Flaherty was the best arm moved before Tuesday’s deadline and is a two-month lease for the Dodgers, who have had a heckuva time keeping arms healthy this season.

Flaherty has been nasty this season, a true career season, and just as he’s set to walk into free agency. In 18 starts, the former St. Louis Cardinals first-round pick has posted elite runs-allowed numbers across the board, including a 2.95 ERA and 2.57 xFIP.

He’s posted a career-high 32% strikeout rate and a career-best 4.6% walk rate, among other high-level results.

Flaherty’s four-seamer sits 92-96 mph and is highly effective in setting up two devastating secondaries in a plus mid-80s slider and 76-80 mph curveball. Both breakers miss bats and he’s commanded his entire arsenal well all season.

He also mixes in a changeup and two-seamer on occasion.

The 28-year-old is set for a big payday following the season, but for now, he’ll join Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone in a rotation in Los Angeles which expects to get Yoshinobu Yamamoto back in August.

Sweeney is a 24-year-old infielder with a chance to stay up the middle (likey second base) but with the power to perhaps profile enough for the hot corner where his athleticism and arm play well.

He’s shown enough hit tool in the minors to project some everyday scenarios, and he’s nearing the big-league-ready phase of his development.

The game power could reach the 18-25 homer range and while there’s some swing-and-miss in his game the left-handed batter also works walks to above-average rates.

The upside here is an average regular infielder with 15-20 stolen bases to go with some pop, and solid-average on-base marks.

Liranzo is the headliner here, one of the top 5 prospects in the Dodgers’ system. He’s a 21-year-old switch-hitting catcher who likely moves to first base, but there’s 70-grade raw power to tap into, and he started doing just that last season in Single-A.

He’s physical with limited athleticism but has OBP skills that project well. He lacks the arm strength to confidently project behind the plate.

The Dodgers set themselves up for a World Series run, like every year, and do it at a fair yet more than affordable cost.

The Tigers did well to load up for next season with near-ready talent, but it feels light considering the market. Perhaps the best sign for Tigers fans is they did not move Tarik Skubal, which never made much sense, anyway.

The Dodgers also traded recently DFA’d lefty Ryan Yarbrough to the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Los Angeles: 60
Detroit: 50

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Miami Marlins Receive: Infielder Connor Norby, outfielder Kyle Stowers

Baltimore Orioles Receive: Left-handed starting pitcher Trevor Rogers

Really like this deal for Marlins. Miami really only needs one of Norby or Stowers to develop into a role 5 player for this to make sense. If they both end up plateauing as role 4.5 types as utility and fourth-outfielder types, it’ll still help round the roster into form with more athleticism and floor.

For Baltimore, the hope is the organization can help Rogers rediscover some of his lost velocity and production. He’s largely been a low No. 4/No. 5 starter over the past three seasons. His last real impressive campaign was back in 2021. Rogers is arbitration-eligible following this season and will see his salary take a jump. Because he’s not guaranteed anything Baltimore could always flip him in the next few seasons and walk away from the salary escalations when they see fit.

Seattle Mariners Receive: Right-handed relief pitcher JT Chargois

Miami Marlins Receive: Right-handed starting pitcher Will Schomberg

This is a nice add for the Mariners as Chargois as consistently performed above his peripherals over the last four seasons. He’s been remarkably consistent in limiting hard contact and base hits as a whole. He’ll likely slot in as a low-leverage reliever for Seattle, a team dealing with attrition in their bullpen as the season has progressed. He is making $1.2 million this year and is arbitration-eligible in 2025 for the final time. He’ll likely be due close to $2 million, a number Seattle could elect to walk away from instead of offering him another contract if they so see fit.

Schomberg, 23, was an undrafted free agent signing by the Mariners following the 2023 Draft. He racked up 97 strikeouts for Low-A Modesto in 70.1 innings this season before being promoted to High-A Everett. He has a reliever arm swing with a mid-90s fastball at peak that presents above-average carry to the hitter. He mixes in a frisbee slider that has been tremendously effective against right-handed hitters.

