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New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Mets trade deadline overview: Where and how can New York upgrade?
NEW YORK — Now with fewer than 10 days before the trade deadline, David Stearns and the Mets have provided some clarity about their potential direction. There are four main areas the Mets could address between now and July 31: the bullpen, the rotation, center field and third base. Stearns addressed all of those areas Monday. So let's run through how Stearns views his roster publicly and the potential options on the trade market for improvement. Advertisement We'll break the positions down into big splashes, smaller splashes, likelier targets and under-the-radar names, even though Stearns was against that metaphor Monday. 'I try not to look at it as the size of the splash. That can get a little dangerous this time of year,' he said. 'We try to look at how good the player coming back is and how that particular player fits the team needs.' One didn't need to read between the lines with Stearns on Monday. He made it abundantly clear the Mets will be adding to their relief corps. 'We will be active (in the bullpen),' Stearns said, alluding to the series of injuries the Mets have suffered there. 'Providing our group reinforcements there would be great.' Note the plural. Barring injury, the Mets have six quality candidates for a postseason bullpen: Edwin Díaz, Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Ryne Stanek and José Buttó. That group could conceivably be supplemented by anyone who falls out of the starting rotation or, as The Athletic reported earlier Monday, by Triple-A starters converted into relievers. But there should be room for two additions, one of whom is adept at handling left-handed hitters. The big splash: Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland The lights-out closer would be the best reliever moved at the deadline since at least 2016, when Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller were both dealt. Clase comes with three years of additional inexpensive team control (at $26 million total), and the Mets could acquire him as insurance in case Díaz opts out and seeks a bigger payday elsewhere. Still a splash: Griffin Jax, Minnesota A less familiar name from the AL Central, Jax has quietly been one of the game's best relievers since breaking out as a 27-year-old in 2022. Like Clase, he's under longer team control (through 2027). Since the start of last season, Jax is tied with Josh Hader for the fifth-best strikeout rate in baseball (37.9 percent), just ahead of Díaz. Jax does that without walking many batters; his walk rate is less than half that of the Mets' bullpen. Jax primarily uses a high-80s slider and low-90s changeup that each generate a ton of chase. Pairing him with Díaz would shorten games considerably. Worth mentioning: Danny Coulombe, Minnesota Another Twin, Coulombe is likely the best lefty reliever who will be moved by July 31. His ERA is below 1.00, his FIP below 2.00 and his strikeout and walk rates are both better than the league average. Since the start of 2023, only 12 relievers have held lefties to a lower OPS than Coulombe's .509. Advertisement An under-the-radar target: Shelby Miller, Arizona One of those relievers is the righty Miller, who has held lefties to a .465 OPS since he added a splitter to his arsenal in 2023. Although on the IL with a right forearm strain, Miller is slated to return this week for the Diamondbacks, where he's served as the closer since injuries to A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez earlier in the season. One thing has become clear: The Mets are not going to add depth to their starting rotation. Now that they've gotten some pitchers back, with others on the way from either the IL (injured list) or the IL (International League), New York isn't looking to add an arm just to add an arm. If the Mets are going to add a starter, it would be one they'd want to start a playoff game, likely alongside a postseason rotation of Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and David Peterson. 'I still think (a No. 1 starter) is really valuable,' Stearns said. 'You'd always like to have the horse at the front of the rotation. But it's not the only way to build a rotation, it's not the only way to win a playoff series, it's not the only way to win a World Series. 