The Twins already dealt for Jaime Garcia, but their recent slide in the standings (they’ve lost their last four games and are now 50-51) could result in them dealing Garcia and other veterans, as Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press notes. Trade candidates (in addition to Garcia) could include Ervin Santana, Brandon Kintzler, Eduardo Escobar, Brian Dozier, Matt Belisle and Kyle Gibson. Interestingly, Berardino relates an anecdote from current Twins GM and former Rangers exec Thad Levine about the Rangers’ ill-fated trade of Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young to San Diego for a package headed by Adam Eaton (the former starting pitcher, not the current outfielder). “We realized this very soon after making some of those moves (in 2006) that we made some short-sighted decisions,” says Levine. “I think they were born out of a central flaw in our decision-making process, which you see across a lot of sports, which was we miscalculated where we were in the winning continuum. I think we thought we were the proverbial one player away when we really weren’t.” Here’s more from the American League.
- The Indians are most likely to pursue relievers and/or bench players before the deadline, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal tweets, adding that the club could be active during waiver trading season in August. The implication seems to be that the Indians are unlikely to be involved in any huge moves in the next two days. The team had previously been connected to big bats like J.D. Martinez and Jay Bruce.
- After acquiring pitchers David Phelps, Erasmo Ramirez and Marco Gonzales, the Mariners are probably done making trades this month, writes MLB.com’s Greg Johns. “We’re always open,” says GM Jerry Dipoto. “The phone is never very far from me, and there are areas we can improve, so we’ll keep our ears to the street. The likelihood is there probably isn’t going to be another move, but I would have told you that two days ago as well.” Dipoto adds that he’s impressed with Gonzales, who he describes as “about as big-league-ready as a Triple-A pitcher could be” and says will be back in the big leagues at some point this season.
So in other words, the Mariners really didn’t improve at all. Gonna miss the playoffs again this year.
The revolving door that was their bullpen shuttle has stabilized. Mariners need a starter though.
The same bullpen that blew the game last night?
Sounds about right
Its been decades that theres ever been a team so routinely hyped in the offseason as being a lock for the playoffs than the Mariners of the last 10 years or so. They never come through!
Why did this comment sound like a Trump tweet
Quite true
fake news
LOL
You’re totally right
Them and the Blue Jays! Every offseason without fail some (often multiple) “experts” picks them to win the AL east. This tired “hot take” has been making the rounds for decades with nothing but FAIL to show for it!
Ditto about DiPoto. Feels like everybody but Nelson Cruz is under long-term control. My only concern is that payroll is probably maxed out so I don’t know how the Mariners exactly get better.
At least the Blue Jays were a seriously competitive team for a short span. Heck they even made the playoffs. The Mariners didn’t even make the playoffs. Although to be fair, inconsistent play or injuries have been the main factor in the Mariners not living up to expectations. Injuries wrecked them this season, but for the last two or three years inconsistent play (on a season-to-season basis) has been their downfall (i.e. either their hitting, starting rotation, or bullpen was terrible while the other two were performing well).
King Felix is back to form so that should stabilize their rotation going forward…
Cmon! More Sonny Gray stories
The Twins haven’t lost their last four, they won last night.
Bernardino’s article was written before last night’s win
Right but the note in the perenthesis was not in the article and was added by the MLBTR writer and has their current record.
I think DiPoto’s comment that the phone is never very far away was possibly a humorous comment that passed people by.
Dipoto has already gutted the Mariners farm system. Dipoto doing what dipoto do.
everyone is saying how dipoto is gutting the farm…please give an example other than Tyler O’Neal because I don’t see it.
Gohara, Jackson, Littel, Yarbrough, Hernandez, Marte if you count him, Smith and O’Neil. And those are just the ones off the top of my head. And what have we gotten in return that is actually helpful? Segura is the only one, and it was Marte and Walker he traded for them and they technically weren’t even prospects. We traded, Gohara, Smith, Yarbrough and more to get a pitcher that will never pitch a game for us. Littel and more for a very inconsistent reliever, and Littel is quickly moving up the Yankees farm. Hernandez for the reliever that helped blow the game last night. Jackson who is hitting very good for Atlanta this year for 2 pitchers that can’t get major league outs. And it’s not like Jerry does 1 for 1 trades, he trades multiple prospects in every deal.
That’s putting a lot of faith in Jack Z draft picks. I do see your point, but he has also brought back young, major league ready talent in Gamel, Haniger and Segura. He’s built a core of offense that we control for the next 5 years. Which if a tear down is required, are valuable trade pieces. Its hard to tell now, but I believe hes done a good job drafting so far.
Gutting the farm system? What farm system? Mr. .250 Tyler O’Neill? Go ahead and count .242 Ketel Marte. Yarbrough is about to be a 26 year old rookie. Littell looks good; the book is still open on Pazos. Gohara was dealt to get Mallex Smith, which landed us Smyly, who looked nastier than ever in the WBC, but injuries happen. Jackson for De Jong looks bad right now, but both players are still very much young prospects. Get outta here and go get yourself a “jump to conclusions mat” like in Office Space. DiPoto trades have landed us Gamel (who would be ROTY if not for Judge), Segura (who’s in the batting title hunt), Valencia is an absolutely solid everyday major leaguer, and Haniger (a great defensive OF who handles the stick like a pro, even during a slump). Troll’s gonna troll I guess
Are u serious? Try luis gohera our top pitching prospect last year to atlanta. Just to name a few katel marte, alex jackson, brayan Hernandez, mallex smith. Dipoto is clueless you build from within you don’t trade the farm. Look at what houston, royals, mets, cubs, yankees have done. Our farm is soooo weak rite now dipoto just dfa our number 14 guy peterson who wouldn’t even crack another top 30 in baseball.
You should get a job with the Mariners as a scout. So you can tell Jerry that he should stop trading. It would go something like this:
“Yes Jerry, I know you’ve landed us Segura and Gamel, I know we’re over .500 and right in the Wild Card hunt because of trades you’ve made, but you gotta stop trading all of our precious Jack Z draft picks. YOU’RE KILLING THIS TEAM!!!!”
Tribe doesn’t need bench players. Maybe a LHP in the pen, to replace the injured Boone Logan.
Yup
They don’t “need” bench players but it would be very smart to add one. Remember last year when Michael Martinez had his name called in game seven? I would hate to see Erik Gonzalez have to step up in a clutch situation.