Detroit Tigers Receive: Right-handed pitchers Joseph Montalvo and Chase Lee

Texas Rangers Receive: Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin

The Texas Rangers refuse to fold. And for good reason. Just six games out of the AL West, it’s a division that has been a rollercoaster ride all summer. Chafin is a nice addition to the backend of the Rangers bullpen, a staff that has wavered of late. He’s posted 50 punchouts in just 37 innings this season with 16 walks to boot. His 3.16 ERA and 2.53 ERA points to just how effective he can be in big spots at the end of games.

A 20th rounder in 2021, Montalvo is enjoying a bit of a breakthrough 2024 campaign. He’s a three-pitch starter with a low-to-mid 90s fastball featuring more arm-side tail than vertical tilt. His slider projects at least above average. It’s a low-80s hammer with considerable depth and sweeping action. There’s also a mid-80s changeup with vertical plant and conviction. Lee was a high school shortstop who transformed himself into a reliable arm with budding stuff. He’s sporting a 1.69 ERA at Triple-A this season and could get the call into Detroit’s bullpen down the stretch. His slider has flirted with 3000 rpm at times and flashes above-average traits and shape.

Pittsburgh Pirates Receive: Outfielder Bryan De La Cruz

Miami Marlins Receive: Infielder Garret Forrester, Right-handed pitcher Jun-Seok Shim

Nice piece for a Pirates outfield looking to put together a more formidable lineup after Jack Suwinski‘s untimely struggles in 2024. De La Cruz is a power bat with 18 homers this season. Still just 27 years old, he’s controlled through the 2027 season.

Forrester was one of the more highly regarded pure hitters in the 2023 Draft coming out of Oregon State. He’s limited athletically, but he’ll draw walks, swing at good pitches, and hit for some average and power. He can handle first base and left field. Shim has been dealing with a shoulder injury this season and has not appeared in a game, but was impressive in his eight innings of complex work in 2023 posting 13 strikeouts across 8 innings. Still just 20 years old, he’s got a great frame and a loose, easy operation.

Pittsburgh Pirates Receive: Utility Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Toronto Blue Jays Receive: Infielder Charles McAdoo

I like this deal quite a bit for Toronto. McAdoo has size and physicality and has been a development success in Pittsburgh. There’s usable power and positional versatility even if he won’t grade out better than average at any one spot. The bat will carry this player to the big leagues.

Kiner-Falefa helps fill out a Pirates lineup searching for consistency down the stretch. He can handle any of the infield spots. The Pirates don’t need exceptional offense to get to the offense, just steady enough performance to let their pitching staff due the heavy lifting.

Baltimore Orioles Receive: Outfielder Eloy Jimenez

Chicago White Sox Receive: Right-handed pitcher Trey McGough

Jimenez is more of a lottery ticket than anything for the Orioles. He’s a nice designated hitter who rounds out their bench as a potential late-inning pinch hitter or insurance policy if they lose a bat down the stretch. He’s been hurt most of the year but when he gets hot he can carry a lineup… if he gets the at-bats to get cooking that is.

This is mostly a salary dump for the White Sox who still owed Jimenez close to $6 million through the end of the season. McGough, 26, has a 1.99 ERA across 54.1 innings with 55 strikeouts and 21 walks this season. He profiles as a swingman going forward.

Los Angeles Dodgers Receive: Right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty

Detroit Tigers Receive: Catcher Thayron Liranzo, infielder Trey Sweeney

This is a really nice get for the Dodgers. Flaherty is enjoying a nice bounce back 2024 in which he boasts a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts. He’s striking out more batters than he ever has and is issuing the least amount of walks he ever has too. Flaherty is the insurance policy the Dodgers needed to make a final push this summer with Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler struggling to recapture what they’ve been in the past.

Liranzo is a really nice addition. He was set to rank as the Dodgers’ no. 5 overall prospect in our midseason update. There are still considerable questions on whether or not he can catch at the big league level but few doubt whether or not the raw power will play. It’s ‘plus’ arm strength that could be hidden in a corner outfield spot. More than likely he projects at first base and in a platoon role at catcher.

Sweeney is now 24 years old enjoying a .255/.334/.427 campaign with 13 homers at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He’s striking out more than he really ever has this year and scouts are a bit less bullish on the hit tool than they were a year prior. It’s still solid-average raw power, a left-handed swing and an average shortstop glove despite his bigger-than-typical size for the position. If it all clicks, you’d hope he transforms into a Matt Carpenter type of player.

