Has to be pitching a t this point I would think. They need a starter and some relievers.
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They've gotta move Yepez or maybe even Gorman for an SP.

The Reds have 2 veteran SPs in Mahle and Castillo that they'll likely field offers on. They have an aging 1b who's a pending FA and no clear answer behind him.

So get 'em on the horn and offer them Yepez, McGreevey and Malcom Nunez for Mahle or Castillo.

It gets them a high floor near term 1b option and a higher ceiling plan B behind him. It also gets them a long-term SP prospect w/ first round pedigree who's moving quickly through the minor leagues.

Thompson is showing some real big league stuff this year, Graceffo has exploded past McGreevey, IMO. Both Castillo and Mahle are under team control next season as well. If you're getting a legit #2 starter type for the cost of a prospect with no long-term role here, your 4th best SP prospect (Graceffo, Thompson, Libby, in that order - IMO) and a guy who probably amounts to organizational depth long term, you have to do that.

I would also be all over the Marlins on Taylor Rogers. He's been awful this year, to be sure, but he has plenty of ability and a lot of team control. And the Marlins are LOADED in pitching depth.

Alcantara, Lopez, Cabrera, Meyer and Eury Perez (who should be considered the top SP prospect in baseball, IMO) is just pure filth. And that's before you get into their previous hotness, Sixto Sanchez and the fast-rising lefty they have in Eder.

They can move Rogers without missing a beat. But as is ever the case, they could use some hitting. So see if Yepez and some additional B level guys (Luken Baker types) can get them to sell low on Rogers.
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I'm reluctant to trade for relievers because dammit - we HAVE 3 back-end hammer options. We definitely should not be trading organizational capital for middle-relievers. Especially not when we have a half-dozen guys who can throw 96+ but we can't convince them to trust their stuff.

The Cardinals have the hard part figured out. 7-8-9 is in fine shape come the post-season. What we need are bullet catchers who can keep games close or give the big 3 a blow on occasion (and Faux Ace Flaherty giving us more than 3 innings would sure help there...)

It's becoming a big league development problem at this point, IMO. There is no reason why Oviedo shouldn't be able to fastball/slider his way through 60+ quality relief appearances. Thompson at 97 is freaking vile in relief. Why does Kodi Whitley suck? I've seen this kid pitch, his stuff is exceptional. Woodford should be able to give you some quality middle relief. Rondon is a quality strike thrower who's stuff will play up in the 'pen. Pacheco has nasty stuff so teach him to throw it at the middle of the zone - he's not a kid anymore, 24 and on the 40 man. Jake Walsh is on the 40 and is another kid with really good stuff who just doesn't seem to trust it much.

Why are we struggling to find 4 arms out of that pile of bodies that can be adequate? And frankly, if the recent Oviedo outings and Thompson stuff is legit, you can scratch 2 of those off. So you need to more quality MRs and a swing-man to get to EIGHT usable arms.

Please tell me why this organization can't get that from a combination of Hicks, Whitley, Woodford, Rondon, Pacheco and/or Walsh? Why do we keep sending Naughton, McFarland and Nick Wittgren out there to put games out of reach when they do NOTHING at a big league level. Last I checked Wittgren was leading the team in appearances and he has literally not one single major league skill.

I don't understand this and I think we're far past time to question the competency of Mike Maddux at this point. We have too many quality arms in this system (not elite, but solid) to struggle this bad to find viable depth arms in the bullpen.
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Gorman would be untouchable for me. I dont' like moving Yepez, but with Goldy doing what he's doing, 1st base probably isn't gonna open up any time soon, but you need a DH as well.

Buddy had told me to look at the Marlins pitching staff and take my pick.
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Walker is at 1b in 2 seasons. Burleson/Baker can backfill just fine at DH for Yepez.

Gorman is a guy who's gonna make a living on blasting mistakes and then get eviscerated every October. And that's fine - he absolutely has value. He can be a 3-win player for 6 years at relatively low prices. But he'll never be a plus defender at 2b, he's always gonna have K issues and he's unlikely to become a super-patient player.

He's valuable but he IS limited. Meanwhile I think Winn can become a stud at SS and push Edman back over to 2b. Hell, I think Donovan is a DAMN good ballplayer and is just fine as a long-term 2b option while you keep your powder dry on Winn.

Nah - Gorman's nothing resembling untouchable for me. I'm not dealing him for a #2 with 1.5 yrs of control, don't get me wrong. But he's nowhere close to off limits. We have 3-4 guys coming over the next 2-3 years who can help cover for losing him.

As for the Marlins staff - if they are really saying "give us Gorman and take your pick" - shit, I'd dump Gorman for Alcantara and/or Perez in a heartbeat. Wouldn't even ponder it. Probably not for Meyer, but maybe. It's close. Not Lopez because he's a 2-pitch guy with less control left than you realize. And for as sexy as Cabrera's stuff is, he doesn't miss bats. Might still make that move though.
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Gorman is untouchable.

Pujols says Yepez is the next Pujols. True or not. If he can be a consistent MLB player that can bash, he should be off the table too. We don't have enough of those players. Trading away what we are always short of seems like a really bad idea.

Plus it’s still Mo making those trades. He always gets ****ed. So eventually us fans see a lessen product on the field from his decisions.
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But again - why?

And no he isn't. Nobody that says that actually believes it. If the Nationals came offering Soto for him, you'd pull that trigger in a heartbeat.

Pit Gorman vs. Donovan at 2b over 150 games and I'm betting Gorman gives you a better WAR. Defense is better, far better contact skills and a better baserunner.

Gorman gives you a metric ton of raw power and that's nice to have - but it's also not hard to find. Especially if he stays around a 150-175 K/season kind of player.

Nobody who's a risk of putting up a 30% K-Rate is 'untouchable'.

And Tony Gonzalez said once said Tyler Thigpen was a Pro Bowl caliber QB. Players don't know shit about other players. Game does NOT recognize game.

If you won't move a guy like Juan Yepez, then you won't move anyone. And you won't get anyone.

Yepez is exactly the sort of player you trade for an established SP if you're serious about winning. There are more guys just like him all over the place.
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I didn't see this quote but it's pretty far fetched. Prime Pujols is an all time great. Yepez might be very good but he's not Albert.
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Remember when Brett Wallace was the next Pujols?
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they said it on the TV broadcast twice that I heard.
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of course you’d make that deal but in your scenerio we are trusting Mo to make a deal? Not a chance.

Dewitt would benefit, just for his own selfish reasons, if he made Flores in charge of all player decisions. FA signings, trades etc. in addition to the draft.
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Frankie Montas fits the profile of someone they could go after. We are built for strike throwing starters and he has a 1.08 WHIP this year. I’m not sure what it would take, but just don’t see them giving up Yepez or Gorman this year.
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Flaherty hurt again
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Cards are better off without depending on him.
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His feelings or vagina?
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