Baldelli may be available

[CubinNY]

On XM 175 they are saying that Baldelli may be avaible if TB moves Upton to CF.

 

He's going to be 25 next year but is comming off an injury. He's not an OBP guy but plays a pretty good CF, is cheap and not in his prime yet.

 

I have no idea what it would take to get him, but I'd be interested. Anyone else?

[UK1679666180]

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/04/Rays/Salary_boom_win_win_f.shtml

 

More than what the Cubs have to offer....

 

An interested team likely would have to give up at least two young, frontline major-league-ready players who are three or more years from free agency. It would have to have the type of potential impact players the Rays are seeking, especially frontline starting pitchers. And it would have to share the Rays' view that there is compensatory value not only in Baldelli and Crawford's talent, but in their contracts -Crawford tops out at a $10-million salary in 2010, Baldelli at $9-million in 2011.

[goonys evil twin]

I think Baldelli's name, and toolsiness, probably means he's going to cost a lot more than he's worth. He is somebody I wouldn't mind having on the team, but he's not somebody I'd like to see Jim Hendry trade for.

[UK1679666180]

If either LA didn't panic for CF'ers, both would have made likely good match partners for Baldelli.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I agree that I don't think the Cubs have the players to get Baldelli as I think other teams could offer a much more attractive package.

 

The Cubs might could overpay by sending two pitchers in the Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Guzman group a player in the Moore/Patterson group and another pitcher in the Paweleck/Veal/Gallagher group.

 

That deal could get the Rays attention as they would have two young pitchers to try for the rotation, a young infielder, and a pitching prospect to stock their minor leagues.

[UK1679666180]

If I was TB (boy that sounds odd), Hill would have to be included in the trade and going from there.

[abuck1220]

If I was TB (boy that sounds odd), Hill would have to be included in the trade and going from there.

 

thought you didn't like hill? :D

 

An interested team likely would have to give up at least two young, frontline major-league-ready players who are three or more years from free agency.

 

why would a team have to give up two young, frontline major-league-ready players who are three or more years from free agency to get one such player?

[goonys evil twin]

If I was TB (boy that sounds odd), Hill would have to be included in the trade and going from there.

 

thought you didn't like hill? :D

 

An interested team likely would have to give up at least two young, frontline major-league-ready players who are three or more years from free agency.

 

why would a team have to give up two young, frontline major-league-ready players who are three or more years from free agency to get one such player?

 

depends on how you define front line. It's kind of a loose term. Two starters? Well, you could throw together a guy capable of being a starting pitcher and another guy capable of being a starting position player, call them frontline, but really not have much there.

[abuck1220]

i agree. and i'm not so sure i'd define baldelli as front line.

[goonys evil twin]

i agree. and i'm not so sure i'd define baldelli as front line.

 

He should be able to start everyday without hurting you, and has a chance to be really helpful. He's a nice role player right now, but not much of a difference maker. Although the speed/small ball crowd probably loves him more than others.

[abuck1220]

 

He should be able to start everyday without hurting you

 

now that's a ringing endorsement! do you think agents go around saying that about their clients?

 

and i agree with you in your assessment of baldelli.

[Danny82]

i agree. and i'm not so sure i'd define baldelli as front line.

 

He should be able to start everyday without hurting you, and has a chance to be really helpful. He's a nice role player right now, but not much of a difference maker. Although the speed/small ball crowd probably loves him more than others.

 

I think he is more than a role player. If he can stay healthy, he has the power to hit 30 HRs, which might increase over time. Plus, he is one heck of an athlete. If he ever develops better plate discipline, he will have a very high ceiling.

[goonys evil twin]

i agree. and i'm not so sure i'd define baldelli as front line.

 

He should be able to start everyday without hurting you, and has a chance to be really helpful. He's a nice role player right now, but not much of a difference maker. Although the speed/small ball crowd probably loves him more than others.

 

I think he is more than a role player. If he can stay healthy, he has 30+ home run power right now, which might increase over time. Plus, he is one heck of an athlete. If he ever develops better plate discipline, he will have a very high ceiling.

 

I said right now, you are focusing on potential improvements. He's already experiencing leg problems, and having a tough time staying healthy. He did less than Felix Pie in the minors, and hasn't done enough in the majors to remove all doubts. So I'm not just going to hand him 30+ HR when his best season has him at 16. And I'm definitely not going to assume better plate discipline (which was worse than Pie's as a minor leaguer).

[Danny82]

So I'm not just going to hand him 30+ HR when his best season has him at 16.

 

I'm not asking for you to hand him anything, but I think you can be a little more objective in discussing his abilities by noting that his 16 home runs came in only 360 at bats. There's no reason to hide the ball a bit while making your point.

[BigbadB]

Even with new management, Tampa always asks for way too much in return for their players. My prediction is Baldelli and Crawford will still be Rays next year and Upton won't have a job.

