I think Duran carries more value than that.

Too bad Toronto allowed the NYY and BoSox to climb back in. Both are now 2GB.

I was hoping someone like Kenley Jansen is right up what CYoung is putting together.

Seager, deGrom, Heaney, Chapman, Will Smith, Bochy... all have playoff experience and tied to winning organizations. Semien is the only one from a lower tier team (Oak) but still has 3 yrs postseason.

Jansen - 10 yrs of post-season and 20 Svs with Dodgers and Braves.

He has changed the culture by changing the leadership.

Mr Gigem said:

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Quote:

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Things change and move so quickly this time of year it's hard to give a concrete update. It's a crazy (but fun) time of year.

Here's what I do know: Jim Crane has met with Dana Brown and told him to be aggressive. He didn't say he wants to be aggressive. He told him to be aggressive. Crane wants to win.

I think the next week or so is going to tell us a lot about Dana Brown in comparison to James Click. Click was great at his job but he was a little trigger shy at times. He was hesitant to give up big assets. Brown and Click are very similar in that they're much more aggressive than Click.

Now, what does "aggressive" look like? I guess that depends on the market. The Astros have likely been one of the most active organizations in baseball this year as far as working the phones and checking in on players who may be available. They've inquired on just about everyone.

What positions are they looking for? Well, just about anywhere and everywhere they can possibly upgrade, but I think starting pitching is priority number one. Bullpen help is two and a bat is three.

I've also been told that Jim Crane fully trusts Dana Brown's ability to build a farm system. Brown is known for finding kids who develop and progress quickly through the minors. This would make losing guys like Gilbert much easier to swallow. At this point, I wouldn't consider anyone in the farm system untouchable and I expect the Astros to give up a player or two that will make us all cringe a little bit. That said, I would be pretty surprised to see guys like Gilbert, Melton, Clifford, or Baez moved for a rental.

Don't be surprised to see a bit of a shakeup on the big league roster as well. Small market teams value guys who have team friendly contracts and years of control. Julks, Meyers, France all come to mind. I've also been told not to be shocked to see Chas or Pena dealt. Do I expect those two to be moved? No, because the Astros are asking for a lot for those guys and it would likely be a part of a deal for a star player in return. I'm just telling you guys not to be shocked if it happened.

I don't want to predict anything because it would just be a guess. I can tell you guys for a fact that Houston is being very aggressive but there's so many moving pieces and things out of their control. I'm very confident that moves will be made... and it wouldn't shock me in the least to see a move happen that makes everyone say "whoa, what?!".

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Does this remind anyone of Ketch's writing style? "I feel confident things will happen, but I'm not saying they will."

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It's very much saying a lot of words without committing to much of anything. Some people just want internet clout.

Quote:

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Does this remind anyone of Ketch's writing style? "I feel confident things will happen, but I'm not saying they will."

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Yes, yes it does. This style works well for both of their target fan bases and for much the same reasons.

Dammit.. hate to not have him for this series.

Proposition Joe said:

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Mr Gigem said:

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Does this remind anyone of Ketch's writing style? "I feel confident things will happen, but I'm not saying they will."

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It's very much saying a lot of words without committing to much of anything. Some people just want internet clout.

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Sounds like Barnes.

You'll never see me be mealy-mouthed, middle of the road covering both sides so I can always say I was right.

"Don't be surprised if we trade a player. Don't be surprised if we don't trade a player."

I may say some stupid stuff, but at least I make a declaration. Amirite?!

Mr Gigem said:

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Quote:

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Things change and move so quickly this time of year it's hard to give a concrete update. It's a crazy (but fun) time of year.

Here's what I do know: Jim Crane has met with Dana Brown and told him to be aggressive. He didn't say he wants to be aggressive. He told him to be aggressive. Crane wants to win.

I think the next week or so is going to tell us a lot about Dana Brown in comparison to James Click. Click was great at his job but he was a little trigger shy at times. He was hesitant to give up big assets. Brown and Click are very similar in that they're much more aggressive than Click.

