With the trade deadline a matter of days away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Giants top prospect set to debut against top trade candidate:
Well-regarded Giants prospect Carson Whisenhunt is reportedly headed to the majors to take the ball in tonight’s start against the Pirates at 6:45pm local time in San Francisco. The 24-year-old Whisenhunt has posted a relatively pedestrian 4.42 ERA in 18 starts at Triple-A this year, but the inflated offensive environment found in the Pacific Coast League is at least partly to blame for that inflated figure. Whisenhunt is not yet on the 40-man roster, meaning the Giants will have to either trade away or designate someone for assignment before Whisenhunt’s start tonight unless the club transfers someone to the 60-day injured list.
Whisenhunt’s opponent will be well-regarded right-hander Mitch Keller, who sports a 3.53 ERA and is one of the league’s top trade candidates. The 29-year-old has been ultra-consistent this season, holding opponents to three or fewer runs in 18 of 21 starts. That includes a run of eight such starts in a row, during which he’s pitched to a pristine 2.59 ERA. Keller’s 18.7% strikeout rate this season is the second-lowest of his career, but his 5.8% walk rate is a career-best. He’s drawn interest from a variety of contenders and is affordably signed all the way through 2028. The Pirates aren’t necessarily dead-set on trading Keller, but tonight could still be his last start for the only team he’s known to this point in his career.
2. Lugo, Royals to finalize extension?
The Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo are reportedly finalizing an extension, but there has been no official announcement of the deal yet by Kansas City. Perhaps that’s set to come as soon as today. Assuming the extension is completed, it will remove the veteran right-hander from any trade conversations by re-asserting him as a key part of the Royals’ core. Lugo’s extension will be the latest move in an effort to surround Bobby Witt Jr. with a playoff-caliber supporting cast, joining other deals like those signed with Michael Wacha and Carlos Estevez this past winter. Lugo, the 2024 AL Cy Young runner-up, sports a 2.95 ERA in 19 starts this year.
3. Series Preview: Cubs @ Brewers
The Cubs and Brewers have been locked in a battle for the NL Central ever since Milwaukee’s surge toward the top of the standings that began last month. They’ll get the chance to face off for the first time since the Brewers’ win streak this week with a three-game set that begins at 6:40pm local time this evening. A pair of 2025 All-Stars will square off in Game 1, as veteran southpaw Matthew Boyd (2.20 ERA) takes on rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (2.45 ERA in six starts). Game 2 of the series will see Colin Rea (4.06 ERA) square off against Brewers righty Quinn Priester (3.28 ERA), while the series finale will pit Shota Imanaga (3.12 ERA in 14 starts) against Freddy Peralta (2.81 ERA). The winner of this series will come out on top of the NL Central, as the Cubs and Brewers are currently tied for the National League’s best record.
There are two types of fans who should be cheering for the Brewers tonight: Brewers fans and Cubs fans. A win for the Brewers gives them the division lead. It also might push Jed into doing something bold.
Something bold, yes please!
Giving five of the top 6 prospects for a moderate upgrade in the bullpen.
Bold and stupid.
Stupid moves should be avoided.
If we can’t get a deal that we win without giving up top prospects maybe we should do nothing. We have Tiallon, Asad and hodge coming back soon and if we need help on the bench they can call up caisse.
@bigblu: I agree in principle. But we have to be realistic about the talent of, for instance, Assad, Wicks, and even Taillon. They are not going to win an important game for us.
Big blue… Assad, Hodge and Taillon are NOT guys that will get them to October. Assad hasn’t pitched at all at the ML level this year- Hodge has looked horrible the last few times he was on the mound and who knows which Taillon they’ll get when he comes back. They need at least one strong starter- probly two, a solid BP arm and a way better bench bat than Turner. And they need to trade prospects to get em. Treading water ain’t gonna cut it if they’re serious about October.
You do realize that if Jed ravages the minor league talent that the Brewers will rule the NL Central next year and for the foreseeable future, don’t you? Milwaukee can grab a Quinn Priester out of Pawtucket, tweak his arsenal and turn him into a frontline starter. The Cubs would have to mortgage the future to land McKenzie Gore.
Cubbies need bullpen help. The team has fallen apart the past two seasons because the bullpen isn’t addressed. They don’t need Suarez, there is enough thump in the lineup. Gore is unrealistic anyway, but bullpen arms are what’s needed and a reasonable expectation.
Uh as a Cubs fan I’m fine with mortgaging the future for Gore?? Like yes please? Gore would be a no doubt Game 1 or 2 starter of a playoff series. And they’d have him for 2 more seasons after this. And come next year they’ll have Steele back so their rotation would be insane.
