what that means sorry
Angels fans are a little too high on Bourjos. has anybody notice that he hasn’t played the last few months? no reason to keep him on the bench when you can package him and others to get a premium player in return. Trout will command CF for years, and i would imagine Trumbo will stay out there as well from now on. I dont know a ton about what is fair value in trades and what not, but how about..
Bourjos, Richards, Cron, and one more lower prospect for Hamels? Like i said, dont know much about trades, just throwing out an idea
Doubtful the angels would trade Richards considering he’s the only true major league ready pitching prospect they have. Also would hate to Bourjos leave the Angels, he’s not Mike Trout but is more than capably defensively. The future of the Angels outfield will be bourjos, trout, and trumbo throwing in Wells as a backup. Would love to have Hamels just don’t think the Angels are going to be able to sign Hamels long term unless they can get rid of Santana and Wells first.