MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

Rays added LOOGY Garrett Cleavinger from the Dodgers.

 

The Brewers' side of this is interesting. They are leading the NL Central and they just traded their closer. If they get any help for the current roster in the trade, it actually makes sense for them because they have Devin Williams ready to step in as their new closer.

Edit to add a report on what the Brewers get.


Esteury Ruiz could step right in as the Brewers' regular center fielder, which had been a problem for them. That alone makes it a nice fit. I'm guessing they hope Rogers can at least handle a set-up role, which is now a need with Williams closing.

 

Indeed. There aren't too many teams who have a closer-in-waiting like Williams.

 

Dammit, I was hoping this wouldn't happen.

 

Guess they aren’t pushing for a wildcard race. Reduce salary and rebuild for Nashville.

 

That's a bad karma trade if I've ever seen one.

You are at .500 on the first day of August and by the end of the week will probably pass your win total from the past three full seasons, when you had 52, 54 and 47 victories. You have 60 games left and 35 of them are against direct competition to make the playoffs. You are three games out of a playoff spot, trying to get there for the first time in six years.

And of all the the players you trade, it's the cancer survivor that everyone loves.

 

Or they are being smart and sticking to the original plan. Being 500 does not mean you should deviate from your optimal window for winning.

 

I'm pretty torn on this as a fan. Does not sound like the return was great. One of the players coming back is heading for TJ surgery. I agree with JC's assertion that you don't deviate from the long-term pain for a short-term gain that--best-case scenario--has the team on the road for an entire playoff series. But Mancini was the heart and soul of that team and I hate trading him just for the sake of trading him, which at first blush, looks to be the case here.

 

BREAKING NEWS

 

There is no evidence that the Orioles have a plan except that players who can get paid will no longer be Orioles. Fans will rightly see this trade as evidence that it doesn't matter to management if the team wins or loses.

 

They got a pair of A-ball pitchers, one who was 12th in the Astros system, turns 24 this month and has a 5.50 ERA (but has good K numbers, and another who will be 24 in Sept and threw 27 innings for getting hurt in late May and if he has Tommy John, you won't see until spring training 2024 at 25 with 137 innings over four season, none above A-ball, under his belt.

They could have been in last place and it wouldn't be a great return.