Clayton Kershaw homecoming 08/28-08/30

[Kelleyman]

#Rangers SP Lance Lynn on what he’s expressed to GM Jon Daniels amid trade rumors: “I told him that I came here for a reason, and came here to get a job done. And I've yet to do it. So I don't want to leave something unfinished. But I also understand the business of baseball. “... I understand that if you can get prospects with high upside. I understand that. I'm not stupid. I am 33 years old. I've been around for a minute and I know how the game works.”

 

[Kelleyman]

Anyone with a subscription to The Athletic want to read this and give us the basics?

The Texas Rangers were hoping to contend their first season at their new stadium Globe Life Field in front of sold-out crowds. Instead, they are “sellers” at the trade deadline having to play in front of zero fans because of the pandemic. As much as they’d like to keep their ace, Lance Lynn, through next year when he’s eligible to become a free agent, they realize his trade value will never be higher, and for an organization that has a long way to go before they can contend, trading him now is definitely their smartest play.

Lynn, 33, is off to the best start of his career and is a legitimate contender for the AL Cy Young Award behind front-runner Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians. Lynn is presently 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA, 3.38 FIP, punching out 50 batters, walking 14 in 45 1/3 innings while yielding just 25 hits. This is a follow-up to last year when he finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting when he went 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA and 3.13 FIP. He’s also faced more hitters the last two years than any pitcher in the American League, that’s how deep he pitches into games, averaging almost 7 innings per start over that span.

With the fact Lynn is so dominating and has another year of control in 2021 at a club-friendly contract of $10 million per year, the Rangers should be able to get two young starters back in the trade whom they can control for years to come.

If Lynn is actually traded, here is a list of five teams that have been connected to the Rangers in trade talks and possible returns the Rangers should expect in a deal of this magnitude:

San Diego Padres
Approximate trade cost: RHP Luis Patino and LHP Joey Cantillo

It looks like the Padres have a legitimate chance at finishing in second place in the National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Can you imagine a postseason rotation of Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet and Lynn? In addition, they might even have rookie sensation McKenzie Gore if they decide to promote him for September. That’s a rotation capable of running the table with a potential parade in Slam Diego. The prospect cost would hurt with an expected return of something like pitching prospects Luis Patino and Joey Cantillo. Patino, 20, is pitching out of the Padres bullpen right now appearing in 7 games with a 4.76 ERA. Last year, he was 6-8 with a 3.23 ERA at both Amarillo and Lake Elsinore in the Padres system. Cantillo, 20, was 10-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 22 starts between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne last season in the Padres farm system. That would be a strong long-term haul for the Rangers. For the Padres, they need to take advantage of the expanded playoffs and a chance to win a World Series this year and should pull the trigger, regardless of how painful this deal would be for the long term.

Chicago White Sox
Approximate trade cost: RHP Dane Dunning and RHP Jonathan Stiever

The White Sox are in a serious three-way race with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians — not only for the divisional title but also for second place and maybe a wild-card berth. The White Sox have one of the most prolific lineups in baseball and might just be one trade away from the playoffs and maybe even a World Series appearance. A trade for Lynn could be the difference-maker. The prospect price would be steep, having to deal two of their top pitching prospects in Jonathan Stiever, who went 10-10 last year with a 3.48 ERA in the Carolina and South Atlantic Leagues combined, and Dunning, who was 6-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 2018 at both Single A and Double A before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2019 and missing all of last season. Both starters profile to be middle-of-rotation-type starters.

New York Yankees
Approximate trade cost: RHP Clarke Schmidt and OF Clint Frazier

A Yankees reunion with Lynn? Don’t ever count Yankees GM Brian Cashman out in a deal for a top starting pitcher who might get traded. The Yankees match up well with the Rangers and could deal a package starting with Schmidt, who profiles as at least a solid No. 3-type starter and is major-league ready now according to scouts, and Frazier would upgrade the Rangers’ outfield with the capability of 20-25 home runs and 20 steals. The Yankees have a lot of pieces they can mix and match here if this package doesn’t work for the Rangers, as they could dangle other younger pitchers like Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, Yoendrys Gomez, Roansy Contreras or even Deivi Garcia.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Approximate trade cost: RHP Ross Stripling and RHP Josiah Gray

The Dodgers have even touched base with the Rangers, which shouldn’t be a surprise because no one does their due diligence more than Los Angeles president Andrew Friedman. He could offer them Stripling, who could replace Lynn and is controllable for two more years after this one, and one of their top prospect arms in Gray. Stripling, 30, is off to a slow start this year going 3-1 with a 5.46 ERA after 6 starts but last year went 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 17 relief appearances and 15 games started. Gray, 22, was 11-2 last year with a 2.70 ERA in 26 games, 25 of which he started. He dealt 130 innings striking out 147 and walking 31 at three different minor-league levels. He should be major-league ready sometime in 2021.

