MLB trade deadline: Prospect hugging edition
August 1, 2019 12:02 PM Subscribe
The MLB trade deadline came and went, and what started with a whimper ended with the bang of Zack Greinke's trade from the D-Backs to the Astros.
While at least one author compares it unfavorably to the NBA trade deadline, there's questions on why some contenders (Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals) didn't buy.
"Fun" fact with Greinke now on the Astros:
Zack Greinke gives the #Astros four starting pitchers with an ERA+ over 140 (Verlander, Cole, Miley)
No team has had four starters with an ERA+ over 140 since the 1907 Cubs
Fun if you're a Astros fan, not so great for the AL West or the AL generally in the playoffs.
MLB trade deadline tracker 2019:
July 31
Cubs trade reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to the Padres for left-hander Brad Wieck.
Giants trade reliever Sam Dyson to Twins for outfielder Jaylin Davis, right-hander Kai-Wei Teng and right-hander Prelander Berroa.
Rays trade reliever Adam Kolarek to Dodgers and minor leaguer Joe McCarthy to Giants.
Reds trade infielder Scooter Gennett to Giants for a player to be named later.
Diamondbacks trade right-hander Zack Greinke to Astros for Corbin Martin, J.B. Bukauskas, Seth Beer and Josh Rojas.
Tigers trade Nick Castellanos to Cubs for right-hander Alex Lange and right-hander Paul Richan.
Rays trade reliever Ryne Stanek and Jesus Sanchez to Marlins for starting pitcher Trevor Richards and reliever Nick Anderson.
Giants trade right-hander Mark Melancon to Braves for right-hander Dan Winkler and right-hander Tristan Beck.
Rockies send catcher John Ryan Murphy to Braves for cash considerations.
Tigers trade right-hander Shane Greene to Braves for left-hander Joey Wentz and outfielder Travis Demeritte.
Cardinals trade infielder Jedd Gyorko and cash to Dodgers for left-hander Tony Cingrani and right-hander Jeffry Abreu.
Marlins trade right-hander Zac Gallen to Diamondbacks for Jazz Chisholm.
Mariners trade right-hander Hunter Strickland to Washington in exchange for left-hander Aaron Fletcher.
Reds trade right-hander Tanner Roark to the Athletics in exchange for outfielder Jameson Hannah.
Brewers trade infielder Mauricio Dubon to the Giants for left-hander Drew Pomeranz and right-hander Ray Black.
Astros acquire catcher Martín Maldonado from the Cubs in exchange for Tony Kemp.
Mariners send left-hander Roenis Elias to the Nationals in exchange for right-hander Elvis Alvarado and left-hander Taylor Guilbeau.
Blue Jays trade right-hander Daniel Hudson to the Nationals in exchange for minor-league pitcher Kyle Johnston.
White Sox trade cash and right-hander Nate Jones to Rangers for right-hander Joseph Jarneski and Ray Castro.
Rays reportedly trade first baseman Jesus Aguilar to Brewers in exchange for right-hander Jacob Faria.
July 30
Indians trade right-hander Trevor Bauer to Reds; Reds trade outfielder Yasiel Puig and Scott Moss to Indians and outfielder Taylor Trammell to Padres; Padres trade outfielder Franmil Reyes, left-hander Logan Allen and infielder Victor Nova to Indians.
Rangers trade right-hander Chris Martin to Braves for left-hander Kolby Allard.
Blue Jays trade right-hander David Phelps and cash to Cubs for right-hander Thomas Hatch.
July 29
Mets trade right-hander Jason Vargas to the Phillies for minor-league catcher Austin Bossart.
Pirates trade right-hander Jordan Lyles to the Brewers for right-hander Cody Ponce.
July 28
Blue Jays trade right-hander Marcus Stroman to the Mets for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson.
July 27
Royals trade left-hander Jake Diekman to the Athletics for outfielder Dairon Blanco and right-hander Ismael Aquino.
