Trade Deadline: My Journal As It Happened for the Dodgers

I spent Tuesday tracking the trade deadline and recording all rumors my reactions.  No editing other than spelling will be here.

• • 7:47 – I woke up and checked Twitter. Harper being traded in my ICYMI then next section says he is staying.
  • 7:51 – I flip on MLB TV and Tommy Pham going to Rays but not for Archer. I still want Archer.
  • 7:56 – Saw a tweet that Brewers are after Gio Gonzalez. Wait, what? Morosi thinks Nats are still open for business except for Harper
  • 7:59 – Heyman thinks Puig is in play. I don’t see it happening. Love to hear Giants looking at trading Cutch. Surrender is wonderful.
  • 8:03 – a definitive tweet in regards to Bryce Harper:

Mike Rizzo just reached out with this message:

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"Bryce is not going anywhere. I believe in this team."

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) July 31, 2018

• • 8:12 – just thinking, the whole Machado trade is exciting. However, I am not confident in the pitching staff. I wrote about it a few days ago: https://dodgersnation.com/building-a-world-series-winning-bullpen-by-august-tr0864/2018/07/30/. The last two games with Stripling and Maeda really freaked me out. Velocity and effectiveness down for both.
  • 8:18 – on MLB TV Rosenthal thinks Archer will be traded. Now Farhan!
  • 8:21 – the Astros are still awful for trading for Osuna.
  • 8:29 – Rosenthal and DeRosa talking a stand against Osuna trade
  • 8:33 – taking a break to get ready for work
  • 9:30 – work for a while
  • 9:50 – Ziegler to Dbacks. I want the Dodgers to have more ground ball relievers. Ziegler is nothing worth crying about but in most of the parks that the Dodgers will have to play in for the playoffs they play small with some big hitters. I want ground balls not fly balls.
  • 10:30 – Dan O’Dowd is on fire about Osuna
  • 10:47 – Listening in on MLB. Chris Russo is still worthless on that network. Just an unprepared big mouth. Fits in with Harold.
  • 11:00 – heading home to watch the last two hours
  • 11:20 – home and MLB network reporting the Orioles are making a trade.  No specifics. They are desperate for news.  So am I.
  • 11:26 – Morosi is playing Captain Obvious:

#Dodgers focused on adding a reliever in remaining time before today's 4 p.m. ET deadline. Only about 90 minutes to go. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018

• • 11:26 – Marlins trading Cameron Maybin to Mariners. Easily could have happened after the deadline through waivers. Super boring.
  • 11:35 – It’s been reported for a few hours now that Wilson Ramos is going the the Phillies. That would be an excellent “get”.

    

  • 11:37 – Still not much going on but remembering we got Manny Machado.
  • 11:44 – MLB talking Osuna again. Despicable! Their GM, Jeff Luhnow, is pitiful.
  • 11:50 – Mark Feinsand reporting Phillies are getting Wilson Ramos:

Source: Ramos to Phillis is a done deal.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 31, 2018

• • • 11:51 – Ramos is a good one for the Phillies.  Ramos and Pham are the best players traded so far today.
    • 11:57 – ESPN coverage is weak. Supposedly a Sports Center Special about the deadline and they are talking LeBron James and Carson Wentz.
    • 12:00 – Joel Sherman on MLB Network feels strongly that Archer will be traded. Now Farhan! Dodgers need more quality depth. So many bullpen options are questionable as I wrote about a few days ago.
    • 12:05 – It is being widely reported that the Nationals are trading Brandon Kintzler to the Cubs. If so, that means the Nationals might make more bullpen pieces available. Give me Doolittle or Herrera.
    • 12:10 – Joel Sherman saying Pirates in lead for Archer:

  #Pirates are in front for Archer with 52 minutes to go to deadline. Told that is way #Rays are leaning.

  — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2018

  • 12:17 – Jon Heyman reporting Braves in lead for Kevin Gausman:

as things stand now: braves may lead on gausman, pirates on archer (h/t @Joelsherman1). that could Harvey could wind up with brewers.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

I don’t feel impressed.

• • 12:19 – Mark Texeira is pitiful talking about Chapman and Osuna. Osuna was suspended for 75 games for domestic violence.  They talking about them not knowing details, but it is enough for him to be suspended for 75 games.
  • 12:23 – Ken Rosenthal is reporting Dodgers are close to acquiring Brian Dozier:

#Dodgers close to acquiring Brian Dozier from #MNTwins, sources tell me and @DanHayesMLB.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2018

• • 12:23 – Dozier has been bad but he is a second half hitter.  He’s above average in the field and could be a dynamic bat.
  • 12:25 – Still seeing that Pirates are in the lead for Archer. I like getting Dozier, if it happens, but still hoping for more arms.

    

  • 12:28 – Michael Duarte is reporting it’s Dozier for Forsythe and 2 prospects:

Sources believe the deal with #MNTwins for Dozier would send Logan Forsythe to MIN and two prospects.

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) July 31, 2018

• • • 12:29 – Harold Reynolds blaming platoons for Forsythe issues. It was injuries with many opportunities to get things fixed. I like Forsythe and wanted him to excel but, other than the end of last season, he didn’t.
    • 12:31 – LoFo, Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer to the Twins for Dozier. Smeltzer is a nice story and I wish them all the best, but this is a good risk.  Duarte again.
    • 12:34 – Rob Biertempfel saying Archer to Pirates. Dang!
    • 12:35 – Folks, we have some good action. Baseball nerds, rejoice!
    • 12:37 – Jeff Passan reporting it’s Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow for Archer. That’s a heavy price. No way Dodgers do something like that.
    • 12:39 – Gausman to the Braves. Whatever.
    • 12:42 – Another bullpen target is gone. Jake Diekman to D’backs. Still hoping for more arms for our Dodgers.
    • 12:43 – Duarte reporting Dodgers going after Blake “The Human Balk Machine” Parker: He was first, that I saw, with details of Dozier trade.

  Source: Talks are heating up between the #Dodgers and #TheHaloWay for Blake Parker.
  Stay Tuned.

  — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) July 31, 2018

  • 12:53 – Ben Nicholson-Smith reporting Dodgers get the great Oscar movies guesser, John Axford:

#BlueJays have agreed to trade John Axford to the Dodgers per source

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) July 31, 2018

• • 12:54 – Axford wasn’t what I was talking about. We’ll see.
  • 12:55 – Corey Copping to Jays per Mark Feinsand:

Source confirms Blue Jays trade John Axford to Dodgers for RHP Corey Copping.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 31, 2018

• • 12:55 – 5 minutes pass
  • 12:59 – per Bill Shaikin Axford LHBs are batting .147 against him:

John Axford is a RHP. This year, left-handers are batting .147 against him.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 31, 2018

• • 1:00 – not really time’s up because we are waiting for the last few to be announced.
  • 1:03 – The playoff roster is not frozen until August 31. Players can be still traded but they must now clear waivers. It is unbelievable that some bad teams did not take advantage of this panic time. Looking at Padres and Mets specifically.
  • 1:07 – Also, the Giants. My hope is they don’t make it under the tax threshold and still finish in 4th place.
  • 1:09 – Rosenthal reporting Schoop to Brewers:

Source: #Brewers get Schoop from #Orioles.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2018

• 1:11 – With Axford coming the Dodgers will need to make room on the 25 and 40 man roster.
• 1:14 – Braves also got Darren O’Day in the Gausman trade
• 1:18 – Darvish trade wasn’t announced until after 1:20 last year. Still waiting.
• 1:23 – pencils down for me. Back to work. Dodgers did well but I am not satisfied with the pitching. Hoping for some luck but Julio Urías could be a difference maker.