Angels traded Michael Lorenzen to Yankees for Will Benson, Everson 0-Pereira, Yankees Draft Pick 4
Benson had a wonderful 2023 before struggling in 2024. He's still young and has tremendous upside, but he has to get the insane strikeout rate in check from last year. If it gets back to 2023 levels, there's still a player in there. Pereira is a very solid young prospect who has similar issues, but has tapped into his power at every level...and is due for a full MLB run if he can stay on the field. The 4th is a pick that exists.
This trade really was for two starters for me. It got me Lorenzen, who is coming off three straight solid seasons. He's still got some years ahead of him and all I need is a 5th starter. It also got me Wells. Wells got an ok sim last year, got off to a rocky start, and then went down for the year, unfortunately. He only got the brace, so he should be back at some point for the 2024 campaign...and he, Lorenzen, Waldron, Boyle, Elder, and Means give me solid if unspectacular depth at the back of my rotation.
Trades
Moderator: Yankees
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Cardinals traded Joe Musgrove, 2024 Draft Pick 138 to Yankees for 2024 Draft Pick 96, 2024 Draft Pick 65
It’s an already pretty thin draft so moving back twice is not ideal if I want to extract value out of it…
…but Musgrove had another good year, got a solid sim last year, and, while out a year, he should have enough time to be back for 2026 with a mid-rotation sim still. With a goal of being friskier in ‘25 and full on in ‘26, stashing Musgrove, Means, and Wells will put my rotation in great shape.
It’s an already pretty thin draft so moving back twice is not ideal if I want to extract value out of it…
…but Musgrove had another good year, got a solid sim last year, and, while out a year, he should have enough time to be back for 2026 with a mid-rotation sim still. With a goal of being friskier in ‘25 and full on in ‘26, stashing Musgrove, Means, and Wells will put my rotation in great shape.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Angels traded Byron Buxton, Ben 0-Lively, 2024 Draft Pick 150 to Yankees for Jake McCarthy, Victor Vodnik, Thayron 21-Liranzo, Cade 0-Smith, 2024 Draft Pick 100
Feels like my last big shot before the season gets rolling. Out the door goes a group of people I do quite like. McCarthy is a solid #3 outfielder on a contending team, but is tremendously streaky without a ton of pop. If he finds some consistency, he's a batting title contender. Smith is one of the top rhp bullpen arms in the game. He was utterly dominant this past season and still very young. Vodnik was not nearly as dominant, but took a good step in the right direction towards his ceiling as a closer in Colorado. Liranzo is a very fun, young catcher prospect that became a little bit extra for me after picking up Ruiz.
If Lively pitches for me this season, something has gone very, very wrong...but I'm intrigued to see how Cleveland continues to use him. He's a far more useful arm with another good MLB season. Buxton was clearly the get. While almost always injured, he returned to form as one of the top players in the game...again, when healthy. He stayed on the field for over 100 games (first time since 2017!!!), showed consistent pop in his bat, and still shows as an outstanding defender. I was a little nervous about my lineup with Jung as my #5 hitter (good pop, poor obp), so Buxton fits directly in the middle Carpenter/O'Neill to give the lineup a lot more balance. Still just 30 without a lot of games on his body, hope we see a long tail to his career.
Feels like my last big shot before the season gets rolling. Out the door goes a group of people I do quite like. McCarthy is a solid #3 outfielder on a contending team, but is tremendously streaky without a ton of pop. If he finds some consistency, he's a batting title contender. Smith is one of the top rhp bullpen arms in the game. He was utterly dominant this past season and still very young. Vodnik was not nearly as dominant, but took a good step in the right direction towards his ceiling as a closer in Colorado. Liranzo is a very fun, young catcher prospect that became a little bit extra for me after picking up Ruiz.
If Lively pitches for me this season, something has gone very, very wrong...but I'm intrigued to see how Cleveland continues to use him. He's a far more useful arm with another good MLB season. Buxton was clearly the get. While almost always injured, he returned to form as one of the top players in the game...again, when healthy. He stayed on the field for over 100 games (first time since 2017!!!), showed consistent pop in his bat, and still shows as an outstanding defender. I was a little nervous about my lineup with Jung as my #5 hitter (good pop, poor obp), so Buxton fits directly in the middle Carpenter/O'Neill to give the lineup a lot more balance. Still just 30 without a lot of games on his body, hope we see a long tail to his career.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Phillies traded John Schreiber, Trey 21-Sweeney, Landen 21-Roupp, Agustin 0-Ramirez to Yankees for Miguel Amaya, Ryan Walker
Amaya is a solid prospect still, but the signing of Carson Kelly cast his future as a full-timer in doubt. Walker was the big get here. He's a lights out reliever still in his prime. He'll be a weapon for Nick out of the back of his pen, but dealt from an area of strength for me.
