The bullpen market has been picking up some steam lately, with the Red Sox acquiring Brad Ziegler from the D-backs and the Marlins landing Fernando Rodney in a trade with the Padres. Miami was apparently in the market for some more controllable bullpen help prior to landing Rodney, though, as MLB Network’s Peter Gammons reports (on Twitter) that the Marlins also spoke with the Brewers about Jeremy Jeffress. Milwaukee had a significant asking price on its closer, however, as Gammons hears that the Brewers asked for right-hander Chris Paddack (the pitcher Miami traded to get Rodney) and two more prospects in exchange for Jeffress. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd has long listed Jeffress on his weekly rankings of trade candidates, noting that it’s understandable for the Brewers to have a steep ask with another three years of club control remaining beyond 2016.
More from the NL…
- Josh Bell has been quite impressive in his limited big league experience, going 2-for-2 with a walk and a monstrous grand slam in three pinch-hit appearances over the weekend. However, Ron Cook of the Pittburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Pirates will option Bell back to Triple-A in spite of his strong first impression, as the team informed him from day one that he was being promoted for the weekend only. “I don’t see moving him to first base in front of [John] Jaso right now with the job [Jaso] has done,” said manager Clint Hurdle to Cook. “I think down the line we’ll see what a little bit more [of Bell] would look like. I don’t know when down the line is.” General manager Neal Huntington tells Cook that he still kicks himself for rushing Gregory Polanco and Pedro Alvarez to the Majors and doesn’t want to make the same mistake with Bell.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo tells Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post that he doesn’t see a glaring need anywhere on his roster that needs to be addressed at the trade deadline. “That’s not to say that we’re a perfect team and we couldn’t upgrade if the right possibility comes,” says Rizzo of his club, however. As far as payroll is concerned, Rizzo adds that the Nationals would be able to take on payroll in order to lessen the prospect cost of a trade.
- Braves catcher Tyler Flowers is having an MRI on his hand today after aggravating an injury that he sustained a week ago when he was hit by a pitch against the Marlins, writes MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. If a trip to the disabled list is necessary, the Braves could turn to Triple-A backstop Blake Lalli, though doing so would require a 40-man roster move. Bowman has updates on a number of injured Braves, noting that right-hander Shae Simmons has seen improvements in his shoulder since he resumed throwing off a mound. He’s been sidelined all season recovering from Tommy John surgery and twice had setbacks involving his right shoulder.
Blake Lalli. Look at his major league stats and weep, fellow Braves fans. I am going to go ahead and guess that his glove is better than Pierzensky’s because his bat certainly is not. His minor league production doesn’t lend any encouragement either.
yes, Jaso is irreplaceable, a veritable MVP candidate at first.
i’m not even a Pirates fan and that statement annoys me. Maybe its Jaso’s hair that annoys me.
Brewers are doing this the right way. No sense in ditching guys (Will Smith, Jeffress, Carter, Villar) who are under team control for multiple years with little compensation tied to them for lower level prospects at this stage in the game. ..
Competing teams will come forward in the next three to three and a half weeks willing to overpay.
1st big league knock, walk, and a monster grand slam. “Thanks for being key in us almost sweeping the Cubs. Oh by the way, here’s your BUS ticket back to Indy. Don’t the door hit a where the good lord split ya.”
Sheesh — what does the kid have to do?
Play some defense maybe?? Never saw him in the field did we? He was rated worse than Alvarez last year. Word has it that he did improve this year but still somewhere between Alvarez and Jaso in the field. Yes, ahead of Jaso at the plate but as we saw with Alvarez, giving up more runs with errors than the number of HR’s you hit lose you more ball games than you win. Bell can make mistakes in AAA while he learns and that does not cost the Pirates wins. He will be in Pittsburgh sooner than later. How many times did fans want Pedro to be sent to AAA to learn how to play 1B?? That is what is happening to Bell right now.
Agreed completely.
Same thing with Glasnow. Make him use that change up until he can use it in MLB.
This year is about getting all the right pieces in place (and ready) for 2017, 2018 and 2019, their real window of contention.
Dear Clint Hurdle,
#FreeJoshBell
Waiting for Josh to free himself by leaning how to play the position in the field.
I was half-joking. I have read about his defensive shortcomings. Mostly just want him to play for fantasy-related reasons. But man, he did look impressive in his 3 plate appearances over the weekend.
I figured you were just joshin’ !! Yeah, he has looked great at the plate. I think they want to make sure he is at lest decent in the field and not have to think about what he has to do and how to react to different plays. I would hate for him to have the yips in the majors and have it affect his bat too. Can’t wait till he gets a little more comfortable with the glove and since Jaso is doing good and under contract for next year too, they should be able to get something good in return, even in the off season. Would like them to sign Freese again if they can. but not holding my breath as he his playing himself into some big money. He deserves it if he can get it.
Lalli is not the man wh0 would be called up, when he’s played it’s been mosty at first base.
Anthony Recker was signed by the Braves and sent to Gwinnett on May 9 and Lavarnway left May 13. Since May 14 the G-Braves played 54 games, Lalli caught in parts of 14 of those, Braeden Schlehuber caught in parts of 13 and Recker caught in 32 games.
Lalli has 33 games under his belt at Gwinnett in total this season Recker has 40 since arriving in may and has been the primary catcher, It’s pretty clear that Recker would be the call up if one is needed.
Agreed. It will be Recker.
Just found out Recker was been put on the temporary inactive list for a non-health issue last Wednesday. So I guess it could be Lalli or Schlehuber, both have me praying for a rapid recovery by Flowers
National’s biggest need is for consistent hitting. Harper isn’t having the type of year we’re accustomed to seeing from him; Werth, Espinosa have been fairly spotty with their hitting. Zimmerman’s hitting has been non-existant. Only two hitters we can reliable count on are Murphy and Ramos, and they likely are not going to continue to hit at the pace they currently are hitting at.
Hurdle must not see the considerable dropoff from Jaso’s plate production.. granted it was expected.. i mean no one expected jaso to hit 320 with a .400 OBP but .197 for June is pretty rough.. though he did bounce back in july.. if he keeps it up.. bell will probably be stuck in AAA most of the time until September… but if he slumps like that again they better be ready to call him back.. even if his glove isn’t the best.