Chombi

Makes sense from their surplus/blocking standpoint. Can't see him going to Seattle w/o pitching in return. Can't see him going anywhere for that matter. Relief pitching is what Kenny wants, I wish he'd get it elsewhere and not in the Garland deal but o well. I saw something on them being linked as one of the frontrunners in a Johan sweepstakes. http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2...ana_a_trade_sta Clement is uselss here. We just re-signed AJ and have Hall under contract. Balentin is not a lock to me for success. He has improved in the minors and recovered from his 06' showing but there is just something that makes me think of Edwin Encarnacion with more power. Idk what it is, but I just see him being someone who we regret dealing for. I think if we deal Garland there. Morrow has to be our starting point. Morrow and Balentin, go for it but they probably won't bite. I'd ask for Tillman and Bulter from them with any deal. If we can't land Morrow, there are better OF prospects that we can get for Garland. IE Carlos Gonzalez, Fernando Martinez or Carlos Gomez, Jose tabata, I am drawing a blank but I know Toronto has 3 very good OF's. Even Drew Stubbs from the Reds I bet is someone we can steal. The list goes on. Don't make any deal with Seattle unless it involves Morrow or Jones. If it's Balentin and Clement (which I doubt), maybe but Clement is useless for us w/o dealing someone else. Perhaps Thome or Paulie and move him to first.

I couldn't even sign up for WSI since I use a Yahoo email. I was on Southsiders.net for a while and enjoyed it. Good site. Some rediculous posters but they always bashed WSI too, so I didn't think it was ever a good place to go. I got banned from getting personal with a mod. I felt bad but at the same time, the situation was hypocritical and rediculous. I killed my classroom hours by posting there so I signed back up and it went well, I just didn't think my opinion was worth anything there anymore though so I stopped. Now I am here. I feel like this is an AA meeting or something in this thread. It's great.

Definately true. We have a lot of decent guys but no one at the top. Masterson is a guy I really like. Keeps it on the ground. Was it him though or Bowden we wanted though? Also, let's not forget that just because we add more arms that we can't subtract some in other deals. It's not like once you have them, you're stuck with them. Adding a higher quality arm benefits us and teams are more willing to deal more for arms. So trading away a C or low B level arm after acquiring a B-B+ arm wouldn't be a bad idea. Trading away a couple of our guys to get a decent hitting prospects seems logical. The quality over quantity thing is so true, especially for us.

A Twins team without Johan, Hunter and Nathan sounds all nice but what they'd get in return scares me. Hunter will walk. Grade A player, draft picks galore for a team that scouts and evaluates young talent with the best in baseball. Santana, same deal, but they seem more likely to want to deal him. Which means, they'll land basically any pick out of every teams top 5 prospects. It's mind blowing to think of him on a team like NYY. I would hope the pressure gets to him. Nathan, same again. Picks galore if they don't re-sign him. If they extend him and deal him, they can probably get two top prospects from most teams. Especially with this extreme value for bullpen that the league has taken to. Only thing is if a team that has a closer would get involved, you'd have to point at a Gagne situation or other situations of closers who struggle not being in that role. Nathan does have setup experience so maybe he'll be fine. None of those guys are overrated. I would take any of them on my team and whoever went crazy on Hunter and Santana is insane, but it was funny to read. Hunter on our team, I thought at first would be a boost to our morale. He is a thorne in our side in the division. I'd compare it to the Mavs acquiring Tim Duncan. Signing Hunter may not be the best idea, but it's not a bad one. BTW Playoff performance to me is overrated. I think it is more relivant in pitchers over hitters. I hate hearing it about AROD, I love hearing it about the Cubs though. lol. I am sorry but I am a firm believer in cycles. I'd say 60%, maybe more, of baseball players are guys who are streaky hitters. If a guy is hot the whole month of September and carries you into the playoffs, but hits .200 in the playoffs, he gets this crazy label of not being a winner. It's just insane to me. Most of the Rockies are hitting around .200 (Holliday, Tulowitski, etc.). It proves it is a team game and that this label is retarded. Holliday won the NLCS MVP hitting like that but hit like .380 or whatever the last month of the season. To me that is just as important cuz they wouldn't be here had he not. So far, he hit a couple homers but had his staff not been lights out, they would be somewhat meaningless. They now are in the World Series and if they win, I can't imagine people bagging on them. There is some substance to this choke-theory, but not much.

