Looking at the Top SPs at the Trade Deadline... based on this:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/top-50-deadline-trade-candidates-early-july-edition.html

1. Giolito (CWS): 19GS, 3.45 ERA, 112.1 IP, 117 SO. Could get and reject a QO
4. Montgomery (STL): 18GS, 3.23, 103.0, 96 SO. Could get and reject a QO
5. Flaherty (STL): 18GS, 4.29, 98.2, 96 SO. Not likely to get a QO, although possible
6. Stroman (CHC): 20GS, 2.88, 118.2, 101 SO. $21M Player Option in 2024s
8. Bieber (CLE): <could be facing TJ>. Arb3 in 2024.
9. Lorenzen (DET): 16GS, 3.75, 93.2, 73 SO. Pure rental
12. Rodriguez (DET): 13GS, 2.70, 76.2, 81 SO. Player option for 2024.
13. Lance Lynn (CWS): 19GS, 6.06, 108.1, 133 SO. $18M Team option for 2024

There really aren't any good options for controlled players.

Agreed.

Try to sign Ohtani in the off-season? Yes. Don't care what the number is. He's worth it.

Trade for him? HELLLL no.

Angels can't close it out.

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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These Angels unis are pretty sweet.

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Yeah, I like them better than ours. I feel like we tried to do too much with ours. But I fully acknowledge that I am not in the target market for these, so take that for what it's worth (i.e. not much...)

How in the hell do you not intentionally walk him with 1st base open!?

Coppell97 said:

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Angels can't close it out.

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Yep, they are collapsing. Just got home a bit ago and turned it on, but was checking the score a few times earlier waiting for dinner and on the way home. THought the Angels had another one for us tonight, but they are choking.

It was obvious after two batters this guy was going to blow it.

KT 90 said:

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Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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These Angels unis are pretty sweet.

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Yeah, I like them better than ours. I feel like we tried to do too much with ours. But I fully acknowledge that I am not in the target market for, so take that for what it's worth (i.e. not much...)

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The hat on ours is fine. The rest of the uniform is hot garbage. You're right about the target market though when they had all the models in the announcement dressed like they were homeless other than whatever city connect clothing they were wearing.

Good lord.

Throwing their closer in the 8th sure panned out.

Doesn't mean anything now, but I would've contemplated walking both Bregman and Tucker. And make Abreu win it for them.

Quincey P. Morris said:

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Throwing their closer in the 8th sure panned out.

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They have an off day tomorrow, and he threw about 15 pitches. I guess they just wanted to trot some meat out there.

They had the lefty warmed up and Barria had been so sketchy. Walk Bregman then bring in Loup to face Tucker, at minimum.

And now apparently Tucker hasn't taken another pitcher deep more times than he has Barria and they had a lefty ready. Good lord.

Now Ohtani goes yard. I guess the wind is blowing out tonight... lol

That ball just sounded so different coming off his bat haha

Really interesting position the Rangers and Astros are in. Both have great lineups most of days of the week but both in need of pitching help, and by the way some of my friends speak about it, they need pitching help in a bad way. Thing is, they have basically no assets outside of what's on their current roster, whereas as we have a very good system currently with expendable assets.

Framber left his last start with a calf issue.

As bad as most people think our SP is, I still challenge anyone to give me your top rotations that are better than the Rangers. While some players are returning, like Urias, many more are dropping.

Secretly, we probably want the Astros to keep winning.

Don't look know, but the Yankees are tied with Boston for Last in the ALEast.

I think the Astros are more desireable than the Yanks and Sox in the playoff.

I think the O's are the team to beat. They are likely the best team and have the most opportunity to win.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Framber left his last start with a calf issue.

As bad as most people think our SP is, I still challenge anyone to give me your top rotations that are better than the Rangers. While some players are returning, like Urias, many more are dropping.

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Dude is obese. Constantly lots of weight putting a ton of pressure on his legs / feet. Being a pitcher probably doesn't help that either.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Secretly, we probably want the Astros to keep winning.

Don't look know, but the Yankees are tied with Boston for Last in the ALEast.

