August waiver deals

[SouthSideRyan]

If it is the Nats and they could pull off a trade they'd have a nice little rotation going into next year...

 

Strasburg

Rodriguez

Zimmermann

Lannan

Detwiler

 

The Nats are the only team I'm scared of in the Fielder/Pujols chase once either one or both hit the market. They're trying over there, and 1B is definitely a need area.

 

Mike Morse has the 7th highest OPS+ in the NL.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

If it is the Nats and they could pull off a trade they'd have a nice little rotation going into next year...

 

Strasburg

Rodriguez

Zimmermann

Lannan

Detwiler

 

The Nats are the only team I'm scared of in the Fielder/Pujols chase once either one or both hit the market. They're trying over there, and 1B is definitely a need area.

 

Mike Morse has the 7th highest OPS+ in the NL.

 

And he's a pretty solid player overall, but he's still Mike Morse while those guys are Albert Pujols/Prince Fielder. They also have shown they want to and can spend, and there's enough talent to possible pique the interest of a big ticket FA (Strasburg, Zimmerman, Werth, Zimmerman, Storen etc).

[Guest]

And he's a pretty solid player overall, but he's still Mike Morse while those guys are Albert Pujols/Prince Fielder. They also have shown they want to and can spend, and there's enough talent to possible pique the interest of a big ticket FA (Strasburg, Zimmerman, Werth, Zimmerman, Storen etc).

 

The Nationals also has LaRoche under contract for 2012. They could trade LaRoche if they signed Fielder or Pujols but it will be hard considering he is a mediocre player making little more than Marlon Byrd money. Oh did I forget he is coming off a torn labrum? To me trading LaRoche will be difficult.

 

Two words, one name: Jayson Werth. I don't know if Washington is in a hurry to jump into another monster contract considering they have the worst NL contract already on the payroll. They could but I find it doubtful they will make a play for Fielder.

 

I think the Cubs main rival for Fielder/Pujols will be Yankees/Orioles and the Angels.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

And he's a pretty solid player overall, but he's still Mike Morse while those guys are Albert Pujols/Prince Fielder. They also have shown they want to and can spend, and there's enough talent to possible pique the interest of a big ticket FA (Strasburg, Zimmerman, Werth, Zimmerman, Storen etc).

 

The Nationals also has LaRoche under contract for 2012. They could trade LaRoche if they signed Fielder or Pujols but it will be hard considering he is a mediocre player making little more than Marlon Byrd money. Oh did I forget he is coming off a torn labrum? To me trading LaRoche will be difficult.

 

Two words, one name: Jayson Werth. I don't know if Washington is in a hurry to jump into another monster contract considering they have the worst NL contract already on the payroll. They could but I find it doubtful they will make a play for Fielder.

 

I think the Cubs main rival for Fielder/Pujols will be Yankees/Orioles and the Angels.

 

Werth's a better player than this year's numbers, and he'll be back to normal. It's only year one with that one, and he's there for more than that. Fielder between Zimmerman and Werth would be pretty damn good. Maybe throw Morse out there in LF where Nix sucks.

 

I don't think the Yankees will play into this too much. Tex is there for 190 million or so, and they're not going to pay 200 million for a DH. Plus, the CC situation could get fun if he did opt out.

[dew1679666265]

I think the Cubs main rival for Fielder/Pujols will be Yankees/Orioles and the Angels.

 

The Blue Jays may very well be big players in it as well. I believe they have a lot of money to spend and they have a really smart GM in Alex Anthopoulous. Adam Lind is a nice player at first, but he can shift back to the outfield to open up first for either.

[sneakypower]

neither teams worry me the slightest bit

 

the Nats have Morse, Werth, Harper, Rendon all slated for COF/1B work, and Morse is unplayable anywhere but 1B, with a career UZR/150 worse than that of Adam Dunn in LF; they'd be a perfect fit for Jose Reyes, though

 

the Jays have Snider, Bautista, Thames, Gose/Rasmus, Lind all slated for COF/1B work, and Lind is unplayable anywhere but 1B with a career UZR/150 identical to that of Adam Dunn in LF; but they'd be a great fit for Sabathia or Wilson

[Guest]

I think the Cubs main rival for Fielder/Pujols will be Yankees/Orioles and the Angels.

 

The Blue Jays may very well be big players in it as well. I believe they have a lot of money to spend and they have a really smart GM in Alex Anthopoulous. Adam Lind is a nice player at first, but he can shift back to the outfield to open up first for either.

 

Yeah but I doubt Boras will advice his client to go to Toronto. Toronto would have to really overpay to get Fielder to go there. And since Anthopoulous is a smart man I don't see him committing the kind of funds to land Fielder.

