On the night when the Yankees officially retired Derek Jeter’s #2, let’s take a look at news from both the AL East and the NL East…
- The Nationals and Red Sox have had evaluators watching White Sox players, CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine reports. Both clubs have been scouting Jose Quintana, while the Nationals continue to have interest in closer David Robertson, and Levine figures the Sox could also be looking at Todd Frazier to address their need at third base. Chicago already completed major trades with both teams this past winter, of course, in deals that sent Adam Eaton to Washington and Chris Sale to Boston, so there is already a great deal of familiarity between these organizations. Quintana would fill the Nats’ revolving door in the fifth starter’s spot, though obtaining Robertson to help their struggling bullpen seems like the more pressing fit. The Red Sox could use Quintana and Frazier, though they seem likely to wait to see how David Price and their internal third base options return before deciding if upgrades are necessary.
- Asdrubal Cabrera tells Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News that he is suffering from a torn ligament in his left thumb, and a DL stint could be possible if the thumb isn’t feeling better tomorrow. The Mets shortstop has been bothered by the injury for the last week, and while an MRI taken last week reportedly showed no ligament damage, Cabrera said he was told there was a tear. Cabrera continued to play (through mostly in pinch-hitting roles) over the past week, so it is possible his injury could have worsened. As Ackert notes, the Mets can hardly afford to lose Cabrera with so many other stars already on the disabled list. If Cabrera did require some DL time, it will renew calls for the Mets to promote top prospect Amed Rosario, though the team reportedly doesn’t want to rush the youngster to the big leagues.
- Drew Pomeranz left today’s Red Sox loss after three innings due to tightness in his left triceps. While the southpaw’s health has been a question mark since his trade to the Sox from the Padres last summer, Pomeranz told media (including Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal) that both his triceps and his lowered velocity this season were due to a problem in his mechanics, not due to any physical issues. Pomeranz will undergo an MRI tomorrow but said he believes he can make his next start.
- Steve Pearce left today’s Blue Jays victory with right calf tightness after sliding into second base on a double in the second inning. Manager John Gibbons told MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson and other reporters that Pearce will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. The veteran utilityman is off to a very slow start in his first season in Toronto, hitting just .205/.256/.373 through 90 PA, though he has somewhat gotten on track after a horrible April. Losing Pearce to the DL would be yet another blow to the injury-ravaged Jays, though they did get Aaron Sanchez back on the active roster today.
If the Mets lose Cabrera, would they be desperate enough to trade for a SS like Zack Cozart? They could use his defense and offense. And with free agency coming, he wouldn’t be in the way of their prospect. Of course, there would have to be someone that the Reds want out of the deal.
The only thing the Mets have to trade are utility IFs (Matt Reynolds, Gavin Cecchini, TJ Rivera) and A-ball talent. The AAA studs (Rosario and Smith) aren’t being dealt to prop up a crumbling season.
I see Erick Aybar or Daniel Descalso or maybe even Scooter Gennett as possible targets
TJ Rivera is the most ready 3B replacement:
He has hit .300+ at every level and won the AAA batting title last year.
TJ Rivera’s current slash line:
.306/.383/.472/.855 with 0.5WAR in limited play. That’s pretty darn good.
Rivera needs to have his playing time kept in check or he will blow the budget with the cheap Wilpons in charge. Don’t hold your breath waiting to see Rosario as they refuse to allow him to be a super two top quickly.
Since the well documented slump, Reyes has been playing at well above replacement level. A move to SS in line with a prior Cabrera injury seemed to spark the recovery. Pretty sure they’re fine at short.
Quintana wont go to the Nats imo. Boston maybe due to the teams matching up well. I can still see the Yankees jumping on Q out of the blue.
I don’t disagree with you on the Nats, but if they’re willing to move Robles+ for him, I’d say they’re a perfect fit. Would loooove to add Robles to the farm (even better if they can get Soto too).
The Phillies have to be a darkhorse in the race for Quintana. They have the prospects and will be in contention soon.