Oakland Athletics
Approximate trade cost: LHP Sean Manaea and RHP Daulton Jefferies

Never count Billy Beane and David Forst out of a trade like this either; remember the Jon Lester trade six years ago? In that deal they traded Yoenis Céspedes off their major-league roster to get the deal done for Lester for outfielder Jonny Gomes. I can see them parting with one of their young starters like Manaea and a top pitching prospect like Jefferies for Lynn because the A’s have their best chance of winning a World Series this year since their last one in 1989. As Beane’s mantra has always been, “I’m never afraid to trade my best players or best prospects.” This would be a strong package to give up, but with Lynn, Frankie Montas, Jesús Luzardo, Chris Bassitt and Mike Fiers they’d improve their chances of popping champagne bottles in late October.

Here is the occasional freebie

 

[scotsman1948]

The Texas Rangers were hoping to contend their first season at their new stadium Globe Life Field in front of sold-out crowds. Instead, they are “sellers” at the trade deadline having to play in front of zero fans because of the pandemic. As much as they’d like to keep their ace, Lance Lynn, through next year when he’s eligible to become a free agent, they realize his trade value will never be higher, and for an organization that has a long way to go before they can contend, trading him now is definitely their smartest play.

Lynn, 33, is off to the best start of his career and is a legitimate contender for the AL Cy Young Award behind front-runner Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians. Lynn is presently 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA, 3.38 FIP, punching out 50 batters, walking 14 in 45 1/3 innings while yielding just 25 hits. This is a follow-up to last year when he finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting when he went 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA and 3.13 FIP. He’s also faced more hitters the last two years than any pitcher in the American League, that’s how deep he pitches into games, averaging almost 7 innings per start over that span.

With the fact Lynn is so dominating and has another year of control in 2021 at a club-friendly contract of $10 million per year, the Rangers should be able to get two young starters back in the trade whom they can control for years to come.

If Lynn is actually traded, here is a list of five teams that have been connected to the Rangers in trade talks and possible returns the Rangers should expect in a deal of this magnitude:

San Diego Padres
Approximate trade cost: RHP Luis Patino and LHP Joey Cantillo

It looks like the Padres have a legitimate chance at finishing in second place in the National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Can you imagine a postseason rotation of Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet and Lynn? In addition, they might even have rookie sensation McKenzie Gore if they decide to promote him for September. That’s a rotation capable of running the table with a potential parade in Slam Diego. The prospect cost would hurt with an expected return of something like pitching prospects Luis Patino and Joey Cantillo. Patino, 20, is pitching out of the Padres bullpen right now appearing in 7 games with a 4.76 ERA. Last year, he was 6-8 with a 3.23 ERA at both Amarillo and Lake Elsinore in the Padres system. Cantillo, 20, was 10-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 22 starts between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne last season in the Padres farm system. That would be a strong long-term haul for the Rangers. For the Padres, they need to take advantage of the expanded playoffs and a chance to win a World Series this year and should pull the trigger, regardless of how painful this deal would be for the long term.

Chicago White Sox
Approximate trade cost: RHP Dane Dunning and RHP Jonathan Stiever

The White Sox are in a serious three-way race with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians — not only for the divisional title but also for second place and maybe a wild-card berth. The White Sox have one of the most prolific lineups in baseball and might just be one trade away from the playoffs and maybe even a World Series appearance. A trade for Lynn could be the difference-maker. The prospect price would be steep, having to deal two of their top pitching prospects in Jonathan Stiever, who went 10-10 last year with a 3.48 ERA in the Carolina and South Atlantic Leagues combined, and Dunning, who was 6-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 2018 at both Single A and Double A before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2019 and missing all of last season. Both starters profile to be middle-of-rotation-type starters.

