CarterHud

       The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with defenseman Mark Streit on a one way, one year deal worth $700,000

        The Habs recently traded defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and lost Alexei Emelin in the expansion draft. Also with Andrei Markov being a free agent, the Habs would like to have some leadership on the back end, besides ex-Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber. Streit was the captain of the New York Islanders for two seasons.

       For Streit, he doesn\’t earn that much money, but he is able to return to the team that drafted him in the ninth round in 2004. The Habs now have eight defensemen on their roster, so Joe Morrow and Brandon Davidson could see a lot of games from the press box when everybody is healthy.

       Streit, 39, scored 27 points (six goals and 21 assists), 13 of them on the power play, in 68 games in 2016-17 for the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, including a midseason trade. In his NHL career for the Penguins, Flyers, Islanders and Canadiens, Streit has scored 434 points (96 goals and 338 assists) in 784 games. Of those 434 points, 207 of them are on the power play.

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

          The Kansas City Royals have acquired RHPs Trevor Cahill and Brandon Maurer and LHP Ryan Buchter from the San Diego Padres for LHPs Matt Strahm and Travis Wood and middle infielder Esteury Ruiz.

            For the Royals, they get pitching help. Cahill is a nice starter who can give Kansas City some quality starts. Buchter and Maurer can help their bullpen. Maurer was the closer in San Diego, so he has some experience with that job. They give up two lefties and a prospect, but we\’ll see how it works out for them. They are buyers this year, with them trailing the Cleveland Indians in the division by 1.5 games.

            Cahill, 29, has a 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 61 innings this year for the Padres. In his nine year MLB career for the Padres, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics, Cahill has a 4.03 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 892 strikeouts in 1210.1 innings.

            Maurer, 27, has a 5.72 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 20 saves and 38 strikeouts in 39.1 innings this year for San Diego. In his five year career for the Padres and Seattle Mariners, Maurer has a 4.96 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 274 strikeouts and 33 saves in 319.2 innings.

            Buchter, 30, has a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, one save and 47 strikeouts in 38.1 innings this season. In his three year MLB career for the Padres and Atlanta Braves, Buchter has a 2.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, two saves and 126 strikeouts in 102.1 innings.

             For the Padres, they get two solid lefties, and a good prospect. As sellers, this is a very good trade. Both relievers could help their bullpen as they play spoiler for the rest of the year, and Ruiz can continue to develop in the minors.

             Wood, 30, has a 6.91 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. In his eight year career for the Royals, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, Wood has a 4.13 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 765 strikeouts in 941.2 innings.

             Strahm, 25, has a 5.45 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 34.2 innings this year. In his two year career, only for the Royals, Strahm has a 3.81 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 56.2 innings.

              Ruiz has a .419 batting average with three homers, 23 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 91 Plate Appearances, so he could start in single-A next season.

              I think the Royals win this deal. They give up two roster players and a prospect, but both relievers they received are in team control for longer than this year, even though Cahill is a free agent. Wood and Strahm have struggled this year, while Buchter has been great. That\’s why they win this deal.

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

          Another starting pitcher is off the board of trade targets. Today, the Minnesota Twins improved their rotation by acquiring LHP Jaime Garcia and C Anthony Recker from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash and minor league RHP Huascar Ynoa.

         After losing 103 games in 2016, the Twins have bounced back in 2017, in large thanks to slugger Miguel Sano, ace Ervin Santana and closer Brandon Kintzler. But besides Santana, the Twins rotation hasn\’t been as good as a contender\’s should be. Garcia has been very consistent both throughout his career and in 2017. They give up just one minor leaguer for him, so it looks like a good trade. Recker is more depth at catcher, if Jason Castro or Chris Gimenez gets hurt

        Garcia, 31, has a 4.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 106 innings this season. In his nine year career for the Braves and St. Louis Cardinals, Garcia has a 3.65 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 804 strikeouts in 1002 innings.

         Recker, 33, is one for seven with no RBIs for the Braves this year. In his seven year MLB career for the Braves, New York Mets. Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, Recker has a .199 batting average, 18 HRs and 70 RBIs.

         For the Braves, they are sellers, and sellers trade their good players. Also, Garcia is a free agent after this season, and the Braves might not want to sign him, or the other way around. Anyways they get a prospect out of him, which is better than losing him to free agency for nothing.     

         Ynoa, 19, has a 5.26 ERA in 25.2 innings in rookie ball this year. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the Twins 22nd best prospect.

         I think the Twins win this trade. They get a reliable pitcher in Garcia, and don\’t give up a lot to get him. I thought that they\’d have to give up a better prospect, but Ynoa is struggling in rookie ball. It doesn\’t get much worse than that, even though he\’s their 22nd best prospect. That\’s why they win this trade.

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

           The Ottawa Senators have signed defenseman Johnny Oduya to a one year, one million dollar deal. There is games played, time on ice and playoff bonuses that can earn Oduya up to $2.25 million this season.

          In signing Oduya, the Senators acquire an experienced defenseman that can play top-4 or top-6 ice time. The Senators need a top-4 d-man after losing Marc Methot in the expansion draft. Oduya can fill that need. After making the Eastern Conference final last season, the Sens are poised for a longer Cup run this year. Oduya won two Cups in 2013 and 2015 with the Chicago Blackhawks, so knows what it\’s like to win.

          Oduya, 35, scored nine points (two goals and seven assists) in 52 games last season for the Blackhawks and Dallas Stars, including a midseason trade. In his career for the Blackhawks, Stars, Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise and New Jersey Devils, Oduya has 182 points (37 goals and 145 assists) in 798 games.

        If you want more of Oduya to Sens, check out my YouTube video.

          After being released by the Angels, the Seattle Mariners have signed middle infielder Danny Espinosa to a major league deal.

          With Jean Segura and Robinson Cano playing short and second, the Mariners have one of the top middle infields in the league. Espinosa can become a solid bench option going forward. He has experience at third and first, so he can share first base time with Danny Valencia, especially if Valencia needs rest.

           The Angels traded for Espinosa to be their starting second baseman, but things didn\’t go as planned. Espinosa, 30, struggled mightily in Los Angeles, with a .162 batting average, six homers, 29 RBIs and three steals in 254 Plate Appearances. In eight seasons for the Angels and Washington Nationals, Espinosa has a .221 batting average, 98 home runs, 314 RBIs and 63 stolen bases in 3226 Plate Appearances.

          It hasn\’t been announced yet, but it looks like U Taylor Motter will be optioned to Tacoma (AAA).

          Motter, 27, has a .204 batting average, seven homers, 23 RBIs and nine steals in 232 Plate Appearances. In his two year MLB career for the Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, Motter has a .199 batting average, nine homers, 32 RBIs and those nine stolen bases in 325 Plate Appearances.