Bertz

Sean Newcomb since coming off the IL (and I believe a trip to the pitch lab?): 15.1 IP, 6 H, 9 BB, 20 K, 1.76 ERA Control still a bit spotty, but really strong stuff. I don't have the exact numbers, but a lot more groundballs than he's gotten even at his best. I'd really consider putting him in the MLB rotation down the stretch. It's probably not going to go anywhere, but there's enough there to give it a shot and find out. Plus with the likely innings limitations on Steele and Thompson running a six man rotation the last two months probably isn't the worst idea.

I swear I'm not just going to post Canario's updated line every night but he's now up to .241/.323/.530 at AA. Walk rate now over 10% to boot.

Chris Martin has only pitched once in the last two weeks. Pretty weird. He pitched a ton the few weeks before that, I kind of wonder if he's hurt.

Amaya killing it for the rest of the year at Tenn would make this offseason a lot easier

Also Canario has another walk and another dong

Oppo!

Very fun night unfolding in South Bend so far - Luis Devers with 6 hitless innings, only 2 Ks if we're nitpicking - Caisse 3/3 with a dong - PCA 2/4 with a double and a dong - Pinango 1/3 with a double

Good Kilian came out to play tonight

My reaction to Jed somehow acquiring both James Wood and Luis Campusano

He would get absolutely manhandled by Zach Wheeler tonight, and I don't think that helps anybody. Definitely start him every game against lefties, but I'm fine relegating him to bad righties until he shows he's ready for more.

I'd rather Ross play matchups than chase hot streaks. Probably across the board but certainly for a guy who's probably not actually major league ready.

This type of verbiage usually is shortly followed by a completed deal. Might literally just be a matter of Benintendi agreeing to get vaxxed.

A smidge more than a lot at #13

Following up now that FG is updated. Canario at AA by month May - .199/.233/.415, 3.5% BB, 34.9% K, 62 wRC+ June - .228/.284/.489, 7.8% BB, 26.5% K, 92 wRC+ July - .327/.464/.727, 20.3% BB, 15.9% K, 205 wRC+ I feel like Jackie Chiles describing his hot streaks: stupendous, outrageous, preposterous.

Canario up to .240/.315/.520 at AA. And the BB/K numbers are improving rapidly including 14 BB and 11 Ks here in July

Morel's approaching 250 PAs and still doing awesome things. Rapidly approaching the point where we don't need to hedge every time we talk about his future with the team. Conversely I don't love Steele's lack of velo tonight. I'm sure him and Thompson are starting to get gassed but figured the ASB would at least temporarily alleviate that.

Ohh, not park adjusted. Myrtle Beach is a pitcher-friendly ballpark. SB too right, or is that just early in the year when it's cold? I think only Iowa is especially hitter friendly, and even it's not crazy like Colorado Springs or some of the former Cal League parks

Have to assume Wieck gets cut this winter now. Miley might get a rehab start in before the TDL, so maybe he does actually get dealt?

The Phillies are now clearly going to dong him into oblivion tonight

Yeah the Guardians list is so deep, I cut myself off but could have gone 8-10 deep there. I *really* hope they are in on Contreras and/or Robertson. The Dodgers list is too, but with them being probably only in on the relievers you have to limit to 2nd/3rd tier guys (and their system is so good those are still quality guys!). I think my ideal at this point would be Happ for Waldichuk or one of the Padres' guys, Contreras (and probably Martin?) for Rocchio and Curry, and Robertson for one of the Twins' bats.

As I try to coast into the weekend by avoiding work, I've found an assortment of prospects I like from teams that are good fits with the Cubs at the trade deadline. I listed their FG prospect rankings, though generally I looked at what both FG and MLB.com had to say about them. Most of these guys below are 45 FVs or better by Fangraphs' methodology. For those that aren't familiar, a 40 FV is a typical org Top 30 prospect, a 45 FV is an org Top 10, a 50 is an industry Top 100 guy, and a 55 FV is industry Top 40ish. There are higher grades, but those are mega prospects and we're not getting any of those this deadline, this year only Soto and mayyybe Luis Castillo will net that kind of return. I laid this out earlier in the thread, but I expect Robertson to bring back a 45 and a 40, Contreras to bring back a 50 and a 45, and Happ to bring back approximately what Contreras and Robertson are worth combined. Also used spoiler tags to keep this post from being a slog to scroll through Guardians Twins Padres Dodgers Yankees Mets/Giants/Jays Honestly, I don't like any of these teams' prospects enough for them to be my preferred options on a deal, or at least a bigger deal for one of Contreras/Happ/Robertson. For example Brett Baty is fun, but is he worth burning probably both Contreras and Robertson to acquire? Nope. It's a shame because with their needs and the Cubs' inventory they're strong fits on a trade, especially the Mets. They may have guys who've popped this year and would be worthwhile (e.g. Kilian last year), but looking at the current prospect lists doesn't offer many compelling matches.