chisoxfan09

Tony, I think the MLB policy will random test all players at some point in their careers so maybe we will know at some point.

Haren is also a very good fielder. He has 0 errors and a 1000% FPCT for all of 2008/2009. Not bad at all.

I have a similar thread going about a front line starting RHP for the no 1 or 2 spot in the rotation. As much as I would love to get and drool over Haren it starts with a package (In my humble estimation) of Poreda/Richard/Allen and then maybe 2 other AA prospects. Peavy is not worth the risk anymore. But Haren certainly is but I doubt very highly that AZ lets him go. He is a cornerstone on which to build the rotation on.

I dunno, he does not seem like the juicing kind but yeah we will never know. Maybe someone in the future will pop out of the woodwork and try to tarnish him with some incriminating evidence. Just never know anymore.

Yeah I hear ya, but MLBTR quoted Nick Cafardo who has seemed to be reliable in prior posts. But you are right if his stuff was really that good he would have been picked up but not at his outrageous price. Maybe we pass on him and roll the dice with Contreras and Richard/Poreda. How do you feel about Poreda being given a shot at starting later this year after the ASB?

Wow with Vitters and Cashman it looks like the Flubbies are finally doing something right with the farm. Doh!!

Here it is Balta, referenced on MLBTR but from Nick Cafardo (Boston paper). It say 94 MPH. SO not sure if that is accurate or not but if so then 1 year may not be bad. Or the rest of 2009/2010. Think we passed on him due to cost. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...rays_eye_p.html PS, don't see either the Rays or Cubs picking him up.

HMM Balta, read an MLBTR quote that he got into the low 90's with the fastball. No thanks then. Going to dig out that link if I can find it.

He is on an absolute tear this year and if he stays healthy and survives his elbow problems stand to the best non-steroid or juicer candidate to break the modern HR record of Hank Aaron. I reject Bonds as the record holder due to his juicing charges. He is on track to break the record in his 14-15th season (2015/16). Maybe sooner. Too bad he will never wear a Sox uniform. Pure hitter for power, average, high BB rate, OBP. Can't ask for more.

I also don't feel very strongly about using RH pitchers in their twighlight years, I.E. Contreras, Garcia, Colon. Would be nice to pick up a frontline starter. The only one I would not even mind picking up the tab for is Pedro Martinez for one year if it is a filler until 2011. At that point a couple of our RH prospetcs (Shirek/Hudson) should be ready. Or as Cubano has brought up and I have also mentioned Yadel Marti may be an option depending on how MLB read he is.

I think Haren would be the only stud I would be willing to mortgage some of the farm for. I could see a 5 for 1 for him but without Beckham. Just to repeat the same thing from a prior post Oakland got 6 prospects for him in 2007 but I thnk any 5 prospects we could put in a package would be at least comparable or better than the 6 Arizona gave up for Haren. Of the 4 already mentioned 3 are already MLB ready (Poreda/Richard/Allen) and the other 2 could come out of a pool. Who knows what would happen to their development but none of the 6 Oakland got really jump out at me. But these are totally different times.

I am wondering if he can keep learning and his OBP will soar. This is a ridiculous comparison question but does he have the natural hitting ability of say a Pujols but with less power or are their swings/body motions different? Or is he more of an A-Rod type swinger with less power?

Slayer with new haircut -->

Clayton sure looks decent as a backend (5th spot is where I think he fits) starter. He gave up some runs tonight but overal was steady. I expect his ERA will go down with time if he spots his pitches a little bit more. The offense clicked again. And yes Paulie/Slayer are on a tear!!!!!!!

I would rather see us look at another RHP via trade or free agency. But as I have said in other threads maybe something will happen before the trade deadline. Peavy is now a risk and honestly I don't think he is worth the money with his performance away from Petco park and his reluctance to pitch in the AL.

Stan would you part with both Poreda/Richard to even begin the trade talks as part of a package? I think it will take at least 5 quality propsects for the Jays to even think about it. But don't think their needs are the same as SD's. They have some young pitchers and maybe some bats are what they are looking for.

Beck, but who do we offer? One of Poreda/Richard and then?? I am thinking one more prospect than was offered for Peavy. Need to look at what the Blue Jay s would need and match up wth them. But they are not in slary dumping mode yet and not in dire straits like SD. All I can say is that from what I have read Doc Halliday really is about team and wants a competitive environment and the chance for a ring more than anything a fat contract can offer. I just read a story that quotes their GM as working on offering an extension this off season so the jury is out on whether KW will even approach Toronto about Doc. But the writing is on the wall as far as the AL East is concerned. Don't see the Jays as more than 4th place finishers as long as the Yankees/BoSox have money and the Rays build their team via the farm system. Have a look: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9748020...ut-will-he-stay

OK OK my bad. Just looks like an interesting twist to the whole idea of needing or looking for a starter and this pops up. I wonder if he will keep being the clown and get disciplined at some point by the Cubs.

Another twist to this whole thread about searching for a good RH frontline starter for the Ace (Number 1) or Number 2 position is in this article: www.realgmbaseball.com/src_wiretap_archives/15568/20090629/zambrano_would_play_for_white_red_sox/ It states Big Z would love to play for the Sox or Red Sox if he ever left the Cubs. Anyone have the patience or stomach for this type of debate? Can Ozzie really tame the savage beast in Zambrano and make the Venezuelan connection work? Inquiring minds want to know your opinions. On ChicagoSports.com the Cubs fans voted to rid themselves of Z.

Woo Hoo Becks went 3-3 last night with 1 BB, a pretty good night!! His OBP is getting better and better. My only concern has been his errors in AA ball and in the bigs. But it could well be from learning the ropes at a new position (3rd). I think most of his erros in BHam were at SS. Hopefully he will get better at fiedling with time.

Rich Harden on another note (He was the subject of a previous post) was sharp last night with 9 K's. Still too much of an injury risk but hey if he has a great 2nd half for once it might be an interesting option for KW. I think the risk is too high but the little upside that there is indicates Harden can dominate when on his game.

Hi Parker, Halliday has been on my fantasy teams for years. I for one don't think the Blue Jay's GM will be in selling mode and if he is I don't believe he will part with Halliday. He is literally the face of their franchise and like Peavy in SD has always stated his preference to stay with his team. Even if he were available it would take Beckham, Poreda, Richard, and possibly 2 other MLB ready players IMO.

Greg there is 1 Cuban out there I have also posted about but he will need seasoning and he is 30 this year so not sure anymore if he is worth it. Yadel Marti is his name but he has good international experience. He is a right handed starter.

Yeah I would rather not see a four lefty rotation. But our righty prospects in AAA are nothing to shout about at the moment. 2011 at the earliest for the AA prospects. Hudson most likely as everyone else has said.

Problem is Jordan if he stays this year no issues there as he will have by most accounts a very strong year. But if we buy him out for 2 million then he is free to go. I think based on his numbers he shold be a type B Free Agent. He still has another 2 years left in him. So we get the pick in the draft. Still not bad to restock the farm.