The Winds of Change are Starting to Blow

The Winds of Change are Starting to Blow

 

 

The month of July is a busy one in Major League Baseball. Firstly, we reach the midway point of the season where the picture of contender or pretender becomes clearer. Next we have the All-Star Game and the arguments of selections and whether they are deserved or not. However, what comes next is the most important aspect of the season and begins the final act and march towards the postseason. What happens of course is the trade deadline. Teams try as best they can to shore up their rosters and do whatever is necessary to reach that postseason light at the end of the tunnel. As is always the case there will be deals that will work out, deals that won’t, and those very few deals where both teams mutually benefit. For the next few days we here at Changing Speeds will take a look at teams we feel are postseason contenders and what it is and who it is they should be looking for as the deadline approaches. If you do not see your team covered in this space over the next few installments, then as the old saying goes, better luck next year. We will start off this series with a look at the Detroit Tigers and the surprising Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Detroit Tigers

Positives-  Much improved infield defense with the acquisition of Ian Kinsler and shift of Miguel Cabrera back to first base. Victor Martinez is 3rd in the AL in hitting and doing it from both sides of the plate. The emergence of Rick Porcello thanks in large part to the improved infield defense. They employ Miguel Cabrera.

Negatives- Offensive production from the shortstop position. BULLPEN. BULLPEN. BULLPEN.

The Tigers have the guy they believe to be their shortstop of the future in Jose Iglesias. Unfortunately for them he is out for the season. Due to his injury the Tigers had to use a patchwork approach at the position rotating guys in and out based on effectiveness but have seemed to settle on Eugenio Suarez. Suarez is not going to strike fear into any pitcher but because they will be getting Iglesias back next year and have enough offense everywhere else in the lineup I don’t see Detroit making a move for a shortstop. The bullpen is a completely different story, especially the back end. Joe Nathan has looked old and washed up far too often and even the saves he converts aren’t easy. Joba Chamberlain is the complete opposite of Phil Hughes. Both moved to very hitter friendly parks but only Hughes has seen his stats improve. Chamberlain is still the same ineffective out of shape mess he was as a Yankee. Only difference now is he has about 14 pounds of facial hair on his face which is a bold decision in the summer in Detroit. Luckily for the Tigers the bullpen is one of the easier problems to alleviate and there are plenty of options out there where they won’t have to mortgage their future and give up top tier talent.

The first phone call I would make if I’m Detroit is to the Houston Astros to kick the tires on Chad Qualls. Houston is in sell mode, especially when it concerns a guy they have no plans for in the future, so they should be very willing to listen. Qualls has experience and knows how to pitch down the stretch in a pennant race. The change of scenery and ability to pitch in meaningful games could even rejuvenate Qualls and give him some extra motivation to perform well. If the Tigers are willing to pay a little extra and maybe willing to part with a borderline top prospect they could probably pry Joaquin Benoit from the Padres and bring him back to the Motor City. Benoit pitched the last three seasons in Detroit before going to San Diego this year so the Tigers could possibly be skeptical to bring him back and basically admitting they never should have let him go no matter how much San Diego offered. Another possibility but one that is a long shot based on what the team would have to give up is Jonathan Papelbon. Philly should be looking to unload him especially because he has pitched very well as of late, but knowing Ruben Amaro Jr. he will ask for an exorbitant return because Philadelphia is so far away from competing that the ace of their next World Series Championship team probably isn’t born yet.

 

Other options to consider: Brad Boxberger (TB), Matt Guerrier (MIN), Jason Frasor (TEX)

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Positives- Pitching. MVP type season from Jonathan Lucroy. Health of main contributors.

Negatives- Depth.

 The Brewers opened up the season on a roll and haven’t looked back. Despite many pundits and analysts predicting they would come back to Earth and end the season around .500 they have been the best team in the National League for the whole first half of the season. When you’re on a three game losing streak but are still three games up on the next best team you know you’ve had a good season. The rotation has been lucky enough to stay healthy and pitch very well. Yovani Gallardo, Matt Garza, and Kyle Lohse is a very formidable top of the rotation but Marco Estrada and Wily Peralta have pitched exceptionally as well. One of the reasons the pitching staff has pitched so well is thanks to team MVP Jonathan Lucroy. Besides the great offensive numbers he’s putting up, Lucroy’s defense and most especially his tremendous pitch framing skills have helped the staff get some extra calls that may not have originally gone their way. Lucroy has taken such a leap this season with his play that he has arguably bypassed Yadier Molina as the best all-around catcher in the National League.

The main issue that will stop the Brewers from making some serious noise in the National League is their depth. They were lucky enough in the first half to have every main contributor stay on the field for the most part and not miss any significant time but in order to protect themselves against a reversal of fortune they need to acquire some depth. What the team really needs is a lefty hitting outfielder with a little bit of pop and a utility infielder that can help spell guys here and there because the likes of Elian Herrera just aren’t cutting it.

If I’m Milwaukee my first call is to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay has no chance to do anything this season but word is that they are reluctant to go into full fire sale mode because they feel they can compete next year when back at full strength. So while they may not be willing to part with guys like David Price or Ben Zobrist, someone like Matt Joyce or Logan Forsythe should be open for discussion. Due to the emergence of Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Joyce is expendable. He can be platooned in left field with Khris Davis and gives them some pop off the bench from the left side. He could do very well in a hitter’s paradise such as Miller Park. Forsythe would bring some infield versatility as well which would help Milwaukee tremendously. Another lefty outfield bat I would explore is Dominic Brown of Philadelphia. He has performed at a level so bad that I’m not even sure there is a word to accurately describe it, but he could very well be a change of scenery away from breaking out of his season long funk.

Other options to consider: Eduardo Nunez, Chris Parmelee (MIN), Donnie Murphy (TEX), Josh Rutledge (COL), Chris Coghlan (CHC)

Well there you have it folks part one of our trade talk is in the books. We will be back tomorrow to take a look at two more teams needs and who they should be looking to go after.