Roupp will become a swing pitcher for me. He's got a very solid SIM as a #4/#5 starter and weapon out of the pen. His 100 era+ comes with 13 starts, so a great asset for me as a starter or from the pen. Schreiber is a solid reliever who'll make up 90% of Walker. Sweeney is an excellent defender who has a real good shot of being the Tigers starting SS next year. He'll provide good cover for Volpe moving forward. Ramirez was an important get. He raises my ceiling at the catcher position as a bat first prospect...with a hell of a bat. He profiles as a middle of the order thumper, but development paths for catchers can be funky.
Amaya is a solid prospect still, but the signing of Carson Kelly cast his future as a full-timer in doubt. Walker was the big get here. He's a lights out reliever still in his prime. He'll be a weapon for Nick out of the back of his pen, but dealt from an area of strength for me.
Roupp will become a swing pitcher for me. He's got a very solid SIM as a #4/#5 starter and weapon out of the pen. His 100 era+ comes with 13 starts, so a great asset for me as a starter or from the pen. Schreiber is a solid reliever who'll make up 90% of Walker. Sweeney is an excellent defender who has a real good shot of being the Tigers starting SS next year. He'll provide good cover for Volpe moving forward. Ramirez was an important get. He raises my ceiling at the catcher position as a bat first prospect...with a hell of a bat. He profiles as a middle of the order thumper, but development paths for catchers can be funky.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Astros traded Michael Conforto, Davis Schneider to Yankees for Jhonkensy Noel, Josh 23-Knoth
Knoth is a '23 who can really spin it and held his own as an 18-year old who spend his whole season at A. Noel was the get here. He keeps moving up the ladder with the same MO...when he hits it, he crushes it. I'm a huge fan, I've had him a lot...but, ultimately, he's probably a DH and I've got the farm more consistent Carpenter there now.
Conforto and Schneider both just give me a ton of flexibility. Conforto adds a lefty bat with pop who might just be eligible and mostly usable at all 3 outfield spots. He's also still just 31 years old and signed with the Dodgers factory...so hope he might get a boost when used appropriately this year. Schneider is a player I love. He offers a lot more defensive versatility than Noel, but a bit less pop. He's still young and the Blue Jays clearly have confidence in him. The SIM is very usable and I'll hope for a bounce back.
Knoth is a '23 who can really spin it and held his own as an 18-year old who spend his whole season at A. Noel was the get here. He keeps moving up the ladder with the same MO...when he hits it, he crushes it. I'm a huge fan, I've had him a lot...but, ultimately, he's probably a DH and I've got the farm more consistent Carpenter there now.
Conforto and Schneider both just give me a ton of flexibility. Conforto adds a lefty bat with pop who might just be eligible and mostly usable at all 3 outfield spots. He's also still just 31 years old and signed with the Dodgers factory...so hope he might get a boost when used appropriately this year. Schneider is a player I love. He offers a lot more defensive versatility than Noel, but a bit less pop. He's still young and the Blue Jays clearly have confidence in him. The SIM is very usable and I'll hope for a bounce back.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Yankees traded Tyler O'Neill, Brock 22-Porter to Padres for Christian Yelich, Nolan 23-McLean
O'Neill got a hell of a SIM. He's a good player, good fit on the Orioles, just needs to stay on the field. Porter has an unbelievable arm, just has no idea where it's going.
Yelich was awesome this year until he got hurt. Back cleaned up, should be back for the start of the season. Lukes' SIM gives me some breathing room if he goes out for a stretch. He's 33 and his skill set should age well, as long as his body does. The important get in the deal was McLean. He's moved his way into some top 100 lists, has an electric arm, and the Mets have done a great job with pitching talent recently. He either develops into a #2/#3 starter, or he's a great asset to strengthen me down the line.
O'Neill got a hell of a SIM. He's a good player, good fit on the Orioles, just needs to stay on the field. Porter has an unbelievable arm, just has no idea where it's going.
