Latest news with #startingpitching
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Predicted to Complete Intriguing Trade for Nationals' Ace to Solidify Rotation
Red Sox Predicted to Complete Intriguing Trade for Nationals' Ace to Solidify Rotation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. One team that could use an influx of young and consistent starting pitching is the Boston Red Sox. While ace Garrett Crochet continues to be worth every penny and Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have emerged as key arms in the last month, the team lacks any consistency at the backend of the rotation. A slew of injuries ended Kutter Crawford and Hunter Dobbins' seasons, and the same may be the case for Tanner Houck after suffering another setback. Meanwhile, Walker Buehler has been putrid with a 5.72 ERA in 17 starts, making the need for another starting pitcher the highest priority for Boston. As chief baseball officer Craig Breslow scours the pitching market, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report predicts the Red Sox make a trade for Washington Nationals' ace MacKenzie Gore. The Nationals were initially tepid about trading the All-Star. However, as the trade deadline approaches, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports the team is entertaining calls for the left-hander. Although entertaining offers do not necessarily mean the Nationals are ready to part ways with Gore, the door is open to make a deadline deal. Rymer believes that Gore is a 'perfect match' for Boston and a proper co-ace to pair with Crochet at the top of the team's rotation. The cost to acquire Gore will undoubtedly be high. However, Rymer uses Breslow's own words against him, citing, 'the future is now' in regards to potentially trading away highly touted prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer. Gore has posted a 3.59 ERA and 140 strikeouts across 112.2 innings. It may sound illogical to break the bank for Gore, especially if it means parting ways with Campbell or Mayer, but knowing the left-hander has two more years of arbitration left on his deal could be enough to coerce Breslow into another blockbuster deal. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tigers trade pitch replaces Jackson Jobe with $77 million ace
The Detroit Tigers realistically have a sound enough farm system to make any trade around the deadline. Heading into the July 31 trade deadline, the Tigers should feel confident in improving their roster if the ownership and front office are willing to take on bigger contracts. Advertisement Ultimately, the Tigers could find a way to be creative and land cheaper talent, but if they have the chance to add a star who is on a big deal, they should consider it. When proposing ideas for the top trade candidates on the market, Sportsnaut proposed one to land Mitch Keller, who is on a five-year, $77 million deal. 'Starting pitching hasn't always been an area of need for the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, Jackson Jobe underwent Tommy John surgery in June, and Jack Flaherty's ERA sits at 5.40 over his last 14 starts. Given this club's aspirations and the fact that Jobe will miss most of next season, it might be wise to acquire another long-term starter. The Tigers absolutely have the depth and talent in their farm system to pull off a trade for Keller. If they are willing, Detroit could even expand the deal to include Pittsburgh's All-Star closer, David Bednar,' they wrote. MORE: Tigers urged to add starting pitching help after terrible Mariners series Keller was an All-Star during the 2023 campaign, a year in which he posted a 4.21 ERA. During this season, he's arguably been better than ever with his 3.58 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 119.0 innings. His strikeout numbers aren't ideal, which is worrisome, but if he could be used as a third or fourth arm in the Tigers' rotation, they'd be in a good spot come October.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals Projected to Acquire Former Rays' Top Pitching Prospect
Cardinals Projected to Acquire Former Rays' Top Pitching Prospect originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With the MLB trade deadline now just three weeks away, it's still anybody's guess as to how the Cardinals will attack this year's deadline. St. Louis is only a game and a half out of the final NL Wild Card spot, and first place in the NL Central is still within reach. Advertisement With the team's recent struggles, however, especially in the starting pitching category, the front office doesn't appear to have decided whether the Cardinals will be buyers or sellers come July 31. If the Cardinals want to be contenders in the second half and make a push for their first playoff appearance since 2022, though, it's pretty clear which problem needs to be addressed first. MLB insider Jeff Passan released an article this morning in which he listed a perfect trade deadline addition for every MLB contender. After naming starting pitching as the Cardinals' biggest weakness, Passan named Rays' former No. 1 overall prospect Taj Bradley as the best match. "The Rays don't have a strong desire to move the 24-year-old Bradley, but with Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Shane Baz, and Joe Boyle all pitching well, and ace Shane McClanahan out on a rehabilitation assignment, Tampa Bay is at least entertaining the idea," Passan wrote. Advertisement Rays starting pitcher Taj BradleyDaniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images "Bradley's stuff has exceeded his performance over his three major league seasons, but the controllable-starting-pitching market is practically empty, and St. Louis' farm system is replete with high-end catchers, which would fill a vacuum for the Rays." As Passan mentioned, St. Louis has an abundance of catchers that could be of interest to Tampa Bay. When they're all healthy, the Cardinals have been carrying three catchers on their MLB roster in Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés, and Yohel Pozo. They also have top catching prospects Leonardo Bernal and Jimmy Crooks who will likely be MLB-ready within the next year, in addition to 18-year-old Rainiel Rodriguez. As for Taj Bradley, he's been one of the unluckier starting pitchers in baseball this year, but has still shown electric stuff at times. Bradley has posted a 4.79 ERA in 97 2/3 innings pitched this year, but his expected ERA is down at 3.65. Advertisement Not only would Bradley provide a boost to the Cardinals this year, he could play a key role in the rotation for years to come, given he's not set to become a free agent until 2030. The Rays may very well have no interest in moving Bradley, but given their current starting pitching depth and the intriguing package the Cardinals could put together, Bradley to St. Louis would make a lot of sense. Related: Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Receives Highly Anticipated Promotion Related: Cardinals No. 1 Prospect JJ Wetherholt Makes Instant Impact in Triple-A Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Trade Idea Lands Former Yankees 2.05 ERA Starter JP Sears