You missed this years tiny man of the year...Tim Lincecum. It seems we just doubt ourselves (the Sox) because we have failed to produce a guy with minor league numbers like his in a while. The ones we have usually ended up being a bust or whatever. We act as though he came out of nowhere and look for something to point out as to why he'll fail because we don't want to get our hopes up. If he was in another organization (again), and rumors were flying of a deal wit hthat organization, we would be pointing to him as a guy we want (as we did). Had we not lucked out in the first place that he fell to us in the supplemental part of the draft, after being proclaimed a potential problem from getting kicked off his HS team, he would be someone else's potential gem and I don't they would have as much pessimism towards him as some of our fans seem to have. I really don't get how our opinion seems to go down on him as he improves. He had a bad year in Philly but corrected his mechanics and what not before the AFL. Lots of people have been high on him regardless of his height and I think he can be a decent ML pitcher. Gonzalez was graded lower because of his emotion on the mound and his prone to giving up homers. He proved that theory wrong last season in the Arizona Fall League, which is a huge hitters league, and dominated. He wasn't forced to try and locate his change-up every game like the phillies had him doing. He fixed his leg kick, kept his fastball down and his breaking ball is still one of the best in the minors. If he learns to located his change-up, he can be very good for us. Look at guys like Johan who didn't finally understand how or when to throw his changeup until he was 22. Gonzalez is 21 and it seems to be coming along. If he can command it down the road, he would have 3 plus pitches and I can't see his size mattering. Anyways...I really hope we don't resign Rowand. Just gives me a bad feeling.

I agree with that. It's just the signing post-draft that is difficult. Boras is an asshole. Everyone knows that and he sometimes goes overboard to stick it to people. Take for instance the Arod signing in Texas. Supposedly, The Braves and Schuerholz were among the top (ironically Schuerholz took shots at him and the new Arod contract today - calling it and essentially Boras obnoxious and idiotic) to land Arod. They laughed at what Boras was demanding for Arod and if the word is true, the deal with Texas was for 250 mil. He insisted on 252 just to exactly double the Braves offer (supposedly 2nd best) and sent an email to Schuerholz saying "You just don't get it". It's that kind of thing that a bad relationship with him can lead to where maybe he tells a drafted player to hold out and just go to college or indy league and wait for the next seasons draft. If you can get the guy in and signed immediately, then by all means, it makes sense because you don't have to deal with him for years. If not, then stay away as lots of teams did this season. He had a few guys drop several spots this season and even with Scherzer two seasons ago. Some say it may have been him being injured at Mizzou but I think moreso it was a Boras thing that kept him out of the top 3, where most experts had him going for years. If the Sox had any chance at getting him. Why not, he definately gives us a grade A prospect IMO.

They would deal Kendrick for DLS, Gio, and Kong. I don't know if your not high on those two but I doubt the Angels would pass up two good looking pitchers and Konerko for Howie Kendrick. I think Paulie could land Kendrick this year but the older he gets, the less likely it gets. I do agree that he is an incredible hitter. I think he will win a batting title when it is all set and done. I just don't see him as an off-limits guy. His defense is solid, his baserunning is average. His gap power is great but he doesn't have longball power. He hardly draws walks although if he hits .350 so be it. He doesn't hit well with runners in scoring position so I wouldn't crown him basically the next Ichiro or anything yet. He can flat out put the ball in play and hit. I love the guy but I don't see him developing into much more then a pure hitter and I don't see him being untouchable.

