CarterHud

Photo from Sporting News

        The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired defenseman Matt Niskanen from the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Radko Gudas. The Flyers have also retained 30% of Gudas\’ contract.

        The main part of this trade is that the Caps are making a cap dump. They now have nearly $13.5 million in cap space. The Flyers can afford to take on Niskanen\’s contract, as they have nearly $30 million in cap space, and they need to get over the minimum salary cap, though they should just by this trade and if they can sign Kevin Hayes, whose rights they acquired from Winnipeg.

         Gudas has a reputation of a dirty player, which is true. But Niskanen is aging and had his lowest point total this year since 2012-13, which was shortened by a lockout. Gudas is younger, and while he doesn\’t score as much as Niskanen, he is very psychical and a consistent shot blocker.

         Gudas, 29, scored four goals with 16 assists for 20 points in 77 games this year for the Flyers. in his NHL career for the Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, Gudas has scored 24 goals and 81 assists for 105 points in 416 games.

         Niskanen is probably the better all-around defender, but he is 32 and is coming off a down year. The Flyers are betting that it was just a down year, and not a sign of age. He gets over 100 hits a year, but that is not nearly as good as Gudas\’ rate (over 200 a year, including one year of over 300). He blocks shots a lot as well, though not as consistent as Gudas, though consistency with blocked shots isn\’t really a good stat to look at. He also scores more.

        Niskanen, 32, scored eight goals with 17 assists for 25 points in 80 games with the Capitals this past year. In his NHL career for the Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars, Niskanen has scored 64 goals with 259 assists for 323 points in 881 games.

Photo from NBC

            The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired OF/1B Jay Bruce and cash from the Seattle Mariners for 3B Jake Scheiner.

            The Phillies are in first place in the NL East, but with CF Odubel Herrera on administration leave after an arrest, the Phillies don\’t know how long he will be out. Andrew McCutchen could move over to center, and Bruce will play left. Or Nick Williams will play left and Bruce will be a powerful bench bat. Bruce hits a lot of home runs but doesn\’t hit for average.

            Bruce, 32, has a .212 batting average with 14 home runs and 28 RBIs in 184 Plate Appearances this year. In his MLB career for the Mariners, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, Bruce has a batting average of .246 with 300 home runs, 903 RBIs and 65 stolen bases in 6351 Plate Appearances.

            For the Mariners, they are rebuilding and and will soon be trading a lot of their bats. Bruce is the first one to go, which is smart since he won\’t sustain he\’s home run pace. In exchange for the power hitter, they get an infielder that was good last year in the minors.

           Scheiner, 23, has a .256 batting average with two home runs, 19 RBIs and three stolen bases in 179 Plate Appearances for High-A Clearwater. In three minor league seasons, Scheiner has hit .276 with 19 home runs, 108 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 955 Plate Appearances.

          

        The Atlanta Braves have acquired RHP Anthony Swarzak and cash from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Aroyds Vizcaino and LHP Jesse Biddle.

        The Braves had a weak bullpen to start the season, but that got even worse when Vizcaino, their closer, was injured for the season. In this trade, they acquire Swarzak, who could improve their bullpen, and cash. That cash could be used to help acquire free agent closer Craig Kimbrel, after the draft is over and there is no pick compensation. Swarzak has had a rough start to the season.

         Swarzak, 33, has a 5.27 ERA with a 8.07 FIP and 17 strikeouts, plus three saves, in 13.2 innings. In his MLB career for the Mariners, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians, Swarzak has a 4.33 ERA, a 4.24 FIP, and 450 strikeouts, plus nine saves in 601.1 innings.

          For the Mariners, they have been struggling, and they needed a shake up. In acquiring Vizcaino, they take a gamble that could definitely pay of next year. He\’s out for the year, but was the Braves\’ closer. Biddle is a former first round pick who had his first full major league season last year.

          Vizcaino, 28, had a 2.25 ERA with one save and six strikeouts in four innings this year. In his MLB career for the Braves and Chicago Cubs, Vizcaino has a 3.01 ERA, a 3.58 FIP, with 218 strikeouts and 50 saves in 194.1 innings.

          Biddle, 27, had a 5.40 ERA with a 4.90 FIP and 11 strikeouts in 11.2 innings this year. In his two year major league career, Biddle has a 3.46 ERA with a 4.04 FIP and 78 strikeouts in 75.1 innings.

Photo from CBS

         The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired RHP Chris Stratton from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations.

         Stratton is a starter who also has made appearances from the bullpen in his career. To make room for Stratton on the 40 man roster, Nick Burdi was moved to the 60 day IL. Stratton had 10 wins for the Giants last year as part of their rotation. He was acquired by the Angels this March, but was terrible in seven games (five starts). That led to him being DFA\’d earlier this week.

         Stratton, 28, has a 8.59 ERA with a 6.10 FIP and 22 strikeouts in 29.1 innings this year. In his MLB career for the Angels and Giants, Stratton has a 5.11 ERA with a 4.57 FIP and 191 strikeouts in 243 innings.

       

           The New York Mets have acquired RHP Wilmer Font from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

            The Mets need pitching help badly, with Jason Vargas and Steven Matz off to bad starts. Vargas is in danger of losing his rotation spot, and the Mets also have a weak front of their bullpen. Font is brought in to improve that. He started five games for the Rays last year, the only five starts of his career, and was very good in them. He could fill in as a spot starter, and bullpen reliever.

            Font, 29, has a 5.79 ERA with 18 strikeouts and a 3.50 FIP in 14 innings with the Rays this year. He had a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings over nine games (five starts) with the Rays in 2018. In his major league career for the Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A\’s and Texas Rangers, Font has a 6.51 ERA with 58 strikeouts and a 6.05 FIP in 65 innings.

            For the Rays, Font was off to a rough start, and it clears up a roster spot for Casey Sadler, who was recalled following the trade. Except Ryan Yarbrough, who has pitched in just five games as a long reliever and has had minor league time, Font had the highest ERA of a Rays\’ pitcher, with ace Blake Snell\’s 4.31 the next closest, with a median ERA of 2.32 (between Diego Castillo and Jalen Beeks, credit to the Athletic\’s Josh Tolentino for that note via Twitter). Font hasn\’t had a long term home in his MLB career, and the Mets will be his fifth team, and sixth organization (he was a minor leaguer for the Blue Jays, but never made an MLB appearance).