CarterHud

              The Cleveland Indians have acquired RHP Nick Wittgren from the Miami Marlins in exchange for RHP Jordan Milbrath. The Marlins also claimed RHP Austin Brice off waivers from Baltimore.

              For the Indians, they once again acquire a cast off reliever, hoping for success. It has worked for them with Tyler Olsen, Oliver Perez and Nick Goody, and now they are attempting to do it with Wittgren, who out of the four mentioned, was coming off the best season when acquired by the Tribe. All they give up is a minor league pitcher.

              Wittgren, 27, had a 2.94 ERA, with a FIP of 3.13 and 31 strikeouts in 33.2 innings for the Marlins in 2018. In his MLB career, all in Miami, Wittgren has had an ERA of 3.60, with a 3.50 FIP and 116 strikeouts in 127.2 innings.

                The Marlins recently DFA\’d Wittgren in a surprise move to open a spot for the signing of INF Neil Walker, so it isn\’t a surprise to see him traded now. Wittgren was arguably Miami\’s 2nd best reliever in 2018, and is just 27, so it doesn\’t make sense to see him go. They get a prospect in Milbrath, and claim Brice, a pitcher with MLB experience who has had teams play hot potato with him this offseason. Brice also was drafted by the Marlins and started out his MLB career with them.

                 Milbrath, 27, had a 3.96 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 63.2 innings for AA Akron and AAA Columbus in 2018.

                Brice, 26, had a 5.79 ERA, 5.87 FIP and 32 strikeouts in 37.1 innings for the Cincinnati Reds in 2018. In his MLB career for the Reds and Marlins, Brice has an ERA of 5.68, with a 5.25 FIP and 72 strikeouts in 84 innings.

From NHL

              The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann from the Florida Panthers in exchange for centers Derrick Brassard and Riley Sheahan, plus a 2019 2nd round pick and two 2019 4th round picks.

              For the Penguins, they once again re-stock and acquire younger players with more years left on their contract. Both Bjugstad and McCann can play center and wing, the positions Brassard and Sheahan play. Also, both players they gave up are free agents at the end of the year. It is an overall good trade for their upcoming playoff run.

              Bjugstad, 26, has scored five goals with seven assists for 12 points in 32 games for the Panthers this year. In his NHL career, all in Florida, Bjugstad has scored 87 goals and 101 assists for 191 points in 394 games. In 82 games in 2017-18, Bjugstad scored 19 goals, with 230 shots.

             McCann, 22, has scored eights goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 46 games this year. He will likely set a career high in goals. In his NHL career for the Panthers and Vancouver Canucks, McCann has scored 27 goals and 44 assists for 71 points in 212 games.

            For the Panthers, they get a couple of picks in the deal. Plus, they get two veterans they can flip for more picks. They also save cap space for this upcoming free agency, where they could make a run at Blue Jackets\’ stars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

           Brassard, 31, has scored nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 40 games for the Penguins this year. In his NHL career for the Penguins, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, Brassard has scored 171 goals and 272 assists for 443 points in 756 games.

           Sheahan, 27, has scored seven goals and two assists for nine points in 49 games for the Penguins. In his NHL career for the Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, Sheahan has scored 56 goals and 83 assists for 139 points in 414 games.

           The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to defenseman Sean Durzi and the Leafs\’ first round pick in 2019.

           Aside from Morgan Rielly, Toronto\’s defense has been their main issue. Bringing in Muzzin strengthens their team defensively, and he\’s also now their second best defense offensively (Rielly). They chose to use their first round pick on Muzzin, who will be a free agent after the 2019-20 season. They don\’t give up any top prospects. Grundstrom is a 2016 second round pick playing in the AHL, and Durzi is their most recent second round pick, and hasn\’t signed a contract yet.

          Muzzin, 29, has scored four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 50 games for the Kings this year. In his NHL career, all for Los Angeles, Muzzin has scored 51 goals and 162 assists for 213 points in 496 games. He\’s averaged about 99 blocked shots and 152 hits in his seven career full seasons. He averaged 178 shots a year from 2013-14 to 2017-18.