Sign me up please.
If not a tad Left Handed. Which would be a bad thing.
Gore is now off the market, according to Bob Nightengale.
Thank you both, Tim and JimO:
Jed already did ‘something BOLD’. Jed traded 6 1/2 years of Cam Smith for 1 year of a very good hitter in Tucker.
That move was absolutely insanely stupid.
Basically Jed traded away an important part of their 6 year future, for an advertising gimmick that represents one summer of shaky optimism.
The problem with the pen right now is the same as it has been for the last 3 years. It has no optionable members. Hodge, Pearson and Little. That’s basically it. Cubs have been using Noland and Sanders in relief lately. Whether Jed has the guts to use them is debatable. And even if you do that they have to DFA anybody they replace. That’s been a problem that Drascoo has been pointing out for years. The Brewers keep losing arms and just slot the next one in until he’s out of options and then they trade him. You know a team with a plan. Which Lame Duck Jed knows nothing about. Last year when Alzolay got hurt they were lost.
@Dogbone: And Tucker, though good, and good for the lineup in a holistic sense, has in fact been somewhat disappointing, at least in terms of power (18 homers in 104 games), and at least relative to expectations.
Something “bold”? or foolish? Trading Cassie for a rental, is that bold or foolish?
It depends on the return.
As always.
Cubs ws2016-Neither. It would be stupid. That’s Jed.
Cubs have hinted they won’t trade Caissie for a rental player. They know their odds of retaining Tucker are slim. I would have Caissie getting MLB ABs right now in LF- Happ has been terrible this year.
A controllable frontline starter and closer would be ideal, but easier said than done. I would imagine Caissie would be included in any deal for either of those. Joe Ryan and Duran/Jax, add in a Willi Castro and Cubs have to be WS favorites.
Realistically, Mitch Keller/Gallen/Merrill and a Dominguez/Bedard/Fairbanks is probably the best Cubs can do and hope to retain Caissie. Which would still keep the Cubs strongly in contention.
Who is your yoga instructor?
Don
Cubs do need every win they can get and don’t need bold, adding a couple relievers like Bender and Santana for mid level prospects should be enough to ensure a post season appearance. I think winning increases boldness not losing.
I think they need another starter. Maybe not today, but Mathew Boyd has so much injury history. In my opinion, it’s too risky to count on him for a deep playoff run. This season could be the Cubs best shot. I don’t see them keeping Tucker and he has been a true difference maker for them this season.
Has Tucker made a big difference this year? If the Cubs started with Cam Smith, Paredes and brought up Caissie would they be worse or better? With Suzuki, PCA and Happ in the OF and Smith and Caissie would they have more HR’s? Who knew Smith could play RF? And Paredes and Smith could play 3B and Shaw could be Berti is that somehow worse? I’d love to bring that case to court and see if I could win it.
Yes, he’s made a difference and I don’t think they would have been better than they are now.
You forgot about Bellinger who would probably still be on the team in RF with Paredes at 3B but with less home runs. Shaw, Caissie, and Cam (maybe he’d get some OF work) in Iowa.
If Bellinger was salary dumped like he was, then Shaw would get first crack at starting with a revolving DH and yes, Justin Turner would probably be getting a lot more at bats. Cam Smith may have been promoted at some point during the year, but there is no Astro size outfield hole on the Cubs or even one at third to fill. Caissie upped his game recently, but he still strikes out 30% of the time. He would not have been promoted. He’s definitely in line to be called up in September though.
Agree uncle. And considering they would not have dumped Bellinger (and then lied about the reason), Cubs would have been much better off. Tucker hasn’t justified giving ALL THAT UP!!!!
Ricketts wasn’t going to pay Tuckers asking price. And any ‘big’ move now – would wipe out the MiLB stock of talent that they worked to build, over the last few years. All for ONE year of Tucker.
Ricketts greed is at the bottom of this predicament.
He certainly has a place in the whole argument. He hired Hoyer and kept him all these years. Not only would the Cubs be better this year but in the future. There is a disconnect between what kind of team they want to be. Hoyer wants to be the Dodgers, Ricketts wants to be the Guardians and Rays. Why he’s still here is a mystery. I know in real life if my boss tells me something and I go off and do something else chances are I’ll be looking for a job. The whole thing is just crazy. At least we’ll get a decent comp pick out of it but we aren’t getting Cam Smith with that pick.
Oh lay off with the Cam Smith nonsense. He’s pretty good so far and aside from a rough patch the last couple of weeks, Tucker has absolutely made a big difference on this team.
