Well, it's been a ****ty season but some silver linings are Profar and Odor turning their young career's around. Time for Gallo and DeShields to follow suit.

Is this bad?

gigem1223 said:

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Is there really no one better in the farm than Matt frickin Moore? Watching him pitch is painful. Same story EVERY time.

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AAA-RR is filled with guys like Matt Moore. The biggest difference is... Moore is owed $10M next year, witha $750M buyout. The next biggest difference is Moore has had some legit MLB success.

I think we'll continue to see Matt Moore until the Rangers decide if he is worth the $10M gamble for 2019.

With Hamels officially gone, here is where we are for 2019 Rotation:

MLB Roster:
Mike Minor (30-LHP): $9.833M - 20 GS, 110.1 IP, 4.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Perez (2g7-LHP): $7.5M/750K - 7.08 ERA, 2.20 WHIP
Matt Moore (29-LHP):$10M/750K - 20GP, 12 GS, 71.1 IP, 7.70 ERA, 1.92 WHIP
ABD (33-RHP): Serf - 6GS, 6.75 ERA, 1.60 WHIP
Ariel Jurado (22-RHP): Serf - 2GS, 4.22 ERA, 1.03 WHIP

On 40:
Joe Palumbo (23-LHP): Serf

On roster/DL:
Doug Fister (34-RHP): DL, $4.5M/500K - 12 GS, 4.50 ERA
Ron Herrera (23-RHP): DL60 <- Not likely for 2019.

On 40 roster/Minors:
YoMen (23-LHP) <- Struggled this season. Currently in AA.
Jonathan Hernandez (22-RHP): < Huge A+ success (in 10GS). AA - Struggling in 8GS

So a 2019 roster like:
#4 Minor
IE Perez (Innings Eater)
Rk: Jurado or YoMen2
Retread: Fister or Moore
FA Signing?

Keone Kela to the Pirates.

Looks like 2 prospects coming to Texas for Kela.

I'm hoping this increases the talks on Diekman.

Leclerc to Closer?

JD interview after the game.

1 player will be announced tomorrow. Apparently the club (Pitt) has been unable to reach him. He might be sleeping, was suggested. The other might not be announced for a bit.

If we somehow managed to get Mitch Keller or Shane Baz this would be a huge win. If Taylor Hearn is the top arm it would be a nice return.

Rossko said:

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If we somehow managed to get (Pitt's #1 prospect) Mitch Keller or (Pitt's #4 prospect) Shane Baz this would be a huge win. If (Pitt's #7 prospect) Taylor Hearn is the top arm it would be a nice return.

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Added some context...

Looks like Taylor Hearn (6'5", 210) has been confirmed.

23-LHP, 5th Rd pick from Washington Nats. Went to Royse City HS, Tx, SanJac and Ok Baptist U.

AA this season: 19 GS, 3.12 ERA, 1.087 WHIP, 104.0 IP, 107 K.

I'm guessing he goes to AA-Frisco, is Rule V eligible after the season and likely a strong candidate for innings in 2019.

23yo lefty with a 3-6 record and a 3.12 in AA this year

Some fun trivia.

Hearn went to San jacinto college north of Houston.

The same college that both Andy pettite and roger Clemens went to.

Imagine if he could pitch like one of those guys.

Grapesoda2525 said:

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The same college that both Andy pettite and roger Clemens went to.

Imagine if he does roids like one of those guys.

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I was hanging out with a brewers scout tonight and he had high praise for Hearn for what its worth. He also said they( Brewers) were very interested in Hamels but he had zero interest in going to Milwaukee.

Street_Cred_Norm said:

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I was hanging out with a brewers scout tonight and he had high praise for Hearn for what its worth. He also said they( Brewers) were very interested in Hamels but he had zero interest in going to Milwaukee.

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Name checks out.

Cliff notes on what I've read on Hearns;

big lefty with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, has a wipeout slider and a so so change up. Needs a little more work on his control but it has improved a lot this year. If he stays on same path, could be a midseason call up next season.

gigem1223 said:

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Cliff notes on what I've read on Hearns;

big lefty with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, has a wipeout slider and a so so change up. Needs a little more work on his control but it has improved a lot this year. If he stays on same path, could be a midseason call up next season.

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Can't wait to see if we move Diekman and Choo. Hopefully his 2 HRs last night and his .392 OBP entices someone.

.280 and 20 HRs would be a nice addition.

Once the dust settles, I'm looking forward to seeing what our SP prospects look like.

If Jurado can make the transition, we'll have some potential.

Grapesoda2525 said:

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Some fun trivia.

Hearn went to San jacinto college north of Houston.