I think the Astros are more desireable than the Yanks and Sox in the playoff.

I think the O's are the team to beat. They are likely the best team and have the most opportunity to win.

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The strength of the AL east and wildcard makes me want the #2 seed in the playoffs over the #1 seed if we can get it. Even as #1 or #2 seeds, you still have to get thru the division series. I'd rather take my chances against the AL central winner and the weakest wild card team then deal with TB later / hope they lose. #4 or #5 in the playoff bracket will be 2 teams from the AL east. Likely one of TB, Baltimore, or Toronto. Pick your damn poison.

The division series is weird in that it's only 5 games. A lot of flukes **** can and does happen. I'd rather face a weaker opponent in the divisional round then take our chances later in the 7 game format with whose left after the first few rounds of the post season.

I wasn't necessarily talking about whom I wanted to FACE in the playoffs as much as I was talking about whom I actually want to BE in the playoffs.

Right now we have:
ALEast: Tampa
ALCentral: Minn
ALWest: Rangers

WC1: Balt
WC2: Toronto
WC3: Houston

Sox and NYY are both 2GB

II'd rather Houston be the 3rd WC team instead of Boston or NYY because I think both teams have the ability to add more to their team along the way than Houston can.

So who think we should start having tandem starts with Bradford and Perez? Or even swap Bradford and Perez in the rotation.

Water Boy said:

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How many times have they made estimates of what day they'll have that division lead? Remember like 6 weeks ago when that dork from the trastros thread came here claiming they would get the division lead by Sunday after their 6 game stretch with Oakland?

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Now they're predicting we're tied entering the Matchup in a week.

I think they're basically the same pitcher, and Perez has more experience. I'd lean on that until/if Perez completely falls off a cliff.

DallasAg 94 said:

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I wasn't necessarily talking about whom I wanted to FACE in the playoffs as much as I was talking about whom I actually want to BE in the playoffs.

Right now we have:
ALEast: Tampa
ALCentral: Minn
ALWest: Rangers

WC1: Balt
WC2: Toronto
WC3: Houston

Sox and NYY are both 2GB

II'd rather Houston be the 3rd WC team instead of Boston or NYY because I think both teams have the ability to add more to their team along the way than Houston can.

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I wouldn't discount Houston making move(s). They have to realize their core players are getting older, I would think they would be especially willing to take a salary dump player or two with expiring or short-term contracts to make another push.

Yankees will be interesting to watch. I think it's either NYY or LAD for Ohtani. I think the Yankees may for the most part play this season out and hang onto whatever tradable assets they have. Basically start looking to next year. But most "experts" seem to think Ohtani is going to the Dodgers... so who knows.

gigem1223 said:

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Water Boy said:

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How many times have they made estimates of what day they'll have that division lead? Remember like 6 weeks ago when that dork from the trastros thread came here claiming they would get the division lead by Sunday after their 6 game stretch with Oakland?

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Now they're predicting we're tied entering the Matchup in a week.

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We do have the Rays and Dodgers coming up while they get the Rockies and the A's. I'd probably be predicting the same if the situations were reversed. Rangers need to find a way to win 2 of 3 against the Rays and then do the same against the Dodgers. At least the sweep against Cleveland helped keep us in a good position (and too bad the Angels choked last night against the Stros or we would be up by 4 games).

I really like what I've seen (statistically) from Bradford. However, I think if you put him as a SP, he'll never make 5 IP. 3rd time through he'll start to get over-exposed and will be shelled. As a SP, the other team will prepare more for him .

Ask yourself... with all the need for SP among contenders...would you be willing to trade Perez, if you could get a return for him. What would that be? A Top10 Prospect? A RP?

I disagree they are the same. I think they are significantly different. Bradford throws more 4Seam FB and has more swing-and-miss while Perez is more of a sinker baller and will pitch-to-contact.

If the rotation remains, Perez will get 2 more GS before the Trade Deadline, with his last GS on the 28th.

I've said, if by some miracle we get a ToTR guy (i'm fine with a rental) I'd be fine trading Heaney/Perez before the deadline.