Now, what does "aggressive" look like? I guess that depends on the market. The Astros have likely been one of the most active organizations in baseball this year as far as working the phones and checking in on players who may be available. They've inquired on just about everyone.

What positions are they looking for? Well, just about anywhere and everywhere they can possibly upgrade, but I think starting pitching is priority number one. Bullpen help is two and a bat is three.

I've also been told that Jim Crane fully trusts Dana Brown's ability to build a farm system. Brown is known for finding kids who develop and progress quickly through the minors. This would make losing guys like Gilbert much easier to swallow. At this point, I wouldn't consider anyone in the farm system untouchable and I expect the Astros to give up a player or two that will make us all cringe a little bit. That said, I would be pretty surprised to see guys like Gilbert, Melton, Clifford, or Baez moved for a rental.

Don't be surprised to see a bit of a shakeup on the big league roster as well. Small market teams value guys who have team friendly contracts and years of control. Julks, Meyers, France all come to mind. I've also been told not to be shocked to see Chas or Pena dealt. Do I expect those two to be moved? No, because the Astros are asking for a lot for those guys and it would likely be a part of a deal for a star player in return. I'm just telling you guys not to be shocked if it happened.

I don't want to predict anything because it would just be a guess. I can tell you guys for a fact that Houston is being very aggressive but there's so many moving pieces and things out of their control. I'm very confident that moves will be made... and it wouldn't shock me in the least to see a move happen that makes everyone say "whoa, what?!".

---

Does this remind anyone of Ketch's writing style? "I feel confident things will happen, but I'm not saying they will."

---

That Houston guy spent his time writing 10 different paragraphs when all he had to say and all he's really saying is " water is wet". They're not doing anything nobody else isn't doing.

Old Tom Morris said:

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I'd have to be blown away to give up Duran. I can see a future where he's at SS, Seager is at 1B, and Lowe is DHing.

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I can see a future where the Rangers win the WS in 2023. Then, in 2024, at the trade deadline, we trade Semien for a team's Top 4 prospects and fill in Duran at 2B and win the WS in 2024.

Seager will be mostly SS until Acuna moves to SS in 2025.

texasaggie2015 feel free to chime in. I know you're watching. I still don't see how the Astros can make any trades you're proposing without gutting the farm and part of the MLB roster. Especially with other buyers out there that could easily match/best anything Astros could offer. 0 top 100 prospects

I think I've seen you mention that getting Yordan and Altuve back is basically like an acquisition. But if the can't stay healthy then it's a moot point.

Both teams seem to be living dangerously right now. Seager just want down with a thumb sprain. He's on the 10-day, but how long with that really linger?

Eovaldi's velo is down, and has been for the last several outings. We are skipping his start in Houston. Is he about to land on the IL. That would be our #1 and #2 down.

The trade deadline is going to be really interesting because there are several teams out there that could be sellers, but feels like teams have to convince them they are sellers.

Toronto went 1-4 in their L5 and has opened the door in the AL WC3. NYY and BoSox are both 2GB and they likely go with the wait-and-see approach as they start getting guys back.

NYYs have gone 3-2. They recently got Rodon back.
BoSox have gone 2-3. They might get Reyes back today/tomorrow.

Tampa is in a free-fall, as I projected they'd be. 1-7 in their last 8.

Even the Angels are only 4GB, having gone 5-1 in their L6 (Included a sweep of the NYY). It was disclosed that Rendon has a deep bruise and no timetable for return.

Taylor Hearn traded to Atlanta.

Lots of fringe players getting moved the past week. Atlanta also picked up another RP from Colorado.

I'd give him up. With the logjam of Middle Infielders that are the Farm system, yes in a heartbeat for a front line SP.

As we approach the MLB trade deadline and a big road series with the Astros, this is what our esteemed MLB bear writer has to add:

i can’t believe i have to go get my own oil change. i’m just a young child of 25 years old

— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) July 24, 2023

duck79 said:

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It's the 'ole "Cash Considerations" trade

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That's probably just as good (or better) than some low level A ball player that will never sniff the MLB level. Best of luck to Hearn, he always seemed like good dude.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Part of the Patriarchal system women think they want to abandon.

