Jim Bowden on Sirius XM just referred to a conversation they had with Antonetti.

Antonetti said to them the #1 priority was "the right pitcher". Then bench help.

Bowden thinks bench help may = Asdrubal and maybe even Granderson, both from Mets

Is Ricardo Rincon available?

Eric Plunk?

Were our deals last minute last season? Maybe the Guyer trade was. We have 111 minutes to go, and my only serious concern is that we don't trade Mejia.

civ ollilavad wrote:Were our deals last minute last season? Maybe the Guyer trade was. We have 111 minutes to go, and my only serious concern is that we don't trade Mejia.

Ditto

Red Sox surrendered 3 minor league pitchers for Addison Reed, rated 18 23 and 28 in their top 30 midseason list by MLB.com

Some teams have no problem trading Minor league prospects for Major League talent. Indians, for some reason, can't pull the trigger.

Would you trade Mejia for a World Series victory? Me ....no problem.

J. Wilson cost the Cubs two kids, neither of whom is in MLB's 30-man list.


TIGERS ACQUIRE
Jeimer Candelario, 3b Age: 23

Candelario finally gets freed from being blocked by Kris Bryant, though the Tigers have Nicholas Castellanos at third, a solid if unspectacular option. Candelario can play first base as well and has been named the Cubs’ best defensive infielder by club officials in BA’s Prospect Handbook on multiple occasions, even though he grades as a solid-average to above-average defender rather than a true plus. Candelario has ranked among the Cubs’ Top 10 prospects four different times thanks to his ability to control the strike zone, pepper the gaps with line drives and show solid-average power from both sides of the plate. He’s pressed in big league duty (.136, 17 Ks in 44 ABs) but is an experienced player who also is just 23. His career .270/.352/.430 slash line in the minors would be a solid line for a big league regular at third base and is a realistic expectation for Candelario.

[His bio sounds pretty darned similar to Yandy Diaz although apparently a somewhat better 3rd baseman.


Isaac Paredes, ss
Age: 18

Paredes, just 18, was having a breakout year in the low Class A Midwest League, ranking fifth in the league in doubles (25) while also ranking in the top five for being tough to strike out (one per every 7.11 play appearances). He’s stronger than his listed 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame would indicate, and Cubs officials have compared him to Jhonny Peralta as a squat-bodied shortstop with an offensive-first profile. Another scout told the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales that he compared Paredes to Mike Aviles, citing again his aggressiveness and power potential.

Paredes is just an average runner at best but has present strength and a fundamentally sound swing. His hands and feet both work well; he’s able to manipulate the barrel at the plate, handles ground balls surehandedly in the field and has the footwork to stay in the dirt. His above-average arm also makes third base a future possibility if needed.

[Sounds pretty good, not sure why he's not on the top 30 list]

We also passed on another go at Lucroy. he certainly didn't produce much in return for Texas.

Well I'm pretty darn sure we dealt top prospects for Andrew Miller last year.

So can't agree this team "can't pull the trigger"

civ ollilavad wrote:We also passed on another go at Lucroy. he certainly didn't produce much in return for Texas.

That was the steal of the century for us that it DIDN'T go through!!

Joe Smith - R - Blue Jays

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Indians have acquired Joe Smith from the Blue Jays.

It's a homecoming of sorts for Smith, who worked out of the Indians bullpen from 2009-2013. The impending free agent right-hander had registered a 3.28 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 51/10 K/BB ratio over 35 2/3 innings this season for Toronto. No word yet on what the Jays will be receiving in return.

I've had Smith in fantasy leagues this year and he's gotta be juicing or something!

Look at those peripherals!

"The Yankees and A's finally agree on a Sonny Gray deal with the A's getting SS/CF Jorge Mateo, OF Dustin Fowler and RHP James Kaprelian. The A's take some risk here as Fowler (season-ending knee injury) and Kaprelian (Tommy John) are both injured. All three have high ceiling ability, although Mateo and Fowler will need to improve their plate discipline or they'll be exposed in the majors. If you're a Yankees fan you have to love this deal, getting Gray for this year plus the next two".

That sounds like an especially high price to pay, either.

And here's the news we've waiting for with bated breath: Joe Smith Returns


"The Cleveland Indians are acquiring right-handed reliever Joe Smith from the Toronto Blue Jays, a source told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi. The deal was first reported by MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal. Neither club has confirmed the report.
Smith, 33, is 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays this season"