         For the Kings, they are currently in last place, and things don\’t seem to be getting better. Muzzin was their most obvious trade bait, with just one year left after this season, and he was thought to be good enough to net them a first round pick and more. And that\’s exactly what they received. They get their 2019 first, which will be late in the opening round, Grundstrom, an AHL prospect that could be NHL ready by late 2019-20, or 2020-21. Durzi was recently drafted, and is a defenseman, so we might not see him in the NHL until 2021-22 or later.

         Grundstrom, 21, has 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points in 42 games for the AHL Toronto Marlies in 2018-19. He played most of last year for Frolunda HC in the SweHL, and scored 17 goals, with seven more assists for 24 points in 35 games.

          Durzi, 20, has scored five goals and six assists for 11 points in eight games for the Guelph Storm, plus three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 18 games for the Owen Sound Attack this year. For Owen Sound in 2017-18, Durzi scored 15 goals and 49 points in 40 games.

From NHL.com

          The Minnesota Wild have acquired defenseman Brad Hunt and a 2019 6th round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a conditional 2019 5th round pick (the Knights receive the better of the Wild\’s two fifth round picks).

           For the Wild, they have been active on the market recently, acquiring forwards Pontus Aberg and Victor Rask. They get a defenseman now. Hunt is a depth defenseman who didn\’t get much time with Vegas this year, but was decent when in the lineup.

          Hunt, 30, scored scored two goals and five assists for seven points in 13 games for the Golden Knights in 2018-19. In his NHL career for the Knights, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues, Hunt has scored seven goals and 27 assists for 34 points in 91 games.

          For the Golden Knights, Hunt is a defenseman getting minimal playing time, appearing in just 13 games for them this year, and 58 in two years. They didn\’t really need him, and they trade him and upgrade a round in the draft, which is better than losing him on waivers.

From NY Post

             The Cincinnati Reds have acquired RHP Sonny Gray and LHP Reiver Sanmartin from the New York Yankees in exchange for a competitive balance round A draft pick. The Reds also traded 2B Shed Long to the Seattle Mariners, who gave up OF Josh Stowers to the Yankees. Also, Gray has signed a three year extension with the Reds.

             For the Reds, they have acquired veteran pitchers Tanner Roark and Alex Wood, but haven\’t acquired a pitcher under contract for more than one year. Gray would have been a free agent after 2019, before signing an extension. They give up a pick after the first round and their seventh best prospect, which is quite a haul for a pitcher coming off a terrible year.

              Gray, 29, had a 4.90 ERA, a 4.17 FIP and 123 strikeouts in 130.1 innings for the Yankees in 2018. The best year of his career came in 2015 with the Oakland Atheltics, when he posted a 2.73 ERA, a 3.45 FIP and 169 strikeouts in 208 innings. In his career for the Yankees and A\’s, Gray has an ERA of 3.66, with a 3.74 FIP and 789 strikeouts in 900.2 innings.

              Sanmartin, 22, had a 2.81 ERA, with a 1.02 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 67.1 innings for Low-A Staten Island, Single-A Charleston, High-A Tampa and AA Trenton.

              For the Yankees, they actually originally had Long, then flipped him to Seattle. The reasoning for that is since Long would take up a spot on the 40 man roster, they needed to open up a spot so they can sign reliever Adam Ottavino. But, they ended up downgrading prospects, getting Stowers, who is almost 22 and has barely played pro ball. Their main haul ended up being a draft pick.

              Stowers, 22, hit .260 with five home runs, 28 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 244 Plate Appearances for Low-A Everett in 2018, his first pro season.

              For the Mariners, they get a much better prospect who is already on their 40 man roster, and is just a year older than the one they give up. They had no business being in this trade, and ended up improving.

              Long, 23, had a .281 batting average, with 16 home runs, 50 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 439 Plate Appearances for High-A Daytona and AA Pensacola.