As the MLB hot stove continues on throughout the beginning of winter, two of the biggest dominoes have yet to fall. Former MVP Bryce Harper and perennial All-Star Manny Machado have yet to choose their new teams for the foreseeable future. It seems that literally any team in the league would jump at the chance to have even one of these amazing players on their rosters. But could they both possibly land on the same team?
Rumors have been flying that the Chicago White Sox could potentially try to acquire both Harper and Machado. When I first heard this I honestly thought there was no chance that could happen. Why would two players in their primes go to such a terrible team? Well, money always plays a big factor in these type of situations and that is what the White Sox have. Harper and Machado have potentially both been looking for deals in the 10 year, $200-300 million range, so this seems like a long shot the White Sox could pull that off and get both of them.
If I had to take a guess, I truly believe Machado will become a Yankee. He’s made it known he wants to be one and he would fit well into their infield. He just seems like the type of player that was born to be a Yankee. The real question is where Harper will land because he’s been tied to numerous clubs during the offseason such as the Cubs, Phillies, Nationals, White Sox, Dodgers and Yankees. The final team that could emerge and acquire them both is the Yankees. Why? Because they’re the Yankees and always have the money and appeal for the biggest stars in the league.
Wherever each of these two massive assets land could really shake up the league this year. Machado was a huge factor in the Dodgers late run to the World Series and Harper is always a threat to pop off at any time. As the stove warms up we will just have to wait and see what happens.
Is 2018 the year Archer is finally moved? The Rays have been in a constant state of almost competing for a playoff spot the last few years, currently sitting at 50-49. While I respect the idea of trying to put out the best roster they can as a low market team, (instead of joining the myriad of teams out of contention) it may be time for the Rays to deal Archer. They should get out of Tampa by relocating and completely rebuild, hopefully with less cheap owners. Archer might finally escape Tampa Bay.
Archer Realizing His Time in TB Could Be Ending
Archer has been solid this season with a 4.30 ERA in 16 games after missing time with a left abdominal strain. He has showed signs of his elite past this season and at only 29-years-old the right-hander may just need a change of scenery. In 2015 Archer posted a 3.23 ERA in 212 IP, with 252 Ks to 66 BBs. Archer could still blossom into a dominate starter if placed on a contender. Chris Archer went only 31-29 between 2013-2015 despite pitching like an ace for three straight seasons (3.26 ERA in 535.1 IP).
Archer has a unique contract situation. He could become a free agent after 2019, but has club options in 2020 and 2021 worth $8,250,000. That number is an absolute steal for Archer which would allow Tampa to really drive up his price. To add to that, Archer is far more talented than the other names being thrown around this deadline excluding deGrom who will not get dealt. The team that deals for him will be keeping him for a long time, so where could he end up?
New York Yankees
No chance. The Yankees will be mentioned a lot and will have plenty of interest but not even the Rays would trade a guy of his talent in division until 2021. They need a starter more than any other contender but will not be acquiring Chris Archer’s talents.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are also in need of a starter, but will not land David Price’s successor for the same reason as the Yankees. That and the fact that they have zero talented prospects.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are somehow 59-40 with a -5 run differential. They win close games by the skin of their teeth with a closer in Edwin Diaz who has been unstoppable. They could really use some ace like pitching behind James Paxton with a starting pitcher team ERA of 4.06, 15th in the league. The Mariners sit six games behind the Astros and are being chased by the Athletics who are only trailing by three games and are officially buyers. Adding Archer would give the Mariners some insurance on their way to Wild Card spot number two.
