Dodgers Acquire Jedd Gyorko
3:33pm: Southpaw Tony Cingrani is heading to St. Louis, likely for salary relief (as he’s out for the year), along with righty Jeffry Abreu. The Dodgers also obtain international spending capacity and cash considerations in unannounced amounts.
2:15pm: The Dodgers have struck a deal to add infielder Jedd Gyorko from the Cardinals, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). The return isn’t yet known.
Gyorko, 30, is playing on a $13MM salary this year ($5MM of which is still property of the Padres) and comes with a $13MM option ($1MM buyout) for next season. It’s not clear whether the Dodgers will be stepping into the full obligation.
Though he’s currently on the injured list, Gyorko is expected back in relatively short order. He’s on the 60-day injured list at present, which means the Dodgers don’t have to open a 40-man roster spot for him.
The Dodgers certainly have a wide array of players that fit Gyorko’s general description as a multi-positional player with a nice track record at the plate. But several of those players are currently dealing with injury issues, so the L.A. brass obviously decided to snag another.
Gyorko will be looking for a bounce back when he arrives with his new team. He hasn’t seen much action this year but has struggled when he has been available. But he was a consistent hitter over the prior three seasons in St. Louis, carrying a cumulative .259/.331/.463 batting line with 61 total long balls.
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Giants To Acquire Scooter Gennett
The Giants have acquired second baseman Scooter Gennett from the Reds, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. The Reds will get cash considerations in return, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
It’s a win-now move by the Giants, who have charged back into NL wild-card contention over the past several weeks. The 29-year-old Gennett, who’s earning a $9.775MM salary, isn’t under control past this season. He has missed almost all of 2019 because of a groin injury, and in the 72 plate appearances Gennett has taken, the lefty has managed a meager .217/.236/.261 line without a home run.
While this season has been a nightmare for Gennett, he was unexpectedly one of the majors’ best second basemen over the previous two years. After the Reds acquired him from the Brewers via waivers entering 2017, he proceeded to slash .303/.351/.508 with 50 home runs and 6.7 fWAR in 1,135 plate appearances through last season. That type of production would be ideal for the Giants, who have seen No. 1 second baseman Joe Panik struggle to a .231/.305/.312 line with three homers in 375 trips to the plate this year.
Astros To Acquire Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini
The Astros acquired right-handers Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini for outfielder Derek Fisher, according to reports from Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun, Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. The deal was a precursor to a trade deadline buzzer beater, as the Astros picked up Zack Greinke from the Diamondbacks as well.
Sanchez, 27, was drafted 34th overall by the Blue Jays in 2010 and was ranked among the best 35 prospects in baseball prior to his 2014 debut. The Jays had Sanchez work out of the bullpen as a rookie, and he joined the rotation the following season. He suffered a lat strain that season and returned as a reliever. Sanchez was again moved back to the rotation for the 2016 season, and he authored his finest campaign: a 3.00 ERA in 30 starts, good for a seventh place Cy Young finish. He would never reach those heights again, dealing with a blisters and finger injuries in the ensuing years. His ERA sits at 6.07 in 23 starts this year.
Biagini, 29, was Toronto’s Rule 5 Draft selection in 2015 and enjoyed a tremendous rookie campaign in 2016, pitching to a 3.06 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.40 HR/9 and a 52.2 percent ground-ball rate in 67 2/3 innings. However, the Blue Jays’ subsequent attempt to move Biagini into the rotation in 2017 proved an ill-fated mistake, and his 2018 season spent mostly back in the bullpen didn’t yield quality results, either (6.00 ERA in 72 innings).
The 2019 season has seen Biagini bounce back to the tune of a 3.75 ERA over the life of 48 innings. He’s been homer-prone — like most of the league — but is sporting a career-high 9.0 K/9 against an even 3.0 BB/9 with a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate. There’s reason to be optimistic about further improvement, too; Biagini’s 13.7 percent swinging-strike rate is easily a career-best, as is his 36.1 percent opponents’ chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone. The spin rate on his breaking ball is elite as well, ranking 21st of 399 big league pitchers to throw the pitch at least 100 times dating back to 2016. That type of profile has yielded substantial benefits for the Astros in the past, of course, and they’ll look to elevate his profile with their data-heavy approach moving forward.