Yelich was awesome this year until he got hurt. Back cleaned up, should be back for the start of the season. Lukes' SIM gives me some breathing room if he goes out for a stretch. He's 33 and his skill set should age well, as long as his body does. The important get in the deal was McLean. He's moved his way into some top 100 lists, has an electric arm, and the Mets have done a great job with pitching talent recently. He either develops into a #2/#3 starter, or he's a great asset to strengthen me down the line.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Yankees traded Joe Mantiply, Luke 20-Little to Rockies for Edwin 21-Arroyo, Dylan 22-Lesko
Always fun to deal with Nate. He asked about relievers from my list and told him a couple I had available. He asked about another one. He gets two pretty dynamic lefties. Mantiply has been one of the best lefty relievers for a bit now and got another great sim. Little broke out last year and is clearly on the ascendency.
Dealing from depth, I get back a couple former top 100 lottery tickets. Arroyo was a rising true ss prospect who literally ran into labrum surgery last year and dropped off lists. Fully healthy heading into 2025, there's a hope we're buying low...but he's either got to jump his hit tool or power tool to get back on prospect radars...but he's also still just 21. Lesko was rising to the top of top 100 lists until he literally stopped throwing strikes. There has been no loss of stuff, just loss of the plate and still being just 21 and going to the Rays is definitely a step in the right direction...but he'll either be a great investment or released this time next year...no doubt about that.
Always fun to deal with Nate. He asked about relievers from my list and told him a couple I had available. He asked about another one. He gets two pretty dynamic lefties. Mantiply has been one of the best lefty relievers for a bit now and got another great sim. Little broke out last year and is clearly on the ascendency.
Dealing from depth, I get back a couple former top 100 lottery tickets. Arroyo was a rising true ss prospect who literally ran into labrum surgery last year and dropped off lists. Fully healthy heading into 2025, there's a hope we're buying low...but he's either got to jump his hit tool or power tool to get back on prospect radars...but he's also still just 21. Lesko was rising to the top of top 100 lists until he literally stopped throwing strikes. There has been no loss of stuff, just loss of the plate and still being just 21 and going to the Rays is definitely a step in the right direction...but he'll either be a great investment or released this time next year...no doubt about that.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Mets traded Yanquiel 0-Fernandez to Yankees for Ezequiel Duran, Bryce Elder
Elder was a darling last year after a terrific run at the MLB level. He struggled in 2024 at the MLB level, but was also quite good at the AAA level and the sim responded by not docking him too much. Duran was similar. He had a solid 2023 but struggled in 2024 at the MLB level and, like Elder, was quite good at the AAA level so the sim didn't crush him too much. Both are still very young, both have MiLB and MLB success, both will have a chance in 2025 to put it right.
Speaking of crushing one level and tanking at another...Yanquiel Fernandez comes back my way. He was a scouting darling last year appearing on all the top 100 lists. You could also look at his AA success as a nice step forward for a 21 year old...but boy did he hit a wall in AAA. I got to watch him in Sugarland and he looked completely lost. All the raw skills and tools still exist and he was better in AA and deserves a shot to repeat the level before he's buried. If he becomes discerning at all, he's a superstar...however the list of people who learn what to swing is way shorter than the list of people who always make poor swing decisions.
After accumulating massive amounts of depth, I've been able to shave that depth to add a strong contingent of prospects who give me way more roster balance and flexibility moving forward.
Elder was a darling last year after a terrific run at the MLB level. He struggled in 2024 at the MLB level, but was also quite good at the AAA level and the sim responded by not docking him too much. Duran was similar. He had a solid 2023 but struggled in 2024 at the MLB level and, like Elder, was quite good at the AAA level so the sim didn't crush him too much. Both are still very young, both have MiLB and MLB success, both will have a chance in 2025 to put it right.
Speaking of crushing one level and tanking at another...Yanquiel Fernandez comes back my way. He was a scouting darling last year appearing on all the top 100 lists. You could also look at his AA success as a nice step forward for a 21 year old...but boy did he hit a wall in AAA. I got to watch him in Sugarland and he looked completely lost. All the raw skills and tools still exist and he was better in AA and deserves a shot to repeat the level before he's buried. If he becomes discerning at all, he's a superstar...however the list of people who learn what to swing is way shorter than the list of people who always make poor swing decisions.
After accumulating massive amounts of depth, I've been able to shave that depth to add a strong contingent of prospects who give me way more roster balance and flexibility moving forward.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Yankees traded Edwin 21-Arroyo, Kendall 23-George to Cardinals for Mike 23-Boeve, CJ 23-Kayfus
Arroyo was clearly the get for JP. He's an almost consensus top 100 prospect, and, even though he missed 2024, he's still widely appreciated. George is a plus fielder with double plus speed who makes good swing decisions.
