ICroupier

So our comp package would have been Melton and Briceno/Liranzo? Assume not many would have been interested in that.

This team is cooked. Sell at the deadline. Trade Flaherty again. Move Torres to clear way for one of our dozen MI youngsters. But I truly hope they see this season as I horrifically botched opportunity, learn from it, and come back actually ready to compete next season.

Keller doesn't move the needle for me AT ALL. Don't see how he's any better than Mize / Olson / Flaherty. As I've been saying, we need a legit #2. Otherwise, we're just throwing away prospects for lateral moves.

Not gonna happen. This team is broken. Suspect SP. Horrible bullpen. Non-existent offense. I think the more likely outcome post-trade deadline is they blow the division in one of the largest freefalls in recent memory.

These days we need 3 games just to get to 6 runs in total.

This team has no chance come playoff time. Giving away games when the most dominant pitcher in the game does his thing. Sorry.

This team is a mess, top to bottom.

Bednar is the only one in that group who interests me. We need a #2 starter, not another #4/#5 starter. And Hayes doesn't interest me at all. I'm not all that keen on spending any prospect capital on hitting, but if I were to, he's the exact opposite of the prototype I'd be looking for.

Repeat. Bullpen is a mess.

Bullpen is a mess. We run out this unit in the playoffs and you can forget it.

With a season that exceeded expectations but was still a disappointment. How's that for nuance? Baseball is a fickle sport. Windows can close as fast as they open. This team has a legit shot this year. The Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Astros are all vulnerable. And while a handful of trades won't guarantee success, there's at least the chance to improve on status quo.

Soroka would be fine as the third-best pitcher acquired at the deadline. If he's the headliner, this season will not end well.

Pitching is far more a problem than hitting. They need a #2 starter and 2 RPs, one for high-leverage duty.

Why would we measure a single pitcher's impact on the full team's runs allowed per game, and why would we measure it over the course of the season? This makes zero sense and has absolutely no bearing on the topic. We're talking about a pitcher who can be a difference maker in Game 2 of a playoff series and win us the game vs. keep us in a game. That's the only question that matters. And the answer to that question is yes. DeGrom.

That's why I said Lee+. I'm not opposed to trading Hamm, per se, but not in a 2-for-1 for a RP. Lee is ranked higher than Hamm, but I'd be more willing to trade a highly ranked MI vs. a SP. Maybe Lee-Montalvo gets it done?

Yes, my intent was Hao-yu, not Chase.

The difference between this year's offense and last year's offense is less than 1 run per game. We didn't lose many games by .5 runs last year, so not sure the offense is going to save the day, either.

And do you trust this year's bullpen to win those games? Because I sure don't. Having our SP keeping us in games is not good enough in the playoffs. We need starters who are going to go out and win those games. And right now, we only have 1 pitcher who can do that. We absolutely need another if we have any chance at a title.

I want DeGrom and Bednar. I don't have any confidence come playoff time if we can't land a true #2. Mize has been very good, and I'm fine with him as a #3. But Flaherty has been too inconsistent and far too hittable at times to be trusted. And Olson is too unproven to be counted on in the high pressure playoffs. I'd be willing to trade Liranzo, Hamm, + for DeGrom. And then Lee+ for Bednar. I'd be willing to move others for another bullpen arm if Lange is out again.

Good Holton is such a big plus for this team. A permanent return to good Holton, the addition of Lee, and the eventual addition of Lange would be huge for this BP. Still would love to see an 8th/9th inning guy brought in at the deadline to pair with Kahnle and Vest, but things starting to come together for that unit.

Agreed. Way too much. But what about this? Would you swap Meadows and Rainer for Clark and McGonigle? I have absolutely no concern trading Keith, Jobe, and SGL. And to me, the short term loss of Meadows until Clark is ready would still totally make this deal worth it. That said, Pitt would never go for it, as they'd be crucified if they traded Skenes without getting either of our top 2, but I actually think that is a solid package and would be a compromise for both sides - Tigers giving up more than they probably want, but keeping their 2 studs.

And fail he did.

Trading Clark for Miller would be asinine.

You'd have to give up WAY more than our #25 prospect for Miller, down year or not. I'd think a Dylan Smith and Max Anderson-type package would be needed. Not saying I'd do it, but that's what it would take.

We need a legit #2. I don't trust Flaherty or Mize come playoff time. They might be OK against a team's #3 or #4, but I'd feel way better about our postseason chances if we paired Skubal with another arm we all felt comfortable sending out there. Also need 2 more bullpen arms - either 2 setup guys or a setup and backend. Kahnle and Vest can only carry us so far.