Once a top 100 prospect, Fisher hasn’t established himself in the majors since debuting in 2017. He likely wouldn’t have gotten a chance to do so in Houston, either, with the team loaded in the outfield now and with high-end prospect Kyle Tucker ahead of him in the organizational pecking order. Fisher has hit just .201/.282/.367 with 10 home runs in 312 MLB plate appearances, but he has been quite productive in Triple-A ball. The 25-year-old has slashed .289/.379/.520 with 50 HRs in 1,053 PA at the minors’ highest level.
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D-Backs To Acquire Mike Leake
The Diamondbacks have worked out a last-minute deal for Mariners righty Mike Leake, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). Infield prospect Jose Caballero is going to Seattle in return, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Arizona is taking on only $6MM of Leake’s remaining obligations, according to John Gambadoro of ArizonaSports.com.
It’s been a precipitous drop for the 31-year-old Leake, who’s now accrued nearly 1,800 big-league innings since debuting straight from Arizona State in 2010. Leake’s walk and strikeout rates have remained mostly intact, but he hasn’t been able to withstand the league-wide homer onslaught this season, having allowed an easily-career-high 1.71 per nine in 137 IP thus far. His average fastball velocity’s cratered to a career-worst 88.3 MPH, though the always-crafty mix-and-match artist has adjusted: his cutter and changeup, long his go-to out pitches, have each seen an uptick in usage, with the former being deployed nearly 27% of the time at current.
Leake’s park-adjusted peripherals still place firmly in the fourth/fifth starter range – thanks mostly to a string of sterling outings in the latter half of this month – and his presence should stabilize the back half of a Diamondbacks rotation that’s leaned heavily on the mostly ineffective arms of Taylor Clarke and Merrill Kelly of late. After the trade of Zack Greinke to the Astros, Leake will line up with the newly-acquired Zac Gallen, the still-here Robbie Ray, and some combination of Clarke, Kelly, and rookie Alex Young, whose peripherals lag far behind the 2.51 ERA he’s posted in his first six big-league outings.
It’s perhaps a bit chastening for the M’s, who acquired the righty from the Cardinals in a now-defunct August swap two seasons ago, to recoup only $6MM from the some $25MM remaining (through 2020) on the his deal. Caballero, 22, didn’t assert himself as a top organizational prospect for the Snakes, so the swap mostly seems centered around the marginal amount saved and opportunity for the club to insert a young hurler, perhaps lefty Justus Sheffield, into its rotation for the remainder of ’19. Righty Matt Wisler, acquired after being designated for assignment by San Diego, should also be afforded a look: the one-time top prospect has finally flashed the bat-missing stuff that was so often absent from his repertoire in seasons past.
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Rays Acquire Nick Anderson, Trevor Richards From Marlins
The Rays have acquired right-handers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards from the Marlins for righty Ryne Stanek and outfielder Jesus Sanchez, Craig Mish of FNTSY Sports Radio reports.
Tampa Bay’s landing a notable bullpen piece in Anderson, a 29-year-old rookie who has logged a 3.92 ERA/2.72 FIP with 14.22 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 43 2/3 innings this season. The hard-throwing Anderson’s on a minimal salary right now and won’t be eligible for arbitration until the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, which surely adds to his appeal from the low-budget Rays’ standpoint.
Likewise, Richards isn’t slated to reach arbitration until after 2021. The 26-year-old recently lost his place in the Marlins’ rotation, though he was a passable member of their starting group from 2018-19. He posted a 4.46 ERA/4.38 FIP with 8.8 K/9 and 3.97 BB/9 in 238 1/3 innings during that span. Richards could now factor into the Rays’ rotation, which lacks traditional starters after Charlie Morton and Yonny Chirinos, or their bullpen.
Stanek, 28, had been one of the faces of the Rays’ revolutionary “opener” idea prior to this trade. He “started” in 56 of 100 appearances for the club dating back to last season, though Stanek’s outings were fairly short. He was extremely effective in that role, though, having registered a 3.17 ERA/3.64 FIP with 10.48 K/9 and 3.47 BB/9 in 122 innings going back to last year. In Stanek, the Marlins are getting a hurler who’s not eligible for arbitration until after 2020.
Sanchez, 21, ranked as MLB.com’s fourth-best Rays prospect before the trade. The outlet regards him as “at least an above-average defender with a strong arm” and “a potential middle-of-the-order run producer.” However, Sanchez has fallen flat since earning a promotion to Triple-A Durham earlier this season. He carries a .206/.282/.317 line with one homer in 71 plate appearances at the minors’ top level.
