They have agreed to the deal.
Probably something like what Machado was acquired for. If I'm the Nats I go for quantity like the O's did and hope one or two pan out decently. I think it's risky to just get one high end guy.The question is -- what can you get for a three-month Harper rental?
Probably true, though Harper has had some really bad luck at the plate. He has a.229 BABIP and his xOBA is .407 (which would put him 6th in the majors) vs. his actual wOBA of 353.I would think less than Machado, who was having a better year at the plate, plus can play SS, which was needed by three NL contenders. Harper has been bad defensively this year, his bWAR is only 0.5 despite a solid .839 OPS.
Actually he might even be a downgrade, Souza has been out most of the year but he has a .864 OPS since coming back three weeks ago and is a better defender than Harper.He would be an amazing upgrade for the Diamondbacks who have gotten pitiful right field production.
I'm assuming you are looking at UZR. Mookie Betts is 11 runs lower than he was last year and Harper is 9. I doubt either of them are in precipitous decline mode at the age of 25. If you want to go by UZR which is not useful for less than a full season, then Souza's would be -18.9/150. If you want to go by DRS, then Harper is on pace for -15 and Souza over -20 over a full season. Which again - not meaningful for small sample sizes.Actually he might even be a downgrade, Souza has been out most of the year but he has a .864 OPS since coming back three weeks ago and is a better defender than Harper.
The whole dynamic of the trade deadline is fascinating. Whether or not a team may be a buyer or seller can hinge on one or two series just days before the deadline. The Nats sweeping Miami combined with either one or both of Philadelphia or Atlanta having a disastrous weekend changes the narrative in that division by quite a bit. As for the jon abbey's post, I understand exactly what you're saying about Machado vs Harper, but Machado being off the board and Harper suddenly being available might fetch Washington a handsome take. An American League team might be less concerned about positioning him if they can DH him up until the World Series. The way Harper plays, there might be some sort of lingering injuries affecting his defense. IF (big if) that's the case, he can minimize that by getting his four ABs per game while playing sparingly in the field. I've no idea what they might have to offer, but if Seattle's able to swing a deal for Harper and get Cano back in mid August, that would be akin to adding two major bats to their lineup at the deadline. And remember, Cano isn't eligible for post season play.I would think less than Machado, who was having a better year at the plate, plus can play SS, which was needed by three NL contenders. Harper has been bad defensively this year, his bWAR is only 0.5 despite a solid .839 OPS.
Career .355/.393/1.009 with 12 HR in 57 games against the phillies. They're just tired of pitching to him.Asdrubal Cabrera being traded to Phillies.
This is pretty interesting. The Brewers are going to move old friend Travis Shaw to 2nd base to accommodate Moose. I don’t really know what makes them think it’s a good idea but it’ll be fun to watch and find out if it works!Moustakas to the Brewers.
The National League wild cards are wide open.Fangraphs has the Nats at 57.5% to make the playoffs, which seems a bit high to me. They have Nats and Phils finishing at about the same records, while BP has the Phils likely to be five games ahead.
Either way, there's nothing like a series against the Marlins to shake a team out of the doldrums.
for Ken Giles, KR says ... lolAstros traded for Roberto Osuna per Rosenthal.
Pressly-Osuna is a nice back end.Putting aside the domestic abuse stuff, they just got a really good bullpen piece.
Seems wrong that Osuna is PS-eligible but PED guys aren’t.Osuna is eligible on Saturday to start pitching and of course the Post Season. Has a final court hearing on Wednesday.
My guess is it's written in the CBA, or at least agreed with the Union that players suspended for steroid testing are not eligible for post season. All domestic violence and other issues the Commisioner's office handles are not.Seems wrong that Osuna is PS-eligible but PED guys aren’t.
What part of what they traded away counts as "a lot of their future"?Astros mortgaged a lot of their future for two guys
He was their 7th or 8th best reliever, he is a FA at the end of the season, and they have Kahnle waiting in AAA, or Stephen Tarpley if they want to add a third lefty. I've been calling for Warren to be moved for a while, get value for him before he's gone.Yankees are sending Adam Warren to Seattle, per Rosenthal. Warren's a solid reliever with a 2.70 ERA and 11.1 K/9 this season.
Makes me think those smug assholes have something bigger and better up their sleeves.
He was their 7th or 8th best reliever, he is a FA at the end of the season, and they have Kahnle waiting in AAA, or Stephen Tarpley if they want to add a third lefty. I've been calling for Warren to be moved for a while, get value for him before he's gone.
He's not really that reliable, he has given up multiple runs in an inning three times this month. NY has plenty of able replacements, but Heyman says they're trading for someone anyway.I don't know, Saturday was an example of why we should've kept him. He can go more than 2 innings, and he's reliable.
I know they can use the 5th starter as their long reliever in the playoffs, but I don't want to see the pen taxed before we get there
And this bolsters Seattle
Blue Jays get stronger long term + Astros get better short term = bad for Red SoxOFFICIAL: We've acquired RHP Ken Giles, minor league RHP Hector Perez and minor league RHP David Paulino from the @Astros in exchange for RHP Roberto Osuna. pic.twitter.com/JG98oa0cXj
Why are the Blue Jays getting better long term, exactly?Blue Jays get stronger long term + Astros get better short term = bad for Red Sox
Plus losing Osuna is a huge blow, although I guess they essentially lost him earlier in the year since TOR management said he wouldn't pitch for them again, but he was a 23 year old shutdown closer under contract through 2020.Why are the Blue Jays getting better long term, exactly?
Giles has flamed out in two spots now.
Paulino has gone from a Top 50 prospect to a guy coming off TJ with an 80-game PED suspension on his record.
Perez is a middle relief prospect
Not much time to get a deal done. Will be interesting to see if anyone pulls the trigger.
According to a source, the Nationals are making it known to other teams that Bryce Harper is indeed available.
Might be their strategy, only leave time for impulse.Not much time to get a deal done. Will be interesting to see if anyone pulls the trigger.
Agreed. With Robles and Soto in the fold for the next decade, Harper is not a must sign for the Nationals. I think this would be a great spot for the Astros to get aggressive with such a strong system and a need for an OF bat, a need that Kyle Tucker doesn’t seem ready to fill. Sure the Nats would love to pry guys like Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, and Whitley from Houston. Can’t imagine Houston would trade more than 1 of those guys for Harper.I don't know what return a few months of this Bryce Harper could bring, but I would be itching to give his ABs to a just back from injury Victor Robles and move on from the Harper era, Robles and Soto in the same OF is wild.
That's not true ... they have namesKeone Kela to the Pirates for two players yet to be named.