GDT 6/7/25 Philadelphia Phillies (Suárez, Ra) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Heaney)

[zambonir]

For sure there is no reason to trade anyone if you don't have to. But if you do, Ranger's value is not nearly as high as Abel's, or at least, he would be of no use to a team trading us their closer or RHB. We do need more offense and that means trading from the area of depth, whether it is prospects or off the roster.

[andyb]

But if you do, Ranger's value is not nearly as high as Abel's, or at least, he would be of no use to a team trading us their closer or RHB.

That is a big reason he won't be traded. The other huge one is that he is probably one of the 5 guys on that team that the manager will want to go to war with in the playoffs. The list is not huge. Harper, Schwarber, maybe Realmuto and Castellanos on the hitting side. After Wheeler I imagine Ranger might be the second arm the manager trusts most now that Nola can't be counted on as much (and guys like Sanchez still have things to prove). I am bringing Ranger in on 1-day rest to close out game 7 of a playoff series before ANYONE we have in the current bullpen.

[zambonir]

I'm not as high on him I guess, given his durability issues and last year's second half, but I hope it's true! For sure, if he's the third or fourth-best arm on the staff he isn't going anywhere, even if he gets moved out of the rotation. Trading him is really based on a currently expired premise - where he's clearly not even the 4th playoff starter because Nola, Sanchez and Luzardo are all ahead of him, and Painter is in the rotation mix as well. But that is sure not where we are today.

[Austinfan]

They're not trading Abel, with Wheeler, Nola and Walker eating $80+M, they probably can't afford to extend Luzardo, so in two years, they'll be awfully thin without Abel and Painter.

[andyb]

Walker's contract is done in 2 years. Wheeler in 3 (and he does not seem to want to continue).

They have the money. They just need to make the correct decisions and balance the risk. One can never have too much pitching.

[Austinfan]

Unless Crawford, Miller and Martini all come through, they'll need that money to add two solid starting players.

[andyb]

Unless Crawford, Miller and Martini all come through, they'll need that money to add two solid starting players

They have the money. The fact that you just don't get. It does not mean they automatically spend it, but you just reflexively say no to everything. Then need to make choices and hopefully the right ones. Counting on Nick Martini is probably not the right choice though.