CarterHud

            Detroit Tigers GM Al Avila has continued his sale, sending his own son, catcher Alex Avila and LHP Justin Wilson to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for 3B Jeimer Candelario and SS Isaac Paredes, who are both prospects.

           After winning the World Series last year, the Cubs are once again looking for a deep playoff run. In Wilson, they get a solid left-handed reliever who has closing experience (this year). Also, they get a nice backup catcher in Avila. Both can contribute to the team a lot. Also, Avila is a rental, but Wilson is under team control through 2018.
        

            Wilson, 29, has a 2.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 13 saves and 55 strikeouts in 40.1 innings for the Tigers this year. In his six year MLB career for the Tigers, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, Wilson has a 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 14 saves and 313 strikeouts in 298.1 innings.

            Avila, 30, has a .274 batting average, 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 264 Plate Appearances for the Tigers this year. In his nine year MLB career for the Tigers and Chicago White Sox, Avila has a .243 batting average, 84 homers, 325 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 2918 Plate Appearances.

            As rebuilders, the Tigers trade two veterans for two prospects. Also, Candelario was the Cubs number one prospect, and is the 92nd best prospect in all of baseball. Paredes was the Cubs 10th best prospect before the trade.

             Candelario, 23, was five for 33 (.152 batting average) with one homer and three RBIs this year in the majors. He\’s six for 50 (.136 batting average) in his MLB career, with that homer, three RBIs. In AAA this year, Candelario has a .266 batting average, 12 homers and 52 RBIs in 330 Plate Appearances.

            Paredes has a .264 batting average, seven homers, 49 RBIs and two steals in 384 Plate Appearances for Single-A South Bend. In his minor league career, Paredes has a .275 batting average, 8 homers, 75 RBIs and six stolen bases in 582 Plate Appearances.

            I think the Tigers win this trade. They get a big prospect in Candelario, and another prospect in Paredes with a high ceiling. They only give up a rental backup catcher and a solid reliever, so they win.

            The Colorado Rockies have acquired their catcher, getting Jonathan Lucroy from the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later (PTBNL).

            The Rockies, currently in the NL Wild Card, are looking to improve their team. Their catchers, mostly Tony Wolters, are last in the MLB in home runs, and last in the NL in OPS. Lucroy is having a bad year both at the plate and in pitch framing, but still has strong history, and can help the Rox down the stretch. He\’s also a rental, so he won\’t block top catching prospect Tom Murphy next year.

          Lucroy, 31, has a .242 batting average, four homers, 27 RBIs and one steal in 306 Plate Appearances for the Rangers this year. In his eight year MLB career for the Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers, Lucroy has a .280 batting average, 94 homers, 445 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 3611 Plate Appearances.

            As sellers, the Rangers sell a rental, but this is still a disappointment. Last deadline, The Rangers got Lucroy from the Brewers for top prospect Lewis Brinson. Getting just a PTBNL isn\’t what they could\’ve given up for him last year. A PTBNL could be anyone, even MVP candidate Nolan Arenado (please don\’t bet on it). But, it\’s most likely a low leveled prospect.

            After the deal, GM Jon Daniels said the following (credit Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News), \”This is an opportunity for (catchers) Robinson Chirinos and Brett Nicholas to play more, and for us to add young talent to the organization We wish Jonathan and his family well in Colorado and thank him for his work here with us.\”

             I think the Rockies win this deal. They get a two time all-star for practically nothing. It\’s clear they win this trade.

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

         The Kansas City Royals have acquired LF Melky Cabrera from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP A.J. Puckett and LHP Andre Davis.

          With LF Alex Gordon having a horrible year, the Royals wanted to acquire an outfielder. Also, Jorge Soler hasn\’t been as good as expected. Cabrera provides another outfielder with a solid bat. He also has a good batting average. In addition, this is a case of the old friend alert. Melky played just one season in Kansas City (2011), but it was arguably the best year of his career, setting career highs in homers, RBIs and stolen bases. He\’s also just a rental, and he could sign elsewhere after this season.

