MLB Weekly Digest July 23rd Edition

Read Time:5 Minute, 21 Second

The last week in MLB was about an impact third baseman switching leagues, a club in the American League makes a trade to add bullpen depth, and a National League squad moves their closer for prospects.

Los Angeles Dodgers Acquire Third Baseman Manny Machado

The biggest name talked about during the trade deadline was Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman, Manny Machado.

The Orioles sent their star infielder to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package of five players, which include, outfielder Yusniel Diaz, infielder Rylan Bannon, right-handed pitchers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop and utility player Breyvic Valera, per an announcement by the Dodgers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired four-time All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Rylan Bannon, Yusniel Díaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop and Breyvic Valera.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 19, 2018

The centerpiece of this deal is Diaz as he has posted a .314 batting average and .905 OPS with 10 doubles, four triples and six home runs in 254 plate appearances this season at Double-A Tulsa.

Diaz is also the fourth-best prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system. However, Bannon and Kremer are the only other players in the trade that rank in the top 30 in the minors for the Dodgers.

The Orioles still got a solid deal for Machado who will be a free agent at the end of the season, as each player they received has a high ceiling.

Machado going to the Dodgers makes them not only a favorite to win the National League West but to represent the National League in the World Series.

He instantly makes their lineup dangerous, as indicated by him compiling a .315 average and .963 OPS in 96 games with 21 doubles, 24 home runs, and 65 RBIs with the Orioles.

The Dodgers became the likely destination for Machado once they lost shortstop Corey Seager earlier in the year to injury. The fact they only had to surrender their fourth-best prospect and other lower-tier players emphasize the depth of their farm system.

Cleveland Indians Bolster Bullpen by Acquiring Brad Hand And Adam Cimber

The Cleveland Indians made a significant move a couple of days ago, by acquiring relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from the San Diego Padres in exchange in catcher Francisco Mejia.

We’ve acquired All-Star LHP Brad Hand and RHP Adam Cimber from the Padres for C/OF Francisco Mejia.

Hand is a 2x All-Star with 46 saves and a 2.66 ERA with San Diego in 3 seasons.

Cimber sports a 3.17 ERA in 42 relief appearances this season.#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/NYzyZhCHGX

— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 19, 2018

A weakness for the Indians this season has been their bullpen with reliever Andrew Miller struggling to stay healthy and closer Cody Allen posting a 4.95 ERA in 42 games.

Hand has pitched well for the Padres in 2018, as indicated by his 3.05 ERA in 44 1/3 innings with 24, saves, 65 strikeouts, 15 walks issued and a 3.17 FIP.

Cimber has been just as good, by accumulating a 3.17 ERA in 42 games for the Padres (48 1/3 innings) with 51 strikeouts, 10 walks issued and a 2.32 FIP.

The Indians did pay a steep price to land both Hand and Cimber. Mejia was the top prospect in their farm system and is regarded as one of the top catching prospects in baseball.

This is a win-now move for the Indians, but it also helps them in the long-term.

They can really shorten games with Hand, Cimber, Miller, and Allen, which will be huge going into the postseason.

Miller and Allen will be free agents at the end of this season, and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to sign both relievers to multi-year deals.

They will have Hand under team control for at least the next three years, as there is a $10 million team option in his contract for 2021. Cimber will be under team control for the next five years.

That’s a combined eight years of control for two reliable relievers.

The Padres also get value in this deal as they add another talented player to their stacked farm system.

Mejia has a .279 average and .755 OPS with seven home runs, 45 RBIs and 22 doubles in 79 games at Triple-A this season.

They have an MLB-best 10 top 100 prospects, per MLB Pipeline.

#Padres already had an @MLB-best 9 Top ???? prospects. This gives them 10: https://t.co/TuTZgd5PTS
3. Fernando Tatis Jr
13. MacKenzie Gore
15. Francisco Mejia
29. Luis Urias
32. Cal Quantrill
33. Michel Baez
42. Adrian Morejon
75. Anderson Espinoza
95. Chris Paddack
97. Logan Allen

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 19, 2018

New York Mets Send Reliever Jeurys Familia to Oakland Athletics

The New York Mets sent reliever Jeurys Familia to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday in exchange for two prospects and cash, per an announcement by the Athletics.

#Athletics acquire RHP Jeurys Familia from #Mets. pic.twitter.com/L6mOiOfVO2

— Oakland Athletics ????????⚾ (@Athletics) July 21, 2018

The Mets receive right-handed pitcher Bobby Wahl, third baseman Will Toffey and international slot money.

The intriguing part about this deal is the Mets did previously mention they would be willing to absorb salary to get better prospects in trades but they didn’t take any of Familia’s salary, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

The Mets did not absorb any of Jeurys Familia’s remaining salary, per @Ken_Rosenthal. Assistant GM John Ricco said yesterday that the Mets had the ability to eat salary at the deadline if it meant getting better prospects in return. They apparently did not do so in this deal.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 21, 2018

Wahl has posted a 2.27 ERA in 39 2/3 innings in Triple-A this year with 65 strikeouts, two home runs yielded, and 17 walks surrendered.

Toffey has a .244 batting average and .741 OPS in 48 games with five homers and 32 RBIs for the Stockton Ports in the California League.

The Athletics are adding a solid arm to their bullpen as Familia has compiled a 2.88 ERA in 40 games for the Mets (40 2/3 innings) with 17 saves, 43 strikeouts and just one home run allowed.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

[email protected]

http://ngscsports.com