This week in baseball blogs…
- Clubhouse Corner chats with Phillies slugger Rhys Hoskins about his position change and hitting approach.
- SportsTalkPhilly.com takes a look at Hoskins’ early career excellence.
- Rox Pile interviews Rockies manager Bud Black, reliever Jake McGee and center fielder Charlie Blackmon about the importance of the inside pitch.
- The Loop Sports regards young White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada as must-see TV.
- Bronx Bomber Ball argues that the Yankees should try to acquire Giants ace Madison Bumgarner over the summer.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed lists potential trade destinations for Manny Machado.
- STL Hat Trick is cautiously optimistic about Cards shortstop Paul DeJong.
- The Point of Pittsburgh breaks down all the potential obstacles that Jung Ho Kang has to overcome before returning to the majors.
- Chin Music Baseball points to Sean Manaea’s improved control as a reason for his terrific start to 2018.
- Know Hitter opines that the Tigers are amid a best-case scenario start.
- Underthought details the effect one hot day at the plate can have on the the April leaderboards.
- Blue Jays Beat delves into catcher Luke Maile’s hot offensive start.
- Rising Apple names four Mets who won’t be members of the team in 2019.
- The 3rd Man In profiles and interviews potential first-round pick Tristan Pompey, brother of Dalton Pompey.
- Notes from the Sally scouts Royals first base prospect Nick Pratto.
- The First Out At Third examines Eric Thames’ April prowess.
- A’s Farm talks to Oakland shortstop prospect Nick Allen.
- East Village Times evaluates Padres GM A.J. Preller.
- Locked On Pirates lays out how Bucs third baseman Colin Moran has fared against the fastball, changeup and curveball.
- Call to the Pen looks at some Phillies who could be either key cogs or placeholders.
- Everything Bluebirds explains how Teoscar Hernandez’s success changes the Blue Jays’ outfield situation.
- 216Stitches (podcast) discusses the early season performances of Miles Mikolas, Jordan Hicks, Nick Pivetta and Jarlin Garcia.
- Mets Daddy breaks down the club’s in-house first base options with Adrian Gonzalez struggling.
- The Sports Tank checks in on baseball’s worst teams.
- Camden Depot notes that the Orioles haven’t really benefited from the Rule 5 draft.
- Jays Journal talks with Toronto pitching prospect Patrick Murphy.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2, 3) wonders how the Yankees will dole out playing time at first when Greg Bird returns, ranks the members of the Twins’ struggling bullpen, and profiles towering Astros prospect Taylor Jones.
- Friars On Base provides major league ETAs for some of the Padres’ prospects.
- Pirates Breakdown is optimistic about the Bucs’ offense.
- District On Deck wants the Nationals to bat Trea Turner second when the injured Adam Eaton returns.
- Jays From the Couch focuses on Randal Grichuk’s struggles.
- MetsMerizedOnline.com approves of the Mets’ Todd Frazier signing thus far.
- Foul Territory compares the majors’ best teams to the Avengers.
- Motor City Bengals ranks the 10 best shortstops in the history of the Tigers.
- Rotisserie Duck assesses some fantasy baseball picks in the early going.
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Do Yankee fans still think they could get an ace for a Frazier/Adams return. From all angles, it seems it was other teams turning down that kind of return for their aces.
Yankee fans would feel their stomach drop through their sphincter when they know what the Giants would likely demand for Bumgarner.
As far the suggested trade offer in the article: Jordan Montgomery would likely be the worst piece going from New York in such a deal.
Agreed, the Giants would need to get some young MLB ready top talent starting with at least Gleyber Torres and a few more top prospects. Look what the Yankees got for Chapman and he was just a rental.
2 aces
I think those two are projected to be solid MLB players, not stars. And you shouldn’t trade an ace unless you are getting future stars
Good thing they didn’t trade Frazier and Adams for a “4th/5th starter” like Gerrit Cole…
Hahaha
The packages in the article are sort of terrible for the Giants.
a) The article mentioned it would take, among others, pieces like Frazier and Adams plus a centerpiece to net a FOR pitcher,
b) What have Frazier or Adams DONE to be any LESS of the prospects they were last year? What, just because Cashman was willing to deal either or both BECAUSE they were of less of a use position-wise? The acquisition of Stanton and inability of the Yanks to rid themselves of the Ellsbury contract are the only reason why Frazier became expendable. . The mid-season trade for Gray and re-emergence of Tanaka and Sabathia and development of Montgomery makes Adams palatable to move in a trade. Frazier isn’t playing because of an injury and Adams hasn’t looked great his first 4 starts. Neither of those are factors that should diminish them this soon.
