<font color=goldenrod>Nimmo had a sprained ACL earlier in the year, but it didn't require surgery. He's back in center now. I think most scouts expect Nimmo to settle into a corner OF spot with how bad Lagares' offense has been of late (and the fact that Granderson and Cadaver are eating up the corner OF spots) the Mets will probably keep Nimmo in CF for now.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Mets finally end their RISP drought and push a run across in the 13th...but Kevin Plawecki gets stranded on 3rd with no outs.

That lost opportunity, of course, loomed large as Wong immediately hit a game-tying HR in the bottom of the 13th.

They're now headed into the 15th inning and the only pitchers the Mets have left in the bullpen are Carlos Torres and Alex Torres. Kill me.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Duda strikes out with the bases loaded in the 17th. The Mets are now 1-for-25 with RISP. Literally 2 dozen runners left in scoring position.

This game has broken baseball.</font>

Don't jump, Vito. It ain't worth it.

Although the Mets are approaching another full game. If they lose this, gonna be a hard pill to swallow, and New York radio got something to talk about tomorrow.

Stupidly hot at the Phillies game today, but they won! Wooooo!

Yankees gonna take a 2nd look at Johnny Cueto tomorrow.

I don't know why? Not a fan of the pitching, but they're getting the wins.

And the Mets escape.

<font color=goldenrod>That game took about 5 years off of my life.

I'm fine escaping St. Louis with a game. If they can somehow with the Nats series that would be fantastic. They need some actual hitters, though. Just waiting for a supposed Wright return is not gonna cut it.</font>

At least your team didn't trade their entire farm system to get a bunch of players only to be 10 games out of first.

<font color=goldenrod>Michael Cadaver's knee is acting up again. Sounds like a DL trip is a very real possibility.

They really just need to say fuck it and call up Conforto. He's killing it in AA. And frankly I don't want the Mets' top hitting prospects to go to AAA because everybody's numbers are completely inflated in the Pacific Coast League.

The thought it "we don't want to rush him" or "it'll be too much pressure on him when the offense is this bad". Fuck it. Just give him a trial run to see if he's ready in any shape or form to contribute in the big leagues. If it doesn't work out? You send him back down in a couple of weeks. I doubt it'll kill the kid's confidence.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Oh and I've also heard "they don't want to send him down in 2 weeks and waste an option year". Please. With a bat like that are you really going to worry about whether or not he can be sent down in 2018? The Cubs sure didn't when they gave Schwarber a 2-week trial earlier in the year before burning an option year.</font>

Orioles are apparently interested in Justin Upton and Carlos Gomez. Gomez is signed through next year and would require more in the trade but he's having a worse year. The Os OF situation is pretty much shit outside of Jones though. And only 4 gb in 2nd place plus still in the WM hunt I guess they need to make some kind of move for some offense..

I picked a hell of a weekend to watch some baseball. Jesus that was ugly.

Droford, do you want Jake Arietta back?

Hate to say it but..I told you so

The Os are fine in the SP department for now until Chen leaves for FA after this season .
also gonna lose Bud Norris but he's in the bullpen.

I'll trade you Justin Upton for Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy.

droford's post was serious wasn't it

He's just a serious homer is all. The Orioles have clearly hosed themselves in dealing both Arrieta and that Rodriguez kid to Boston. I also hear they want too change both Gausman and Bundy's pitching repertoire, which I find odd.

Tillman, Gonzalez and Jimenez are all capable of pitching well. Gausman will be a great starter when he's given the starting spot out of spring training next year and not dicked around with between starting, pitching in the bullpen and pitching in AAA Norfolk. They can replace Chen in the offseason just like they'll be replacing Davis, Wieters, Norris, Tommy Hunter, Steve Pearce, Nolan Reimokd and Brian Matusz. The only free agent they will probably resign is Oday, and even he's expendable if he gets a big offer somewhere else. For the first time in a long time the Orioles will have to be major players this offseason purely on the fact they're going to be losing 1/3rd of their 25 man roster.

