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2024 Trade Deadline Rumors and Discussion


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Nesbitt thinks it's a reliever now for a reliever later. Stavenhagen thinks Montalvo is a starter.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5669835/2024/07/30/mlb-trade-grades-andrew-chafin-tigers-rangers/

The trade

Texas Rangers get: LHP Andrew Chafin

Detroit Tigers get: RHP Chase Lee, RHP Joseph Montalvo


Stephen J. Nesbitt: The Rangers have had a bottom-10 bullpen by ERA this season, and adding a veteran lefty like Chafin will help bolster that unit. Chafin had a 1.35 ERA through May 7, and over the next month that number swelled to 5.40 because of three particularly bad outings. Since early June, though, Chafin has allowed only one run over 17 innings. He is a known commodity, exactly the type of arm teams target at the trade deadline. Chafin eviscerates lefties, and the AL West has some scary ones. Chafin has held left-handed hitters to a .474 OPS this season, compared to .756 OPS for righties. We’ve seen a few lefty relievers moved already this month — A.J. Puk, Jalen Beeks, Caleb Ferguson — and Chafin might be the most reliable of the bunch. His command is solid. He’s leaning on his slider more than ever this season, leading to a career-best strikeout rate (30.9 percent).

The Tigers, who enjoyed their first go-round with Chafin in 2022 so much that they brought him back in 2024, now acquire his expiring contract for a couple minor league arms. Baseball America has Montalvo ranked as the Rangers’ No. 19 prospect. Between Lee and Montalvo, there’s a decent chance the Tigers will one day get a capable reliever out of this deal.

Rangers: B
Tigers: B


Cody Stavenhagen: Chafin has had a nice bounce-back season after a down year in 2023. With a 34.4 percent whiff rate and a slider that is holding opposing hitters to a .132 average, he makes perfect sense for a Rangers bullpen in need of another left-handed weapon. The Rangers have an uphill climb to make the postseason, but Chafin is the type of durable arm who could take down important innings in their quest to get there. He even comes with a $6.5 million team option after the season the Rangers could pick up if all goes well.

Detroit gets back a pair of interesting right-handed arms. Lee averages 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings in relief over four years in the minors. Montalvo, currently a starter, has a riding fastball and a swing-and-miss slider that have helped him post a 2.63 ERA and solid strikeout rates in the minors. The Tigers believe in their ability to get the most out of pitchers, so getting two intriguing arms rather than one makes this a solid return.

Rangers: B+
Tigers: B

 

Edited by chasfh
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Just now, theroundsquare said:

on stavenhagen's podcast the other day, he was talking about grading trades with a B when you don't really know anything about anything 

Well, at least he's consistent.

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