Monetary implications apart, how the Oakland Athletics fared within the August 1 trade-deadline deal that despatched Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the New York Yankees in alternate for Cooper Bowman, Luis Medina, JP Sears, and Ken Waldichuk gained’t be recognized for at the least a number of extra years. Two of the gamers who headed west made their big-league debuts final summer season, whereas the others completed their respective seasons in Double-A and Excessive-A. The extent to which the foursome goes on to thrive — or flop — can’t be predicted with any diploma of certainty.
David Forst is understandably bullish on the quartet. Three-plus months after he pulled the set off on the commerce, I requested Oakland’s GM what he discovered interesting about every acquisition.
“We expect Waldichuk has an opportunity to be a top-of-the rotation arm, and we definitely noticed glimpses of that within the large leagues,” Forst stated of the 24-year-old left-hander, who’s No. 69 our Top 100 Prospects list. “With him, it’s the physicality, the fastball command, and the swing-and-miss he will get with three totally different pitches. I feel Ken has an enormous upside.
“Upside is the entire dialog with Medina,” continued Forst. “Big arm, large fastball. Whether or not he stays a starter or not, we’ll see. He’s pitching very well within the Dominican [Winter League] proper now. I do know that he desires to stay as a starter, however he has to enhance his command.”
No. 92 our Prime 100, the 23-year-old Medina averaged 10.4 strikeouts and 6 walks per 9 innings in Double-A. Based on our lead prospect analyst, Eric Longenhagen, Medina sits 94-98 and has topped out at 102 mph. Sears, who went into final season No. 25 in our Yankees rankings, doesn’t throw practically as laborious. The 26-year-old southpaw’s fastball averaged 93.2 mph over 70 big-league innings. Forst cited his changeup as being “form of an equalizer,” including that deception and motion permit Sears’s heater to play up.
Sears logged a 3.86 ERA and a 4.21 FIP this 12 months, whereas the aforementioned Waldichuk had a 4.93 ERA and a 4.29 FIP in his 34-and-two-thirds big-league innings.
The group from which the trio of hurlers had been acquired is a part of what prompted my asking Forst about their enchantment. Did the Yankees’ status for having a top-notch pitching growth program issue into the choice to decide on this explicit prospect bundle?
“Trying from the skin, we don’t particularly know what the Yankees are doing,” responded the manager, who reiterated earlier claims that a lot of groups expressed curiosity in buying and selling for Montas. “It’s laborious to quantify that. However we belief our personal scouting, and our inner numbers to guage. We clearly noticed Waldichuk and Sears in faculty, so we had historical past with them, as properly. So, it was much less about what their group is doing, and extra about how we consider.”
Waldichuk was drafted within the fifth spherical by the Yankees in 2019, Sears by the Seattle Mariners within the eleventh spherical two years earlier. Forst couldn’t recall how shut his membership may need come to drafting both (Medina was signed as a world free agent) however he did have recollections of Bowman.
“We got here near drafting Cooper, the opposite participant we bought within the deal,” Forst stated of the 22-year-old infielder, whom New York chosen 5 picks in entrance of Oakland’s fourth-round choice (Denzel Clarke) in 2021. “He was out of Louisville and I keep in mind liking him loads. He’s a man we expect has each versatility and upside. He’s bought a excessive baseball IQ.”
How excessive the unranked Bowman rises within the Oakland group is after all what issues most. Ditto the diploma to which Medina, Sears and/or Waldichuk go on to assist the A’s win baseball video games. Monetary reduction alone doesn’t make for an excellent commerce. Some mixture of the foursome might want to show Oakland’s evaluators proper.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Andujar Cedeno went 1 for five towards Matt Turner.
Danny Klassen went 2 for 4 towards Sterling Hitchcock.
Ossee Schrecongost went 3 for 3 towards Harry Kane.
Carlos Gomez went 4 for five towards John Bale.
Junior Felix went 2 for 11 towards Scott Erickson.
Hank Sauer went 1 for 1 towards Dan Lewandowski.
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Victor Mesa Jr. hopes to sooner or later take the sector in a Miami Marlins uniform, and whereas that risk exists, one other of his goals is unrealistic attributable to geography. In an ideal world, the 21-year-old prospect can be enjoying for FC Barcelona, and ideally within the World Cup. A local of La Habana, Cuba who got here stateside 4 years in the past, Mesa isn’t solely an excellent athlete, he’s an avid fan of “The Stunning Recreation.”
Had the speedy outfielder been born elsewhere, he would in all probability be sporting a package and enjoying on a pitch.
“I’m not a soccer participant as a result of in Cuba we might solely be baseball gamers,” Mesa informed me previous to an Arizona Fall League recreation. “Soccer doesn’t have that a lot future there. However it’s one thing I might like to do. If I had been to born once more, I wish to play soccer. I put on the quantity 10 due to [Lionel] Messi.”