Marlins trade right-hander Sergio Romo, right-hander Chris Vallimont and a PTBNL to the Twins for first baseman Lewin Diaz.
July 26
Giants trade left-hander Derek Holland to Cubs for cash.
July 25
Astros trade first baseman Tyler White to Dodgers for right-hander Andre Scrubb.
July 17
Royals trade outfielder Terrance Gore to Yankees for cash.
July 15
Royals trade catcher Martin Maldonado to Cubs for left-hander Mike Montgomery.
July 14
Royals trade right-hander Homer Bailey to A's for shortstop Kevin Merrell.
July 13
Orioles trade right-hander Andrew Cashner and cash to Red Sox for outfielder Elio Prado and shortstop Noelberth Romero.
Rangers trade right-hander Peter Fairbanks to Rays for second baseman Nick Solak.
"Fun" fact with Greinke now on the Astros:
Zack Greinke gives the #Astros four starting pitchers with an ERA+ over 140 (Verlander, Cole, Miley)
No team has had four starters with an ERA+ over 140 since the 1907 Cubs
Fun if you're a Astros fan, not so great for the AL West or the AL generally in the playoffs.
MLB trade deadline tracker 2019:
July 31
Cubs trade reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to the Padres for left-hander Brad Wieck.
Giants trade reliever Sam Dyson to Twins for outfielder Jaylin Davis, right-hander Kai-Wei Teng and right-hander Prelander Berroa.
Rays trade reliever Adam Kolarek to Dodgers and minor leaguer Joe McCarthy to Giants.
Reds trade infielder Scooter Gennett to Giants for a player to be named later.
Diamondbacks trade right-hander Zack Greinke to Astros for Corbin Martin, J.B. Bukauskas, Seth Beer and Josh Rojas.
Tigers trade Nick Castellanos to Cubs for right-hander Alex Lange and right-hander Paul Richan.
Rays trade reliever Ryne Stanek and Jesus Sanchez to Marlins for starting pitcher Trevor Richards and reliever Nick Anderson.
Giants trade right-hander Mark Melancon to Braves for right-hander Dan Winkler and right-hander Tristan Beck.
Rockies send catcher John Ryan Murphy to Braves for cash considerations.
Tigers trade right-hander Shane Greene to Braves for left-hander Joey Wentz and outfielder Travis Demeritte.
Cardinals trade infielder Jedd Gyorko and cash to Dodgers for left-hander Tony Cingrani and right-hander Jeffry Abreu.
Marlins trade right-hander Zac Gallen to Diamondbacks for Jazz Chisholm.
Mariners trade right-hander Hunter Strickland to Washington in exchange for left-hander Aaron Fletcher.
Reds trade right-hander Tanner Roark to the Athletics in exchange for outfielder Jameson Hannah.
Brewers trade infielder Mauricio Dubon to the Giants for left-hander Drew Pomeranz and right-hander Ray Black.
Astros acquire catcher Martín Maldonado from the Cubs in exchange for Tony Kemp.
Mariners send left-hander Roenis Elias to the Nationals in exchange for right-hander Elvis Alvarado and left-hander Taylor Guilbeau.
Blue Jays trade right-hander Daniel Hudson to the Nationals in exchange for minor-league pitcher Kyle Johnston.
White Sox trade cash and right-hander Nate Jones to Rangers for right-hander Joseph Jarneski and Ray Castro.
Rays reportedly trade first baseman Jesus Aguilar to Brewers in exchange for right-hander Jacob Faria.
July 30
Indians trade right-hander Trevor Bauer to Reds; Reds trade outfielder Yasiel Puig and Scott Moss to Indians and outfielder Taylor Trammell to Padres; Padres trade outfielder Franmil Reyes, left-hander Logan Allen and infielder Victor Nova to Indians.
Rangers trade right-hander Chris Martin to Braves for left-hander Kolby Allard.