3) Would be insane to trade Montgomery. He;’s young, inexpensive, under control for multiple years and has gotten off to a good start. Add that he;s a lefty then it makes him a player you want to keep.
Finally…..Bumgarner isn’t a NY kind of guy. Don’t believe in that NY factor? Think of Randy Johnson and his very brief stay in NY and how he was traded despite there being a year left on his deal.
Great example. A 41 year old Randy Johnson in the twilight of his career.
Johnson is not a great example not because of his age but because he actually performed well. The better examples are Carl Pavano, AJ Burnett, and Jaret Wright.
Johnson had a 5.00 ERA. Still, the point was that Johnson’s personality simply was not meant for NYC.
I’m not sure what it would take to get Bumgarner, but guys like Frazier, Torres, Andujar are a lot more expendable now that the Yankees have Stanton and Drury, and Didi has come into his own.
That’s not to say that as a fan I don’t want to hold on to all three, but with these proven (and relatively young) major leaguers already with the team, their presence isn’t quite as crucial.
I’m also aware that you have to give something to get something. Not sure if Bumgarner is it, but if the Yankees have to deal two of Torres, Frazier, or Andujar (plus some minor leaguers) to get a young front line starter to pair with Severino, so be it.
Any trade of Madison Bumgarner to the Yankees would start with Gleyber Torres. Yankees fans will disagree but if they can get Torres for a reliever who is a free agent at the end of the year then the Giants should have no problem getting him for a proven postseason horse who has a club option for next season.
I think you are missing one important detail: the Chapman for Torres trade was an absolute steal for the Yankees and the Yankees would be fools to fall into the same trap they set for other teams.
So would the Giants to take anything short of a complete hose job for their proven postseason horse.
Wrong
I guarantee you that if the Giants do decide to trade Bumgarner this summer then things would NOT be going well for either the Giants as a whole or just Bumgarner. So if he was indeed available, then there’s no way in the vast green fields of Valhalla that the Giant’s expectations would be that lofty.
Can’t believe this got a down vote. Show me the lie.
The “lie”?
You made a statement surrounding an opinion. There isn’t anything remotely objective among the statement you made.
Also, there’s not much more annoying on these boards than the guy who whines because someone downvotes him. Maybe Yankee fans.
Something tells me you’re both.
As far as the statement itself in concerned, a couple of things:
1. You’re probably right at the start. The Giants would really have to be in a bad spot to trade Bumgarner. He and Posey top the list of most popular Giants, and it’s not remotely close. So trading away a franchise favorite, as well as an insanely valuable pitcher would require things to be in free fall.
2. Their expectations will always be lofty, and for good reason. Bumgarner is a top 15, probably a top 10 SP in baseball. He’s also still 28 and has an insanely cheap contract (as far as value is concerned) that lasts thru next season. And to trade one of the faces of the franchise, it’d take the world and then some to get him.
Why wouldn’t their expectations be lofty? They should demand the highest of returns. And something tells me that if the Yankees’ best offer was that suggested in the article linked, someone would almost certainly outbid them.
The Chapman trade was unique. The Cubs were on the cusp of a once-in-generation World Series run (after a century drought), and had an opportunity to add a desperately needed elite closer, and their upper minors and ML team were still flush with young talent.
And even still it was a GUTSY move by Theo. He’d have been torn to shreds if they hadn’t won the World Series.
So I don’t think it’s fair to say “well if they got this, these guys should get that.” Though I do agree any trade for Bumgarner probably starts with Torres or Andujar.
Also at the time it was either Torres or Jimenez as the centerpiece. They were able to keep Eloy as he was the more valuable prospect.
The Phillies aren’t one of the favorites to acquire Machado! They should have been included with the other “Won’t pursue him because they won’t be in contention come July” teams.
Member when Mateo was gonna be as good as Moncada? Fun times.
Yankee fans get hard ons for any player under-25 with a heart beat.
I remember they thought Rob Refsnyder and Slade Heathcott were second comings of Jesus Christ.
Ummmm I remember how we thought they were good prospects who we wanted to see play in the majors. Please stop acting as if prospect aspirations are limited to the Yankees. ALL PROSPECTS are inherent unproven talent that may or may never manifest themselves as we wish. Pointing out Yankee failures makes you look small.
I think our prospects DO have some credibility seeing the recent successes of Judge, Sanchez, Severino, Montgomery and others still developing at the major league level.
Of course every team has those fans. It’s not exclusive to the Yankees.
