Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer turned in a terrific performance Thursday in a win over the Tigers, striking out 10 and yielding three earned runs on five hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. Despite Bauer’s importance to the playoff-contending Indians, his name has been frequently bandied about in trade rumors this summer. As a result, Thursday could’ve been one of his last starts as a member of the Tribe. Asked after the game if the rumors have been on his mind, Bauer told Mandy Bell of MLB.com and other reporters: “Nope. Don’t think about it.” Notably, though, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti did address the team regarding the deadline “to make sure no one was blindsided by any discussions, especially Bauer,” Bell writes.
- The Tigers’ Nicholas Castellanos is likely a more realistic trade candidate than Bauer, but the right fielder suggested Thursday he’s not fully convinced a deal will come together before the deadline. Castellanos said (via Chris McCosky of the Detroit News) that “I wouldn’t be shocked if I don’t get traded. Everybody thought I’d get traded last trade deadline. Everybody thought I’d get traded this offseason. There were people who thought I’d get traded in spring training.” With an extension between the non-contending Tigers and Castellanos appearing to be out of the question, it’s highly probable the team will part with him this month unless there’s no interest from elsewhere. Regardless, Castellanos indicated to McCosky that he has made peace with whatever happens and is more focused on what happens on the field, where he has been on an offensive tear of late.
- Angels first baseman Albert Pujols exited the team’s game Thursday with left hamstring tightness, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register was among those to report (Twitter links). It doesn’t seem like an issue that’s going to lead to an IL stint, though, as manager Brad Ausmus said afterward Pujols will miss a small amount of time or none at all. The Hall of Fame-bound 39-year-old has appeared in 76 games this season and hit .243/.306/.439 (96 wRC+) with 14 home runs in 314 plate appearances.
- Thursday was the one-year anniversary of the Orioles-Dodgers blockbuster that sent former O’s franchise player Manny Machado to Los Angeles. Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun revisits the swap in a piece focusing on outfield prospect Yusniel Diaz, the headlining part of the Orioles’ five-player return. Diaz didn’t log great production with Baltimore’s Double-A affiliate after the trade last year, and he told Meoli via an interpreter he felt “a lot of pressure” trying to make good on the trade. That pressure has died down, though, and Diaz is now having a better season than last as a member of the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate. The 22-year-old has progressed with the help of Double-A hitting coach Keith Bodie, as Meoli details in his piece.
First
Your trophy is in the mail.
bauer is gone. hope they end up getting a good haul for him.
Would love to see him in a big park in the NL…that profile would go really well in Chavez Ravine
The “ace” gave up 3 runs to a AAA team.
Easy there Matt Boyd booster….
Boyd is Detroit’s ace… he’d be a number 5 on almost every other team.
Bauer is not their “ace”, but on this night with the ball traveling well he made 2 bad pitches that led to all 3 runs, outside of that he was his usual bull, throwing 120 pitches and giving them a chance to get the W.
What makes this guy tick will serve him well with whoever acquires him in a trade down the stretch, he’ll deliver like Sabathia did when he went to Milwaukee.
Melchez that is absolutely not true about Boyd being a #5 on any other team..Boyd would be 4SP on LAD and possibly Wash (Cleveland when healthy) but besides them
A 3SP or higher on any other team.
Trading your ace in the middle of a playoff push? I’m gonna go with “no.”
but a pending arbitration of probably 20 million does put him in the trade category!!
Not until after the season. By the way, if they trade Bauer his production will just have to be replaced. And doing that will cost a lot more than $20m.
Is Bauer a pending Free Agent?? Either way, the Cardinals could sure use him! Although, he would probably help more the next 2 seasons rather than this season. The Cardinals President of baseball operations has the Cardinals really screwed up with dead money contracts, playing and signing Aging Cardinal past hero’s, past their production years, to high dollar extensions which hurt the teams production for 2019. Plus the fact Mozeliak rarely, if ever acquirers impact players at the July trading deadline to try to make a World Series contending team. Heck, he won’t even look at acquiring an impact player in July to even try to make a wild card team!!! Bottom line, the Cardinals would be a positively better starting pitching staff for now and in the future.
Trade away your #2 pitcher for what? What are Indians going to get in return that’s going to better their chances to make the playoffs.
Who’s on 2nd?
Is Pujols HOF bound? You think voters think he was 100% steroid clean his whole career? Genuinely curious what people think…
100 WAR at 1B and no credible link to roids. I’m not going to speculate on whether he did or didn’t. There’s no credible info out on him so saying he did would be no more than just a guess for a guy who tore it up while others were using roids.