'I think we have multiple pitchers on our staff right now who can lead a staff into a playoff series. I'm confident with that, I'm comfortable with that.' In other words, this is not a top priority for the Mets. The big splash: Joe Ryan, Minnesota In a weak market for top-of-the-rotation arms, Ryan stands out as the type of pitcher you can push out there in Game 1 of a postseason series — and he's controlled through 2027. That makes Minnesota understandably loath to trade him, and the return would have to be significant. For the Mets, that would likely mean consolidating multiple arms in the majors or high-minors for Ryan. A familiar target: Seth Lugo, Kansas City Advertisement After years pining for the opportunity to start, Lugo left the Mets following the 2022 season and has been one of the game's better starters in San Diego and Kansas City since, finishing second in the AL Cy Young balloting a season ago. While Lugo's ERA remains excellent this year, his peripheral numbers are not as strong. His home run rate has doubled from last year, and he's benefited from a lower batting average on balls in play and a very good strand rate — things that tend to regress over time. Nevertheless, Lugo would likely represent an upgrade over Clay Holmes or Frankie Montas in the back of the rotation. Worth mentioning: Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, Arizona Gallen and Kelly were the driving forces behind Arizona's surprising push to the World Series in 2023. If the Diamondbacks, who entered Monday at 50-50, decided to sell either of the impending free agents, they'd qualify as postseason starters for most any team. While the bigger name, Gallen has had a rougher season, with an ERA over five and peripheral numbers that suggest that's about right. Kelly is older and with less of a standout track record, but he's been a solid second or third starter for several years. The righty generates a lot of swing-and-miss with his outstanding changeup. Stearns explicitly acknowledged center field as 'the one position where we haven't gotten the level of production we anticipated coming into the year.' But that doesn't mean he's hell-bent on finding an external solution. 'For me, the bar to improve center field has probably risen over the past two weeks,' Stearns said, 'because of Jeff (McNeil)'s comfort level and the secondary skills that Tyrone (Taylor) can provide. 'I'm certain we're going to be engaged, but we've got to clear the bar.' The big splash: Jarren Duran, Boston Advertisement Duran doesn't even play center, and he's on a team likely to buy at the deadline. So why's he on this list? Because the Red Sox have a surplus of outfielders — one only exacerbated by Ceddanne Rafaela's recent offensive explosion — and because Duran is miscast in left field. His defensive numbers were far better in center last season, and he brings a high ceiling, as shown by his top-10 MVP finish last season. His offensive numbers have taken an unsurprising step back, but Duran is still solidly above league average at a position with very few two-way contributors. He's under team control through 2028, so it would take a fair amount to get him — probably including a major-league piece. First things first… JARREN. — Red Sox (@RedSox) July 21, 2025 Still a splash: Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox Since returning from the injured list in early July, Robert has helped reestablish some semblance of trade value, posting an OPS north of 1.000 in nine games. Look, when you have the kind of season Robert did as a 25-year-old in 2023 — an .857 OPS and 38 homers while playing a solid center — teams will look for any reason to give you another shot. Robert's defense in center is average to slightly above, and so he owns a reasonable floor as an everyday player, with the chance to be much more. Worth mentioning: Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Following a scorching start to the season, Mullins has been in an extended slump. Since the end of April, his average is under .200 and his OPS under .600. Furthermore, his typically stout center-field defense has been dinged by advanced metrics all season. At the moment, he looks less like an upgrade than he had for much of the year. Stearns explicitly said he expects the Mets' answer at third base this season to come from within. New York has been cycling through Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio pretty regularly at the position of late, and each offers a compelling reason for more of an everyday opportunity. Vientos was an integral part of last season's turnaround. Baty stayed hot Monday with a two-run homer, and he's raised his OPS above .700 (and above the league average) with consistently improving glovework. Mauricio has looked comfortable at third and provided some pop, especially against right-handed pitching. Advertisement So unless that's all posturing or something changes significantly in the next 