MLB 2022

[The Buscher]

Mariners get:
RHP Luis Castillo

Reds get:
SS Noelvi Marte (20, Mariners #1 prospect per MLB)
SS Edwin Arroyo (18, Mariners' #3 prospect per MLB)
RHP Levi Stoudt (24, Mariners' #5 prospect per MLB)
RHP Andrew Moore (22, unranked)

[gunnar hendershow]

I knew they'd get 2 top 5 prospects but 3?! Big move by Seattle, they're going all-in to at least end their playoff drought.

[The Buscher]

One of the best relievers on the trade market is no longer available as the Rockies give closer Daniel Bard a 2-year, $19 million contract extension.

They are in last place in the NL West, 8.5 games out of a playoff spot with no signs of contending anytime soon and yet they gave an extension to a 37-year old closer instead of maximizing his trade value.

Truly a perplexing franchise.

[gunnar hendershow]

They're like an NBA team content with the 6 seed as their ceiling... The Washington Wizards strategy. 

[The Buscher]

Padres get:
LHP Josh Hader

Brewers get:
LHP Taylor Rogers
RHP Dinelson Lamet
LHP Robert Gasser (#7 prospect per MLB)
OF Esteury Ruiz (#23 prospect per MLB)

Whoa. The first place Brewers trade their multi-time All Star closer who is controllable through 2023

[gunnar hendershow]

Hader is pitching to a 4.24 ERA this year. Maybe Milwaukee knows something from having watched him for as long as they have.

Also right before that trade Jorge Lopez removed all Orioles references from his social media. So keep an eye on that.

And Montas has been traded but it's not clear as to where yet. If it isn't the Yankees I will absolutely collapse from laughter.

[gunnar hendershow]

Montas to the Yankees.

Mancini to the Astros who will henceforth be referred to as "My Astros" sadly.

[Maxx]

Enemy Damshow CLEARLY not content in his villainy, choose to expand his treachery.

[The Buscher]

I never understood Mets fans pining for Mancini.  He had a 95 WRC+ vs LHP vs 103 for JD Davis.  I like him but he wasn’t a fit for the roster spot he was going to be assuming as the DH against lefties.

[Lowerdeck]

Christian Vazquez was traded to Houston

 

With the Sox in Houston, he just walks to the other clubhouse.  He was actually taking BP in a Boston uniform when told.

[gunnar hendershow]

Tommy Pham headed to the Red Sox in an odd corresponding move.

[The Buscher]

The Vazquez deal leaves Willson Contreras as the big catching prize left with the Mets and Padres said to be the two teams really in on him.  Unfortunately though as much as I'd love Willson, all indications are the Cubs aren't interested in the Mets farm aside from their top 5 prospects, none of whom the Mets are willing to move for a rental.  So I suspect they're just waiting for the Padres to officially pivot off of Soto and then send him there.

Boston said to be only interested in the Mets' top 5 as well for JD Martinez.  So as the clock strikes midnight on deadline day it just really doesn't seem likely that the Mets will be able to add the impact right-handed bat they were seeking.

Cohen has money but money alone can't buy a farm.  That takes years and years of good scouting, drafting, and development.  The reason teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Astros seem to be able to "fleece" teams by getting good players for guys with mid-range rankings is because their player development systems carry great reputations.  Teams are convinced that good organizations will always produce good players no matter how many of their prospects bust.  Mets will hopefully get there in time but until then their farm is viewed as top heavy, teams aren't willing to gamble on mid-range guys.

[GhostMachine]

So basically they should have a top notch farm around....oh....2047?

[The Buscher]

Orioles trade Jorge Lopez to the Twins @damhausen

[gunnar hendershow]

Return for Lopez is a couple lottery tickets which is sorta fair. He's only been a good reliever for a few months and has been showing some cracks recently. The Mancini return having the centerpiece of a guy who is getting Tommy John was bizarre, but I guess the strategy of making these moves in hopes you hit on one pitcher makes sense.

This has to be demoralizing for the team as a whole though, playing really good, fun baseball and they still wind up as sellers. It makes sense in the long-term but you're telling some veteran players that they're on a team that doesn't want to win this year.

[The Buscher]

Bob Nightengale just said the Padres are closing in on a trade for Soto.

In other words, expect the Dodgers to jump in last second and get him because of course they'd do that.

[ThrillhouseMAX]

CJ Abrams and a bunch of prospects to the Nats for Josh Bell and Juan Soto is confirmed. Wow. Almost feels like the Nats could have gotten more, but it's a strong package. 

[The Buscher]

That feels like an absolute heist.

But in fairness, it's nearly impossible for one team to receive comparative value for someone like Soto.

[gunnar hendershow]

It was never going to be enough for Juan Soto. Nats fans are rightfully angry, feeling like the Lerners have basically gone totally cheap after winning the World Series and deciding to sell the team.

The entire 2019 World Series champion core is all but gone. And there isn't a lot of optimism on the horizon.

[ThrillhouseMAX]

Yeah, considering they got Bell as well, definitely feels like a heist.