New York Yankees
Approximate trade cost: RHP Clarke Schmidt and OF Clint Frazier

A Yankees reunion with Lynn? Don’t ever count Yankees GM Brian Cashman out in a deal for a top starting pitcher who might get traded. The Yankees match up well with the Rangers and could deal a package starting with Schmidt, who profiles as at least a solid No. 3-type starter and is major-league ready now according to scouts, and Frazier would upgrade the Rangers’ outfield with the capability of 20-25 home runs and 20 steals. The Yankees have a lot of pieces they can mix and match here if this package doesn’t work for the Rangers, as they could dangle other younger pitchers like Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, Yoendrys Gomez, Roansy Contreras or even Deivi Garcia.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Approximate trade cost: RHP Ross Stripling and RHP Josiah Gray

The Dodgers have even touched base with the Rangers, which shouldn’t be a surprise because no one does their due diligence more than Los Angeles president Andrew Friedman. He could offer them Stripling, who could replace Lynn and is controllable for two more years after this one, and one of their top prospect arms in Gray. Stripling, 30, is off to a slow start this year going 3-1 with a 5.46 ERA after 6 starts but last year went 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 17 relief appearances and 15 games started. Gray, 22, was 11-2 last year with a 2.70 ERA in 26 games, 25 of which he started. He dealt 130 innings striking out 147 and walking 31 at three different minor-league levels. He should be major-league ready sometime in 2021.

Oakland Athletics
Approximate trade cost: LHP Sean Manaea and RHP Daulton Jefferies

Never count Billy Beane and David Forst out of a trade like this either; remember the Jon Lester trade six years ago? In that deal they traded Yoenis Céspedes off their major-league roster to get the deal done for Lester for outfielder Jonny Gomes. I can see them parting with one of their young starters like Manaea and a top pitching prospect like Jefferies for Lynn because the A’s have their best chance of winning a World Series this year since their last one in 1989. As Beane’s mantra has always been, “I’m never afraid to trade my best players or best prospects.” This would be a strong package to give up, but with Lynn, Frankie Montas, Jesús Luzardo, Chris Bassitt and Mike Fiers they’d improve their chances of popping champagne bottles in late October.

Here is the occasional freebie

None of those packages seems enough

 

[saddles]

The Texas Rangers were hoping to contend their first season at their new stadium Globe Life Field in front of sold-out crowds. Instead, they are “sellers” at the trade deadline having to play in front of zero fans because of the pandemic. As much as they’d like to keep their ace, Lance Lynn, through next year when he’s eligible to become a free agent, they realize his trade value will never be higher, and for an organization that has a long way to go before they can contend, trading him now is definitely their smartest play.

Lynn, 33, is off to the best start of his career and is a legitimate contender for the AL Cy Young Award behind front-runner Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians. Lynn is presently 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA, 3.38 FIP, punching out 50 batters, walking 14 in 45 1/3 innings while yielding just 25 hits. This is a follow-up to last year when he finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting when he went 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA and 3.13 FIP. He’s also faced more hitters the last two years than any pitcher in the American League, that’s how deep he pitches into games, averaging almost 7 innings per start over that span.

With the fact Lynn is so dominating and has another year of control in 2021 at a club-friendly contract of $10 million per year, the Rangers should be able to get two young starters back in the trade whom they can control for years to come.

If Lynn is actually traded, here is a list of five teams that have been connected to the Rangers in trade talks and possible returns the Rangers should expect in a deal of this magnitude:

San Diego Padres
Approximate trade cost: RHP Luis Patino and LHP Joey Cantillo

It looks like the Padres have a legitimate chance at finishing in second place in the National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Can you imagine a postseason rotation of Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet and Lynn? In addition, they might even have rookie sensation McKenzie Gore if they decide to promote him for September. That’s a rotation capable of running the table with a potential parade in Slam Diego. The prospect cost would hurt with an expected return of something like pitching prospects Luis Patino and Joey Cantillo. Patino, 20, is pitching out of the Padres bullpen right now appearing in 7 games with a 4.76 ERA. Last year, he was 6-8 with a 3.23 ERA at both Amarillo and Lake Elsinore in the Padres system. Cantillo, 20, was 10-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 22 starts between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne last season in the Padres farm system. That would be a strong long-term haul for the Rangers. For the Padres, they need to take advantage of the expanded playoffs and a chance to win a World Series this year and should pull the trigger, regardless of how painful this deal would be for the long term.

