2018 Trade Deadline rumors/speculation

[bigegypt0417]

I don't consider Medina our #2 prospect, I'm not sure he's better than Morales, for example, or even De Los Santos.
Good A ball pitchers are something we have plenty of in the system.
Medina was a $70K signing, one thing the Phillies do well is find and develop LA pitchers.

Morales may very well end up better than Medina but he isn't today. Medina has a better arsenal than De Los Santos and I'm not sure there is much debate. I have no idea how much we signed him for would matter in the conversation unless that somehow should be a reason to trade the 2nd best pitching prospect for a rental...unless you genuinely don't believe he's a rental.

[bigegypt0417]

Now it's being reported the dodgers have moved in to the front...good!

Jon Heyman on Twitter

[EDmuch]

What could the Dodgers have offered that beats what we supposedly offered? Maybe the stories about what we supposedly offered are not accurate.

In any event, if we do not obtain Manny or another strong hitter, I think we fade in the second half and miss out on the second wild card. We just don't have enough offense right now.

[Lawman]

I tend to agree with you, @EDmuch, that absent more offense the team will probably fade. That being said, I do think they will find a way to add offense and pitching help.

[Squire]

Random thoughts: Twitter is the new negotiating ploy. Everything gets leaked to a reporter for a reason. Its not about reporting its about manipulation. Heyman is usually voice of the agents so this could be Manny's camp pushing him to Los Angeles. Or this could be the Orioles bluffing the Phillies into raising their offer.

[andyb]

What could the Dodgers have offered that beats what we supposedly offered?

If they put Verdugo in a deal that would beat anything we could offer. They also have lots of depth in raw international arms from their spending spree several years ago. They could put together a pretty deep package. Now it would be a rental for them since Seager will be back next year, but that is how the price should be set anyway.

[bigegypt0417]

What could the Dodgers have offered that beats what we supposedly offered?

If they put Verdugo in a deal that would beat anything we could offer. They also have lots of depth in raw international arms from their spending spree several years ago. They could put together a pretty deep package. Now it would be a rental for them since Seager will be back next year, but that is how the price should be set anyway.

What about Verdugo makes him better than anything we can offer?

[EDmuch]

If the Dodgers do get Manny, i think they would be confident that they could sign him long term. He would move to third base and they would probably trade Turner. LA does offer a life style that could be very, very appealing to Machado.

[VoteForKalas]

Why do we need to lose prospects for 2 months of Machado at this point in our team development?

Why is making the playoffs this year suddenly a necessity?

I get worried too about reports of Middleton possibly pushing forward or forcing this to happen. The owner cannot be making baseball decisions - he needs to authorize the financial means to improve the team and stay out of the way.

[bigegypt0417]

The owner cannot be making baseball decisions - he needs to authorize the financial means to improve the team and stay out of the way.

That seems to be exactly what he's doing.

Could it be that the front office asked if they could pursue and got the green light?

[Austinfan]

I think we shouldn't assume players' first half performances can't improve, we have a lot of young players (and Crawford returning), some of whom could take a step up as they get more experience. This isn't an old veteran team with players likely to break down with overwork in the second half.

[EDmuch]

I think there is also an issue of winning the fans back. There area lot of winning sports teams in Philly now. And the fans seem slow to embrace these new Phils. If they fade, I can see the fan reaction of "I knew they were not for real". And that is something that the franchise has a legit interest in avoiding because that lack of enthusiasm could carry over to next year too.

[bigegypt0417]

I think we shouldn't assume players' first half performances can't improve, we have a lot of young players (and Crawford returning), some of whom could take a step up as they get more experience. This isn't an old veteran team with players likely to break down with overwork in the second half.

Contending for the playoffs is not something that is guaranteed to happen every season. Going with the philosophy of sitting back and hoping for the best isn't how teams do this. I don't really think MM is the answer to the question and makes us a favorite but there are moves that should be made.

[bigegypt0417]

I think there is also an issue of winning the fans back. There area lot of winning sports team in Philly now. And the fans seem slow to embrace these new Phils. If they fade, I can see the fan reaction of "I knew they were not for real". And that is something that the franchise has a legit interest in avoiding because that lack of enthusiasm could carry over to next year too.

IT would carry over until the team starts winning again...philly fans may have a national reputation but they are extremely loyal.

That said...the Phillies should make some moves to increase their chances. The nats are going to turn it on at some point.

[teabag259]

To me it’s pretty simple. You don’t waste our best prospects for a guy who is a rental. If you’re not damn near 100% certain that he is going to sign an extension then I say let him go to the Dodgers where he most certainly is a rental because Seager is their long-term shortstop.

I certainly get wanting to go all out and win this year because you can not take nothing for granted from year to year. (See Washington a few years ago). But if the Orioles want three or four of our top 15 prospects it is not worth it unless we are 100% certain he is signing with us long term. This team is young and conceivably should be in the mix for many years to come. Not getting Machado for the end of the season also gives us the opportunity to showcase Crawford and anyone else who really would be replaced from signing Machado in the off-season.

[Austinfan]

Oh, I think it's obvious that this team is turning it around, it's more that fans didn't expect it so soon and are still doubtful it's for real (as am I), but the fact they're getting closer to turning the corner will increase enthusiasm for the team next season, MM or no MM.

In fact, MM could be a useful smokescreen if they want to snatch Harper at a "bargain" price if he doesn't turn it on the second half of the season. He's still a power hitter with a high OBP, and maybe some tweaks could get him back up a notch - but if you could get him on an Upton deal he should still be a reasonable gamble for a team that could use a solid LH power bat.

[jimbomill]

The bigger question is what are others (Dodgers, Brewers) offering

True enough - no deal announced usually means no deal.
Still, the Yankees may have 9 more wins because they don't trade their better prospects (Judge, Hicks, Torres, Andujar ...)

[bigegypt0417]

The bigger question is what are others (Dodgers, Brewers) offering

True enough - no deal announced usually means no deal.
Still, the Yankees may have 9 more wins because they don't trade their better prospects (Judge, Hicks, Torres, Andujar ...)

The Yankees also benefited from having some top shelf veterans they could trade for elite prospects.

[jimbomill]

The Yankees also benefited from having some top shelf veterans they could trade for elite prospects

Aye!
They do/did

[saycheese]

Looks like Manny is going to the Dodgers. Names are starting to flow out starting with Yunsial Diaz who hit two home runs in the futures game. Have to believe the Dodgers are going to get him signed if they are giving up that much.