CarterHud

            The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed RHP George Kontos off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

             Now, the Pirates acquired Kontos and Sean Rodriguez in one day. This could make them in the hunt, but it\’s unlikely since they are 4.5 games out of the division lead. Also, Kontos isn\’t a UFA until after 2019, so this still doesn\’t mean they are going for it, especially because it\’s a waiver claim.

           Kontos, 32, has a 3.83 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. In his seven year MLB career for the Giants and New York Yankees, Kontos has a 3.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 258 strikeouts in 315.2 innings.

             The first post MLB Trade deadline trade has come, after the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired utility player Sean Rodriguez from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for corner infield prospect Connor Joe

              The Pirates, 4.5 games out of first place in the NL Central, aren\’t buyers after this move. They are able to acquire a player in Rodriguez, who has played every single position except pitcher or catcher in his career. Also, he\’s signed through 2018, so they have him for next year. They give up a low leveled prospect in Joe. Rodriguez was with the Pirates in 2015 and 2016, and MLB.com\’s Adam Berry said that he was well liked in the clubhouse.

              Rodriguez, 32, missed months this year after him and his family were injured in a car accident. But, in his return for the Braves, Rodriguez has struggled, with a .162 batting average, two homers, three RBIs and one steal in 47 Plate Appearances. In his 10 year MLB career for the Braves, Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angeles, Rodriguez has a .233 batting average, 69 homers, 262 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 2482 Plate Appearances.

                For the Braves, they trade a player who didn\’t have a spot on their team. They get something for him, which is way, way better than getting nothing for him.

                 Joe, 24, has a .240 batting average, five homers, 30 RBIs and two stolen bases in 295 Plate Appearances in Low-A and AA this year. In his minor league career, Joe has a .257 batting average, 11 homers, 102 RBIs and four stolen bases in 1094 Plate Appearances.

                 I think the Pirates win this trade. They get a major leaguer for a minor leaguer, so they obviously win, right?

          Today, the Oakland Athletics claimed C Dustin Garneau off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.

           With backup catcher Josh Phegley on the 10-day DL (oblique strain), Garneau could be a solid backup catcher option, or at least a better one than Ryan Lavarnaway, who could be DFA\’d soon. Also, Garneau is a right handed hitter, so he could platoon with starting catcher, and left handed hitter Bruce Maxwell, who is having a tough year. Garneau was probably only waived by Colorado because they acquired C Jonathan Lucroy from the Rangers.

             Garneau, 29, has a .206 batting average, one homer and six RBIs in 74 Plate Appearances for the Rockies this year. He also has a .281 batting average, 10 homers and 26 RBIs in 144 Plate Appearances for Albuquerque (AAA) this year. In his MLB career, Garneau has a .199 batting average, four homers and 20 RBIs in 225 Plate Appearances.

          The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired INF Adam Rosales from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for RHP Jeferson Mejia.

           The D-Backs, in the NL Wild Card, recently had SS Chris Owings go to the DL. For Rosales to go on the 40-man roster, Owings was placed on the 60-day DL. Rosales is a nice, solid infielder who has MLB experience. He can help the D-Backs down the stretch. He\’s also a rental so he doesn\’t affect the future.

           Rosales, 34, has a .234 batting average, four homers, 27 RBIs and one stolen base in 223 Plate Appearances this year for the A\’s. In his 10 year MLB career for the A\’s, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds, Rosales has a .228 batting average, 44 homers and 168 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 1697 Plate Appearances.

            As rebuilders, the A\’s are able to trade one of their rentals in Rosales. They get a low leveled reliever in Mejia, who\’s struggling in Low-A. Mejia has a 5.90 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 29 innings in A and Low-A this year. In his minor league career, Mejia has a 4.67 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 208 strikeouts in 208.1 innings.

              I think this is an even trade. It\’s a backup infielder who\’s old and a rental for a prospect unlikely to make the MLB one day.

          The Boston Red Sox have acquired RHP Addison Reed from the New York Mets in exchange for RHP prospects Stephen Nogosek, Jamie Callahan and Gerson Bautista.

          The Red Sox, trying to beat out their rival Yankees for the AL East lead, have been looking for a reliever to set up closer Craig Kimbrel. The last two years, they acquired RHPs Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg, but both of them are out for the year. Reed is a rental, but is having a good year as the Mets closer.

           Reed, 28, has a 2.57, 1.12 WHIP, 19 saves and 48 strikeouts in 49 innings for the Mets this year. In his seven year career for the Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox, Reed has a 3.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 125 saves and 397 strikeouts in 375.2 innings.

           The Mets, as sellers are able to get three prospects for one rental. Also, they are all top 30 prospects in the Red Sox\’s system. Nogosek was number 18, Callahan number 23 and Bautista number 28. Down the stretch, newly acquired RHP AJ Ramos will most likely close out games.

            Nogosek, 22, has a 3.06 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 19 saves and 63 strikeouts in 53 innings in Single-A and High-A. In his minor league career, he has a 3.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 21 saves and 94 strikeouts in 80.1 innings.

           Callahan, also 22, has a 3.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, six saves and 56 strikeouts in 42 innings between AA and AAA this year. In his minor league career, Callahan has a 4.79 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 16 saves and 363 strikeouts in 374 innings.

            Bautista, also 22, has 5.16 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, four saves and 53 strikeouts in 45.1 innings this year at High-A. In his minor league career, Bautista has a 2.79 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 10 saves and 162 strikeouts in 193.2 innings.

             I think the Mets win this trade. They get three solid prospects for just one rental. They should have gotten less. That\’s why they win this deal.

For more on this trade, check out my YouTube video on it.