10 days, the list here is more of a thought exercise. The big splash: Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Suárez is likely to be the best bat moved between now and the deadline. He's smashed 36 home runs already this season — his most since 2019 — and has been red-hot basically since the middle of last season. He can hold his own at third base, and he'd provide clarity at a position of flux and another middle-of-the-order masher. Put Suárez in the lineup, and the Mets' top five hitters might all hit 30-plus homers. The Mets have never had even three 30-homer hitters. A likelier target: Willi Castro, Minnesota An All-Star last year, the do-everything Castro is having his best season this year, hitting about 20 percent better than the league average while playing every position on the field except catcher. Acquiring Castro would only further Carlos Mendoza's day-to-day flexibility. The switch hitter has been platoon-neutral across his career but is mashing lefties this season — a particular benefit if he joins a mix with Baty and Mauricio, who are better versus right-handed pitching. Castro can start at second on days McNeil is in center. He can play the corner outfield if you want to give a DH day to Juan Soto or Brandon Nimmo. He can play third on a more regular basis if he's the best option there. (The downside is that third base has been arguably Castro's worst defensive position this year.) An under-the-radar target: Yoán Moncada, Los Angeles Angels Moncada represents much more of a boom-or-bust option. When healthy, he's been a solid, above-average hitter capable of a double-digit walk rate and legitimate power. The problem is how rarely Moncada has been healthy. Since the start of 2023, he's played just 142 games. (Top photo of Emmanuel Clase: Griffin Quinn / Getty Images)
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Yankees' Spencer Jones ahead of the trade deadline: ‘I want to play in New York'
Spencer Jones, the New York Yankees' No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is not oblivious to where we are in the baseball calendar. There are nine days remaining until the trade deadline, and Jones is one of the most hotly debated prospects in the sport. What the Yankees decide to do with Jones at this year's deadline might tell the public how they truly feel about the 24-year-old slugger. Keep him, and it could signal Jones is the Yankees' center fielder of the future, perhaps as soon as 2026. Trade him, and it might mean the club doesn't believe a player with his profile can have success in the big leagues. Advertisement Jones can't avoid the trade rumors because his friends across the country are continually sending him content that features him. But he doesn't mind it one bit. In fact, one recent post that a friend passed along still makes him burst out in laughter days later. 'There was a post of me hitting a home run and one of the comments was, 'Get ready to speak desert, buddy,'' Jones told The Athletic. 'That's a really good one. I saw that and was dying laughing. That is just so good. To me, that's the really fun part about baseball at this time of year. I really like the creativity that fans have. It's awesome. I don't know if I can speak desert.' Jones is referencing being a possible target of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who the Yankees have been linked to given their interest in third baseman Eugenio Suárez. The Yankees are one of several teams who have expressed interest in acquiring Suárez, an impending free agent who is arguably the best bat on the market. But whether the Yankees would include Jones in a trade for a rental remains to be seen. Yankees fans on the internet remain split on how they view Jones. Some believe he should only be traded for a star-level talent. In 16 Triple-A games, Jones has hit 10 home runs. His 26 home runs are tied for the most across the minor leagues this season. His 1.106 OPS can't be ignored. That kind of production makes the job of the Yankees' front office challenging because if Jones does become a star in the majors, the organization will never hear the end of it. But there are also dissenters who believe Jones' swing-and-miss tendencies and lack of contact are impossible to ignore. He is whiffing on 37.6 percent of his swings in Triple A, and his 74.8 percent in-zone contact rate would rank second-to-last in MLB. Those numbers would be expected to get worse when facing major-league pitching. Advertisement So, there's the dilemma that the Yankees face. Do they believe Jones' power potential is so tantalizing that they need to see it in the majors, or do they trade him when his value may never be higher? If Jones had it his way, there's no doubt where he wants to play. 