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The San Diego Padres completed a trade with the Miami Marlins, acquiring lefty Tanner Scott and right-hander Bryan Hoeing in exchange for southpaw Robby Snelling, right-hander Adam Mazur, outfielder Graham Pauley, and infielder Jay Beshears.

Hoeing comes with four more years of control for San Diego, but Scott will hit free agency following this season. Hoeing is mostly a two-seam/splitter/slider arm, up to 96 mph with some ground ball ability. He’s started and served out of the bullpen for Miami for the last three years.

Scott is as tough on lefties as any reliever in baseball in 2024, allowing just three hits in 39 at-bats against them, but he’s far from a specialist, holding righties to a .144 average and .198 slug.

Scott’s control, however, gets him in trouble. It’s nearly a 15% walk rate this season. But he keeps the ball in the ballpark and rarely gets hit hard.

Snelling is the biggest name coming back to Miami. The 20-year-old was the No. 39 overall pick by the Padres in 2022 and has missed bats at every step in the minors. He’s gradually made strides in strike throwing and will consistently sit 92-95 mph with the fastball.

His best pitch is a plus, slurvy curveball, and there’s a changeup showing signs in 2024, too. He’s still working on the control and remains a few years from the big leagues — essentially is a project — there’s at least mid-rotation upside here in the mold of a Blake Snell if everything works out in the end.

Mazur made his debut this season, making eight uneven starts, despite a strong debut in June versus the Angels. It’s a four-pitch mix with his best offering a firm slider with a chance to miss bats. He also has a hard changeup and low-80s curveball.

Pauley, 23, is a fringe glove at the infield corners but understands the strike zone well and has some power upside thanks to efficient contact and pitch selection.  He’s struggled to hit for average in the upper minors, suggesting role limits to part-time play.

Beshears is a 22-year-old left-side infielder with little shot to play short but the arm to stay at third base long-term. Whether he has the power to play there, however, is another story. Well, it’s another answer: No.

Beshears profiles to get on base and serve as an up-and-down depth option if he can maintain solid-average contact rates as he moves to the upper minors.

The Padres clearly are going for it and while this deal favors the Marlins long-term, underestimating the solid upside of Hoeing would be a mistake. San Diego received two arms to help now and one is a cheap option for future years with a bit of ceiling. It simply comes at quite the cost.

The Fish do what they do and are taking a shot they can help Snelling develop into his full potential, but also get some bulk depth in their system.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

San Diego: 45
Miami: 55

The New York Mets had added right-hander Paul Blackburn to hep cover their loss of Kodai Senga and Christian Scott. In return, the Oakland Athletics received right-hander Kade Morris.

Morris has touched 97 mph but pitches with average command in the 91-94 mph range with two fastballs, led by a true two-seamer. He throws varied versions of two breaking balls, one a 74-78 mph curveball and the other a promising low-80s slider.

It’s a mid-rotation upside for the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder and he’s a few years from cracking the big leagues.

Blackburn, 30, is a pitch-to-contact righty without strong ground ball tendencies, and his home run issues have hurt him his entire career. But it is a kitchen-sink approach if there ever was one.

He’s a back-end starter who can cover innings when healthy, but staying off the IL hasn’t been his bag, missing 10-plus starts in each of the last three seasons, including 2024.

He sits 91-93 mph with two fastballs, adds a firm cutter, two distinct breaking balls, and a changeup. There isn’t a plus pitch in the bunch, but all take turns giving him chances to get outs.

Blackburn has one more season until free agency, to the Mets are buying some peace of mind, albeit one without much upside.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

New York: 45
Miami: 55

The post TRADES: Padres, Mets add more pitching at very different costs appeared first on Future Stars Series.

The Texas Rangers, who began the day seven games back of the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the West, are just 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race. In acquiring lefty Andrew Chafin, the Rangers’ struggles versus left-handed hitting has been addressed.

Chafin, 34, has had another strong year, pisting a career-best 30.9% strikeout rate and some of the best runs-allowed results of his career. He’s held lefties to a .180/.261/.213 slash this season.

The Rangers hold a 2025 option on Chafin.

Detroit received right-handed pitching prospects Joseph Montalvo and Chase Lee in return.

