Phillies Eyeing Tigers Hurlers
The Phillies have been in recent trade talks with the Tigers, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The teams will play a two-game interleague series starting today, where Philadelphia’s general manager Matt Klentak will join the team in Detroit to get a better look at the club’s trade prospects-specifically eyeing southpaw Matthew Boyd and All-Star closer Shane Greene.
The Phillies have lingering holes to plug in their starting rotation and at the back end of their bullpen, and acquiring the talents of Boyd and Greene would add depth past just this season. Boyd has three more years left of control, and Greene is under control through next season.
Boyd has pitched a solid 2019 season, with a 4.13 ERA through 120 innings. Greene has arguably been one of the most valuable closers in baseball this year, earning 22 saves with a 1.25 ERA for Detroit. The Tigers reportedly have a very high asking price for their controllable hurlers, as the rebuilding team needs talent and will aim high for prospects of the future.
Yankees Interested in Mike Minor
The Yankees are taking an interest in Rangers lefty Mike Minor, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. While New York is eyeing several rotation prospects, it is still questionable on whether or not they will go the starting pitching route before the deadline. With Luis Severino returning shortly from his season-long stint on the injured list, and the depth from James Paxton and Domingo German as capable postseason starters-along with Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia– the team’s rotation is in pretty good shape. It could certainly use another arm like Minor to back up the staff in the playoffs with questions surrounding Severino’s return, and the lefty could fill a hole in the rotation for 2020- but the price for the southpaw will be steep because of his rights for next season.
Minor is earning just $9.5 million dollars this season and next. This makes him a target for several small-market teams. Although the Yankees are opposed to rolling out a massive budget, a trade for the southpaw could help them to try and avoid unnecessary luxury tax complications. The Rangers will want a haul of prospects back for their All-Star because of his control beyond the season-which may send New York in a different direction.
New York may instead look for a rental and sign another starter during free agency next winter, but for now they remain weighing their options, sending scouts to watch Minor and several other hurlers as the deadline creeps up on them.
Rockies Open To Blackmon Offers
The Rockies are willing to listen to offers for Charlie Blackmon, according to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com. Going 3-12 since the start of July, Colorado holds the National League’s worst record this month. As their playoff hopes fade, the team plans to focus on the future and while they don’t plan on selling players under contract beyond the end of the season, sources say there is a possibility they would move Blackmon-if the price is right- but that a trade before the deadline is improbable.
Blackmon has a 15 team no trade clause which could complicate the process. He is due to earn $21.5 million for the next two seasons. The lefty has hit .319/.365/.602 this year with 21 homers.
Rays Inquiring About Hunter Pence
According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Rays have inquired on the Rangers All-Star outfielder/designated-hitter Hunter Pence. Texas had a hot start but has fallen out of the Wild Card race and the club will surely be pursuing trades for pending free agents like Pence.
The chances that the Rays catch the first-place Yankees in the AL East are highly unlikely, but the team is just 1 game back of a Wild Card Berth behind the resurging Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics. Tampa Bay has a legitimate shot at becoming a viable playoff team, and acquiring a big bat to bolster their lineup could help them secure a Wild Card spot.
Pence is signed to a one year, $2 million dollar deal which fits the Rays low payroll-especially for a rental during a season where their playoff hopes are uncertain. The righty is currently slashing .290/.349/.581 for the highest OPS of his career. Tampa Bay has primarily used Austin Meadows and Avisail Garcia at DH this year, and Pence has been more productive than both of these players on the season. The club could use a veteran leader like Pence to help guide their young team, and the Rangers could surely benefit from the Rays strong farm system in return.
