Yeah man. Just so unfair to play him so much in one season. Maybe next year we can give him every other day playing and he won’t hit like garbage and make errors.
Vinegar Strokes will be releasing his top 10 Tigers Prospects on Thursday. I can only come up with like 7 guys right now, so hopefully we make some trades.
Here are a few changes the Tigers should make as they plan for 2020 (and beyond) 12 The Tigers need to start eyeing the future a bit more as we move down the stretch. By Rob Rogacki@BYBRob Jul 28, 2019, 11:01am EDT(opens in new window) (opens in new window) SHARE Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images The Detroit Tigers looked lifeless in yet another loss on Saturday, this one an 8-1 defeat against the last place Seattle Mariners. The M’s have outscored Detroit 21-5 in three games so far this weekend, contributing to the Tigers’ MLB-worst -212 run differential. The Tigers have won just eight games since June 1, and have just one series win to their credit since early May. Comparisons to the dreadful 2003 Tigers team, while unfounded last year, are completely reasonable at this point. To call this a lost season would be an understatement. The Tigers were 10 games out of first place by mid-May, and have been steadily losing ground ever since. They lost nine games on first place Minnesota in June, and another six so far in July. The only standings that matter to Tigers fans, at this point, are the reverse ones that determine the 2020 MLB draft order. Competing on a day-to-day basis is all but out the window at this point (and one might argue the Tigers have long since stopped doing that, too). With just over two months remaining in the 2019 regular season, it’s time for them to start looking at 2020 and beyond. Here are a few changes that need to be made as we head down the stretch in 2019. Stop playing underperforming veterans everyday Earlier this week, MLive’s Evan Woodberry campaigned for Niko Goodrum to get the starting shortstop job in 2020. My initial response? “Why wait?” As Woodberry notes, Goodrum looked comfortable at short when he got regular playing time there while Jordy Mercer was on the injured list. He hit .284/.333/.463 in 25 games, all at shortstop, from May 29 to June 30, and has been worth +1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and has a +1.2 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) in 262 2⁄3 innings at short this year. Mercer, on the other hand, has been worse on both sides of the ball. His 62 wRC+ on the year is a bit lower than we expected, but not a surprise. He has been below average (-5 DRS, -2.1 UZR) defensively as well. However, since returning from the injured list, Mercer has made 14 starts at short to Goodrum’s five, all while producing a .269 on-base percentage and .667 OPS. Goodrum’s versatility has generally been regarded as a positive in his two years with the Tigers, but his utility has proven far more useful on the dirt than in the outfield. Advanced defensive metrics regard him as a below-average outfielder. The eye test has matched that assessment, especially on Saturday. This also goes for Josh Harrison, who will surely get the lion’s share of starts over Harold Castro when he eventually comes off the injured list. Playing veterans like Mercer and Harrisonserves no purpose at this point, especially when they aren’t even out-performing the younger players behind them. Call up Jake Rogers already BigMaxN did the heavy lifting in an excellent FanPost you should read, but this one is fairly obvious. It’s nearly impossible that Rogers will be worse than what Bobby Wilson has provided so far (-0.6 fWAR in 15 games), and not a stretch to think that Rogers would be immediately be an upgrade over John Hicks as well (-1.0 fWAR in 63 games). Service time considerations shouldn’t hold any water either. For one, the Tigers have not been a club to play those games — both Christin Stewart and Nicholas Castellanos are prime examples. Also, Rogers isn’t the kind of top prospect that will warrant a huge payday. This could easily be remedied with an early contract extension to buy out a year or two of free agency; one he, as a catcher, might be more apt to sign than most. Plus, with nearly every top pitching prospect in the organization down at Double-A Erie, it’s not like Rogers is gaining rapport with his future battery mates in the minors right now. Give the rotation some new blood I half-jokingly tweeted the Tigers should cut everyone over the age of 30 following Saturday’s loss, but as this article shows, we’re not far off from the truth. That goes for the starting rotation as well, which has admittedly been decimated by injuries this year. Righthander Drew VerHagen was the 10th true starter the Tigers have used this season, and his outing — a four-inning debacle in which he gave up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and four walks — was about what one might expect from a starter so far down the depth chart. Barring a miracle, however, VerHagen shouldn’t be fitting in with the team’s long term rotation plans. He showed some promise out of the bullpen last year, but gave up 10 runs in six innings early this season before he was designated for assignment. The 28-year-old still has time to turn things around and become the useful middle reliever he was in 2018, but his starts would be better served for someone like Beau Burrows, who, at 22, will one day get a long look of his own as a part of the Tigers’ rotation. Some might argue he has already earned the chance, with a 4.53 ERA in Triple-A that rivals what VerHagen produced (4.42) in his two months down in the minors. Burrows’ command has been a bit of an issue this year, but not enough to keep him away from the prime development opportunity he could have had in facing an MLB lineup last week — he was even lined up on full rest, having started for Toledo the same night VerHagen was shelled in Seattle.
