In his first start since May 29, Athletics left-hander Rich Hill returned from a groin injury to throw six innings of two-run, four-hit ball and rack up six strikeouts against two walks Saturday. Several playoff contenders sent representatives to observe Hill’s outing against the Pirates, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Incidentally, the Bucs were among the teams scouting him. In addition, four of the 36-year-old journeyman’s previous employers – the Orioles, Red Sox, Cubs and Yankees – as well as the Dodgers and Royals were in attendance to watch Hill, who could be the best starter dealt before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. The free agent-to-be has been brilliant when healthy this year, recording a 2.31 ERA, 10.29 K/9, 49.7 percent ground-ball rate and 15.3 percent infield fly rate in 70 innings. Dating back to his four-start revival in Boston last September, the out-of-nowhere ace has put up a tremendous 2.09 ERA in 99 frames.
More of the latest pre-deadline rumors:
- Along with Hill, the Royals also have interest in Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick, according to Slusser. However, they do not wish to reunite with another A’s trade chip, third baseman Danny Valencia. Kansas City was a rumored landing spot as of last week for Valencia, who was with the Royals in 2014 and should draw plenty of attention from other teams as the deadline nears.
- Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported Sunday that the Blue Jays have been scouting the Astros’ system, though he didn’t specify which players interested Toronto. It turns out that one prospect who intrigues the Jays is Double-A right-hander Francis Martes, tweets Chris Cotillo of SB Nation. Martes would be difficult to acquire, however, given that he’s among baseball’s premier prospects. Entering the season, Baseball America placed Martes 20th overall in its rankings. In its updated list, MLB.com has the 20-year-old at No. 36. In 63 2/3 innings this season, the hard-throwing Martes has logged a 4.10 ERA, 8.48 K/9 and 4.52 BB/9.
- While Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com expects the Angels’ Matt Shoemaker to garner interest leading up to the deadline, he doesn’t envision the Halos trading controllable starting pitching depth (Twitter link). The desperate-for-starters Red Sox – who roughed up Shoemaker on Sunday – would make sense as a trade partner if the Angels do make the righty available, opines Tim Britton of the Providence Journal (via Twitter). After a terrible first month of the season and a demotion to the minors, Shoemaker rejoined the Angels in May and has performed like an elite-level ace of late – Sunday notwithstanding. During an eight-start span prior to the Angels’ trip to Fenway Park, the 29-year-old amassed 57 2/3 innings, allowed 12 earned runs and piled up 68 strikeouts against a paltry five walks. As Gonzalez alluded to when mentioning team control, Shoemaker will make his first trip through arbitration during the upcoming offseason.
I doubt the angels would trade shoemaker now, he just gave up 5 runs. but he has been on a great stretch up until today.
The Angels should be ready and willing to trade everyone; even Mike Trout. They’re a big ticket train wreck without a single top 100 prospect.
A Trout trade won’t happen even though it would be in the Angels best interest. It won’t get done though because It’s almost impossible for the team acquiring him to justify it. Take the Red Sox for example, they’ll most likely have to part with Betts or Bradley and 3 of their top 4 prospects. And Boston’s top four prospects are all ranked in the top 35 in the game. Take a second to think of the negative Boston fan reaction I’ll receive for just stating that as the price, but in reality that’s the kind of package that Mike Trout should bring back. Maybe if the Cubs wanted to part with Schwarber, Contreras, Edwards, and Reyes as a headliner with maybe 2 other decent prospects. It’s almost at a point where established major league talent is devalued at the sake of unproven prospect talent. Look at the Matt Holiday trades for example. Oakland gave up Huston Street and Carlos Gonzalez and then flipped Holiday for whom? Brett Wallace? The Braves get a great year from J.D. Drew at the expense of a decade from Adam Wainwright. Atlanta traded Matt Harrison, Elvis Andrus, and Neftali Feliz in a package for Mark Teixeira only to flip him a year later for Casey Kotchman. Then flip Heyward for Miller and flip Miller for Swanson, Inciarte, and Blair. How did the Padres benefit from trading Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez? What about Florida for trading Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis? Imagine if Detriot made that trade today where they gave up two top 10 draft picks. None of this is directed specifically at you, it’s just people seem to forget that MLB talent wins World Series, not prospects. Yes you need them, but you don’t need to hold onto all of them at the expense of winning a title, just ask Royal fans if they get get a mulligan on somewhat depleting their system last year for Cueto and Zobrist. Or ask Mets fans if they regret trading Fulmer for Cespedes. Would any Blue Jay fan take back the Tulo and Price trades right after Joey Bats electrified a country with one swing?