'I was just talking to my girlfriend about this, but at the end of the day, I want to play in New York and be a part of this organization and stay loyal to it,' said Jones, the Yankees' 2022 first-round draft pick. 'That's a big part of who I am and where I want to go in my career.' Jones said he hasn't been told by the organization whether he has anything to worry about regarding a possible trade. He has told staff members in the past that he prefers to have few thoughts in his head when playing, and he feels like he's finally at a point where he's confident at the plate. The 6-foot-7 outfielder has tinkered with his stance several times this season, and the latest iteration is here to stay. It's a unique-looking swing for someone his size where he'll crouch low, open his hips wide and then have an exaggerated leg kick. But it's working for him. He credits his stance for helping him have success this year. 'In spring, there were issues with my ability to recognize pitches and make a decision right away,' Jones said. 'Where I'm at now, people may look at it and think it's not simple, but the move and the way it works is very simple. I kind of just move my body, let myself see the pitch and let my body swing. That's where it's been. I am glad to have been able to produce the results I have.' Spencer Jones is the man of a thousand stances but here are some of the more recent changes. There's a healthy sample of elite success with his latest change. He's put himself in a better position to attack pitches in the zone with authority. — Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) July 21, 2025 A major change from this past offseason has also contributed to his breakout. Jones made his swing path as steep as possible to exaggerate hitting the baseball in the air to the pull side. He traded ground balls for fly balls in 2025. Jones' fly-ball rate in 2024 was 29.2 percent. It's 40.3 percent this season. His ground-ball rate in 2024 was 42.3 percent, and it's 29.9 percent this year. With his raw power, it's no coincidence the change has led to him having the best wRC+ (205) in the minor leagues. Advertisement 'We worked really hard to add steepness to my path to a point where I was doing it to a fault in the beginning of the year and at the end of spring, I had one of the steepest swings in the league,' Jones said. 'Throughout the year, the tinkering has been to re-flatten it because the swing was so steep. There's going to be a natural arc to the swing. I've been focused on flattening the path to let those fly balls I hit to left field have a little more carry or the line drives to right get a little more backspin. It's a delicate balance.' Generally, Yankees manager Aaron Boone is not asked about what happens in the minors, mainly because he is focused on the big-league club. But Jones' demolition of minor-league pitching has made its way to Boone as he's been asked about Jones multiple times over the past few days. It's becoming impossible for anyone to not pay attention. 'As a bigger guy, I think it's harder to master mechanics and skills as a hitter,' Boone said. 'But when you can, and you do, obviously, I think you have advantages just with your strength and your leverage and things like that. So he's made a lot of adjustments over the last couple of years, and it's good to see that those adjustments in Double and Triple A have paid off for him so far.' Jones' value in MLB wouldn't be just with his bat, as he's a good defensive center fielder with exceptional speed. If he could be an average to slightly-below-average bat in the majors, he'd still be a valuable player on any roster because there aren't many center fielders who are elite hitters. Boone believes Jones has the ability to stick in center field whenever he gets to the big leagues, but he could also see him turn into a plus fielder in the corners. Jones is one of the most perplexing players in terms of his big-league future. Could he become Joey Gallo? Is he Franchy Cordero? Or if he realizes his full potential, can he mirror Aaron Judge's production? Evaluators dropped Jones off their top prospect lists before this season began, but Baseball America just moved him up to No. 3 in the Yankees' system. Jones said he understands why some may be skeptical of his production, but he's never had more confidence in his game. These next nine days will tell us if the Yankees feel similarly. 'I knew there were glimpses of what I was capable of in seasons past, but the production, I had never felt true to myself or consistent,' Jones said. 'I think the way things have worked out this year is just a product of me being more comfortable within myself to flow naturally. I'm not worried about what the stance looks like or what anything else looks like. I'm just feeling good playing baseball.' (Photo of Spencer Jones with Double-A Somerset: Jess Stiles / Associated Press)