Because it takes one of the starting pitcher targets away from a contender. They received the Mets top 2 pitching prospects for a year and some change of Stroman
I've reached the point of ignoring Morosi tweets. Pretty clear the Tigers just leak everything to him any time a team calls about a player in the hopes of generating interest that never seems to materialize.
Why Tigers call up Jake Rogers haunts my nightmare on the athletic To know why the Tigers’ latest call-up haunts my nightmares, you have to travel way down to the Texas Panhandle, dusty and flat and ugly except for those glorious orange sunsets. That’s where I’m from, and it’s where Jake Rogers is from, too. It’s kind of a lonely place, in a way you don’t fully realize until you leave. But that’s part of the charm, and part of what makes this story cool: Not all that many people leave. I grew up in Amarillo, and Rogers grew up in Canyon, a smaller town just a few minutes south. Amarillo is bigger than you probably think (population about 200,000) but it’s not particularly close to anything else at all. Dallas is the closest major airport, and it’s about a five-hour car ride away. Unless you like old George Strait songs, you probably haven’t heard of the place. Yet in the plains of West Texas, mostly known for football, we happen to play pretty good baseball, too — so long as you don’t mind standing through dust storms and trying to catch pop flies in 30 mph winds. Jake Rogers — who is set to be called up to the major leagues Tuesday, and who will get every chance to be the Tigers’ catcher of the future — wasn’t exactly the kid who blasted every ball over the fence, and who everyone knew was going to be a major leaguer from the time he was 10 years old. At least, not the way I remember. I’m one year older than Rogers, but we played with and against all the same people growing up. Somehow, though, I didn’t really start paying attention to him until a summer league game before my junior year of high school. We were playing Rogers’ Canyon team at their home field, and one of my teammates was watching Rogers closely, tracking his throwdown to second before the start of a new inning. Jake Rogers has such a good arm, he said. Whatever, I thought. Sure enough, I got on first base a couple of innings later, and because it was summer league and thus a free-for-all, I broke to steal second. Got a good jump, even. But as I hauled into second base, just as I began a slide, I saw the shortstop posted up, ball in glove, waiting to apply the tag. Rogers, indeed, hosed me. Bad. Respect earned. That, though, wasn’t even the source of the nightmare. That came later, during my senior year. I played second base for Randall High School. Rogers played catcher for Canyon. RHS-CHS is a heated rivalry, amplified even more so by the fact I grew up playing with most of the kids on the Canyon team. By the sheer nature of local geography, I was the only player from our middle-school travel teams to end up going to Randall. So this was my senior year, toward the end, and I knew it was going to be my last season playing baseball (some of us, unfortunately, are better suited as sportswriters). Only a few days earlier, our coach, Cory Hamilton, had made all of the varsity players fill out a card, in which we had to list three things we wanted to accomplish before the season ended. I don’t remember two of my goals, but I definitely remember one: Beat Canyon. It was personal. So there we were on March 20, 2012, out at Canyon’s Connor Park. It was cloudy and chilly, and of course, windy. The game recap in the next day’s Amarillo Globe-News used words like “heck of a show” and “playoff-like drama.” Forgive me for reliving the glory days, but it really was an epic game. We started ace pitcher Addison Russ, who is now lighting it up in Double A with the Phillies organization (if anyone from the Phillies is for some reason reading this, I suggest you call the kid up soon). Canyon started Austin King, an old friend who went on to become the ace at Western Kentucky. Long story short, Canyon scratched across a run in the first inning and another run in the third, and entering the sixth of seven innings, King had a one-hitter going. I led off the sixth for us, mostly