He’s an absolute lock.
Yeah, you may be right jbigz… now, aside from that, do you believe he’s been 100% roid clean his whole career? 13th round pick out of Maple Woods community college, suddenly in 37 homers 130 RBI in the majors a year and a half later…
Or buying into Jack Clark’s statement about him. Which is a comment from a conversation he claims to have had w his trainer. He doesn’t have a firsthand account of Pujols doing it or anything. That’s not nearly enough to keep him out of the hall of fame. Piazza is in there w worse( and more) accusations than that.
Yeah but I think we all kinda know Piazza was dirty
Jibigz I don’t think I disagree with you. I don’t believe he was clean in MLB, maybe ever until the last handful of years. And hard evidence is unnecessary, but I don’t know that there’s enough to keep him out, even if there should be. I do think David Ortiz is no sure thing, but there’s more evidence against him, and getting shot will unfortunately probably help him get in.
Yeah, I think perception is reality and Pujols definitely has perception on his side. I agree with you on Ortiz as well. Like I said, I can’t speculate here. You see those kind of numbers from a guy in that era who wasn’t supposed to be anything and it’s always going to be a question in the back of your mind. But that question just isn’t close to enough to keep him out.
Sure. I think we all probably have a pretty good idea he was dirty. It’s a matter of if it’s enough to keep him out. I would, but I think in reality it may not be.
@bencole so with your logic pujols ability to hit for average and power while not striking out that often and the first thing you think is roids? So with that same logic should we assume that accuna is also on roids because he signed for like 50k and was a virtual nobody until he started dominating the minors? Lol people need to grow have a brain here, some players are just unnoticed talent and teams luck out just look at vlad guererro, dude had to try out just to make the team…
Sure, so yes unusual variances in performance should cause you to take a longer look at someone. It doesn’t mean they’re guilty, but yes you should look harder. I do believe that testing wasn’t nearly as effective back then, and that it would be harder to get away with it now. Pujols also came from an era where we pretty much know guys could beat the early years testing, Ryan Howard’s 2006 should show us that testing could be beaten then, just one example. Somewhere around 2012-2013 the number disparities largely disappeared. About that time Pujols performance substantially deteriorated too, and it was right after he sighed his monster contract. Guys would be much less likely to risk it after signing a deal which covered much of the rest of their career for huge money. I’m not saying we know, but I think the probability is pretty high. I don’t believe Pujols ever played a clean game in the majors until at least 2011-2013 somewhere.
Don’t act mindless here. That’s not an apples to apples comparison. Pujols did the brunt of his damage in an era where steroid use wasn’t uncommon nor was it tested for like today. In today’s game it’s virtually impossible to do roids for any significant length of time and not get popped.
There has been a rumor about Pujols. Nothing concrete and certainly nothing that will keep him out of the Hall. But, let’s not make this out to be something else. Like I said before, I’m not going to speculate on his situation based on an unfounded rumor. Not my place to do so. He managed to keep his name off the lists.
People think Piazza was dirty, but don’t know. Pudge on the other hand…
NO evidence on Pujols. Like Thome, some guys just are really big. Unlike Bonds, they were always that way.
Ortiz was getting in anyway, despite the PED’s, not sure why, but….he was. The shooting cements it.
Piazza? Don’t forget Pudge…
Bagwell got in, Bonds should be in. Yes Bagwell used a substance (Andro) that wasn’t banned. Bonds used a substance that wasn’t banned at the time of alleged use. Now that the BBWAA opened that door with the Bagwell induction, they can let everyone in.
come on really… Bonds was huge into roids. Look at the body change. should he be a HOFamer… In my eyes no and neither should Clemens!! If they get in then so should Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose and make the HOF a joke
Yeah I think we all know that Bonds wasn’t taking baseball-legal supplements, and I doubt Bagwell was either. How much evidence one needs to keep someone out is largely subjective, HOF is a privilege, it’s not like suspending someone and not letting them work. I, for one, would not let anyone in who did it, and the fact that a few guys likely slipped through the cracks like Bagwell, Piazza, Randy Johnson, Biggio wouldn’t deter me from keeping one out on circumstantial evidence.
Rumors are nothing but rumors. Obviously the ones making these ridiculous comments know nothing because Pujols is the same guy who gave up his protein drinks because he thought that it might lead to a dirty test. Do your research before making ridiculous assumptions.
Pete willingly signed a lifetime ban, and has continuously lied until it comes time to sell a book and/or make from from it. Tune in for his next book when he really opens up…
You really think it’s ridiculous that Pujols did steroids? I mean, obviously you’re a Cardinals fan, but seriously? Look, no one’s saying there is hard evidence, but come on… what are the chances he was always clean? 10%? I wouldn’t even put them that high.
