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Young Drachma · 10-31-2024, 03:10 AM

MOVE #6 - JULY 25, 2061
Cardinals (71-41, +0.5, 2nd Seed)

I changed my mind about holding onto this move for late-season insurance. With our strong position - now leading Cincinnati by half a game and guaranteed the #2 seed in our ladder-style playoff format - I decided to be aggressive and use our final move before the deadline. We send Terrance Adkins (#5 prospect in baseball), along with two other Top 100 prospects in CF Dusty Fergus (#195) and 2B Olier Johansson (#99) to the Yankees in exchange for All-Star infielder Sandy Cook and veteran pitcher Joachim De Los Santos.

Cook (.324/.423/.470, 13 HR, 8 SB) is a significant addition - a 3-time All-Star having a 5 WAR season who can play multiple infield positions. He's arbitration eligible but controllable, making this more than just a rental move. We also got them to include De Los Santos (8-10, 3.84 ERA, 150 IP) in his walk year to add pitching depth.

The prospect cost is steep - headlined by one of baseball's elite prospects in Adkins - but this feels like the right balance between going for it now while still maintaining long-term stability. Taking Cook's arbitration rights means this isn't purely a win-now move, and his versatility gives us lots of lineup options.

The standings show why this move made sense - we've edged ahead of Cincinnati by half a game, the Cubs have fallen 8 games back, and we're actually ahead of everyone except the Mets (74-40) in winning percentage. Getting Cook could be the difference-maker in avoiding the longer playoff path through the ladder format.

I hate using our last move this early (July 25th), but sometimes you have to strike when the right deal presents itself. Between this and our earlier Padres trade, we've significantly upgraded the roster for the stretch run without mortgaging everything for rentals.

AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division: Toronto (59-53) holding slim lead over Baltimore (1.5) and Cleveland (2.0)
Central Division: Minnesota (63-51) ahead of Carolina by 2.0
Western Division: Sacramento (64-49) comfortable with 4.5 game lead
Southern Division: Nashville dominating at 69-43, up 7.5 on Houston

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division: Mets pulling away at 74-40, 10.5 ahead of Philadelphia
Central Division: We've taken the lead (71-41) by half a game over Cincinnati (71-42), Cubs 8.0 back
Western Division: Giants (57-56) barely above .500 but leading
Mountain Division: Salt Lake (59-53) up 2.5 on Colorado

The Mets remain the team to beat overall, but we're sitting with the second-best record in baseball and in prime position to avoid the ladder format's gauntlet by securing one of the top seeds. The Yankees (52-60) being 7 games out in the AL East likely helped make them willing to deal Cook despite his strong season.

10-31-2024, 03:10 AM	#7
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	MOVE #6 - JULY 25, 2061 Cardinals (71-41, +0.5, 2nd Seed) I changed my mind about holding onto this move for late-season insurance. With our strong position - now leading Cincinnati by half a game and guaranteed the #2 seed in our ladder-style playoff format - I decided to be aggressive and use our final move before the deadline. We send Terrance Adkins (#5 prospect in baseball), along with two other Top 100 prospects in CF Dusty Fergus (#195) and 2B Olier Johansson (#99) to the Yankees in exchange for All-Star infielder Sandy Cook and veteran pitcher Joachim De Los Santos. Cook (.324/.423/.470, 13 HR, 8 SB) is a significant addition - a 3-time All-Star having a 5 WAR season who can play multiple infield positions. He's arbitration eligible but controllable, making this more than just a rental move. We also got them to include De Los Santos (8-10, 3.84 ERA, 150 IP) in his walk year to add pitching depth. The prospect cost is steep - headlined by one of baseball's elite prospects in Adkins - but this feels like the right balance between going for it now while still maintaining long-term stability. Taking Cook's arbitration rights means this isn't purely a win-now move, and his versatility gives us lots of lineup options. The standings show why this move made sense - we've edged ahead of Cincinnati by half a game, the Cubs have fallen 8 games back, and we're actually ahead of everyone except the Mets (74-40) in winning percentage. Getting Cook could be the difference-maker in avoiding the longer playoff path through the ladder format. I hate using our last move this early (July 25th), but sometimes you have to strike when the right deal presents itself. Between this and our earlier Padres trade, we've significantly upgraded the roster for the stretch run without mortgaging everything for rentals. AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS Eastern Division: Toronto (59-53) holding slim lead over Baltimore (1.5) and Cleveland (2.0) Central Division: Minnesota (63-51) ahead of Carolina by 2.0 Western Division: Sacramento (64-49) comfortable with 4.5 game lead Southern Division: Nashville dominating at 69-43, up 7.5 on Houston NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS Eastern Division: Mets pulling away at 74-40, 10.5 ahead of Philadelphia Central Division: We've taken the lead (71-41) by half a game over Cincinnati (71-42), Cubs 8.0 back Western Division: Giants (57-56) barely above .500 but leading Mountain Division: Salt Lake (59-53) up 2.5 on Colorado The Mets remain the team to beat overall, but we're sitting with the second-best record in baseball and in prime position to avoid the ladder format's gauntlet by securing one of the top seeds. The Yankees (52-60) being 7 games out in the AL East likely helped make them willing to deal Cook despite his strong season.