CarterHud

                 The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired LHP Jose Alvarez from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHP Luis Garcia.

                   For the Phillies, it would make no sense not to make this trade. They get a 29 year old lefty coming off the best year of his career, who will help improve their bullpen. They trade a 31 year old who is worse than the player they are getting. It\’s a great trade for them.

                   Alvarez, 29, had a 2.71 ERA, 3.05 FIP and 59 strikeouts in 63 innings for the Angels in 2018, the best year of his career. In his career for the Angels and Detroit Tigers, Alvarez has an ERA of 3.69, a 3.64 FIP and 246 strikeouts in 275.1 innings.

                  For the Angels, I really don\’t understand this trade for them. Garcia is coming off a terrible 2018 at 31 years of age, but I think his one and only strength was his really good 2017. The Angels are hoping they can get him back into that form.

                 Garcia, who will be 32 by the start of the season, had a 6.07 ERA, a 3.51 FIP and 51 strikeouts in 46 innings for the Phillies in 2018. The best year of his career was in 2017, when he posted a 2.65 ERA, a 3.12 FIP and 60 strikeouts in 71.1 innings. In his MLB career, all for the Phillies, Garcia has a 4.12 ERA, a 3.88 FIP and 223 strikeouts in 244.2 innings.

                 I think the Phillies win this trade. It\’s simple. Alvarez over Garcia, and he\’s about to be three years younger than the latter.

from NBC

            The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired 1B Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Luke Weaver, C Carson Kelly, INF Andrew Young and a draft pick after competitive balance round B.

             For the Cardinals, this is a major trade. 2018 MVP candidate Matt Carpenter will move to third base, while Goldschmidt, a six time all-star will play first. Goldschmidt has hit 30 home runs four times, and while he has never won an MVP, he was the runner-up in 2013 and 2015. They give up Kelly, a big catching prospect not needed with Yadi Molina catching, and Weaver didn\’t have a spot in their rotation.

              Goldschmidt, 31, had a .290 batting average, 33 home runs, 83 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 690 Plate Appearances for the D-backs in 2018. The best season of his career came in 2013, when he had a batting average of .302, with 36 homers, 125 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. In his MLB career, all in the desert, Goldschmidt has a .297 batting average, 209 home runs, 710 RBIs and 124 stolen bases in 4708 Plate Appearances.

               For the D-backs, they are officially rebuilding, and they are starting with their biggest and best piece, Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt is a free agent at the end of the year, and I think they got a decent haul for him. Weaver has potential to be a top-3 starter, and Kelly looks like he could be their starting catcher for years to come. They get an extra prospect in Young, and a draft pick.

               Weaver, 25, had a 4.95 ERA, 4.45 FIP and 121 strikeouts in 136.1 innings in 2018. The best year of his career came in 2017, when he posted a 3.88 ERA, with a 3.17 FIP and 72 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. In his MLB career, all for the Cardinals, Weaver has a 4.79 ERA, with a FIP of 4.10, with 238 strikeouts in 233 innings.

                 Kelly, 24, had a .114 batting average and three RBIs in 42 Plate Appearances in 2018. In his MLB career, all for the Cardinals, Kelly has a batting average of .154, with 10 RBIs in 131 Plate Appearances.

                Young, 24, had a .289 batting average, 21 home runs and 58 RBIs in 503 Plate Appearances for High-A Palm Beach and AA Springfield in 2018.

                I think this is an even trade. The Cardinals get a superstar while the D-backs get a good return to kick off their rebuild.

             The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired SS Jean Segura, RHP Juan Nicasio and LHP James Pazos from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for SS J.P. Crawford and 1B Carlos Santana.

             For the Phillies, they wanted to improve their situation at shortstop after Crawford\’s disappointing 2018. They were in on Manny Machado, and since they traded Santana, they still could be. Machado can play third and move Maikel Franco to first. Segura is a fast infielder that can lead off and get on base. They get two relievers as well to improve their bullpen. Nicasio pitched 1.1 innings for the Phillies in 2017, before being flipped in a trade.

             Segura, 28, had a .304 batting average, 10 home runs, 63 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 632 Plate Appearances for the Mariners in 2018. His best all-around season was with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, when he had a .319 batting average, hit 20 home runs, 64 RBIs and stole 33 bases. In his MLB career for the Mariners, Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Angels, Segura has a .287 batting average, 64 home runs, 316 RBIs and 171 stolen bases in 3822 Plate Appearances.

              Nicasio, 32, had a 6.00 ERA, 2.99 FIP and 53 strikeouts in 42 innings for the Mariners in 2017. The best year of his career came in 2017 with the Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. That year, he had a 2.61 ERA, 2.98 FIP and 72 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. In his MLB career for the Mariners, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies, Nicasio has a 4.64 ERA, a 3.91 FIP and 622 strikeouts in 671.2 innings.

               Pazos, 27, had a career year in 2018, with a 2.88 ERA, 3.60 FIP and 45 strikeouts in 50 innings for the Mariners. In his MLB career for the Mariners and New York Yankees, Pazos has a 3.54 ERA, 4.01 FIP and 116 strikeouts in 112 innings.

               For the Mariners, they wanted to trade Segura as part of their rebuild. But all they got is a former top prospect after a terrible year, and a first baseman with a big contract. I think they could have gotten a better return for the three players.

               Crawford, who will be 24 by the start of 2018, hit .214, with three homers in 12 RBIs in 138 Plate Appearances in 2018. In his MLB career, all for the Phillies, Crawford has a .214 batting average, three homers and 18 RBIs in 225 Plate Appearances.

