Uncustomed Heroes of 2025: Red Sox

 

At long last, the Boston Red Sox, in Alex Cora's second tenure as manager, finally found a winning formula. All it took was trading away Rafael Devers.

Trevor Story finally had a healthy year, and gave the Sox what they'd been waiting for. The rookies, including Roman Anthony and Connelly Early, sought to eventually inherit the team by flashing cool MLB moments. Masataka Yoshida cemented his status as the ultimate Yankee-killer. Alex Bregman had a year so good it might land him a contract away from Boston. And it all led to a playoff berth, culminating in a suitably-strong Yanks-Sox series, one that ultimately resulted in a New York win.

The biggest triumph of all was getting a Cy Young caliber season out of Garrett Crochet. I initially questioned the Sox's choice to trade so much of their future to Chicago on the basis of one strong season from Crochet, itself marred by limited innings down the stretch. I was worried that the second Garrett Crochet got to Boston, he'd get hurt and render the deal pointless. Even in making a custom in March, I was very skeptical of how long the Sox would be able to savor this deal. Therefore, I apologize for doubting both parties. I whipped up a much better Crochet custom, one definitely befitting of his terrific 2025 season. 

Because there were so many ripe targets to customize this year, and because I was out of commission for a lot of the summer, I didn't even get to doing one of Brayan Bello, who had another really nice year as a Sox starter. It's weird to say this but Bello finally got a season ERA below 4, and went 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA over 28 starts. He'll be 27 next year, and the future's looking pretty bright.

2026 Prediction: Sub-3 ERA, Cy Young votes, ASG nod.

There were two ex-White Sox heroes who signed 2-year deals with the Sox before the 2024 season only to sit the season out entirely, both finally pitching for them this year. One of them was former White Sox hero Lucas Giolito, who blew his arm out midway through the 2023 season [as the Angels found out the hard way], and recovered all last year. His stuff in 2025 was pretty good, he went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA and 121 Ks over 26 starts. Slightly limited due to making sure his arm didn't fall apart, but a much nicer showing.

2026 Prediction: Tigers sign him to a 1-year deal, he misses two months but ekes out a crucial postseason win for them.

The other ex-Chicago pitcher to finally play a healthy[-ish] season for the Sox this year was Liam Hendriks, the beloved Australian closer. Hendriks has still been recovering from both arm injuries and cancer treatments, and his 14-game run this year seemed to indicate the majority of his strong stuff wasn't there, with a 6.59 ERA and 2 losses. At the very least, he fulfilled his end of the bargain as best he could.

2026 Prediction: Retires.

At the very least, perennial Boston bullpen piece Garrett Whitlock had a healthier year this year, mostly because he wasn't being relied upon to start games. He was the top reliever in the 'pen this year, with a 2.25 ERA and 91 Ks, plus 7 wins, in 72 innings. His best year since the breakout for sure.

2026 Prediction: Knowing Whitlock this year will be a major step down.

In a long line of excellent Red Sox bench guys, Rob Refsnyder has been everything this team has needed him to be and more since joining the team in 2022. All he needs to do is show up, occasionally start, and be relied upon for the odd clutch hit. This year in 70 games he hit .269 with 9 homers, 30 RBIs and an .838 OPS. 

2026 Prediction: When I wrote this post, I did not see anyone other than the Red Sox signing him, as I did not think Refsnyder wanted to play anywhere else. But to be perfectly honest, the Mariners NEED a bench guy like Refsnyder, since Dylan Moore and Mitch Garver didn't work. I think Refsnyder will ultimately work in Seattle, but I want to stress that they got him as a depth option. Hopefully he doesn't end up stuck as a starting option.

One of the big developments of the Red Sox' 2025 season was the emphasis on bringing in the rookies and giving them chances to be the star. Kristian Campbell got his chance out of camp, and he was just the beginning. Hunter Dobbins got to start some games after the Red Sox realized that Sean Newcomb starting games wasn't a good idea, and in 13 starts he had a 4.13 ERA with 45 Ks and a 4-1 record. The most infamous detail of Dobbins' season was that he went 2-0 against the Yankees, including going 6 innings against them only allowing 2 hits. Dobbins eventually made a comment that he'd sooner retire than play for the Yankees. After this, he got beaten up by the Giants, missed a month, then had to miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL. Karmic retribution, perhaps.

2026 Prediction: Even before the Contreras deal I figured he’d be traded, just from how much rotation overhead the Sox currently possess. St. Louis has much more room, and though I’m not sure if he’ll be opening day ready, he’s got a good chance of being a stretch savior even if the Cardinals miss again.

Marcelo Mayer was the second of the three big Sox rookies to come up this year, easing in at third a tad as Alex Bregman missed time. Mayer's 44 games in the bigs were very okay- he hit .228 with 4 homers and 10 RBIs. Eventually he was brought back down to make room for Bregman again.

