Click here to read a transcript of Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
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Click here to read a transcript of Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
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The Phillies aren’t that close to contending, and honestly don’t see Middleton going over the tax.
I don’t keep up on the Phils but they were in it almost till the end when they mucked it. They easily had the path to get to the playoffs, at which point anything can and does happen. Who honestly thought a couple of months ago that the Braves would win?
The Phillies weren’t in “it.” They were potentially in on winning the weakest division in baseball. That was it. “It” is a world championship and everyone knows the Phillies weren’t going to do that. The reason the Braves won is because they became a totally different team after the trade deadline. The Braves won at least 2 out of every 3 games once the trade deadline passed due to their mid-season acquisitions. Rosario was incredible and won NLCS MVP. Soler was good and won World Series MVP. The Phillies were basically the same team they were all season. All they did was add a couple pitchers who didn’t do much. Assuming the Phillies could win because the Braves won (or that “anything can happen in the playoffs”) would be a mistake. The Braves won because of their late season additions. The Phillies would have lost because of their lack of good late season additions. The Braves were basically 2 different teams this season. The Phillies were only one team and it was very similar to the Braves pre-deadline team. Unimpressive and incapable of winning it all. If the Braves didn’t make the moves they made they wouldn’t have won it either. But they did. And they won. And the Phillies didn’t. And they didn’t win. Next time trade for Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler instead of Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy. Only then can “anything happen.”
I have to correct you a bit. The Phillies, like the Braves, were a much better team in the 2nd half. At one point, the Phils won 11 in a row before losing Hoskins to injury. But the Braves were significantly better, and the Phillies were not going anywhere in the playoffs. You’re right about that part.
FREE MICKEY MONIAK…..Sign Marte to play CF and just hand him LF…
They aren’t far from contention now, but the Braves are better and the Mets are pretty much at the Phillies level. The Phillies don’t necessarily need to go over the tax, but I think now would be a good time.
If you have to go over the tax just to make the playoffs someone needs to held accountable.
They already held a number of people accountable. New GM. New manager. New staff.
The White Sox aren’t eating money/taking back a bad contract to move Kimbrel if his value was that low they would have declined his option.
I just don’t believe the Tigers will commit more than $50 million to the shortstop position this off-season. I think they are going to be prudent and wait to see if Kreidler pans out. Even with a Correa, they likely wont advance past a DS, and even that will require a lot of answered prayers.
I do see them signing a #1 or #2 starter. I do not believe that it will be Verlander though. Avila isn’t in a secure enough position to take on that type of risk .
Be nice if subscribers got a heads up email a few hours before a chat. Just sayin’…..
This is MLBTR’s. I doubt they know a few hours ahead of time of a chat.
I get a feeling they are sitting in the basement playing video games and they think… “Hey, wasn’t I supposed to do something today?”
Well, Steve has mentioned
“stuff came up.”
LOL
The writers have already explained the chats can’t be scheduled in advance for specific days/times because whenever news breaks the columns take priority over the chats. Be thankful they are squeezing in chats whenever they can.
Steve! “…..New GM locks himself in office, sobs in corner.”
Oh man, I REALLY did laugh out loud!
Thanks!