CarterHud

             The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired RHP (reliever) Brad Boxberger from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP Curtis Taylor.

             The D-Backs need a reliever. They got one in Boxberger, but there is still work to do. Boxberger is often injured, and they\’ll need him to be at his pre-2016 form. They don\’t give up much in Taylor.

             Boxberger, 29, had a 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 29.1 innings in 2017. In his MLB career for the Rays and San Diego Padres, Boxberger has a 3.19 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 44 saves and 297 strikeouts in 231 innings.

             For the Rays, they get some value out of Boxberger, who most likely would have been non-tendered. Taylor is a young pitcher, and can be a fringe major leaguer.

           Taylor, 21, has never played in the majors. He had a 3.32 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 62.1 innings in 2017 for A ball. In his minor league career, Taylor has a 3.09 ERA, a WHIP of 1.22 and 91 strikeouts in 78.2 innings.

           I think the D-Backs win this deal. They get a major leaguer for a minor leaguer. Enough said.

                  We have our second blockbuster trade of the 2017-18 season, including the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils. The Ducks acquired forwards Adam Henrique and Joseph Blandisi and a 2018 3rd round pick for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional 3rd.

                  For the Ducks, they have many defensemen in Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson that can make an impact for multiple years. They can afford losing Vatanen, especially when this is the reward. With Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Rickard Rakell, it seems strange acquiring another center, but Getzlaf is out for a while, and someone could move to the wing. Blandisi is also a solid depth player.

                 Henrique, 27, has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 24 games this year. In his NHL career, all for the Devils, Henrique has scored 122 goals and 135 assists for 257 points in 455 games.

                Blandisi, 23, hasn\’t played in the NHL this year. In his two year career, all in New Jersey, Blandisi has scored eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 68 games.

               For the Devils, they need a defenseman, and a young one too. Damon Severson is fine, but Adam Larsson was their big d-man before they got a bargain for Taylor Hall and dealt
Larsson to Edmonton. Vatanen is probably better than pre-trade Larsson, and Larsson currently. Plus, it cost them way less then Hall.

             Vatanen, 26, has scored one goal and three assists for four points in 15 games this year. In his NHL career, all in Anaheim, Vatanen has scored 33 goals and 93 assists for 126 points in 280 games.

             I think this is an even trade. Both teams got what they need and wanted, and didn\’t give up too significant of a prize. That\’s why everyone wins.

            The Oakland Athletics have signed RHP (reliever) Yusmeiro Petit to a two year, $10 million deal, pending physical.

             Petit is a nice veteran arm for the A\’s pen, which has been deflated since Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle were traded to kick off the trade deadline frenzy. Blake Treinen and Santiago Castilla are their best two relievers. Woof. Petit has two very interesting records (no, he did not get a bat and start hitting people with it like something from Happy Gillmore: Baseball Edition or something) on his resume. The first one is that with the San Francisco Giants in 2014, Petit retired 46 consecutive batters, a record (no perfect game, he\’s a reliever). The other record is that he is the only player to win a little league world series and an MLB world series (only Mets outfielder Michael Conforto and free agent starter Lance Lynn are the only other ones to even make both finals). The deal is nice and cheap, which honestly could be a bargain considering his numbers.

               Petit, 33, had a 2.76 ERA, .95 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 91.1 innings for the Los Angeles Angels in 2017. In his MLB career for the Angels, Giants, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins, Petit has a 4.31 ERA with a WHIP of 1.23 and 566 strikeouts in 628.1 innings.

          We finally have a signing in the MLB. Matter-of-fact, we have TWO signings. But, they both are sorta minor, unless you are a baseball junkie like me. The two signings are that RHP (starter) Doug Fister, formerly on the Boston Red Sox, joining with the Texas Rangers, and RHP (starter) Hisashi Iwakuma signing a minor league deal with his 2017 team, the Seattle Mariners.

          Here are the details on Fister\’s deal. It\’s a one year deal, with $4 million guaranteed. Plus, there is a $7 million club option for 2019. Both years have incentives included. Now, onto the part why the Rangers went after him.

          The Rangers desperately need starters. They traded current free agent Yu Darvish at the deadline, leaving them with Cole Hamels as their best starter, and the only one who\’s decent. Fister is a solid 3-5 starter. They still need a number two. I could see them going after a Jeremy Hellickson, C.C. Sabathia or re-signing Andrew Cashner or Miguel Gonzalez for starting depth. Or, try to get Darvish back. It\’s a nice, cheap deal.

           Fister, 33, had a 4.88 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 83 strikeouts in 90.1 innings for the Sox in 2017. In his MLB career for the Red Sox, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, Fister has a 3.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 930 strikeouts in 1356.1 innings.

           For Iwakuma, the only reason I think he\’d agree to this is because he loved Seattle. He could get a better deal elsewhere. Also since he\’s old, and has injury history, he was worried he\’d be left unsigned.

          Iwakuma, 36, had a 4.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in just 31 innings in 2017. In his MLB career, all in Seattle, Iwakuma has an ERA of 3.42, with a 1.14 WHIP and 714 strikeouts in 883.2 innings.

         The Detroit Tigers have signed LHP Blaine Hardy to a one year deal, avoiding arbitration. The financial details have not been announced.

         Hardy is one of the few left-handed relievers (full-time relievers that is, since Matt Boyd is also a starter) on the Tigers 40-man roster, even though they just added to that with the signing of Ryan Carpenter. His 2017 wasn\’t pretty, but he\’ll look to rebound in 2018. He\’s been pretty good in his career except in 2017. A one year deal isn\’t bad for anyone.

       Hardy, 30, had a 5.94 ERA, a WHIP of 1.77 and 28 strikeouts in 33.1 innings in 2017. In his four year MLB career, all in Detroit, Hardy has an ERA of  3.62, a 1.46 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 159.1 innings.