It’s just far more apparent than almost anyone else.
If that’s true, then they’re falling into Cashman’s trap– who has a history of hyping up players he KNOWS won’t amount to anything. It’s a tactic to gain whatever leverage he can in trade talks and free agency. Given his financial advantage it’s a sound strategy.
Remember “we love Bubba Crosby, he’s our center fielder of the future”? Signs Johnny Damon 3 days later.
I strongly doubt any MLB team or agent is listening to Yankee fan hype when gauging a player’s value to their own team/contract.
Can we please agree that the Yankees have no power to effect prospect rankings by Baseball America, Fangraphs, and whoever ;presents their top 100 lists? Mateo was not a product of Yankee hype. Neither was Slade. Refsnyder was definitely the “the little engine” that we rooted for and had some aspirations to become a solid player.
Of course they don’t have any bearing on them.
But readers of MLBTR had to endure Yankee fans putting Refsnyder as a headliner in packages for top-shelf players. I don’t exaggerate when I say they treated him like a future hall-of-famer.
Of all the teams out there, the Yankees should know that prospects fail at high rates, and yet, they still think that they can acquire top-of-the-line talent for unproven commodities.
Larger fan base, higher probability to get views/clicks, yea I would say that the Yankees have a passive way of affecting ranking lists.
You mean the still 22 year old prospect @ AAA that ALL 3 MAJOR prospect lists had listed inside their top 50-100 rankings? You refer to him as if he’s some 27 year old flamed out prospect?
I also find it funny that Mancada hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in his 366 PA. I’m not saying he won’t be or star or that he isn’t seen as a better prospect but it’s hilarious how you view the two.
You left off that he is slugging .212 with wRC+ of 5. Yes, FIVE. If he were 27, he’d at least be a AAAA player.
Hahaha….he’s played in all of 21 games and at age 22 is one of the youngest players at the AAA level. To see him as a failed prospect is laughable,
Francisco Mejia. Higher rated prospect. Same age as Mateo, Struggling JUST as bad as Mateo thus far. Is he no longer a prospect? Is he part of the Indians hype? Get real bro. See past your hate.
Bob Nutting and the Pirates front office must be so upset about the Pirates being in first place since “they don’t want to win”.
A team that wanted to win would have kept that .200 hitter who can’t play CF to play CF and bat third for them. Clearly.
I see no scenario in which Kyle Crick and Bryan Reynolds contribute more to this year’s Pirates team than Andrew McCutchen would have.
So, you’d want a .200 hitter who can’t play CF playing CF and hitting third in the order, which is what would have had to happen to feed his ego?
Marte is playing great defense and hitting well in the 3 hole and Corey Dickerson has been worth more fWAR than Bryce Harper so far, but sure…they’d be so much better with Cutch cuz…something, something, Nutting’s Wallet.
He’s mostly been playing RF for the Giants and as Ninth 3 Year Plan pointed out, his stats will look different come the end of the season. On top of all that, Crick is just a meh reliever and Reynolds isn’t in the Majors yet. I fail to see how they help the Pirates now more than McCutchen would have.
Bottom line, you don’t trade your face of the franchise if you are trying to win.
Cutch whined and pouted when asked to play RF here. Multiple articles have been written by different reporters about how much better the clubhouse is this year vs. the last two.
And if you’d rather have an outfield of Marte, the worst defensive CF in the league for 2 straight years who is batting .200, Polanco instead of Dickerson, Marte, Polanco because of name value and what a guy used to be able to do, so be it…that’s some Yinzeriffic logic.
1. He’s playing RF now.
2. He won’t be batting .200 when all is said and done.
3. That trade made the Pirates worse for 2018 no matter how you try to spin it.
I think that’s unfair to make it seem like Cutch was a clubhouse problem. Also, when you have a locker room full of nobodys who are trying to come into their own and have no pressure to succeed then yeah, you may have a locker full of happy go lucky people because there’s no vet to demand anything of them.
Please, I could careless about the Pirates but I hate to see ppl turn Cutch into some bad guy just because he’s passionate and wants to win.. The trade made sense for both sides but Cutch never demanded a trade and wanted to stay and compete.
Haha nice
Holy small sample size Batman!
Cutch’s worst month by far in his career is April….He’s been drawing a lot of walks, just not quite barreling up pitches yet but he will. so don’t fret bucco fans, by September he’ll be in the 4-ish fWAR range & the pirates will still be bad and poor.
Cutch will be traded again at the deadline when the Giants are 4th in the NL West.
Preller days are numbered and he can’t be jettisoned any faster than yesterday