Latest news with #ex-MLB
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul Skenes trade grades for ex-MLB GM's Cubs-Pirates hypothetical
The post Paul Skenes trade grades for ex-MLB GM's Cubs-Pirates hypothetical appeared first on ClutchPoints. Paul Skenes broke onto the scene in 2024 when the Pittsburgh Pirates brought him up to the major leagues in 2024. He went 11-3 en route to starting in the All-Star game, making Skenes the first Pirates pitcher to do so in 50 years. In 2025, Skenes has shone as an individual, but the team around him has faltered. The Cubs could be a dark horse team to entice Pittsburgh to give him up this summer. Advertisement Former Major League Baseball general manager Jim Bowden put together deals from every team for Skenes, and the Chicago Cubs' package features top prospects like Matt Shaw and Cade Horton. Almost every potential deal for the 23-year-old would require a team's best young players. The Cubs are one of the more interesting packages in the league; their top two prospects are already playing in the majors. Skenes and the Pirates have been fighting trade rumors since they started after the team's slow start. However, experts like Bowden continue to explore the possibilities. According to him, the Chicago Cubs' players provide the most immediate upgrades to the Pittsburgh. Proposed package: RHP Cade Horton, 3B Matt Shaw, OF Kevin Alcántara, SS Juan Tomas 'The Pirates would acquire Horton, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, who could immediately go into their rotation, and he'd come with an extra year of control than they have with Skenes,' Bowden. 'Shaw could be moved to second base. Alcántara could be promoted to the majors to play left field, and he'd be an instant upgrade in the Pirates' lineup. Tomas, 17, is a solid prospect who could develop into their long-term solution at shortstop. Meanwhile, Skenes would make the first-place Cubs a real October threat.' Why the Chicago Cubs should make the trade Adding Skenes would take teams from the fringe of contention to serious World Series consideration. The Cubs' rotation is led by Shota Imanaga, who would be in All-Star consideration if he wasn't on Chicago's injury list. Behind him, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon have been serviceable, but Craig Counsell is in need of a second star. Skenes fills that hole emphatically and could be the team's ace for the next decade if they can keep him in a Cubs uniform. Advertisement Both Imanaga and Skenes have ERAs less than 2.90. If they joined forces, they would be one of best pitching duos the league has to offer. For a team that is always done in by their pitching in the postseason, bringing in the young ace would give the Cubs peace of mind in tense playoff matchups. Skenes has yet to pitch in the playoffs, but odds of him translating poorly from the regular season to the playoffs are slim considering just how dominant he has been so far in his career. Shaw and Horton recently made their MLB debuts for Chicago and have impressed so far. Giving them up leaves some immediate holes in the Cubs' roster, but it is well worth the price to bring in Skenes. However, losing both of them, along with two promising prospects still in the minor leagues is enough to give Chicago's front office a reason to step back and look at the deal closely. Many of the Cubs' concerns would go away if they sign Pete Crow-Armstrong to a long-term deal. Doing so would secure their star of the future and allow them to be more aggressive. The move guts the top of their farm system, but Chicago is capable of developing talent as well as most other teams in the league. Cubs Trade Grade: B+ Why the Pittsburgh Pirates should make the trade Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, and Ke'Bryan Hayes are the leaders of the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense. However, Cruz and Skenes have both been thrown out as potential trade candidates. The future of the Pirates cannot be carried by just their ace, no matter how good he is. For that reason, Pittsburgh could make the tough call to bring in a variety of players instead of putting all their hopes into one. Advertisement The Pirates moved on from Derek Shelton, a sign that more changes are coming. Things around Pittsburgh are in a state of flux, including the roster. However, losing so many games makes it difficult for the organization to determine which players are worth keeping. Because of that, the Pirates could chose to stand still at the deadline. If they do make a deal, they need to make sure it is the right one for their future. Pittsburgh needs a miraculous turnaround to return to contention. Despite losing so many games, fans expect improvement from a roster that surprised the league in the second half of last season. Bringing in prospects would definitely give the team a different look. Horton would immediately have a spot in the rotation. Straw would move from third base, but the Pirates' infield is in need of an upgrade as well. Alcántara is a bigger question mark. With Andrew McCutchen mentoring him, though, he could turn into an asset in the field. The Pirates struck gold when they picked Skenes in the 2023 draft. However, if they team can't pay him what he will want in free agency, the best move could be a trade. The Cubs give them players to build around, but it is a tough sell to their fans. However, big risks are necessary for the Pirates to eventually get over the hump. Pirates Trade Grade: B
