Trade Deadline // 2023

[avs2000]

It's clear there is a disconnect between those that believe 2023 is the year and those that believe 2023 is a primer on what is coming in 2024 & beyond.. The "beyonders" are more likely to be correct.. there just isn't enough offense, consistent bullpen arms and starting pitching to make a serious run in 2023; especially given the age, experience and depth of the various areas of the club... Can they win the AL Central.. any one of four teams can.. & it would be rewarding to see the Guardians take it if for no other reason than we'd get second season experience....

End the Bro-mance... already..

Getting some middling SP like Blackburn to replace Bieber for inane reasons like the desperate need to coddle rookie starters from fantasized innings limits would only rise to the level of "okay" IF a power bat came with him.. Otherwise, it's stuffing good money down a RATHOLE... If getting that power bat's luggage carried by the "middling Bieber replacement", then "..that's the price you pay..." It would be better to take the money / resources paid to get Blackburn and set it on fire.. at least there could be a marshmallow roasted or some welcome warmth experienced..

Don't be fooled by a "four teams in three years" guy like Brent Rooker.. He is the only guy on the A's roster that does a small amount of damage, hence, his OBP & OPS is fueled by an unsustainable over 100 point walk rate.. This isn't the power bat that the statistics belie.. The fact that his defense is poorer than Spongebob's doesn't help his case..

The A's have two catching candidates that could be of interest.. but they'd only be available if the deal started with a guy like Gavin Williams.. This is a non-starter.. It's likely the reason why the Sean Murphy deal went away.. (we can't know...but we can posture like we do)..

There are other teams that can/should be engaged for a veteran hurler, a bat and/or for a current or future bona fide ML catcher.. The A's aren't it..

Bieber is a middling pitcher now as well

 

[AZ_]

Goldschmidt would be very fun.

Jose-Goldy-Naylor

 

[kriegs]

Cheap Tyler O’Neill anyone? If Franmil could run and field we would have liked him better

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Here's another reason to trade Bieber:
We are 90 games in - 72 games left. Bieber could start 15 games.
That means there are 57 games where Bieber would have no effect at all.

Now, follow me here.
In 90 games, we have scored 365 runs, or about 4.05 per game.
In 90 games, we have allowed 372 runs, or about 4.13 per game.
If we can improve the offense, even slightly, it should make us more competitive in those 57 other games.
Plus , losing Bieber (of 2023) isn't what it used to mean.

 

[Damage]

Oh absolutely, I still absolutely agree with the premise that you want to be careful with young arms. I just disagree that Tampa is doing anything different than we are really.

Hand up, that's on me. I just looked at the youth of their pitching core and how oft-injured their pitchers have been. Definitely did NOT crunch the numbers.

 

[sportscoach]

Here's another reason to trade Bieber:
We are 90 games in - 72 games left. Bieber could start 15 games.
That means there are 57 games where Bieber would have no effect at all.

Now, follow me here.
In 90 games, we have scored 365 runs, or about 4.05 per game.
In 90 games, we have allowed 372 runs, or about 4.13 per game.
If we can improve the offense, even slightly, it should make us more competitive in those 57 other games.
Plus , losing Bieber (of 2023) isn't what it used to mean.

We still have to get the bat in a deal regardless if we have or not have Bieber...

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Athletic has another trade deadline column, going team-by-team. They list 19 buyers (including the Guardians), 8 sellers, and 3 "in-between". It's definitely a sellers' market. Any trade deadline acquisitions are going to be much more expensive than usual due to demand far outstripping supply.

I won't be surprised if the Guardians basically stand pat and hope the recent offensive mini-resurgence continues and possibly even intensifies if Bell heats up and they add Oscar Gonzalez.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

The Athletic has another trade deadline column, going team-by-team. They list 19 buyers (including the Guardians), 8 sellers, and 3 "in-between". It's definitely a sellers' market. Any trade deadline acquisitions are going to be much more expensive than usual due to demand far outstripping supply.

I won't be surprised if the Guardians basically stand pat and hope the recent offensive mini-resurgence continues and possibly even intensifies if Bell heats up and they add Oscar Gonzalez.