Philadelphia Phillies
General manager Matt Klentak has suggested a desire to obtain a young, skilled and controllable starting pitcher according to Brad Berreman of fansided.com. Archer definitely fits that description. However, before todays game Klentak said “We’re very encouraged about not only the five here but also what we have in Triple-A, and we’re hopeful that’s going to mean that we can stay out of the starting pitcher trade market at the Deadline, because if you can avoid it, that is definitely a market to avoid.” It feels like he is referring more to rentals than a guy like Archer but this quote certainly leads me to believe Archer to Phillies is nowhere near in the works.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have a starting pitcher team ERA of 3.91, 10th in the MLB. They are currently 56-45, 3.5 games back of the Cubs and hold the second Wild Card spot. They have a young, talented core that Archer could become a huge part of. They have the prospects to get the deal done and the talent to contend.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves are in a really good spot with their starters posting a 3.57 ERA, 5th in the league. That said the Braves are another team that have talked about trading for controllable guys rather than rentals. Adding Archer would create a rotation that would consist of All-Star Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 2.66 ERA), Sean Newcomb (8-5, 3.51 ERA), Julio Teheran (7-6, 4.00 ERA) Chris Archer (3-4, 4.30 ERA), and Anibal Sanchez (5-2, 2.88 ERA). The Braves have the firepower in the farm system to make the deal and would create a young, controllable pitching core to a team that already has young position players like Freeman, Albies, Acuna Jr., and Swanson.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are in the hunt to win the National League West Division. They currently sit 1.5 games back with a 54-46 record. Arizona was willing to make a splash as one of the teams in the Machado sweepstakes and should now shift their attention to Archer. The Diamondbacks have a starting pitcher team ERA of 4.12, 16th in the league. They could use a boost in the rotation, and Archer could be that guy. They have the prospects and may need to make a blockbuster trade to counter the Dodgers acquisition of Manny Machado.
Recap:
There is no guarantee Chris Archer goes anywhere, but if he does, this is the list of teams who will make a call for him if they haven’t already. Teams like the Cubs may call as well, but this is the list of teams I think should look into shaking up their rotation’s.
Last night it appeared that Machado would be sent to Philadelphia, now it seems as if a deal with the Dodgers is just minutes away. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that a Machado to Dodgers trade is immanent. Buster Olney reported that the paperwork is being worked on right now and that the deal is in place. Jon Heyman claims #4 Dodgers Prospect Yusniel Diaz will be sent to Baltimore, pitching prospect Dustin May is rumored in the deal as well. The Phillies are still confident and apparently very aggressive but it appears to be too late. Their deal featured MLBs #73 RHP Prospect Adonis Medina.
The City of Brotherly Love is FEELING it lately when it comes to the world of sports. After suffering for years it felt, with their best team coming in the form of the Flyers (maybe?) before the year of 2017. Since the year of 2017 has began, the Eagles have won the Super Bowl, the 76ers have completely turned it around and are among the best in the NBA now, the Flyers made the playoffs once again, and now it seems the Phillies have finally awoken from a long slumber, aka the end of the Rollins-Utley-Howard Era. Sure, Ryan Howard was there for a bit after they moved on, but he stunk. They have been waiting for a stroke of luck in Philly for dem Phillies to finally turn it around, and they seem to have finally got to that point.
The Phils were one of my choices in this past offseason to possibly be sneaky good and find them a playoff spot. Well right now, they LEAD the NL East division. Who woulda thunk? After starting off at the point where everyone wanted New Manager Gabe Kapler gone, they stayed with it to be 53-40, 1.5 games in front of the Braves for first. And while Kapler has been a fantastic new manager for year one, the players stepping up and playing to their full ability is the main reason they are where they are.
After a few years of decent to at times poor pitching, Aaron Nola has found that potential that everyone has been talking about for years now. It felt like he was just going to be that guy who would be a good middle of the rotation rather than ace, some of the reason they brought in Jake Arrieta to possibly help them have a top guy for this season. Well I don’t know what Nola has been doing, but he is either first or second in the NL Co Young race because his numbers are beyond phenomenal. Nola is 12-2 with 126 K and a top notch ERA of 2.27. He is more than locked in this season, and it feels that the Phillies who have been there for the past 4 years or so have just been waiting for this new direction all along.
Sure, Nola has been stellar, as he was one of those guys that just have been with this team for a bit and were the best guys on a very bad team. CF Odubel Herrera fits the mold as well. Odubel was blazing through the gates at the beginning of the season, and while his bat his cooled off a bit, he is 100% having his best season to date. Batting .277 with 16 HR and 52 RBI BEFORE the All-Star break is absolutely huge for Herrera. He has become a key cog for this team for the past few years now, and he has been a key contributor to them as they finally find success.