hoping not to embarrass myself. King was the best high school pitcher in the district, and I was hitting eighth and just trying to stay in the lineup. I battled for seven or eight pitches, fouling off several balls, staying alive like a scrappy second baseman should. Then King came inside with a fastball, and somehow I connected and hit a line drive to the left side. Canyon’s shortstop dove. The ball hit his glove — and then it popped out. Base hit. Several batters later, sophomore teammate Brian Canida came up with a huge two-out, two-RBI single to tie the game. We had at least one more runner get on base that inning, but we couldn’t extend the lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Rogers smacked a high fly ball to deep right field. The wind took it and pushed it back all the way to the wall, and our right fielder couldn’t make the play. We won’t name names, but I still think that ball should have been caught. A run scored, and Canyon went up 3-2. Then in the seventh, I came up again. This time, I swung on the first pitch and hit a hard grounder through the hole and into left field. (After this, I’m pretty damn sure I stole second base against Rogers, albeit on a pitch in the dirt. But because I can’t find evidence one way or another — I’m still only a little bitter I didn’t get a specific mention in the Globe-News game story — I’m only going to halfway claim it.) Somehow, another teammate and I ended up in scoring position. I might have blacked out from the adrenaline. Then teammate Brennan Ramos smacked a single to center. Two runs scored, and I do remember crossing home, yelling and pumping my fists as another teammate stepped on the plate and we took the lead. But then came the bottom of the seventh. Hamilton pulled Russ in favor of sophomore Reid Kjerstad (Kjerstad’s brother, Heston, is currently a star at Arkansas and has a good shot at being drafted in the next year or two). I must have blocked this inning from my memory, because I don’t remember the specifics. All I remember is a ball coming off Rogers’ bat and landing way out in left field. Then I remember Canyon players running on the field, mobbing Rogers at second base, right in front of me. There was a throw in that no one cut off, and the ball just trickled into the infield, a symbol of defeat. Jake Rogers hit a walk-off double to win the game. Canyon 5, Randall 4. “I wanted to be the one up there and get the run in,” Rogers said in the newspaper the next day. “I wanted to be the guy to beat Randall. I have nothing against (the Raiders), I just wanted to be the guy to win it.” We still went several rounds deep into playoffs, but the loss to Canyon still stings more than the final game of my career. It amounted to my last stand on a baseball field. I’ve had nightmares about this specific game, reliving the scenarios over and over, some sort of weird high school sports trauma stuck inside my head. “The grand spectrum of emotions was out there the whole game,” Hamilton said in the newspaper. “It was nerve-wracking and exciting to be a part of. We felt like the Texas Rangers in the World Series just being an out or a strike from winning it.” Jake Rogers went off to Tulane two years later, then got drafted in the third round by the Astros, his elite defensive skills taking him from a very good high school player to a legit pro prospect. Rogers came to the Tigers’ organization as part of the Justin Verlander trade in August 2017, and he has played in many more important baseball games. He is a key part of the Tigers’ rebuild, considered the best defensive catcher in the minor leagues. I went to Oklahoma State, then covered the Oklahoma Sooners, then covered Michigan football. And as fate would have it, I somehow ended up walking into the same locker room as Jake Rogers earlier this year at the Tigers’ spring training complex in Lakeland, Fla. I approached Rogers, told him who I was, and he remembered exactly. I told him about this game, my lasting memory of him, and he just smiled. “Sorry,” he said. Now Rogers is about to make his big-league debut. He will join the Tigers on Tuesday in Anaheim. And journalistic objectivity aside for a few minutes, I have to admit it’s weird feeling to be so happy for a Canyon Eagle.
