RammyFanny

The Padres currently have Scott Hairston starting in LF. We currently have Matt Murton not starting in left or right field. Others would be needed, obviously, but I still see potential.

I think it makes a difference when they've shown to be credible sources of information before. Credible? They called the Tejada trade before it was done but after it was in every paper this side of the Weekly World News. I think some of you are having your chain yanked. It was about a week or two after anyone even mentioned it, and they had every single player involved correct, about 5 hours before any media picked it up. One of the guys also reported the Wieters signing on the day he signed when it was looking very glim, with the exact figures.

Alot over a two day period which was then halted because of the offices shutting down. Other than that, it's just been serious talks. I really don't know what else you want these guys to do, doesn't the whole Tejada info mean anything to their credibility?

Thanks for the interview tibit CCP, didn't know that. I asked the guy on PSD about the starters we've inquired about and he replied: I'm a little skeptical because of the price tag on Burnett money wise, but DeRosa's salary would reduce it some, and of course they've been linked to Dempster alot, so maybe.

From the PSD guy (again, I have no clue who he is or how legit he is): On Orioles hangout, last week, an insider said that a player on the O's talked to his agent to get the "drama" settled soon, though most of them thought it was Bedard or Mora. Maybe he's onto something. He also said that the Leiber interest isn't true, and we're looking to add a pitcher through trade (though that doesn't take a brain surgent to realize).

Eric Patterson doesn't have much trade value right now. While Marshall isn't a prospect anymore, his value is really high...it's quite a bit to give up for an improvement at an already steady position (giving up two potential starters and our only hedge against a full year of Theriot at SS). You don't think Beane might take the slightest of interest in Murton or Patterson (considering they might deal Ellis, and Beane isn't crazy about defense)? Yeah, they've kept Mark Kotsay around for his awesome bat. I'm sure teams were dying to add his 8 million salary to their payroll. I'm sure you've read the book, Beane will sacrifice defense for certain hitting characteristics.

I have no clue how legit this guy is, but he posted this on the PSD Cubs forum awhile before BigBird made that comment: http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173758&page=19

Eric Patterson doesn't have much trade value right now. While Marshall isn't a prospect anymore, his value is really high...it's quite a bit to give up for an improvement at an already steady position (giving up two potential starters and our only hedge against a full year of Theriot at SS). You don't think Beane might take the slightest of interest in Murton or Patterson (considering they might deal Ellis, and Beane isn't crazy about defense)?

I would say with just about 100% certainty we would add another starter. Whether or not it's a good starter, I don't know, but it's already been said that Lou is very hesitant on Dempster in the rotation, so i'm sure him and Jim have something else in store. Keep in mind if the rumored deal happened, we still have Murton and EPatt to use in trade bait while only trading a whopping one prospect in the previous deal.

O's insider (BigBird): I know everyone will continue the skepticism of them, but don't act like you're not interested :wink: Personally, people will probably complain about Marshall being included as well, but he's nothing more than a number 4 starter at best. We can find back of the rotation guys that will be similar, and let's face it, he's probably not in our rotation anyways next season. Even with his good year last season, his WHIP was still going to be in the 1.40 range and he was on pace for giving up a bunch of homers. I'd rather do this deal than the Murton/Patterson one.

Levine didn't mention Murton supposedly in the Roberts trade, which could be interesting.

:? He said that Cedeno would likely be gone in a Roberts trade and Cintron would interest us as a backup if that happens. He also said we are searching another starter (yay), and that Lieber is a possibility (boo). We're also looking for a righthanded OF who can play all 3 positions (umm why trade Pagan)?

Latest from one of their insiders, though he's basically quoting Levine:

Just thought i'd pass this along, even if it's bogus. MLBTR has been doing a nice job lately of only posting rumors with sources (like prosportsdaily), but here's a "tip" they got :wink: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Could open up Kotchman to be in a Bedard trade if something comes to fruition.

My bad, I was assuming you were "Jake" at Buccoblog. http://buccoblog.mlblogs.com/

Buerhle could have gotten them 2-3 cornerstone prospects alone. that's insane. or you and i have different definitions of "cornerstone." May I suggest you look at some of the offers the Orioles are considering for Bedard and tell me the White Sox couldn't get the same offer (or better) for Buerhle. why would they get a better offer for buerhle? i haven't seen any offers for bedard that include 2-3 cornerstone prospects. feel free to throw a few at me. The rumors that I have seen have mentioned these names: Seattle: Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, Wladamir Balentin, Young Chin-Chen,Tillman, Sherrill Cincinati: Joey Votto, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto Dodgers: Kemp, Broxton, Kershaw, Meloan,Hu, LaRoche, McDonald Mets: Gomez, Heilman, Humber I think you can find a package there that would include 2-3 cornerstone prospects. Buerhle is a better pitcher than Bedard and would probably bring in a few more interested teams. I've been following Orioles related rumors like crazy, and while some of those names are correct, those combinations aren't. The Seattle offer for Bedard is Jones,Clement, Chen OR Tillman. Baltimore is holding out for Jones,Clement, Morrow, which Seattle simply will not do. Wlad's name hasn't even been mentioned. Cinci has backed off. However, a couple of weeks ago it seemed like the deal was Bailey, Votto, and some lesser prospects (with it seeming like the Orioles wanting a third good prospect). One of the O's insiders said that the Reds offer was pretty stingy though, so take that FWIW. Whatever you were hearing about the Dodgers is insane. The reported offer was Kershaw, Hu, and a third prospect (possibly a Meloan or McDonald but that wasn't clear). After they got Kuroda everything has been VERY quiet on their front. Orioles seemed to insist on Kemp. And the Mets haven't even been rumored. After typing all of this, I realized you said these were only names being discussed (and not actual combinations), but i'm still posting this :wink:

