2018 Trade Deadline rumors/speculation

[andyb]

LA has a short term need with Seager out. Of course they could play one at 3B and move Turner, but it does seem the Dodgers' interest is more short term than anybody else.

[Austinfan]

They'll just hire some Broadway set designer!

[Dirk41]

Could Donaldson come back and prove a better add after the deadline???

[bigegypt0417]

They'll just hire some Broadway set designer!

well, an attempt at humor is always good...especially when it takes away the point you wanted to make.

[zambonir]

Certainly someone you could take a flier on in August, would also give you more time to see how Franco does. But I think that only happens if nothing else presents itself.

You gotta think they'll look at Merrifield again too, arguably he is worth the same package Machado is, though the fact that he's not actually a 3B makes it seem dubious, short and long-term.

[Squire]

I've always liked Nick Castellanos

[allentown]

I know the ownership is 'different', in that some of the old anchors are gone, but the guys in charge now were always here. In hiring MacPhail, we hired pretty much the essence of old-school baseball establishment. I don't see him leading the charge for by far the biggest contract to date in baseball history. Primarily, I don't think Philly is #1 or #2 of where he wants to play long-term. I think the Dodgers are in the top 2.

[allentown]

I think it is a foregone conclusion that he will get the biggest contract in history, just as it is a foregone conclusion that Trout will beat that deal when he becomes a FA. He could make an extension deal today for the biggest contract in history -- biggest by a lot, not by a little bit. The whispering may be going on because more than a little tampering has gone on and Manny's side is trying to steer the deal.

Note: this is just another of those times when an actual free market is allowed to rear its ugly head and we see in stark detail just how much baseball's anti-trust exemption enriches the owners and how much the players lose in the deal.

[zambonir]

I think Middleton is dying to give out that contract. Didn't someone report that he wants to sign both Harper and Machado? He's the guy who got Giles and Monty pushed out, the guy who gave Howard that deal (oops), the guy who (oops) wanted AJ Burnett. I don't think he's someone who's gonna do Rob Manfred's bidding, anymore than the Steinbrenners or Magic Johnson is. But more importantly the entire organizational plan since MacPhail and Klentak got hired has been to spend this money and target these players this year.

Yes MacPhail is old guard, and Gillick also lingers, but neither of them are the old Phillies PTB.

As for Machado's preference a lot depends on the history with these guys. Take that away and I agree the Phillies can't compete with the big brand teams.

[EDmuch]

Merrifield is no where close to the player that Machado is.

[EDmuch]

Merrifield has 5 home runs this year. 30 something RBI's. He is batting over .300. And he does not play much third base. I am not at all sure why we are so interested in him, if we really are.

[zambonir]

They have the exact same WAR this season, and Merrifield's was higher last year.

But of course not. Except, you only get Machado for 10 weeks, you get Merrifield for 10 weeks and four years. That control (and accompanying low salary) easily doubles his trade value, especially when there's no reason for the Royals to trade him.

But he just doesn't seem to help the Phillies this minute, agreed. He would basically be a bench guy who they could try at 3B and use in RF.

[EDmuch]

Or this hour, this year or next. Merrifield is essentially what I think the FO hopes Kingery will become. Merrifield has very little experience at 3b.

[EDmuch]

Isn't Merrifield's WAR based upon second base?

[zambonir]

True. But nothing about this infield is etched in stone, now or next year. Obviously the same front office that was willing to make Kingery a SS would be willing to try someone like that at 3B.

It's probably just one of those rumors that leaked out without being very serious. They were talking Moustakas and the Phillies expressed an interest in Merrifield (or both).

If they don't get MM it will be interesting to see what the team's intentions are regarding the players who aren't producing, whether as starters or in bench roles, since those are the spots that will be upgraded if the players aren't included in trade. One of Crawford, Altherr and Kingery would seem to end up in AAA if they get two pieces.

I'd consider a back-up catcher too. If you can't dramatically improve the starting 8, keep tinkering at the margins. Knapp has some quality attributes but I have trouble believing this is the catching tandem for the next three years (and either way, you don't have to give up on nap to replace him for 10 weeks).

[zambonir]

Not really. It's where he's played the most but he has about the same number of games at five other positions combined. And only .3 of his WAR is defensive (but at least it's positive. Manny would be way ahead of him if he wasn't negative there).

[Austinfan]

Knapp has been hitting very well the last two months, more like his norm.
I don't see him more than a backup catcher, but he could be a very good utility man and switch hitter off the bench.

Longer term Bossart and Grullon are both looking good in Reading.

[zambonir]

Knapp's bat is coming around for sure. More than his norm, even (though overall, he's back to normal). So the question then becomes if adding a half WAR worth of defense and pitcher-handling is worth less offense.

He (Knapp) is probably a little underrated, even, despite the gaffes.

[andyb]

It took half a season to get enough sample size, but Knapp is basically what we expected. Decent OBP, modest power. Below average defense. That profile is a decent backup as long as the starter is better defensively (which Alfaro is).

Not really concerned with catcher. I figure both of the kids get a bit better in the long run. Grullon is nice depth but I still don't see him as more than a backup as well. The big story is really Alfaro though hitting a bit more than expected. As I said from his minor league career, he actually has a decent hit tool. Not much strike zone discipline, but he does a decent job of putting a lot of balls in play with something on them. He is already better than Rupp ever was if you consider defense.

[Austinfan]

Grullon is all of 22 at Reading, with a .822 OPS and H/A splits of .800/.844, so he's not benefiting from the Reading park. Combine that with above average defense and you have one of the best catching prospects in baseball.

Bossart is a smaller sample, but he seems to be blossoming late, as his power has made a big jump, and again, the H/A splits suggest it's for real: .834/.911. While he's older at 25, he's also a solid defensive catcher with a reputation for handling pitchers, and he wouldn't be the first catcher to learn to hit later than normal.

Both are certainly worth watching, but with Alfaro entrenched, I expect them both to be promoted to Lehigh next year.
If they continue to do well, catchers are really nice trade chips.