Lee, 25, is up to 94 mph with a four-seamer and sinker, and misses bats with a slider (80-83 mph). He’s a pure reliever who has performed in Triple-A this year, but has had some control problems.

Montalvo, 22, is a fastball-slider-changeup right-hander with plus athleicism and misses bats with the low-80 breaker. Scouts like his chances to throw strikes and develop the changeup, strong evidence he’s a rotation piece.

The Rangers wisely kept 2025 in mind in this deal. The Tigers did not, despite the fact they sit just one game back of Texas in the Wild Card hunt.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Texas: 60
Detroit: 50

The Boston Red Sox added depth and some upside to their relief corps with right-hander Lucas Sims.

Sims sits 92-96 mph wit his fastball but leds the way with his slider, throwing it early 49% of the time with good results. His cutter is a quality third option, and one he might throw more often if his four-seamers keeps getting hit (.275 BAA, .549 SLGA).

The 30-year-old will be a free agent after the season and the Red Sox will seek to help him throw strikes more cosistently, but Sims can be a quality middle-innings arm.

The Reds are getting right-hander Ovis Portes in return, a raw, projectable arm up to 95 mph and a slider that flashes. It’s a long-term wager for Cincinnati, but a fitting one.

Boston: 50
Cincinnati: 55

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Perhaps the biggest move is the Kansas City Royals have acquired right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg from the Oakland Athletics for right-handers Will Klein and Mason Barnett, and outfielder Jared Dickey.

Erceg has been strong in 2024, covering 36.2 innings and posting above-average runs-allowed metrics across the board.  The stuff is well above-average with an elite four-seam/slider combo. He also throws a two-seamer and changeup with mixed results

Erceg is into triple digits and misses bats with all four pitches. He can close games or be utilized in high-leverage spots to put out the fire. His one flaw is occasional control problems.

Erceg is not free agent eligible until after the 2029 season and won’t be eligible for arbitration salaries until after next year. The Royals landed a multi-year option for the late innings.

Klein, 24, heads to Oakland after debuting out of the Royals bullpen this season, showing good stuff but inconsistent command. It’s a 96-100 mph four-seam fastball and a mid-80s slider that has a chance to be consistently above average. He’ll throw his firm changeup to lefties and when he finishes it shows sink and a bit of tailing action for some whiffs and ground balls.

Barnett is a 23-year-old taken in Round 3 in 2022 out of Aurbun. He projects as a rotation piece with an above-average fastball with big velo into the upper-90s at times, and three secondaries, including a slider flashing plus and a changeup he’s comfortable throwing in any count. He’s piled up the strikeouts at four levels, landing in Double-A this season. There’s control and command work to do, but he’s athletic, and it’s a starter’s kit bearing in on a big-league debut.

Dickey is a Tennessee Vols product, taken in Round 11 last July as a hit-over-power profile in an outfield corner. There is some power in his left-handed swing, as evidenced by his nine homers this season, but getting on base and making contact is his game.

If he’s to play regularly he’ll have to max out his ability to hit for average and post big OBPs, and also play good defense. Otherwise, it’s a future reserve role or platoon profile. Dickey was batting .269/.360/.432 in High-A at the time of the trade.

The Royals have up some long-term upside and depth here, but Ecerg is a very good setup type still trending up in development, and his presence down the stretch makes a difference on the club’s postseason run this summer.

The A’s did pretty well here considering where they are; it’s never a bad idea to maximize the value of a reliever when the iron is hot.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Kansas City: 60
Oakland: 60

The Cleveland Guardians have sent left-handed pitcher Jacob Bresnahan to the San Francisco Giants for veteran right-handed starter Alex Cobb, who is just coming off a rehab assignment. He’s missed the entire season with a hip injury.

Bresnahan is a projectable arm flashing above-average stuff, sitting 89-93 mph with a slider that’s flashed and some promise in his changeup. It’s a high three-quarter slot from his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame, including some deception out front.

Assuming Cobbs gets back to a reasonable level — he hasn’t exactly looked great on rehab, getting lit by the Single-A lineup of the Seattle Mariners last week, sitting on the upper-80s with the fastball, and showing no bite on the breaking stuff. His only weapon was the split — it’s a decent move for Cleveland, offering depth and options for the rotation and bullpen.