@rondon: I agree about Smith and Tucker. But I’m a little disappointed in Tucker’s power. He had 23 homers in 78 games last season, and has had 18 in more than a hundred this season. He seems to have warning-track power. He’s hit only a handful in literally the last couple of months. I am wondering if last year’s ankle injury is making it harder for him to “plant,” or if his recent hand injury is affecting his swing. Do you have any insights?
Not interested in trading our best prospects for a short term rental. If it’s someone who’s under contract for 2+ years, then sure. But I’d rather take my chances with Shaw who’s looked much better of late after that swing adjustment. All we need is another mid-rotation arm or bullpen arm that won’t cost us top 5 prospects.
Alright Jed, you have a few days left to get some bullpen help. Brewers are the juggernaut, this series is pretty much playoff baseball. Good luck to both teams, this going to be some really good baseball!
If Jed could find a reliever who has options and a LH INF bench bat I’d be impressed right away. Another starter would be icing.
Hjelle has to considered for release – he’s terrible
He’s already been released from his marriage.
Yup, Jelly is in a jam.
Am sure that is messing with him on the mound, this season is a bust for him — his numbers in AAA look good – I wouldn’t think they would DFA him unless they think he will slide through waivers.
Maybe they look at Keaton Winn to DFA
Also Phillies vs White Sox gives Dave Dombrowski an up close and personal look at Luis Robert, Jr. An impressive performance might tip the trade scales.
Roberts getting traded has little to do with how Roberts is performing and everything to do with Getz’s asking price. If he is trading the rental platoon partner for Michael Taylor, a deal will get done. If he is trying to trade the all star of 3 years ago with 2 option years of control, its not going to happen.
Captain: Unless Robert suffers a flare up of his abductor muscle or any one of a dozen other muscles he’s injured throughout his career. Seriously, I hope he does play and plays well. He deserves better than the Sox.
Sometimes I wonder if the Sox didn’t deserve better then him, Eloy, TA, and Moncada.
To avenger: your certainty not wrong about W Sox ownership – but our ‘boy’ Ricketts isn’t much better. Ricketts is just richer.
I think Reinsdorf is richer than Ricketts, but what’s another billion here and there.
As is it looks like Cubs take game 1. Crew 2. 3 Crew has the edge because Peralta owns the Cubs.
Jed should make a deal to remove Rea prior to his start.
You haven’t experienced Misiorowski yet. You may wish to recalibrate.
Seems like the Cubs typically do not do well against talented pitchers they have not seen yet. I’m not optimistic about this first game but Boyd has been great, hopefully can keep the Cubs in it.
Lets find out. I say just work is pitch count and make him throw strikes. Let’s see how he does in a big game. Plus it’ll be like Wrigley North the next 3 days.
Eugenio Suarez makes his Cubs debut this series
I think you left out the word “against” in your sentence. He’ll debut this series alright. In a Crew uni.
More likely he ends up in Seattle
I don’t think JERRY is anywhere near Okay with the Asking price by the Snakes after he GAVE SUAREZ away the first time…
They have the pieces but it doesn’t feel like a Brewers move to go out and make the best offer to reel in a stud rental.
Id love to see the Cubs land Suarez- another power RH bat to deepen the lineup would be awesome. But pitching has to be the priority. Getting lit up by the Royals and White Sox (one game) had to be sobering for Jed. This staff is on fumes and it’s not even August yet.
I’d much rather see the Brewers deplete the top of their farm for a 2 month rental than have to watch the Cubs do it.
@Carl: I get where you’re coming from, but that would probably end any chance the Cubs have of winning the division this season. At some point, the focus has to be on NOW. We can carry taking-the-long-view to a fault, IMO.
I’m not against trading prospects. I’m just against trading away our red hot best prospect (+ other top 10 prospects) who is an outfielder when we have to think about potentially replacing Tucker and/or upgrading Happ next year, all for 2 months of a hot-hitting third baseman with a below average glove.
The WAR he’s going to add to the team isn’t enough to give up all that. And with Jed getting his extension the other day, I don’t think he does anything that drastic.
Hopefully Brewers get a sweep and its the end of Cubs then the Reds over take the Cubs by the middle of August
stubby: Your dream is my dream.
Cocaine is a helluva drug
@stubby:I think something like that is going to happen, but everyone tells me I’m wrong–with their usual politeness and class, of course.
Many of my fellow Cubs fans think that if they yell enough and bully dissenting voices enough, they can alter reality. Prepare to be ripped.
The Reds do have some problems of their own, though.
No worries got thick skin but thanks for being polite
Pirates don’t need to trade Keller, just open up the wallet to get some top free agents. Their pitching corps needs to be built around, not broken up.