Jake peavy trade worked out well for the padres actually. Given his lack of health and money after being traded padres won that trade.
While russel poreda and the other guy amounted to nothing richards actually was useful.
Peavy topped 200 innings with the sox once and only started 30+ games once. Richards had 2 seasons of 30+ starts and 200 innings. His peripherals werent that much worse than peavys and was cheaper.
In all honesty I think Sox fans would be ok with trading Betts, Moncada, Benintendi, Devers, + for Trout. I agree that is way too much for any player, considering the annual WAR ( I hate that stat but it is useful here) output of those players could easily approach double of what Trout will produce. But Trout is the face of the game right now and with Papi retiring Trout would make his loss far less painful for fans. The problem is they Sox would be putting their offensive future in the hands of one player. If the injury bug were to hit him similarly to what has happened to Teixiera a trade that would be disastrous. Any trade for Trout would be more of a gamble on both sides. Therefore Trout will never go anywhere. The Trout should just stop. The Angels trading trading Trout would have been like the Yankees trading Jeter or the Sox trading Ortiz.
Why…???? We need arms……..
Royals fans are perfectly fine with: (1) The Shields/Davis trade, (2) the Cueto trade, and (3) the Zobrist trade. However, to your point, if those trades did not culminate in a WS win, the verdict would be more split.
Noooo to Betts PERIOD
a trout deal won’t be done because Angels won’t be able to justify it. Not the other way around.
Schwarber, Baez, Soler, McKinney, LaStella, Ian Happ
For
Mike Trout
I’m not gonna say that’s that bad honesty but the problem is no SP prospects. If your trading Trout you have to get a mixture of both in return I would believe.
Schwarber, Almora, soler, Hendricks and happ for trout.
The Angels get their starting outfield (schwarber, Almora and soler) for next year and a #3 starter with upside and their future second baseman.
I’m going Schwarber,Soler,Hendricks,Almora,Cease,Torres,Candelario
That’s 5 guys who start for you now (Well when Schwarber comes back) and 2 guys who have tools to be very good MLB players in 2-3 years.
Boston could/would KILL that package with ease.
*The Dodgers, Astros, and maybe Rangers would as well.
Don’t just say that without something out, I’m interested what you think they can offer that beats that with ease
Reed, martes, musgrove, bregman, fisher, teoscar
And that’s not including any of the young-ish talent that’s already in the majors (excluding reed)
LMAO yeah try again guy.
2 guys in top 20 prospects, 1 in top 50, 1 top 100, and two intriguing under the radar guys. Prob not nuff to snag trout but I’d say a good starting point
Think the stros should stand there grounds on any block buster trades, unless it’s something crazy we are getting in return!!
After the USA vs. The worlds game, I think Bregman is on his way up!!
Teoscar has even looked good since being called up, but it’s being over shadowed by the crazy start of Alex Bregman!! I really like all those names on your list!! Reed might take a little bit of time, even though since he started 0-16, he’s looked a lot better since!! Hopefully they’ll send down worth instead of Reed, when AB2 gets the call up, we already have a quality utility guy in Marwin Gonzales!! Should be an exciting 2nd half for the stros if we can stay healthy, pitching keeps improving, and Bregman ends up being that extra bat we are lacking!!
Plus it would be great, cause it would give our prospects another year to mature, and grow!!
horrible deal for Angels
Seems like a reasonable haul. What would you consider to be a fair trade?
One game doesn’t decide someone’s trade value.
Well tech the Cueto trade did. Cueto had one tremendous game. The royals won the WS it’s a win for the Royals no matter what happens.
He had terrible games in the playoffs as well, so much so they were afraid to start him on the road.
He had one TERRIBLE playoff game
He also pitched well in game 5 of the ALDS v Houston
Cueto had TWO tremendous games. ALDS Game 5
Valencia must have clubhouse personality issues. Seems to hit wherever he goes (for the most part) but no one seems to want to keep him around.
Yeah he does. You didn’t know that? He’s basically Brett Lawrie but can hit
Sox should trade for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick. Both of these ex-Sox players could help the team right now.
Agree with this idea. But Redick is a right fielder whom I’m sure with proper tutorial could learn the monster
Rich Hill and Josh Reddick could sure help Red Sox even if both are free agents after 2016 season.
