2023 MLB Thread: Texas Rangers World Series Champions

[Deleted]

If Bo Bichette is out for a significant amount of time, then the teams directly behind the Blue Jays in the Wild Card standings (Red Sox, Angels, Yankees, Mariners) just got more incentive to be buyers. The Jays offense stinks and Bichette was one of the few bright spots. They could have survived if Vlad had to miss time, but if Bo does, then they are in trouble. Maybe the Angels do sneak in after all.

[The Rick Jericho]

[BRV]

Keeping track of today's notable trades before the 6 p.m. deadline:

Blue Jays acquire SS Paul DeJong and cash from Cardinals for RHP Matt Svanson

Rockies acquire LHP Justin Bruihl from Dodgers for cash considerations

Padres acquire LHP Rich Hill and 1B Ji-Man Choi from Pirates for LHP Jackson Wolf, OF Estuar Suero and 1B Alfonso Rivas

Braves acquire LHP Brad Hand from Rockies for RHP Alec Barger

Rays acquire RHP Adrian Sampson and RHP Manuel Rodríguez from Cubs for RHP Josh Roberson

Royals acquire LHP Tucker Davidson from Angels for cash considerations

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

Justin Verlander traded back to the Astros

[Renslayer]

This is what I get for putting faith in the mets.

[The Captain]

Meet the new Mets. Same as the old Mets.

[hashtagdaley/JudasDay]

::::pokes Farhan with a stick::::

[jm]

A look at Verlander's illustrious and legendary tenure with the Mets:

[HMARK Center]

Aug 1, 2023 14:14:31 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Meet the new Mets. Same as the old Mets.

In terms of spending a lot and going into a season with high hopes only for them to crash? Oh yeah, some 1992 and 2002 vibes on that.

But in terms of how they're handling this deadline? Noooooo, no no no no.

If it was still the Wilpons in charge, I can guarantee one of two things would've happened:
-They would've insisted that being six games back of the third WC with so many teams in front of them was no big deal and they'd go out and trade 2-3 of their top 10 prospects for some mediocre reliever or platoon bat. Nobody pricy, though!
OR! And this would be more likely...
-They'd be trading these guys away and getting absolutely nothing in exchange, because the 'Pons would be insisting on getting their trade partners to cover as much of the remaining money as possible. There's no way they'd have ever brought Scherzer in in the first place, but if they had there's no way they'd have traded him, eaten a bunch of the remaining money, and thus netted someone worth a damn for the system.

Cohen decided to come in as owner and give out a bunch of big money but short term contracts, trying to create a bridge of competitive teams until they could make their farm system better, ala the Dodgers when their new ownership came in 10 years ago. But hey, things didn't work out this year (plus doing that the way the Dodgers did is tougher since the new CBA); since the contracts were short term it was possible to trade these guys away, use some financial muscle to eat a few bucks, and thus get a solid prospect haul. Take whatever dollars they save and spend it after this year, take those prospects and either develop them or use them in other deals this offseason, and they could easily be angling for a Wild Card spot next season, with their eyes set more on 2025.

Basically, it sucks but this is much better actual process than what we'd have gotten during the Wilpon years, so for that, at least, I'm grateful.

ETA: Mets apparently sending a whole lot of money Houston's way for this deal, which definitely makes it worse on paper, but ultimately if Cohen doesn't care and says "screw it, we're doing this AND building a decent team for next year, too", then I can't really worry about it, since it's not my money and presumably isn't going to negatively impact the team. Guess we'll see.

Either way, Mets just went from a farm system ranked around #20-#22 and between the draft and the deadline have jumped into the top 10. If Cohen is still spending after all this, the team's actually in a better place than it was when he took over. Again, though, have to see how far they end up going with whatever other moves they make in the next two hours.

Put another way, Cohen bought the Mets for around $2.5 billion. He's basically now just spent a bunch of money to add a farm system to his purchase. If that's how he views it, mahzel tov.

[animaniac]

He may be right but real scummy move by Scherzer to run to the Athletic and leak what were essentially private conversations.

[BRV]

Aug 1, 2023 9:28:24 GMT -5 BRV said:

The Red Sox picked just about the worst possible time for a three-game losing streak. They now sit at 56-50, 2.5 games behind Toronto for the third Wild Card, with the Angels, Yankees, and Mariners nipping at their heels. They've given Chaim Bloom all the justification he needs to stand pat, make only a minor transaction, or sell at the deadline.

Sadly, I fully expect an uneventful trade deadline for Boston. The team has given it everything they have through the first four months of the season, somehow contending for the playoffs despite using an opener two out of every five days, relying on 24-year-old Brayan Bello to be the staff ace, significant injuries to their best pitcher (Chris Sale), starting second baseman (Trevor Story), two young starting pitchers (Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck), and starting centerfielder (Adam Duvall).

Rafael Devers said it best when he told The Boston Globe, "We've been killing ourselves to be in the position we are in now." They should be rewarded with some transactions that signal the front office and ownership is willing to invest in this year's club and see if they can make a little noise in October.

Instead, I think Bloom and ownership will look at this three-game skid, see that every team above them in the standings has made significant acquisitions, and say to themselves, "It's not our year, it's not worth it."

I hate that I called this several hours ago.

By not making any transactions today, Chaim Bloom and ownership conceded the 2023 season, and I feel terribly for the players on the roster, who’ve busted their asses all season to get to 2.5 games within a Wild Card spot. I feel like a tailspin into sub .500 baseball is almost imminent for this team, because if the front office and ownership doesn’t believe in them, why should they?

How can Bloom and Co. look at a team that has to roll out an opener two out of every five days, players playing out of position, and replacement-level players at multiple positions and think this is a quality team?