Waldon article on September call ups The Tigers undoubtedly have some decisions to make before active rosters expand to 40 on Sept. 1. It’s the last year for such an expansion. Starting in 2020, in accordance with the rule changes agreed upon by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, teams will be allowed to expand to only 28 players come September. The current state of the Tigers’ 40-man roster prompts plenty of questions. How many changes, if any, do they plan to make to the roster? And the biggest: Will Detroit start service clocks on any of the top prospects? We will have to wait and see what the answer is to the first question. As for the second, it’s hard to imagine that Detroit, which is not a contender, would begin service time on its top prospects, especially the up-and-coming arms. This brings us to the current 40-man roster, of which 37 members have already seen major-league playing time. The three without: Willi Castro, Sergio Alcantara and Franklin Perez. The odds of Castro getting a look in Detroit in September far outweigh the chances of the other two. We’ve broken down two sets of options Detroit could consider for the September active 40-man roster. First are the usual suspects, a mix of arms and bats we’ve seen by way of occasional recall to Detroit throughout the season. The next group is a bit of a long shot due to service-time activation, but it includes a handful of names the Tigers could choose to make room for in preparation for the 2020 season. We don’t have insight into the route the Tigers will take, but this exercise offers a preview of some of the players you might see in September. Major League experience Edwin Jackson: RHP Age: 35 Bats/Throws: R/R Height/weight: 6-2/215 pounds On the current 40-man roster? No Jackson, a sixth-round draft pick in 2001, doesn’t exactly have a glowing résumé. He does have experience, though, and experienced arms are exactly what the Tigers need right now. Detroit’s patience with Ryan Carpenter is waning, and while Jackson isn’t a fix, he could offer himself as a new arm to mix in at Comerica Park. Jackson has yet to make an outing in Detroit’s organization since signing as a free agent on July 22. His 11.12 ERA with the Blue Jays is far from encouraging, but for some, a change of scenery occasionally does some good. Victor Reyes: OF Age: 24 Bats/Throws: S/R Height/weight: 6-5/215 pounds On the current 40-man roster? Yes Reyes is in the midst of one of his sharpest minor-league seasons to date, and the Tigers should be able to depend on his bat for some offensive support. He’s been optioned from Detroit seven times, with the majority of his recalls lasting two days or fewer, and the fewer degree of reps has made it challenging for Reyes to show his staying power. His success with Triple-A Toledo shows maturation, but the Tigers need to be willing to give him enough time to show what he’s capable of. Ronny Rodriguez: INF Age: 27 Bats/Throws: R/R Height/weight: 6-0/200 pounds On the current 40-man roster? Yes Rodriguez has had success at the plate in Toledo this season and his defensive versatility has only added to his value. Rodriguez has seen time at first, second, third base and shortstop with both Toledo and Detroit. His strikeout percentage was 20 and 28 percent during two stretches with the Tigers, but a bit more discipline at the plate coupled with his defensive résumé makes him a prime candidate for a call-up. Zac Reininger: RHP Age: 26 Bats/Throws: S/R Height/weight: 6-3/190 pounds On the current 40-man roster? Yes Reininger’s recent work hasn’t been the most appealing, but the Tigers have made it clear since his major-league debut in 2017 that they’re willing to give him more opportunities. His ERA with Detroit this season ballooned to 8.85 over 20.1 innings, while his strikeouts per nine dropped from 9.1 with Toledo to 3.5 with Detroit. It’s a struggling arm, but it’s an arm the Tigers know and that could be enough for him to return this fall. Matt Hall: LHP Age: 26 Bats/Throws: L/L Height/weight: 6-0/200 pounds On the current 40-man roster? Yes Still leading with a curveball first-pitch mix, Hall has shown positives in flashes with Toledo. He got a look in Detroit last September, and the odds of him returning aren’t far-fetched. His fastball still sits as an 89-91 mph offering and while his curve has been effective, it often lacks a tightness to its shape, begging the question as to how well it would work in a return to Detroit. Dawel Lugo: INF Age: 24 Bats/Throws: R/R Height/weight: 6-0/220 pounds On the current 40-man roster? Yes Working primarily as a third baseman this season, Lugo has seemingly transitioned from the Tigers’ prior plan to work him out at second base … for the time being, anyway. He’s hit just about everything with Toledo this season and while his contact rate with the Tigers isn’t as solid, his work at the Triple-A level indicates he could improve in the majors with more reps there. Who could debut Willi Castro: SS Age: 22 Bats/Throws: S/R Height/weight: 6-1/205 pounds On the current 40-man roster? Yes The Tigers acquired Castro in a 2018 trade that sent Leonys Martin and Kyle Dowdy to the Indians. Castro has filled out physically and his contact rate with Toledo has been impressive; he’s dropped his strikeout percentage since last season and also raised his walk rate. Castro’s defense entered the year with solid reviews, but a spike in errors (21 over 88 games) is concerning. He’s already on the 40-man roster, which could make the transition simpler, but the defensive hiccups lead to questions about how easily he’ll stick. Jake Rogers: C Age: 24 Bats/Throws: R/R Height/weight: 6-1/205 pounds On the current 40-man roster? No The Tigers have really asked only one thing of Rogers since they acquired him from the Astros in the 2017 trade package for Justin Verlander. Just make contact. His stretch of success with Erie earned Rogers a jump to Toledo and while the contact has been there in pieces, it still fades on occasion. Rogers has cited the inconsistencies as mental more than physical so as long as he’s able to maintain a respectable contact rate, it shouldn’t be long before the Tigers give him a look. They would need to shuffle some pieces to make room for him, though. John Schreiber: RHP Age: 25 Bats/Throws: R/R Height/weight: 6-3/220 pounds On the current 40-man roster? No Another arm not currently on the 40-man roster, Schreiber still remains a call-up consideration. The Tigers haven’t been shy in voicing their approval of Schreiber over the last several years and his recent stretch with Toledo has only added to his value. There has been an obvious boost in confidence in Schreiber’s pitch mix, led by a lively fastball and a highly effective slider. Ultimately, the Tigers need to decide whether Schreiber is in a position for major-league exposure this fall and then make the moves necessary for that to become a reality. Bryan Garcia: RHP Age: 24 Bats/Throws: R/R Height/weight: 6-1/203 pounds On the current 40-man roster? No Garcia is beginning to return to the form that moved him so quickly through Detroit’s system before he was forced to have Tommy John surgery in February 2018. The Tigers aren’t rushing his workload, holding him to a maximum of two innings of work per appearance, and more regularly one inning or less. They’re pacing Garcia, but stretching him with some major-league exposure might not be a bad idea.
Lastly, I’ve read three reports over the last 24 hours that Boyd will most likely not get moved because of the asking price. Avila is dog shit if he thinks Boyd’s value will be higher than it is now.
I would like to know the offers they have received for him before I go nuts about not trading Boyd. I'm not a fan of trading Boyd for the hell of it, and if I'm the Tigers I need to win any Boyd trade. I can dump Greene and Castellanos for whatever is out there. You just have to play the market there and hope for the best. Boyd you only trade if you think you're getting 125% or more of his value, IMO.