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David Robertson To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Phillies reliever David Robertson has suffered a setback in his recovery from a flexor strain and will require season-ending right elbow surgery, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer was among those to report. A Tommy John procedure is a possibility for Robertson.
One of the Phillies’ key offseason acquisitions, Robertson’s balky elbow has kept him out of action since mid-April. The 34-year-old struggled before landing on the shelf, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and six walks (with six strikeouts) in 6 2/3 innings. Now, if Robertson needs TJ surgery, he could miss most or all of next season. That would render the two-year, $23MM he signed with the Phillies last offseason a wash for the club.
It’s surprising to see the normally durable Robertson unable to take the mound. He entered the season with nine straight seasons of at least 60-plus innings with the Yankees and White Sox, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons the Phillies committed a significant amount of money to him. The deal has been a disaster to this point, though, and the Phillies may end up getting no value from it.
Phillies Acquire Corey Dickerson
2:43pm: The trade is now official. The Phillies designated outfielder Dylan Cozens for assignment to make room for Dickerson.
2:14pm: MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki tweets that the Phillies will send international bonus allotments and a player to be named later to Pittsburgh.
2:08pm: The Pirates will not receive a player in return for Dickerson, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports (on Twitter). It’s possible that Pittsburgh is picking up some international funds, then, or that Pirates ownership was simply happy to shed the remainder of his salary.
1:51pm: The Phillies have acquired outfielder Corey Dickerson from the Pirates, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (via Twitter). He’ll add a quality bat to the Phillies’ outfield mix for the remainder of the season before becoming a free agent this winter.
Dickerson, 30, missed nearly two months with a shoulder strain earlier this season but has hit well since coming off the injured list. In 141 plate appearances, he’s posted a .317/.376/.556 batting line — capped by a two-homer, five-RBI performance last night in what proved to be his final start for the Pirates. A 2017 All-Star, Dickerson long carried the reputation as a defensive liability, but he surprised with 16 Defensive Runs Saved last season and took home a Gold Glove for his efforts. He’s earning $8.5MM this year and is still owed about $2.79MM of that sum over the final two months of the year.
The Phillies didn’t expect to need this level of outfield help in 2019 after signing both Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen in the offseason, but they’ve lost McCutchen to a torn ACL while center fielder Odubel Herrera has been suspended for the remainder of the season under the league’s domestic violence policy. Philadelphia tried to proactively address its needs with a June acquisition of Jay Bruce, but Bruce has been bitten by the injury bug as well and is currently out for weeks with an oblique injury.
Philadelphia is currently tied with the Cubs for the second NL Wild Card spot and is a somewhat distant but still-surmountable six games behind the Braves in the NL East. The Nationals sit just a half game in front of the Phillies in both those races, so Dickerson’s addition will prove impactful in what should be a tight race down the stretch.
Diamondbacks Acquire Zac Gallen From Marlins For Jazz Chisholm
2:10pm: The deal is now official.
1:48pm: The Diamondbacks and Marlins have reportedly struck a deal involving two intriguing young players. Righty Zac Gallen is going to Arizona and shortstop Jazz Chisholm heading to Miami in return, according to reports from Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link) and Craig Mish of MLB Network Radio (via Twitter).
Both of these players have gone in different directions in 2019, evidently meeting in the middle in a sense. Gallen, who’ll soon turn 24, was seen as a solid but unspectacular prospect. Chisholm was widely regarded as a top-100 pre-MLB player leaguewide.
Gallen, acquired as part of the Marcell Ozuna swap, opened eyes with a dominating romp through the International League to open the year. Even as others were mowed down by a opposing hitters, buoyed by a newly long-flying baseball, Gallen carried a 1.77 ERA with 11.0 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 through 14 starts.
It was still fair to wonder whether the relatively un-hyped hurler would find success at the MLB level. On the whole, his first seven starts have been a big success. He has allowed just 11 earned runs on 25 hits while recording 43 strikeouts and 18 walks. It seems Gallen’s stuff is playing just fine, as he’s generating a 12.1% swinging-strike rate.
As they sell at a relative high point on Gallen, the Marlins will buy at a low point on Chisholm. It’s not all that surprising to see the Miami club moving an arm for a position player, as the team has had greater success at transitioning its young hurlers to the majors. But taking a risk on Chisholm represents an interesting move.
