CRISP TO INDIANS

Yes, trades can still be made. Here is how.

A player dealt before midnight, August 31st is eligible for the postseason.

Coco Crisp has been dealt to the Indians. The Athletics will receive Colt Hayne.

Crisp is a 36 year old, switch hitting outfielder who played for the Indians the first four seasons of his career including 2005 in one of his best all-around seasons (.300-16-69-86-15 with a career best .810 OPS). Crisp has appeared in 102 games and needs to appear in 130 to have his $13 million vesting option picked up, but it’s unclear how much playing time he would receive. Let’s look at his skills, and then the opportunity.

Crisp isn’t the player he once was, not close. A usual 25-30 steal guy, Crisp has stolen a mere nine bases over his last 146 contests. Speed is no longer part of his game. Over the 146 games he’s appeared in, since the start of last season, he’s really done nothing. Crisp has hit .220 with a .287 OBP, .356 SLG and a .280 wOBA. I know he recently popped off complaining that he wasn’t in the lineup, but Coco, you don’t deserve to be out there daily. To be inclusive, Crisp has 11 homers, 53 RBI and 56 runs scored in those 146 games as well. Not happening. He’s a reserve outfielder at this point and of no interest in mixed leagues.

The Indians usually have Lonnie Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin, Abraham Almonte and Rajai Davis out there in some form or another. It would seem likely that Crisp would be asked to platoon with Almonte during the regular season limiting his value to perhaps an even lower level than it had been with the Athletics for those of you in AL-only leagues. Note that Almonte is ineligible for the postseason after being suspended this season for 80-games for PED use.

There was once a 31-minute professional game. Read about it.

KERSHAW UPDATE

Clayton Kershaw update.

Kershaw has been on the shelf since June 26th with a herniated disk in his back. Tuesday he tossed a two inning simulated game and reports were pretty positive. "My guess is Kersh wants to pitch in a Major League game tomorrow, but with the time he's missed [two months], my guess is the next step will be a Minor League assignment," President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said. "It will take a little time to build him up to be strong through September and October as well. All of it is speculative."

Sounds like Kershaw will be make at least one start in the minors before hopefully a triumphant return in September. What a boost it would be to get back the best pitcher in baseball (yes, I got paid to write such a banal statement).

As an aside, it sounds likely that Julio Urias will not be starting for the Dodgers in October. Of course, that’s presumptuous since they need to get to the playoffs first. The question is, how many innings will he throw in September? My guess is not many. Though he is set to start Friday against the Padres, it’s possible he might not make another start this season. The 20 year old lefty is already at a career-high 108 innings, he barely hit 80 last season, and the Dodgers simply must think about the future with such a unique young talent. He has a 0.92 ERA his last four starts, so it’s too bad he won’t be turned loose this season.

BOYD DEMOTED, A SHORT TRIP?

Matt Boyd has been demoted to the minors according to the Tigers as the club has recalled lefty reliever Blaine Hardy to help out the pen. Sounds like the return to the majors could come as early as September 6th for Boyd, and it would be back into the Tigers rotation, though manager Brad Ausmus didn’t definitively say that would happen. Since the All-Star break Boyd owns a 5-0 record with a 2.64 ERA and 1.13 WHIP so obviously he doesn’t deserve to be in the minors. Are the innings a concern with the 25 year old? Here are his innings pitched marks the past two seasons (133.1 and 172) and this season (142.2). Doesn’t seem like innings should be an issue.

For what I’s worth, here is what the rotation of the Tigers looks like for now.

Wednesday vs. White Sox -- Justin Verlander

Thursday -- OFF DAY

Friday at KC -- Anibal Sanchez (normal rest)

Saturday at KC -- Michael Fulmer (six days rest)

Sunday at KC – Daniel Norris (normal rest)

Monday at White Sox -- Verlander (normal rest)

Tuesday at White Sox -- Boyd (seven days rest)

I’d expect Boyd back, and starting, soon, especially after another less than enthralling start by Daniel Norris Tuesday.

Josh Bell’s Player Profile.

DFS DIAMONDS

*The following list of players are guys that Ray recommends as daily plays.

CATCHER: Paul Clemens has a simply pathetic slash line against righties this season (.316/.381/.535). Tyler Flowers has hit .294 with a .366 OBP and .468 SLG versus righties this season with five homers in 126 at-bats.

FIRST BASE: Victor Martinez has a whopping 18 hits in 38 at-bats against Chris Sale. That’s a .474 batting average. He also has four homers leading to a .868 SLG. Yeah, BvP magic here.    

SECOND BASE: Look at those righties against Pat Dean this season (.335/.384/.547). Hell Hall of Fame. For the hitter. Not Dean of course. Jose Ramirez is hitting .342 with a .945 OPS in August as he’s stolen nine bases, hit five homers and scored 21 times in 29 games.

THIRD BASE: In 26 games in August Kyle Seager has a .305/.385/.484 slash line with four homers, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored. In 25 at-bats against Martin Perez he’s hitting .400 with three homers and a .760 SLG.

SHORTSTOP: Elvis Andrus has hit .305 with a .355 OBP in August. He’s always enjoyed success against Felix Hernandez with a .289 batting average, .350 OBP and five steals over 102 plate appearances.
  
OUTFIELD: Andrew McCutchen has hit .292 with a .400 OBP in August. He has a hit in 8-straight games. He has a .333 average, .667 SLG and three homers against Jason Hammel (36 ABs). Hammel has allowed 13 runs his last 5.2 innings.

OUTFIELD: Brandon Moss has a .618 SLG with 22 homers in a mere 228 at-bats against righties this season. Lefties are ripping up Matt Garza with a .313/.384/.430 slash line and he’s allowed eight homers his last 10 starts.

OUTFIELD: Adam Duvall faces Ricky Nolasco who has allowed righties to bat .308 with a .811 OPS. Over his last 10 games Duvall has hit .306 with a .395 OBP and .583 SLG as he’s gone deep twice with seven RBI and eight runs scored.    

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 11 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).