Yesterday was the Major League Baseball trading deadline and there were a lot of deals that happened. Unfortunately, once the news was announced that Juan Soto was going to be traded by the Washington nationals to the San Diego Padres the networks pretty much stopped talking about any other trades that happened after that one. Now I understand that Soto was the biggest fish on the trade market, so to speak, but they could’ve worked in those other trades that happened.
Now, there was so much going on and I think that the networks did a huge disservice to their fans by not making sure to at least mention or even have a little discussion on some of the other trades that happened yesterday. Honestly besides the Padres and the Nationals fans who else cared about Soto being traded? The only other fans that may have cared about Soto going to San Diego were the Los Angeles Dodgers fans because they’re in the same division. Otherwise, there was a lot more to cover that didn’t get covered.
Here is the actual trade. San Diego received Juan Soto and 1st baseman Josh Bell and they sent 1st baseman Luke Voit, Left-handed pitcher Mackenzie Gore, right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood as well as shortstop C.J. Abrams to Washington.
Abrams and Gore have both appeared in the major leagues with the Padres this season. Abrams has played in 46 games and is hitting .232 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI’s. Gore has pitched in 16 games with 13 of those being starts. He has pitched 70 innings and has a 4-4 record with an ERA of 4.50. He’s struck out 72 batters while walking 37.
As for the other three players Washington picked up in this deal. Hassell III and Wood are both in Class-A. Hassell III was in high Class-A and will probably stay at that level with the Nationals. Wood was at Class-A and is also expected to stay at that level with Washington. Both Wood and Hassell III are considered top prospect. As for Susana, he’s just 18 years old and was in Rookie League for the Padres. Susana like Hassell III and Wood will probably report to that level with the Nationals.
Gore and Abrams where also considered prospects. Gore, who is currently on the IL with elbow inflammation was the 3rd pick in the 2017 draft while Abrams was the 6th pick in the 2019 draft.
With such a priority being placed on prospects most people think that the Nationals got quite a bit in return for Soto, but none of the players they received has performed at the major league level enough to actually know how this deal will turn out.
The other thing that confused me yesterday was the lack of moves by the Chicago Cubs. Now the Cubs did trade four of their relief pitchers which was kind of expected, but they weren’t and didn’t get much in return for any of those players.
The Cubs ended up sending Chris Martin to the Dodgers, Scott Effross went to the New York Yankees, Mychal Givens went to the New York Mets and David Robertson went to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Now the Cubs did have two players that were talked about quite a bit as possibly being traded, but for some reason Willson Contreras and Ian Happ are both still on the Cubs.
Now it’s possible that the Cubs just didn’t get the offer they were looking for to make a trade, but you have to wonder just what they’re doing. Contreras is a free agent at the end of the season and there’s a very god chance that he’ll sign with another team and the Cubs will get nothing in return for him. Happ still has one more year of arbitration, so unless he’s dealt in the off season, he’ll be with the Cubs to at least start the 2023 season.
So let me know what you thought of the trade deadline and if you’re happy with what the team you root for did yesterday.
Remember that you can find me on Twitter @Burketime.
After the Cub moves, they are once more in a battle with Cincinnati for last place!
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