2026 Prediction: So, uh...Bregman's not coming back. Everybody knows it, except maybe Bregman himself. There will be an opening at third, and Mayer will be ready. I think he's gonna have a huge season next year, though maybe not as huge as another Sox rookie:

Of the three call-ups in the lineup, Roman Anthony was the one who got fans the most excited. Biggest prospect, biggest offensive perk, highest ceiling. At a certain point this season, Anthony was looking like so much of a sure thing that the Sox were trying to shop Jarren Duran. Anthony, in 71 games, hit .292 with an .859 OPS, with 8 homers and 32 RBIs. It was a very confident MLB audition, one that would have garnered more ROY votes had Anthony not gotten hurt mid-August.

2026 Prediction: Get those posters up on Yawkey Way. Crochet. Story. Anthony right in the middle. This guy's the future, and the future's gonna kick in big time next year.

The Sox made some minor moves at the deadline, mostly supplanting the pitching staff. In a move that still confuses me, the Sox got Dustin May from LA, looking to...LIGHTEN their starting load. Yes, they still won it all, but I think May could have helped. He got 6 games in Boston before getting hurt, and went 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA. 

2026 Prediction: Rebounds slightly with St. Louis but unless he plans on figuring out how to stay healthy for all 7 months, it's not gonna really matter.

Meanwhile, after having a tremendous season as a swingman and reliever with the Cardinals, Steven Matz landed on the Sox for a similar reason for the stretch. In 21 games, Matz had a 2.08 ERA, with a 0.877 WHIP. Nobody was getting past this guy this year. He went scoreless against the Yanks in the playoffs as well.

2026 Prediction: Well, now the Rays are gonna figure out how to work with him. My guess is they start him, he's great, they trade him for prospects and then he gets hurt again.

Coming Tomorrow- The Reds, similarly, broke through and made it to the playoffs after years of trying. It didn't end well for them. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Guardians

Similar to the 2023 Giants, the 2023 Guardians wanted to capitalize on a previous competitive season only for things to end up a lot less successful this time around. The Guardians were coming off an excellent 2022, where their lineup got ahead by contact work, and their youth movement did the work without being A.) big stars or B.) the biggest power guys. So, like the Giants, the Guardians made some offseason moves that went against the previous regime, including getting Josh Bell, who was in full one-dimensional power mode this year [til the trade to Miami]. And subsequently, nobody hit for average, the rotation was overtaxed and halfway through the year they had a whole nother rotation of rookies. It wasn't ideal. Terry Francona bowed out gracefully after the season, and this is yet another team going for a new approach next year with Mike Zunino, so hopefully they'll pick a tactic and stick with it.

One of the big stars of the 'contact era' of the Guardians who struggled this year during the new direction was Myles Straw. He was down several pegs defensively from his strong 2022, and only hit .238, which honestly just made him a wholly less interesting player. Hell, he didn't even get in any fights with Yankee fans this year. 

2024 Prediction: I honestly kinda think that Myles Straw is just as good as the team he's playing for. I think next year will be an improvement for the Guardians, so I think he'll be back to where he was defensively. Don't expect anything too interesting offensively though.

 

In the absence of many trusted rotation arms this year, usual relief piece Xzavion Curry was slotted into the mix, and at the very least he made his versatility well known. In 9 starts he had a 5.24 ERA, while in 32 relief appearances he had a 3.41 ERA. That may be his primary use going forward, but at the very least the Guardians figured out how many uses Curry has.

2024 Prediction: Honestly? What if he takes the ninth after all's said and done? You're hearing about how Cleveland wants to flip Clase, they're not confident in Karinchak anymore, it could happen..

Bo Naylor, brother of mainstay Josh, got another swing at finding his place in the Guards' lineup, and it does seem like going forward he will factor into the catching picture, considering that the nearest other options were Mike Zunino and Cam Gallagher. Naylor was a step up defensively, and also hit 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 67 games.

2024 Prediction: Gets the starting catching gig, keeps it, and becomes just as much of a mainstay as his older brother. Hell, maybe the Guardians find some way to trade for the third Naylor brother. You never know at this point..

And now, two flashes in the pan I wanted to talk about.

Noah Syndergaard was brought to Cleveland in a trade that gave Amed Rosario success in LA. The Dodgers were done with Syndergaard's injury tendencies as well as his cooked throwing arm. The Guardians did well in Thor's first few starts solely because Thor didn't let any runs go anywhere there wasn't a fielder. Then once teams figured him out the ERA ballooned, and Syndergaard left Cleveland after 6 games, with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.290 WHIP, and, pitifully, 18 Ks.

2024 Prediction: Calls it a career. I mean, I hate to say it cause I saw this guy in his rookie season just EIGHT YEARS AGO, but throwing smoke was not a sustainable model for him.

And then you have Lucas Giolito, who stunk it up in LA, then was waived almost immediately as a cost-cutting measure and wound up in Cleveland. Giolito, like Thor, had just 6 starts in Cleveland, and his went similarly badly, with a 7.04 ERA, a 1-4 record and a 1.5 WHIP, despite 39 Ks. Like, say what you will about Giolito, at least his arm still works.