 

I still stay the two biggest threats for Fielder and Pujols will be NYY and Angels. NYY because they are NYY. And the Angels because they have a hole at 1b, especially if they don't like how Morales is rehabbing.

[Clem Fandango]

Bill Ladson of MLB.com was told by a team source that the Nationals don't intend to pursue to Prince Fielder in free agency this winter.

The source argued that it doesn't make much sense for the Nationals to go after Fielder because Mike Morse and Adam LaRoche are both under team control next season. Instead, Ladson hears the Nationals may be focused on continuing their search for a center fielder. Of course, Fielder is represented by Scott Boras, so we wouldn't rule anything out as far as the Nationals are concerned

 

Also, if Toronto pursued Fielder, would it not be to DH?

[Clem Fandango]

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, there is a "high expectation" among baseball executives that the White Sox will win the claim for Jim Thome.

Thome was placed on waivers Monday. If the White Sox do indeed win the claim, they will have to work out a trade. If the Twins don't get a satisfactory offer, they could always pull him back. Thome, who turns 41 on Saturday, is batting .253/.363/.495 with 12 homers and an .858 OPS over 234 plate appearances this season

 

Poor Adam Dunn

[Little Slide Rooter]

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, there is a "high expectation" among baseball executives that the White Sox will win the claim for Jim Thome.

Thome was placed on waivers Monday. If the White Sox do indeed win the claim, they will have to work out a trade. If the Twins don't get a satisfactory offer, they could always pull him back. Thome, who turns 41 on Saturday, is batting .253/.363/.495 with 12 homers and an .858 OPS over 234 plate appearances this season

 

Poor Adam Dunn

 

What the hell do the White Sox want with Thome? They're essentially out of it, and all he'd really be doing would be taking at bats away from younger players like Viciedo, De Aza, and Brett "Fontenot of the South Side" Lillibridge. The White Sox really shouln't be benching Dunn for a much older version of him.

[Clem Fandango]

They're only 6 1/2 games out and Thome is actually productive. There's still more than a month left to play, it's not like the Tigers some insurmountable titan of sports. The Indians are 6 games out, only a half game ahead of the Sox, and you can damn sure bet they're not giving up on the season

[Pushfrog98]

They're only 6 1/2 games out and Thome is actually productive. There's still more than a month left to play, it's not like the Tigers some insurmountable titan of sports. The Indians are 6 games out, only a half game ahead of the Sox, and you can damn sure bet they're not giving up on the season

And Konerko is a little banged up as well, isn't he?

[Tryptamine]

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, there is a "high expectation" among baseball executives that the White Sox will win the claim for Jim Thome.

Thome was placed on waivers Monday. If the White Sox do indeed win the claim, they will have to work out a trade. If the Twins don't get a satisfactory offer, they could always pull him back. Thome, who turns 41 on Saturday, is batting .253/.363/.495 with 12 homers and an .858 OPS over 234 plate appearances this season

 

I'm always amazed by his production. The guy could probably hold an .800 OPS at age 50.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So even after the waiver deadline, teams can still make waiver trades, but the player can't be on the playoff roster, but even then, they can replace an injured, or "injured" player. Am I correct in thinking this?

[SouthSideRyan]

So even after the waiver deadline, teams can still make waiver trades, but the player can't be on the playoff roster, but even then, they can replace an injured, or "injured" player. Am I correct in thinking this?

 

No, you have to be in the organization (not the 40 man) by September 1st. Even as an injury replacement.

[dew1679666265]

the Jays have Snider, Bautista, Thames, Gose/Rasmus, Lind all slated for COF/1B work, and Lind is unplayable anywhere but 1B with a career UZR/150 identical to that of Adam Dunn in LF; but they'd be a great fit for Sabathia or Wilson

 

I can buy that, hadn't kept up with who Thames was or that Lawrie had taken over at third.

[dew1679666265]

Yeah but I doubt Boras will advice his client to go to Toronto. Toronto would have to really overpay to get Fielder to go there. And since Anthopoulous is a smart man I don't see him committing the kind of funds to land Fielder.

 

I still stay the two biggest threats for Fielder and Pujols will be NYY and Angels. NYY because they are NYY. And the Angels because they have a hole at 1b, especially if they don't like how Morales is rehabbing.

 

If the Blue Jays are the highest bidder, I don't think Boras will tell Prince not to sign with them. If Friedman goes to the Cubs, the Jays could easily become the next Tampa - which clearly isn't an ideal competing position, but isn't completely hopeless either. It's not like the Jays are the Royals or Pirates.