Adding leaders like Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta have really helped this team grow up and learn. This lineup, including Rhys Hoskins, has continued to find ways to help this team win. While Hoskins has dealt with injury this season, his power hitting self has managed to be a key cog in the lineup per usual. And in the pen, Seranthony Dominguez has developed into a lights out stopper at the end of games
And there is always something about the Phillies opposed to some other Philadelphia teams (excluding this past year’s Eagles). Usually, you don’t want to see much success from them, but the Phillies always have the ability to make you hope and enjoy watching them. When I was younger, I loved watching them anytime they played the Red Sox. As success returns to Philly, you just hope that they somehow manage to stay the course and make the playoffs. The rotation, the bullpen, and the lineup continue to defy the odds and be better than expected. Sometimes all a team needs is a new manager and a new direction. Now the Phillies show that more and more they may have something that clicks.
So here is to the Phillies, being one of the huge surprises in baseball ahead of the all-star break, and hoping that they can deliver down the stretch and make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Do you think the Phillies can make the playoffs? Or do you think they will fall off?
There are many contenders in need of middle infield help like the Red Sox, Indians, and Brewers. The Indians will almost certainly make a move to shore up the second base position with the 26th worst OPS out of the second base position (.629) this season. Jason Kipnis is hitting .216 with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs. The Red Sox are not getting much more out of the 2B position. The Sox rank 20th sitting with a .659 OPS at Second Base. Eduardo Nunez has an inconsistent bat and seems to have no idea how to use a baseball glove. The Sox signed Brandon Phillips recently, but could certainly use some insurance. The Brewers have two struggling players splitting time at Second Base with Jonathan Villar and Hernan Perez.
The good news for these teams is that there are plenty of talented second baseman in the trade market. Jed Lowrie is hitting .290 with 25 doubles, 14 homers, 59 RBIs, and an .855 OPS. Oakland should be open to trading Lowrie as he is in a contract year. The Athletics are trying to contend soon but most likely not in 2018. Lowrie has been the 4th best second baseman in the MLB this season, trailing only Altuve, Baez, and Scooter Gennett.
Best Fits: Red Sox, Indians
Asdrubal Cabrera is a great trade candidate and will almost certainly get moved. Teams should have interest as he is hitting .283 with 15 HRs, 49 RBIs, and has an .814 OPS. Cabrera is 32-years-old and will be a free agent at the end of the season. Cabrera is a textbook deadline guy. He is over the hill yet still effective, a rental, and should be reasonably priced. He has a decently sized contract, making $8.25 million this season. The Red Sox may be inclined to strike a deal for the Long Island slugger. They appear to be looking for second baseman with versatility, Cabrera can play 2B, 3B, and SS. Boston could eat some of that contract, so they could give up lesser prospects. The Phillies are reportedly attempting the same strategy and could use Cabrera to upgrade their middle infield.
Best Fits: Phillies, Red Sox
Whit Merrifield has an interesting case to get moved. He will certainly garner interest with a .293/.362/.415 slash line. The problem is that he is already 29-years-old and is under team control through the 2022 season. The Royals could keep him as he is not able to leave anytime soon, though I still expect the Royals to move their surprisingly controllable asset. Merrifield has been linked the Brewers and Phillies most frequently
Best Fit: Brewers
D.J. LeMahieu is a movable asset that may or may not get traded. LeMahieu is a free agent at the end of the season meaning the Rockies have less than a month to decide on D.J.s future with the organization. LeMahieu is hitting .274 with 8 HRs, and 33 RBIs. He is a career .299 hitter and has eclipsed the .300 mark three times (2015-2017) including 2016 when he hit .348 in 146 games. LeMahieu is one of the best contact hitters in the game with a high batting average and low strikeout numbers. He has only one season of 100+ Ks, with 107 in 2015 when he still managed to hit .301. In this era of baseball, those strikeout numbers are hard to find. LeMahieu could find a home in a lot of different cities but may not go anywhere at all. The Rockies are 46-43 which puts them in 3rd in the NL West, only 3.5 games back. They are 4.5 games back of a Wildcard spot. LeMahieu’s destiny will be determined by the Rockies ability to contend. I hope the Rockies buy in and try to make a run while Arenado is still in his prime.
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