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong joins rare HR-steal club in win vs. Nationals
The post Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong joins rare HR-steal club in win vs. Nationals appeared first on ClutchPoints. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a former first-round draft pick who was the main selling point in the 2021 trade the New York Mets completed with the Chicago Cubs for Javier Baez. So, he was always projected to do big things. But few people expected him to morph into a complete talent at just 23 years of age. Advertisement The Cubs center fielder displayed excellent defense and speed in a 123-game sample size in 2024, but he managed little production in the batter's box. Crow-Armstrong's struggles continued to begin the 2025 season, as he slashed a ghastly .197/.264/.258/.521 in his first 17 games. It did not take long for everything to click, however. Fast forward to now, and Crow-Armstrong is one of MLB's best players. He punctuated Chicago's fantastic 60-game start (38-22) by achieving a truly remarkable feat in Tuesday's 8-3 win versus the Washington Nationals (28-32). The Los Angeles, California native hit a double, scored two runs, walked twice and recorded two stolen bases. His active outing lifted him into rarefied air. Crow-Armstrong is the fourth-fastest player in the modern era (since 1900) to belt 15-plus home runs and steal 20-plus bags, trailing only Bobby Bonds, Ken Williams and Eric Davis, per the MLB X account. Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong has raced his way toward the top early in 2025 And the myth grows. The Cubs have one of the most lethal lineups in baseball, with Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki both posting Silver Slugger-worthy campaigns so far, but the man they call PCA is a huge reason why they are tied with the Mets for the top record in the National League. He is leaving a sizable imprint all over the field, displaying his entire skill set en route to posting an NL-best 3.6 WAR. Advertisement Pete Crow-Armstrong has 15 homers, 21 stolen bases, a .281 batting average, .562 slugging percentage, .880 OPS, 51 RBIs and 15 doubles this season. Although it is still early, he is firmly in the NL MVP race. Actually, one can argue he is leading the pack right now. What is maybe most astounding about this terrific run is that there is considerable room for improvement. The left-handed hitter has a substandard .313 on-base percentage and concerning 43.8 chase rate, illustrating a lack of discipline at the dish. And yet, he is still smashing the ball. If Crow-Armstrong can become a bit more selective during at-bats, he could enter truly special territory. As it stands, PCA is already joining exclusive clubs and epitomizing two-way star power. Crow-Armstrong and the Cubbies will try to stay in full-throttle mode when they return to Nationals Park on Wednesday. Related: Paul Skenes trade grades for ex-MLB GM's Cubs-Pirates hypothetical Related: Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong emerging as legitimate MVP candidate
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Blue Jays' George Springer called out in embarrassing fashion against Athletics
Blue Jays' George Springer called out in embarrassing fashion against Athletics George Springer played a vital role in the Toronto Blue Jays' 8-4 win over the Athletics on Sunday. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run in the victory. However, he might have also made the most embarrassing out of his career. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Blue Jays were down 3-0. After Myles Straw singled to start the inning, the A's got two quick outs, putting the Blue Jays on their heels. Luckily for the Canadians, their next hitter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., was hit by a pitch, pushing Straw into scoring position, who would promptly be driven in by Springer on a single to left. The offense continued with Alejandro Kirk, who doubled, driving in Guerrero and pushing Springer to third. Sure, there were two outs, but the Blue Jays were only down a run now with two men in scoring position. Surely, another hit would lift Toronto over the Athletics, right? Well, the Blue Jays never got that chance. No. After the double put Springer at third base, the former World Series champion decided that it was a great time for calisthenics, as he jumped up and down on the bag, allowing Athletics third baseman Max Schuemann to tag him out mid-leap. Springer was originally called safe, but video review was clear as day. The ball was on Springer and Springer was not on the bag. Toronto's rally was dead in the water. EXCLUSIVE: How ex-MLB player Eric Anthony learned his dad was Dodgers legend Willie Davis How did Springer do the rest of the