 

And the Yankees and Angels concern me as well - unless, as with the Jays, there are really good young corner infielders I don't know about in Anaheim.

[Guest]

If the Blue Jays are the highest bidder, I don't think Boras will tell Prince not to sign with them.

 

We both know the Blue Jays can't outbid the Cubs. With that said if the Blue Jays are the highest bidder then I wouldn't want Fielder anyways because he is likely to get a franchise crippling contract.

 

 

And the Yankees and Angels concern me as well - unless, as with the Jays, there are really good young corner infielders I don't know about in Anaheim.

 

NYY/LAA are more rivals to the Cubs for Fielder/Pujols then Washington/Toronto. If the Cubs do lose out on Fielder/Pujols (especially if one goes to LAA, I could see the Cubs being interested in Morales.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Indians Close To Deal For Jim Thome

By Zach Links [August 25 at 4:56pm CST]

A deal to bring veteran slugger Jim Thome back to the Indians is nearly complete, according to Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 (via Twitter).

 

 

I still think the Indians end up in 3rd place, but bless their hearts for trying. The Tigers may not have a chance at going beyond the 1st round, but I still think they're significantly better than the rest of that division, unless Justin Verlander or Miguel Cabrera end up with significant injuries.

 

ETA: Damn, I knew Thome was good last year, but I didn't realise that he OPSd 1.039.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

neither teams worry me the slightest bit

 

the Nats have Morse, Werth, Harper, Rendon all slated for COF/1B work, and Morse is unplayable anywhere but 1B, with a career UZR/150 worse than that of Adam Dunn in LF; they'd be a perfect fit for Jose Reyes, though

 

the Jays have Snider, Bautista, Thames, Gose/Rasmus, Lind all slated for COF/1B work, and Lind is unplayable anywhere but 1B with a career UZR/150 identical to that of Adam Dunn in LF; but they'd be a great fit for Sabathia or Wilson

 

None of those guys are full time 1B for the Jays. Bautista and Snider are DH/COF, Thames is probably a bench guy and certainly not someone you pass on a big bat for, Gose is far away, Rasmus is a CF, and Lind is also not a guy you pass up an elite bat for. The thing that will hurt them is that crappy turf they play on, which could be killer on both of those 1Bs knees and is something that legitimately might cause them to balk. The other thing is that Toronto is located in Canada, which only exists because America can be really nice sometimes when it's beneficial.

 

Werth is RF, Harper is RF/CF, Rendon is being tried at 2B and is a college 3B who supposedly has GG potential there....Morse is a former minor league SS who has played in RF, LF, 3B, and 1B at the big league level. Since he's one of the better hitters on team try him in LF where Laynce Nix has given them absolutely nothing because Mike Morse is not the kind of talent to block hitters like Fielder/Pujols.

 

Both of these teams, specifically the Nats, IMO are far bigger threats for Pujols/Fielder than the Yankees will be this offseason. Not only will the Yankees be worried about their ace leaving, but the rest of the pitching staff after him is mediocre and they'll be on the prowl for some pitching. They have offense to spare, and a 190 million dollar 1B as it is. Also, I'd be absolutely stunned if Fielder or Pujols were to actually give up 1B everyday to DH. Both players are or could very well be on HOF paths, and the DH thing could really effect the way people look at them (even Pujols, if only slightly).

[Little Slide Rooter]

IMHO, our biggest threat in the Fielder sweepstakes is our own organization. If they do decide to go that direction, I think he's ours. If not, then it will be on the new management and ownership, not whichever team does sign him.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

IMHO, our biggest threat in the Fielder sweepstakes is our own organization. If they do decide to go that direction, I think he's ours. If not, then it will be on the new management and ownership, not whichever team does sign him.

 

I can agree with this. I do think Fielder to the Cubs is almost inevitable if the Cubs allow it to happen.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So what time is the deadline today? I could see some of the veterans who have cleared waivers like Matsui, Damon, and Harang being moved around today. Hopefully The Cubs move a few.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So what time is the deadline today? I could see some of the veterans who have cleared waivers like Matsui, Damon, and Harang being moved around today. Hopefully The Cubs move a few.

There is no deadline for trades. Guys traded after today won't be eligible for post-season rosters, but they can still be moved.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Not much going on. So far, the Phillies landed Pirates AAAA player John Bowker and The Braves re-aquired Matt Diaz of the <.650 OPS, also from the Pirates. I doubt that Bush has the authority to pull the trigger on any big moves, but I wonder if their dangling guys like Johnson, Baker, and DeWitt.