I agree but only to a point.
With Hayes’ offense and his contract, he should be traded for at least a prospect who has potential. Hayes lacks power for a third baseman
There’s several players on one year contracts that will be traded
Ferguson, Pham, IKF. None are likely to be brought back next year so it’s best to trade them before Friday
Suwinski should be thrown in to a deal too. Whatever power he showed 2 years ago is gone now
Did you say top free agents? And you follow the Pirates?
exactly!
The 2 “ top free agents” they signed for this year were Cutch and Pham
Word is they plan to be big players for Kyle Tucker this winter.
lol … the only way we gets bat(s) is via trade. Our owner is the worst in professional sports. He isn’t spending any money to surround Skenes and the pitchers with any talent. Lets use some common sense.
Rond-2- Now that’s funny. You should be on stage.
What top free agents? Names please? Names I seen last year were Profar Conforto Santander. Don’t think those were the bats you are looking for.
MLB has the Lugo extension at $46m starting in 2026 (two years).
Hey Brewers fans, does Nestor Cortes get traded today/tomorrow?
Milwaukee plays 18 games in 17 days (8/15-9/1), including 5 at Wrigley. Suspect they hold on to Nestor and go with a 6-man rotation during that stretch.
They also need to limit the innings on their premium starting pitching so they are well enough rested to be effective in the playoffs.
Great replay and one that I completely understand and agree with. I just hope to see him pitch (start) at lease one game if not two in the Bigs before next Thursday (fantasy).
Matt Arnold is listening to offers for Cortes. Tobias Myers has returned to 2024 form and likely will received an expanded role.
They’ll go 8-10 in this stretch, and the cubs will build a solid lead. But then Sept will be coming up, and they’ll rattle off some ridiculous 22-7 run and the central will be a dogfight until the end.
I’m a Cubs fan, and even I can see that Woodruff, Peralta and Miz > Shōta, Boyd and Rea (or Taillon). We need a playoff-caliber SP, and if it costs Owen Caissie then so be it.
Yeh, Woodruff has picked right back up from where he was pre‐injury
I think Cassie gets Keller
Keller is not good enough to ship Caissie. That would be a foolish move.
#2 starter best pitcher likely available if you aren’t confident in Sandy and only 1 team can get him and price is likely higher.
Then I guess we’ll have to manage or get someone else. There’s no way the Cubs are sending their red hot top prospect for 2 months of a mid-rotation arm.
Only casual fans see him as mid rotation and Keller is under a bargain contract for 3 more years after this year.
I didn’t know about the contract, but he would quite literally be a mid-late rotation arm for the Cubs. That’s just a fact.
Can the Pirates trade Keller for a player who would be the Pirates best current position player (or close to it)?
If not, why do it?
I read in several articles that Cherington’s job for next season is on the line by Nutting if Ben trades Keller and doesn’t at least get a major league ready player in return
Apparently Nutting has grown tired of trading our best pitchers for prospects who never pan out
LOL … maybe the cheap a** should open up the wallet instead and get two capable bats and not the crap we normally get via free agency. Ben is awful, but Nutting is a major problem. He doesn’t want to spend.
I don’t disagree with you aberdeen but which trades that Ben has made have turned out well for this team.
I can only think of getting Cruz and Bednar.
Cherington traded Quinn Priester to Boston last year for Nick Yorke who’s at Indy and Boston then traded Priester to the Brewers and is having a very good season there
Yes, Cassie of Cubs, Jones of Yanks, Alcantra of Cubs and some others would immediately start in OF for Bucs.
Let’s stop overrating Jones like the Yank fans do. He isn’t a top 100 prospect and he strikes out a ton.
heaven knows we have enough players that strike out a lot
Congratulations, Mike Trout for getting to 1,000 RBIs. He belongs in the Injury List Hall of Fame.
He’s already a lock for the real Hall of Fame, but, yeah, imagine if he was mostly healthy the last 5-6 years.
@Vanilla Good
I’m locked for the Beer League Hall of Fame.
I’m just hoping for the “Beer Hall of Fame”!
at least he made it to 1000 rbis despite his injury prone seasons
David Wright who many on this site believe he is worthy of being in the HOF never achieved anything close to Trout’s level of success
@TheMan 3
I agree, Wright was a decent player but not HOFer. I think a lot of discussion over the HOF is based in emotion and memory. But with that said, the HOF really wasn’t about establishing a list of the Best of the Best but more of immortalizing players that were famous in the game. If it was about electing the best of the best in our game, many of those players wouldn’t be in the hall in the first place.
If you get released by the Brewers is it a Crew cut?
Ask Colin Rea.