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins lose again as trade deadline looms: ‘We know the situation'
LOS ANGELES — For the moment, it looks like the Twins should sell before next week's trade deadline. After losing two of three games in Denver over the weekend and again on Monday, six teams are ahead of Minnesota in the wild-card standings. But the beauty, or perhaps it's the absurdity, or maybe even the challenge of the third wild-card spot, is it provides teams a false sense they're never quite out of the playoff picture. Four good days in a row can change an organization's plans. So too can a few bad ones determine what a club does by the July 31 trade deadline. Advertisement Even though they're only five games behind the Boston Red Sox for the third and final spot, the Twins' chances of making the playoffs are minimal. But they aren't damned, either. With time still on the clock until the front office makes a determination, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli wants his players focused on nothing more than that night's game. 'The next couple weeks of baseball might change the course of the season in one direction or another,' Baldelli said. 'So be it. That's the reality of it. That's what we have to own. We have to do our part to keep our group playing well and together and not worry about it in a negative sense. Think about it in a positive light and try to go in the direction that we want to go.' The Twins are struggling all season to stay on the correct course. They played brilliant baseball for 13 straight games in May, a stretch Baldelli described as one of the best he'd ever been a part of in his career. Prior to the loss of Pablo López, the team's pitching staff ranked first in strikeout-to-walk ratio, Wins Above Replacement, according to Fangraphs, and sixth in earned-run average. The same team is also 35-52 in the rest of its games and produced a horrendous 9-18 June. The Twins lost two of three games to a Colorado squad which won only two of its previous 31 series. With Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis both struggling to hit, the offense was 20th in runs scored entering Monday and 16th in weighted Runs Created Plus, rating as below average. The defense ranks 26th in Defensive Runs Saved with minus-27, according to Sports Info Solutions. In essence, the club is being propped up by the brilliance of Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan and bullpen which leads the majors in WAR. 'Finding consistency is hard in this game,' Correa said. 'We can sit down and have a two-hour conversation about things that can be done better and things that have been going great, and all these things that we could do or not do. But at the end of the day, it's all about wins and losses. We gotta figure out ways to get wins.' Advertisement As if winning isn't already difficult enough, Twins players are now dealing with deadline distractions. Ryan and Buxton both were asked questions at last week's All-Star Game about potential trades at the deadline, the latter noting he's not going anywhere because of his no-trade clause. The pundits are out in force wondering not if but when the Twins will sell. And rival scouts are watching every at-bat and pitch to determine which players might make the most sense for their team. Lefty reliever Danny Coulombe would love to win with the Twins, but he prefers winning wherever it happens. He's also considered how a deadline trade could impact family logistics. But seeing his name recently surface on the apps prompted him to put down his phone. 'I'm simply staying off social media,' Coulombe said. 'There's a lot of stuff going around I can't control. I can control the pitch I throw and my execution and that's about it. I want to win. I'm getting to the point in my career where that's the only thing that matters. Whether it's here or somewhere else, we'll see what happens.' Wanting to keep as many players as possible, Baldelli is monitoring the situation and intervening only when necessary. He'll handle an affected player if it's needed. But Baldelli sees addressing the entire team on the topic as counterintuitive when the focus should instead be on an upcoming game. 'The only thing that matters is being ready to pitch and hit and make the plays and be in a good head space,' Baldelli said. 