Baseball
Related: About this forumBuy or sell? 8 MLB Teams on the bubble have some tough decisions to make.
With six postseason spots in each league this season, identifying buyers and sellers has become trickier than ever. Some executives might choose to do a little bit of both, dealing away prospects or expiring contracts for big league players with control beyond 2022. Others might simply stand pat, believing that their teams are one winning streak away from being a postseason threat.
Heres a look at the eight teams currently on the bubble and whether they might emerge as buyers, sellers or both (listed in order of first-half record).
https://www.mlb.com/news/buyers-or-sellers-for-mlb-2022-second-half?partnerId=zh-20220724-659081-mlb-1-B&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20220724-659081-mlb-1-B&bt_ee=cdZVWDueNrzKZSaX89w6PcB0gOjjUgHaAZIOVnBbxrCu%2BQJKNh%2BHgexeVMM34p5d&bt_ts=1658673287162
Auggie
(31,764 posts)IMO
San Francisco has tons of money in reserve and a lot coming off the books in October: in other words, money to burn. Sell what's valuable now and load up in free agency.
Best bet for Cleveland is to work the trade market off-season and hope to sign a free agent or two who sees a 2023 playoff team like Orel Hershiser did in 1995.
Diamond_Dog
(34,413 posts)Is it likely they will trade Bumgardner before the deadline? Hows he doing this year?
Guardians Amed Rosario is arbitration eligible next winter but I think the front office would be making a huge mistake dealing him away. You mentioned Straw before who might be more expendable for the Guards and I agree, even though i like him a lot.
Auggie
(31,764 posts)and trade him off season (unless there's a great offer now). Maybe keep Straw as bench reserve when speed is needed and late-inning defense. Plus he's been looking better as a #9 batter though he would be very valuable as trade bait. And Cleveland needs pitching.
Gonzales, Kwan, Jones is a formidable outfield.
Bumgarner pitches for Arizona. His best years are behind him, unfortunately. Lot of talk about targeting Soto but I think Giants will go after Judge instead (Soto would cost a lot). Judge grew up a few hours east of San Francisco and would probably love to come home. I think the Giants should trade Rodon now and hold onto prospects Marco Luciano and Kyle Harrison.
Giants need to go into rebuilding mode. Could have started in 2021 but too many players had career years and they won 107 games. Not the case in 2022.
Diamond_Dog
(34,413 posts)Arg. I thought Bumgardner was still a Giant.
You think the Giants could go after Judge? Thats intriguing. That would upset many Yankee fans, for sure! I didnt realize he was from the SF area.