With the injury to Shane Bieber, the Guardians have run out the likes of Joey Cantillo, Spencer Howard, and Xzavion Curry for starts.

The Giants did well here getting projection on a lefty arm in return for Cobb, a pitcher they don’t need for 2024 and beyond. Bresnahan was the Guardians’ 13th-round pick last year.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Cleveland: 45
San Francisco: 55

The post TRADES: Royals get relief, Guardians add rotation depth appeared first on Future Stars Series.

Leiter has had a solid season, far better than his 4.21 ERA suggests.

It’s a 90-94 mph two-seamer setting up a splitter, curveball, and slider, the splitter of which is one of the elite secondaries in all of baseball. Batters are hitting .053 with just three singles and a 62% whiff rate this season off the pitch.

Leiter’s curveball and slider also miss bats, and he mixes in an 88 mph cutter, primarily versus left-handed batters. Lefties have torched his fastball (.345 BAA, .493 SLGA), but haven’t solved anything else, so the right-hander is far from a specialist, yielding a .200/.265/.267 slash versus lefties and a .188/.278/.250 line versus right-handed hitters.

In return, the Cubs received middle infielder Ben Cowles and right-hander Jack Neely. Cowles, 24, has flashed average power in his career, but not until 2024 has he made enough contact to grab the attention of the parent club. His career 26% strikeout rate in the minors has sunk to 17.7% in 88 games in Double-A this season.

He’s likely just a utility player, but he’s put himself on the radar.

Neely, also 24, is a pure reliever with a four-seamer up to 97 mph and a slider (83.88) flashing depth and tilt. Both pitches have a chance to miss bats.

The Yankees shore up their bullpen with Leiter, and the Cubs, who acquired right-handed reliever Nate Pearson and infielder Isaac Paredes last week, get a couple of upper-minors depth pieces that may help their big club as early as next season for two-plus years of Leiter.  If Cowles can start for a few years, the outlook of this trade changes.

The Yankees are a half-game back of the Baltimore Orioles as play starts Tuesday.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

New York: 60
Chicago: 45

The Arizona Diamondbacks add Josh Bell in a trade with the Miami Marlins, covering for the Christian Walker injury. In exchange, the Snakes will cover $2.25 million of the remaining $5.9 million on Bell’s contract. Bell will be a free agent after this season.

Walker was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique injury suffered Monday night. Bell, 31, was batting just .239/.305/.394 for the Marlins, but owns a career 113 wRC+ and is capable of flipping a switch for short periods.

Miami continues its rebuild, moving Bell after shipping out IF/OF Jazz Chisholm over the weekend and right-hander Trevor Rogers earlier Tuesday. Saving some payroll is a good move, but the club’s overall approach to… being a baseball team is absurdly offensive.

Arizona begins Tuesday’s game a half-game out of the No. 2 and 3 Wild Card spots, currently occupied by the New York Mets and San Diego Padres.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Arizona: 50
Miami: 45

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Montas, 31, made one relief appearance in 2023 due to a shoulder injury but has bounced back somewhat with the Cincinnati Reds in 2024.

Montas’ 95 mph fastball velocity has held steady most of the season with only standard deviations from outing to outing, suggesting he’s healthy, of nothing else. His splitter remains a strikeout weapon (41% whiff), but his cutter, which he throws more than his slider, has been lit up this season (.388 BAA, .694 SLGA).

Despite the overall splitter success, lefties have hit him hard — .277/.370/.508m 11 HR — and he’s had some issues finishing off hitters once he gets to two strikes, explaining his rather ordinary 19% strikeout rate. His control and command appear to be the main culprits of his lack of impact performance, however. It’s a 10% walk rate, nearly 2% above his career mark and nearly 3% over his walk rates his final two years in Oakland.

The raw stuff is better than the results, which may be music to the Brewers’ ears and why they went this route rather than that of Blake Snell, Jack Flaherty, or even Garrett Crochet, particularly when considering what Montas cost the club.

Montas will be a free agent after the season, though both player and club have a $20 million option for 2025. The option comes with a $2 million buyout, putting the Brewers on the hook for around $7,5 million in total.