MLB trade rumors ranking top 75 tradeable pieces at the deadline. We are 2, 8, 12, 34. Top 75 Trade Candidates At The Deadline July 30th, 2019 at 8:34am CST • By Jeff Todd This is the final update to our annual ranking of top trade candidates in the run-up to the trade deadline, drawing from our power ranking approach to pending free agents. You can check out the original list (and review the methodology) here and find the second list here. Essentially, we’re ordering players based upon our assessment of both their trade value and likelihood of being dealt. It’s subjective; it’s debatable; and that’s what makes it fun. Without further ado: 1. Zack Wheeler, SP, Mets (LR: 3): There’s a report saying the Mets might try to extend him, but … when are those talks going to take place? Wheeler bounced back from an injury scare with a sturdy outing in which he had all his velocity. He’s a potential impact rental piece. It’s time to move him. 2-4. Nicholas Castellanos (Tigers), Corey Dickerson (Pirates) & Yasiel Puig (Reds), OF (LR: 6, 20, NR): The corner outfield market has crystallized quite a bit in recent weeks. Each of these players is earning a fairly steep salary but has also been quite productive of late. If you need to add some thump to your outfield mix, these are your top rental options. 5-7. Noah Syndergaard (Mets), Mike Minor (Rangers) & Robbie Ray(Diamondbacks), SP (LR: 30, 31, 32):These are the likeliest remaining non-rental starters to be moved this summer. Reports have wavered on all three in the run-up to to the deadline; perhaps their teams have as well. These are talented and productive starters with appealing contract situations, playing for teams that can still entertain hopes of 2020 contention. Better bring a good offer. 8-10. Shane Greene (Tigers), Edwin Diaz(Mets) & Felipe Vazquez (Pirates), RP (LR: 8, NR, NR): Greene isn’t in the same tier from a talent standpoint, but he’s also quite a bit more likely than the other two hurlers to be dealt. It makes sense for the Detroit organization to cash him in at a high point, especially since his arb salary will go through the roof next year. Diaz and Vazquez possess the type of talent that moves the needle even for contending teams that seemingly have everything on their rosters. Given their contract situations, they won’t be moved lightly, but it’s possible to imagine blockbusters in both cases. 11. Tanner Roark, SP, Reds (LR: NR): He’s not an exciting pitcher, but he’s as good or better than other sturdy, inning-filling types that have been moved in recent weeks. High odds of a deal unless the Reds shrug and decide to let it ride. 12-13. Matthew Boyd (Tigers) & Caleb Smith (Marlins), SP (LR: 9, 59): These hurlers come with more and cheaper control than the group listed above. They’ve both shown eye-opening improvements this year, but don’t have lengthy track records of MLB success. 14-15. Mychal Givens (Orioles), Raisel Iglesias (Reds), RP (LR: 17, NR): Gone are the days when big save tallies and/or low ERAs drive the deadline. Both of these pitchers have obvious talent and have shown it for lengthy stretches. Contenders have no doubt taken a close look in a bid to understand just why it is the results haven’t been there in 2019. The O’s have every reason to jump on a deal if they can get some appealing young talent. The Reds are reportedly willing to listen on Iglesias, which hasn’t always really been the case. 16-18. Todd Frazier, 3B, Mets; Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants; Justin Smoak, 1B/DH, Blue Jays (LR: 13, 14, 15): Welcome to the 2019 corner infield rental market. 19-25. Craig Stammen (Padres), Daniel Hudson (Blue Jays), Greg Holland(Diamondbacks), Francisco Liriano(Pirates), Chris Martin (Rangers), David Hernandez & Jared Hughes (Reds), RP (LR: 41, 44, 42, NR, NR, NR, NR): And here we have the slate of pure rental relief arms. Hernandez is perhaps the most fascinating of the bunch, with excellent K/BB numbers but a brutal 6.92 ERA and recent IL stint. 26. Alex Colome, RP, White Sox (LR: 45): We just aren’t very high on Colome as a trade chip. The late-inning experience is great, as is the 2.27 ERA over 39 2/3 innings. But Colome’s ho-hum peripherals are cause for quite a lot of skepticism and Statcast batted-ball measurements paint him as a massive regression candidate (.223 wOBA vs. .324 xwOBA). With a hefty salary — $7.325MM this year and a save-induced arb raise next year — it just doesn’t seem that Colome is going to command significant offers. 