The Brewers may hold the most interesting chips on the market for relievers, Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron writes. That includes not only Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith, each of whom have served as the club’s closer in recent years, but also 27-year-old righty Tyler Thornburg, who owns a 2.45 ERA with 12.3 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9 on the year. In fact, Cameron argues that Thornburg is the pick of the litter from the Milwaukee pen, documenting the advances in his offerings this year. Entering his first season of arbitration in the offseason to come, Thornburg won’t be an easy asset to acquire, but he could make for an interesting target over the next two weeks.
Here’s more from the NL Central:
- The Reds are expressing optimism over the most recent surgery for catcher Devin Mesoraco, as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon writes. Manager Bryan Price called it “preventative surgery,” with team and player taking advantage of his absence the rest of the way to do the work on his right hip that was previously performed on his left. Notably, Cincinnati expects that Mesoraco will be ready for catching drills in early 2017, and there’s clearly hope that he’ll be able to return to his duties behind the plate. Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremcheck also discussed the procedure, as C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. There’s plenty of detail on the issue to digest, but the net of it seems to be that Mesoraco had begun to experience some signs of trouble and this proved a good time to get out ahead of the matter.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington says that he’s working hard to upgrade the club’s pitching staff, as Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. He didn’t specify whether the rotation or the pen was the priority, and suggested that a move wasn’t a foregone conclusion, but it’s easy to imagine the club looking into opportunities in both areas. “We’re doing due diligence on all fronts, but the pitching is what seems to need the most help at this point unless we’re willing to go with what we’ve got internally,” said Huntington. Biertempfel takes a closer look at how the Bucs’ pitching is shaping up heading out of the break.
- The Cardinals will no longer give high-leverage innings to deposed closer Trevor Rosenthal, ESPN.com’s Mark Saxon reports (Twitter link). St. Louis skipper Mike Matheny says he’ll lean on Jonathan Broxton in the seventh inning for the time being. The Cards have long been said to be seeking pen reinforcements, with Rosenthal’s continued struggles heightening the need.
Angels get: Teheran, Inciarte, Olivera, Vizcaino, Jenkins, Wentz, and Albeis
Braves get: Trout
stop
Come on man. The Braves can help the Angels out by sending you guys some good players.
You’re gonna need to add at least Swanson and Newcomb to make that trade idea seem serious.
To what is already out there??
You do in fact realize that Trout is the best player in baseball right? Here’s a great question I like to ask people who put out some crazy trade ideas. If the rosters were flipped, and the Braves had Trout (and the Angels had all of the players you listed above) and offered the same players for Trout…would you take that trade? If the answer is no, then that’s not a good trade. If the answer is yes, then you would make a terrible GM but I could at least respect the trade idea.
Dear Halos supporters. Don’t listen to braves4life1. He is the Redsox version of bigpapi4ever. His proposals show a lack of knowledge of baseball the more he posts the more the rest of us feel pity for him. He will eventually slide away.
I think you guys should keep Trout. Whilst he is the best player in baseball and would be a game changer for the mighty Redsox I think it would be sad to lose Moncada, Bradley, Devers and Benentendi because it would take at least those 4 to pry him away……maybe more! So it’s just not worth it and anyone making proposals suggesting their team can get Trout clearly have no idea!
That was nothing. Outside of Teheran
Dear Halos supporters, your team is obviously not going to make the playoffs with King Trout. Your management has gutted your Farm system as well as busted on Albert Pujols. To think for once that either the Phillies or the Braves do not have the players nor the prospects to jump start your team is absolutely asinine. So I say keep Trout. And I’ll watch you, TrotNixon, and the Angels miss the playoffs every year and Trout will become the next Charles Barkley of MLB….and for all of you going bucs who don’t know….that means great player without a championship ring.
If Trout was on the Braves, and We keep missing the playoffs year after year, made a free agent bust signing in Albert Pujols, and had the Worst Farm in baseball??? You better believe I would dangle Trout out there to see just what I could get for him. Why? Because 1 Stud player is not going to make me a championship contender. I would find a team loaded with good prospects and about 3 to 4 good starters in areas where I need help, and if I could get the prospects I want, I would ship Trout out the door. Yep. Yep.
No one is doubting that another team has the assets to trade for him, it’s that his value is so high it’s almost impossible to trade for him outside of completely gutting your major league roster and farm system (which at that point, you might as well keep your assets).
I’m not saying they shouldn’t dangle him…they should just to see what a team might offer…its the same as saying no player is truly untouchable if a team is willing to part with enough. If you actually read my comment all the way through, you would see that I said if the Braves (with Trout…hypothethically) were offered the package you listed above for Trout, would you take it? I can guarantee you wouldn’t because you know that’s highway robbery. But your bias for the Braves clouds that judgment. Based on your reasoning on the end of that comment, your trade offer is flawed. Of the “starters” you listed, Vizcaino is injured, Olivera is suspended (with a huge red flag hanging over his head), and Inciarte isn’t playing well.
Braves couldn’t get trout for there entire 40 man roster
I don’t think the Braves would want to undo their rebuild like that.
However, even if it just in theory, I think the Angels could get back elsewhere.
Wentz can’t be traded until post-WS, Olivera has no value.
Solid effort, but Angels say no.
No problem waiting on Wentz. Neither the Braves nor the Angels are going to make the playoffs. This could be a Winter Meeting Trade
Lol. You’re adorable.
Follow me here. The Angels have the worst Farm in baseball. The Braves help them out in Albeis and Wentz, send them an ACE on a friendly controllable contract, Vizcaino, Inciarte and Jenkins, plus the Braves can send Oliver’s out to California. The Braves get Trout. Next a 3 team deal….
Astros Get: Freddie Freeman and Jeffrees
Brewers Get: Bregman, Blair, and Manny Baneulos
Braves get: Reed and Lucroy
I just want to pinch your cheeks!
What are you on? Seriously
Braves fans really wanna get of Tehran. Lol
You would do to your GM what the people of Rome did to Mussolini if Trout was traded? The Angels could get back a haul in return for Trout
So we can then not contend, and also not have Trout. Perfect sense. Everyone wants Trout. News Flash!!! He was drafted 25th in the first round. Many of you could have had him on your team just by calling out his name. Tsk Tsk
Anything short of overpaying for Trout in prospects and eating Pujols salary is just a wast of time.
Arte Moreno will NOT trade Trout…
I agree that Thornberg would be an interesting piece, but of the 3 I think he is the least likely to be traded as he still wants to move to the rotation and they may want to hold on to him and give him a shot at it next season.
Cardinals get a ham sandwich. Anybody want Rosenthal?
Absolutely. There’s a team in Minnesota that would eagerly take a flier on him, potentially give him a look stretching out and going into the rotation next year.
As an outsider with no vested interest in the Birds I can say I’d trade him in a heart beat. He did start some in the minors and wants to again or so I’ve read.
Braves will give the Cards a fern for Rosenthal …. does ST. L bite? lol
I’d take it. But you’re over paying.
I’m a cards fan, and I want to keep him.
He’s young with an elite arm.
It’ll come back I think
That’s what we said about Daniel Bard
Matheny should have stopped using Rosenthal weeks ago. It’s costing STL games now. Also Matheny has made some horrible decisions this year, and I get I’m just a fan, but it’s clear that he needs to make some adjustments as a manager.
Cardinals definitely need bullpen help, and soon. I’m sure they’ll ask NY about Chapman/Miller. They for sure need at least one high leverage, lockdown reliever to pair with Oh.
I think the best thing the Cards could do is ship out some dead weight and prepare for next season. They have some minor trade bait they could dangle. They’re not looking like a playoff team this year. They need to restock a little while they can.
Problem is, there isn’t enough to ‘retool’. They may as well be buyers.
This team is really talented. On paper probably top 5 in the national league. Problem is consistency. If everyone gets going at the same time, their a wild card team. I also think any trading they could do this season, they can do in the offseason. They still have a young-ish group of players with Grichuk, Piscotty, Diaz, Adams on offense, and Martinez, Wacha, Lynn on pitching with Alex Reyes, Jack Flaherty and Luke Weaver in the minors.
The aren’t bad enough to call it a season. My guess if they trade for any major piece(s), they’ll be young enough to help this year and several years from now. With the offense doing well this year, and the rotation regaining form, all that stands in their way is consistency, and a lockdown bullpen.
I’m a true blue Cardinal fan too! But…..I don’t have confidence that Mozelack (sp), has the ability to make positive trades, or free agent selections. He has the team
In trouble waisting money on low hanging fruit. It’s back firing on him now. He will do absolutely nothing to get a young solid star player!!! And, I’ll give him Credit, he is the absolute best at coming in second in obtaining players!!! Makes it look like he tries but knows just how much to submit to trade or how much to bid to only come in second. Bit happens consistently, year after year!!!
Oquendo should’ve been the manager. Matheny is a overachiever
Amen!!!!
What happened to Rosenthal? He was dominate not long ago? Was he injured or just poor mechanics? I haven’t seen much St. Louis baseball.
My honest take on it, is two key factors:
1). He just isn’t throwing enough strikes. He’d walk the first batter he’d face, go 2-0 count on the next. It wouldn’t take more than a bloop hit or a grounder, and it would tie the game. But in his case, along with that, he was giving up hits too.