My mom never had to worry about her oil being changed.

Other team's beat writers are busy getting inside information and our privileged diversity hire laments maintaining her car.

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Both of these seem like an odd response to a harmless tweet from someone's personal account, too

She tweeted about the Hearn trade 45 mins ago when it broke. Here's her morning piece on MLB.com

Ummm, that is her work account, that she also happens to treat as a personal account as well at times.

Can't believe nobody has made the obvious joke yet

TexAg1822 said:

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And so does every other beat writer, in every other sport. Our guy EG does it too?

I don't know her at all, and I get it I want as much information about the deadline too, but if there's nothing to report there's nothing to report

Just thought it was an odd thing to complain about as I'm scrolling the board during lunch

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Fair enough. I believe you were the one who posted above trying to imply that I was digging through her "personal" account and posting it here. They are one in the same.

I'm not crazy when EG does it either, but whatever.

TexAg1822 said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Part of the Patriarchal system women think they want to abandon.

My mom never had to worry about her oil being changed.

Other team's beat writers are busy getting inside information and our privileged diversity hire laments maintaining her car.

---

Both of these seem like an odd response to a harmless tweet from someone's personal account, too

She tweeted about the Hearn trade 45 mins ago when it broke. Here's her morning piece on MLB.com

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Dane Dunning? I know he got rocked this weekend but a 3.18 ERA…

You'd think the Houston writers would have stuff to write about right now over ridiculous scenarios that they ultimately acknowledge aren't going to happen and aren't even actually being talked about.

Quincey P. Morris said:

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You'd think the Houston writers would have stuff to write about right now over ridiculous scenarios that they ultimately acknowledge aren't going to happen and aren't even actually being talked about.

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*Kate Upton punching the air*

It is probably her use of superlatives reflecting on old information as if it were a new revelation. She seems like a lazy writer without much info. The info she does provide is crap.

"Add lots of pitchers?"
"glaring holes in both the rotation and bullpen"

"won't be fixed by a single trade." => "If the Padres end up selling, the combination of Josh Hader and Blake Snell could fortify the staff."

Wouldn't getting that fix both "glaring holes" in a single trade? Are 2 pitchers "lots?"

"opened the floodgates?" Who has been traded since Chapman on June 30.

Hader is a Lefty. If there is one glaring hole we don't have... it is a LH RP.

You can't say, "the bullpen still has a 4.78 ERA as a whole." You've added 1 new arm. You've rotated a few. And you have no context what Chapman has added or where the BP is because you've included everything. Very lazy.

How about this... "Since acquiring Chapman, the core of the Rangers BP - Chapman, Burke, Leclerc, King, and Smith have given up a 1.18 ERA in 30.2 IP in the month of July."

Personally... I'd like 1 RH RP... maybe 2.

Has it been obvious that we've needed a SP since deGrom went down? No. I know there has been concern, but Dunning seemed to fill-in nicely. Is he enough... I think we've all landed on it being a Want... not a Need, until it was announced Eovaldi might get skipped. Most think a 1-2-3 of Eovaldi-Gray-Dunning is probably not enough, but we've also landed on it likely needs to be someone at the ToTR.

deGrom went down in April.

Here is our May SP:
0.96 ERA, 5GS, Eovaldi
1.95 ERA, 5GS, Gray
2.28 ERA, 5GS, Dunning
3.26 ERA, 5GS, Heaney
6.91 ERA, 5GS, Perez
7.20 ERA, 2GS, Bradford

June - Same order
3.77, 3.99, 3.62, 5.87 (Heaney), 3.99, 3.86 (Bradford)

Nobody was hitting the SP panic button in May... nor June.

Padres Release Rougned Odor https://t.co/h8ZlI9RlNe pic.twitter.com/uPRaeiwlgB

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 24, 2023

Stay hard, Rougie