Around the MLB 2018

[The_Hater]

The Yankees have won 4 straight. Hopefully they remain relevant until the trade deadline and Hal Steinbrenner doesn't let them move anyone.

[EastBayBoy]

Astros only 3.5 games back of the Rangers since they have started to struggle. Man, I hope both the Rangers and Jays make the playoffs would be one hell of a series to watch.

[polo007]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/KnuckleballFRS/status/756287864980156416[/tweet]

[polo007]

According to Shi Davidi of Rogers Sportsnet, while the Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to available starters, they’ve also been looking at middle relief help, catching depth and outfielders. As the market develops, one school of thought is that the Blue Jays may wait until closer to Aug. 1 in the event more teams decide to sell, adding more and better trade options for buyers.

Given that the Blue Jays are likely in the position to add some payroll, they also have the option of making August deals in which they take on money. That would be in contrast to the Boston Red Sox’s approach of jumping the market and paying a premium in prospect capital as they did for Drew Pomeranz, a tactic that wouldn’t work for the Blue Jays given the need to carefully manage internal assets after last summer’s splurge.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-weigh-obvious-obscure-avenues-deadline/

Where might they be looking? Here are some possibilities:

• The Blue Jays have been on the San Diego Padres for a while, knowing they’re among the teams clearly selling right now.

Starters Andrew Cashner and the injured Tyson Ross (who is working toward a mid-August return, potentially timing with Aaron Sanchez’s transition to the bullpen) are potential fits, while lefty reliever Ryan Buchter would make a good long-term piece if the price was right.

Should they want to revisit the search for an outfielder with control beyond this season, Melvin Upton Jr., could be a fit, offering some power, defensive versatility and AL East experience.

• The Blue Jays have also been watching the Philadelphia Phillies, who have right-hander Jeremy Hellickson and catcher Carlos Ruiz among their many trade candidates.

Hellickson is another potential fill-in once Sanchez transitions, but would be a rental. Ruiz, meanwhile, is a big ticket with an $8.5 million this season but comes with a reasonable $4.5 million option with a $500,000 buyout for 2017.

Russell Martin’s slip-up in the sauna underlined how thin the Blue Jays are organizationally at catcher. Adding someone like Ruiz would add both protection and help give Martin more regular rest.

• Another potential option at catcher is Erik Kratz, who recently became a free agent after being outrighted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Blue Jays are familiar with him from 2014, when he spent parts of the season with them before being dealt with Liam Hendriks for Danny Valencia.

• The Chicago White Sox are reportedly on the fence as to whether they’re selling or buying and while teams will be salivating at the chance to get starters Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, an interesting option would be Zach Duke.

The left-handed reliever was pursued by the Blue Jays prior to the 2015 season and he ended up signing with the White Sox. Aside from being an immediate upgrade, he also comes with another year of control at $5.5 million.

[Hoopstarr]

Astros only 3.5 games back of the Rangers since they have started to struggle. Man, I hope both the Rangers and Jays make the playoffs would be one hell of a series to watch.

God I hope not. Imagine losing to them.

[Xaos]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/756870944292016129[/tweet]

[polo007]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/756684397848498176[/tweet]
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[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/756852516457967616[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/FanRagSports/status/756866823170043904[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/756868048234119168[/tweet]

[Schad]

I would like to have exactly nothing to do with Upton, thanks. He's posting a wildly unsustainable HR/FB ratio, and is still only about a league-average hitter thus far this season.

[North_of_Border]

Orioles are close to obtaining Melvin Upton for Ubaldo Jaminez. However Padres want a good prospect along, and that's stalling the deal.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using RealGM mobile app

[North_of_Border]

Jays have scouted CC Sabathia

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using RealGM mobile app

[Xaos]

I wouldn't mind Sabathia. Move Sanchez to the bullpen, and Hutch to the starting rotation. Trade Dickey and Thole. Get another backup catcher.

Estrada
Happ
Stroman
Sabathia
Hutch

Bullpen.

Sanchez
Morales
Biagini
Chavez (barf)
Cecil
Grilli
Storen(barf again)
Osuna

[dagger]

Unbelievable. Chris Sale was skipped tonight and a lot of media thought a trade was close. It turns out the reason he was skipped as Sale took a knife and cut up multiple throw-back jerseys the team was going to wear tonight.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/757012770114117633[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/757012907133693953[/tweet]

[polo007]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/whitesox/status/756983172089384960[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/756995427564650496[/tweet]
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[Santoki]

The White Sox are the most subtly dysfunctional team in baseball. Between this and Drake Laroche it's been a really strange year for them. Sale is going to come off looking like an immature headcase. Gotta think it might affect his value if they do end up trading him. They should probably wait till this cools off and maybe do it in the offseason.

[polo007]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/757039863115968512[/tweet]

[vaff87]

So why the hell did they all of a sudden have to wear throwbacks today? When generally the starter gets to choose what jersey they wear?

[polo007]

The White Sox are reportedly asking for a massive haul in return for Chris Sale -- one source told ESPN.com that Chicago is seeking five to seven prospects -- with the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers rumored to be among those interested.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/17131938/chicago-white-sox-scratch-pitcher-chris-sale

The decision to scratch Sale was met with rampant speculation, especially considering the five-time All-Star has been mentioned in trade rumors in recent days.

The White Sox entered Saturday night in fourth place (46-50) in the American League Central, and Hahn recently told reporters he would be "open-minded" to all trade scenarios, with the exception of short-term rentals.

Hahn admitted that trading either his 27-year-old ace or fellow All-Star Quintana "may be extreme," even if the team decides to undergo a rebuild, but that did not stop the trade talk from picking up in the hours before Sale's scheduled start on Saturday.

The White Sox are reportedly asking for a massive haul in return for Sale -- one source told ESPN.com that Chicago is seeking five to seven prospects -- with the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers rumored to be among those interested.

Sale is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA this season. He had 274 strikeouts in 2015, the most in the AL.

[Lateral Quicks]

Sale is under contract for half or less than his market value until 2019 inclusive. The White Sox are right to be demanding a massive haul. After the 2015 minor league tear down, the Jays almost certainly can't get in on this.

[Mr Swagtastic]

Can someone fill me in on Jay Bruce? Rumors are Toronto wants another outfielder who can hit. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't Bruce a terrible outfielder defensively? Maybe he is a mini insurance plan if Jose or Edwin bolt? I seriously think pitching should be looked at first of anything

[Jays4WS]

Can someone fill me in on Jay Bruce? Rumors are Toronto wants another outfielder who can hit. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't Bruce a terrible outfielder defensively? Maybe he is a mini insurance plan if Jose or Edwin bolt? I seriously think pitching should be looked at first of anything

Bautista / Edwin are not bolting, they are being replaced. If we get a RF at the deadline that means bye bye to Bautista. I am sure Edwin will be replaced by Smoak + another player next year.