Heading to Cincinnati in the deal are two major leaguers in outfielder Joey Wiemer and right-handed swing arm Jakob Junis. The 25-year-old Wiemer, currently in the minors, is a right-handed hitter with big raw power, plus speed, and above-average defense in center, But there’s a ton of swing-and-miss to consider thanks to average bat speed, a lengthy swing, and below-average plate skills.

Wiemer has just over a year of service, handing the Reds five years of club control.

Junis, 31, is an interesting swing arm capable of pitching in middle or long relief and jumping into the rotation for a spot start. His velocity is down a tick in 2024, but he’s pounding the zone and outperforming his runs-allowed metrics to a 2.42 ERA in 26 innings.

Junis made just one appearance (start) prior to June 22 due to multiple injuries, including being hit in the neck by a struck ball during batting practice.

Junis’ mutual option for 2025 is worth $8 million and comes with a $3 million buyout, clearly a move to offset some of Montas’ salary heading to Milwaukee.

If the Brewers find a way to get better command from Montas, this is a steal, considering they carry a seven-game division lead into Tuesday’s games and are almost certain to compete in the postseason.

Wiemer has a chance to add value, even if he doesn’t hit for average, but he struggled so immensely in his short time in the bigs this season, that the Brewers had to send him back to Triple-A.

Junis could be on the move again, perhaps to a club looking to shore up the middle of their bullpen, but the Reds getting a toolsy young player with several control years and shaving some payroll they hopefully utilize this winter is a sound decision.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Milwaukee: 55
Cincinnati: 55

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Atlanta has acquired outfielder Jorge Soler and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson from the San Francisco Giants, sending prospect Sabin Ceballos back to the Bay.

In addition, the Giants are taking on injured lefty Tyler Matzek, who is owed about $600,000 the rest of the season.

Soler is owed about $2 million for the balance of this season, then $26 million through 2026 as part of his three-year, $42 million free-agent deal signed this past winter.

The 32-year-old is batting .240/.330/.419 with 12 home runs, a far cry from his 2023 production. The Braves are hoping to get the same results they did three seasons ago when a scuffling Soler was acquired from the Kansas City Royals and promptly posted a 131 wRC+ with 14 home runs, helping lead the club to a championship and Soler the MVP of the World Series.

Soler has been used strictly as a DH by the Giants this season, as has Marcell Ozuna by the Braves. Something will have to give, so expect at least one of the two to start seeing the outfield.

Jackson, also 32 and also part of the 2021 club, has been knocked around a bit this season, posting below-average runs-allowed results. His fastball-slider combo hasn’t been as effective this season, particularly in the swing-and-miss department, but Jackson continues to induce ground balls (52%) and is throwing as hard as ever.

The Braves have a club option on Jackson for a whopping $7 million and a $2 million buyout.

Ceballos was the Braves’ third-round pick a year ago and was batting .259/.353/.354 in High-A through 84 games. He’s 21 and possesses average power and terrific hands that project well at third base long-term.

Matzek, who comes with a $5.5 million team option for 2025, has made just 11 appearances this season thanks to an elbow injury that landed him on the 60-day IL. He’s currently throwing and could return to the mound late this season.

Taking on the near-$30 million in salary for Soler is a considerable risk, but the prospect cost was minimal. The Giants get a reset on one of their free-agent signings from the winter, which may allow them to make a play this coming offseason where they otherwise may not have had the opportunity.

Another element here for the Giants is they are still in the Wild Card hunt, despite needing to pass four clubs. They are just 3.5 games back entering play Tuesday.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Atlanta: 50
San Francisco: 60

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Kikuchi, a free agent at season’s end, has had a much better season than his standard ERA (4.75) would suggest. His 3.98 xERA, 3.64 FIP, and 3.39 xFIP tell us he’s been above average in his 22-start venture in 2024.

The 33-year-old has pitched into the sixth inning or beyond in 15 outings and compiled a career-best 6% walk rate. It’s a mid-rotation arm for Houston to help fill a gap left by the injured Lance McCullers Jr., Cristian Javier, and Justin Verlander.

The Astros, however, are taking a leap of faith Kikuchi will get back to his early-season self. While he has had some issues with right-handed batters, however, allowing a .280/.323/.441 slash, including 14 home runs, he has struggled mightily in his last eight starts, allowing 33 earned runs on 49 hits in 38.1 innings.

