jgjbanker

I predict we draft a RP/future potential SP in the Rule V and we will pick another SP up on waivers at the beginning of the season.

At this rate may make 5 Rule V players so we can set a record.

There was a piece the other day, apologize I forget the source but think it was The Athletic, that said O's are shouting low minors (A-) for trade partners. Similar to the 2 DSL guys we got for Cashner and Villar. Wouldn't surprise me if the other 3 arms from LAA aren't very young.

So let me get this straight. We put Villar on waivers so any team in the league could take him for free. No one does, so then we trade him to the Marlins for a prospect, regardless of how good of one. Am I missing something in the fact the the Marlins gave us a player when they didn't even have to?

Also don't be surprised to see us DFA some folks off the 40 man between now and the Rule V. With teams adding players to their 40 man it lessens the chance a player we DFA gets taken.

Problem is Padres don't have any room on their 40 man, so they either have to trade or DFA someone off the 40 man to add anyone eligible for Rule V. Easy to trade international bonus slots this time of year.

We need to be targeting the Padres for trades. No 40 man space and good prospects they need to protect.

Baseball America has the top 5 organizations with the hardest 40 man decisions to be the Rays, Yankees, Padres, Indians, and Rangers. Would definitely agree now we be a good time to use some of that excess International slot money we haven't used to trade for some Rule V eligible players that another team doesn't have room to protect.

The NY Post had an interesting article about the Yankees trading for Villar/Givens. Would be interesting to see what ME could get from the Yanks in return if they truly are interested.

3 I believe.

Hopefully with all the trades that happened today, which I believe is 20+, it will create the need for some teams who acquired multiple players to DFA some folks we might be interested in picking up.

Trammell from the Reds included too. Big 3 team deal. Sure other names to drop as deal finalized.

You can tell it's the trade deadline when Roch says Mancini is staying, and Morosi says that his market is heating up. Mixed information here we come!

Reliever market heating up!

Positive is, most of these prospects, save Mountcastle, probably won't graduate to the majors, add another group of highly drafted prospects next June, add in continued improvement by specs like Baumann, and you could easily see us move into the Top 3-5 in next July's farm rankings.