2024 Prediction: Whoever signs him fixes his arm and gets a fantastic year out of him. Probably the Dodgers.

Coming Tomorrow- Before they started clearing their roster for an Ohtani signing that didn't happen, this team made a go at a playoff spot with some jarring mistakes. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Angels

 

It is that time of year once again. All of the players I didn't get to posting customs of during 2023, wrapped up by team as an end of the year package, to full put a bow on 2023 as a season. As usual, I will go in alphabetical order, and as usual, that means I get to start with the Los Angeles Angels. 

And look, I really thought this season would be different for the Angels. Things started a bit better, a lot more seemed to be working. But, alas, once Trout got injured there was really no point, and once Ohtani got injured it got really sad. They'll always have that month or so where they thought they were invincible, with that 25-1 victory over Colorado, and that sweep of the Yankees where they thought they could compete.

Taylor Ward, injuries aside, picked up where his 2022 left off, and hit .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs in 97 games, along with a 1.7 WAR boosted by his above-average hitting habits. The midyear injury did take a lot away from his appeal as a trusted member of the team, and the search for a full-year campaign worthy of his May 2022 numbers continues.

2024 Prediction: If he does deliver an excellent campaign, he'll be traded by August. If he gets hurt again, he'll be cut before 2025. 

Tyler Anderson, on the heels of an excellent season in LA, was a candidate for an Angels fixture upon his multi-year contract he signed prior to the season. Despite only missing 7 or so games, Anderson struggled this year, going 6-6 with a 5.43 ERA. Like fellow starters Patrick Sandoval and Griffin Canning, he did provide consistency, but he wasn't there in terms of quality.

2024 Prediction: This will be a fuller, more impressive season from Anderson. There's still the worry that an injury could upend things, but I think 2024 will consist of Anderson holding up his end of the bargain. 

One of the most exciting aspects of the early part of the season for the Angels was Logan O'Hoppe, a breath of fresh air behind the plate, one who came over from Philly in exchange for Brandon Marsh. O'Hoppe, in his first 16 games, hit .286 with 15 hits, 4 home runs and 14 RBIs. For a season where the Angels knew they'd be without Max Stassi behind the plate, O'Hoppe was a refreshing, confident replacement. Then he got hurt. By the time he returned in August, the Angels had given up on competing. O'Hoppe finished the season with a .236 average, 14 home runs and 29 RBIs.

2024 Prediction: I think O'Hoppe's gonna build on his initial numbers and produce a solid season that makes the Angels realize they don't need Stassi anymore. 

An early season success for the Halos was picking up Matt Moore in relief, who had struggled the previous year in Philly. A refreshing market was all Moore needed, with a 2.66 ERA in 44 innings. Through the first half, Moore was the Angels' strongest relief option, and reclaimed his Arlington dominance, despite giving up Bryce Harper's 300th home run. Once the team threw in the towel, he wound up pitching for Cleveland and, eventually, Miami. 

2024 Prediction: A contender signs him and has some level of success with him, though maybe not quite Anaheim levels.

I think I've said this every year, but the emergence of Luis Rengifo as a starting highlight for the Angels typically means that something has gone terribly wrong for the Angels this season, much like how Jose Suarez starting games used to be an indication that the injuries to the rotation had reached the 'we don't know what to do now' threshold. 2023 is the nth degree of this. Rengifo was brought in to start after David Fletcher, Gio Urshela and Anthony Rendon all got injured, and had a very nice run for himself, hitting .264 with 104 hits and 51 RBIs...and then right at the end of the season, he gets injured. So now the Angels need a replacement for their usual replacement player. What else can you do but laugh?

2024 Prediction: I don't know how many times the Angels can keep using Rengifo in the same exact way. Either they actually start the guy or they just cut him loose midyear given all the young talent they've brought up.

Around June, the Angels, with injuries piling up, got two smart bench options. One was Mike Moustakas, who was having a decent year in Denver, and comically left the Rockies for the Angels right after the 25-1 game. Moose is clearly not who he was in 2015, but he was still good for some power moments, with 8 home runs and 36 RBIs in 65 games.

2024 Prediction: It'd be very funny if Moose plays in 2024 and his old battery partner Eric Hosmer doesn't, but that's honestly the way things might be going. Maybe Pittsburgh picks him up or something. 

Actually participating in the 25-1 game on the Anaheim side was Eduardo Escobar, who was flipped from the Mets, convinced they would be find with Brett Baty [they weren't]. Escobar responded with a .219 average and 39 hits in 59 games, essentially proving why the Mets had given up.

2024 Prediction: Maybe someone picks him up for the spring, but I don't see Escobar playing a substantial role in the story of 2024, which sucks considering it was only 7 years ago that he was such a fun young infield guy in Minneapolis. 

After the Angels became buyers at the deadline due to their post-Yankees bravado, they went for several high-profile weapons. The highest profile was Lucas Giolito, who was having a strong year in Chicago. And then, of course, Giolito arrives in Anaheim, goes 1-5 in six starts with a 6.89 ERA, and all of the sudden the Angels aren't competitors anymore for some reason. And now the White Sox have Edgar Quero, who will be a big part of their rebuild. 

