Deadline-day roundup: Puig's Dodgers days are numbered
The non-waiver trading deadline has come and gone, and there was a flurry of moves leading up to the final seconds.
Let’s go Whip ...
Losing Lucroy
Jonathan Lucroy provided us with some of the greatest drama of this year’s deadline action. The Milwaukee Brewers had a deal in place to send him to the Cleveland Indians, but he shot it down and ultimately, the Texas Rangers landed the highly regarded catcher.
Cleveland first. It is unfair to criticize Lucroy for rejecting the trade. He was well within his rights to do so. He had eight teams on his no-trade list, and his reasoning was very fair. Lucroy is a highly underpaid player with a terrific team-friendly deal. He’s making $4 million this year and has a $5.25 million team option for next year. That is peanuts in today’s market for this kind of player, and that was part of the reason he was so attractive to so many teams.
The Indians still have Yan Gomes, who — though hurt now – will be back next year and is signed through 2019 with two additional option years. Playing time could have been an issue in 2017, and the possibility of being a DH some days next year likely would have cut into Lucroy’s value, or at least he could have perceived it that way. He was concerned, had the right to refuse the move and he did. All fair. Lucroy said he would accept the trade if the 2017 option year went away. Cleveland said no and moved on.
The Indians' loss turned out to be a gain for the Rangers, a team that Lucroy did not have on his no-trade list. The move is a monumental upgrade for the Rangers. Texas catchers have batted .233 this season with a .287 OBP (Indians catchers have been the worst at .169/.218). The Rangers backstops have also struggled to throw runners out with a caught-stealing percentage of just 22 percent, the 24th-worst in baseball.
Lucroy provides major upgrades in all areas, batting .299/.359 while posting a caught-stealing percentage of 40 percent, fourth best in the game from catchers with at least 80 games behind the plate.
Jon Daniels did it again, and despite not landing an impact starting pitcher this time around, the Rangers are poised for a run.
The mistake here was on the part of the Brewers, they should have went to Lucroy and his agent and discussed the possibility of Cleveland before negotiations got as far as they did. They opened up the door for Lucroy to be criticized by Indians fans and their players, and that’s not fair.
Welcome to the team
Lots of new faces putting on lots of new uniforms this week, and make no mistake about this, there will be some level of anxiety no matter how good the player is that is making his debut.
We have a very common desire as people — we want to be accepted and liked. Major League Baseball players are no different. When you go to a new team, you want to make a good impression on your new teammates, coaches, front office and fans. It’s always nice to get that first hit, shutout inning, win — whatever it may be — out of the way.
Aroldis Chapman made his debut with the Cubs in the 9th inning of a game Chicago was leading 8-1. That very well may be the last time Chapman pitches in a regular season game up by seven runs. Joe Maddon was smart to get Chapman that first game under his belt regardless of the situation.
On Tuesday night, newly acquired Andrew Miller, now of the Cleveland Indians, got a similar opportunity. In the top of the eighth inning, with the Indians trailing 10-3, manager Terry Francona summoned Miller into the game. A very atypical situation for Miller to be pitching in and very likely to be the last time the Indians’ see Miller in a game trailing by 7. The thought process was the same for Francona as it was for Maddon — get him comfortable and get the first one out of the way.
Joe Mauer launched a 2-2 Miller slider to right field for a solo home run. Not the result Miller or Francona was looking for, but it was irrelevant. This was not a game the Indians were going to win. Also, Miller had not pitched in five days — he needed the work.
Running a bullpen is the most difficult part of managing in the major leagues. Terry Francona knows what he is doing, and he’s got the rings to prove it. Getting Miller into the game was all about getting him comfortable and keeping him sharp.
I had a fun little exchange with my favorite sabermetrician Brian Kenny over the move. He felt Miller was wasted in that game. Paper vs. reality, trust Francona, he’s know what he’s doing.
Cash Gets His Men
It has been no secret that Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees has desperately wanted to make his club younger. The roster is old, has been unproductive and is also weighed down by some back-loaded contracts.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, and that became obvious at the deadline. The Yankees moved major pieces in Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, Ivan Nova and Carlos Beltran. The return for these players has been seen as a haul for those in the industry who cover prospects.
Fret not, Yankees fans, this team will not suffer for very long. The very idea of moving the big names for current no-names was only done after a hard sell by Cashman to ownership. The Steinbrenner family is still the same, very competitive and very protective of the Yankee name.
Credit Cashman, this was his first real chance to dig in and move major pieces for young talent and the Yankees are now where the Cubs were two years ago. They're sitting on a pile of baseball’s greatest currency: prospects and money. A-Rod, Sabathia and Teixeira are all coming off the books within the next two seasons, and the free agent crop will be ripe at that time.
Hang in their one more year, Bronx faithful. This feels weird, I know, but another dynasty may very well be in the works.
No Trade for Puig
Of the moves that weren’t made, perhaps the biggest name of that group is Yasiel Puig. We’ve heard conflicting reports on whether or not the Dodgers were shopping their often talked about outfielder.
As it turns out, Puig will be wearing a new uniform, but not of another big league team, it will be for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. Puig has struggled, so much so that the Dodgers traded for Josh Reddick. And as much as they tried, they could not find a suitor for Puig.
The days are likely numbered for Puig as a Dodger. At just 25 years old there is still plenty to be optimistic about. The reality, though, is it’s time for the Dodgers to cut their losses and move Puig, despite the fact that they’ll be selling low.
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