Blue Jays trade right-hander David Phelps and cash to Cubs for right-hander Thomas Hatch.
July 29
Mets trade right-hander Jason Vargas to the Phillies for minor-league catcher Austin Bossart.
Pirates trade right-hander Jordan Lyles to the Brewers for right-hander Cody Ponce.
July 28
Blue Jays trade right-hander Marcus Stroman to the Mets for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson.
July 27
Royals trade left-hander Jake Diekman to the Athletics for outfielder Dairon Blanco and right-hander Ismael Aquino.
Marlins trade right-hander Sergio Romo, right-hander Chris Vallimont and a PTBNL to the Twins for first baseman Lewin Diaz.
July 26
Giants trade left-hander Derek Holland to Cubs for cash.
July 25
Astros trade first baseman Tyler White to Dodgers for right-hander Andre Scrubb.
July 17
Royals trade outfielder Terrance Gore to Yankees for cash.
July 15
Royals trade catcher Martin Maldonado to Cubs for left-hander Mike Montgomery.
July 14
Royals trade right-hander Homer Bailey to A's for shortstop Kevin Merrell.
July 13
Orioles trade right-hander Andrew Cashner and cash to Red Sox for outfielder Elio Prado and shortstop Noelberth Romero.
Rangers trade right-hander Peter Fairbanks to Rays for second baseman Nick Solak.
[Go Giants!]
Its a weird year where, depending on which half of the fan base you're living on, this could mean you want them to win or to lose.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:19 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Its a weird year where, depending on which half of the fan base you're living on, this could mean you want them to win or to lose.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:19 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Pirates also traded Corey Dickerson to the Phillies for a little more cash in Nutting's wallet and a career minor-leaguer to be named. Why am I a fan of this team?
posted by dirigibleman at 12:23 PM on August 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 12:23 PM on August 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Why am I a fan of this team?
I give up. Why are you?
posted by octothorpe at 12:30 PM on August 1, 2019
I give up. Why are you?
posted by octothorpe at 12:30 PM on August 1, 2019
Life long Yankees fan here. I am surprised but not terribly disappointed they did nothing. I appreciate the discipline shown by Brian Cashman. Unless they were going to get a Frontline (1 or2) starter, not worth it. Severino and Betances might be back.
posted by AugustWest at 12:44 PM on August 1, 2019
posted by AugustWest at 12:44 PM on August 1, 2019
The Pirates also traded Corey Dickerson to the Phillies for a little more cash in Nutting's wallet and a career minor-leaguer to be named. Why am I a fan of this team?
At least unlike the Blue Jays, they didn't openly brag about how many "years of control" they'd racked up, because obviously anyone's first thought when they hear about their team making a trade is how much money this will save a cable company over the next 5-7 years.
posted by Copronymus at 12:51 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
At least unlike the Blue Jays, they didn't openly brag about how many "years of control" they'd racked up, because obviously anyone's first thought when they hear about their team making a trade is how much money this will save a cable company over the next 5-7 years.
posted by Copronymus at 12:51 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Overall, I'm glad this ended up being a fairly normal trade deadline despite people wringing their hands over how much different it was going to be because they don't have a separate waiver trade deadline anymore. I'm doubly glad because the waiver trade thing was one of the dumbest and most confusing minor rules in all of North American professional sports and should have been done away with long before it actually was.
posted by Copronymus at 12:55 PM on August 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Copronymus at 12:55 PM on August 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Exceptional_Hubris: "[Go Giants!]
Its a weird year where, depending on which half of the fan base you're living on, this could mean you want them to win or to lose."
Welp, I'm on the "to win" side.
Giants don’t trade Madison Bumgarner or Will Smith but do trade Mark Melancon somehow
posted by chavenet at 1:00 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Its a weird year where, depending on which half of the fan base you're living on, this could mean you want them to win or to lose."
Welp, I'm on the "to win" side.
