Among the many trade proposals being tossed around behind the scenes, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter links) hears that the Twins have been approached about dealing Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar in the same trade, while teams interested in Zach Britton have also asked the Orioles about a larger deal involving Dylan Bundy or Kevin Gausman. Rosenthal is doubtful either scenario takes place, as Baltimore may not be looking to deal from its rotation and, more generally, teams usually prefer to deal players individually rather than package together several trade chips in a single blockbuster move. In regards to the Twins, Rosenthal speculates that the Brewers could have been the team who asked about the multi-player deal — Milwaukee has the most glaring need of any contender for middle infield help, and the Brew Crew has been connected to both Dozier and Escobar in reports.
Here’s more on some completed, and perhaps potential, trades as we approach the deadline…
- Though an oblique strain sent Michael Fulmer to the DL on Friday, at least one team still has some trade interest in the Tigers right-hander, a rival scout for the mystery team told The Athletic’s Emily Waldon (Twitter link). Much depends, obviously, on how quickly Fulmer is able to return from the injury, as he wouldn’t be able to pitch in the postseason for any club that acquired him after August 31. I’d think that unless Fulmer makes an unusually speedy recovery, the Tigers would prefer to wait until the offseason so they could gain full value for what might be their best trade asset. The Athletics can probably be ruled out as the team still in on Fulmer, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link) notes that the A’s had “some interest,” though that was prior to the injury news.
- Mets assistant GM John Ricco discussed his team’s trade of closer Jeurys Familia to the A’s while speaking with reporters (including the New York Post’s Zach Braziller) today, saying that the Mets felt they would’ve received a worse return for a rental player like Familia had they waited longer for a deal. The fact that Oakland was willing to take on the remainder of Familia’s contract wasn’t a major factor, as Ricco said the Mets are willing and able to take on salary in other trades. “We made the judgment the talent level for eating money wasn’t going to be there, so we decided to do the [Familia] deal where we moved the money,” Ricco said.
- Ricco’s explanation notwithstanding, the Familia trade has drawn criticism for the relatively small return (two minor prospects and $1MM in international bonus money) the Mets received, particularly with so many teams looking for bullpen help. Sources from rival teams interested in Familia told The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) that they didn’t know why the Mets didn’t approach them one final time to give them a chance to top Oakland’s offer.
- More favorable reviews were given to the Manny Machado deal between the Orioles and Dodgers, from front office executives and scouts surveyed by Baseball America. Speaking anonymously, the evaluators spoke positively about the five-prospect package Baltimore received for Machado, particularly since [which could also go to the Mets’ logic on dealing Familia when they did] rental players have become harder to move in the modern trading climate. “For a rental these days, getting [Yusniel] Diaz and [Dean] Kremer was good in my opinion. In general I don’t see teams sacrificing top talent for two-plus months (of a big league player),” one American League front office official said.
The Mets didn’t approach then again because they’re the worst organization in sports
I think the Browns have them beat.
At least Cleveland ponied up to grab Landry
Maybe the old Browns, but ever since John Dorsey got hired the Browns have actually seemed to resemble a quality organization (also as a Browns fan I’m tired of hearing comments like that)
All the evidence says the opposite. It’s hard to mess up a first overall pick and aside from that the browns haven’t changed anything enough to be classified as improving. They have been the worst run team in (major) American sports for decades. It really doesn’t change anything that you don’t like it.
You can’t judge the first overall pick as being bad before he steps on the field, none of those Qb’s are a sure thing and they took the one they thought fit their team best.
As they do every year.
The Mets didn’t make on more pass through the other teams that had been interested for one simple reason:
The Three Stooges share a family plan on their cellphone and two of the three used up their July minutes around the All-Star game as they were busy looking for another job.
Just barely. The Browns actually had a decent to good draft. The Mets…well…they are The Mets.
The Browns will win a Super Bowl before the Mets win another World Series
Oohhhh gimme that action
Meh, it wasn’t all THAT long ago, that they were a very competitive team..Don’t think they’re the worst, they are just terrible at managing and preventing injuries, and obviously not so good at the whole trading thing..lol
However, if they can get a really talented Int’l prospect with that bonus money, then maybe the trade doesn’t look so lopsided..