Assuming the Roberts deal happens, I would think that before the Cubs would get involved with trading for a pitcher (Blanton, Nathan, Street,etc.) Hendry would have to reload with prospects by trading someone like Marquis or Dempster. I suppose this kind of deal might happen in spring training when teams have a better idea of their strengths and weaknesses. You're not going to get any worthwhile prospect for Marquis or Dempster. It's going to be a C prospect with you eating a portion of the contract. And don't trade Dempster, assuming we'd just leave him in the pen we can most likely get a supplemental for him with an outside chance at a first and a supp. We'll be just fine reloading with prospects in the 09 draft when hopefully Howry, Dempster, outside chance at Eyre, and even Wood (if someone offers him a bunch) can all bring us at the least supplementals with two of those guys giving us a good chance at type A (which would either give us a first and supplemental or two supplementals depending on who signed them). The 09 draft can reload our farm a bunch (which gives room for a couple of prospect trades) assuming Hendry doesn't blow this chance with stupid decisions like resigning these guys (outside of possibly Wood) when he can replace them with in house candidates like Shark, Petrick, Roquet, Piggy, Hart, Lambert, Jose Ascansio, Lahey, Ceda, Maestri, Veal if they put him in the pen, etc. Obviously there are some things in the above scenario that aren't perfectly predictable, but as of now it seems highly possible that at least a few of those guys should be able to hold there own in the pen. Or we could just not make these prospect trades, still do the above, and have an excellent farm in a year or two.

Definately true. But even with Swisher, they weren't going to be contending anytime soon. I think it's a risk that he had to take. As Beane said, "You're either rebuilding for something special or you are something special, to be in between is foolish".

Good trade for Oakland. Let's assume both of these pitchers turn out to be number 3 starters (although Los Santos has the upside for much better, and Gonzales will probably consistently be what Hill was last year). A number 3 starter these days is worth about 12 million each, so essentially Beane traded an outfielder for 24 million dollars worth of pitchers. Now let's keep in mind the fact that there always seems to be decent OPS outfielders available that wouldn't cost the farm, who for whatever reason don't fit with their team (see Matt Murton or Luke Scott). Is the difference in say .40 points of OPS worth 24 million in value of starting pitchers? I think Beane has found that answer. (Obviously i'm talking about in a year or two when these guys are in the rotation)

Doubt that comes close IMO. Probably more along the lines of Gallagher, Ceda, Murton, Burke I would think. I'm sure the Mets will be in there as well offering alot. That's basically the same deal with Murton added in. Hart/Gallagher may be just a matter of preference. Same with Ceda/Veal. Hart is 3 years older and just flat out not in Gallaghers league. Gally has pretty much dominated everywhere he has been sent to (while being young for the league). Gallagher has a grand total of one season with an ERA above 3 (his first year in AA which was still a very good year for his age), the rest are in the 2's. Hart's never had a season with an ERA under 4 outside of high A ball (where he still wsan't great), unless you consider his spurt with Iowa. Hart was a 22 year old in A ball when he got promoted after having a 4.6 ERA. His ERA at AA was about 4.4, and his only season with an ERA under 4 was in a short spurt with AAA Iowa, where his WHIP was still over 1.40. His best year was still worse than Gallaghers worst year. He has He has added the cutter to his arsenal that has made him a better pitcher in the minors and in his brief stint in the majors, but I don't think it catapaults him over Gallagher. I can see Hart as a successfull reliever, and that's pretty good considering we got him for Boom Boom. As a starter he won't be more than a 4 in a best case scenario, and likely a number 5.

Doubt that comes close IMO. Probably more along the lines of Gallagher, Ceda, Murton, Burke I would think. I'm sure the Mets will be in there as well offering alot.

Where Beane doesn't uber-own us :D Blanton (who Kaplan said the Cubs are interested in) and Street are two guys that Hendry figures to be interested in, so post some of your proposed deals or reasons against trading for these guys. Possibly one or the other, or maybe even a big package for both though I wouldn't trust Hendry with dealing all of those prospects to Billy. Blanton makes alot of sense as a #3 who gives alot of innings, a pretty good WHIP, and is still young and cheap. For whatever reason, it doesn't seem like Dempster will be the closer, so Street would make alot of sense being young and one of the best in the game, and also gives us insurance for next season when Howry, Eyre, Wood, and Dempster will be FA's (and hopefully majority will go so we get some very nice draft picks). I'd imagine Murton would be of some interest to them, unless Beane sees a little more in Sweeney than the rest of us.

Jake, if Snell is not available, why do you keep writing so much about the potential Seattle deal? If you guys are listening, he is available for the right package. Edit: Maybe I wouldn't consider the offer I originally proposed on here. Snell's WHIP is nothing special and he does seem to give up alot of HR's.