Despite the fact that the Royals recently went through a stretch of 18 losses in 27 games, GM Dayton Moore tells Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star that manager Ned Yost’s job is safe. Perhaps more pertinent to MLBTR faithful is that Moore tells McCullough his 49-50 ball club will not be sellers at this year’s deadline. Moore says that he doesn’t blame the players, coaches or anyone but himself: “I look at myself, and what I can do, and what we can do as a baseball operations department to improve our team. … We’re going to keep pushing until the standings say we’re done.”
Here’s more from the AL Central…
- The Royals scouted the Phillies twice this week already, tweets Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Salisbury notes that Antonio Bastardo performed well in front of Kansas City evaluators, who are on the lookout for bullpen help.
- Joel Hanrahan is a “long shot” to pitch in the Majors this season, reports Lynn Henning of the Detroit News (Twitter link). The Tigers, who signed Hanrahan for a guaranteed $1MM base salary in May, have been hopeful that he will eventually fortify their late-inning relief corps, but they’ve also been linked to numerous bullpen arms, suggesting that they may not be counting on much from the former Pirates All-Star.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that while it may have been a planned promotion, the timing of Francisco Lindor’s promotion to Triple-A is “as subtle as a brick to the head.” The Indians announced Lindor’s promotion to Columbus shortly after Asdrubal Cabrera left Monday’s contest with an injury, and while Lindor likely wouldn’t be the immediate replacement, there’s little doubt that he’s seen as Cabrera’s replacement next year. Hoynes also notes how poorly timed a DL stint would be for Cabrera, as it would hurt the team’s chances to stay in the AL Central race while also costing them a potential trade chip.
- The two White Sox players that are generating the most interest in trade are John Danks and Dayan Viciedo, tweets Chris Cotillo of SB Nation’s MLB Daily Dish. The Yankees have reportedly had some discussions with the South Siders about acquiring Danks as of yesterday afternoon. Danks has a six-team no-trade clause, with only four contenders on the list, according to yesterday’s report from MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. He can block deals to the Orioles, A’s, Nationals and Blue Jays.
Joel Hanrahan unable to pitch, Joe Nathan unreliable, whats next Jose Valverde?
Next is, sadly, DD having to overpay for some bullpen help. If I’m DD, the only people I’d keep in that pen right now are AlAl, Joba, Knebel, and Blaine Hardy… that said, Nathan isn’t going anywhere… He’s owed too much to DFA him right now.
That should still leave 2 spots in the BP that likely ought to be addressed from outside of the organization. Everyone knows the Tigers bp is in bad shape and will absolutely be asking for more than what the reliever is worth.
Krol has been ineffective and needs to be option to hone his craft. Coke has been far too inconsistent to be kept on the roster.
The only player from the White Sox that I would want, but they are not trading him in all probability is Jose Quintana. Sure Sale would be interesting, but they aren’t trading their best pitcher. However, if you could convince them to trade
Quintana that would be who I would want.
As for the Royals, not sure what is wrong with them. It’s a shame, I wanted them to do well this year and for a brief moment, they were in 1st place. However, that is long gone at least for now.
Humm, let’s see. Whom would I like from the Orioles? Hold onto yourselves. I’m thinking. You know, let me get back to you on that!
But, but, but the Yankees didn’t have much and they still got Headley!
I mean the word on the street back 2012, the Padres asked for Machado in order to get Headley. My, my the mighty have fallen.
if the sox traded quintana to the O’s it would require some sort of package revolving around 2 of your top 3 pitching prospects so hunter harvey, bundy, and gausmann. additionally a position prospect most likely infield thats in the low levels. thats what you’d be expecting out of that trade now if it was sale all your prospects are pretty much gone
Sale, I have no expectations of them trading.
However, I would consider trading Bundy and someone else for Quintana. However from what you type, the White Sox would want more. Not sure, if I would be willing to trade Harvey or Gausman too. Quintana is good, but 2 of our top three. Mmm, not sure about that.
It would take more than that, in both scenarios. Hahn has already called both of them untouchable.