Hate baseball.

So droford is cool with all those free agents and not Jake Arietta. K.

The Orioles haven't made a significant offseason acquisition or trade in ages. If I were Droford I'd be shitting my pants.

<font color=goldenrod>Ed Coleman (the guy who works the Mets beat for WFAN and generally does a very accurate job with his reporting) says that the Mets are balking on Ben Zobrist because he's owed $2-3 million the rest of the season.

:|

I don't think Zobrist would magically turn around the offense. But he'd be a clear improvement to what they have and help provide one of the best pitching staffs in baseball with SOME offensive boost. If they seriously won't trade for a guy just because he's $2-3 FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS, which should be essentially nothing to a Major League ballclub, that just says it all about the state of the franchise and their penny-pinching owners.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>I hope the Wilpons get beaten with heavy clubs and are left bleeding in the moonlight.</font>

The problem is I saw several years off the bad Jake Arrietta and it's biased my opinion of him even be when he's not a shitty pitcher

Is it just me, or has there been no action thus far on the trade front? Like, we haven't gotten a single noteworthy deal. I realize you can attribute part of this to the 2nd wild card spot, but that was in play last year and we had major deals go down before now anyway.

According to ESPN, Phillies probably going to have to give up more than they'd get back in order to trade Jonathan Papelbon. Jays, Cubs, and Dodgers all gave up whatever remaining interest they had recently.

Had a chance to trade him earlier in the season but pulled a possible deal at the last moment because of management issues.

Trumbo trade

DBacks selling Touki Toussaint

I REALLY hope the Jays don't trade for Papelbon..... This is the year they can make the Playoffs, they need to go all-in, but to get the right pieces.... not an aging closer that'll leave next season, but a middle-aged "young veteran" that will want to stay and grow with the team.....

Their bullpen is fine. Just stop putting Aaron Loup in high pressure situations ffs.

Ross or Cashner and Kimbrel for Norris and Hoffman. Supposedly the Jays and Padres have had talks about moving some pitching

If they move Cashner, I'm interested to see what they want in return. Wadding had the thought the other day of the Cubs going after him. If it's young pitching prospects, as that report suggests, the Cubs have zero to offer.

TINSTAAPP.

Trade Deadline rumor:

Braves-Red Sox considering a possible deal with Braves' Julio Teheran as the centerpiece. Other teams also interested but been hinted the Red Sox have the best offer or the most to give at the moment because of their strong farm system (#1 ranked by ESPN at the moment).

<font color=goldenrod>And we have a trade!

Athletics get: RHP Daniel Mengden, C Jacob Nottingham
Astros get: LHP Scott Kazmir</font>

fuck

Kazmir was the guy I really wanted the Tigers to go after (if they weren't selling)

Like, even with Detroit's barren farm system, we could've given up comparable talent to land that. Fucking fuck!

Kept him in the division so this may come back to bite the A's.


Had him starting today for fantasy today. Hope he goes tomorrow, now.

<font color=goldenrod>It seems like a decent get for the A's. Both guys are only in A-ball but Nottingham has been killing it as the youngest catcher at his level. Projects out as a big leaguer so if nothing else he could be an option to replace Vogt a few years down the line once age catches up with him.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Mets have John Mayberry Jr hitting 4th tonight, and Eric Campbell 5th. Both guys are hitting well under the Mendoza line. Jesus.

Might as well put Kershaw on a perfect game watch before the game has even begun.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Kershaw perfect through 3...</font>

<font color=goldenrod>4...</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Eric Campbell clearly beats out a dropped 3rd strike. Called out. Collins sits on his ass in the dugout.

Through 5...</font>

<font color=goldenrod>6...</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Granderson ends it! And he was hitting .100 off of lefties this year lol.</font>

When are you guys gonna give us Nimmo for Upton?

