[ayaghmour2]

July 30th, 2018: We're down to 13th in the Power Rankings, and sit at 56-52 the day before the deadline.

Three trades were made, starting with the A's sending 2B Jed Lowrie to the Tigers for LHP Eudis Idrogo and SS Cole Peterson. This is a good deal for Detroit.

The Mariners sent 2B Jean Segura and LHP Teagan Welty to the Brewers for RHP Corbin Burnes and 1B Travis Shaw. I'm not sure what the Brewers were thinking here.

Atlanta traded 1B Adam Lind and RHP Lucas Sims to the Cardinals for RHP Adam Wainwright. It's a head scratcher for the Cardinals, not considering how good Sims has been in my Marlins franchise.

Will there be a fourth trade? Like I mentioned, I will be shopping Manny Machado today. Let's just say there are a lot of options to sort through. I spent a ton of time looking for a good deal, but nothing really made sense, and I'd try again tomorrow.

We were off to New York to face the Yankees, and we'd see Sonny Gray (5-8, 4.00 ERA) and Chance Adams' major league debut for a quick two game series.

July 31st, 2018: Happy Deadline Day! Three more deals were made today before I made my possible moves.

Atlanta sent RHP Mike Foltynewicz and C Alex Jackson to the Nationals for RF Adam Eaton. I like this deal for the Nats.

The A's sent C Jonathan Lucroy to the Red Sox for LHP Jay Groome and CF Danny Mars. This actually looks like a steal for Boston, although they have a ton of catchers.

The White Sox sent RHP Danny Farquhar to the Blue Jays for LHP Danny Young. I like this deal for both teams.

The Blue Jays offered me Aaron Sanchez for Machado and let me tell you, it had me intrigued...

So I decided to make a blockbuster deal, sending 3B Manny Machado, 1B Cam Kneeland, and RF Joey Rickard to the Blue Jays for SP Aaron Sanchez, CF Kyle Lewis, CF Anthony Alford, CL Zack Jackson, and 1B P.K. Morris.

This is a lot to swallow:

First, Sanchez is the best player in MLB history plain and simple. I'm also looking to extend him as soon as humanly possible.

Anthony Alford is the next big piece, and you may remember him from my Marlins franchise. He's better here, a 2.5/4 with elite center field defense, top notch speed, and a solid bat with an plus plus eye. He's got limited big league at bats this year, but I have high hopes for him as I look to change the culture of the Orioles organization. He's currently the 77th overall prospect and 4th in my organization.

The injured Kyle Lewis (severe hip strain for 1 week left) is also a familiar name from my Marlins dynasty, and is rated a 1/3.5. He's got an elite bat with a solid glove and average speed, although he needs to work on limiting his strikeouts.

Zack Jackson is a 23-year-old closer with 3* potential and a starters arsenal with reliever stamina. He's got a crazy good curve ball and elite stuff as a whole, but has a little issue with his control. It's not terrible, but it's a little below average. He hits 93-95 with his plus-plus fastball and can upset timing with his plus change up.

Finally, P.K. Morris is a prospect who screams Baltimore Oriole. THe 19-year-old power hitting first basemen is rated a 3* potential with a bat that can carry him to the bigs. The former 14th Rounder in last years draft is a lot like Trey Mancini if he was a lefty.

I basically got all that for a 3 month rental and two veteran minor leaguers. I'd say A+ GM skills and if this happened in real life I'd hate the Blue Jays front office like most of the fan base already does, and run to my computer to purchase a Baltimore Orioles Aaron Sanchez shirt.

Roster moves: Outrighted Gorkys Hernandez to AAA, optioned Alford to AAA, place Sanchez on the active roster, designated Darren O'Day for assignment, purchased the contract of SS Erick Aybar.

And Sanchez thinks it's too early for a big extension.

The new Oriole (6-6, 4.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) opened the series against Sonny Gray (5-8, 4.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) as we started the series in New York. We scored 4 in the 9th to take the opener 6-4.

Sanchez went just 4.2 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 strikeouts. Gabriel Ynoa tossed 2.1 innings out of the pen with 2 hits and a run. Brad Brach got the win, getting the final out of the 8th, and Zach Britton struck out the side to earn his 9th save.

Jonathan Schoop was 1-for-5 with a two run homer. Delino DeShields was 1-for-5, but hit a grand slam in the 9th. Tim Beckham was 2-for-4. Ruben Tejada replaced Machado at short, and was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Mark Trumbo was 2-for=3 with a double.

I got the achievement "1-2-3, Struck out the Side" for Britton's performance.

August 1st, 2018: Down in Bowie, SP Chris Lee was Pitcher of the Month, going 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in 6 starts with 33 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.