Didn’t the Mets just make it to the world series a few years ago? Clearly you aren’t very old.
as a mets fan, i can confirm this to be true.
i hope you guys have pity on us. so many of us truly love the sport and team and are continually disappointed and embarrassed. it really sucks.
Hey Francis. Many of us are rooting for NY to have a respectable NL team so that true rivalries can be rekindled.
Turn your disappointment and embarrassment into positive action by joining the Mets boycott.
-no more ticket purchases
-ban watching SNY
Post on social media demanding that the commissioner grab control back under the “best interests of baseball clause”.
Otherwise it will really suck as there is more drama ready to be delivered.
Not sure if you’ve looked st Baltimore recently. They’re on pace to be one of the worst teams in the MLB since 1900. They can’t develop pitching, they drafted a defense-first SS in the first round.
Angelos is an awful owner. They matched Bonilla’a contract with the davis contract. The only truly good players they’ve developed in recent years are machado and Britton. The Mets have Thor, degrom, Rosario, familia. Baltimore lost 14 consecutive seasons. I’m so tired of Bee Yorkers that think the Mets are the worst in the world because they try to compare themselves to the Yankees. The Mets are bad, but they’re FAR from the worst franchise in sports, let alone baseball.
Rosario isn’t very good
the mets are bottom 5 in the following – owners, front office, management
team, scouting, minor leagues, prospects, major league ready talent, age,
defense………….tell me when to stop
Hey Fred-what don’t you get?
Noah’s mysterious infection after hurting himself last month swinging too hard?
Or
Cespedes’ return from his two plus month DL stint to share that his previously secret) foot problems may require 8-10 months rehab AFTER surgery.
Why has he wasted the past two months? Why wasn’t surgery scheduled two months ago?
Of course I know—the Mets wanted him to play in a LOST season.
There’s no where near the drama in Baltimore. Stop picking on them and start comparing the Mets to AnY and ALL major market teams.
They are the worst franchise!
The Mets seem to be forever limited by the fact that owners lost a ton in the Madoff crime, And are completely hesitant to spend much money despite being in the top market in the country. Even if they beat their cross town rivals in two games at their place it doesn’t make them the dominant team in the city by any means
Maddoff was a decade ago. If they couldn’t recover in this much time then they must sell the team. It’s no excuse for their incompetence. They could give a flying – – – – about pride and winning.
Really? Everyone around here has been saying it’s the Orioles that’s the worst. Glad to see someone recognizes that the Orioles are just badly run, not historically poorly run.
It’s getting harder and harder to be an A’s fan when skimming trade rumors of the source is from the Athletic site and not the Athletics’ site.
Same, it makes it so frustrating.
Yeah I’ve been thinking that must be really annoying.
Honestly, I find it hard to criticize the Mets’ return for Familia when I believe they got a better haul than the Royals did for Herrera.
The way I look at it, Wahl seems likely to help them at the major league level with the ceiling of a set-up man, and the floor of a taxi guy who can help soak up innings in this lost season. I don’t see either of the core 2 guys in the Herrera deal being any more than emergency call-ups.
While Toffey isn’t great, I’d probably rather have him than either of them too
I honestly didn’t love the returns for either of them but I probably like Blake Perkins the most out of any of the prospects in those two deals so I’d have to give the edge to the Royals because of that
The excuse given by the Mets made things clear that the organization needs a new GM and clean out the front office, starting with the three dudes currently running the baseball side. Mets allowed Beane to pull off a heist.
This is ownership’s mess. Not a Wilpon’s fan at all. The current situation has the looks of a very ugly outcome for Mets fans. (as if we haven’t had it bad enough,lol). The front office needs a single definitive voice/person with a plan. 3 people means, 3 possibly different opinions,. 3 different opinions leaves the door wide open for a lack of accountability from any 1 of them in. I see so much that can go wrong with this 3 headed approach and not much that can go right. Yes, i understand these are career executives. From what i understand, at least two of them are trying to prove or want to be the GM cause they may not have a job here next year. I still question the timing of this deal and feel that this current regime should not be allowed by ownership or MLB to trade any assets under control past this season. A definitve person in charge for better or for worse (hopefully better lol) is what’ll make this mets fan more comfortable in that front office.