<font color=goldenrod>Maybe if the Wilpons collectively choke to death on their own vomit before July 31.</font>

Knowing your luck, they'll feel Nimmo for Will Venable instead.

<font color=goldenrod>Sounds like they may actually call up Conforto by the end of the week if they have to put Cadaver on the DL...if only to appease the fans.

Is he ready? Probably not. But at this point I don't even care. If he slumps, send him back down when Cadaver heals. It's not gonna kill his confidence. You burn an option year but I really think that's inconsequential.</font>

You'd think they'd just acquire a bat instead of potentially hindering their top hitting prospects development.

<font color=goldenrod>I kinda doubt it'll hinder his development that much, really. Probably will learn more at the big league level for a few weeks than he would in Vegas where everybody rakes.

Every hitter the Mets have called up this year to shore up their bench (Danny Muno, Darrell Ceciliani, Dilson Herrera, etc) had gaudy AAA numbers and sucked a fat dick at the big leagues.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>but yes, the Mets not trading for anybody will probably break me to the point where I go to no more games this year even though I really love live baseball. Not taking advantage of this pitching staff is a complete slap in the face to the fans.</font>

Agreed. Are they just not willing to eat cash and move a solid prospect?

<font color=goldenrod>Both, it seems. Sandy even said to the media today "we definitely have room to add to the payroll...even though none of you will believe me". He makes arrogant quips like that constantly. The Wilpons have said they expect they can have their payroll to be around $100 million every year. Last year? $79 million. No wonder we don't believe him.

And he clings on to his prospects like grim death. I'm not saying to sell the farm...but jesus, you do realize you have to trade someone decent to get a difference maker, right?</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Oh and even though this pitching staff figures to contend through at least 2018 (Harvey's last year)...you need to strike when the iron is hot with pitching-centric teams. Starting pitchers are gonna get hurt. That's just the reality of baseball.</font>

You'd think with Harvey and Wheeler going down like they did Alderson and company would try to go out and get someone other than Cuddeyer to shore up the offense. At least get some decent, league average sticks in there. Two league average bats in their lineup would be a massive addition for them.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jose Altuve's walk-off home run lifts Astros over Red Sox, 5-4. Boston loses 8th straight game. <a href="http://t.co/93mWuld8jN">pic.twitter.com/93mWuld8jN</a></p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/624425753833283584">July 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
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:nono: Team's been a huge disappointment this season. Every time it seems like they might be turning around the corner, they follow it up with an even worse streak than before or momentum killer games.

Pittsburgh re-acquires Aramis Ramirez and cash from the Brewers for Yhonathan Barrios.

12 years ago yesterday, Pittsburgh traded Ramirez to the Cubs.

<font color=goldenrod>Yep. It's awful. And now trade talks with Zobrist are reportedly dead in the water. Beane turned down the likes of Nimmo, Montero, Gavin Cecchini, and Michael Fulmer. It was one of the big pitchers or bust for him.

I expect it's gonna continue that way. The Mets have zero leverage with how bad their offense has been, so everyone will ask for one of the top arms from them.</font>

If they're offering up and combination that includes Nimmo I'd buy in a heartbeat

The Mets place Cuddeyer on the dl and bring up Conforto to take his place.

Braves still suckin? Yeah?

Go figure >_<

Cards get: Steve Cishek

Marlins get: Kyle Barraclough

<font color=goldenrod>Braves get: RHPs John Gant Robert Whalen
Mets get: 3B Juan Uribe and UTIL Kelly Johnson

I don't see either of those guys putting the Mets over the top by any stretch, but given the current state of the lineup it's still a clear improvement over what is currently on the roster. And they traded two guys who really weren't all that high on their prospect radar in a deep farm system.</font>

It's actually a solid low cost move. Add Conforto to the mix and your Mets are decently improved going forward.