Giants don’t trade Madison Bumgarner or Will Smith but do trade Mark Melancon somehow
posted by chavenet at 1:00 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Granted I'm a homer for the Cubs, but I thought Chicago did pretty well this acquisition season. They signed Craig Kimbrel. They turned faltering (and surplus) pitcher Mike Montgomery into Martin Maldonado when they needed a catcher, then flipped Maldonado for Tony Kemp, a controllable IF/OF with speed and OBP skills. They gave Carl Edwards a fresh start in SD and got an interesting, controllable LHP for him. They flipped two recent draftees who weren't amounting to much into lefty crusher Nick Castellanos. And they picked up viable (if decidedly unsexy) bullpen options David Phelps and Derek Holland for what amounts to a bucket of balls.
No huge names or major difference makers, but they tweaked the composition of their club to address many of their most glaring weaknesses without giving up anyone of real note.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:14 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
No huge names or major difference makers, but they tweaked the composition of their club to address many of their most glaring weaknesses without giving up anyone of real note.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:14 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Reds traded one of the most entertaining players in baseball and their top prospect in return for one of the most unlikeable players in baseball, and a hometown kid for a player to be named later. Strangely, most people seem to think this isn't terrible. I'm sad, though.
posted by kevinbelt at 1:22 PM on August 1, 2019
posted by kevinbelt at 1:22 PM on August 1, 2019
Re:Giants, I'm an A's fan but the Giants fans I do know were generally pretty unhappy they didn't deal MadBum. I get why Farhan didn't as there's a subset of fans that would have been pissed, but seems to me they did a huge amount to raise his price, so not selling was viewed as a real let down.
edit:kevinbelt I will say that Reds/Pirates brawl was pretty epic, apparently this'll be the first time a suspension is earned right after a player was traded. (I forget the actual stat but still pretty cool)
posted by Carillon at 1:24 PM on August 1, 2019
edit:kevinbelt I will say that Reds/Pirates brawl was pretty epic, apparently this'll be the first time a suspension is earned right after a player was traded. (I forget the actual stat but still pretty cool)
posted by Carillon at 1:24 PM on August 1, 2019
There is something kind of balanced about Puig leaving the reds in a brawl and being traded for Bauer who left his team in frustration by chucking a ball over the fence from the mound when he was pulled from his last game . . .
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:36 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:36 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm 50/50 on the Dodgers not making any big moves for pitchers - the bullpen is our weakest spot, but we also have a good amount of pitchers that could perform at the level we need them to. It's just a question of whether or not they do. But looking beyond this year, I do appreciate that Friedman is making it clear that he'd rather the Dodgers go to the World Series over and over for the next 5-6 years than go nuts to boost an already strong chance to win it all this year. On the one hand, winning a WS would be super awesome and the team is killing it this year, but on the other hand I'd much rather have a team build for the future than blow it all on what would still be a crapshoot.
posted by Punkey at 1:43 PM on August 1, 2019
posted by Punkey at 1:43 PM on August 1, 2019
> Overall, I'm glad this ended up being a fairly normal trade deadline despite people wringing their hands over how much different it was going to be because they don't have a separate waiver trade deadline anymore. I'm doubly glad because the waiver trade thing was one of the dumbest and most confusing minor rules in all of North American professional sports and should have been done away with long before it actually was.
Getting rid of the separate waiver trade deadline was clearly the right call, but I do think there's a case to be made that July 31 is too early. The deadline trade market this year was really weird due to the number of teams that were mathematically in play for a wild card spot, particularly in the National League.
As an example: we don't know exactly what kind of offers the Giants were getting for Bumgarner, but there's no reason he should still be in San Francisco right now. Fangraphs has them having a 5.0% chance of making the playoffs this season, and a 0.0% chance of winning the World Series. Instead of getting some players that can be part of the next good Giants team, he's sticking around to pitch a bunch of meaningless games and either get passed in the wild card standings by better teams or maybe get in the playoffs and get crushed by much better teams.
