Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Balls ‘Wisled’ into the Seats

The All-Star Break is Over; the first weekend series after the break is over.  Now what?

Now is when the decisions are made – now is when reality hits… or optimism soars.  Let’s see where teams are… the American League is first up:

AL EAST

• The Yankees still aren’t admitting it, but teams are quietly shopping their players… or at least listening.  Carlos Beltran could be moved.  Some say Brian McCann is a candidate.  Nobody will be asking for A-Rod.  Aroldis Chapman is still likely using up the most phone minutes.
• The Red Sox are being quiet now after their trade flurry, but it’s a fair question to ask whether they are actually okay or if they are counting on the Orioles and Blue Jays to falter.
• The Orioles would be buyers if they actually had anything to spend.  That’s a problem.  So they might pick up a lesser role player, but they just can’t make any serious moves.
• The Blue Jays can’t figure out if they want to improve pitching or hitting (the latter approach being to simply try and out slug their rivals).  They are now just 1 game back of the Red Sox and in the 2nd Wild Card spot… though only 1.5 ahead of Houston.
• Tampa Bay.  4 of their starters are being shopped… Chris Archer to a lesser extent than the rest… but I think it’s fair to suggest that only one might be moved before the end of July.  Trading away 40% of your rotation could be a dicey proposition for future depth, depending on the return.  Their decisions on trades will (a) likely happen first in this trade season; and (b) set the tone for the rest of the pitching byers and sellers.

AL CENTRAL

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• Cleveland.  They’d like to do a couple of things, but this team is reluctant to spend money and reluctant to spend prospects.  Their biggest need is suddenly catching, though, after a serious separated shoulder for Yan Gomes… and truly, they needed catching help anyway.  A 5.5 game lead in the division – despite going 4-6 in their last 10 – helps them to forestall action for a while.
  • Update:  relief pitching might be a target now, as well:

• Detroit.  Here’s one of your ‘cusp’ teams… 1 game out of the playoffs.  Yikes.  They’d buy… but what with?  Dave Dombrowski gutted their farm system, so that leaves them in pursuit of role players.
• Kansas City.  Also without shouting distance, but also with recent World Series success fresh in the minds of their fans.  They need pitching and hitting…and are like the Indians in terms of spending and prospects.
• White Sox.  Should be sellers…3-7 in their last 10 thanks to blowing a 3-0 lead for Chris Sale last night.  These guys couldn’t buy if they had won 7 of those last 10, so maybe they should make it official and try to rebuild their own farm system a bit by trading guys like Todd Frazier… we’ll see.
• Minnesota.  Clearly, they are out of it, but now nobody knows what to think after firing their long-time GM yesterday.  The timing was terrible for a club needing to turn-around veterans for prospects.  It will be interesting to see whether interim GM Rob Antony can make something happen for them quickly.

AL WEST

• Texas is nothing if not deliberate.  They are beating every bush, checking every lead, and scouting the heck out of every pitcher who’s available and breathing.  They’ve been linked most often to Tampa and Milwaukee (Lucroy).  It also seems like they are trying to offer bargain rates for premium talent.  That’s not working.
  • In terms of what Texas could offer, we’re hearing thoughts that scouts are not that high on Joey Gallo (certainly his defense is suspect; his strikeout rate is still high; his AAA hitting is only at .250).  Lewis Brinson?  Maybe.  Jurickson Profar?  How many teams need him?
• Houston.  This is pretty simple.  They need pitching.  They need an outfield bat (internal: Alex Bregman?).  They have a surplus of outfielders that few will want.  But we have not heard about them being that aggressive on the trade market as yet.  Puzzling, as few teams seem to have the upside potential as the Astros.
• Seattle.  After a big win pulled out of ….uh, their hats… last night, the Mariners are now 1 game over .500 and 4.5 back in the Wild Card race with 4 teams to pass up.  This is the very definition of “on the fence”. Tyler O’Neill (AA OF/Futures Game guy) is the big new piece for them to dangle, but know that M-Braves pitching seemed to handle him pretty well.
• Oakland.  Selling, but will Rich Hill be able to get them the return they want after his blister, or will they be forced to slap a Qualifying Offer tag on him after the season.  Then there’s Sonny Gray.  The chatter around him is dying off quite a bit, though may crank up again once Tampa unloads a pitcher.  Wonder if they’d consider floating Khris Davis?
• The Angels.  This is a team that desperately needs to blow it all up and start over… except with Andrelton Simmons, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout and the LA community… do they dare??  This is probably a decision best left until the off-season.

Next: Moving to the Senior Circuit