Clips for 7-12-10

MEDIA CLIPS – July 27th, 2018 Who is -- and isn't -- untouchable in the NL West Matthew Leach | MLB.com | Jul. 26th, 2018 If we're being honest, almost no player in baseball is really, truly "untouchable." Mike Trout, probably. But there's some package, somewhere, that would cause virtually every general manager in baseball to part with virtually any player on his roster. The thing is, those packages aren't going to get offered. So for all practical purposes, we know some guys are just not getting moved. But then there's the flip side: Some players might be more available than you'd think. MLB.com takes a look at one "untouchable" and one player who just might not be, from each team in the National League West. D-backs Who it is: Paul Goldschmidt Why: He's the franchise. He can be a free agent after next year, and his overall numbers are down a bit. But really, he's the franchise. Best player, most important player, the whole deal. The only way this is really conceivable is if things go way south and they think about it at next year's Deadline, but that's a long way off. Who it isn't: Zack Greinke Why not: OK, not now. The D-backs aren't parting with any key pieces in the next week, because they're in the running for a division title. But this winter? Or even at the end of August if things go quickly? It wouldn't be all that shocking. Greinke is owed $35 million each of the next three seasons and he'll be 35 in October. If nothing else, he'd likely clear waivers. 1 Dodgers Who it is: Clayton Kershaw Why: A couple of months ago, you could maybe have constructed a scenario where the Dodgers would listen to a great offer. They were struggling. He has an opt-out this winter. It was not unimaginable. But even then, it was a very long shot. The National League is open, and the Dodgers with Kershaw have as much chance as anyone at the pennant. Who it isn't: Yasiel Puig Why not: He's been hurt, but Puig has begun a rehab assignment. He's having another good but not great year and could help a team in need of a controllable outfielder. Meanwhile, playing time may be scarce for him in L.A. The Dodgers are still looking for relief help, and it's possible they'd rather move a Major Leaguer making $9 million than a prospect. Giants Who it is: Buster Posey Why: He's a franchise icon, a former NL Most Valuable Player, and signed through 2021. There's no replacement for him in the farm system or in free agency. And, let's be honest, his value is not at an all-time high. Even if they were interested in moving Posey, and they're not, it would make no sense. Posey comes with the furniture. Who it isn't: Madison Bumgarner Why not: Let's be abundantly clear here: The odds are extremely, extremely against Bumgarner going anywhere. But is it impossible? No. The Giants have an extremely reasonable option for '19, but after that he can be a free agent. He's slightly less dominant than he was two or three years ago, and a really overwhelming offer at least would force the Giants to listen. In a market short of aces, it's conceivable. Highly improbable, but possible. Padres Who it is: Fernando Tatis Jr. Why: OK, this is cheating a bit since Tatis is hurt. But even before that, Tatis was not going anywhere. He's younger than fellow super-prospect Luis Urias, he's had a better year at the plate at the same level, and he's been playing shortstop with Urias mostly at second. He's the guy here, even amid baseball's best crop of prospects. Who it isn't: Austin Hedges 2 Why not: It had long appeared that Hedges was every bit as much a part of San Diego's future as Tatis, Urias, et al. He probably still is. But then the Padres went out and got Francisco Mejia, and it became less clear. They're still not looking to move Hedges, and Mejia could end up in the outfield. But Hedges is potentially in play in a way he wasn't a week ago. Rockies Who it is: Brendan Rodgers Why: The former No. 3 overall pick has produced throughout his time in the Minors, and his time in the Majors is getting closer. He's shown power and speed at Double-A while playing mostly shortstop, and there's really not much to indicate he won't live up to his promise. And the Rockies could have an opening in the middle infield as soon as next year, if DJ LeMahieu leaves in free agency. Who it isn't: Ryan McMahon Why not: A top-50 prospect not that long ago, McMahon has yet to find traction in the Majors. It's not that the Rockies have soured on him, necessarily, but it's not hard to see them deciding they'd be willing to part with him in the right deal. 3 Rockies Insider: Assessing the potential impact of Colorado’s two newest bullpen acquisitions The Rockies traded for Toronto’s Seunghwan Oh Wednesday, and signed free-agent Santiago Casilla Thursday Kyle Knewman and Jeff Bailey | DenverPost.com | July 27, 2018 After dedicating more than $100 million in guaranteed money to relievers in the offseason, a sketchy first-half showing by the middle bullpen led the Rockies to believe more had to be done. General manager Jeff Bridich, who made a couple of key moves at the deadline last season to help spur Colorado’s wild card run, traded with Toronto for 36-year-old Seunghwan Oh. That move, officially announced by the club Thursday morning, was followed by the reported signing of free agent Santiago Casilla to a minor league contract — giving the club two additional right-handed options. Obviously, Oh is the headlining acquisition, as he’s put up a more-than-respectable 2.81 ERA over three MLB seasons (two with the Cardinals, and this year with the Blue Jays) after playing professionally in South Korea and Japan from 2005-15. Oh comes at a relatively cheap pricetag (he’s due around a half-million for the remainder of 2018), although to get him Colorado had to send a pair of prospects and a player to be named later to Toronto. Most importantly, Oh is a proven veteran that manager Bud Black can immediately use to firm up the team’s burning seventh-inning bridge, a frame in which Colorado has posted a major league-worst 6.68 ERA this season. Whether Oh can have success at altitude — or whether he’ll regress as Bryan Shaw has this season — remains to be seen. And amid all the hype about Oh, 38-year-old Casilla could be a dark-horse contributor. Despite his age and issues with command — he had 20 walks and four hit batters in 31.1 innings with the A’s this year — his ERA (3.16) and WHIP (1.21) were decent. As Oakland manger Bob Melvin told reporters a couple weeks ago, the veteran’s control problems could stem from the fact that “he wasn’t able to get regular work with us. It kind of affected the performance some.” 4 If Casilla can use his initial time in Triple-A Albuquerque to regain that command — after all, issuing droves of walks isn’t exactly an advisable strategy at Coors Field — he just might be able to recoup his vintage Bay Area-self. In addition to two stints in Oakland, Casilla was a key member of three title teams with the Giants, and has a 0.92 ERA in 19.2 career postseason innings. Old guy or not, that kind of clutch experience is always a good option to have down the stretch, especially come September’s expanded roster. 5 Rockies bolster bullpen by adding right-hander Seunghwan Oh Patrick Saunders | DenverPost.com | July 27, 2018 When he played baseball in Asia, Seunghwan Oh was so good he earned two nicknames: “Final Boss” and “Stone Buddah.” Now he’s a Rockie, and the club is counting on the veteran right-hander to prop up its bullpen. Thursday, the Rockies officially acquired Oh from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor-league infielder Chad Spanberger, minor-league outfielder Forrest Wall and a player to be named later. Oh, 36, was 4-3 with two saves, a 2.68 ERA, 10 walks and 55 strikeouts in 48 relief appearances with the Blue Jays. Entering Thursday, his 48 appearances were tied for fifth in the American League, while his 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked 10th among AL relievers. He’s pitched well lately, being scored upon just twice in his last 21 games since June 7, going 3-1 with one save and posting a 0.90 ERA. In his two-plus seasons in the majors, Oh is 11-12 with a 2.81 ERA, 41 saves and a 1.091 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). He’s averaged 2.1 walks and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Colorado also made another move Thursday in an effort to build up organizational bullpen depth. According to The Athletic, the Rockies signed veteran reliever Santiago Casilla to a minor-league deal. Casilla, 38, posted a 3.16 ERA in 31 ⅓ innings for Oakland this year, and has a 3.29 career ERA in 15 big-league seasons.

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