I have one more Giolito custom in this series, at which point I'll divulge my 2024 prediction.

One big indication that things may begin to look up in 2024? The number of prospects willing to launch themselves onto the team so soon after being drafted. This year featured playing time from Zach Neto, a prominent 2022 draftee, and Nolan Schanuel, a man named after an Angels legend, a prominent 2023 draftee. Schanuel had literally no photo for baseball reference to choose from, so the whole season went by with Schanuel as the Unknown Player while starting at 1st for the Angels. And that's a wild bit of this season; by the end, the Angels were so starved for options at first after Cron's injury that they were turning to a guy they'd drafted two months earlier to play first. And to his credit, Schanuel did pretty well, hitting .275 with 30 hits in 29 games. Not sure how Anthony Rendon felt about a 21-year old playing better than he did this year with what he was being paid.

2024 Prediction: A lot like Nico Hoerner in 2020, I don't think Schanuel's going to start the season in the majors, in order to give him a more traditional growth period. But once he's up, expect more of what we saw this year.

Coming Tomorrow- The Angels were a team that thought to base their entire future on one series with the Yankees. Tomorrow's team, meanwhile, should have seen their series with the Yankees as an omen.

Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2023

 I think I brought this all on myself.

Sometime yesterday, as a few more deals limped into the gate, I said to myself '...kind of a weak trade deadline this year'. And then 24 hours later I'm regretting that. 

In a sense, this was a weaker deadline year, because a lot of the big names on the board were actually kept, as teams that were thought to be dealing ended up competing anyhow. While there was a large volume of deals, especially in the last hours of regulation, a lot of deals were done solely just to make trades rather than to make sense of them. I have a post full of deals that made no sense ready to go after I'm done with the impressive ones. I'm also doing the Top 10 before I do the honorable mentions, as I think it's more sensible to just get this out there before the topic is stale, and then just post the auxiliary ones.

Needless to say, I did have enough for a Top 10 list, and what I tried to do was not just weigh these trades by the size of the exclamation point, but also by the needs they fulfill. There was no obvious blockbuster deal that I had no choice but to top the list with this year. The best trade of this deadline is gonna be the single smartest move, and that may be different than what you may think. In fact, one of the biggest exclamation point moves of the deadline didn't even make this list. I'll...have words on that one soon enough. 

But for now, my picks for the Top 10 most important trade deadline acquisitions of 2023:

#10: Mark Canha to the Brewers, prospect to the Mets.

There will be some Mets on this list, needless to say. Maybe not all of the ones you think will be here, but...there are some here. One that I think might be an underrated roster boost is the Brewers getting Mark Canha. Right now their outfield, Yelich notwithstanding, isn't great. Joey Wiemer's great defensively but he's not there as a hitter yet. Sal Frelick's a decent option but he's still finding the learning curve. Blake Perkins and Tyrone Taylor aren't doing much better. What Canha does is give the Brewers a strong, versatile option that can fill several roles as well as make sure Yelich isn't the only competent player in that outfield. As the Brewers fight to compete, they need more guys like Canha, and they did manage to stock themselves with decent rentals for a run. Ultimately, Canha's the only one that made this list.

#9: David Robertson to the Marlins, prospects to the Mets.

Second Mets deal in a row, not the last. This is, however, the only Marlins deal on this list. The Marlins made a lot of wacky moves, especially today, to bulk themselves up for a wild card brawl, and while a lot of them didn't make sense, this was their best one because it fulfills a gaping need for the Marlins, and that is a competent closer. The Marlins tried A.J. Puk in the ninth, and he was doing well for a while, but he got hurt, and now he's got an ERA around 5. Everybody else in this bullpen is more suited to middle relief work, including the also-recently-dealt Jorge Lopez. D-Rob gives them an excellent closer who's been having an excellent season, and even though this makes his second straight trade deadline venture, and the fifth team he's played for since the 2021 Olympics, his stock is super high and he's already been fantastic even in early appearances for Miami. Hopefully he'll be able to stay strong in October this year.

#8: C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk to the Angels, prospects to the Rockies

A trend I noticed a lot this deadline especially was more cathartic, 'all things as they should be' trades. Mostly players who either came to prominence with or were drafted by teams that brought them back. There's a few further up on the list. But this one charmed me. Not only does it bolster a lineup that was already going in for help in terms of bench support, but it gives the Angels two great hitters in positions where they need help. The Angels just demoted Jared Walsh, and had been using Mike Moustakas and Trey Cabbage at first. Meanwhile, they just lost Taylor Ward and are still without Mike Trout. Both Cron and Grichuk fulfill deep needs, and both return to the organizations they came up with. Grichuk never played a game for the Angels before getting traded to St. Louis in exchange for David Freese, while Cron came to prominence as a Halo before finding fame in Denver. With both back where they started, the Angels have a stronger lineup and way more hard-hitting options.