Cause I have no faith at all in the current setup….just sayin’
Alright let’s not go nuts. This wasn’t Andersen for Bagwell or anything. “Heist” is not an apt word for what happened here. First of all, it implies the Mets were somehow fooled or tricked into completing this deal, rather than just being bad at baseball operations. Second, Jeurys Familia is a good reliever but not any kind of automatic. He is prone to streaks where he looks utterly lost on the mound. There’s a reason you don’t hear him mentioned in the same breath as Kimbrel, Jansen, Chapman, and it’s the same reason even a competent front office wouldn’t fetch a whole lot more than the Mets did for him.
He isn’t a top 3-4 reliever, but he’s been consistently in the top 6-8 for the last 3-4+ years. The Mets definitely sold too early. He has better #’s out there than any rental or 1yr remaining guy besides Soria…who clubs don’t see as enthusiastic about, despite solid #’s.
Where were these mystery teams before the Oakland deal? Sounds like sour grapes, now that he’s been traded. Maybe they won’t low ball their offers next time. Maybe they just didn’t think he was worth more than Oakland paid this time. There are quite a few relievers on the market and I would guess that there will not be enough buyers for them all. It’s not fair to judge this deal until the deadline.
Hey styme—the Wilpon’s want you to join their front office. Fred read your post and commented, “This guy checks off all the boxes. We have the same management philosophy, as exemplified by his comment, “I would guess”. That’s how all of our decisions are made. Pure guess. Too many clubs over use statistical analysis. We just shoot from the hip with our fingers crossed”.
b-rar – the Mets weren’t tricked. They have Beane’s buddy in their front office helping out the A’s. The Britton deal validated what I said. Yes it’s not Andersen for Bagwell or Alexander for Smoltz or Boddicker for Schilling etc…it was a deal bordering on collusion between two friends.
Hey Tim-the Mets fans that are still posting comments like B-rar are still in denial.
Ready?
They didn’t have to make the trade when they did.
They didn’t make the rounds one final time to see if they could get an improved offer.
This is the Mets way.
Consistently incompetent.
Always counter intuitive.
Amazing smiles when you bring up the teams’ news.
Pretty interesting to trade for both parts of a double play combo that are already comfortable together.
They have played some as a SS/2B combo, but Escobar has been playing mostly at third base these last two years in Miguel Sanó’s place. Eduardo definitely is better at 3B than SS, but he’s not bad wherever he’s played in the infield, which is part of his real value for a team. Plus, he’s a great clubhouse guy. Anyone who gets him will be getting a quality player. Pity that the Twins didn’t extend him in the off-season.
Ah that’s right he’s been mostly at third. Still with his offense, Eduardo would be a major upgrade for the Brewers even with passable defense at short.
I’m betting he’d be better than Machado defensively at SS.
Im surprised teams interested in someone like Dozier isnt interested in someone like Starlin Castro. All trade talks on him have been quiet since heading to Miami, and here i thought Miami would flip him before the season started. Now no ones interested in him? Hes been putting up some good numbers
Agreed, but it seems that most contenders are set at 2B, just not a huge market. Milwaukee is only a fringe contender and they are awful, like below replacement level awful at 2B/SS/C they also have a bad starting rotation. I can’t recall a team even making the postseason without at least ONE ace, TOR type.
O’s made it to the playoffs without an ace, but they did have an elite bullpen to make up for it.
Couple questions for you: are you talking about the starting rotation with the 5th best era in baseball? Who was the ace on the Rockies last year? Why do you only consider the Brewers “fringe contenders” when they are currently in the first Wild Card spot? Is it because you’re a Cubs fan? Or just a jerk? Is there a difference?
Or maybe they just have a track record of fast starts and deep slides because of how they are consistently managed…..
That’s true, but I think any non-Cubs fan would agree that they are a solid postseason contender at least right now.
Omg it’s such a blue ball when you click on the article hoping to hear the Dodgers progressing in trade talks and picking up bullpen arms but instead seeing a quick comment about an already finished trade the Dodgers have made.
Anyone think the Twins could get Keibert Ruiz for Ryan Pressly and Addison Reed?
No.