Chicago White Sox
Approximate trade cost: RHP Dane Dunning and RHP Jonathan Stiever

The White Sox are in a serious three-way race with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians — not only for the divisional title but also for second place and maybe a wild-card berth. The White Sox have one of the most prolific lineups in baseball and might just be one trade away from the playoffs and maybe even a World Series appearance. A trade for Lynn could be the difference-maker. The prospect price would be steep, having to deal two of their top pitching prospects in Jonathan Stiever, who went 10-10 last year with a 3.48 ERA in the Carolina and South Atlantic Leagues combined, and Dunning, who was 6-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 2018 at both Single A and Double A before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2019 and missing all of last season. Both starters profile to be middle-of-rotation-type starters.

New York Yankees
Approximate trade cost: RHP Clarke Schmidt and OF Clint Frazier

A Yankees reunion with Lynn? Don’t ever count Yankees GM Brian Cashman out in a deal for a top starting pitcher who might get traded. The Yankees match up well with the Rangers and could deal a package starting with Schmidt, who profiles as at least a solid No. 3-type starter and is major-league ready now according to scouts, and Frazier would upgrade the Rangers’ outfield with the capability of 20-25 home runs and 20 steals. The Yankees have a lot of pieces they can mix and match here if this package doesn’t work for the Rangers, as they could dangle other younger pitchers like Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, Yoendrys Gomez, Roansy Contreras or even Deivi Garcia.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Approximate trade cost: RHP Ross Stripling and RHP Josiah Gray

The Dodgers have even touched base with the Rangers, which shouldn’t be a surprise because no one does their due diligence more than Los Angeles president Andrew Friedman. He could offer them Stripling, who could replace Lynn and is controllable for two more years after this one, and one of their top prospect arms in Gray. Stripling, 30, is off to a slow start this year going 3-1 with a 5.46 ERA after 6 starts but last year went 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 17 relief appearances and 15 games started. Gray, 22, was 11-2 last year with a 2.70 ERA in 26 games, 25 of which he started. He dealt 130 innings striking out 147 and walking 31 at three different minor-league levels. He should be major-league ready sometime in 2021.

Oakland Athletics
Approximate trade cost: LHP Sean Manaea and RHP Daulton Jefferies

Never count Billy Beane and David Forst out of a trade like this either; remember the Jon Lester trade six years ago? In that deal they traded Yoenis Céspedes off their major-league roster to get the deal done for Lester for outfielder Jonny Gomes. I can see them parting with one of their young starters like Manaea and a top pitching prospect like Jefferies for Lynn because the A’s have their best chance of winning a World Series this year since their last one in 1989. As Beane’s mantra has always been, “I’m never afraid to trade my best players or best prospects.” This would be a strong package to give up, but with Lynn, Frankie Montas, Jesús Luzardo, Chris Bassitt and Mike Fiers they’d improve their chances of popping champagne bottles in late October.

Here is the occasional freebie

Thanks.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

None of those packages seems enough

The Padres fans thought the trads scenario was crazy. They thought Patino by himself was crazy.

 

[DT LUNA]

Wonder why?

 

[DT LUNA]

The Padres fans thought the trads scenario was crazy. They thought Patino by himself was crazy.

Always depends if your seller or buyers

 

[Nightcrawler]

im surprised to see so many other MLB teams think so highly of Mitch.

 

[DT LUNA]

im surprised to see so many other MLB teams think so highly of Mitch.

Does 8 HR and a ,328 BA help why?

 

[DT LUNA]

Does 8 HR and a ,328 BA help why?

I forgot to mention 4 dbls and 21RBI

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

So refreshing.

 

[saddles]

The Texas Rangers were hoping to contend their first season at their new stadium Globe Life Field in front of sold-out crowds. Instead, they are “sellers” at the trade deadline having to play in front of zero fans because of the pandemic. As much as they’d like to keep their ace, Lance Lynn, through next year when he’s eligible to become a free agent, they realize his trade value will never be higher, and for an organization that has a long way to go before they can contend, trading him now is definitely their smartest play.

Lynn, 33, is off to the best start of his career and is a legitimate contender for the AL Cy Young Award behind front-runner Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians. Lynn is presently 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA, 3.38 FIP, punching out 50 batters, walking 14 in 45 1/3 innings while yielding just 25 hits. This is a follow-up to last year when he finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting when he went 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA and 3.13 FIP. He’s also faced more hitters the last two years than any pitcher in the American League, that’s how deep he pitches into games, averaging almost 7 innings per start over that span.

With the fact Lynn is so dominating and has another year of control in 2021 at a club-friendly contract of $10 million per year, the Rangers should be able to get two young starters back in the trade whom they can control for years to come.

