I think the signing of Groome is what made the Sox pull the trigger on this deal.

 

Good point.

Interesting....Reading Jeff Passan's latest article, and he made note that while the Reds don't want to trade him, they may be willing to listen on DeSclafani due to the lack of quality rotation arms on the market.

I like him, but if the price is right.

What areas you wanting him to address? Pitching would be the spot if I were him.

 

Bullpen, I'm not sold on our rotation and another outfielder

Bullpen, I'm not sold on our rotation and another outfielder

 

My thought was rotation.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's very good, but I'm not sure how much you can count on the guys not named Arrieta or Lester once it gets to meaningful games in the postseason.

I think Hendricks is underrated. My concern is Lackey and Hammel and I don't think Arietta is as good as everyone else seems to think.

Cubs have made Yankee pitcher Andrew Miller their #1 trade priority.

Just two weeks away from the trade deadline and not any noise anywhere. Thought for sure they'd be more moves by now.

Just two weeks away from the trade deadline and not any noise anywhere. Thought for sure they'd be more moves by now.

 

Really, really weak market. Sellers don't have much buyers want, specifically in terms of starting pitching.

Lucroy might be headed to the tribe.

Cubs and Mariners make a trade

 

Cubs send AAA 1st baseman Dan Vogelbach to the Mariners for LH Reliever Mike Montgomery, and a so far unnamed AAA pitcher. Win win for both teams. Vogelbach is blocked at first and is more of a DH and he can rake. Montgomery meets a glaring need as lefty in the pen with a solid ERA of 2.34 in 61+ innings. Not the name recognition of Andrew Miller or Chapman, but way cheaper and is under team control through 2021.

I don't know anything about Vogelbach but he's obviously not supplanting Rizzo at first. Montgomery has been solid and has actually made a few starts for the Mariners, I think. I like the deal for the Cubbies.

Edit

It's all about team control at his point. Montgomery is controlled for a while and cheap. Could be a steal now that he's maybe reaching his potential. I really like Vogelbach and I've always known he'd be traded at some point with Rizzo the first baseman through 2019 at a bargain of $6 million per year. I hope he goes over there and kills it for the Mariners.

 

Theo says they've not even touched the prospects they plan to move yet. I look for them to acquire another arm that can start or relieve and probably Josh Reddick as a rental.

Just two weeks away from the trade deadline and not any noise anywhere. Thought for sure they'd be more moves by now.

 

The extra wildcard spot seems to affect the action leading up to the trade deadline. More teams believe they have a chance, so the line between buy/sell isn't always clear in early to mid July.

 

There will be plenty of action. All in due time.

I'm interested to know what Desclafani might yield in return.