#7: Michael Lorenzen to the Phillies, prospect Hao-Yu Lee to the Tigers

Nothing like a quaint, respectable addition to denote an otherwise quiet deadline for Sam Fuld. Michael Lorenz's been sharp as hell since becoming a starter, and after a solid year with LA last year, he became an All-Star with Detroit and cemented himself as a starting option. With no offense meant towards Cristopher Sanchez, we needed a trusted fifth man, and Lorenzen will do just fine. Now the Phils have a pretty ironclad rotation, with five guys I'd throw out there against the best of 'em, and while I thought Noah Syndergaard would be similar last year, Lorenzen has shown less signs of wear and tear, and also isn't as hard-throwing as Thor was. It sucks losing Lee, who looked like a fun prospect, but Lorenzen makes me very confident going forward. Also, cool that the Phils have just started adding long-haired lanky guys every July, it makes me feel seen.

#6: Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers, Trayce Thompson and prospects to the White Sox

Not the biggest pitching acquisition the Dodgers thought they'd be leaving the deadline with, but the lack of Cease or Rodriguez aside, adding Lance Lynn to an ailing rotation is a very good move. For one, the Dodgers don't have to start Michael Grove as much. Also, even if Lynn isn't quite as consistent as he was, he's a reliable veteran who can eat innings and give you strong starts, and with the only guys left in this rotation being mostly young guys, that kind of presence will pay off. I don't know what Lynn has left, but I also said something similar when the Yankees got him in 2018, and he responded with some excellent seasons for Texas after that. Also, Kelly is yet another 'let's bring him back' style move this deadline, and I certainly can't argue with the Dodgers having Kelly around again. They love him over there.

#5: Aaron Civale to the Rays, prospects to the Guardians

This was one of those where I had an audible reaction of "oh shit." The Rays have bobbled a huge lead over the AL East solely due to injuries to Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, Zach Eflin and, albeit briefly, Shane McClanahan. They've had numerous open rotation spots buckling, and as Taj Bradley's learning curve spoils a few more wins, they've needed an upgrade. Aaron Civale is perfect for this Rays team, and he's a strong, durable arm that makes me very nervous for the rest of the season. Even as people start to come back, you have one more basically guaranteed day, as Civale's been having a great season, and doesn't need to lead the rotation to impress you [a lot like Eflin]. The Rays didn't need to do much this deadline, but the thing they did do was make it even harder for anyone else to finish the season atop the AL East. 

#4: Lucas Giolito & Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels, prospects to the White Sox

Though it took him a while to rebound after the tack ban, Lucas Giolito reaffirmed himself as a great pitcher this year, and once the White Sox fell below the Tigers in the standings, a deal like this became inevitable. This deal, however, marked the first real instance by the Angels of deciding to pursue competition this offseason, and it was a hell of a statement to start with. Giolito strengthens that rotation even further, even as Sandoval, Canning, Detmers and, yes, Ohtani roll. He's not quite the ace anymore, but he's an excellent foil to Ohtani as a pure flamethrower, and will hopefully give the Angels some great stretch starts. We do know how good he can be in October, remember that. Also, Lopez gives them another solid bullpen arm, as well as more flexibility if need be.

#3: Max Scherzer to the Rangers, prospect Luisangel Acuna to the Mets

Nope, not #1. Scherzer heading to Arlington may have been the biggest flex of the deadline, but I will admit that there's two moves that I think are more advantageous. But still, you can't deny that handing Scherz over to the Rangers is a boss move. Eovaldi's hurt, deGrom's hurt, so there's room, but with Scherzer and newly-added Jordan Montgomery in there, it gives Dane Dunning, Martin Perez and Jon Gray even more reassurance, and it takes some of the pressure off of Andrew Heaney. Scherzer may not be what he was in Washington, but he was still throwing pretty well with the Mets, with a 9-4 record and 114 Ks in 19 games. He still has some excellent material to work with, and he could be the force that keeps the Rangers ahead of the Astros, despite their similar deadline tactics. While this does have a tendency to backfire, especially considering Scherzer's age and human-ness lately, it's still a big statement that could heavily benefit the Rangers if all goes well.

#2: Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs, prospects to the Nationals

Maybe if I were younger I wouldn't rank this so high, but everything about this deal just screams perfection to me. First of all, Candelario came up in the Cubs system, knows it well, and prospered there before being traded for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila [???]. This is another homecoming deal, and it's gotta be cool that Candelario finally gets to get reps in at third in Chicago. But also...Chicago was a seller till a couple weeks ago, and was looking for suitors for Bellinger, Stroman and Steele. Once they got hot, and realized they did have enough to chase the competition this year, they realized they could net an upgrade for Patrick Wisdom at third. Candelario's a perfect fit for this lineup, and a fantastic upgrade from what they already have. I also think that a lot of the Brewers' panicking in the last 24 hours is due to this deal, because they know the Cubs are gonna be even better with Candelario and need to stay above them. I absolutely love this deal, and I hope he keeps his Nats numbers up with the Cubs, cause this could be the last piece they need to sneak into October.

