kruker wrote:

Ace Rothstein wrote:With 3 off days in the next 8 days, they won’t need a 5th starter until the BSG game 8/3....I wonder if they IL Eflin to give him some rest from him feeling “heavy” and bring up another bat for the time being, especially if they feel segura needs a day or 2 off

I still don't get the questions around Eflin's comment. Was blistering hot out. Doesn't seem to me like a reflection on his conditioning. Expect he's totally fine and just struggled with the heat.

Post game comments are way over analyzed that's why. It was what like 95 degrees and humid. That's why he felt "heavy".

kruker wrote:

Ace Rothstein wrote:With 3 off days in the next 8 days, they won’t need a 5th starter until the BSG game 8/3....I wonder if they IL Eflin to give him some rest from him feeling “heavy” and bring up another bat for the time being, especially if they feel segura needs a day or 2 off

I still don't get the questions around Eflin's comment. Was blistering hot out. Doesn't seem to me like a reflection on his conditioning. Expect he's totally fine and just struggled with the heat.

tbf he admitted it's been going on for a little while and that he was gassed after acuna's 13-pitch ab to leadoff the game in one of his recent starts.

BatFlipsFTW wrote:

kruker wrote:

Ace Rothstein wrote:With 3 off days in the next 8 days, they won’t need a 5th starter until the BSG game 8/3....I wonder if they IL Eflin to give him some rest from him feeling “heavy” and bring up another bat for the time being, especially if they feel segura needs a day or 2 off

I still don't get the questions around Eflin's comment. Was blistering hot out. Doesn't seem to me like a reflection on his conditioning. Expect he's totally fine and just struggled with the heat.

Post game comments are way over analyzed that's why. It was what like 95 degrees and humid. That's why he felt "heavy".

Did you even read the comments Eflin and Gabe said after his start Saturday?

That he feels heavy?

Old friend Bobby Nightengale says Phillies keeping close tabs and scouting Greinke and Ray.

That's the deal to make for this year and next but no Bohm, Stott, Moniak, or Howard

Ace Rothstein wrote:

BatFlipsFTW wrote:

kruker wrote:

Ace Rothstein wrote:With 3 off days in the next 8 days, they won’t need a 5th starter until the BSG game 8/3....I wonder if they IL Eflin to give him some rest from him feeling “heavy” and bring up another bat for the time being, especially if they feel segura needs a day or 2 off

I still don't get the questions around Eflin's comment. Was blistering hot out. Doesn't seem to me like a reflection on his conditioning. Expect he's totally fine and just struggled with the heat.

Post game comments are way over analyzed that's why. It was what like 95 degrees and humid. That's why he felt "heavy".

Did you even read the comments Eflin and Gabe said after his start Saturday?

I guess I didn't.

*Ok, I did, but still not seeing much there. I don't know, still feel like the heat is being overlooked by the jackals jumping on him right now.

Robbie Ray is going to cost one of those to start with. I think they should stand pat, but if they are to make a move, it's Greinke. All you'll have to do is absorb his contract and he'll come relatively cheap.

Guys like Greene, Boyd, Ray, Bumgarner, Bauer, Minor, etc are going to cost a ton. It just makes very little sense for the Phillies to trade for one of them right now. Especially when they are several pitchers short, just acquiring one isn't going to rocket them into World Series contention.

What’s Howard say Brett?

ek wrote:

Titlehungry wrote:That's the deal to make for this year and next but no Bohm, Stott, Moniak, or Howard

agree.

What's the source of optimism around Moniak? Just age and level? I would think he's the perfect guy to trade, based on how other organizations may value him, when compared to the low probability of him actually contributing to the Phillies.

I'm most excited about the other 3. I'm also intrigued by Damon Jones.

He's really had a nice year and keeps getting better... as someone said he'll be 21 at AAA next year and if he keeps looking like he's figuring things out, he might be closer to what we thought we were originally getting... with our lack of prospects, i think I'd wait a bit on him

Shadow wrote:Robbie Ray is going to cost one of those to start with. I think they should stand pat, but if they are to make a move, it's Greinke. All you'll have to do is absorb his contract and he'll come relatively cheap.