Chisholm, a 21-year-old from the Bahamas, is lauded for his ability to stay at shortstop in the long term along with his upside at the plate. But he hasn’t quite followed upon his 25-homer 2018 campaign, which he polished off with a big run through the Arizona Fall League. Through 364 plate appearances this year at the Double-A level, Chisholm carries a .204/.305/.427 slash. While his walk rate is up to 11.3%, and he has popped 18 home runs and 13 steals, he’s also striking out at a worrying 33.8% clip.
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Athletics Acquire Tanner Roark
The Athletics have struck a deal to acquire righty Tanner Roark plus cash from the Reds, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). Outfielder Jameson Hannah is headed to Cincinnati in return, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that the Reds will pick up $2.1MM of Roark’s remaining salary, which looks to be a bit more than $3MM. The trade is now official. As is commonplace, Roark learned of the trade in an Arby’s parking lot.
Roark is earning $10MM this year before hitting free agency at season’s end. He was a clear trade candidate for a Cincinnati organization that is largely looking ahead to the 2020 campaign. The club’s recent acquisition of Trevor Bauer, combined with the recent return of Alex Wood, left a bit of a rotation overload even with Tyler Mahle hitting the injured list.
The Athletics have scrambled all season long to keep their own rotation afloat. Anticipated arrivals of a variety of injured, younger hurlers just haven’t happened yet. With the club competing hard for a Wild Card slot — if not a late dash for the division — there was a clear need for more starters, even after the prior acquisition of Homer Bailey (who has struggled in Oakland).
Roark, who’s closing in on his 33rd birthday, has taken a step back after a strong opening to the season. He’s now sitting on a 4.24 ERA through 110 1/3 innings on the year, with 8.8 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.14 HR/9, and 36.7% groundball rate in 110 1/3 innings. Roark, a 25th round pick by the Rangers in 2008, joined the Nationals in 2010 as part of the Cristian Guzman trade. He greatly exceeded expectations with the Nationals, logging 935 innings of 3.59 ball across six seasons. 2016 was a particular high point, as Roark finished 10th in the NL Cy Young voting. The Reds picked him up in a December trade.
Soon to turn 22, Hannah was a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. He has been playing at the High-A level, where he carries a .284/.341/.381 batting line in 414 plate appearances. It seems his power will need to come around a bit, but he’s regarded as possessing a quality hit tool with an advanced approach. Prior to the season, Baseball America considered Hannah a 50 grade prospect, citing a “sweet left-handed swing paired with plus athleticism and double-plus speed.” BA sees Hannah as a strong defensive center fielder and likely big leaguer, making him a nice score for two months of Roark. It appears the Reds were able to pick up most of the tab on Roark’s salary and extract a better prospect as a result.
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Nationals To Acquire Roenis Elias
After first picking up reliever Daniel Hudson from the Blue Jays, the Nationals have reached an agreement to acquire lefty Roenis Elias from the Mariners. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was first to report a deal was close, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post indicating that Elias had indeed been traded to the Nats. Minor leaguers Elvis Alvarado and Taylor Guilbeau will head to Seattle in the deal, according to Rosenthal.
Elias, 31 tomorrow, broke in as a starter with the Mariners in 2014 and was re-acquired by the club in April 2018 after a two-year stint with Boston. Working exclusively out of Seattle’s pen this year, he has a 4.40 ERA, 8.6 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 1.53 HR/9, and 34.1% groundball rate in 47 innings. He’s faced 60 left-handed hitters in 2019, and they’ve teed off to the tune of a .353/.441/.549 batting line. He’s been much more effective against lefties in the past. With Hunter Strickland going down with a lat injury in April, Elias was able to slide into the Mariners’ closer role and rack up 14 saves in 16 opportunities. Elias is earning $910K this year and is under team control through 2021.
The Nationals notoriously own the worst bullpen ERA in baseball, with their crew tallying a 5.97 ERA in 321 1/3 innings. Aside from closer Sean Doolittle, they’ve currently got Matt Grace and Tony Sipp coming out of the bullpen from the left side. Neither has been particularly effective. The Nationals signed veteran lefty Jonny Venters in late May and selected his contract a month later, but he’s on the IL with a shoulder strain.
Guilbeau, a lefty reliever who was promoted to Triple-A earlier this month, ranked as the Nationals’ 15th-best prospect according to MLB.com. The site rated him as a 40 grade prospect, suggesting he can ride a mid-90s heater and above-average slider to a career as a left-handed specialist. Alvarado was signed as an international free agent for $700K out of the Dominican Republic in 2015. He played right field regularly in 2017 in the Dominican Summer League, moving to the mound in 2018-19 in the Gulf Coast League.
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