With unwavering regularity, every baseball season eventually turns into an arms race. The long slog through the summer months gives front offices plenty of time to evaluate their rosters, playoff chances and payroll situations.
There is almost never enough good pitching, even for the best teams, so the player wish lists drafted well before the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline are often chock-full of hurlers, both starters and those in relief.
While June may have more rumors than actual deals, the buzz that begins in that month can end up proving accurate later on down the line as the deadline draws near and general managers are more willing to pull the trigger on deals.
For example, take Yordano Ventura, the flame-throwing starter for the Kansas City Royals. Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan wrote on Wednesday that, according to sources, the Royals have shopped him around.
He noted Ventura's penchant for aiming at batters rather than catcher Salvador Perez's open mitt, the latest sparking a high-profile dustup with Baltimore Orioles slugger Manny Machado:
And so there Machado was, perhaps the American League MVP favorite, limping toward Ventura, then summoning the strength to throw an overhand right, then DDTing the right-hander into the mound on which he wastes such natural ability. There is a reason why his catcher didn’t sprint to stop the lurching Machado, why his manager admitted after the game that the Royals have grown weary of him, why, according to executives from two teams, the Royals within the past month have offered Ventura up in trade talks: For an act this tired, the performance must validate it, and the chasm between Ventura’s performance and potential is grand.
Ventura's been a more than serviceable pitcher for Kansas City the past two seasons, but his performance has dropped off in 2016.
The Royals are coming off a World Series-winning season, but they are playing .500 ball (30-29, to be precise). Still, it's good enough for second place in the AL Central, just 2.5 games back of the Cleveland Indians.
Ventura isn't exactly helping their efforts to return to the postseason, and it's quite possible the team is ready to get rid of the headache and hope the rest of the rotation can hold up.
MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reported on Wednesday that a source has told him Passan's report is "complete and utter nonsense," but Passan has stood by his assertions:
Ventura's overall performance is certainly trending in the wrong direction, but he's still 25 years old with an upper-90s fastball and plenty of time to turn things around.
His reputation as a bean-ball thrower might scare off some teams, but Passan believes that his contract is favorable enough that "$21 million for three years of top-notch relief is a bargain in a bullpen market two GMs said they expect to explode in price this offseason."
Teams desperate for relief now rather than later might have their sights set on guys actually working in those roles right now.
One such player is New York Yankees reliever Andrew Miller, who sports a blistering 1.05 ERA but is more valuable to the Yanks as a potential trade piece, considering the team is fourth in the AL East and also has the likes of Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen.
Last Sunday, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants might be interested in him:
MLB.com's Bill Ladson also says the Washington Nationals could be salivating over him or Chapman:
The Nationals are not close to acquiring a reliever, but they are hoping Yankees relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman are available before the Deadline. As of now, the Yankees are not in sell mode, but it's not hard to imagine they could part with one of the two pitchers if they are struggling in late July. Chapman in particular could be a candidate to move because he is eligible for free agency after this season.
Teams looking to swoop in for the Yankees relievers will likely have to exercise patience, however, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman:
The Yankees are just a game below .500 as of Wednesday evening, and could yet turn things around. The rotation is mostly a mess, but the bounce-back performance of CC Sabathia (3-4, 2.58 ERA) is just one sign of hope. There is time for the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira or any other of a number of well-compensated players suffering through down seasons at the plate to improve.
If the Yankees can't improve, Miller and/or Chapman could fetch huge returns on the open market. Both are enjoying excellent seasons, and their value is compounded by virtue of being left-handed. New York can restock its farm system with a trade.
The Giants and Nationals will likely keep lines of communication open, as could the Chicago Cubs, who CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine writes "will try to add a stud left-handed setup man or closer before the non-waiver trade deadline expires."
The Los Angeles Dodgers could be considered candidates for the Yankees relievers—or possibly even Ventura. They have needs both in the rotation and bullpen, a stockpile of talented minor leaguers, some fine young talent already on the MLB roster and the deep pockets necessary and willing to absorb large contracts.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments