The state of the trade market

Like Choice earlier another example of poor overall roster maintenance. When I say that I am referring to keeping both these marginal players on 40 man roster tying up a spot that forced some earlier difficult and possible bad long term decisions.

You originally said DFA'ing Choice was poor roster management, not keeping him on the roster. So, you're changing your tune. And, as I correctly noted before, DFA'ing Choice wasn't "poor overall roster maintenance;" it was good overall roster maintenance. Choice had a terrible year last year, is not a good defensive outfielder, and was having a bad year in AAA. So, he couldn't help the Rangers this year, and was a perfect player to remove from their 40-man roster.

However, if you want to now make the case keeping Choice on the roster earlier was a mistake, I would agree with that.

The Dodgers have just acquired Chase Utley for two unnamed minor leaguers most definitely not named Corey Seager, Julio Urias, Alex Verdugo, Jose Peraza, or Grant Holmes. With Howie Kendrick out with a hamstring for probably until mid-September at the earliest, Utley immediately becomes the Dodger's second baseman, re-uniting with his old keystone partner, Jimmy Rollins. Considering top prospect Peraza didn't look ready, and Alex Guerrero is a terrible 2nd baseman, the trade is a huge pickup for the Dodgers, particularly since they also kept him away from division rival the Giants, who were strongly pursuing Utley.

For the Phils, it marks another end of an era, as Utley, despite his many games missed due to injuries, was one of their greatest and most-beloved players. It also allows them to fully hand over the 2b job over to Cesar Hernandez, who has played well this season, if not yet showing his base-stealing abilities.

I didn't see this on my Twitter. First time I got news here first, lol. Thank goodness the Giants didn't land him.

Twitter did mention: Utley vs. Javier Lopez 0 for 20, 2 walks.

With Kendrick out a good pickup for LA. And as strether points out without giving up the cream of the crop.

Is this a done deal though. Both the Phillies and Dodgers web sites are still saying they are closing in on a deal.

Maybe a little early to be thinking of next year, but anyone know the contract status for Utley and Kendrick?
Is there any chance Guerrero becomes odd man out and gets traded over the winter?

Dodgers were shopping Guererro prior to the trade deadline. As for Kendrick, it's a no brainer. They make the qualifying offer and either he accepts or they get a draft pick. What I find hard to understand is how they failed to land a strong setup relief pitcher!

It's an equal no brainer for Kendrick to turn down a QO.

It's an equal no brainer for Kendrick to turn down a QO.

Perhaps, but if you're the front office wouldn't you play it that way?

I would make the qualifying offer but I have seen several instances of teams not extending that offer.
Seems like an automatic thing when the player is even in the ballpark of being worth the money and player is virtually certain to turn it down.

Rangers playoff hopes got a little brighter last night as Holland went a little over 6 innings and pitched well for first game back. If Perez also continues to do well that rotation starts to look quite acceptable.
Lewis, Hamils, Gallardo, Holland, Perez. I will take that most any year. Now if Diekman and Dyson's arms do not fall off from over use ......

The Dodgers have just acquired Chase Utley for two unnamed minor leaguers most definitely not named Corey Seager, Julio Urias, Alex Verdugo, Jose Peraza, or Grant Holmes. With Howie Kendrick out with a hamstring for probably until mid-September at the earliest, Utley immediately becomes the Dodger's second baseman, re-uniting with his old keystone partner, Jimmy Rollins. Considering top prospect Peraza didn't look ready, and Alex Guerrero is a terrible 2nd baseman, the trade is a huge pickup for the Dodgers, particularly since they also kept him away from division rival the Giants, who were strongly pursuing Utley.

For the Phils, it marks another end of an era, as Utley, despite his many games missed due to injuries, was one of their greatest and most-beloved players. It also allows them to fully hand over the 2b job over to Cesar Hernandez, who has played well this season, if not yet showing his base-stealing abilities.

Well, the Phillies received the two players from the Dodgers, and have already called one of them up: Inf. Darrell Sweeney, who was the Dodgers' #16 prospect. Sweeney's primary position is 2b, but he can play all three infield positions and cf in a defensively average manner...although a bit below average at short. His best asset is his solid bat. He was voted as having the best strike-zone discipline in the AA Southern League last year, and he has some usable pop and speed. So, he is unlikely to challenge Hernandez at 2b, but could be a solid bat-first utility man like current Phillie Andres Blanco.

The second player, Rhp John Richy isn't a bad pickup either. The Dodgers' 24th ranked prospect, and last year's 3rd rd pick out of UNLV, Richy doesn't throw particularly hard, but consistently throws strikes and has a developed repertoire. So, he has solid back-of-the-rotation potential.

Considering Utley wasn't going to supplant Hernandez, was at the end of his career, and they shaved 2 mil off their debt to him, this was a nice deal for Amaro...and I (or anybody else) rarely get to say that phrase...

The Giants added another piece to their playoff hunt by acquiring veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd from Cincinnati for minor league reliever Stephen Johnson. With both Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence on the DL, Byrd will be a welcome addition and will play mostly lf, with Aoki moving to right, until Pence comes back. When Pence does return, Byrd will immediately become their top pinch hitter against lefties--whom he has always owned--and a valuable veteran presence on the bench.

This move is classic Sabean. Besides swindling Hunter Pence from Philadelphia at the deadline in 2012, and woefully giving away Zack Wheeler for 1/2 a year of Carlos Beltran in 2011, Sabean's mid-season moves have usually been pragmatically small ones specifically identifying players for specific needs, who would not be greatly missed by their current teams, and hence would not cost the Giants much: players like Marco Scutaro, Javy Lopez, Jake Peavy, and Mike Leake.

As for the Reds, they add another quality arm to their farm system; this time for a player they no longer needed, who would be leaving in the winter. Johnson wasn't one of the Giants top 30 prospects at the beginning of the year, but he worked on his mechanics and consistently threw in the low-mid 90's in AA this year and has a decent power-curve. So, he has definite middle/long relief potential for the Reds.