I'm stepping in for MLBTR founder and owner Tim Dierkes on this week's MLB Mailbag. It's a deadline-heavy edition this week, with questions on the Reds' outlook, Frankie Montas, Jonathan India, the Red Sox, Tarik Skubal, Pete Alonso's future, the 2024 draft, the concept of non-contending clubs using the deadline to buy pieces for the 2025 season, the Dodgers' growing list of needs, the Cubs' uncertain status, and more! Let's get into it.
Matthew H. asks:
No Reds in the Top 50 trade candidates? Was there any consideration to the front office tendency to stand pat in July or was that just the way the names fell?
We'll definitely do at least one more update to our top trade candidates list -- possibly two. The Reds could factor more prominently onto a future version, but as of right now, they're only three games out of the Wild Card hunt in the National League. They're in a key group of borderline contenders -- along with teams like the Cubs, Pirates, Giants and Rangers -- whose deadline fate hinges on how the first few games of the second half shake out. A nine-game road trip to play the Nats, Braves and Rays (in that order) is going to be a major factor.
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This deadline would go from decent sized to huge if skubal gets traded
Is there an innings limit on him like crochet?
I think he would have to be monitored a bit and perhaps skip a few starts but nothing like Crochet.
Skubal for Holiday. I want to see that deal happen.
Its going to take more than just Holiday to acquire Skubal. He’s a great prospect, but Skubal is doing it in the Majors now.
6 and a half years vs 2 and a half years. And those first few years of Holiday are dirt cheap. Those years are extremely valuable. If he has a Glyeber Torres like career, and I think that’s selling him short, the Tigers would win the deal.
Until Holiday can prove his MLB value, the 6 years mean little.
Until Holiday can prove his MLB value, the 6 years mean little.
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That’s like saying ‘let’s wait until Apple hits $250 before buying’. If you wait until Holiday has an .850 OPS and a GG, you won’t get him at any price, let alone just Skubal.
The Tigers need to win a trade for once. Their MiLB players are beginning to crack the lineup. I doubt Tarik Skubal will be traded unless the Tigers are absolutely blown away in the extreme otherwise they have nothing to gain or lose by trading Skubal.
If the Tigers keep Skubal and the team doesn’t win anything between now and the end of 2026 they would lose.
Crochet does have innings limit the second half no matter where he goes. We will be pitching in relief somewhere.
What’s the article say about the Cuhs?
That’s confidential information.
The Mets will have to drop 9-10 straight to deal Alonso and, no, they will not re-sign him. Not at the easiest position on the diamond to fill, not when the Angels or Rockies will offer 5/135m, and not with Vientos hitting the way he has—though his 10 cent head plays better at 3B than it does at 1B.
Can’t anyone teach that stump to stop bouncing up and down AS THE PITCH IS BEING THROWN???
—Still, if the Mets can somehow get a 50 FV prospect for Alonso, they should move him no matter how many 10 year old Mets fans stamp their feet and cry.