'Have there been occasions where I've grabbed guys on the side if I think it's affecting them in any sort of way? Yeah. Do I make team speeches? No. I don't do that. … I don't tend to spend a lot of my energy on worrying about the trade deadline. If we play really good baseball from here until the trade deadline, we're going to keep playing and probably not going to be trading anyone.' Advertisement Still, the Twins — as assembled — likely won't have enough time. There are fewer than 10 shopping days left until the trade deadline and nobody in the clubhouse can control what the front office will do. 'We all see what the date is, the time that is coming,' Buxton said. 'We know the situation. It's definitely thought about for sure.' Carlos Correa hit a 106.6 mph laser off the bat. Everyone in the Twins dugout thought it was gone and the game was tied. But similar to how their season is playing out, Correa's bid to silence a Dodger Stadium crowd booing him into oblivion came up short. Correa flew out to the center-field fence and the Twins fell 5-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of 51,121. Buxton homered off Ohtani to start the game but the Twins offense didn't score again until the ninth inning despite myriad chances. Now THIS is how you start the series!! 😤 — (@twinstv) July 22, 2025 Ohtani answered Buxton's first-inning homer with one of his own, a two-run shot off David Festa. Will Smith belted two more solo home runs off Festa and Andy Pages hit a solo shot off Cole Sands. Even with all the homers, the Dodgers didn't put the Twins away until James Outman caught Correa's drive at the wall. Buxton, who went 2-for-4, started a ninth-inning rally with a walk. The Twins loaded the bases and cut a four-run deficit to three on Kody Clemens' sac fly. Correa, who was booed all night, ripped a 1-2 pitch from Kirby Yates to the wall in center. Though Outman didn't jump, he caught the ball with his glove positioned above the top of the fence. Carlos Correa was inches away from silencing the booing Dodgers crowd, but James Outman reeled it in for the final out — Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 22, 2025 'He crushed that ball,' Baldelli said. 'That ball is tattooed. … Everyone on our side of the field was surprised. My guess is everyone on their side of the field is probably surprised, too. Not sure how it didn't go out of the ballpark, but it didn't and we have to live with that fact.' Ty France is disturbed when he sees his numbers on the scoreboard. He's healthy. He's pleased with his process. The swings are good. But the results are not and France is well past laughing about his struggles. France carried a .245/.309/.348 slash line with six home runs and 42 RBIs into Monday's game. His struggles were exacerbated by a long weekend in Denver where all but one of five hard-hit balls found a glove. Advertisement He was robbed of extra bases by Ryan McMahon on Friday. On Sunday, a pair of hard-hit balls carrying expected averages of .469 or better resulted in two runners thrown out at home plate. Another potential hit found a glove Friday. 'I'm the furthest thing from laughing right now,' France said. 'This is frustrating. It's not a mechanical thing. It's not a timing thing. It's placement. That's tough to control. It is what it is unfortunately. I'm going to keep swinging and hopefully they start falling.' France spent the All-Star break working on and diagnosing his swing. He estimated he took at least 1,000 hacks. That's what a slow first half full of bad luck can do to a player. France is hitting the ball harder than ever. His barrel rate is the highest since 2020. His hard-hit rate is high, too. But his batting average is 22 points below his expected one and his expected slugging percentage is 99 better than his real slug. France was dogged by bad healthy in 2024 and it resulted in him signing a one-year prove it contract with the Twins in February. But France said health has no bearing on performance. 'Right now, I'm chalking it up to luck,' France said. 'I look up at the numbers every day and I'm not pleased with where they're at. I look at my expected numbers and there's really not much more I could be doing. I'm hitting the ball right to people for some reason. Aside from the double against the Cubs, I can't think of the last time I had a bloop hit or a broken-bat single. I'm not striking out, either. I'm just hitting the ball right to people. I feel like I'm in a really good spot. I feel like I showed it in Colorado.' (Photo of Byron Buxton celebrating his solo home run off Shohei Ohtani:)
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
As the Cubs search for more pitching, how long will Ben Brown remain in their plans?