           Cabrera, 32, has a .295 batting average, 13 homers and 56 RBIs in 428 Plate Appearances for the White Sox this season. In his 13 year MLB career for the White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees, Cabrera has a .286 batting average, 127 homers, 739 RBIs and 97 stolen bases in 6614 Plate Appearances.

            As sellers, the White Sox are trading all their veterans, especially the ones with their contracts expiring after 2017. Cabrera fits in that category. Puckett was the Royals 13th best prospect, and Davis wasn\’t in their top 30. They get two pitchers who could potentially be major leaguers one day.

            Puckett, 22, has a 3.90 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 98 strikeouts in 108.1 innings in High-A this year. In his minor league career, Puckett has a 3.83 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 167 innings.

            Davis has a 4.83 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 87 strikeouts in 85.2 innings this year in Single-A. In his minor league career, Davis has a 5.27 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 141.2 innings.

            I think this is an even trade. The Royals get a big need in an outfielder, and the White Sox get two low leveled prospects, so everybody wins.

           The New York Yankees have acquired LHP Jaime Garcia from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for RHP Zack Littell and LHP Dietrich Enns.

            In need of a 5th starter, the Yankees have been in talks for multiple starters like the A\’s Sonny Gray, and the Cardinals Lance Lynn. They get their starter in Garcia, and don\’t need to pay the big price of Gray. Garcia is also a rental, so they didn\’t give up too much. Garcia is definitely better than 5th starters Caleb Smith and Luis Cessa.

             Garcia, 31, has a 4.29 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 119.2 innings this year for the Twins and Atlanta Braves. In his nine year career for the Braves, Twins and St. Louis Cardinals, Garcia has a 3.65 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 815 strikeouts in 1015.2 innings.

            After acquiring Garcia from the Braves, the Twins fell out of the playoff hunt. So, they looked to trade Garcia once again, and get some value out of him. Littell was the Yankees 22nd best prospect before the trade. Garcia would be useless on a seller, so now he has a role on a contender. Enns wasn\’t on the Yanks top 30 list.

             Littell, 21, has a 1.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 109 strikeouts in 115.1 innings for High-A and AA this year. In his minor league career, Littell has a 3.24 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 441 strikeouts in 496.2 innings.

             Enns, 26, has a 1.99 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 45.1 innings in rookie league and AAA this year. In his minor league career, Enns has a 1.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 397 strikeouts in 389.2 innings.

             I think the Twins win this deal. They get way more for Garcia than they gave up, and the Braves probably are mad they only got the guy they got for Garcia. So, they win.

           The Baltimore Orioles have acquired RHP Jeremy Hellickson from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for LF Hyun Soo Kim and LHP prospect Garrett Cleavinger.

            This is a buy move for the Orioles, but they only problem is that they are sellers. They are 6.5 games out of the wild card. It would make some sense if Hellickson was under contract for 2018, but he\’s not. They only thing I can think of that would sense is if the Orioles were acquiring his rights, and wanted to see how he pitched in Baltimore this year, and if he was successful, they\’d re-sign him for next year.

            Hellickson, 30, has a 4.73 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 112.1 innings this year for the Phillies. In his eight year career for the Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, Hellcikson has a 3.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 803 strikeouts in 1087.1 innings.

             The Phillies are rebuilders. They have been trading all of their veterans, and especially the rentals, like Hellickson. They get a prospect in Cleavinger, who\’s struggling in AA. Kim is also rental, but he can just finish the year in Philly. He\’s always been platooned, and now is his chance to show he can do well as a full-time starter, after the Phillies traded their LF, Howie Kendrick.

             Kim, 29, has a .232 batting average, one homer and 10 RBIs in 142 Plate Appearances this year. In his MLB career, Kim has a .281 batting average, seven homers and 32 RBIs in 488 Plate Appearances, all in Baltimore.

             Cleavinger, 23, has a 6.75 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, three saves and 42 strikeouts in 38.2 innings this year for Bowie (AA). In his minor league career, Cleavinger has a 3.79 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, eight saves and 176 strikeouts in 140 innings.

              I think the Phillies win this deal. Not because it\’s a great deal for them, because it really isn\’t, only because this trade makes about no sense from Baltimore\’s point of view.

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