Perfect Vision

If I could only have access to two statistics -- one for position players and one for pitchers -- it would be OBP and WHIP. I think I could build a pretty good baseball team knowing just those two things. I do think we've taken new baseball statistics a bit too far in terms of their utility.

I don't think Rutherford would lead the AZL in home runs, let alone the high A level. Going back to that level wouldn't suddenly make him superman.

So that breaks 13 minutes before the trade deadline lol

In the last 12 hours, Nationals acquired Hudson, Elias, and Strickland and the Braves acquired Martin and Greene. Hahn must be talking to the Phillies right now, right??

Phillies have been conspicuously quiet today while the Braves and Nationals have been very active. Wonder if they'll make a move in the next hour.

So are the Dodgers really going to stand pat if they don't get Vazquez?

It's going to be hilarious when the Sox have a really good, fun, competitive team next year, but Colome blows a bunch of saves and is DFA'd mid-year.

Vazquez and Yates are essentially not available due to extremely high asking price. Giles is injured. Will Smith and the other Giants relievers are probably staying put. Diaz is the top reliever available who is likely to be dealt, followed by Colome and Greene in some order. It's a good market to get value for Colome.

For as much as the Dodgers, Braves, Nationals, Phillies, and Brewers have been involved in talks to bolster their pitching, I have a hard time believing they won't all acquire someone between now and 3pm tomorrow. If the Vazquez talks fall through with the Pirates, it will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do. This is an important year for them and they really need an impact bullpen arm.

Doubt the Phillies would be willing to trade Spencer Howard in a Colome deal, but that's who I would ask for.

Today feels like moving day. I think the Giants hold on to Smith now that they are in contention, and Yates and Vazquez don't get moved because the asking price is too high. The returns on trades haven't been great so far, but lots of teams still need bullpen help and the reliever market seems to be thinning out a bit. Giles is probably the top guy that gets moved, then Colome, Greene, Kennedy, and Givens. Teams that really want a lefty reliever (Dodgers) could make a really nice offer for Bummer.

That account looks like it probably does have sources with the Nationals.

I'm a big fan of the "combo" trades, where multiple players are traded in the same deal to increase the quality of the return. The results haven't been great with Blake Rutherford so far, but I loved how Hahn was willing to package all of Robertson, Kahnle, and Frazier together to get the best player possible back, rather than trading them separately to get a greater quantity of players, but lesser quality. I'm hoping for the same this trade deadline. If Hahn can get a group of prospects headlined by a top 50 guy by packaging Colome, one of Bummer/Fry, and one of Leury/Jay, I'm all for it.

Kopech will be 18 months post-surgery by opening day next year. No reason he can't be fully ramped up and ready to go by that point. If the Sox want to cap his innings at 150 or so, then so be it -- he be replaced by Rodon or someone else in August. But Kopech should be able to go deep into games and throw all his pitches by the start of next season.

You're right about that, and it's fascinating to think how important these next 5 Giants games are to the reliever trade market. If Smith, Dyson, and Watson are no longer available, the ask for guys like Giles, Yates, and Vazquez will be enormous, and the Dodgers might be happy to deal with the White Sox if it's "only" going to cost Dustin May.

Giants are now only 2 games back of both wildcard spots. Looking more and more like they won't be trading either Will Smith or Sam Dyson. Will increase the value of Colome/Bummer. Depending on what the Pirates decide to do with Felipe Vazquez, Bummer could be the best lefty reliever on the trade market this year if Hahn decides to make him available. I'm not totally sold on trading him, but things may be falling into place where the Sox could receive huge value for him.

I'd be surprised if he didn't get $200 million frankly. If Hahn and co. pursue Cole thinking they can get him for $150 mil, it's going to be Machado all over again.

He can really drop in that hook. Also, some great catching there from Skoug.

Could be Stiever's last game at A+. 40 dominant innings. 45 ks to 8 bbs. I would promote him now when he can still get 7-8 AA starts.

I know a lot of people are down on Blake Rutherford, but I think he still has a good chance of making it as an average or better MLB player. He's trending towards a .280+ batting average on the season (which is pretty impressive considering his terrible first 2 months). He hit .293 last year. I know the power numbers are low, but there are plenty of examples of players hitting for a good average but low power in the minors, who develop power in their mid-20s (Michael Brantley and Scooter Gennett are a couple guys who come to mind).

Grisham has been as good or better than Luis Robert over the last month. MLB-ready, lefty bat, great on base skills, relatively low strikeouts, and good corner defense. Also, could be available with Yelich, Cain, and Braun/Gamel in the outfield through at least next year. I like him as a target in a Colome/Bummer deal if the Dodgers aren't willing to give up Dustin May.

May just be posturing by the Pirates, but this looks like an apt place to put this tweet.

Colome alone won't, but would as a package with Bummer. I doubt Hand is traded with the Indians currently holding a wildcard spot. The Padres have said they would have to be "overwhelmed" to trade Yates. I doubt he's moved. And Vazquez is up in the air. There may not actually be that many good relievers available this year. Plus, Bummer would probably be the second best lefty on the market if he's made available, behind Will Smith, and may even be seen as more valuable than Smith give the years of control.