It’s deadline day! Here are the main storylines:
The demand for starting pitchers is so high that the Chicago White Sox could get their price on Crochet despite any concerns about his availability for the playoffs. Crochet wouldn’t pitch in October unless a team that acquires him gives him a contract extension. But given the way his innings total is rising in his first professional season as a starting pitcher, he might not be available anyway.
The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles have shown varying degrees of interest in Crochet, according to sources familiar with the White Sox discussions. If a trade is completed, Crochet and his new organization can work out a plan to use him for the remainder of the season — and for the two years he has left under club control.
Flaherty’s ERA is 2.95. Yusei Kikuchi’s is 4.75. So you’d think Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris could reasonably expect more for his rental than the impressive package the Toronto Blue Jays got from the Houston Astros for Kikuchi: right-hander Jake Bloss, outfielder Joey Loperfido and infielder Will Wagner.
Teams could say to Harris, “Sorry, we’re not going to do something stupid just because the Astros apparently overpaid.” But then again, supply and demand could take over. The New York Yankees, Dodgers and Padres are among the teams banking on Flaherty. The Orioles and Red Sox would prefer a controllable starter, but could also be in the running.
The game of musical chairs with starting pitchers
At least eight teams — the Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins in the American League; the New York Mets, Dodgers and Padres in the National League — are still looking for starters, many urgently.
After Crochet and Flaherty, and assuming the Tigers retain Tarik Skubal and the San Francisco Giants retain Blake Snell, the most attractive starter available might be Jameson Taillon of the Chicago Cubs.
Jameson Taillon could attract significant business interest. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today)
Other players in the running: Nestor Cortes Jr. of the Yankees; Zack Littell of the Tampa Bay Rays; Trevor Rogers of the Miami Marlins; Tyler Anderson, Griffin Canning and Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels; and Austin Gomber, Cal Quantrill and Ryan Fentner of the Colorado Rockies.
The big question is: Will the price the Astros paid for Kikuchi force a team to tap the market for a starter who doesn’t appear to be available? Or will the sellers’ desire to get the same type of package the Blue Jays offered for Kikuchi stall the market?
American League East
No one should be surprised if the Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox all make multiple deals.
The Orioles are “very open” in their search for another starter, according to a source familiar with their plans, and also want to add a right-handed outfielder and a reliever, preferably left-handed. They could even be a potential candidate for Snell if the Giants are willing to trade him.
Unlike other contenders, Baltimore isn’t near or above the luxury tax threshold — and Snell would be a massive addition to the team’s luxury-tax payroll. The problem is, the Giants would likely want more for Snell, who is back to Cy Young form, than the Blue Jays got for Kikuchi. And Snell, too, is a rental.
The Yankees really need to add some swing-and-miss hitters to their bullpen and are also looking for a starter and another at-bat, perhaps a right-handed platoon partner for Ben Rice at first base. The Red Sox are also targeting relievers and could use a right-handed hitter in the center infield and perhaps a starter as well.
Teams searching for bats
The Guardians acquired Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals on Monday. The Braves filled their need Monday night by adding designated hitter Jorge Soler from the Giants and reliever Luke Jackson.
The Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Yankees and Red Sox are among the clubs looking to further bolster their offense. Could the limited offer allow the Rays to get a big deal for first baseman Yandy Diaz and persuade the Angels to trade infielder Luis Rengifo and outfielder Taylor Ward?
The White Sox aren’t expected to part ways with center fielder Luis Robert Jr., believing they could receive bigger offers this offseason. Robert had 4 of 39 hits since the All-Star break before going 3 of 4 on Monday night.
Teams looking for relievers
Pick a contender, any contender, really. The Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals and Padres are among the most active clubs looking for bullpen help. Some quality relievers are still available, starting with Marlins reliever Tanner Scott, a potential free agent.
Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan could also be moved — the Nats have already traded two other players with an extra year of club control, Thomas and right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey. Other relievers in play include Luis Garcia of the Angels, John Brebbia of the White Sox, Pete Fairbanks and Colin Poche of the Rays, Lucas Erceg and Scott Alexander of the Oakland Athletics and Nick Martinez and Sam Moll of the Cincinnati Reds.
And let’s not forget the Marlins. They could trade up to six players Tuesday, according to people familiar with the discussions: Scott, Rogers and outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, as well as right-handed relievers Huascar Brazobán, Anthony Bender and Declan Cronin.
Pedro Grifol
Manager firings aren’t part of the deadline calculation, but the White Sox’s continued selling, combined with their 15-game losing streak, could prompt general manager Chris Getz to make a change sooner rather than later.
Pedro Grifol watches his team lose its 15th straight game Monday night. (Erin Hooley/Associated Press)
As I wrote in June, “Getz’s patience will be tested later in the season, when the White Sox are ready to promote some of their top prospects. At that point, Getz will have to decide: Can top young players like shortstop Colson Montgomery, catcher Edgar Quero and right-hander Drew Thorpe thrive in the environment Grifol has created? Or could the entire team benefit from a change, right now?”
A shocking deal that came out of nowhere
We’ve already seen a few. The Cubs’ acquisition of Isaac Paredes. The three-way deal between the Cardinals, Dodgers and White Sox. The Braves’ reunion with Soler and reliever Luke Jackson, two members of their 2021 World Series champion club.
More surprises are surely waiting for us. Have a nice day everyone.
(Top photo by Jack Flaherty: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)