Yankees are going to wait till this off-season when a rod’s and cc salaries come off the books. They have the second best MLB record without Quintana.
I think a ton of Yankee fans would not be happy with the Yanks trading any future high end prospects to the White Sox for a pitcher who had been mediocre this year and to be honest if he gets back to form which is a very good number two starter is that gonna propel the Yanks past Houston? Cleveland? Baltimore and Boston?
Yankee fans are excited about the youth movement and whatever we do this year is a bonus but overall we have our eyes set on 2019 as being serious contenders!
Hold onto the studs until we figure out which ones we are keeping and which ones don’t factor into future winning seasons.
Exactly! Don’t be surprised if they finish ahead of the Sox.
I don’t like the Yankees and haven’t since the buying titles phase in the late 90s, but they’re farther ahead than 2019 as contenders. I’m not sure they’re legit this year, but if they keep developing, they will contend next year. As for whether Quintana helps vault them past those other teams, I’d say yes to all but maybe Boston, which has at least as much young talent as the Yankees. So, yes, Quintana could change any of those teams (aside from Baltimore) into the favorite to win the AL, provided he gets back on track. He’s no Kershaw or Sale, but he’s much closer to being an ace than a scrub.
The Sox have too much invested in old garbage contracts which John Henry and Co. will not eat.
Trader Dave has a voracious appetite to make BIG trades for OLD names. So snap your Sox youth players’ photos as quick as you can because they will be GONE by the trading deadline. He’s playing with quicksand; Sale to cover Price and nobody to pickup the slack for last year’s “career year” players
the white sox would want a load back for quintana, and I don’t see the yankees trading prospects they got last year
What a mistake it would be for Dombrowski to further deplete the farm on Frazier. Devers is starting to knock on the door, this team just needs a low-profile stopgap right now. Not to mention that Frazier has been pretty awful this year (81 OPS+) and nothing special last year either (107 OPS+).
Agreed.
I think you’re overestimating what it’d take to get Frazier. The only thing the Red Sox would be depleting the farm of is a mediocre prospect or two.
Agree
Red Sox fans ALWAYS downplay every player they’re rumored to have interest in, and overvalue their aspects.
like fans of every other team.
Nobody does it as obnoxiously as Boston fans.
I think they should go for Reynolds. When Dahl gets back there’s nowhere for him to play. Wouldn’t cost too much. Maybe Lakins and possibly a throw in like Beeks.
Reynolds has played more innings at third than anywhere else in his career.
I will pay the Red Sox to come haul Jhonny Peralta away to help at 3B. Anything to get rid of him.
Did you mean Cabrera rather than Escobar in the headline?
There are Pirates fans still whining about the Pirates not trading for Quintana.
Unless he can start 3 out of every 5 days, play LF and hit 2nd while also playing 3B and hitting cleanup on top of teaching the rest of the team how to run bases and play defense…probably not the difference between contending or not.
The Pirates were a strong team three years ago. Their failure to make adjustments via trades and free agents signings has ruined any chance at a deep post season run.
No. Running into Madison Bumgarner in the postseason and Arrieta at the peak of his 0.49 ERA run combined with Cutch having zero career postseason hits ruined any chance at a deep post season run.
Would Quintana would have changed any of that? No.
So, they’d have no present AND no future. No thanks.
Teams who refuse to leverage minor league depth to fill holes on talented big league rosters always get bounced early in the postseason.
Yeah, trade some perfectly good prospects for him so the rest of the team can waste great starts by scoring 0-1 runs like they do for Cole, Nova and rest?? I’ll pass LOL. idk what Pirates fans you’re talking about tbh.
Cabrera is playing with a torn ligament in his thumb? Starting to think the Mets medical staff is totally incompetent.
Guys attempt to put off surgery all the time.. Pedrioa did it a few years ago
It’s not about the surgery- it’s the fact that he’s not on the DL and now they’re short a bench or bullpen player. The club is constantly running on 23-24 players.
And if he went on the DL, he would need surgery, hes delaying the surgery by playing through it
Going on the DL does not require surgery. If so, I’d hate to see what procedure Brock Holt just went through for his DL stint due to vertigo
Not true..
