Starting Pitcher
There was a big discussion about trading for a SP at the deadline. I think the first thing to do is what the trade market might look like - Who are the buyers and who are the sellers? Right now even that is a bit tricky.
Selling Teams
A’s
White Sox
Royals
Tigers
Nats?
Rockies?
The NL is tight. I don’t think there is anyone that will go into full-on firesale. The only teams that should sell in the NL either A) don’t have much too sell, or B) are a very poorly run franchise and are more likely to extend pieces they could sell, than trade them (looking at you Rockies).
Personally, I wouldn’t trade for Rodriguez with that contract. If he performs well, he will opt out and be a FA. If he doesn’t you have 50M on the books for an ineffective starter, plus the Tigers will be trading him like a pitcher with 3 more years of control. I doubt Cease, Blackburn, or Sears get moved with as much team control they still have.
If other teams like the Cubs, Red Sox, Giants, Cards or Padres really fall out of the race things could get interesting. Pitchers like
For ranking purposes, I used/ estimated fantasy baseball rankings. I know it isn’t perfect, but it gives a general idea of who is performing well and who is expected to perform well. It also values things such as strikeouts and innings pitched, which is important to a defensively different team like the Phillies. In comparison, this is the Phillies SP rankings.
10 Wheeler
10 Nola
100 R. Suarez
110 Walker
Next you have the buyers. And the buyers include… every team in baseball.
In terms of teams that are contenders who have the highest ERA
In terms of teams that are contenders who have the lowest IP from the starters
In terms of teams that are contenders who have the lowest WAR from the starters
Then you have injuries. The Braves are not on an of those lists but have Fried, Anderson, and Kyle Wright who have been or are on the 60 day IL. The Astros lost Garcia for the season and had injury issues with Urquidy and McCullers this season. The Dodgers lost May and Buehler and had issues with Urias and Thor with injuries. Brewers currently have Wade Miley, Eric Lauer, Brandon Woodruff, and Aaron Ashby all on the IL. The Mets pitching staff is healthy other than Quintana but can be seen running to the local Applebees for the senior early bird discount before the games. The Yankees are missing Rondon, Cortes, Montas, and Loaisga. The Rays lost Springs, Rasmussen, and Baz for the season and have injury questions in Glassnow and Efflin. The Rangers lost deGrom, Rocker, and Odorizzi for the season.
For those counting at home that is 15 would be contenders mentioned for either ineffective or injured SP. Safe to say everyone will be looking for starting pitching. Worse yet, the Phillies farm system ranked 21 out of 30 teams. Out of the contenders they only surpassed the Braves, Angels, Astros, Mariners, and Padres. If it comes down to a bidding war of prospects, the Phillies would be at a disadvantage.
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