Although the Mets’ bullpen entered Saturday ranked sixth in the majors in ERA (3.20) and seventh in K-BB percentage (16.4), the team is in the market for right-handed relief help, according to Marc Carig of Newsday. An addition might not necessarily come by the Aug. 1 trade deadline, per Carig, who reports that the Mets nearly signed righty Kevin Jepsen before he inked a free agent deal with Tampa Bay earlier this week. Further, the Mets are skeptical of paying a significant price for a reliever via trade, which could rule out someone like the Brewers’ Jeremy Jeffress, notes Carig. As of now, the Mets have three quality late-game right-handers in closer Jeurys Familia, Addison Reed and Hansel Robles.
More of the latest rumors:
- While the Marlins are aiming to upgrade their rotation in advance of the deadline, they’re reluctant to trade anyone from their roster for a starter, per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier Saturday that the Fish would move shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria for a top starter like the Rays’ Chris Archer, but that might be unrealistic, as Frisaro suggests.
- Speaking of Archer, the Dodgers were among the clubs scouting his start Friday against Baltimore, relays Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Archer has a connection to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who was formerly the Rays’ GM and acquired the right-hander in a trade with the Cubs in 2011. Archer has disappointed this year, but given his track record of excellence from 2013-15, age (27) and extremely team-friendly contract through 2021, he’d likely command a hefty return.
- In the weeks leading up to the deadline, various reports have linked the Rangers to several starting pitchers and Brewers backstop Jonathan Lucroy. Rangers president and GM Jon Daniels spoke about that Friday and declared that he’s looking to improve his club’s rotation more than its catcher situation. “We’re a lot more focused on the pitching side,” Daniels told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Rodger Mallison, who writes that the Rangers’ goal is to acquire a starter who’s under control beyond this season.
are the Marlins reeeeally that dumb…. they actually think that Hechavarria can land them anything let alone CHRIS ARCHER? this is why no one takes them serious.
it’s not that there thinking a one for one deal they’re would be other assets
Wouldn’t mind my Sox getting their hands on Archer despite him not having a great year. Love his arm and lord knows we have plenty of prospects to get a deal done.
Why not:
Red Sox: Julio Teheran
Braves get: Benentindi and Swihart
Seriously, enough, this post isn’t even about the Braves, please stop.
Braves suck
“Given that they’re in the same division as the Red Sox, the Rays wanted no part of trading any of their controllable arms to Boston before the latter picked up Drew Pomeranz from San Diego earlier this week”
The Red Sox would have to give up one, if not both of Devers and Kopech to get Archer, even if they were willing to deal
No way. No way the Rays would give up Archer for that B.S.
Smells like a Bigpapi4ever comment
The Dodgers’ FO is supposed to be totally data-driven, yet “connections” to Friedman are seen as being important factors in deciding who they get. So, which one is it? Seems like it can’t be both.
Well maybe Friedman traded for him the first time because of the data. In that case, it would be both.
Lord knows it’s a mistake to put too much stock into the noodlings of any given sportswriter, but still it seems to me that Friedman should have all the data he needs to select players objectively, and that personal relationships would not come into the decision at all. Yet quite a few of the players he has selected came from his former team. Kirk or Spock?
The data told the Dodgers and their 6 former GMs to give Brett Anderson $15.8 million to rehab at a physical therapy office all year, and $16 million to Kazmir to put up a 4.52 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Lol. Archer is an average pitcher with two pitches. He should be a reliever.