I know it's a much better story if the Giants keep him and they make a deep playoff run, and I do understand the "nerds have ruined the game" vibe that comes with cynically deciding you can't win and cashing in your chips for future seasons. But if I'm a fan, I don't want my team wasting resources, and Bumgarner's final ~10 starts or whatever are money that was left on the table.
Outside of the big Greinke deal and the usual "musical chairs with late inning relievers" game, the market was frozen by teams that were neither buyers nor sellers. Moving the deadline to August 15th or something would let some of these wild card races shake out more, getting some of the teams to realize it's not their year, and creating a more fluid market for contenders filling holes.
On another note... here's a (NSFW) blow-by-blow breakdown of Yasiel Puig's final moments as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
posted by tonycpsu at 1:47 PM on August 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Getting rid of the separate waiver trade deadline was clearly the right call, but I do think there's a case to be made that July 31 is too early. The deadline trade market this year was really weird due to the number of teams that were mathematically in play for a wild card spot, particularly in the National League.
As an example: we don't know exactly what kind of offers the Giants were getting for Bumgarner, but there's no reason he should still be in San Francisco right now. Fangraphs has them having a 5.0% chance of making the playoffs this season, and a 0.0% chance of winning the World Series. Instead of getting some players that can be part of the next good Giants team, he's sticking around to pitch a bunch of meaningless games and either get passed in the wild card standings by better teams or maybe get in the playoffs and get crushed by much better teams.
I know it's a much better story if the Giants keep him and they make a deep playoff run, and I do understand the "nerds have ruined the game" vibe that comes with cynically deciding you can't win and cashing in your chips for future seasons. But if I'm a fan, I don't want my team wasting resources, and Bumgarner's final ~10 starts or whatever are money that was left on the table.
Outside of the big Greinke deal and the usual "musical chairs with late inning relievers" game, the market was frozen by teams that were neither buyers nor sellers. Moving the deadline to August 15th or something would let some of these wild card races shake out more, getting some of the teams to realize it's not their year, and creating a more fluid market for contenders filling holes.
On another note... here's a (NSFW) blow-by-blow breakdown of Yasiel Puig's final moments as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
posted by tonycpsu at 1:47 PM on August 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
I can't understand how the Red Sox did NADA at the deadline. It's gotta be (at this point, stale) leftover hubris from winning it all last year. Our pitching is under some kind of serious doodoo voodoo hex from the starting 5 through the bullpen.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 5:53 AM on August 2, 2019
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 5:53 AM on August 2, 2019
Missed a late one...
July 31
Blue Jays trade right-handed starter Aaron Sanchez, right-handed reliever Joe Biagini and minor-league outfielder Cal Stevenson to the Houston Astros for outfielder Derek Fisher.
(so basically we have no pitching left)
posted by howling fantods at 11:12 AM on August 2, 2019
July 31
Blue Jays trade right-handed starter Aaron Sanchez, right-handed reliever Joe Biagini and minor-league outfielder Cal Stevenson to the Houston Astros for outfielder Derek Fisher.
(so basically we have no pitching left)
posted by howling fantods at 11:12 AM on August 2, 2019
"for Derek Fisher"
But you have a pretty decent point guard now, even if he is in his 40s.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:27 AM on August 2, 2019
But you have a pretty decent point guard now, even if he is in his 40s.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:27 AM on August 2, 2019
"for Derek Fisher"
But you have a pretty decent point guard now, even if he is in his 40s.
I don’t know that it was wise to bring Fisher into the same division as Matt Barnes.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 12:02 PM on August 2, 2019
But you have a pretty decent point guard now, even if he is in his 40s.
I don’t know that it was wise to bring Fisher into the same division as Matt Barnes.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 12:02 PM on August 2, 2019
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[Go Giants!]
posted by chavenet at 12:08 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]