One thing I'd like to say...I know it's stupid logic but it's a gut feeling I have. Part of me felt after that there may be other deals with them in the future. We made that midseason deal with them and it seems as though we have a good relationship. They, like the Mets, seem to have the most OF prospects at their disposal. When we first dealt Young, I wanted to land Gonzalez from them. Didn't happen. Deadline, I was hoping a Garland or Buehrle deal would be struck with them to land a handful of prospects. Didnt happen. Today, those feelings were brought back to thre forefront with an article I read (and posted in the Konerko Speculation thread) where a reporter suggested that they will deal for a SP because of Randy Johnsons uncertainty. They came so close and I can honestly see them trying to land a SP. Regardless of our opinions on Garland, we all watched Lilly go to the NL and basically be a stud. Garland could do the same seeing that he has one of the best sinkers in baseball. Big ballpark in Zona and an expiring contract incase it doesnt work out could be something that intrigues the Dbacks. Anyway, I wouldn't be suprised if they over-trade to land a SP simply out of surplus. A Quentin or Gonzalez I'd assume would be in a deal. I have seen Conor Jackson's name tossed out there but I would prefer a Gonzalez. If we were able to work out a deal with them of Garland and a prospect for a Gonzalez and something would help get the taste of Young out of our mouths. If another few good years from Javy doesn't. Us coming out on top of a deal like this simply because of them having their OF filled until 2010 would be nice.

** I haven't heard or seen the rumor anywhere else so I wouldn't be surprised if Boers made it up. Or instead of made it up, he probably suggested it. I've looked and tried to find it through prosportsdaily's newspapers and other websites but just haven't seen anything. **Stoneman leaving I think will go 50/50 for what can happen. They can bring in a "Steve Phillips" like GM who will trade anything to win now, which I would assume any newly hired GM would try to do. Start out throwing all your chips in the pot and if it pans out, youre secure and crowned king of the respected city. Especially with the Angels having a few older vets and with that division gaining in respectability. They have the prospects to deal and could have deals pan out in their favor for immediate success. It could backfire and they could hire a statistics head, build through your organization type guy. Which if so, I wouldn't be surprised to see them deal nothing. **I did see today that the Dbacks are interested in potentially acquiring a SP. Garland and the Sox, I would assume have to be in on the talks if they are serious. There is no room for Carlos Quentin or Carlos Gonzalez with Byrnes, Upton and Young. I wouldn't think it's rocket science to try and work out a deal starting with Quentin and/or Gonzalez (I prefer Gonzalez) and maybe finishing with Max Scherzer. I can't see them doing it but with how close they got last season, why not? Callapso, a 2b prospect has been compared to Kendrick for his constant contact. May not be a bad guy to go after either. Scherzer is a Boras client so I highly highly doubt it, I just went to college with him so I know he is a stud and would love to have him in our organization. We seem to have a good relationship with the Dbacks for deals so I wouldn't be surprised if we are among the top on their list. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/99698

Well, I don't see the Sox wanting a sneak peak at what BA has to say. Obviously, the 06' list reflects 05' results but unless the Sox are so dumb and desperate that they asked for one of the first copies, I'd say you're right. However, judging off experience, past membership, and even this years list, it's easy to notice the date up in the corner that says February 28th. Like most years, when they wait until after Winter ball and what not to release the list. So trade in December, they'd be going off an 05' list and their own assesment of that 05' season, not a BA list that wasn't out yet and that I highly doubt they give a flying **** about.

Completely agree with you.

Thats what I thought too...It's not a secret Boras lives on the westcoast and according to guys like Bill Platchke, he and Art Moreno have some sort of male eye sex going on at home games. Boras supposedly turns and like winks at him when Vladdy get's walked and all kind of weird nonsense. Boras also goes to every home Dodger and Angel game so he has close ties to both owners which is why they suspect the Angels to be the new frontrunners. And it's not even so much he doesn't see a "20 mil player" on their roster, it's moreso that he said he has a top 3 player in baseball and is only paying him 14 mil or whatever. He said it wouldn't look right and wouldn't do that to Vlad. The money spending can always change, it seems like he has a lot of respect for Vlad and wouldn't want to pay double for Arod, that in Moreno's eyes isn't twice the player. That I can't changing.

Ok. He's had a silver bat one season and mainly just had the "potential" there otherwise. He plays a great 3rd base and I don't think anyone thats a fan or is in the organization undervalues it. What they are looking at is that...he is coming off back surgery, he isn't getting younger, he's coming off back surgery, he has Scott Boras for an agent and doubt he'll sign the long term deal, he is coming off back surgery and finally, we have another 3rd base prospect who appears to be ready. That prospect mind you would have to transition to OF and that I don't think is a very good idea. Fields isn't as good with the glove as Joe but thats a sacrifice you take if it means you acquire other talent for Crede. Especially, a Put Burrell. No undervalue or swooning going on for this. Just smart business.