27. Ken Giles (RP), Blue Jays (LR: 4): This is a disappointing situation for the Jays, who were all lined up to cash in on Giles after his exceptional showing throughout the first half of the season. Unfortunately, he’s now dealing with worrying elbow inflammation. Even if he ultimately comes through just fine, there’s sufficient uncertainty to make a deal much less likely than it had seemed. If they can’t secure a big return, the Jays will probably hold onto Giles in hopes that he’ll bounce back in the second half and turn into a winter trade piece (or remain the team’s closer for 2020). 28. Clint Frazier, OF, Yankees (LR: 12):There’s still no path to the Bronx, so it’s likely Frazier ends up on the move. Odds are he’ll go in a deal that brings back a pitcher, but beyond that it’s anyone’s guess on a landing spot. 29. Mike Leake, SP, Mariners (LR: 16): The veteran hurler is sporting a fine 2.59 ERA through 24 1/3 innings this month, making him a nice back-of-the-rotation target. We know the M’s are willing to deal and hold onto salary as necessary to facilitate a move. Leake would rank higher but for the fact that his no-trade rights (along with indications he won’t hesitate to use them) create a complication. 30. Roenis Elias, RP, Mariners (LR: 18):Despite a few stumbles, Elias has mostly delivered solid work in a surprising turn as the Seattle closer. 31. Jarrod Dyson, OF, Diamondbacks (LR: 37): The speedy lefty is a classic deadline rental piece. He’d make sense as a bench outfielder for a number of contenders. 32-33. Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks) & Trevor Bauer (Indians), SP (LR: 32, 34):There are still scenarios where these two excellent hurlers could be moved, but we haven’t heard a significant volume of rumors indicating there’s a major run-up to a deal. Greinke’s limited no-trade rights are a significant factor, while the contending Cleveland organization obviously has ample cause to keep Bauer unless very particular goals are met in a trade. 34-37. Joe Jimenez (Tigers), Joe Biagini(Blue Jays), Jose Leclerc (Rangers) & Amir Garrett (Reds), RP (LR: 58, NR, NR, NR): This is a grouping of controllable relievers with interesting arms, even if the results haven’t always been there. All have been mentioned at some point in the rumor mill, but it’ll take a compelling offer to force their respective teams’ hands. 38. Hunter Pence, OF, Rangers (LR: NR):The surprise All-Star would fill a niche as a right-handed bat and major clubhouse presence for a contender. 39-40. Hunter Renfroe & Franmil Reyes, OF, Padres (LR: 21, 22): It remains difficult to ascertain the intentions of the San Diego organization, but it seems they’re continuing to explore deals involving these controllable corner outfielders. Both have displayed huge power and middling on-base numbers this year. 41-42. Kole Calhoun (Angels) & David Peralta (Diamondbacks), OF (LR: 28, 29): As was the case when we last checked in, these two players remain plausible but hardly certain trade candidates. Teams looking for quality corner outfield bats may be willing to take on the salary and give up some prospect value if they see one of these veteran left-handed-hitters as the best roster fit. 43. Kirby Yates, RP, Padres (LR: 19):Perhaps we’re discounting the possibility of a trade too much here, but there just hasn’t been any particularly compelling chatter about the outstanding San Diego closer. As just suggested above, there are still quite a few fascinating possibilities for the Friars. Anything involving Yates would make for banner news on a thus-far-moribund trade market. 44. Andrew Chafin, RP, Diamondbacks (LR: NR): While he’s carrying a 4.21 ERA in 36 1/3 innings, that’s not of much concern. More importantly, Chafin is sitting at 11.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 on the year and has been tough on lefty hitters (.231/.294/.333). With one more season of control remaining, the Snakes have some value here. 45. Daniel Murphy, 1B, Rockies (LR: NR):Murphy is heating up at the plate at the right time if the Colorado club wishes to clear some salary. The Rox have underperformed expectations and seem in position to sell. Trouble is, the organization has little in the way of obvious trade chips unless it puts core pieces up for sale or eats a ton of money on bad contracts. 