game? Springer only had two more plate appearances in the game, both of which came in the Blue Jays' six-run eighth inning. In a sense, Springer was the reason that inning got going. He led off the eighth by reaching base via catcher interference and scored soon after on an Addison Barger home run. He did also ground out to end the inning though. Springer ended the game going 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Who won the series? Toronto's 8-4 win gave them the four-game series sweep against the Athletics, pushing their record to 31-28. The Blue Jays currently sit in second place in the AL East behind the first-place New York Yankees. MLB NEWS: Mookie Betts suffers freak toe injury, Shohei Ohtani progresses toward pitching return The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Steve Cohen tells fans to stay the course as Mets continue losing skid: ‘This too will pass'
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Steve Cohen is preaching patience to Mets fans after the team dropped its third straight game and fifth loss in its last six contests in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Red Sox on Tuesday. After the Mets stormed out to a strong start in April, they have gone under .500 (8-10) in May, which has included series losses to the Cardinals, Yankees and Red Sox. Advertisement 'Welcome to the ups and downs of a baseball season. This too will pass . LGM,' Cohen wrote on X. 3 New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns stands on the field with owner Steve Cohen before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, May 16, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST With the losses starting to pile up, a stronger focus has fallen on the Mets as they try to get themselves back on track. Advertisement That, in part, has led to Juan Soto facing increased scrutiny over his play and perceived happiness playing for the Mets. Soto's hustle has become a topic of conversation, with the SNY broadcast criticizing him on Monday night and ex-MLB pitcher Adam Ottavino on Tuesday preaching that Soto needs to 'bust it' when he's coming out of the batter's box. 3 Juan Soto of the New York Mets runs out a ground out in the eighth inning of a 2-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images It has also led to questions and claims that Soto is unhappy. Advertisement Tuesday's loss was another performance where the Mets' lineup struggled in the clutch, with the team going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS They came into the game in a tie at 21st in MLB for OPS with runners in scoring position. 3 New York Mets owner Steve Cohen sits in the dugout after batting practice before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Brad Penner-Imagn Images Advertisement The Mets have one more game with the Red Sox on Wednesday before they return to Flushing to host the Dodgers for a rematch of last year's NLCS.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Player Compares Yankees' Aaron Judge to MLB Legend Amid Historic Stretch
It's widely agreed that New York Yankees' Aaron Judge is one of the best – if not the best – players in all of baseball. While his defense is solid, it's his performance at the plate that continues to amaze fans across the league. Advertisement The Yankees' outfielder, known as the leader of one of baseball's most pivotal organizations, is having one of the best starts to a season in MLB history. He has entered the month of May as the league-leader in batting average (.427), home runs (10), RBIs (32), OPS (1.282) and has shown no signs of slowing down. New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images At 6-foot-7, 282 pounds, Judge has come into the 2025 season with a chip on his shoulder. After a disappointing World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, it seems as if Judge came into the season with a controlled rage that looks like one of the greatest offensive starts in MLB history. Analyst compares Aaron Judge to Barry Bonds When looking at Aaron Judge's stats over his career, it's hard to deny the complete dominance he has displayed since stepping foot in 2016. Advertisement MLB Central co-host and ex-MLB player Mark DeRosa explained what he's been seeing from Judge so far this season. "He handles himself the way he does with all the pressure on him and consistently puts at-bat after at-bat together... Judge's numbers are right there. We are watching peak Bonds in Aaron Judge every night – I just don't think we realize at time," DeRosa said on MLB Central on Thursday morning. Now it's difficult to compare anything to Barry Bonds' 2001 season because many believed that baseball wouldn't see it happen again. Sports fans are amazed by records being broken every year in any sport and Bonds' 73 home runs in 2001 is a number that is hard to see be broken. Advertisement With all this being said, is it safe to believe that Judge is this generation's Bonds? Related: Cincinnati Reds Make Decision on Long-Time Closing Pitcher After Recent Struggles Related: Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. Hits Impressive Season Milestone During Rays Game