<font color=goldenrod>I'd have to think Uribe slots right in at 3B. Wright returning this year seems less and less likely. I suspect they might put Murph back at 2B and Flores at SS again but that defensive alignment cost them so many runs. I'm inclined to just stick with Tejada and Flores up the middle and then play Murph at 1B for a few games. Duda badly needs to sit a few days...he's been completely lost since the start of June.

Kelly Johnson probably just plays wherever he's needed on a given day. I don't see a regular, every day spot for him unless they do something stupid and send Conforto back down after one day in the big leagues.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Cole Hamels tosses a no-hitter against the Cubs in possibly his final start as a Phillie.</font>

WOOOOOOOOOO

Good for Cole Hamels.

Bad for Cole Hamels is he wants to traded. Value probably went up a few points and Amaro will probably ask for more now.

Vito Cruz has died and gone to heaven lol

<font color=goldenrod>This was awesome. Yeah they were facing a guy making his debut and a host of crappy relievers, but it's nice to at least see some life in the lineup before facing Greinke tomorrow.</font>

Johnny Cueto was on his way to Kansas City last night. But the deal fell through because the players the Reds were getting had some medical issues.

<font color=goldenrod>The deal is reportedly now completed. Cueto to the Royals. The return for the Reds has not yet been announced.</font>

Was just about to report the same before my colleague, Vito, broke the news.

Great nab for the Royals. Interested to see who they gave up. I'm gonna guess former seemingly consensus would be superstar Bubba Starling is part of the package.

<font color=goldenrod>Sounds like Brandon Finnegan is the headliner in the deal for Cueto. If so, that's definitely a huge get for the Reds.

They probably could have gotten David Price from the Tigers for Finnegan...but trading a guy like that to a division rival would have come back to bite them in the ass.</font>

I'm not so sure. Finnegan is short and throws really, really straight. Maybe he works out as a backend starter but I'm feeling he's more of a high leverage reliever long term. It's a nice pickup but for hopefully that's not the center of deal for the Reds.

<font color=goldenrod>THE METS SCORE AGAINST ZACK GREINKE!!!

http://cdn.fansided.com/gif/PE.gif

THEY CONQUERED THE STREAK!!!</font>

<font color=goldenrod>And it's official. Cincy gets a trio of lefties:

Reds get: LHPs Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb, and Cody Reed
Royals get: RHP Johnny Cueto

At the end of the day, trades are harder to come by now since traded players don't yield comp picks/ Reds obviously felt what they got trumped what their potential comp pick would be.</font>

I think it's fair to say that they did get at least comparable and potentially more cake moving Cueto now rather than waiting for him to walk. Finnegan should probably slot into the rotation, and the other 25 year old starter is seemingly major league ready. Two guys who could be solid or better mlb starters for the next 5 to 7 years is not a terrible get. I will admit I'm a bit underwhelmed but for the Royals, it's a great trade. Instantly becomes their best pitcher going forward. How often does that happen?

<font color=goldenrod>deGrom outduels Greinke and tosses 7.2 scoreless. Then Familia coughs it up in the 9th and the game is tied.

Games like this are why anybody who puts any stock in the Wins stat anymore need to be euthanized.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Juan Uribe :love:

Good things happen when you have actual Major League players on the bench.</font>

One of the problems with having the MLBTR app open is I think I've gotten 8-10 alerts telling me about the Kelly Johnson Juan Uirbe trade in various manners.

Rangers and Dodgers currently the heavy favorites to get Cole Hammels. A few other teams are also bidding but none are offering anything close than two are for a deal.

<font color=goldenrod>Would be pretty ecstatic if the Mets were able to pry away Joaquin Benoit from the Padres before this series with them wraps up.

Familia's blown both save opportunities since the ASB, and Parnell blew a game last week. Hopefully it's just a bad stretch for them but regardless they could use someone else to help bolster the pen. Mejia has been outstanding since his return, but if the Mets were to somehow make the playoffs he'd be ineligible to participate because of the new suspension rules.</font>

Benoit also comes with a modest $8m option for next year as well so he wouldn't be a one and done rental. A package of Upton and Benoit would be a nice get for you guys.