We looked to finish the two game sweep with Carlos Rodon (0-1, 4.38 ERA, 1.70 WHIP) facing Mashiaro Tanaka (10-5, 3.97 ERA, 1.12 WHIP). Erick Aybar manned short and hit 9th in his Orioles debut. The Yanks got 5 in the third and won 9-3 to earn the split.

Rodon allowed 5 in 2.2 innings with 6 hits, 3 walks, and a strikeout. Ynoa allowed 2 runs off 4 hits in 0.2 innings. Shawn Armstrong tossed 2.2 perfect frames with 2 punch outs. Bruce Rondon allowed a run, got a strikeout, gave up a hit, and walked two. Nick Hagadone tossed 1.2 innings with a hit, run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

Adam Jones was 2-for-3 with a walk and solo homer. Tim Beckham was 3-for-4 with a double and run scored. Aybar was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

We're off to Texas for four against the Rangers. We'll see former Oriole Wade Miley (5-6, 4.96 ERA), Stoly Pimentel (2-3, 6.81 ERA), Cole Hamels (7-8, 4.68 ERA), and Martin Perez (5-8, 5.30 ERA).

August 2nd, 2018: The Brewers SP C.C. Sabathia is out for the year with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. This may end the 38 year olds career, as the impending free agent likely won't sign another big league deal in the offseason. If this marks the end for the big lefty, he'll finish his career 241-151 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 2,923 strikeouts in exactly 3,400 innings.

Alex Cobb (5-5, 4.02 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) opened the sereis at Glove Life Park in Arlington against former teammate Wade Miley (5-6, 4.96 ERA, 1.56 WHIP). The Rangers bested us 7-4 to start the four game set.

Lewis Brinson left with a sprained ankle, but he won't head to the DL. I'll monitor his injury.

Cobb went 5.2 innings, allowing 11 hits, 5 runs, and he struck out just 1. Shawn Armstrong allowed a run off 2 hits in 0.1 innings. Aaron Bummer allowed a run in an inning with 2 hits and 2 strikeouts.

Delino DeShields Jr. was 3-for-5 with a steal and a pair of RBI's. Max Stassi was 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI. Tim Beckham was 1-for-3 with a run scored, driven in, and walk. Mark Trumbo was 2-for-4. All 9 of our hits were singles.

August 3rd, 2018: We looked to stop the skid with Kevin Gausman (8-5, 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) taking on Stolmy Pimentel (2-3, 6.81 ERA, 1.74 WHIP). We got three in the ninth to even the series with a 4-2 win.

Mark Trumbo left with an injury and we will await the diagnosis.

Gausman went 7, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and he struck out 2. Brach got the win, now 9-2 while walking 2 and striking out 1 in the 8th. Britton got the save, a walk and strikeout in the 9th.

Tim Beckham was 1-for-3 with a solo shot, his 24th of the year. He was also hit by a pitch. Aybar was 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. Caleb Joseph was 1-for-4 with a two run homer off Alex Claudido with 2 outs in the 9th. Trey Mancini was 1-for-3 with a double and walk.

Twins SP Kyle Gibson tossed a 6-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the Rays. Giants 3B Evan Longoria was 5-for-6 in a 8-6 win over the D'Backs.

I outrighted O'Day to AAA.

August 4th, 2018: Trumbo is headed to the DL with a strained back. I have a claim on an infielder, so I will bring up Donnie Hart until the claim goes through (or becomes invalid).

We looked to take the series lead with Mike Wright (6-2, 2.81 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) battling Cole Hamels (7-8, 4.68 ERA, 1.49 WHIP). Texas fought back and took the third game 8-2.

Wright went 5.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 4 walks, and he struck out just 1 hitter. Mychal Givens allowed 4 runs off a hit and 3 walks while getting just 1 out. Hart went 1.2 innings with a hit, walk, and strikeout.

Delino DeShields Jr. was 2-for-4 with a steal and run scored against his former team. Lewis Brinson was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Max Stassi was 1-for-3 with a double and walk.

August 5th, 2018: We looked to earn the split with Aaron Sanchez (6-6, 4.74 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) taking on Martin Perez (5-8, 5.30 ERA, 1.40 WHIP). We couldn't support our young stud, and we were shutout 1-0 after Carlos Santana reached with a walk off error by Jonathan Schoop.

Sanchez had a shaky game, going 5.1 innings with just 1 hit and 6 strikeouts, but he walked 7. Brach was charged with the unearned run, and he allowed a hit, struck out a hitter, and walked one, in an inning of work.

Adam Jones was 2-for-4. Ruben Tejada was 1-for-3 with a double. Delino DeShileds was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Phillies CF Odubel Herrera went 5-for-8 in a 8-7 ectra innings win over the Marlins. He walked it off wtih an RBI single in the 15th.

Well, that didn't go as planned, but we get tomorrow off. I optioned Aaron Bummer to AAA to eventually make room for my waiver claim.