And who said he gave up protein drinks? Pujols himself? Come on… coho be true, could be just setting a cover in case he failed a test soon after, could be unrelated… but that kind of a statement isn’t evidence that he clean.
*could be true
Clark apologized and recanted.
^^^
Pujols has had a career arch that appears one would expect without PED use.
David Ortiz has not.
Jeff Kent has not.
I strongly feel two out of three of those players used roids, guess which two.
Well, I think Kent didn’t, he was among the ones that called Bonds out for it. Pujols career arch involved him going from a community college 13th rounder to hitting 37 HRS w 130 RBIs 18 months apart, I believe as a 21 year old. He also deteriorated immediately after he signed his last big contract and as testing became fairly effective.
1st ballot
Yes
Without a doubt he’s going in HOF on the first ballot. His stats are not just great they are elite. As for steroids, it’s just an opinion unless somebody is caught then apologizes of course after the fact. Logically seeing his numbers in his prime and the decline looks natural to me but honestly unless something is proven we will never know about any player. I would put him in the comparison to Griffey Jr. I see Ortiz in here, but where is Pettitte? He admitted to HGH and MLB network analysts say he is likely HOFer at some point, yet McGwire gets snubbed when he was using things legally when he was playing yet he’s not in? But back to Pujols he’s a lock first ballot in my opinion.
It sounds like you believe steroid guys should be in anyway, and that guys who did and there is hard evidence will eventually get in, and that that may be the reason you say yes. I disagree on both counts. I don’t think Pettite ever gets in, and Ortiz, if he does, is just because of a double standard. But I wouldn’t put anyone in that I saw as somewhat likely to have done it, so I guess that’s somewhat different fundamentally.
Regardless of cheating is Pettite even HoF caliber?
Bencole: No I do not think steroid guys should get in. If proven a player cheated I believe he should never be in the HOF. My point on McGwire was just that he tested positive or admitted to using legal substances before they were banned by the MLB. I do not think it is fair to exclude players from the HOF for not doing anything against the rules or just “thinking” a player took substances.
I don’t think he is HOF caliber, but hear and read it often which is why I posted it.
Well he did play most of his career in NY, and between there and Boston the bias is tremendous.
I agree if it was legal they’re good. But no one thinks all Big Mac was doing was Andro. I’ve been in the locker room w Andro rampant. It does weird things but it doesn’t do that
Yes….Pujols is a clean future HOF candidate. First rounder. That is if he retires at the end of this contract. I’d hat to see him play after his current contract and make a fool of himself like Willie Mays did in his last year of playing baseball. I remember being at the All-Star game in Kansas City in the 70’s. Willie Mays came to the plate as a New York Mets. He struck out swinging and fell down after his swing. I felt so sorry for him. Such a legendary player. Making a horrible mistake of playing that one more year!!!
Yeah, sorry, no one knows for sure but I’m not just going to assume a guy is innocent because there’s no hard evidence, especially if his statistical patterns suggest it may be true. We’re not trying a guy fit a crime here, or suspending him from work. The HOF is facially a subjective inquiry, so I don’t think it has that standard of proof.
So you don’t believe in presumption of innocence?
I’m a lawyer. Of course I do, in crimes and work related suspensions. Not in a subjective HOF ejection. I don’t do criminal law but if I did I’d do defense. This is the difference between a right and a privilege. And MLBPA, as a union, acting on behalf of all of their players, deliberately screen transparency to the public on the 2003 tests. They have to live with the results of that.
I don’t think there is any plan for Pujols to continue after his current contract because after 2021 his 10 yr 10 million personal services contract with the angels kicks in. Plus if the rumors of him being 2 years older than he actually is are true, then he could be even worse the final year of his current contract.
Seriously… you want to tarnish the name of probably the second greatest hitter ever to the game with no proof? And before you argue the second greatest hitter ever… as of now only the second player in the history of baseball to be in the .300 career average, 600+ HRs, 3000+ hits, 2000+ RBI club. Name the other?
I’d imagine it’d have to be Willie Mays or ARod.
There’s been plenty of rumors about him. I’m clearly saying we’re speculating here, not saying for sure. Avoiding tarnishing someone’s name doesn’t mean you can’t wonder or talk about it or look for statistical evidence. Look, I said clearly, there’s no hard evidence, but there are several things there that make you want to take a second look. And baseball, including the players union that represents Pujols, has earned this level of suspicion.