If Lynn is actually traded, here is a list of five teams that have been connected to the Rangers in trade talks and possible returns the Rangers should expect in a deal of this magnitude:

San Diego Padres
Approximate trade cost: RHP Luis Patino and LHP Joey Cantillo

It looks like the Padres have a legitimate chance at finishing in second place in the National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Can you imagine a postseason rotation of Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet and Lynn? In addition, they might even have rookie sensation McKenzie Gore if they decide to promote him for September. That’s a rotation capable of running the table with a potential parade in Slam Diego. The prospect cost would hurt with an expected return of something like pitching prospects Luis Patino and Joey Cantillo. Patino, 20, is pitching out of the Padres bullpen right now appearing in 7 games with a 4.76 ERA. Last year, he was 6-8 with a 3.23 ERA at both Amarillo and Lake Elsinore in the Padres system. Cantillo, 20, was 10-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 22 starts between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne last season in the Padres farm system. That would be a strong long-term haul for the Rangers. For the Padres, they need to take advantage of the expanded playoffs and a chance to win a World Series this year and should pull the trigger, regardless of how painful this deal would be for the long term.

Chicago White Sox
Approximate trade cost: RHP Dane Dunning and RHP Jonathan Stiever

The White Sox are in a serious three-way race with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians — not only for the divisional title but also for second place and maybe a wild-card berth. The White Sox have one of the most prolific lineups in baseball and might just be one trade away from the playoffs and maybe even a World Series appearance. A trade for Lynn could be the difference-maker. The prospect price would be steep, having to deal two of their top pitching prospects in Jonathan Stiever, who went 10-10 last year with a 3.48 ERA in the Carolina and South Atlantic Leagues combined, and Dunning, who was 6-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 2018 at both Single A and Double A before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2019 and missing all of last season. Both starters profile to be middle-of-rotation-type starters.

New York Yankees
Approximate trade cost: RHP Clarke Schmidt and OF Clint Frazier

A Yankees reunion with Lynn? Don’t ever count Yankees GM Brian Cashman out in a deal for a top starting pitcher who might get traded. The Yankees match up well with the Rangers and could deal a package starting with Schmidt, who profiles as at least a solid No. 3-type starter and is major-league ready now according to scouts, and Frazier would upgrade the Rangers’ outfield with the capability of 20-25 home runs and 20 steals. The Yankees have a lot of pieces they can mix and match here if this package doesn’t work for the Rangers, as they could dangle other younger pitchers like Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, Yoendrys Gomez, Roansy Contreras or even Deivi Garcia.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Approximate trade cost: RHP Ross Stripling and RHP Josiah Gray

The Dodgers have even touched base with the Rangers, which shouldn’t be a surprise because no one does their due diligence more than Los Angeles president Andrew Friedman. He could offer them Stripling, who could replace Lynn and is controllable for two more years after this one, and one of their top prospect arms in Gray. Stripling, 30, is off to a slow start this year going 3-1 with a 5.46 ERA after 6 starts but last year went 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 17 relief appearances and 15 games started. Gray, 22, was 11-2 last year with a 2.70 ERA in 26 games, 25 of which he started. He dealt 130 innings striking out 147 and walking 31 at three different minor-league levels. He should be major-league ready sometime in 2021.

Oakland Athletics
Approximate trade cost: LHP Sean Manaea and RHP Daulton Jefferies

Never count Billy Beane and David Forst out of a trade like this either; remember the Jon Lester trade six years ago? In that deal they traded Yoenis Céspedes off their major-league roster to get the deal done for Lester for outfielder Jonny Gomes. I can see them parting with one of their young starters like Manaea and a top pitching prospect like Jefferies for Lynn because the A’s have their best chance of winning a World Series this year since their last one in 1989. As Beane’s mantra has always been, “I’m never afraid to trade my best players or best prospects.” This would be a strong package to give up, but with Lynn, Frankie Montas, Jesús Luzardo, Chris Bassitt and Mike Fiers they’d improve their chances of popping champagne bottles in late October.

Here is the occasional freebie

The Padres scenario seems like the best one.

 

[Kelleyman]

So refreshing.

Yes Lynn comments are not postured. No bull type of guy.
Great guy to root for

 

[Kelleyman]

Well Gibson has given up two HRs so far and now walks another.

Looks like Elvis is about to be back in the lineup

 

[Kelleyman]

Here you go Bennie

 

[Kelleyman]

Another HR given up..