The Argentine legend is an enormous purpose that Mesa intently follows FC Barcelona; earlier than going to Paris Saint-Germain final 12 months, the 35-year-old striker starred for the La Liga powerhouse for practically 20 years. Mesa additionally follows Atlético de Madrid — Antoine Griezmann is one other of his favorites — and he’ll typically watch English Premier League matches, normally when Manchester Metropolis and its mega-star striker Erling Haaland performs a Liverpool, an Arsenal, or a Chelsea.
Mesa was a striker himself — “I’m like Haaland; I odor the aim!” — and he professes to nonetheless be harmful within the field. He’s undoubtedly charismatic. That high quality shone brightly after I informed him about the conversation I had with Randy Arozarena this previous August. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder shared an analogous story to his, saying that soccer was his finest sport rising up, however baseball supplied a greater alternative. Requested when he stopped enjoying soccer, Arozarena stated that he by no means has stopped.
“Inform Randy Arozarena that I problem him to play soccer,” Mesa stated with a broad smile. “Any time he desires, I’ll be prepared. However discuss is simply discuss. That sooner or later we play, then we are able to speak about who is healthier.”
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A quiz:
Which pitcher holds the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals franchise file for many profession wins?
The reply might be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Kansas Metropolis Royals broadcaster Steve Physioc is retiring after 43 years behind the mic. Jake Eisenberg, a visitor on FanGraphs Audio earlier this 12 months, will change Physioc within the Royals’ radio sales space.
Dave Hillman, who pitched for 4 groups — most notably the Chicago Cubs — from 1955-1962, died final weekend at age 95. Born Darius Dutton Hillman, in Dungannon, Virginia, the right-hander’s finest season got here with the Pacific Coast League’s Los Angeles Angels, for whom he went 21-7 in 1956.
Per the Pacific Northwest Professional Baseball Scouts Association, the mom of Tampa Bay Rays prospect Kyle Manzardo wants a coronary heart substitute. A GoFundMe has been established and might be discovered here.
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The reply to the quiz is Steve Rogers, who was credited with 158 wins whereas pitching for the Expos from 1973-1985. Steven Strasburg is second in franchise historical past with 113 wins, whereas Dennis Martinez is third with 100.
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How organizations construction and implement their hitting and pitching growth packages is of curiosity to me, and I not too long ago broached that topic with Arizona’s Mike Hazen. Based on the Diamondbacks GM, his group has made minor tweaks to each in recent times. Most notable is the constructing of a more-cohesive relationship between the majors and minors.
“We created a construction the place we now have a few of our coaches happening to the minor leagues to bridge the transition from Triple-A,” defined Hazen. “Now we have our third hitting coach and third pitching coach, and at occasions our second hitting coach and second pitching coach, go right down to the higher associates. There’s a join they’ll convey down, message-wise, from Strommy [pitching coach Brent Strom] and [hitting coach] Joe Mather.
“That particularly benefited us on the pitching facet this 12 months, with guys like [Ryne] Nelson and [Drey] Jameson arising,” continued Hazen. “On the hitting facet, Jake McCarthy was optioned twice, and he got here again higher each occasions. We’ve tried to scrub a few of that up, as a result of it hadn’t been the case for us over the previous couple of years.”
Requested if there have been any philosophical adjustments to both program, Hazen stated “nothing is drastically totally different,” that the D-Backs have merely tried to enhance their processes. “I don’t know that there was something groundbreaking,” added Hazen. “However we do have good coaches. I feel we even have lots of proficient, younger gamers.”
The D-Backs farm system ranks sixth in MLB, with 5 gamers in our Top 100. Most notable are Corbin Carroll at No. 4, and Druw Jones at No. 16.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Chris Oxspring has made 4 appearances and allowed two runs in 10 innings with the Australian Baseball League’s Sydney Blue Sox. The 45-year-old right-hander pitched in 5 video games for the San Diego Padres in 2005.
Adam Bates has made two appearances and allowed a pair of runs in three innings with the Blue Sox. The 17-year-old right-hander, a local of Sydney, is the youngest participant within the ABL.
Tyler Tolbert has 16 hits in 47 at-bats, and has been profitable in 5 of six stolen base makes an attempt, with the Brisbane Bandits. The 24-year-old infielder/outfielder within the Kansas Metropolis Royals system had 60 steals with out being caught — but additionally a lackluster .653 OPS — this 12 months with the Excessive-A Quad Cities River Bandits.
Beau Sulser has reportedly signed with the KBO’s KT Wiz. The 28-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates final April, was subsequently signed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles in Could, then reacquired by the Pirates through waivers final month. Sulser appeared in six video games and had a 3.63 ERA between the 2 golf equipment.
Orlando Calixte has reportedly signed with NPB’s Chunichi Dragons. The 30-year-old native of Santo Domingo performed in two video games for the Kansas Metropolis Royals in 2015, and in 29 video games with the San Francisco Giants in 2017. He spent this previous season with Sultanes de Monterrey within the Mexican League.