Adam Jones, Machado, Davis, Gausman, Bundy, Markakis (with salary eaten), Weiters when healthy, Harvey, to name a few..They have a few bullpen pieces as well…thats a whole hell of a lot more than the Sox have to offer
No chance in them trading Quintana unless they get a huge haul for him. He is being paid peanuts and under team control for many years to come. Throw in that he is young, left handed and has a track record of success and he would demand a boat load of top tier prospects.
They’d be even dumber to trade Sale. He is hands down the best starting pitcher in baseball this season per start. His starts are more dominating than any other guy in the game right now. He’s also signed long term fro little money and under team control for years to come. The only way he isn’t pitching for the White Sox is if his arm falls off.
Now if the Sox can just find someone to also take De Aza, Dunn, and Beckham…. I would not want to lose Viciedo, but the Sox need a prospect that can be a closer. If you can get a package with a closer type prospect for Viciedo then do it, otherwise I do not see the need to trade him as he is likely the Sox DH next season once Dunn is off the books.
We don’t need a prospect that can be a closer we have those in house…If they go out on the market for a closer it will be a proven one…Petricka is a closer prospect.
I believe the Sox actually feel Webb is their closer of the future, despite not putting him in that role this year.
agreed. webb and petricka are fine prospects to be closers if anything the prospects we receive, if we make any deals, will be for SP’s and positional players i.e. a catcher most importantly, then of and infield
While they are ‘holding down the farm’, I do not see any of them as closer type. Or at least Ventura needs to pick one and stick with him. You cannot have a closer by committee IMO I think you really know a closer when you see them, they have a certain swagger about them, and none of those guys strikes me as a closer. Nor does Nate Jones or Lindstrom for that matter (nor belasario.. good grief..). Closers win you games, call it a save or whatever, but you cannot afford to have a wait and see approach with guys and closing anymore.. Well I guess you can if you want to lose games in a demoralizing fashion
I totally agree with your plans for Viciedo. That is what I’m hoping the Sox do. As for Sale, is there anyone in baseball I would trade him for. In my book, Sale, Quintana, Rodon, Eaton, Abreu and Garcia are off limits.
I think Gillespie is approaching that label as well, at least I think it would take a lot to get him. He just needs keep working on his defense and to elevate a few balls a bit more to get that homer total up. I would be content with him dropping his average 10 to 20 points if it means he hits another 10-15 homers.
Viciendo is Nelson Cruz lite or David Ortiz lite. Of course teams are interested in him. As far as a closer there is a closer born every minute.
I closer both every minute? Yeah, sure the Tigers and the White Sox feel that way.. Closers are not as easy to come by as i think people think it is
Everyone talks about Toronto winning. I would bet as the teams stand today, Tampa Bay will finish ahead of Toronto in the standings.
Who has talked about Toronto winning over these past two weeks?
do not count them quite out. Like everyone else depends on their starters. Dickey and Stohan are keys. Reyes, Melky Cabrera,Bautista,Encarnacion pretty good foursome that matches the Orioles Cruz,Machado,Jones,Hardy fairly well.
The suggestion that Asdrubal Cabrera timed a DL stint is reprehensible.
I don’t see where there’s a suggestion that Cabrera “timed” an injury in either the post or the Plain Dealer story.
This is a suggestion by the author.. “…Hoynes also notes how poorly timed a DL stint would be for Cabrera, as it would hurt the team’s chances to stay in the AL Central race while also costing them a potential trade chip..” The suggestion (not factually stated or verifiable by a corroborating source) is pretty clear.. The trade chip in this instance is Asdrubal..
There is nothing in that sentence or anything else in the article or this post that implies that Cabrera took any action to take himself out of action–zero, zip, nada, zilch. Of course Cabrera could be a trade chip. Of course going on the DL near the deadline is lousy timing if you are a trade target. That does not imply that Cabrera “timed” it or took any action to go on the DL.
Man, wish I could get paid $1million just on the HOPE that I might one day maybe be able to do my job…