I saw this on mlbtr. Not a bad idea. If the Phillies were interested, then I would go for it. They've got quite a few OF's and definately could use a man at 3rd. Joe is high risk high reward but will relieve them of Pat's contract. He and Rollins on that side of the infield would be a force. Maybe without Chavez he can finally snag that gold glove in the nl. Do it in a heartbeat. The money part would be a necessity IMO.

Didn't pay attention to Rowand being younger. I thought it was the other way around with those two. I thought that while thinking Jonesi s older then he claims. My bad. I don't agree that Jones has more wear and tear. Yea he had a bad year but he still played 150+ games for the 11th year straight. he has never been injured, and you can claim he has lost a step but that step is still better then most guys in the majors. Jones plays CF smoothly. Rowand plays it reckless. No fault in either, but Rowand has been injured I believe 2 times. A nose is minor but wasn't he in a big motorcycle accident like one of the first years we had him? As far as contract. I don't think there will be a difference. Jones has Boras and will be relying on his career while Rowand will try and cash in off of this season in particular. Both should get 15 mil IMO. Both are aging but still in their "prime years". I'd trust Andruw to rejuvenate and repeat previous performances over Rowand repeating this year. I know Jones has Boras and that spells trouble for us, but it's not like we don't do business with the guy, it's just harder. We have had to deal with him for Crede so let's not pretend it's impossible. Independent arbitrator. Yea Boras planned on a 7 year 140 mil deal but he wasn't expecting his client to play the way he did. Even at the midway point he was selling the 2nd half turnaround that didn't happen. I didn't check since but early september he was on pace for a VORP of 8. That is bad for a guy who had been near 50 the previous two years and was at like 30 I think in 2004. I say one year deal because that appeared to be his offer from the Braves he was mulling over and also what other teams have considered to offer him. The guy had his worst year in his career and people like yourself, seem to have basically written him off because of that and his agent's percieved plans. I wouldn't be surprised if someone gives him a long term deal, but it's not like there aren't tons of transactions/contracts that none of us see coming every year. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padre...25padnotes.html http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/b...swoes_0926.html He wouldn't be the first guy to take this kind of deal...see Pudge, Millwood, Jeff Weaver. He to me is still an elite player and will get a longer deal. 6 months ago it was a lock. I just think it's less likely and with a decent crop of OF's, he may have no choice but to take a rebuiler 15-20 mil one year deal. The good faith thing is probably out of the question though. I was over dramatizing his situation a little.

I wonder if we will see a Clemens like thing with him. I mean the guy has trouble playing a lot, although DH maybe will increase his PT. So maybe he signs to someone that midseason is lackin offense, or has an injury, then gets his big pay and is fresh.

I would think so. Bodybuilding has had it forever so why wouldn't these guys or any sports from then? It's part of the reason I think some guys are so vocal and others aren't sometimes. If you point the finger hard enough at this era, your own stock rises. Baseball is so stupid and hypocritical with some of this stuff.

A lot of people on here keep mentioning Hunter and Rowand as our top targets. Something tells me Andruw Jones and his terrible season may be right there or ahead of them. Kenny seems to have tried to get him a few times in the past and nothing has ever materialized. I'd imagine he may be a few mil cheaper after how bad he was and he is the youngest of the 3. His average wont ever be there but he could put up some big numbers and play a mean CF for us. I also can't see him getting a long term deal. Not at first at least. He may but I can see a 1-3 year deal for how bad he played. I hope he has anger and will bust his ass this offseason to stick it to the Braves and any clubs that pass on him. I wouldn't mind throwing him money for a 1 year deal with options. At worst, if we give him the chance and show him faith, he may elect to resign here as a sign of good faith even if he has a huge season. I am just throwing it out there.