CHICAGO — With the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching, Ben Brown is trying to take it one pitch at a time. For now, the Chicago Cubs are keeping him stretched out as a starter, even if manager Craig Counsell decides to use an opener in front of him. Brown's swing-and-miss stuff and limited pitch mix also suggest the possibility of unleashing him as a late-inning reliever. And since everyone needs pitching, the idea of Brown as a potential trade chip cannot be ignored. Advertisement Against that backdrop, Brown simply did not make a good impression during Monday night's 12-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Just recalled from Triple-A Iowa, Brown started warming up in the Wrigley Field bullpen in the first inning and wasted some early run support as the Cubs fell out of first place for the first time since early April. Though the Cubs are 18 games over .500, their pitching staff needs reinforcements. The Milwaukee Brewers have surged ahead in the National League Central with their 11-game winning streak, setting up what should be a competitive trade deadline and an entertaining division race. Under pressure to make the playoffs for the first time in five years, the Cubs are planning to add at least one dependable starting pitcher and a trusted reliever. At this point, it's unclear where exactly Brown fits into that picture. 'I got to start helping the team win,' he said. 'I've kind of been a non-contributor when things like (this) happen. It's unfortunate, so whatever opportunity is ahead of me, I've got to be better to earn that.' Scattered boos rang out from the crowd of 38,117 during the fifth inning at the Friendly Confines, where Bobby Witt Jr.'s soft infield single, catcher Carson Kelly's throwing error and Brown's wild pitch factored into Kansas City's four-run rally. In covering four innings, Brown gave up seven runs (six earned), a sequence that included two-out homers from Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez that landed in the left-field basket and bleachers. A fan dove into the basket at Wrigley Field to get Jac Caglianone's home run ball 👀 🎥 @MLB — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 22, 2025 'You have to control your attitude and effort,' Brown said. 'The only thing I can do is show up tomorrow and be better and work harder. I'll continue to do that.' In flashes, Brown has shown the top-of-the-rotation material the Cubs saw when they traded veteran reliever David Robertson to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2022 deadline. Brown had been overlooked in the 2017 MLB Draft — the Phillies selected him in a 33rd round that no longer exists — but he popped up as a prospect that summer. Advertisement The Cubs put Brown, 25, on their Opening Day roster this year and made him part of their season-opening rotation because they strongly believed in his upside as a starter. They did not want to foreclose that possibility too early in the year and later regret the decision. Once he moved to the bullpen, it would be difficult to stretch him out again when the inevitable injuries happened. But the Cubs are 100 games into their season, with a manager who uses 'out-getters' as the general label for his pitching staff. Rather than asking Brown (4-7, 6.48 ERA) to get through a lineup twice, perhaps the Cubs could use the 6-foot-6 right-hander out of the bullpen and see if the angles from his 96 mph fastball and curveball keep hitters off-balance in quick bursts. 'I understand the calendar is shorter,' Counsell said. 'Our available-starter situation isn't completely full right now, so I would say no to that question as we sit here right now. Obviously, things could change. But right now, he's going to pitch in bulk or length.' At some point in August, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad are expected to be activated off the injured list. Cade Horton is having a good rookie season, but durability is a concern after he threw only 34 1/3 innings last year in the minors. Colin Rea remains a valuable, versatile pitcher, though the Cubs probably won't line him up behind Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd in a potential playoff rotation. In explaining the decision to option Brown to Triple A last month, Counsell said part of the rationale was giving him a chance to rest and manage his workload to that point (almost 80 innings). Counsell downplayed the idea of the Cubs wanting Brown to work on something specific in Iowa: 'There's not a new pitch. There's nothing new happening there.' 'Ben's got to execute better,' Counsell said. 'It's as simple as that. It's largely a two-pitch mix, and there's obviously the changeup in there. But I think when you're talking about pitch mixes like that, then your execution has to be at a pretty good level at this level.' Advertisement For now, Counsell indicated that Brown will stick around as the Cubs map out a pitching plan for this weekend's crosstown series against the Chicago White Sox on the South Side. From there, the Cubs will tackle a three-game series in Milwaukee that leads into the trade deadline. By Aug. 1, this team will look different. 'I've been in a trade before,' Brown said. 'It's a fun time of year for guys that are in High A and Double A and anticipating movement. For a guy like me, I've never gone through a trade deadline in the big leagues before. It's cool to be on a team that's in a winning position. I'm kind of just having my hands open to anything that's coming down my way. Whatever it is, it's just a fun time to be a Cub, a fun time for Cubs fans. We're playing really good baseball. It's encouraging to be a part of it. Just got to start helping out a little bit better.'
