Week That Was: Week That Was: Dealing Time
The Astros officially set trade season into motion on Thursday, making the first big splash when they acquired Scott Kazmir from the Athletics in exchange for a pair of prospects. He bulks up a starting corps that had been iffy at the back end, and Houston is hoping he can help turn around a slide that had seen the club lose nine of its last 14 games.
Kazmir was enjoying a spectacular year in Oakland, with a 2.38 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 101-to-35 K/BB ratio in 109 innings. He had been particularly untouchable over his last seven starts, holding opponents to a .175/.222/.219 slash line with a 1.35 ERA. He joins Dallas Keuchel to give the Astros a dominant pair of lefties at the head of the rotation. The move to a less pitcher-friendly home park could make things slightly tougher for Kazmir, who had a 1.36 ERA when pitching in Oakland, but he also figures to receive increased run support from a Houston offense that ranks second in the American League in runs per game.
In his Astros debut on Friday night, Kazmir picked up a win with seven scoreless innings against the Royals. So far, so good.
Of the prospects received by Oakland in the deal, 20-year-old catcher Jacob Nottingham is most noteworthy, but he’s in Single-A and won’t be a factor in the majors for at least a few years.
* The Pirates also made a move this week, dealing for Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez. It’s a return home for the veteran, who made his big-league debut with Pittsburgh all the way back in 1998. The deal makes plenty of sense for the Bucs, who have seen the left side of their infield ravaged by injuries to Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer.
Ramirez, 37, hasn’t been great this year, sporting a .247 average and .295 OBP, but he has flashed some pop with 11 homers and a .430 slugging percentage. His power will be a welcome addition to the Pirates lineup.
* The Royals optioned Opening Day starter Yordano Ventura to Triple-A following a brutal Monday outing in which the Pirates knocked him around for six runs in four innings, shooting his ERA up to 5.19, but he was recalled just a day later when Kansas City placed Jason Vargas on the disabled list. Vargas has a torn elbow ligament and will likely undergo Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him for most of the 2016 season.
While it’s been an adventurous summer to say the least, Ventura’s peripherals are rock solid, and his 3.69 xFIP paints a very different picture of his performance than his bloated ERA. This might be the ideal time to buy low.
* Barely a year removed from being drafted seventh overall, Aaron Nola made his big-league debut for the Phillies on Tuesday night, firing six innings of one-run ball against Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old was in control, striking out six and walking one while keeping the Rays bats silenced outside of a solo homer from opposing pitcher Nate Karns.
Nola is widely viewed as being more polished than dominant, and while that’s a fair assessment he does have pretty good stuff, complementing a fastball that touches the mid-90s with quality secondary offerings. We expect the strikeouts to keep coming steadily along with good overall results.
* Ubaldo Jimenez‘s success in the first half was something to behold, especially when you consider that he has basically reinvented himself as a pitcher. He no longer possesses the high-90s gas that was his trademark early on with the Rockies, but with the help of a new splitter he has regained that top-of-the-rotation form at age 31. At least, he had until his last two starts.
Jimenez was blasted by the Tigers last week for seven runs, and on Thursday the Yankees tacked seven more on him, chasing him after just 2 1/3 innings. The brutal pair of starts raised Jimenez’s ERA by a full run — from 2.81 to 3.81 — and certainly has fantasy owners feeling wary about his outlook the rest of the way.
* The Mets tried to wait out Michael Cuddyer‘s ailing knee, but eventually gave in and placed him on the disabled list, replacing him on the roster with top prospect Michael Conforto. The 22-year-old makes the jump directly from Double-A, where he was hitting .312/.396/.503 in 45 games since being promoted from Single-A back in late May. He deserves a look in deeper leagues but New York’s reluctance to call him up indicates that they’re not convinced he is prepared to thrive immediately.
* The Cardinals called up outfielder Stephen Piscotty, who was ranked before the season as the best position player prospect in the organization. The 24-year-old made a pair of starts in left field after being called up, but his best bet for playing time seems to be at first base, where he was lined up to play on Thursday night before being scratched with a stiff neck. Mark Reynolds has been a substandard replacement for Matt Adams, who’s out for the year, and Piscotty started drawing regular starts at first in Triple-A just before his call-up.
* It was a big week for Robinson Cano, and he needed it following a very disappointing first half. The second baseman entered the break with a dismal 660 OPS but that’s rising fast as the hits pile up here in late July. In seven games dating back to last Saturday, Cano has on a tear, batting .444 with a double, a triple, three homers and eight RBI. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come in August and September.
* Kevin Gausman returned to the Orioles rotation on Wednesday, allowing four runs over six innings in a loss against the Yankees. Baltimore has jerked the talented young righty around quite a bit this year, shifting him between the bullpen and rotation and the majors and minors. Now, Buster Olney reports that the O’s are willing to put him on the table in trade talks.
* On that note, Baltimore is said to be giving “serious consideration” to selling with the deadline approaching, according to Jon Morosi. That seems kind of crazy considering the Orioles reached the ALCS last year and are currently within shouting distance of a wild card spot despite their present slump. Impending free agents Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and Wei-Yin Chen could be in play if Dan Duquette chooses to take that route.
* Conversely, the Blue Jays are poised to make an aggressive push in the AL East, and are heavily in the hunt for starting pitching. They reportedly made a “big push” to land Carlos Carrasco, and now are said to be in active discussions for Jeff Samardzija. Toronto also has been tied to names like Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto and James Shields.
* Brett Anderson left Tuesday’s start in the third inning due to Achilles inflammation, and while it was dubbed “minor,” one can’t help but worry given his history with foot injuries. He’s scheduled to start against the Mets on Sunday in what would be a very favorable match-up, but we’ll see if he can take the hill.
* The Cardinals upgraded their bullpen on Friday by trading for longtime Marlins closer Steve Cishek, who lost his hold on ninth-inning role earlier this year after a rough first couple months. The righty’s struggles were so profound that he was demoted to Double-A, but since returning to the majors he has a 0.71 ERA in 13 appearances. He should be a quality middle relief option for the Cards.
* The White Sox sent third baseman Conor Gillaspie to the Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Gillaspie, who had been designated for assignment earlier in the week after posting a 640 OPS in 58 games, doesn’t offer a ton but should see some playing time at the hot corner in Anaheim with David Freese sidelined.
* The Mets added Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson in a deal with the Braves on Friday. Uribe had been hitting very well in Atlanta and provide more production than New York has been getting at third from Daniel Murphy at third in David Wright‘s absence.
* The Dodgers activated Carl Crawford this week from a DL stint that lasted nearly three months. The veteran outfielder batted .353 in 10 rehab games but figures to be a part-time player for Los Angeles in the final two months.
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