And so, the #1...it is a pitcher, an extremely good if recently-injury-prone pitcher...going to a market that needs to fight to win a division....but it's not the one you might think.

#1: Jack Flaherty to the Orioles, prospects who are not Jackson Holliday to the Cardinals

This, to me, was the smartest move of the deadline. The Cardinals needed to move Flaherty, the Orioles needed a unifying ace, they needed each other. The Orioles pitching, as good as it's been, has been a series of #2 and #3 men in search of a #1. Bradish, Gibson and Kremer have been good this season, but none have felt like an ace. Said ace would have been somebody like John Means, but he's still injured. I was thinking Tyler Wells would fall into that category, but he's fallen apart since the beginning of the season. The O's did try to get Dylan Cease, but the White Sox wanted Holliday in return, so that didn't happen. That's why I'm so won over by them getting Jack Flaherty, because he can be that ace-type guy, and can deliver OMG starts, and the Orioles have needed a guy like that. The injuries do worry me, but I think he's just on a decent enough pace this year, and won't need to sit out as much as somebody like Means. Flaherty might not be the HUGEST piece the Cards could have dealt, but it's an important piece, and it's even more important that Baltimore got him, because this could keep them ahead of Tampa and give them a healthy spot in the playoffs.

Again, I may be wrong about the promise of some of these deals, but this is how they look right now. Tomorrow, I'll reveal the honorable mentions, and why they didn't make the list.

Unstuck

 

Even two years after the MLB put down a ban on spider tack and similar sticky devices, I feel like we're still hearing about tack-users as much as we used to. Obviously Domingo German got a storm of boos from Yankee fans after his tack suspension, which means he's finally found another way to miss games without being injured or beating the shit out of someone. There's still lingering distrust from Mets fans towards Max Scherzer, who's still on the mend from injuries in addition to his tack usage. And it's clear that the umps are really trying to nail people on this, even in a season where one of the best pitchers in baseball is someone who very famously used tack in his prime, that being Gerrit Cole.

But Cole's resurgence despite the lack of sticky substances does point to another trend, a better one, which is pitchers who used to be relying on tack either never recovering or finding their way back to where they were. And right now it's looking like Lucas Giolito has fallen into the latter category after fears he'd be lost to the former. 

I had considered Giolito one of the biggest names in the category of careers lost to giving up tack, like Michael Pineda, Hector Santiago and, well, Tyler Glasnow. Last year, though not terrible, Giolito has a 4.90 ERA and a 1.435 WHIP, despite making all his starts and striking out 177. When you compare it to his prime, likely thanks to tack, it's not great. But so far in 2023, Giolito seems to have gotten his mojo back, with a 3.86 ERA, 56 Ks and a 1.118 WHIP, in addition to leading all White Sox pitchers in WAR. It's a sign of massive improvement, and a step in the right direction for someone who already had a ton of talent, regardless of tack.

Now, the big question is whether pitching without training wheels, in a sense, is gonna lead to more injuries for Giolito, who's mostly avoided the IL for the majority of his career. We saw how it affected Glasnow, and how he's struggled to get back to where he was. I worry something similar could happen to Giolito. Hell, right now his chief collaborator, Mike Clevinger, can talk about injuries ripping out a chunk of one's career. Sunshine did make it out the other side, though, but I'm not sure if the domestic issues are gonna make him teammates with Bauer again soon.

I think having a stronger Giolito does bode well for this Sox season, as does some of the team activity within the last week. They're winning games again, getting people off the IL and finding stars where they may not expect it [Jake Burger's suddenly their chief power guy]. I'm not sure if they'll completely rebound from their awful start, but I feel better about this team than I did.

Coming Tomorrow- He played with Ohtani this March, and now he's blossoming into a big piece of his team.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2022: White Sox

 

The Chicago White Sox were supposed to dominate the AL Central this year. Instead they ended the season in 2nd place at exactly .500, losing to the one team that made the least strides to compete going into 2022.

On one hand, I want to think the evil has been vanquished after Tony LaRussa was sent packing. But on the other hand, Pedro Grifol is not the sure bet I figured the team would go for this season, nor is he the sure bet I figured Miguel Cairo would be. And, in addition, the White Sox lost a lot of ground this year, and will be heading into 2023 without Jose Abreu. Yes, they have a lot of great players left, and could still make a run at things, but they are no longer the proven success they were in 2020 and 2021.

One of the uncertain aspects of this team is Yasmani Grandal, who was signed to catch three years ago and has not been giving prime material. Grandal did have his best season to date in 2021, but it came in a shortened season. 2022 was also shortened for the veteran backstop, but here he hit a disastrous .202 with 27 RBIs and 5 homers in 99 games. He got so much done in 93 that it was upsetting to see him so listless. 

2023 Prediction: This will be Grandal's last year on the contract, so either he's a success and gives the team what they paid for, or he's a throw-in for a deadline contender.