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
A Different Perspective On Trade Deadline Moves For Arizona Diamondbacks
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after hitting ... More a three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Chase Field on July 20, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) The Arizona Diamondbacks have a record of 50-51 at the start of play July 22. The Dbacks likely are chasing at least four or more teams for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. As a result of the current standings, the Diamondbacks find themselves with monumental decisions to make before, or at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, July 30, at 6PM EST. The Diamondbacks probably have the most sought after players in this year's trade market. Generally speaking, MLB teams look to get a return from players on expiring contracts. Media outlets consistently believe the Dbacks will trade most, or even all of their impactful players on expiring contracts. This old scout disagrees. More on that later. The Dbacks have four consequential players in the final year before they reach free agency. Those players include: Eugenio Suarez-3B-Age 34-$15M current salary 36 home runs, 86 RBIs, 2025 All Star Josh Naylor-1B-Age 28-$10.9M 11 homers, 58 RBIs Merrill Kelly-RHP-Age 36-$7M 9-5, 3.32 ERA, 21 starts Zac Gallen-RHP-Age 29-$13.5M 7-11, 5.58 ERA, 21 starts Without question, If made available, each of those players can fetch prospects that may add tremendous depth and length to the Dbacks organization. Or, the Dbacks could trade for veteran players. There could be several contending suitors in hot pursuit of each of the four. For example: ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks attends the 2025 MLB ... More All-Star Game red carpet at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) Eugenio Suarez Yankees, Cubs, Mariners, Red Sox, Brewers Each team above might pay dearly for a game-changing power threat like Suarez. He is the hottest hitter in baseball, having hit two home runs in consecutive games, and has six multi-home run games. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Josh Naylor #22 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gets ready in the batters ... More box against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field on July 20, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) Josh Naylor Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners. Naylor works tremendously hard at his craft. He takes extra batting practice every day. He constantly works on improving his fielding. An aggressive hitter, Naylor can get extremely hot, and carry a team with drives to the gap or bombs over the fence. Each of the three teams above would be a great fit for Josh Naylor. Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws against the Miami Marlins during the ... More first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Merrill Kelly Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Astros, Brewers, Blue Jays A very inexpensive (by comparison to others) and very capable, dependable starting pitcher, Kelly has an assortment of pitches in his repertoire that keep hitters off balance. When Kelly gets in a groove, he not only gives his team a chance to win, but he goes deeply into games, helping save the bullpen. A constant cramping problem from his past seems to have been resolved. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 25: Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the fourth ... More inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on June 25, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by) Zac Gallen Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays Gallen is puzzling. He can be very good. He can be very meh! Gallen's inconsistency can give a manager heartburn. No longer an ace in this old scout's view, he's still an option in a contender's starting rotation. When Gallen nibbles at the corners, he loses command and starts getting his pitch count too high. He begins to walk hitters. Or yield home runs. The return for Gallen might not be as high as fans believe. Which Player(s) Do The Dbacks Trade? Several factors have to be considered. -The Dbacks have played this year with an unprecedented amount of injuries. It is likely many of those injured players could be back at some point next season. - The Dbacks have just received a tremendous boost from the Arizona Legislature that allows them to spend tax dollars received from team generated revenue for the renovation of Chase Field. In essence, money they would have to spend on renovations, can be used for other needs-such as payroll. - If the Dbacks deplete their roster of fan favorites like Suarez and Naylor, the fan base could react by not buying tickets, merchandise, and concessions. That cuts the amount of revenue the Dbacks receive from the tax legislation. - If they trade their best players, where do they find replacements for 2026, and beyond? Yes, they will likely get prospects in return. But prospects are prospects. Unproven. Untested. The difference between Triple-A and Major League Baseball is as wide as the Grand Canyon. -The $22.5M salary for pitcher Jordan Montgomery is coming off the books. This Old Scout's Prediction: The Dbacks need to field a competitive, exciting team to earn sales tax revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and concessions. They have been plagued by injuries, which could be a non-issue next season. If they keep their team in place, they could clearly move up in the standings. The Dbacks have an exciting team, with a terrific manager in Torey Lovullo. This writer's prediction? The Dbacks will trade only Zac Gallen. The return may be shockingly low. The Dbacks offense needs Suarez and Naylor. The Dbacks pitching staff needs Merrill Kelly. The Dbacks can look for another starter. Possibly one comes back in a Gallen trade.