Players go on the DL to avoid surgery all the time! Clubs with a competent medical staff recommend it all the time.
Trade Quintana, Frazier, and Jones to Boston for Devers, Owens, Groome and the catcher Vazquez
Uh no.
Then trade Robertson and Hollands to Nationals for Robles, Feede
lol ridiculous, but count me in.
Then WAS would have ZERO excuse for when they flame out in the playoffs again…
As a Sox fan, I’d absolutely love this. Don’t think there’s a realistic chance the Nationals do that for just Robles, much less both Robles and Fedde.
Rizzo would get fired for that trade. And LOL for proposing Holland.
Devers should be an untouchable as should Groome however if the Sox can obtain a pitcher like Quintana and a top 3 B I would make a move. By sticking Quintana in this rotation the Red Sox would be improving their rotation. Picking up Frazier for his salary for a mid level prospect should not be overly expensive.
I’m not sure if Groome, a 2016 draftee, can be traded within a year of his being drafted.
Unless they plan on subtracting from the big league roster (HIGHLY doubt it), they don’t have a good enough farm anymore to get an impact player (pitcher or positional) if Devers is “untouchable” IMO.
Largely agree, though impact, practically by definition, is dependent on the position they’re looking to upgrade. Not too hard to find a 3B who would be a nice improvement over what they have now and wouldn’t cost Devers, though he would probably cost Groome and another lesser prospect or two.
Typical Red Sox fan nonsense… every prospect in their system is the reincarnation of Ted Williams. The White Sox not getting your best prospect for Chris Sale is some kind of joke. You guys were gifted, as is normally the case. The Yankees and Red Sox are the black holes of the MLB.
Devers should be an untouchable as should Groome however if the Sox can obtain a pitcher like Quintana and a top 3 B I would make a move. By sticking Quintana in this rotation the Red Sox would be improving their rotation. Picking up Frazier for his salary and for a mid level prospect should not be overly expensive.
Matt Harvey is a guy I would like to see in a Sox Uni as much as Quintana. Sonny is not the pitcher he was a year ago when Beane was asking an astronomical amount. Peralta was mentioned above and he’s someone DD will see this week in St. Louis.
I’m not sure if Groome, a 2016 draftee, can be traded within a year of his being drafted.
Yea Matt Harvey and his 5 era leaving the NL in a pitchers park to come to AL and pitch in Boston sounds like a winner to me
Yah that doesn’t make much sense. I don’t get why you don’t be against Sonny because he’s not the same pitcher he used to be, but then turn around and say you want Matt Harvey…
Beane will definitely hold out for Groome and Sonny, like Harvey, is damaged.. If the Sox keep Pomerantz and don’t move him they need to add some R Handed balance to the rotation..
I have enjoyed watching Harvey–he reminds me a bit of Seaver–who pitched for the RS for a short time in the twilight of his career. Pomerantz, Kelly and a prospect not named Devers or Groome might be enough to get Harvey..
What would you propose the Red Sox give up for Quintana, then, if Devers and Groome are untouchable?
Sale came for two of our top 3 prospects Moncada and Kopech. Moncada will probably be up by August and Kopech may be a Sept call up. He will be very good and will become part of a fine young rotation.
Not sure how much time Quintana has under team control.
Devers plays 3 B but I think he may be a 1 B at some point. He is still only 20 with 7 HR’s and 20 RBI batting .324 in 29 games.
Our Mi. Lstarters and relievers are fairly decent. Maddox–AA, Callahan AAA along with Noe Ramirez at AAA are pretty good late innings people.
Brock Holt may be a trade chip –plays 7 positions–just coming back from the DL for Vertigo. If we don’t get Frazier or Peralta for 3 B–Holt will draw the assignment.
I would hate to see Christian Vazquez go–he is a very good catcher but we have to find a place for Blake Swihart a SH catcher. The W.Sox have been high on him.
Do the nationals have any prospects left after all the trading they have done?a