Also fighting injuries this year was corner infielder Yoan Moncada, who led the team in strikeouts despite only playing 104 games this year. Moncada hit .212 with 51 RBIs and 12 homers, which aren't bad power numbers, but for a guy that's wrapped up for a few more years and was supposed to be one of the big pieces of this team, it's still disappointing. At least Rhys Hoskins quieted the detractors and had an incredible year this year. Moncada needs one of those.

2023 Prediction: An improvement, and more contact production for his age-28 season. Might be one of the heroes of this team.

Lucas Giolito has been one of the league models for consistency since 2018, only missing a game or so and providing the White Sox at least 160 innings per the full seasons. The only downside is that since umpires have started checking for tack, Giolito's ERA has mysteriously gone up a bit. This season, in 30 games he had a 4.90 ERA, lowered in the last month of the season, and gave up 88 earned runs while at least striking out 177. Even though Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech have taken Giolito's place as pure aces, it's gotta be upsetting watching Gio now and thinking about what he could have been.

2023 Prediction: Maybe he recovers a little, but I don't see his ERA going below 4.

A.J. Pollock was a late throw-in to a trade that sent Craig Kimbrel to Los Angeles. Pollock's deal was beginning to grate on the Dodgers, so the Sox hung onto it. Due to injuries to Robert and Jimenez, Pollock ended up playing a lot of games in the outfield, and the 2nd-most games of any White Sock behind Jose Abreu. In that time, Pollock hit .245 with 56 RBIs and 14 homers. Far from his Phoenix days for sure.

2023 Prediction: Somebody takes a flyer on him, but I don't think he has much left.

With Grandal injured and McGuire terrible defensively, the White Sox turned to longtime minor league backstop Seby Zavala to start some games for the Sox, and he actually did pretty well, hitting .270 with 28 RBIs and and 48 hits in 61 games, in addition to some halfway decent defensive catching. Like Tomas Nido in New York, fans took to him relatively quickly.

2023 Prediction: Primarily backing up Grandal but could be starting again by the second half.

The White Sox brought up two infield prospects in 2021, and they were both firmly in the picture during the 2022 season. Gavin Sheets played 124 games this year, mostly in right field, and hit .241 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs. Pretty much on par with a lot of this team's other hitters.

2023 Prediction: I think this season means he's starting in the outfield next year? I think the plan is to DH Vaughny? But either way he'll hit 20 homers.

Meanwhile, Jake Burger, while subpar on the field, hit 8 homers and held a .250 average in 51 games. He was mostly a fill-in for Moncada, but Moncada is ultimately a bit more versatile. 

2023 Prediction: Surprise power boost from the bench, possibly doesn't make it to September?

The big surprise was netting Elvis Andrus in a waiver deal and turning him into a fitting backup for Tim Anderson. Andrus looked beaten down in Oakland, and upon joining the Sox he felt renewed, as he hit .271 with 9 homers, 28 RBIs and 11 steals in 43 games. Even if Andrus didn't get this team to October, he at least made sure they finished the season higher in the standings than the Twins.

Finally, tomorrow we look at the members of a Yankee team that did the same thing the Yankees always do.

White Sox Update: Now The Fun Really Begins Edition

 

Eloy Jimenez is finally off the IL. Luis Robert is coming off in the next few days. With those pieces reattached, and with the White Sox already with a major lead in the AL Central, you're gonna see a whole lot of balls-out fun baseball in the next two months. 

Cause, like...the division's theirs. Nobody else is really clawing for it, the Indians are back under .500. Really, the White Sox just have to fight for the first seed in the playoffs, and the honor of playing whichever team is unlucky enough to wind up in the wild card spot. And with Robert and Jimenez back, and everybody else healthy and in good form...the wins are gonna get bigger and badder.

Even without those two OF pieces, the Sox have been using Andrew Vaughn to great heights, as he has 13 homers and 37 RBIs in his rookie season, as well as giving Billy Hamilton, Brian Goodwin and Adam Engel nice amounts of playing time. Hamilton's hurt, Engel's gaining ground, and Goodwin is a nice bench/extra OF guy. The DH spot is also basically open, and Vaughny has been taking reps there when not starting in left, while Jimenez has also played some games there to not exacerbate his injury again. 

At catcher, the Sox have been using Seby Zavala more and more, after his impressive multi-homer game earlier in the season. He's also an upgrade compared to Zack Collins, who, despite having the numbers to boot Jonathan Lucroy from the active roster prior to the season, can't hit in the majors still. Once Grandal returns, Zavala will probably take the backup job...or maybe keep the starting job as Grandal slowly begins to shift to DH [i hope, it's time, I hope]. 

As for the gaping hole at 2nd left by Kenny Williams' want for bullpen security, Cesar Hernandez has been a decent cover so far, and he's hitting .300 in his first week with the team. Leury Garcia is also a good ute-piece in support, and also has had some nice games this year. And you've also got Gavin Sheets and Jake Lamb floating around, not hitting great but still serviceable.

Meanwhile, the rotation is still strong, the bullpen is even juicier now that Tepera and Kimbrel are in, and Hendriks seems to have retained the closing job. And all is harmonious, despite LaRussa's best efforts.