Pujols isn’t even in the top 25 in career oWAR according to B-R
“Pujols isn’t even in the top 25 in career oWAR according to B-R”
Really.? So he’s not one of the top 25? They have him as the second best firstbaseman of all time. So you think the HOF is the only for the all-century team?
Seriously?
If I was a betting man, I’d wager Bauer stays with the Tribe for the remainder of this season, but gets moved in the off-season. I’m not sure they can afford him.
The Bauer game seems more of a good start than an excellent start
Um…. 3 earned runs in 6 2/3 is decidedly NOT a terrific performance. That equates to an ERA of 4.35. Your bar for terrific is way too low at mlbtr.
The Matt Boyd booster club strongly disagrees.
Your right Trim…Let’s talk about Stroman guys!!
I think despite his 7K/9 and approaching 1.30 whip he is a solid SP to trade for..
Given how the new MLB sanctioned baseball is artificially inflating numbers and altering the game, all steroid talk should now be obsolete. The MLB can’t pretend to hold the game to any standard of excellence when you alter the very way its played.
And the shift is artificially decreasing numbers.
Shift has been around as long as baseball has. This is just the first generation that can’t figure out to hit em where they ain’t.
Cleveland should trade for Castellanos, he would be relatively cheap, won’t cost major prospects and can slot into the dh role and bar 4th. Even upgrade to a package of Shane green and Castellanos would give Tribe’s fans hope of not only making the playoffs but competing well in them
No sure its even wise to trade Castellanos, if they offer him a qualifying offer and he declines then they will get a compensatory pick which could be far greater than what someone may trade him for!!
if they offer him a qualifying offer and he declines
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And if/when he accepts?
He would absolutely accept
I was thinking the same exact thing!
Congrats pujols you’re the goat when it comes to grounding into double plays
Yep, remember him for that…
When did you start watching baseball? With your asinine comment, I’m guessing last month?
king beas is right though, Pujols dominates in that category. nobody is even close to him in the history of baseball. that doesn’t mean he doesn’t also have excellent stats in other categories. It’s like calling Reggie Jackson the whiff king.
Congrats pujols you’re the goat when it comes to grounding into double plays
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Not really his fault. He should’ve been out of baseball 3-4 years ago, except for the LAA deciding that, in an era where no one produces after age 34, that Pujols wasn’t subject to the laws of nature and would continue to produce to age 41.
And I still remember arguing with LAA fans when they thought this was such a great deal.
AP is a lock for the HOF. Roids are just a rumor with no actual evidence. Eppler would be best served to get what ever they can for Calhoun at this point. He’s in the final yr of his contract, having his best power season, plays great defense, and is now going to be on the wrong side of 30 with a 14 million option, and Jo Adell waiting in the wings. They need pitching, if not for this year, definitely next.
Bonds Clemens both deserve hall.. AP defenitly gets in… Here’s the thing about baseball there was use of drugs like speed and cocaine done in locked room before games in the late 70s early 80s before that it was booze and morphine and before that opium . baseball is an old game and players are human and get paid to produce… It’s like if you work in a factory and your not supposed to sit down but every once and awhile u sit down for 10 min.. Technicly your a cheater because you ate doing somthing your co workers are not doing but in your defense sitting down for 10 min may help you produce more product and have more energy to get more work done.. No matter what sport or what it may be we all have cheated in one way or other why throw stones at the guys we pay to watch hit them homers or pitch 99 mph through 9 innings…
Ouch, your game mustn’t be English that people can follow.
“Bonds Clemens both deserve hall.”
They have stolen from fans, players and other teams. They have no honor and to be elected to the hall of fame is suppose to be an honor. They have none.
The word enshrine means::
place (a revered or precious object) in an appropriate receptacle.
Those two people are the antithesis of the word.
Pujols might have won a few more NL MVP awards Bonds cheated to be awarded
How is a 4.05 ERA on the day a “terrific performance?”
Since when is 3 ER in 6-2/3 IP a “terrific” performance? That equates to 4.05 ERA.
Interesting, the multiple user IDs gets exposed once again…
I can see that from Diaz’s perspective. He was the majority value sent back to the Orioles in the Dodgers trade. First taste of major league pressure even before he gets to the major leagues.
You know, there are times I’m frustrated as a Braves fan. I know when worthwhile FA’s come up the Braves won’t be spending the money to get them. But then I think of Indians fans and how they have had one of the top 2 pitching staffs for a few years now and just when ownership needs to pump some finances into the team they’re talking about trading pieces off.
Indians fans, I feel for you, and as a Braves fan I might be just like you in a few years.