There’s an obvious trade if there is one; Keller and Bednar to the Jays.
That’s half a trade. What’s the rest? Didn’t really think that out first did ya?
They only have 1 prospect. Do the Pirates like him and would they trade him? Can he stick at SS? Too many ? to be obvious trade. Perfect fit for Toronto or any team.
the Jays don’t have anyone that’s major league ready, with several years of control which is what Cherington wants
Doesn’t matter what Cherington wants and he will accept prospects even A ball prospects.
The Brewers could get by without trading for a slugger by returning Hoskins to first base and deploying Vaughn as the DH. Yelich would play LF, and Collins could play 2B, with Turang shifting to SS. The Brewers reportedly are in the market for a catcher likely due to Contreras’ fall-off at the plate.
More so an injury than a fall off. He’s been playing nonstop with a broken finger for two months now.. May need someone to help save him from himself at this point, because he won’t take himself out of the lineup voluntarily.
Have you watched him at the plate in the past few days? Swinging at everything — a fall-off from his season-long norm. He’s moving his feet a lot in an attempt to get in front of the pitch but is really lost right now.
Can’t get right if you aren’t feeling right — he’s been playing hurt for a while now. You make it sound like he’s lost it altogether and is a liability. Ask the team and the pitching staff if they think that’s the case.
Nah he’s great in other aspects, he just shouldn’t be hitting in the top half of the lineup
It might surprise Brewer fans that Matt Arnold is shopping for a catcher, but that is what Robert Murray has reported. I merely lent some credence to it by mentioning Contreras’ recent fall-off at the plate. Eric Haase would be the obvious roster replacement, but Contreras could lose some playing time if Arnold gets what he wants.
Not shocking at all considering the injury situation, but I think it’s as much of an upgrade on Haase as anything else. Jefferson Quero would be the obvious replacement, but he’s injured at Nashville again. Ben Rice as a short-term solution, perhaps?
Great choice. Not only a left-handed slugging catcher but a first baseman as well. He could have a future platooning with Vaughn or whoever wins the first base job next year. The Yankees see Rice as a potential replacement for Goldschmidt, so they wouldn’t part with him easily.
According to their transaction page on sfgiants.com, Sean Hjelle has been optioned, but not designated for assignment. That suggests to me they’ll remove someone else from the 40-man roster who isn’t currently on the 25-man or they’ll move Erik Miller to the 60-day IL.
If they remove someone else from the 40-man, it seems likely to be a pitcher because they already have 20 on it. Aside from Hjelle the most logical candidates seem to be Keaton Winn, Mason Black, or Carson Ragsdale. It would be a shame to give up any of the 3 right now.
If Christian Koss, currently on rehab in Sacramento, is close to reurning, then Brett Wisely will be redundant. However, I think it would more likely be one of their 9 outfielders than Wisely due to his versatility. It’s too early to give up on McCray. Daniel Johnson seems like a candidate as an older minor league free agent, but it looks like he’been playing well lately in Sacramento. Wade Meckler has either been injured or played like a big bag of nothing since his dream season. Meckler may be DFA once they need the spot, like if Tom Murphy ever comes back.
What I would like to see happen is for them to activate Jerar Encarnacion from rehab at Sacramento and designate him for assignment. There are plenty of other outfielders and they already have Domonic Smith to play first and only sort of hit. He just hasn’t been very good in the major leagues at all. What he did in Spring Training isn’t relevant in July. He’s just not that great.
What they will probably do is move Miller to the 60-day though. The Giants like to hoard players and this way they can keep everyone.
Keller and bednar would be perfect for the cubs…problem is they would be perfect for a lot of teams and the pirates know that..its a sellers market with so many teams still in the hunt..its going probably cost a lot more then just caissie to get them….i personally hope then dont include caissie in any trade..happ is gone most likely next year as well as tucker…and seiya the year after…that leaves very few option in the outfield..yes seiya is mostly a dh..but either way.the outfield would be a big problem if they move caissie
Cherington probably won’t trade either to a team in the same division
The only way Happ is gone next year is if either 1) The Cubs release him and eat his salary 2) He waives his no movement clause and they trade him 3) He retires because he’s signed through 2026 also.
My bad i thought he was on his last year this year…but my point still valid..the future of the outfield would still look kinda bleak without caissie..and i like the idea of pca and caissie manning the outfield…and there is probably no chance they give the 400 plus mill its going take to sign tucker sadly
The Cubs non-tendered Kyle Schwarber.
A day that will live in infamy, as FDR put it.
Nothing at all about Kerry Carpenter being activated. I guess we all knew it was coming. It’s good to have him back.