Dodgers are sniffing around Felipe Vazquez according to Jon Morosi, per MLBTR.
As I noted yesterday, Vazquez probably would slot just below the big three of Will Smith, Kirby Yates, and Brad Hand in terms of 2019 dominance, but is controlled through 2023.
2020 5.25
2021 7.25
2022 10m club option
2023 10m club option
Jon Morosi
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3h3 hours ago
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#Dodgers interested in #Pirates closer Felipe Vázquez, source says. Pittsburgh has no urgency to move Vázquez -- they have team options through 2023 -- but #Dodgers want to add the best reliever possible and have a strong farm system. @MLBNetwork @MLB
If any team has the organizational depth and urgency to acquire Vazquez, the Dodgers are it. The Dodgers have interest in the Pittsburgh left-hander, one source said, and are well-situated to acquire him for two reasons: The Dodgers’ farm system is deep enough to afford him, and the acquisition of a dynamic left-hander to pair with Kenley Jansen at the end of the game is the most obvious need for an otherwise near-perfect roster.
https://www.mlb.com/news/relief-pitchers-market-trade-deadline
Boyd strikes me as the kind of newly valuable pitcher that someone will overpay to acquire, similar to when Chatwood hit the FA market and was suddenly considered some super valuable piece. I wasn't on board with that, and I'm never on board with pitchers who suddenly appear to become much better later in their career.
Boyd is certainly a good SP, and he certainly has real value. Like you, I would be in favor of acquiring him if the price is right...as usual.
If we're trading for a starter and I gotta go with Zach Wheeler. He's a rental, so the cost shouldn't be substantial. He is currently having a bit of bad luck, which suggests the pendulum is likely to swing back over the 2nd half, and while that is unlikely to affect his acquisition cost tremendously, it's certainly better than him leading the league in ERA.
Vazquez would be on my short list.
I thought the same thing about Eovaldi this past offseason. I didn't get the hype and I still don't. I bet the Red Sox are regretting the hell out of that decision right now.
Boyd would cost a ton. I like him a lot. But don't think the price will be acceptable.
I think you are probably correct. I'm just not convinced Stroman is really a legit upgrade. MadBum is DEFINITELY not
Stroman is most definitely an upgrade. The perceived “ace” according to many here is currently in AAA. DK while solid overall is a relative unknown, but should be okay down the line and not a slot you need to worry about. JT is up and down and he’s been better this season. You aren’t really sure what you are going to get from him. Stroman is more than serviceable and would land right in the middle of most pitching staffs. Soroka is pitching great, but he’s so young. Do we know how much an inning count is realistic for him? Can he counted on in September and beyond. Fried is another guy in the rotation. Young, but sreadyish. Nothing special, but isn’t a hole either.
Is Stroman a massive upgrade? Probably not, but he’s better than at least 2 of the current starters and another guy in AAA.
Stroman is most definitely an upgrade. The perceived “ace” according to many here is currently in AAA. DK while solid overall is a relative unknown, but should be okay down the line and not a slot you need to worry about. JT is up and down and he’s been better this season. You aren’t really sure what you are going to get from him. Stroman is more than serviceable and would land right in the middle of most pitching staffs. Soroka is pitching great, but he’s so young. Do we know how much an inning count is realistic for him? Can he counted on in September and beyond. Fried is another guy in the rotation. Young, but sreadyish. Nothing special, but isn’t a hole either.
Is Stroman a massive upgrade? Probably not, but he’s better than at least 2 of the current starters and another guy in AAA.
I am intrigued by Zack Wheeler. Pitching pretty well outside of a bad HR rate, but that seems to be infecting every Mets pitcher. He is a pending FA but he is also from Georgia. I think the Mets are a good match for what we have to sell.
The Mets GM is a dumbass. He got the job because he was the only candidate who didn't want to rebuild. Inciarte would be an upgrade over what they have at CF. Frazier is a placeholder at 3b and could be traded. If they still want to pretend like they can compete in the near future who is going to give up top talent that's close to the majors for a half season of Wheeler?
Have thought for a while now that AA might make a sneaky play for Wheeler this winter, but would he really trade for him? Certainly wouldn't mind it if it doesn't cost more than the package Carp mentions, but not sure that's not just a touch rich for me - but if it were Wentz or Allard with Jenista I don't know how anybody could complain. Getting him back home and in a race for a couple months couldn't hurt if AA planned to make a move for him this winter anyway.
Heard Stern discussing potential Mutts moves yesterday, and while I don't know that Ender would be a fit there (even if they were just taking his money), one of his "musts" was doing something about CF to get Conforto back on a corner. Just tough to see them taking Ender's money without being able to somehow get out from under what they owe Lagares next year, and I can't imagine AA would want any part of it.
There's got to be a taker for Inciarte out there - that probably needs to be one of the things at the top of the To Do list this winter IMO.
I think Wheeler can realistically be expected to provide about 2 WAR over the remainder of the season. This is by no means exact, but I'm gonna give him 30-35 million in surplus value when accounting for the contenders premium. Going by the Fangraphs FV chart, I think it's likely they will end up with a 1 FV 50 prospect, 1 FV 45 prospect, and filler. They could shoot for the moon and hope to get one
55 FV player in return, but I don't see any teams doing that for a rental.
I assume our positional prospects with a 50 FV or better are off limits in regards to a rental player. Among the 50 FV pitchers we have Wilson, Gohara, Touki, and Muller (who I am going to assume will be rated as 50 FV when FG list is updated).
Among the 45's you have Wentz, Allard, and Jenista as preseason 45s and imo, they haven't done anything to change that rating. You also likely have some risers from the 40 FV group of Weigel, Ynoa, Alex Jackson, Davidson, and Tarnok. There is also a possibility that Demeritte has some potential value in place of a 45 value prospect. So a trade could look this:
Bryce Wilson, Greyson Jenista, and organizational filler for Wheeler.
Isn't Lagares a free agent after the season?
Have I become a prospect hoarder? I love the idea of Wheeler, but not for that price.