Red Sox Trade Idea Lands Former Yankees 2.05 ERA Starter JP Sears originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Behind Garrett Crochet, the Boston Red Sox rotation has performed poorly. Besides Brayan Belllo, who owns a 3.94 ERA, all other Red Sox starters own ERAs well above 4.00. Advertisement A large part of their problem stems from their first-inning woes. In addressing this problem, sports writer Jonathan Vankin of Newsweek has proposed a unique solution that might quell this issue. 'The Red Sox have plenty of issues to analyze, but one in particular has been perhaps the most glaring: starting pitching. More specifically, starting pitching in the first inning. With a first-inning ERA of 7.12, second only to the 12-53 Colorado Rockies for worst in MLB (8.58), Boston pitchers have repeatedly put their team in an immediate hole and forced the Red Sox hitters to play from behind in game after game. 'What can the Red Sox do to solve this problem? One answer would be to acquire a pitcher who does not give up runs in the first inning. And there is one possible trade the Red Sox could make that would accomplish that goal, while costing Boston almost nothing … In 13 starts, [J.P.] Sears has yet to be touched for a first-inning run, earned or not. In fact, Sears has allowed just six hits, none for extra bases, and two walks while striking out 13 in the first innings of games.' Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears (38) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Sutter Health Park.D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images J.P. Sears owns a 5.21 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 67.1 innings on the season, raising his career ERA to 4.48. A change of scenery could benefit Sears, who pitched to a 2.05 ERA with the New York Yankees before being traded. The 29-year-old southpaw does much better on the road than at home. Last season, his road ERA stood at 3.67 while pitching to a 5.29 at home. Advertisement To Vankin's point, Sears wouldn't cost much in terms of a trade package or money; he is owed $770,000 this year before entering arbitration next season. Adding him to an already fractured Red Sox rotation doesn't seem like the cure-all that would flip Boston's sub-.500 record, but according to Vankin, it just might work. 'For the Red Sox offense, whose 330 runs are fourth-most in MLB, a pitcher who can give them a chance to score first by blanking the opposition out of the gate obviously gives them a much better chance to win. A 2020 Society for American Baseball Research study of 73 previous seasons found that teams that lead after the first inning win about 70 percent of all games.' Sears will be under club control through 2029. If he can begin to thrive away from Northern California, trading for Sears would be a steal. Related: Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Breaks Silence on Roman Anthony's Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
National Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Elbow surgery for Jake Bloss another blow to Blue Jays' lean pitching depth
The Blue Jays' seemingly neverending quest for starting pitching depth has taken yet another major hit with word that the team's sixth-ranked prospect, Jake Bloss, will be lost for at least a year as he faces reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Article content Article content It's yet another blow for the team's young contingent of starting prospects as he joins Ricky Tiedemann as the latest to go under the knife for a variation of Tommy John surgery. Tiedemann, who was the Jays' fourth-ranked prospect at the time, had his surgery last July. Article content Bloss, the 23-year-old who was acquired in the trade deadline swap that sent Yusei Kikuchi to Houston last summer, last pitched for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on May 3 in Iowa, leaving with arm soreness after 3.1 innings of work. Article content Three days later, he was placed on the seven-day injured list and was evaluated by team doctors in Toronto. Further consultation led to the decision on surgery, which manager John Schneider revealed at the Rogers Centre prior to Tuesday's meeting with the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a nine-game home stand. Article content As if that wasn't bad enough for a team without a true fifth starter, Schneider also revealed veteran Max Scherzer has been shut down from throwing with tightness in his back. The team doesn't expect it to be a lengthy setback and Schneider noted the veteran's thumb continues to improve. Article content Still, the news was glum for the Jays' rotational depth struggles that have been an ongoing saga since Scherzer exited early in his first start with the Jays back in March. Article content Article content The loss of Bloss is undoubtedly a rough one for the Jays, though, given the expectations the team had. A third-round selection by the Astros in 2023, Bloss was a coveted piece in the Kikuchi deal and the Jays were further enthused by his progress. Article content Article content After a rough couple of starts with the Bisons to start his 2025 season, Bloss was turning things around to the point he was projected to be added to the Jays' roster at some point this season. In fact, general manager Ross Atkins recently mentioned Bloss as a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation that has been in flux for much of the season. Article content In other injury news, catcher Alejandro Kirk was not in the lineup on Tuesday after taking a bat to the head in Seattle on Sunday. Schneider said Kirk cleared all concussion tests and would be available if needed for the opener of the three-team home stand for the 20-20 Jays. Article content
