Now Warming Up…MLB!

Let's start with the Opener.

***MLB trade deadline time.  There seem to be lots of buyers and few sellers.  With extra wild-card teams each postseason, and any team within a whiff of .500 seemingly in the hunt, 2024 will serve as an example of how difficult or expensive it will be for teams to improve their teams through trades. To this end, the Tampa Bay Rays received the Padres' top pitching prospect as well as two other minor league players for right-handed reliever Jason Adam. While having a solid season with a 2.49 ERA, Adam is a bullpen arm that normally wouldn’t cost in player capital what San Diego paid. Expect fewer trades.  What do you think?

Now to the Set Up Man. 

***Jazz Chisolm is an exciting player who got traded this week.  Getting sent to the NY Yankees from Miami should help the 26-year-old who has had some great moments on the field and a few not-so-great moments with teammates off of it.  But, Miami’s stadium stifles lefty hitters while Yankee Stadium is always prolific for them.  If Jazz can stave off the injuries he has had in the past, expect him to be a sparkplug for an offense that is strictly the Judge/Soto show.

Now the Closer.

Speaking of Marlins, Miami shortstop, Xavier Edwards became only the second player in team history to hit for the cycle.  Luis Arraez did it for the Fish last season, and now plays for the Padres.  The switch-hitting Edwards did it with his first career homer, as well.  Although hitting for the cycle is rare, is it MLB newsworthy?  So, Wyatt Langford of Texas and Yordan Alvarez of Houston have also hit for cycle this season, but is it a big deal?  I understand the excitement of a no-hitter, or three or more homers in a game.  Is it simply a glorified, albeit interesting, 4 for 4?

“Fans don’t boo nobodies,” Reggie Jackson once quipped.