The goal here would be to not coast, and to still win big games in the next month or so. To be perfectly honest, I see the White Sox as the best overall AL team heading into the playoffs. I sincerely hope they don't find a way to screw this up.

Coming Tomorrow- One of the many former Padres backup infielders taking the league by storm this year.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #91-99

With a new week, comes a new 2020 Final Edition post. I guess I forgot today was monday, and didn't realize til like noon, after I'd already done the custom post for today. No worries. I guess I'll just do these 9 as the overnight post tonight. 

Anyway. Next 9 cards. Honestly, some pretty big guns as far as the 2020 season are concerned are in here. 

Card #091- Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels

Since 2018, Noe Ramirez has been one of the most consistent, reliable relief options in Anaheim. Where Parker, Robles and Middleton have fallen apart, Ramirez has stayed strong. 2020 was no exception, with a 3.00 ERA in 21 games, including 14 Ks. Ramirez is hoping for a similar role with the Reds in 2021.

Card #092- Johan Oviedo, St. Louis Cardinals

As hazy as the starting pitching, at least the back half, seemed to be in St. Louis last year, a rookie start from Johan Oviedo did seem to put things into more perspective. Oviedo wasn't perfect, as evidenced by his 5.47 ERA over 5 starts, but he does seem to have some good mechanics and strikeout material that would probably benefit for a more comfortable year at it. It's not certain that he'll have a role in the 2021 rotation, but he could sneak in and make another case for himself very soon.

Card #093- Ronald Acuna Jr. ASG, Atlanta Braves

Due to a minimized role in the outfit schematic, Ronald Acuna Jr. would not notch a starting outfield spot [we'll get to the surprising keeper of the CF spot in a bit]. But he would still make the team, because...I mean, Acuna's still one of the best players in the game, and even 8/10 Acuna is still worthy of being on a potential ASG roster. 

Card #094- Josh Fleming, Tampa Bay Rays

After the injury to Yonny Chirinos, the Rays tried several things in order to fill his roster spot. The latest and, arguably, most successful fix to it was rookie hurler Josh Fleming. In 7 games, he hit a 2.78 ERA with 5 wins and 25 Ks, a pretty impressive run at things. Despite this, he was only used in relief during the postseason, and his ERA ballooned while facing better lineups like Houston and LA. Not sure if the Rays will need him as a rotation piece this year. 

Card #095- Kevin Pillar, Colorado Rockies

After a pretty good start for the Red Sox, Kevin Pillar was traded to the Rockies at the deadline. I'm still not quite sure why the Rox had so many deadline deals, especially considering their drop-off that had begun even before the deadline. The Denver air did help his pop a bit, as his average grew to .308 in 24 games, with 13 RBIs and 28 hits. If anything, he was a refreshing addition to a team whose productivity was winding down. He's slated to play for the Mets this season in their overloaded roster, so hopefully his contact abilities continue.

Card #096- Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers

This is probably the most shameful exclusion from the Topps sets in 2020. Corbin Burnes could have been in flagship, but Topps was too fixated on Adrian Houser. While they weren't looking, Burnes had a mightily impressive breakout last year, with a 4-1 record, a 2.11 ERA and 88 Ks in 12 games. This was a rotation presence that didn't become too apparent until late in the season, moving the Brewers towards the playoffs just when the eyes of baseball weren't paying attention. Shamefully, Burnes wouldn't get his chance to start during the postseason, as the Dodgers didn't give the Brewers a chance to.

Card #097- Bryan Garcia, Detroit Tigers

After a miserable seven game debut in 2019, Bryan Garcia became the relief asset the Tigers needed right as Joe Jimenez began to lose his luster. Garcia came alive in 26 games, with a 1.66 ERA and 4 saves, giving the Tigers ninth inning security for the first time since Shane Greene left, and being the next step towards competing in maybe 4 years. Garcia is looking at the closing gig in 2021, and hopefully he has similar luck this year.

Card #098- Ty France, Seattle Mariners

One of the biggest pieces of the Austin Nola trade, Ty France was an infield prospect that had been blocked twice, first by the arrival of Manny Machado and then by the signing of Jurickson Profar [and subsequent call-up of Jake Cronenworth]. There was no room for him in San Diego, so he made it to a team that had plenty of room and started hitting beautifully. In 23 games, he hit .302 with 13 RBIs and 26 hits, plus a 0.5 WAR that made him the fifth-best Mariners hitter to still be on the team by the end of the season. France may have the DH position this year, and will turn this into a campaign to keep playing as well as he did last year. 

Card #099- Lucas Giolito ASG, Chicago White Sox

In a season where he would throw a no-hitter and have an unforgettable postseason start, it's only fitting that Lucas Giolito would be welcome on a potential 2020 All Star team. Gio's stuff has only improved in the last 3 years, and has become one of the premier arms in one of the most burgeoning rosters in baseball. With Lance Lynn and Dallas Keuchel bolstering him this year, hopefully he'll continue his dominance and maybe make another ASG team.

We start the 100s on Friday. One very big rookie to start and some interesting ones follow.