Kayfus and Boeve are both fun hitters. Boeve had a phenomenal first season blowing through A+ to AA where he split time at 1b & 3b. While he can play 3b, he's going to have to tap into some more power to be a 1b. Kayfus isn't that far off that. He also blew through A+ to AA, and while he has some more power...he's 1b only. That power is going to have to show up for him to be a middle of the order, true 1b.
Arroyo was clearly the get for JP. He's an almost consensus top 100 prospect, and, even though he missed 2024, he's still widely appreciated. George is a plus fielder with double plus speed who makes good swing decisions.
Kayfus and Boeve are both fun hitters. Boeve had a phenomenal first season blowing through A+ to AA where he split time at 1b & 3b. While he can play 3b, he's going to have to tap into some more power to be a 1b. Kayfus isn't that far off that. He also blew through A+ to AA, and while he has some more power...he's 1b only. That power is going to have to show up for him to be a middle of the order, true 1b.
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Yankees
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Re: Trades
Yankees traded Josh Jung, Edgardo 0-Henriquez, Nolan 23-McLean, Edward 23-Lantigua to Braves for Ian Anderson, Nick Sandlin, Chase 22-Hampton, Walker 23-Martin
Josh Jung has all the potential in the world to be really good. He can hit, hit with power, is a full on 3b, and is still young...he just can't stay on the field consistently. 2025 is a massive year for him. He's got to stay healthy and prove consistency on the field. If he does, this will be a rough deal for me. Henriquez is a tremendously fun, young RP who the sim just decided to despise. Interesting to see where he starts 2025 and where he finishes. He has back of the bullpen potential. McLean jumped on to the backside of some top 100 lists this year. He has full on starter stuff, but he needs more innings and more polish. Lantigua is far away, but he's got some real juice in his bat.
Ian Anderson was the get on my end. I've been a massive fan for a while. He was one of the top prospects in the game and actually received ROY votes in two separate years before arm trouble hit. For someone coming off TJ, he was very good across multiple MiLB levels last year.. He has a fully healthy off-season behind him now and the Braves are penciling him into the rotation. Still just 26, I've got big hopes for him. Hampton was a similar get for me. Tremendous starters stuff with real helium onto top 100 lists before injury troubles in 2024. He's got a fully healthy off-season and I've got a ton of hope he can continue his ascent.
Sandlin has a solid SIM after a great 2024, had a good MiLB career, and the Jays traded for him to make an impact in the back of their pen. Walker Martin was someone I targeted last year in the draft. He has some of the best tools in baseball and was tearing up the back fields of spring ball before he got hurt. When he returned? He struck out ALL the time. When he wasn't striking out he was hitting the ball really hard and making good swing decisions...but woof on the strikeouts. If he cleans that up, the talent is insane.
Josh Jung has all the potential in the world to be really good. He can hit, hit with power, is a full on 3b, and is still young...he just can't stay on the field consistently. 2025 is a massive year for him. He's got to stay healthy and prove consistency on the field. If he does, this will be a rough deal for me. Henriquez is a tremendously fun, young RP who the sim just decided to despise. Interesting to see where he starts 2025 and where he finishes. He has back of the bullpen potential. McLean jumped on to the backside of some top 100 lists this year. He has full on starter stuff, but he needs more innings and more polish. Lantigua is far away, but he's got some real juice in his bat.
Ian Anderson was the get on my end. I've been a massive fan for a while. He was one of the top prospects in the game and actually received ROY votes in two separate years before arm trouble hit. For someone coming off TJ, he was very good across multiple MiLB levels last year.. He has a fully healthy off-season behind him now and the Braves are penciling him into the rotation. Still just 26, I've got big hopes for him. Hampton was a similar get for me. Tremendous starters stuff with real helium onto top 100 lists before injury troubles in 2024. He's got a fully healthy off-season and I've got a ton of hope he can continue his ascent.
Sandlin has a solid SIM after a great 2024, had a good MiLB career, and the Jays traded for him to make an impact in the back of their pen. Walker Martin was someone I targeted last year in the draft. He has some of the best tools in baseball and was tearing up the back fields of spring ball before he got hurt. When he returned? He struck out ALL the time. When he wasn't striking out he was hitting the ball really hard and making good swing decisions...but woof on the strikeouts. If he cleans that up, the talent is insane.