The injury to Bieber takes the wind out of any hope for marked improvement.
The choices now are finding a suitor for Rosario, maybe Straw.
Or offering one of our MIF prospects. Unfortunately, because Rosario has played SS all season, we don't know who could really "run with the ball" at that position.
Perhaps we now show a change in philosophy, and say it's time to take on a large contract - like Soto. (Hey, just spitballing here.)

 

[Criznit]

I posted something similar in the season thread, but considering the ineptitude of the entire AL central, even a modest upgrade with a dash of luck could be all that is needed to win the division. Or maybe one of the 4 teams that are in it decide to go big on trades... A couple of quality improvements would probably make you the favorite to win the division.

I'm looking for
Veteran/good reliever, preferably a lefty.
RH bopper - OFer type.

What I really want is to be on the Braves side of an Eddie Rosario type deal.

 

[Cassity14]

if it's a seller's market it makes no sense to hang on to Bieber. It's a gift from the gods to get value for him even still.

 

[Tondo]

I'd go hard after Taylor Ward, a 20 HR RH RF, who's having a bit of a down year (mostly BABIP). He's exactly the kind of player this team needs, a good hitter vs LHP with some pop who can bat 2nd or 5th/6th.

3.5 years of control left, but he's 29yo.

I'd start any offer wit Arias, who'd fill an instant need for LAA. I'd give back O. Gonzalez as immediate RF replacement. If they get lucky, he'll match Ward's numbers.
They will certainly ask for pitching. I'd make Hankins available, Messick, Karinchak and maybe sell high on Dion. They can have 2 of those 4.

Angels probably ask for a bigger headliner and I'd consider Valera

 

[Urban]

Taylor Ward in his last 780 plate appearances (start of June 2022 to present)

.255 / .326 / .400
23 HR
8.6% BB to 20.4% K
103 wRC+

He's a more intriguing RH OF power bat to me than Lane Thomas, but worth noting he turns 30 in December

 

[Gson]

Taylor Ward in his last 780 plate appearances (start of June 2022 to present)

.255 / .326 / .400
23 HR
8.6% BB to 20.4% K
103 wRC+

He's a more intriguing RH OF power bat to me than Lane Thomas, but worth noting he turns 30 in December

and, along with having a switch hitting catcher (Quero) in the Angels minor league system that SHOULD interest the Guardians (btw.. blocked at the ML level by a first year backstop), is with a team that is in need of what the Guardians have in surplus when everyone is healthy... That is.. the two teams are well suited as trade partners...

 

[Kiddo]

I'd go hard after Taylor Ward, a 20 HR RH RF, who's having a bit of a down year (mostly BABIP). He's exactly the kind of player this team needs, a good hitter vs LHP with some pop who can bat 2nd or 5th/6th.

Sorry, but Amed has this spot on lock down!

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

With the Guardians announcing that Bieber will not be back for some time and Civale's velocity way off in his last start and throwing just 79 and 88 pitches in his last two starts and being removed early, it seems clear that we will not have the starting pitching to win the division this season. By next week it could be three rookies and...two more rookies in the rotation.

Hell, we don't even know who's starting Sunday.

The bullpen, already in flames, will be overworked even more if we end up having to start guys like Gaddis and Bettancourt.

Gotta be time to sell, right? But if so, who? Not Bieber. Not Civale, unless he comes back throwing 93-94 next time out. Rosario? He's a net negative both offensively and defensively. What contender wants him?

Josh Bell is hitting .275/.810 in July (51 AB's). He's a switch hitter and he's heating up. Both leagues have the DH now. I wonder if we could unload him on a contender that needs a DH. Last year Washington traded him to San Diego for the stretch run and that was a disaster, so maybe there's no interest, especially being on the hook for $17.5 M next year. But could we dump this guy if we added a blocked prospect of ours in return for a blocked prospect of theirs?

If we assume Rocchio is the SS of the future, how about Bell and Freeman for a top outfield prospect? Freeman can play third, second, or short and looks like a future .300 hitter (he's at .301 now playing sporadically).