46. Domingo Santana, OF, Mariners (LR: NR): It seemed that some momentum was building towards a deal, but an elbow injury has reduced the likelihood. 47. Alex Wood, SP, Reds (LR: NR): While he’s only one start into his tenure in Cincinnati, that lone showing may have been enough to facilitate a trade. The Reds could hold on and hope for the best, with Wood perhaps even representing a qualifying offer candidate, but they’d have to strongly consider a trade if they can secure decent terms. 48-50. Whit Merrifield, INF/OF, Royals; Starling Marte, OF, Pirates; Trey Mancini, OF, Orioles (LR: 23, NR, 35): We haven’t seen anything close to dedicated trade chatter involving these high-quality players who possess appealing contract situations. But if a surprise position-player blockbuster goes down, these seem the likeliest candidates. 51-52. Jake McGee & Scott Oberg, RP, Rockies (LR: NR): Both of these relievers would have appeal to contenders, but can the Rox afford to part with their best-performing bullpen pieces if they hope to contend next year? 53-55. Freddy Galvis (Blue Jays), Asdrubal Cabrera & Logan Forsythe(Rangers), INF (LR: 26, NR, NR): A recent lower back injury could cause trade talks to hit the skids, but it’s still possible a team will decide that Galvis is the right piece to add. Meanwhile, the Rangers rental veterans are rather obvious bench piece candidates. 56-59. Danny Santana (Rangers), Tim Beckham (Mariners), Jonathan Villar & Hanser Alberto (Orioles), INF (LR: NR, 55, 56): If you’d rather chase a bit of upside and gain control with your reserve infield addition, these players are worth considering. 60. Adam Jones, OF, Diamondbacks (LR: NR): The eminent veteran hasn’t been at his best, but still seems like a nice bench piece for the right team. 61-63. Martin Maldonado (Cubs), Alex Avila (Diamondbacks) & Chris Iannetta(Rockies), C (LR: 38, 40, NR): Maldonado was dealt since our last ranking, but rumor is he could be moved again. 64. Ian Kennedy, RP, Royals (LR: 49): There hasn’t been much chatter on the veteran, but he remains a candidate to step into a contending bullpen if the Royals are willing to hang onto a big chunk of the remaining salary. There’s some indication they’d rather not. 65-66. Wilson Ramos, C & Justin Wilson, RP, Mets (LR: 53-54): We haven’t seen much indication that either of these veterans will be moved, but both are plausible chips if the Mets decide to try to shave some 2020 payroll obligations. 67. Lance Lynn, SP, Rangers (LR: NR):There’s no indication that Lynn is a major target, but … why not? True, he’s controllable for two more seasons, while Minor only has one remaining. But some contenders may well see Lynn as the better pitcher and be willing to offer more to get him. The Rangers can’t rule anything out. 68-71. Madison Bumgarner (SP) & Will Smith, Sam Dyson & Tony Watson (RP), Giants (LR: 1, 2, 7, 10): We’re generally presuming that the Giants won’t bow out of a Wild Card race that they have now joined. Still, they’ll need to explore the possibilities regarding these short-term assets. 72. Drew Pomeranz, SP/RP, Giants (LR: NR): This is a more likely Giants’ trade piece, if only because the team could decide to clear a roster spot. Pomeranz would make sense for a club that can imagine him functioning in a LOOGY role while also providing some long-man/rotation depth. 73. Melky Cabrera, OF/DH, Pirates (LR: NR): The veteran switch-hitter has cooled off but remains a bench-bat candidate. 74. Charlie Blackmon, OF, Rockies (LR: NR): A somewhat surprising name to the market, Blackmon seems an unlikely trade chip. He’s still a very good hitter, but is lagging in other areas. The contract isn’t terrible but doesn’t seem like much of an asset given his age. It’s just difficult to see something coming together, but the potential remains. 75. Jacob deGrom (LR: 60): We can’t quite quit the idea that deGrom could be moved if an exceptional opportunity comes up. It’s highly unlikely, but you can’t completely rule out a blockbuster until the bell has rung and the deadline has passed.
It's Avila's job to properly evaluate talent and not do stupid stuff like ask the Yankees for Gleyber Torrs for Matt Boyd. Avila can't force the Astros to trade him Kyle Tucker, though, and I think that's what people are ultimately going to scream about when the deadline is over.