To acquire the southpaw, Houston sent the Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Jake Bloss, outfielder Joey Loperfido, and infield prospect Will Wagner.

Bloss is the headliner and made his big-league debut for the Astros in June and tallied three starts as a fill-in. The 23-year-old offers a 92-95 mph four-seamer, an average, firm slider, a 78-82 mph curveball with depth and a chance to miss bats, and a promising mid-80s changeup.

It’s a No. 3 ceiling, but he’s near-ready to ready, giving the Jays an internal option to replace Kikuchi in the rotation immediately.

Loperfido is a 25-year-old slugger with a chance at 25 homers and a regular role with average or better defense. The swing-and-miss is a hurdle and he’s had problems finding the barrel, but the power is plus to the pull side.

Wagner, 26, is a lefty-hitting infielder with no chance at shortstop, but he could stay on the field as a bat-first second baseman or utility player, though his fringe-average arm may limit the possibilities somewhat. He makes consistent contact and will draw a lot of walks, but his power ceiling is well below average. It’s also a fringe speed, so his value is all about getting on base. He’s the son of former closer Billy Wagner, making it strange thinking about ordinary arm strength.

Considering it’s two months of a mid-rotation arm, the Astros paid a hefty price, even if there isn’t a future all-star in the return package. On the surface, it appears Toronto received as much or more in this trade than did the Chicago White Sox in return for Erick Fedde, who has another year before free agency.

The Astros need Kikuchi to perform well to justify the cost, particularly if the club gets to the postseason and the lefty makes an impact there. There were better starters on the market, including Jack Flaherty, Blake Snell, and Garrett Crochet, but there’s also a chance GM Dana Brown isn’t done dealing yet.

Toronto has now moved Yimi Garcia, Justin Turner, and Kikuchi, adding young players, most of which are big-league ready.

TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)

Houston: 40
Toronto: 60

The post TRADE: Astros pay steep price to lease Kikuchi appeared first on Future Stars Series.

The American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians strengthened their outfield by adding Thomas in exchange for three prospects.

Thomas, 29, has put together back-to-back solid years at the plate, picking up his production this season after a slow start in Match/April.

Since returning from the IL on May 27, Thomas is batting .282/.363/.469 with 25 extra-base hits and is torching left-handed pitching to the tune of a 160 wRC+.

Thomas is a fringe defender despite above-average speed allowing him to steal bases. He had 20 swipes a year ago and enters play Tuesday with 28.

The Guardians acquired Thomas through next season and will pay him the balance of his $5.45 million arbitration deal. In 2025, Thomas’ salary could hit the $8-9 million range.

Heading back to Washington are left-hander Alex Clemmey and infielders Rafael Ramirez Jr. and Jose Tena.

Clemmey, 19, has a big fastball up to 99 mph and sitting comfortably 92-95 with hop up in the zone. He has two breaking balls, the curveball which is already above average and could be a plus offering in time. He’s mixing in a mid-80 slider and changeup, both flashing as future major-league offerings.

The 6-foot-6 Clemmey has one significant question mark and that;s his ability to find the strike zone consistently. In his 19 short-scripted outings this season — typically up to four innings as he builds arm strength and durability in his first pro season — Clemmey has issued three or more walks on eight occasions.

There’s real frontline upside here, however, and the reliever risk comes with a chance at high-leverage innings.

Tena, 23, made his big-league debut in June and has had a big year in Triple-A (.298/.353/.493, 17 HR in 90 games). It’s below-average shortstop defense but a chance at second or third base, though his offensive profile comes with plenty of risk thanks to high strikeout rates. The projection is a utility role, but more contact could bump that up a notch.

Ramirez is a 19-year-old, left-handed hitting shortstop with a chance to stay at the position, but his upside is bent on raw plus power. He’s struggled thus far in Single-A but owns good bat speed and a real shot at 20 homers down the road.

Thomas can hit anywhere in the order for Cleveland, solidifying the lineup and offering some stability through next season. The Nationals add upside to their system, led by a potential future No. 3 or better lefty in Clemmey.

Trade Grades (20-80 Scale)

Cleveland: 60
Washington: 55

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