Ruiz is 90% likely untouchable
The idea of the Twins packaging Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar in the same deal is actually not a bad plan. Given that the club has zero leverage at this point, there’s no arguing that they’d be able to get a maximum return for dealing them both to the same trade partner. The rub, however, is that if Minnesota dealt Dozier and Escobar separately, they’d likely get back a couple mid-level prospects in each deal. Thus, if they were to package them together in the same transaction, they’d unquestionably need to get a top prospect (and probably a mid-level prospect or two) back in the deal. If there’s no top prospect (and I’m talking a Top 3 organizational prospect from whomever they trade with), then Falvey and Levine shouldn’t bother packaging them.
They’re both rentals…machado didn’t even bring the dodgers best prospect and he is light years better than these two.
Good luck with that.
Given Milwaukee’s situation in the standings I could see them “overpaying” for Escobar/Dozier.
If not Peralta, then maybe Medeiros, Filiciano, and Gatewood.
They’re not shipping out peralta for either of those two. They won’t ship out a prospect as good as Brett Phillips for them.
Maybe in the Doug Melvin days we would have. Show me in the David sterns era where we have overpaid on a trade. Sterns values the farm and won’t gut it for rentals. The idea is to be competitive in the long term…not just 1 year.
What possible return could the Tigers get in the offseason for Fulmer? Even though he continues to tantalize with his potential, so much for him has been trending the wrong way for a second straight year: WHIP, FIP, xFIP, GB%, BB%, RA9-WAR, among others. It would be selling low to trade him in the offseason, since no one is going to empty out the top of their farm system for a pitcher with his flagging results. Better to hang onto him and see if he can produce ace results next year.
Michael Fulmer to NYY for Clint Frazier and Tyler Wade.
lol. Maybe if Fulmer was coming of TJS or similar, but he is still a young and controllable arm. He has regressed, but his floor is probably a #3-#4, which still has a lot of value bc of his cheap contract. DET would do best to hold onto him and hope he turns it around.
The Mets would trade back Ces straight up…but something tells me DET may not jump at that offer…lol.
Twins fans want to get rid of Lance Lynn. The Yankees want to get rid of Sonny Gray.
Let’s swap, and, even though Gray hasn’t been very good this year, he costs only half as much.
Now, if the Yankees pay the remainiingsalary difference, and throw in a very minor trade chip as incentive, I think it’s worth their time to improve their starting rotation a little. And it shouldn’t matter to the Twins at this point to get a little worse. Meanwhile, I expect pitchers would benefit from a change of scenery.
Why would you swap lance Lynn for sonny gray if you’re the Yankees? They’ve both been terrible and one of them costs more. Gray is a bounce back candidate on an affordable deal while Lynn is a poor performing upcoming FA. I think the twins would be the one throwing in a small prospect piece to make that happen.
Lynn has been better if you don’t count his late-to-the-party “Spring Training” month of April. But you’re right. I didn’t see that Gray still had an Arbitration Year left. Twins would have to pick up Lynn’s larger salary in a trade. I still think Lynn would do better than Gray for the Yankees.
Everyone calling Machado a rental and for the most part that’s true, but he’s happy in LA LA land, making friends, enjoying the weather. The odds are high he’ll resign with the Dodgers
Don’t fool yourself Machado will go to the highest bidder not where he likes playing. Dodgers will be in the mix but every time some team throws ungodly money at a player and they take it.
The odds? Where’s your link to him saying it’s his dream to play for a certain team?
Well that’s interesting considering all the games he’s played for the Dodgers so far were in Milwaukee.
He is happy in LA? Has he even been there yet? Oh what is he does not like the smog or traffic or being on the West Coast? He is from Florida after all. I guess those same odds makers can say he will not stay.
Who knows where he signs. But I do know this. He IS a rental. He will NOT sign an extension with LAD. That makes him a rental. They can bid on him in free agency like everyone else.
Maybe when the team flies from Milwaukee to Philly then Atlanta this week Machado can enjoy even more of the LA weather he likes so much. What he had to love was getting on a plane last week that took him from a last place to a first place team.
Machado wants to go to Yankees he made that clear. I hate the Yankees, lol.
I am hearing Red Sox about to get Dozier for Bryan Mata. Anyone else hear this?