               Santana, 32, had a .229 batting average, with 24 homers and 86 RBIs in 679 Plate Appearances in 2018. The best year of his career came in 2016 with the Cleveland Indians, when he had a batting average of .259, with 34 home runs and 87 RBIs. In his MLB career with the Phillies and Indians, Santana has a .247 batting average, with 198 home runs and 673 RBIs in 5461 PA.

                 The Phillies win this trade.  They get a star shortstop and two useful relievers for an unproven former top prospect and a decent first baseman with a hefty contract.

from NY daily news

               The New York Mets have acquired RHP Edwin Diaz, 2B Robinson Cano and $20 million in cash from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for OF Jay Bruce, RHP Anthony Swarzak, RHP Gerson Bautista, OF Jarred Kelenic and RHP Justin Dunn.

               For the Mets, they are looking to be competitive again, and this is a move that will help them. At 24, Diaz set the Mariners record for saves in 2018 with 57, and has years left of control. Cano is coming off a PED suspension, and is 36 with 5 years left on his contract, but is still a good hitter. They give up a lot of players, but only Kelenic, the 6th overall pick in 2018, and Dunn, a AA pitcher, are useful pieces.

               Diaz, 24, had a career season in 2018, with a 1.96 ERA, 1.61 FIP, 124 strikeouts and 57 saves in 73.1 innings. In his MLB career, all for the Mariners, Diaz has an ERA of 2.64, a 2.56 FIP, 301 strikeouts and 109 saves in 191 innings.

               Cano, 36, had a .303 batting average, .374 OBP, 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 348 Plate Appearances in 2018 for the Mariners in 2018. The best year of his career was in 2010 with the New York Yankees, when he had a .319 batting average, .381 OBP, 29 home runs and 109 RBIs in 696 Plate Appearances. In his MLB career for the Mariners and Yankees, Cano has a .304 batting average, a .355 OBP, 311 home runs and 1233 RBIs in 8841 Plate Appearances.

                For the Mariners, they are in rebuild mode. Trading Cano was necessary, and they had to trade Diaz to start a rebuild. They get two good prospects in Dunn and Kelenic, and Bruce and Swarzak, who they can flip.

                Bruce, 31, had a .223 batting average, .310 OBP, nine homers and 37 RBIs in 361 Plate Appearances for the Mets this year. The best year of his career was in 2012, with the Cincinnati Reds when he had a batting average of .252, a .327 OBP, 34 homers and 99 RBIs in 633 Plate Appearances. In his MLB career for the Mets, Reds and Cleveland Indians, Bruce has a .247 batting average, .318 OBP, 286 home runs and 875 RBIs in 6167 Plate Appearances.

                 Swarzak, 33, had a 6.15 ERA, 5.48 FIP and 31 strikeouts in 26.1 innings for the Mets in 2018. The best year of his career came in 2017 with the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers, when he had a 2.33 ERA, 2.74 FIP and 91 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. In his MLB career for the Mets, Brewers, White Sox, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, Swarzak has a 4.30 ERA, 4.15 FIP and 433 strikeouts in 587.2 innings.

                  Bautista, 23, allowed six runs in 4.1 innings (12.46 ERA) with three strikeouts in 2018, his first major league season.

                  Kelenic, 19, had a .286 batting average, .371 OBP, six home runs, 42 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 254 Plate Appearances in rookie league this year, his first professional season.

                  Dunn, 23, had a 3.59 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 156 strikeouts in 135.1 innings for High-A St. Lucie and AA Binghamton.

                  I think this is an even trade. The Mets get two stars, and the Mariners get the prospects they need.

Cincinnati Enquirer

             It\’s non-tender season again. Every year, teams decide to cut ties with players that are in need of a new contract. They decline to offer a player with less than six years of MLB service time, making them a free agent. A club will need to tender the player a contract more than what they earned the following season. The player can decline the offer, but the team just needs to offer the contract, whether the player accepts or not. This year had many quality players hit the free agent market. Here they are, by the team that non-tendered them.

Baltimore Orioles: INF Tim Beckham, C Caleb Joseph
Boston Red Sox: None
New York Yankees: None
Toronto Blue Jays: INF Yangervis Solarte
Tampa Bay Rays: None
Chicago White Sox: OF Avisail Garcia, 3B Matt Davidson
Cleveland Indians: None
Detroit Tigers: C James McCann, RHP Alex Wilson
Kansas City Royals: OF Bubba Starling, RHP Jason Adam, RHP Andres Machado, 1B Samir Duenez
Minnesota Twins: OF Robbie Grossman
Houston Astros: C Chris Herrmann
Los Angeles Angels: RHP Blake Parker, RHP Matt Shoemaker
Oakland Athletics: RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Cory Gearrin, RHP Kendall Gravemen
Seattle Mariners: None
Texas Rangers: RHP Matt Bush, RHP Ricardo Rodriguez, LHP Zac Curtis, RHP Adrian Sampson
Atlanta Braves: None
Miami Marlins: None
New York Mets: INF Wilmer Flores
Philadelphia Phillies: 1B Justin Bour, LHP Luis Avilan
Washington Nationals: None
Chicago Cubs: INF Ronald Torreyes, RHP Justin Hancock, RHP Allen Webster
Cincinnati Reds: OF Billy Hamilton, OF Aristides Aquino, C Juan Graterol, OF Jordan Patterson
Milwaukee Brewers: 2B Jonathan Schoop, LHP Xavier Cedeno, LHP Dan Jennings
Pittsburgh Pirates: None
St. Louis Cardinals: None
Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Brad Boxberger, RHP Shelby Miller, U Chris Owings
Colorado Rockies: LHP Sam Howard
Los Angeles Dodgers: None
San Diego Padres: None
San Fransisco Giants: RHP Hunter Strickland, OF Gorkys Hernandez