2). Batters have figured him out. He’s a one-pitch type of guy; and that’s his fastball. Yes it has velocity, but his secondary pitches aren’t well developed. Guys like Chapman, Betances, Jansen (ect.), all throw heat, BUT have nast breaking/offspeed pitches. Rosenthal just doesn’t have another solid pitch like other closers.
Combine those two things, it’s been a real disaster. I don’t know if he’ll ever be able to develop a Plus slider, or Plus changeup. The only way, in my opinion, he’ll regain form, is to have pin-point control.
What happens to all of them??? Lilliquist !!!
When an article mentions Jonathan Broxton replacing someone you know the team is in trouble. Hes as bad as Rosenthal, flukey ERA will only keep rising. Cards need one of the elite bullpen arms as bad as any team
Exactly. Right now, Matt Bowman, Kevin Siegrist and Seung Hwan Oh are the only reliable guys. And let’s take a look at those three:
– Bowman is a rule 5 pick, has done great, but no track record besides this year. Can’t count on him to be lights out.
– Siegrist: coming back from Mono, needs to regain form, is still iffy though.
– Oh: Phenomenal, but once again, first year in MLB. I like his chances of staying elite, but still you never know.
There’s not a lot of certainty, or power. I know it’s not realistic, but ideally, they’d need two more lockdown, high-leverage RPs. Maybe Chapman or Miller and then a 7th inning guy. But I hate to say it, knowing STL, they never give up their prospects. So they may only get a 3.00 ERA pitcher.
rosie to memphis, reyes to rotation, wacha to bullpen
PEOPLE….. TROUT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!!
I understand why you are saying that, however, the Angels are not making the playoffs on Trout alone and the Farm is terrible. Why not pull the trigger with either the Phillies or Braves on a haul and just get players and prospects?
Why? Because you don’t trade a once in a generation talent unless you are close to being able to win it all. And as an Angels fan it hurts to say this, we’re not close to that.
Here’s the thing: any and every body is available, it’s just meeting the price. The reason it doesn’t happen however, is that both sides have a mutual disinterest in that kind of trade.
IF the Angels we’re to trade Trout, it wouldn’t be for prospects. The angels would want 2-3 players who are already All-Star caliber, and then more. For example: Red Sox would have to give Mookie Betts, JBJ, and Xander Bogaerts. Cubs would have to trade Bryant, Schwarber, and Contreras. Cardinals would have to trade Piscotty, Carlos Martinez and Alex Reyes. Not only that, but multiple top prospects after that.
I know that seems like a lot, but you’re talking about a Hall of Fame OF in his prime. You can’t just throw an organization’s 8 top prospects at them. If you want Trout, prepare to sacrifice a chunk of your most valuable assets.
That is stupid. What you just said is absolutely stupid. You are going to get on this thread and say to get Trout, the Red Sox would have to give up 2/3 of their All Star OF plus their All Star SS to land Trout?? That is asinine, and if I were the Red Sox I’d tell you to keep your “Once in a lifetime player” and miss the playoffs every year and suck
Braves4life1 the reason the Halos would not just “pull the trigger” is your offer is terrible. If they want to trade Trout they would do so for Good players and good prospects. Not just your junk and no Julio is not an ace. Get over it
I agree. And if he was, it wouldn’t be to the Braves.
As a Braves fan, they really don’t match up that well.
Unless you’re close to the playoffs ? No the only time u would trade a player like Mike Trout is when he’s going to be the best player on a bad team for a long time. You take your asset. And turn him into several 5 top players. Maybe even 6-7. You get someone to overpay big time or you don’t make the deal. And the. You can have say for instance 2 pitchers and 2 fielders on your team versus 1 superstar
For once, I agree with bsteady. The Angels are not a playoff caliber team even with Trout. You take a player like Trout and you send him away for some proven players but you also load up on good prospects to build your Farm. Just look at the Angels, I mean they have no one on the mound to help them (and please God don’t say Jared Weaver). I mean the Angels gambled on an aging Pujols and that never worked out. The Phillies and or the Braves could Send the Angels exactly what they could use to jump start their team as well as their Farm. And for the person who said that Julio Teheran wouldn’t be a staff ACE for the Angels, well he or she is a bumbling idiot.
i was hoping rosie would get lit up last night to force the cardinals to do something.
But he also had an 8 run lead to ease the nerves. They keep talking about getting Rosenthal right, but he’s too inconsistent for a contender to depend on him, let alone a team struggling to put it all together like the Cards.
I can’t imagine Broxton being better in high leverage…. especially at Busch?