The same college that both Andy pettite and roger Clemens went to.

Imagine if he could pitch like one of those guys.

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What college did your new domestic abuser closer go to?

gigem1223 said:

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Cliff notes on what I've read on Hearns;

big lefty with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, has a wipeout slider and a so so change up. Needs a little more work on his control but it has improved a lot this year. If he stays on same path, could be a midseason call up next season.

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Maybe he could become the Matt Moore we never knew.

Choo's contract is also getting down to a much more workable total amount, with 2 years left after this one. Between picking some of it up + the fact they aren't sitting on 3-4 years of it remaining anymore, I would hope they could find a taker. That said, his limitations in the field do handcuff their options.

Koko will take JD to task if he doesn't move 2-3 more players. Engage JD!

So if y'all had to guess, who do you think gets moved today?

I think just Diekman.

I'm not sure why but I'm sad to see Kela go. A year ago or even a few months ago I wouldn't have batted an eye. I also know that we need to get what we can for him and hopefully the pieces we get will be a good trade for us. But, he has been a bright spot for us this year and I'd love to see him grow into a dominant closer for this team for many years to come.

I know I've said multiple times on this thread that he needed to be traded as his value was about as high as it was going to be but I still hate to see him go.

On a side note, any idea what PIT is doing? They are 7 games out of 1st in the NL Central trailing CHC and MIL. They are 3.5 back of the second Wild Card spot. I guess they feel like they have to make a run at it now. Any thoughts?

I think Diekman for sure

I will be disappointed if they don't trade Beltre to a WS contender. I know he is fine staying here, but it kind of goes against the narrative of the last 18months that they will "do right by Beltre" . Bos seems like an ideal fit with Devers on DL and if I was Bos , I would want Beltre there for 2 months to mentor my future 3B. All the rumors and reports make it sound like the Rangers are not motivated, which who knows the truth.

If they can't trade Choo now with the season he is having,.. Eat whatever you have to if it means getting a legit prospect back

If Texas doesn't trade him, then "doing right by Beltre" seems to imply that Beltre would prefer just to stay here.

I know there's been indications otherwise, but I would be very, very surprised if this is Beltre's last year.

Right. If Beltre stays, I think it's because Beltre wanted to stay. It's not like he's the most appealing asset to many of these contenders. He's got a lot of limitations at this point and is not a guy you can really count on to be in your lineup the rest of the way. So if key contenders aren't interested at all or are just looking at him as a spare part when he doesn't want to be a spare part, then that's not Texas not doing right by him.

free_mhayden said:

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If Texas doesn't trade him, then "doing right by Beltre" seems to imply that Beltre would prefer just to stay here.

I know there's been indications otherwise, but I would be very, very surprised if this is Beltre's last year.

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Starting to look like Beltre wants to stay with Texas. JD is on record as saying he'd take any trade proposal to Beltre to see if he was ok with it (actually he has to?.... with Beltre's no-trade). There have been rumors of teams interested, so either Beltre didn't want to go to those teams or he is content to stay put. Obviously things could change, we'll find out soon enough.

I think getting a read on Elvis is the most interesting part of this trade season. Whether he opts out or not, it seems like they are committed to keeping him in the fold.

And I think Diekman is gone for sure, just a matter of which team he goes to. He is an expiring contract that will be a free agent. No reason for JD not to trade him to whatever team makes the best offer. We could bring him back next year if there is mutual interest, but might as well pull in a prospect or two while we can.

If Beltre wants to stay, then that is fine. If so, I have completely misjudged his desire to go for a ring

The desire for the ring is complicated. I think some guys have a lesser view of getting one as a 2 month rental. I also think some guys just aren't that fired up about uprooting for a team hoping to make up ground to land a WC spot. If there was a true contender with an opening at 3rd that he would lock down, I think it would be different. But I don't think that situation is out there.

PIT wanted Kela because he is still under control for a couple years. They want to be able to compete next year. This wasn't a deal for a rental to go all in this year.

Joe Cole said:

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If Beltre wants to stay, then that is fine. If so, I have completely misjudged his desire to go for a ring

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I think he wants a ring, but I think he values playing a lot more regularly than getting a ring being the old guy at the end of the bench.

Lucky #007 said:

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Joe Cole said:

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If Beltre wants to stay, then that is fine. If so, I have completely misjudged his desire to go for a ring

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I think he wants a ring, but I think he values playing a lot more regularly than getting a ring being the old guy at the end of the bench.

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Beltre ranks right up there with Pudge, Nolan, Emmitt, and Dirk as my all-time favorite metroplex athletes. Would love to see him rake for another year or 2.

I'd be extremely disappointed if only Diekman gets traded today