I think the Red Sox should target Hill, Teheran, Vizcaino, etc.
With Frank Wren as 2nd in charge and advising Dombrowski I’m guessing he’ll be very influential in acquiring Teheran/Vizcanio
I think the Sox will try to move Swihart for Hill. They would save their best chips for a true number one.
Hahahaha bidding wars make the A’s laugh at that offer. Hill drawing more provided he stays healthy.
I used to hold you in pretty high esteem. Your comments used to be spot on and your knowledge of baseball was easily seen in your posts. The last few months you seem to only write “nu uh you are wrong” posts without any facts or even an opinion to go along with them.
If you think Rich Hill is going to bring back a franchise altering return you are dreaming. He is the definition of oft injured and has already missed a month this year. His innings have not cracked 100 in quite awhile. Clubs are definitely leery of him having a dead arm when the playoff push begins. If you want to see the type of return you can expect for Hill check out the Kazmir trade last year. He was putting up very solid numbers but had the same concerns as Hill does this year. Granted, the innings weren’t as worrisome as Hill but that balances out with Hill’s better stats. He will bring back a good prospect and a lotto ticket. The bidding war you refer to will be for Tampa’s starters and possibly for one of the Mets starters (Wheeler most likely) if and when they decide they need offense.
I truly hope the old posting version of your screen name comes back soon.
You should not hold me in high esteem.
Thanks, k bye
I still believe the market sets the price. The number of quality arms actually available this offseason is limited unlike when Kaz was traded. To be honest the Rays have no need to trade any of their arms unless they receive an absolute haul. Especially when we look at the offseason pitchers available. The potential to add a guy like Hill will lead someone to overpay. Swihart loses extreme value if he can’t prove he is an adequate back stop. Now I’m not saying Hill will bring a franchise altering haul if anyone does it will be Gray. Wheeler hasn’t seen the mound in a while and had another setback which is troublesome. So that’s an extreme flyer plus the Mets would probably be more inclined to keep wheeler with the state of their rotation. They’d be selling extremely low.
That’s a lot for a rental player
Hill has proven to be very unreliable over his career. Good chance he won’t hold up down the stretch.
Bullseye!!
Agree….. Get some young arms
Angles. Puhhhhh
At least they have Eppler to handle the pain when the changes come
Can’t see the Dodgers being very interested in Hill. Maybe before they picked up Norris, and before the very encouraging start from McCarthy, but not now. They have too many other internal options available in the immediate future. Friedman also pretty much put the kibosh on the starting pitching trade talk until they have a better idea how long Kershaw will be out. Unspoken but obviously also in play is whether Ryu looks serviceable in his return. This trade deadline is going to be very interesting.
In the offseason can anybody see the Yanks trading McCann & Headley to the Braves and if so what would it take ?
Seriously what benefit to the braves would you think bringing McCann and Headley to Atlanta would accomplish? Over priced over prime Agee veterans are NOT in Atlanta plan I assure you.
We need a C and 3B. If they are serious about trying to compete next year they need to add some bats and veteran leadership. I would think the give back would be minimal. Maybe be able to have the Yanks eat some salary as well.
Ruiz is not ready and there is no everyday catcher in the system. I would take McCann back over signing Wieters.
The minor league system is built its time to start making moves for the MLB roster. There is no reason why with a couple moves the Braves couldn’t compete next year for one of the wild cards.
TRADING TROUT IS NIT GOING TO HAPPEN!!! Trout is the face of the game, sells lots of season tickets for the halos, and fills lots of seats in Anaheim… Not gonna happen…
The Angels MUST RETOOL AND REBUILD… Bad starting pitching… No ace of the staff … Horrible bullpen… Left field has been a revolving door… Almost no depth in the bench… Non existent farm system… OH PLEASE EPPLER… Wake up and smell the coffee …
I have a feeling it’s not epplers fault. guy says its arte morenos
Just curious, I know the young flame thrower in the Astros AA hooks team hasn’t had the best of luck in a hitters friendly ball park, but us astros fans still think he will pan out to be a solid #3 or even #2 starter in the next couple of seasons!!
What would the blue jays/ other interested teams have to pay to get a guy like him, which I don’t think the Astros are to high on trading to begin with?
Also no way Trout gets traded, to much valuable talent would be required, and even if the Angels get that kinda package it would be a serious gamble for both sides!! A gamble I don’t see happening!!
Did I hear this correctly, Bregman getting called up before the 2nd half starts, and will bat in the 2 hole?