Steven Moyers is 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA in six begins comprising 29 innings with Tigres del Licey within the Dominican Winter League. The 29-year-old College of Rhode Island product pitched within the Chicago White Sox system this 12 months earlier than being launched in August.
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You possibly can have both Aaron Judge or Manny Machado, and cash isn’t an element. I offered that possibility in a Twitter poll earlier this week, and the outcomes had been intriguingly shut. Of the 500-plus individuals who voted, 53.1% opted for the reigning American League MVP, whereas 46.9% went with the All-Star third baseman.
Choose is clearly coming off a season for the ages. The free-agent outfielder bashed 62 residence runs whereas placing up a 207 wRC+ and 11.4 WAR with the New York Yankees. Machado homered 32 occasions whereas placing up a 152 wRC+ and seven.4 WAR with the San Diego Padres. Choose has a 163 wRC+ and 36.1 WAR since debuting in 2016, whereas Machado has a 124 wRC+ and 46.6 WAR since debuting with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012.
Well being and reliability presumably factored into the ballot outcomes. Machado, who is 2 months youthful than Choose, has performed in 150 or extra video games eight occasions in his 9 full (162-game) seasons. Choose has performed in 150 or extra video games twice in his 5 full seasons.
Each undertaking as Corridor of Famers. As for which of the 2 performs higher over the subsequent 5 seasons… once more, the ballot outcomes had been intriguingly shut. It is going to be fascinating to look again at this 5 years from now.
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My April 5, 2020 Sunday Notes column included the story of a guess between a then-18-year-old Paul O’Neill and a hockey prospect named Bruce Holloway who went on to play in two video games with the Vancouver Canucks within the 1984-1985 season. Almost three a long time later, the latter’s son is enjoying with the Edmonton Oilers. Yesterday afternoon, 21-year-old Dylan Holloway scored his first NHL goal in Edmonton’s 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Congrats to the Holloways.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Olivia Pichardo is making historical past as the primary feminine athlete in NCAA Division I historical past to be named to a varsity baseball roster. Amanda McGregor wrote about the 18-year-old Brown College outfielder/pitcher for the college’s web site.
Brew Crew Ball’s Jack Stern looked at the Tuesday commerce that despatched Hunter Renfroe from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Los Angeles Angels in alternate for a trio of younger pitchers.
Terre Haute, Indiana native Tim Herrin was added to the Cleveland Guardians’ 40-man roster, and Joey Bennett wrote about it for the Tribune-Star.
The Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel talked to Pirates farm director John Baker about some Pittsburgh prospects. (Subscription required.)
The Good Phight’s Ethan White wonders if any of three Detroit Tigers relievers can be an excellent match for the Phillies.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Lou Whitaker struck out 1,099 occasions and walked 1,197 occasions. Javier Báez has struck out 1,100 occasions and walked 182 occasions.
Bryce Harper has 1,379 hits, together with 385 residence runs, and a 141 wRC+ by means of his age-29 season. Prince Fielder had 1,352 hits, together with 385 residence runs, and a 140 wRC+ by means of his age-29 season.
Cedric Mullins has 1,765 profession plate appearances, 53 residence runs, 135 walks, and 226 runs scored. Harrison Bader has 1,764 profession plate appearances, 52 residence runs, 137 walks, and 229 runs scored.
Andy Pettitte had 256 wins, 521 begins, and 26 full video games. Jack Morris had 254 wins, 527 begins, and 175 full video games.
Mike Maddux went 2-0 in his profession versus the Seattle Mariners, permitting eight runs over 21-and-a-third innings, with 14 strikeouts. He had the very same numbers towards the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ted Williams had 2,654 hits and 130.4 WAR. Doc Cramer had 2,705 hits and 9.4 WAR.
The New York Yankees acquired Graig Nettles from the Cleveland Indians as a part of a six-player commerce on immediately’s date in 1972. Nettles went on to play 11 seasons with the Yankees, hitting 250 residence runs, profitable a pair of Gold Gloves, making 5 All-Star groups, and incomes a pair of World Collection rings.
The Baltimore Orioles acquired John Lowenstein off waivers from the Texas Rangers on immediately’s date in 1978. The left-handed-hitter grew to become a invaluable platoon outfielder for Earl Weaver’s Orioles, batting .320 with 24 residence runs in 1982, and making a significant contribution to Baltimore’s 1983 World Collection championship group. Lowenstein’s 881 profession hits are essentially the most for a participant born within the state of Montana.
Gamers born on immediately’s date embody Dave Giusti, a right-handed pitcher who noticed motion with 5 groups from 1962-1977. The Seneca, New York native had 47 wins and three saves in six seasons with the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, and 47 wins and 133 saves in seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Additionally born on immediately’s date was Jason Beverlin, whose big-league comprised seven video games — 4 with the Cleveland Indians and three with the Detroit Tigers — in 2002. A local of Ashtabula, Ohio who attended highschool in Royal Oak, Michigan, Beverlin is presently the pitching coach at Coastal Carolina College.
