CarterHud

           The Chicago White Sox\’s sale of relievers has sold another one. LHP Dan Jennings has found a new home, after being traded from the Sox to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for 1B Casey Gillaspie.

           The Rays are unexpectedly in the playoff hunt this year, and have been looking to acquire bullpen help. Jennings improves their pen, especially against lefties. Left handed batters have just one extra base hit off Jennings this year, and have a weak .169 batting average and .497 OPS. Also, he is under team control through the 2019 season.

           Jennings, 30, has a 3.45 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 44.1 innings in 2017. In his six year career for the White Sox and Miami Marlins, Jennings has a 2.86 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 214 strikeouts in 261.1 innings.

            The White Sox have been trading all of their good relievers. Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson both went to the Yankees. Anthony Swarzak is the newest member of the brew crew. Now, Dan Jennings is a Ray. In return, the Sox get Gillaspie, the Rays first round pick in 2014. Also, he was ranked as the 10th best prospect in the Rays system.

            Gillaspie, 24, has a .227 batting average, nine homers and 44 RBIs in 395 Plate Appearances for Durham (AAA) this year. In his minor league career, Gillaspie has a .259 batting average, 51 homers and 198 RBIs.

           I think the Rays win this trade. They get a lefty who\’s is dominant vs other lefties, and is under team control for a few more years after this. That\’s why they win.

            The Colorado Rockies have acquired reliever Pat Neshek from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for INF Jose Gomez and RHPs J.D. Hammer and Alejandro Requena, all of which are prospects.

             The Rockies have been interested in a reliever to be a set-up man for closer Greg Holland, and were in talks with the Marlins for A.J. Ramos. Neshek fits that role, and has had a great 2017. They give up three prospects for Neshek, but none have high upside.

             Neshek, 36, has a 1.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 40.1 innings this year for the Phillies. In his 11 year career for the Phillies, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Minnesota Twins, Neshek has a 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 423 strikeouts in 423.1 innings.

             The Phillies, as rebuilders, are selling their veterans, like Neshek. They receive three prospects for him, including the Rockies 21st best prospect in Gomez. The two pitchers, Hammer and Requena, weren\’t on the Rockies top 30 list.

             Gomez has a .324 batting average, four homers, 33 RBIs and 18 steals in 351 plate Appearances for Single-A this year. In his minor league career, Gomez has a .316 batting average, nine homers, 130 RBIs and 73 stolen bases in 1186 Plate Appearances.

            Hammer, in his Class-A debut, has a 2.36 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 13 saves and 65 strikeouts in 42 innings.

            Requena, also in his Class-A debut, has a 2.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 97 strikeouts in 117 innings.

            I think this is an even trade. For the Phillies, they trade one of their veterans, and get three prospects for him. And for the Rockies, they acquire a big need. That\’s why everyone wins this deal.

        If the Montreal Canadiens need a forward, they know who to call. No, not ghostbusters. In two seasons with the Habs, Dan Carr has been an offensive force when called upon by former head coach Michel Therrian, and should still stay hot under Claude Julian. Carr, 25, went undrafted, had four great years at Union college, including a national championship in 2014, where he scored 50 points in 39 games in his senior year. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native then signed with the Canadiens. In two seasons so far with the Habs, Carr has scored 18 points (eight goals and 10 assists) in 56 games. In 2015-16, Carr did something that not many players ever did. He scored on his first shot in his first NHL shift. In 2016-17, Carr is looking to get a more consistent role.

           Recently, I was able to catch up with Dan and ask him a few questions.

           Me: \”How do you like the Canadiens\’ offseason moves?\”
           Carr: \”I think the biggest thing as a player is that all you can do is just play. There is a lot of things that can happen in hockey from the business side of things where they bring guys in, other guys move on, and the best thing as a player that you can do is just play and not worry about those things and show up to camp ready to go and excited for the season.\”

          M: \”What do you think your chances are to get a permanent starting role in the lineup are?\”
          C: \” It\’s kind of like the last question. The only thing I can do is show up to camp and play my best. Whatever happens from there is out of my control. For me, I need to show up to camp and play my best. That\’s all I can do.\”

           M: \”On the ice, what do you think you bring to the table?\”
           C: \”I play hard, I go to the net. I know I can score. Those are the big things for me. I need to make sure I\’m doing the little things well, and go from there. I know I can put the puck in the net, and that\’s the big thing.

          M: \”Lately, Union college has been producing a lot of NHL players like yourself. Why do you think this is happening?\”
          C: \”I think it\’s a culture thing. I think guys do a good job of going there and continuing to get better. Guys end up a lot more NHL ready, and a lot more hockey ready, and it\’s good to see as an alumni.\”

        The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired some bullpen help, getting RHP Anthony Swarzak from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for OF Ryan Cordell.

        The Brewers, finally in the playoff race, have been looking to acquire bullpen help. They\’ve been in talks with the Tigers involving LHP Justin Wilson. Swarzak is in the middle of his career year, and the Brewers are hoping that carries over to Milwaukee.

          Swarzak, 31, has a 2.23 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 48.1 innings this year. In his eight year career for the White Sox, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, Swarzak has a 4.31 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 363 strikeouts in 532.1 innings.

          The White Sox at the bottom of the AL Central, and have been trading all their good relievers. Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson were sold to the Yankees, and Swarzak now goes to Milwaukee. They received a prospect in Cordell, who was the Brewers 17th best prospect.

          Cordell, 25, has a .284 batting average, 10 homers, 45 RBIs and nine steals in 292 Plate Appearances for Colorado (AAA). In his minor league career Cordell has a .276 batting average, 65 homers, 272 RBIs and 81 stolen bases in 1940 Plate Appearances.

          I think the White Sox win this trade. They trade a guy who is 31, and just breaking out, for a 25 year old on the brink of an MLB call-up, after having success in AAA. That\’s why they win this deal.

          If you want more about this trade, check out my YouTube video on it.

         The Boston Red Sox\’s search for a third baseman is over, after a recent trade with the San Francisco Giants. They acquired utility player Eduardo Nunez from San Francisco in exchange for minor league RHPs Shaun Anderson and Greg Santos.

         The Red Sox recently released overpayed and struggling 3B Pablo Sandoval, who conveniently signed with the Giants. Since then, they haven\’t had a 3B. They did call up the MLB\’s 4th best prospect, 3B Rafael Devers, but at 20 years of age isn\’t the answer for them for this year only. In Nunez, they acquire a proven MLB veteran who also provides speed on the base paths. I can definitely see him working out in Boston. They give up a pair of minor leaguers, but you have to give to get.

         Nunez, 30, has a .308 batting average, four homers, 31 RBIs and 18 steals in 318 Plate Appearances this season. In eight years for the Giants, Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees, Nunez has a .279 batting average, 38 homers, 218 RBIs and 123 stolen bases in 2157 Plate Appearances.

        The Giants, have been the worse surprise in the 2017 season. They were expected to make the playoffs, but instead are 31.5 games out of the division lead. So, they might as well trade veterans. They get two prospects in Anderson, who was the Red Sox 18th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and Santos, who wasn\’t on their top 30.

         Anderson, 22, has a 6-3 record and 3.42 ERA in 97.1 innings in Single-A and High-A in 2017.

        Santos, 19, has a 0.90 ERA and a 2-0 record in seven starts in the Dominican league this year.

        I think the Red Sox win this trade. It\’s simple. They get a major leaguer for a High-A player and a Dominican league player. That\’s why they win.

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