The trade deadline is officially behind us, but expect to see a number of waiver trades this month as teams begin to fall out of contention. Here's the latest from around the league as Wednesday turns into Thursday…
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox held onto Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach at the deadline despite trade interest because they wanted to keep as many impact bats as possible while David Ortiz is on the DL. They also want to maintain catching depth.
- "Absolutely. That would be wonderful," said Hunter Pence to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com when asked about signing long-term with the Giants (Twitter link). San Francisco acquired Pence yesterday.
- Earlier today we heard that the Mets and Marlins discussed a trade involving Jason Bay, Heath Bell, and John Buck, but Mike Puma of The New York Post reports (on Twitter) that Bay was never asked to waive his no-trade clause.
- ESPN's Jim Bowden graded each team's trade deadline activity, giving the Angels and Dodgers an A and an A-, respectively. The rebuilding Astros received a B+.
Why is “Pena” in the title when he isn’t even mentioned in the article?
Yeah was hoping for a Wily Mo update.
Haha Wily Mo… Seriously though, that guy legit had the most outrageous power I’ve ever seen at times. He’s set records in many ballparks… Its a shame he lost complete ability to make contact with the ball though, and mannn did he suck both hitting and fielding. I wonder what his Japan numbers are like..
..EDIT — Looked up Pena’s numbers for the Softbank Hawks, and looks like he came out tearing it up first month+ but is striking out a lot more, hitting .244 / .312 / .459 / .771 in 79 games, with 13 jacks and 15 doubles though.
… More surprisingly and happily found though was when I scrolled down the rest of his teams stats (baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=968d0cf4), I noticed our old Red Sox favorite Hideki Okajima is pitching phenomenally this season, with a perfect 0.00 ERA in 36 games!
I have always hoped for the best for Wily Mo. I used to live across the hallway from him and he couldn’t have been a nicer, more respectful person. With that being said, he wasn’t very good at baseball, which he would admit. It irritates me that Wily Mo will probably never play in the majors again but that drunk Bobby Jenks most likely will get chance after chance.
Posted this before also regarding Willy Mo as well.
He was terrific with fans before games on the road (at least in Red Sox attire) and would routinely chat pre game, during BP and also? Throw baseballs into the stands at fans wearing red sox attire on the road, or he did at Tampa bay numerous times when went to see them and nobody put on a better BP show with his monstrous shots.
Shame he was never talented enough to be an All Star, that guy could have handily won every home run contest every year.
Mike’s allowed to mention his favorite player once in awhile.
I feel that Ryan Lavarnway could be much more of an “impact bat” and the Sox could still have the exact same amount of catching depth at the major league level.
Why they didn’t trade Shopp (or Salty, because he’s having a career year and I’m sure teams were going to overpay for him) and bring up Lavarnway is beyond me.
Maybe something to do with the pitchers creating strong bonds with Shopp and/or Salty?
Maybe, but the Sox rank 22nd in team ERA, so perhaps it’s time to explore some new bonds.
Wanted Lavarnway’s bat here months ago…
I hope someone can fix Jason Bay.
Me too. Loved him during his time in Boston, and I want to see him do well. It’s a shame how far he’s fallen in New York.
Couldn’t agree more. I was mad when he left but looking back it it, maybe they were better off. It’s a tough one cause if they had Bay still, they might not be hamstrung by Crawford. I’m not giving up on him yet, but so far in almost two full seasons he hasn’t lived up to even half his annual salary IMO.
He just needs to get out of New York. He produced like a star when he was with the Red Sox and Pirates and expected big money. No one wanted him for the price he was asking and when it was said and done, the Mets were the only ones left who would sign him. I remember watching the video of the signing, he looked less than thrilled to be there and to be signing with the Mets. It’s a shame he’s not even producing at an average rate, because another team would want him.
Should never have signed Shoppach, and should have brought up Lavarnway to stay in spring training. Lately the Red Sox have had no foresight, not used their farm and have paid the price.
So wrong.
They signed Shoppach to keep Lavs in the minors to let him become more polished. Yes he can hit, but now is learning to call a better game.
The problem was, our farm was used on trades and now with the FORSIGHT to NOT trade them, and NOT rush them to the majors they can actually work on their game.
Would you rather Lavarnway sit on the bench all season behind Salty or would you rather him get everyday playing time so he can impove?
Ben,
You are more wrong than the real Ben & the last 2 years of Theo combined! Reddick power/fielding with Ellsbury, Nava/Kalish 4th OF,Middlebrooks @ 3B, no Gonzalez, Youk playing out his contact @1B, Scutaro SS/3B w/Iglesias/Ciriaco SS, Salty/Lavarnway sharing duties (the way Salty/Shoppach are now) with Lavarnways big righty bat off the bench. Boom.
um…. that team would not be very good… No Ross, Gonzo, a struggling youk..
And its very easy to say “see shoulda kept reddick” but nowhere (even in your dreams) did anyone think that Reddick would have this kind of year… When they traded Reddick, they got their closer (can’t do nothing about thim getting hurt before throwing a MLB pitch this yr.) and an OF who was a major upgrade defensively and they “thought” would be relatively equivalent offensively..
Hindsight my man! But anyways, you are clueless.
This is how I know you are wrong:
“with Lavarnways big righty bat off the bench.”
Aviles has been just as good as scutaro, and Ross has been better than both. I would trade scutaro 100 times in a row for the production we have had
and also, what are talking about, the team you mentioned would be bad. Plus offense and defense isnt the problem. If you havent noticed our pitching staff is not very good. They have been better of late though, other than cook last night!
They meant Pence instead of Pena..
Maybe they meant Mike Puma?
Maybe, but the Sox rank 22nd in team ERA, so perhaps it’s time to explore some new bonds.
Surprise surprise Marlins having another fire sale.
How’s that “A-” doing for the Dodgers?
Kelly Shoppach is an impact bat?
for a catcher yes. most catchers and middle infielders are terrible at hitting.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Shoppach can only hit lefties. Put him in against righties and his average will drop to .200 like his career average presents. I wish I had stats to prove this, but I don’t know where to find them.
Career vs righties: .205/.292/.368
Career vs. lefties: .270/.365/.532
You’re right that he’s a platoon player but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and catcher is a pretty good place to stuff a guy like that. Everyday catchers need a break anyway and you have a built-in determinator for his starts.
Is he an “impact bat?” Nah, I don’t think so.
That’s exactly what I was trying to say. He’s great defensively, but this article makes him sound like an impact bat. Thank you for the stats to prove it. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The only bad thing is the article is misleading… it makes Shoppach sound like an impact bat when he really isn’t.
wait the Angels gave up decent prospects for a pitcher they dont need, the dodgers took on Hanleys ridiculous contract for a guy in a horrible year who doesnt hustle and a cf on the decline and these teams were given an A?
I don’t agree that the Angels didn’t need a starter and you have to give them credit for going for it. I tend to agree with you on the Dodgers though. I think their score is more by virtue of being aggressive than anything else. That said, other than Eovaldi, did they really give up anything in any of their trades?
weaver haren and wilson? idk how he grades them but being aggressive would be a not smart way to go about it their were many teams being aggressive just because some of thek were smart enough to not trade for a rental which Im not saying the Angels arent smart Im just saying the trade didnt deserve a A
Who on earth would give Jason Bay a no trade contract?
Why hasn’t Jason Bay retired, and why haven’t the Mets DFA’d him, oh yeah, that salary. Good job Omar.