I don't know. I am unsure if there was any real interest from them in trying to get Buehrle before or after his contract. They seem to love him and I thought they would overtrade to get the hometown hero. It didn't happen so I don't know what to make of Garland. Major League wise. I want nothing they have (excluding Albert). Reyes and Wainwright are their guys and I just don't think they are worth it. Maybe Wainwright if we move him back to the pen. Please no Chris Duncan talk. Rasmus I'd imagine is out of the question. Unless Sweeney and like Egbert type were in it too. Jaime Garcia I would assume is untouchable as well but then again, he seems to have slipped a little in their eyes. Adam Ottavino and Chris Perez. I cant remember which one, but one of them is being groomed to be their "Closer of the the future". Bryan Anderson is probably available, but I'd rather kill myself then take another chance on a Brian Anderson. He is a catcher though? They have Molina who is still young. Jon Jay, Cody Young, Joe mather seem to be their OF's we could get. Mark Hamilton was a guy I was high on but I don't think anyone else is. Lot's of power and that average isn't coming around. That Peter Kosmo or Kozma guy they took in the draft this year I kind of like. SS. so maybe he is available or I think Tyler Greene is still there. He may be coming up though to replace Eckstein. I went to school in Missouri so I have dealt with many Cardinal fans and had to hear about how amazing all these guys are. Picture Cub fans but with some actual Positive history. It's rough. *Edit* I texted a buddy and he says it is Chris Perez that they're grooming to be their closer and has replaced Garcia as their "untouchable" arm to go with Rasmus. Obviously, the Ankiel burst/surprise shocked them a little this season. Rasmus has apparently lost untouchable status but remains higher in their eyes. They just think they can get a whole lot for him to help now since they feel he is a "maybe" for out of the gates next year. Mid-Season seems to be a definate. I highly doubt they'll deal him to us.

If what you are saying is true, then I hope this deal gets tweaked a little. To me, shields is on the decline. He may help us now, but I don't think this team is a "now" team. Figgins, i just don't like. Maybe its personal, not quite sure. I know that I think he is a little overrated because fantasy heads all have had man crushes on him for the 60+ steals he can offer. If you're hearing they may be willing to deal prospects, then lets get them. I know lots of people feel the same way I do when you hear dealings of good players for prospects, it makes you sick a little. In this case though, Kotchman is a top 5 defensive first basemen IMO. He may or may not develop Paulie like power but I'd like to give him the shot. If he doesn't, get the power from elsewhere. Garland though appeared to be getting dealt for prospects or an over the hill shortstop. If He and Konerko in this deal could bring back Adenhart, I think we will love this deal. Getting Kotchman, Adenhart and another prospect would be huge for us. I doubt they'd give Wood up too but at the same time, I have to imagine they are real frustrated in LA. Konerko behind Vlad is huge for them, and they can still maybe sign another bat for DH. Garland would help that staff. It's a more pitcher friendly park, and he would be their 4 starter basically. A rotation of Lackey, Escobar, Weaver, and Garland would be tough to beat.

He was 1 last season to me. MB was 2. Thome was 3 and Paulie was 4 as far as MLB guys went for our most tradeable chip. He is young and dominant so I see why they stayed away but those screws in his elbow make me nervous. I hate to say it but there is no one I am 100% comfortable with or don't think would be worth it to move.

I don't argue about Buehrle and how we feel about him. No question he is our top guy in the organization. At least in my eyes there isnt. I love the guy and was glad we kept him. All I was saying is I don't think he can command a teams top prospect in every case, let alone multiple. If you think so, then there should be no reason KW hasn't moved him for a near lock for future allstar in Colby Rasmus and even someone like Jaime Garcia. I think simply everyone outside of our organization think's Buehrle is nothing special. It is an argument I have had with Cub fans, Card fans and Royals during the last few season and I am never sure why. I love MB but for some reason not everyone else wears it on their sleeve. If he was available for FA, I have a feeling most teams would be playing a different tune and doing what they could to sign him, but he isn't and teams play him off as a 2-3 starter for some reason.

If I were the Yankees I would just flip the team. Make some in the FA market and via trade and just change the mentality up there. He can buy players at the deadline or earlier for next to nothing so why not see where a little "small ball" gets him.

I think Paulie can command a few prospects. Maybe not all top flight but he still puts up good numbers and if you deal him to an AL team, they can DH if they want. As far as Buehrle goes. Idk if we can get the kind of stuff you think for him. If we can, you would figure the Cardinals who are dying to get him would consider their top prospect Rasmus for him. I would be happy with Rasmus alone, anything else would be great.

I found this article on Baseball America, so if anyone was curious like me... http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/colum...askbarule5.html It's from 95' but looks to be updated a little.