Phillies interim manager manager Pete Mackanin said that he sees closer Jonathan Papelbon as the most worthy candidate to represent his team in the All-Star Game, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes.
“The save numbers aren’t there, but when you look at the other numbers, he’s been very efficient,” Mackanin said of Papelbon, who owns a 1.71 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9. “He’s the first guy that comes to mind. I don’t know if there’s anyone else. He would be a guy that I would have to believe is under consideration.”
Here’s more out of the NL East..
- Cameron Maybin was not viewed as a potential difference maker when the Braves acquired him via the April trade that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Padres. However, over the past couple of months, Maybin is doing just that, as Mark Bowman of MLB.com writes. In 281 plate appearances for the Braves, Maybin has hit .295/.364/.418 with seven homers. The Braves have him under contract through the 2016 season with a club option for 2017.
- As the Phillies’ starting pitchers continue to struggle, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com if we’ll see prized prospect Aaron Nola sooner rather than later. Of course, the Phillies’ starting five will be even weaker if ace Cole Hamels is traded in the next month. In four starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, Nola has pitched to a 2.28 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9. Nola, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 draft, was ranked as the No. 39 prospect in the country by Baseball America heading into the 2015 season.
- Dan O’Dowd of MLB.com listed Marlins pitcher Mat Latos as one of the most likely players to get dealt between now and July 31st. With Jose Fernandez back in the fold, O’Dowd believes that the Marlins will look to recoup the type of quality talent that they gave up to land the impending free agent in the first place. Late last week, MLBTR’s Steve Adams looked at Latos as a trade candidate.
It would be a mistake if the phillies called up Nola right now, even if they do trade Hamels. They shouldn’t start his clock during the rebuild. I can see maybe next year he’s in the rotation by july. If they can get the right players back in return.
They’ll still be rebuilding next July. If you don’t want to call him up until after they complete the rebuild you keep in the minors for another 2-3 years.
If they are ahead of schedule on the rebuild by next year then he could be up
They won’t contend in 2016 either. They are looking at a rebuild where they’ll be competitive in 2018-19. Should they keep him down until then?
As a Phillies fan, I agree that they will not be competitive until at least 2018. I don’t expect them to make the playoffs until 2020. It kills me to say this but I truly believe it.
He’ll be up this year as well he should.
You can’t keep all prospects down until you are competing, otherwise you will never get there. Franco was called up already, Nola will follow in August/September, and then the MLB experience is what will help speed up a rebuild
I second that. MLB experience is the best kind of experience for a pitcher, especially one that is coming close to dominating at his level (though Nola isn’t quite “dominating” just yet). When you combine his college years with him breezing through the minors, I think he’s just about ready – especially in a year where he wouldn’t be seeing elite offenses in NL East (Stanton-less MIA, ATL, NYM).
I definitely believe that Maybin is going to be traded on deadline day. I hate to say that, but we have plenty of stellar prospects to handle CF and other holes could be filled offensively and prospect wise. Is this crazy for a Braves fan to think?
It is crazy to trade Maybin thinking that Mallex or Peraza are MLB ready.
Maybin is showing that he’s a capable CF with an affordable contract thru 16 with a 17 option. Yes we would be trading while his value is high, but we haven’t had a decent CF since Bourn. For a rebuilding team with a budget, I wouldn’t move him unless it’s an offer to good to refuse. Mallex nor Peraza are ready and some reports have said Peraza isn’t comfortable in CF and it shows when he’s out there.
They need to trade Peraza now before his away from the more-valuable MI position (2B) for too long for interested teams to be concerned. He’s not going to stick in CF and we have other good MI prospects (Ozhaino Albies) right behind him to carry the baton, if Jace Peterson drops it. Frankly, I trust more of Albies than Peraza.
The Braves absolutely got lucky in getting Maybin and then him rebounding to what people knew what talent he could be… He’s under contract for 2 more years and is only 28.
Why in the hell would you ever think bout trading him, he’s a STRENGTH on your club.
Stellar prospects that are ready to take over CF?? Really? Who?
Braves would be dumb to trade Maybin, they lucked out getting him, would be fools to trade him. But hey, as a Phillies fan… trade him to the Phillies.