Guys like Greene, Boyd, Ray, Bumgarner, Bauer, Minor, etc are going to cost a ton. It just makes very little sense for the Phillies to trade for one of them right now. Especially when they are several pitchers short, just acquiring one isn't going to rocket them into World Series contention.

Because of taking on the Greinke contract, i think you could get Ray too for something like Medina, Haseley, and one or two more 10-15 ranked prospects ... or maybe they like Nick Williams or take a flyer on Pivetta or VV in a deal

Going by sportrac, the Phillies have $67,848,718 of space under the luxury tax threshold in 2020 but only 10 players signed, one of those is a team option for Neshak at $7m, so assuming that is declined, its actually $74,848,718 with only 9 players under contract. If you add Grienke, he counts $35m against the tax in 20 and 21. So assuming Arizona doesn’t retain any salary in the deal, you’d be heading into 2020 with just under $40m in room under the tax and you’d need to sign 15 players. Not sure how the maths workout on all of that, but just wanted to put it out there for a frame of reference.

Robbie Ray will get around 10 million in arb too

Bill McNeal wrote:Going by sportrac, the Phillies have $67,848,718 of space under the luxury tax threshold in 2020 but only 10 players signed, one of those is a team option for Neshak at $7m, so assuming that is declined, its actually $74,848,718 with only 9 players under contract. If you add Grienke, he counts $35m against the tax in 20 and 21. So assuming Arizona doesn’t retain any salary in the deal, you’d be heading into 2020 with just under $40m in room under the tax and you’d need to sign 15 players. Not sure how the maths workout on all of that, but just wanted to put it out there for a frame of reference.

and need to extend Hoskins and Realmuto at some point

According to Steaks, Klentak is going to Detroit to watch Boyd pitch in person. Also mentioned their interest in Green as well.

Boyd will be the most expensive of the bunch I think. He's under control for a little while. But he doesn't have a lengthy track record of being this good. I think trading for him would be a risk, and I'd rather let another team take that risk. If you're going to go all in for a pitcher, I don't think Boyd is it.

One name aside from Greinke I may pursue: Zack Wheeler. He's hurt right now, and who knows if he comes back this season, but he'd be a future investment that you could potentially acquire at a very affordable price given his injury history and just hope he's healthy for you in future. I think trading for a talented injured pitcher on a discount is a better investment given where the Phillies are right now as an organization than paying a significant price for guys who are good, but aren't ace caliber and won't put you over the top this season.

Nola, Greinke, Wheeler heading into the winter while still keeping your farm in tact isn't a bad start to rebuilding this rotation for the future.

And yeah, trades within the division don't happen often, but the Phils and Mets traded last season. Just throwing it out there.

Wheeler is pitching Friday

lol then scratch that I guess. Saw an article a few days ago who said the Mets may look to move Wheeler who is on the DL with a shoulder injury.

Bill McNeal wrote:Going by sportrac, the Phillies have $67,848,718 of space under the luxury tax threshold in 2020 but only 10 players signed, one of those is a team option for Neshak at $7m, so assuming that is declined, its actually $74,848,718 with only 9 players under contract. If you add Grienke, he counts $35m against the tax in 20 and 21. So assuming Arizona doesn’t retain any salary in the deal, you’d be heading into 2020 with just under $40m in room under the tax and you’d need to sign 15 players. Not sure how the maths workout on all of that, but just wanted to put it out there for a frame of reference.

With guesses at arbitration and automatic re-signs, I estimate them with about $33M to spend for 2020. That assumes Neshek's option is bought out and a couple bullpen arms are at the minimum (after Robertson, Neris, Dominguez, Pivetta and Alvarez). The rotation in that scenario is Nola, Arrieta, Velasquez, Eflin and Eickhoff.

Arrieta can opt out after 2019, with only 2020 remaining as a guaranteed year at $25M.