I want to say this disgrace of a trade deadline should be enough to fire Chaim Bloom, but he’s doing precisely what ownership wants him to do — get a team that can appear to play meaningful baseball into August so they can sell tickets, concessions, and merchandise, but don’t spend any more than the bare minimum.

That’s because the Boston Red Sox are now no more than a part of John Henry’s portfolio. He used to live and die with this team, but now they mean no more to him than Liverpool FC, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rousch Racing, or the Vegas NBA franchise he’s trying to get in on.

[horsemen4ever]

So the Yankees did basically did nothing, and all expecting me to roast Cashman for this, nope I am fine with this. I rather they do nothing than make another bad trade, there were no game changers available anyway. If Soto, Otani, or even Bellenger were traded to other teams, than I would rip Cashman, they weren't.

What happens in the next two months happens, and Hal is going to have to wake up and make some uncomfortable decisions if the Yankees don't make the playoffs, and if he can't do that, sell that dam team you cheap skate.

[RI Richmark]

Aug 1, 2023 17:13:56 GMT -5 BRV said:

Aug 1, 2023 9:28:24 GMT -5 BRV said:

The Red Sox picked just about the worst possible time for a three-game losing streak. They now sit at 56-50, 2.5 games behind Toronto for the third Wild Card, with the Angels, Yankees, and Mariners nipping at their heels. They've given Chaim Bloom all the justification he needs to stand pat, make only a minor transaction, or sell at the deadline.

Sadly, I fully expect an uneventful trade deadline for Boston. The team has given it everything they have through the first four months of the season, somehow contending for the playoffs despite using an opener two out of every five days, relying on 24-year-old Brayan Bello to be the staff ace, significant injuries to their best pitcher (Chris Sale), starting second baseman (Trevor Story), two young starting pitchers (Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck), and starting centerfielder (Adam Duvall).

Rafael Devers said it best when he told The Boston Globe, "We've been killing ourselves to be in the position we are in now." They should be rewarded with some transactions that signal the front office and ownership is willing to invest in this year's club and see if they can make a little noise in October.

Instead, I think Bloom and ownership will look at this three-game skid, see that every team above them in the standings has made significant acquisitions, and say to themselves, "It's not our year, it's not worth it."

I hate that I called this several hours ago.

By not making any transactions today, Chaim Bloom and ownership conceded the 2023 season, and I feel terribly for the players on the roster, who’ve busted their asses all season to get to 2.5 games within a Wild Card spot. I feel like a tailspin into sub .500 baseball is almost imminent for this team, because if the front office and ownership doesn’t believe in them, why should they?

How can Bloom and Co. look at a team that has to roll out an opener two out of every five days, players playing out of position, and replacement-level players at multiple positions and think this is a quality team?

I want to say this disgrace of a trade deadline should be enough to fire Chaim Bloom, but he’s doing precisely what ownership wants him to do — get a team that can appear to play meaningful baseball into August so they can sell tickets, concessions, and merchandise, but don’t spend any more than the bare minimum.

That’s because the Boston Red Sox are now no more than a part of John Henry’s portfolio. He used to live and die with this team, but now they mean no more to him than Liverpool FC, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rousch Racing, or the Vegas NBA franchise he’s trying to get in on.

They just got Luis Urias from the Brewers! Don't you feel silly now? I'm going to pre order my World Series tickets now!

Truthfully, it's annoying. I wasn't expecting a blockbuster but they couldn't even part with anything for Rich Hill?

But Chris Sale and Trevor Story will be back soon! That's like a trade right?

There is some hope for the future. Bello, Duran and Casas have taken big steps this year. Hopefully once Chaim's kids make their way to the Majors maybe he'll be more invested in the present.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

I don’t understand why Mets fans would be another but over the moon right now all things considered. That is a haul and a half for a failed season, I’d be psyched.

[fw91]

Aug 1, 2023 18:14:01 GMT -5 UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm said:

I don’t understand why Mets fans would be another but over the moon right now all things considered. That is a haul and a half for a failed season, I’d be psyched.

we don't want to punt on 2024 though. We can have our cake and eat it too wiht replenishing the farm and making good signings Mark Canha and Daniel Vogelbach aren't in any real contenders starting 9.

[Renslayer]

Yankees being cheapskates. The boss would NEVAH!

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Phillies got maybe the best rental pitcher on the market in Lorenzen and then replaced Harrison with Castro

No Outfield bat but they seem in on Rojas, so I'm ok with that... offense really just needs to get its shit together

Incidentally, Segura was traded to and then released by the Guardians... Phillies really should pick him up, for the locker room vibes alone.

[sfvega]

Aug 1, 2023 18:14:01 GMT -5 UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm said:

I don’t understand why Mets fans would be another but over the moon right now all things considered. That is a haul and a half for a failed season, I’d be psyched.

I'm not so sure I feel the same way. They traded two guys who are arms at the top of the rotation, which is rare these days. Granted, they're older. But of the guys they received, Acuna and Gilbert aren't super high end or phenom talents. They compare to Harrison Bader and Vidal Brujan to me, though Brujan was supposed to be a lot better than he ended up being (for the time being anyway.) He was supposed to be a decent contact hitter with 15 HR-power and 20-25 SB-speed. But is that more valuable than an ace? Losing the payroll is the bigger deal, but it depends on how much money they sent to jettison it. If it's just a hit in the shorter-term, then it's a good deal to reset again in FA or trades, but I don't think they got truly great talent in return. Just above average.

[Renslayer]

See y'all in 2024!

[hashtagdaley/JudasDay]

Patrick.

Bailey.