<font color=goldenrod>Supposedly the Mets have ruled out Upton at this point, citing both sides being too far apart in asking price. Not sure the Mets would pay $8 million for a set-up guy knowing the Wilpons, but I'm sure Sandy and Preller will discuss him a lot this week.

They might also be closing in on a Tyler Clippard deal instead, which I'd be fine with too. I've always liked him.</font>

That'd be a nice get as well. Feel like one more high leverage reliever and bat could put the Mets over in the wildcard hunt.

<font color=goldenrod>They'll also find out tomorrow if there's any chance at all that Jerry Blevins will return. He was so money in the first couple weeks of the season and they haven't had a true LOOGY since he got hurt.

The top 5 guys in the pen being something like Familia, Clippard/Benoit, Mejia, Parnell, and Blevins down the stretch sounds wonderful.

And even in a scenario where they make the playoffs and don't have Mejia...they'd probably pull a Cardinals at that point and toss Syndergaard and Matz into the bullpen so that they're not totally breaking the bank with their innings. Fuck that'd be so fun to watch. May as well dream big.</font>

TRADE NEWS!

Angels get Shane Victorino from the BoSox for Josh Rutledge.

Mets acquire Tyler Clippard and a bag of cash from the A's for Casey Meisner.

<font color=goldenrod>Fuck yeah!!!</font>

Cubs cut Edwin Jackson loose, call up Rafael Soriano.

Adjust your fantasy rosters accordingly.

Seems a bit odd of a deal for the Angels unless they are expecting Victorino to suddenly improve hitting wise this season and pray he doesn't get hurt again. Red Sox had to eat the bulk of his contract to move him but at least Rusney Castillo gets some quality playing time now.

It is an odd move for the angels. Don't know what they're seeing in Victorino.

Think they still go after Carlos Gomez?

Who? The Mets? Mets have the talent in their farm system to acquire virtually any player on the market. Just gonna come down to whether they're willing to part with said talent and of ownership is willing to commit dollars.

In Padres news, Padres and Cubs have been talking Starlin Castro. The Padres are desperately trying to push James Shields, but Cubbies are more interested in Tyson Ross. Personally, I'd stay away from Castro. He's going to increase in salary commitments, and he's been a below average player through this point in his career. Doesn't hit for power, doesn't get on base, can't field. No thanks.

Preller has also been getting a lot of buzz on Kimbrel, especially from Washington, to the point of trying to re acquire ss prospect Trea Turner back, which made me lol. Nonetheless, multiple teams trying to trade for Kimbrel can only be a good thing for my Padres.

Baltimore has apparently inquired on Justin Upton as well as starters Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross. Ross has a bit more value due to having team control through the end of 2017. Cashner walks after next year. Orioles have some decent arms that could facilitate a trade.

Lastly, Yasiel Puig has become available, which is ridiculous to me, however, the Dodgers are open to offers.

<font color=goldenrod>With these standings being so close I've officially gone into scoreboard watching mode. So here's a nice big :fu: to the Rockies for blowing the game to the Cubs in the 9th.

Kinda feel better about the Mets managing to steal the division away from the Nats than I do about them getting a Wild Card, tbh. Expecting 2 of 3 of the Pirates, Giants, and Cubs to play like shit for a long period of time is a pretty tough ask. Dodgers too actually, now that the Giants have nearly drawn even with them in the West. If nothing else this should be a fun final 2 months.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Meanwhile, the AL East went from a total LOL division where the winner might barely be over .500, to a division that the Yanks are probably going to win in a cakewalk.

A-Rod will always be a massive dickhead but what he's doing this year is pretty ridiculous.</font>

Blue Jays got Tulo for Reyes and minor leaguers from the Rockies.

And King Gertner may have just suffered an imploded penis. Holy shit Toronto. If healthy, Tulo and Donaldson maybe the best left side of the infield in history.