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fbalmeida wrote:Two days worth of trades, and there goes our bullpen for some *meh*-level prospects.

I don't understand the Sanchez-Biagini-Stevenson for Fisher trade.

Looking at their current numbers and ages, I probably wouldn't have traded Stevenson for Fisher straight up, and much less after throwing in a decent reliever. It's as if we're paying to get rid of Sanchez.

Metallikid wrote:What does our pitching staff even look like at this point?

Are we bringing up like 5-10 people in the next week?

Schad wrote:That's a good question. For the time being, I presume our rotation is Pannone, Waguespack, Sean Reid-Foley and then two somethings, with Borucki a question mark as he felt elbow pain. Patrick Murphy/Hector Perez/David Paulino likely options if we want a prospect-like callup, Ryan Feierband if we just want a warmish body.

Whole lotta options in the bullpen. A couple of the previously-mentioned prospects could go to the 'pen, and there are also some guys on the farm who might merit a look: Zach Jackson, maybe Kirby Snead or Bryan Baker in AAA, maybe Jackson McClelland in AA.

polo007 wrote:

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Cyrus wrote:

polo007 wrote:

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This is all good and you can have all the control you want, but they actually have to be good and make it to the big leagues.

The Blue Jays made five trades involving 14 players in a flurry of activity over the last week, yet one of the players they wanted to deal more than almost anyone else stayed put.

The ongoing saga involving Ken Giles and a wonky right elbow resulted in the veteran closer remaining with Toronto. A top trade chip staying right where he is instead of being swapped for a package of prospects. Another missed opportunity to fuel the rebuild, this one completely outside of the Jays’ control.

Toronto general manager Ross Atkins was engaged in trade talks involving Giles right up until Wednesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the Yankees were among the teams that stayed in touch right up until the waning moments. Minnesota and Cleveland reportedly had been sniffing around as well.

But the issue Atkins faced this week never centred on a lack of interest in Giles. The 28-year-old has been enjoying a resurgence this year with a 1.54 ERA over 35 innings while converting all but one of his 15 save opportunities. The talent is there and almost every contender could find a spot for him, but teams obviously weren’t prepared to meet the Blue Jays’ demands after a series of health issues.

The injury isn’t considered serious and Giles is expected to return to the mound at some point this week in Baltimore, but it was enough to scare off other teams. Three elbow issues in less than two months was the type of risk contenders weren’t prepared to take on while also parting with some top prospects.

Winners

1. Houston Astros

Acquired RHP Zack Greinke and $24 million from the Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Corbin Martin, RHP J.B. Bukauskas, LF Seth Beer and 3B Joshua Rojas. Acquired RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Joe Biagini and OF Cal Stevenson from Blue Jays in exchange for OF Derek Fisher. Traded 1B Tyler White to the Dodgers in exchange for RHP Andre Scrubb. Traded 2B/OF Tony Kemp to Cubs for C Martín Maldonado. Traded C Max Stassi to Angels in exchange for OF Rainier Rivas and OF Raider Uceta.

The Astros clearly won the trade deadline when they pulled off the biggest blockbuster trade of the year, landing the best starting pitcher who was traded at this year’s deadline in Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks. GM Jeff Luhnow was able to pull off the trade without giving up his top two prospects in Kyle Tucker and Forrest Whitley and was even able to get Arizona to pick up $24 million of Greinke’s remaining contract. The Astros also landed pitchers Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini, along with outfielder Cal Stevenson from the Toronto Blue Jays in a lopsided trade that sent the toolsy Derek Fisher north of the border. Sanchez is a sinker/slider pitcher and looks like the next candidate for the Astros’ brilliant pitching coach Brent Strom and their analytics department to turn into a star as they previously have with pitchers Charlie Morton and Wade Miley.

In addition, the Astros reacquired Gold Glove catcher Martín Maldonado to back up Robinson Chirinos, which is significant because the Astros pitchers love pitching to him. The Astros have the best team in baseball, and I’m sure glad I picked them to win the World Series back in March because they’re clearly the best team on paper now.

...........

4. New York Mets

Acquired RHP Marcus Stroman from Blue Jays in exchange for LHP Anthony Kay and RHP Simeon Woods Richardson. Traded RHP Wilmer Font to Blue Jays for cash. Acquired RHP Brooks Pounders from Indians for cash. Traded LHP Jason Vargas and $2.9 million to Phillies in exchange for C Austin Bossart.

The New York Mets shocked the baseball world Sunday when they outbid their crosstown rival Yankees and several other contending teams to land right-handed starting pitcher Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays with the intent on keeping him as an important part of their starting rotation this year and next. In return, the Mets sent their top left-handed pitching prospect Anthony Kay, their first-round pick and No. 31 overall in the June 2016 MLB Draft, along with right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, amounting to a solid but not special return for the rebuilding Blue Jays. The Mets realize this offseason free-agent market for starting pitching was tough and they wanted to get a head start on building for 2020.

The other best part of the Mets’ deadline was they kept starters Noah Syndergaard and Zach Wheeler and closer Edwin Díaz. This will allow the Mets to be more competitive the rest of the year and sets them up for next year, especially if they can re-sign Wheeler.

If the Mets can improve their defense and add a bat or two in the offseason, they should be right back to being contenders in 2020.

Losers

5. Toronto Blue Jays

Traded RHP Marcus Stroman to the Mets in exchange for LHP Anthony Kay and RHP Simeon Woods Richardson. Traded RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Joe Biagini and OF Cal Stevenson to Astros for OF Derek Fisher. Acquired RHP Wilmer Font from Mets for cash. Traded 2B Eric Sogard to the Rays in exchange for two players to be named later. Traded RHP David Phelps and cash considerations to Cubs in exchange for RHP Thomas Hatch. Traded RHP Daniel Hudson to Nationals in exchange for RHP Kyle Johnston. Claimed RHP Brock Stewart on waivers from Dodgers.

The Blue Jays didn’t get enough for Marcus Stroman in their trade with the Mets and should have waited until the deadline day to see if they could have gotten a better offer, especially when you consider the return the Indians got for Trevor Bauer. It also appears they grossly overpaid for the toolsy outfielder Derek Fisher in their trade with the Astros, who, like Randal Grichuk, must like his hit tool more than the rest of the industry.