AL Central Bullpen Blowout Bonanza!

[nicksaviking]

I'm a bit suspicious of all of this elite reliever trade talk.

Should the Twins be selling? Obviously, this team is a hot mess. However, if the team is about to be sold after two disastrously embarrassing seasons, isn't the ONLY way Derek Falvey keeps his job and the organization avoids a clean slate, is by pulling a miraculous playoff-bound U-turn? Why does he care what kind of prospect return he gets if he's somewhere else next year?

And should Cleveland be selling Clase? Sure, they've done the 'we're selling but still competing' bit before, but they've got a relatively young and controllable club and Clase is under contract for three more seasons.

So are both clubs actually looking to trade their top end relievers? OR are they both acting like it hoping that it encourages the OTHER club to pull the trigger and getting deadly late game weapons out of the division for the next few years.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

I'm a bit suspicious of all of this elite reliever trade talk.

Should the Twins be selling? Obviously, this team is a hot mess. However, if the team is about to be sold after two disastrously embarrassing seasons, isn't the ONLY way Derek Falvey keeps his job and the organization avoids a clean slate, by pulling a miraculous playoff-bound U-turn? Why does he care what kind of prospect return he gets if he's somewhere else next year?

And should Cleveland be selling Clase? Sure, they've done the 'we selling but still competing' bit before, but they've got a relatively young and controllable club and Clase is under contract for three more seasons.

So are both clubs actually looking to trade their top end relievers? OR are they both acting like it hoping that it encourages the OTHER club to pull the trigger and getting deadly late game weapons out of the division for the next few years.

I doubt the Twins deal either RP. Heck, given this FO, I agree, they will try to win still, and get nothing for the expiring deals but regret. Are both teams playing the other? I don't know! But that would be funny.

[nicksaviking]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I doubt the Twins deal either RP. Heck, given this FO, I agree, they will try to win still, and get nothing for the expiring deals but regret. Are both teams playing the other? I don't know! But that would be funny.

Yeah, I worry about that.

Also, I worry if they DO end up trading a controllable player, in their desperation to keep their jobs they will do it to fill a hole on the current roster instead of for top end long-term talent.

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, I worry about that.

Also, I worry if they DO end up trading a controllable player, in their desperation to keep their jobs they will do it to fill a hole on the current roster instead of for top end long-term talent.

I share that feeling....

[chpettit19]

I don't think they're playing each other, but I don't think either is planning to move any of their top end arms because I don't think either team expects to get offered the packages it'd require to move them. Falvey is still driven by the numbers and won't make a deal if the value isn't there. And it's hard to get value for guys with this much control. The odds aren't 0 because some contender may get desperate. The Dodgers, for example, are incredibly injured right now. And the Phillies always need pen arms so they may be interested in one with extra control.

I think Falvey still believes in the general ability of this team to compete, but will do some selling of the expiring deals because the numbers say his playoff odds are just too long for this season. There's too many teams between them and the last wild card spot. I don't think he'll do any big selling if it's not for what appears to be an obvious win. Especially if Lewis keeps mashing until the deadline.

The Guardians have had Clase rumors for at least a year. There's a couple Smith rumors floating about. They have Kwan rumors. They always have rumors. They rarely trade guys with this much control left. For the same reason as Falvey, the value has to be there. They aren't in the business of giving guys up for less than they're worth. It's why they're usually good. They get value. I highly doubt Clase or Smith are moved. Or Kwan. Although, a Kwan for Emma deal is intriguing to me.