 

They can't go super cheap all the time. Baldelli and Crawford are no longer super cheap. And because they are no longer super cheap, their value is no longer two frontline starters with 3 or 4 cheap years ahead of them.

 

I'd love to have either guy, but it's definitely not worth overspending to get them.

[goonys evil twin]

So I'm not just going to hand him 30+ HR when his best season has him at 16.

 

I'm not asking for you to hand him anything, but I think you can be a little more objective in discussing his abilities by noting that his 16 home runs came in only 360 at bats. There's no reason to hide the ball a bit while making your point.

 

I'm not hiding behind anything. It's not my fault he can't finish a season. The best he's done is 684 PA. He had 387 this year. You can't guarantee he carries on that rate over a full season, and even if he did that would be less than 30 HR.

 

He is nothing more than a role player right now because he cannot be counted on to give you a full season of really good production. I'm not calling him a platoon guy or bench player, just a decent enough starter who isn't a difference maker. As I said, he has a chance to help you if he gets better, but being a young guy who counts on speed that can't stay healthy is not a good mix.

 

I don't give guys 300/30/100 status unless they've actually hit .300/30/100, and I don't call a guy a 30 HR hitter if he's never hit more than 16.

[Guest]

If they've got no place to play Upton, I'll take him and put him in CF for the Cubs. Heck, I'd love to put him at SS and put up with the errors, myself.

 

Anybody know any insiders at TB? The Rays have a lot that the Cubs really should be interested in.

 

I'd gladly take Gomes off their hands if they don't like him, as an example.

[goonys evil twin]

Baldelli and Crawford are no longer super cheap.

 

According to Cots, Baldelli only makes $750k this year, and $2.25m in 2008. And all he's guaranteed past that is a $4m buyout in 2009 (or $6m team option). So, he is still super cheap this year, and pretty cheap in 2008 as well. Financially, he's a pretty good option.

[Danny82]

I don't call a guy a 30 HR hitter if he's never hit more than 16.

 

Again, I'm not asking you to. However, you and I both know that, if healthy for a whole season, he has the power to hit more than 16 HRs in a year. And your posts make it seem like he has only demonstrated the ability to hit 16 home runs over the course of the season, which isn't accurate.

[cheapseats]

I think Baldelli's name, and toolsiness, probably means he's going to cost a lot more than he's worth. He is somebody I wouldn't mind having on the team, but he's not somebody I'd like to see Jim Hendry trade for.

 

I have no interest whatsoever in Baldelli. He's one of Felix Pie's top comparables in multiple projection systems, for one thing. Why trade for a guy when we already have a similar player in the system.

 

For another, I expect his numbers to drop dramatically next year rather than improve. He's not a particularly disciplined hitter (his OBP is driven by his batting average). His batting average on balls in play last year was .338, but his line drive percentage was only 15.6%. Maybe his luck holds up, but I'm expecting him to look like Corey Patterson circa 2004 next year - not a terrible player, but not a difference maker, and probably not worth nearly what it would take to get him.

[Abe Frohman]

I wouldn't be surprised if Baldelli is on the block.

 

I have a buddy pitching in the Marlins system who mentioned that he is being discussed for a trade with TB for a CFer.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't call a guy a 30 HR hitter if he's never hit more than 16.

 

Again, I'm not asking you to. However, you and I both know that, if healthy for a whole season, he has the power to hit more than 16 HRs in a year. And your posts make it seem like he has only demonstrated the ability to hit 16 home runs over the course of the season, which isn't accurate.

 

Well, I'm sorry if you feel I shorted the guy, but I think my assessment was pretty fair.

[Backtobanks]

Even with new management, Tampa always asks for way too much in return for their players. My prediction is Baldelli and Crawford will still be Rays next year and Upton won't have a job.

 

They can't go super cheap all the time. Baldelli and Crawford are no longer super cheap. And because they are no longer super cheap, their value is no longer two frontline starters with 3 or 4 cheap years ahead of them.

 

I'd love to have either guy, but it's definitely not worth overspending to get them.

 

I agree 100%. Tampa needs to realize that they have the start of a very good young team, but they need pitching. If they continue to overprice their players, they will continue to lose.

[PrimeTime]

Badelli is a clone of Matt Murton..Only not orange and alot cooler name..

[TheDude]

I think Baldelli's name, and toolsiness, probably means he's going to cost a lot more than he's worth. He is somebody I wouldn't mind having on the team, but he's not somebody I'd like to see Jim Hendry trade for.

 

I have no interest whatsoever in Baldelli. He's one of Felix Pie's top comparables in multiple projection systems, for one thing. Why trade for a guy when we already have a similar player in the system.

 

Because Pie won't do it 2007. It's that simple. Baldelli's contract is such that he could be moved in 2008 clearing the way for Pie.