I’m to the point where I’m tired of the speculation and I just want July 31st to get here so we know if any of the big three starting pitchers are going to get traded. It seems like Yu Darvish, Sonny Gray and Justin Verlander where going to be traded six months ago and none of them have been. Instead of going over the same old thing about the players let’s take a look at the teams they’re rumored to be going to.
Let’s start with the New York Yankees. With the injury to Michael Pineda it appears that the Yankees could use a starting pitcher, but do they? New York just moved into 1st place in the A.L. East last night behind a great start by Masahiro Tanaka. Luis Severino has given up 4 earned runs in his last 5 starts while Jordan Montgomery and C.C. Sabathia both have winning records and E.R.A.’s under 4.00. Now it does look like the Yankees could use a 5th starter, but Darvish, Gray and Verlander aren’t 5th starters. The Yankees have used the last few seasons to build up their farm system an they’ve already said that #1 prospect Gleyber Torres won’t be traded and with the way #2 prospect Clint Frazier has played since being called up you have to think the Yankees would like to keep him. It’s going to take top prospects to land any of those pitchers in a deal and I’m not sure the Yankees are willing to give up the top guys to get them.
Let’s stay in the American League and look at the Houston Astros. Dallas Keuchel just returned to the starting rotation; so that will provide a lift to the team. Houston’s rotations just look like it needs to get healthy more than it does to add another start. Besides Keuchel, Lance McCullers, Joe Musgrove and Charlie Morton have all missed starts due to injuries. When they’re healthy though the rotation has been good. All starters have an E.R.A. under 4.00 with the exception of Musgrove and fill in starter Brad Peacock has been a huge surprise as a starter. Don’t expect Darvish to be wearing an Astros uniform as even though they said they would I don’t expect the Rangers to deal with an inter-state and division rival. Imagine if Darvish helped the Astros win a World Series and then they where able to re=-sign him as a free agent. I don’t think the Rangers want to deal with that. I’m thinking the Astros add bullpen help not a starting pitcher.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a similar spot as the Astros. They appear to have the starting pitching, but it’s a matter of getting them all healthy. Of course the loss of Clayton Kershaw was huge. He’s do back in 4 to 6 weeks, bug if the Dodgers make a big move at the trade deadline it may tell us more about Kershaw’s health than it does about them just wanting to add a pitcher. Alex Wood has been a huge surprise for the Dodgers while Brandon McCarthy and Rich Hill have been quality starters. With a healthy Kershaw you have a good playoff rotation as Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu would be the long men in a playoff bullpen or could be left off of the playoff roster. The funny thing about the Dodgers is for three seasons now we’ve been hearing they should deal their prospects for whatever help they needed, but they held on to them. Those players that people wanted the Dodgers to deal. Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger. Where would the Dodgers be without those three players in their everyday line up? Sometimes it’s better to hold onto a guy.
The Milwaukee Brewers have been a surprise team all season, but have struggled since the All-Star break and really need to figure out if they’re going to be in the market for a starting pitcher. You can quickly throw Darvish and Verlander off the list of pitchers the Brewers would be interested in. Since Milwaukee is young and still re-building they wouldn’t want to rent a pitcher like Darvish and the contract attached to Verlander isn’t something the Brewers would be interesting in carrying. Gray makes the most sense for the Brewers even of they don’t make the playoffs this season. He’s a young top of the rotation starting pitcher with controllable years before he hits free agency. With Chase Anderson and Matt Garza on the DL Milwaukee could use another guy in the rotation, but are they willing to pay the price for Gray. The Oakland A’s have said they want a young centerfielder in any deal for Gray which means the Brewers would have to be willing to part with either Lewis Brinson of Corey Ray who are their top two rated prospects. It’s a high price to pay for a pitcher who’s had the injury problems Gray has had throughout his career, but it looks like that’s what it’s going to take for Milwaukee to land him in a deal.
The Chicago Cubs have already made a move for a starting pitcher getting Jose Quintana from the cross town White Sox, but would they add another one? The Cubs have scouted all three of the available pitchers, but you have to think they’re out on Gray as it would take Ian Happ to bring him back in a deal and I don’t think that would happen. Adding a contract like Verlander’s is no issue for a team like the Cubs and the Cubs could take a shot at re-signing Darvish if he was brought in. The issue may be that the Cubs just don’t have the prospects to get either deal done. While the Cubs want to add a veteran catcher they won’t have to use a top prospect to do that, but both the Tigers and the Rangers are looking for quality prospects in any deal and the Cubs farm system has been dealt away. I’m not sure if a prospect laden centered around Jeimer Candelario is enough to bring either Verlander or Darvish to Chicago.
How about the teams that are in contention for a wild card spot.
The Boston Red Sox suffered a blow when David Price went on the DL with an elbow injury. This injury may make the Red Sox a little more active, but their name hasn’t really come up on any of these pitchers. Maybe they’ll jump in late now and try to add one of these pitchers.
Unless they worked out a deal for Gray the other American League wild card contenders like the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays or Minnesota Twins aren’t going to make a deal for a Darvish or a Verlander as he doesn’t fit the teams long term plans or the way they manage their rosters.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies seem to control the National League wild card spots and both have added coming up to the trade deadline. Would either team be interested in adding a starting pitcher to their rotation.
The Diamondbacks had a scare last night when Robbie Ray was hit by a line drive, but luckily he’s okay and looks to be in line to make his next start. The Arizona rotation has been good as only one starter has an E.R.A. over 3.50 and Chase Field is a hitters ballpark; so that’s pretty impressive. Arizona added offense earlier and it looks like if they make another deal they want to pick up some bullpen help.
The Rockies have a very young starting rotation and could probably use a veteran guy to help mentor this rotation. Of course of they added a Darvish would he consider re-signing with Colorado. I’m sure they could handle adding Verlander’s salary, but how would he do pitching in Coors Field? It looks like a veteran starter would be a good add for the Rockies there not really known for their farm system. Do they have the young assets to acquire a rental like Darvish or a Verlander?
Now we wait and see if these three pitchers end up getting moved by July 31st or if they’re still with their teams.
You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast live on BlogTalkRadio.com but you can listen to the podcast any time you want at TuneIn.com
Don’t forget that you can find me on Twitter @Buketime
Sports Time Radio 