Backtobanks

Two rumors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Braves have needs, including pitching. If they could get an impact starter or a package of pitchers for Jarrodd Saltalamacchia, they might pull the trigger. They've also talked to the Rangers about first baseman Mark Teixeira, a slugger and Gold Glover who could earn more than $10 million in arbitration next season and then become a free agent. Saltalamacchia hasn't played much since the Braves signed first baseman Julio Franco, who made his fifth start in six games Tuesday. McCann has gotten healthy and needs few days off. ... Saltalamacchia was the Braves' top-rated prospect before the season and has further elevated his stock with a strong performance in his first stint in the majors. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution If the Braves' front office makes any moves before the trade deadline, Chipper Jones hopes it will be in the pitching department. "I think the onus of our moves needs to be [the pitching] staff," he said. "I'd like to see us get a lefty reliever. Because there comes a point where all the big left-handed bats in our division ... we're going to have to have someone in the seventh or eighth inning who can get those guys out. "That's why the loss of Gonzo really hurt us." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution If the Braves might accept a "package of pitchers" for Salty and Chipper thinks they need a lefty reliever, how about a package of Marshall, Eyre/Ohman, plus ???? for Salty.

You've been drinking too much of that Kenny Williams KoolAide. Marmol has lights out stuff and will be the closer in another year while Garland has been complaining of a knot in his shoulder. No Thanks.

I would be all over this deal. I do like Gallagher, but he is replaceable and Moore looks like a AAAA player. Hoffpair is injured, but I don't think he had much of a future with the Cubs. I'm not sure the Pirates are willing to trade Nady because they're starting to build a pretty stable and young team.

This doesn't make much sense.... Anytime you trade a prospect, you are flirting with disaster. Anytime you sign a free agent, same deal.. Toronto would be making just as big a risk as the Cubs, if not bigger, because Rios is a proven stud. Say the trade happened, and Pie proved to live up to his expectations in 3 years, while Marshall/Veal/Cedeno/Soto turned out to be career minor leaguers. And say Rios came to Chicago, ended up hitting 40+ homers, drove in 100+, and hit .300 with an OBP of .350+ over the next few years. Does this trade still 'not make sense?' Just because Cedeno is a 'SS' doesn't mean much of anything. Izturis was a 'SS', but we all know what happened there. My point about Cedeno is that very few people had Theriot pegged for more than a utility infielder. If Theriot is unable to put up strong numbers, the Cubs would need an everyday SS. I agree with your comments about Rios being a stud now, but it is possible that Pie, Cedeno, and Marshall could all be very productive players for the Blue Jays (or Cubs) in 2008 while Soto certainly could be at least a backup catcher next year. It certainly would be a gamble for both teams to make this kind of deal.

Rios is the kind of guy that would be great to get, but as others have said, I can't see why the Blue Jays would want to trade him. The offer you mentioned might get it done, but that kind of overpayment by the Cubs might really hurt down the line. While I like Theriot, the question still lingers whether he is a full-time starter at SS for the next few years. Cedeno hasn't proven himself, but he definitely is a SS.

Conine is old enough to have a son in the majors. Can't see this deal especially since Jones is doing okay lately.

If I were the White Sox, I would be asking for Escobar or Salty instead of Renteria. Williams needs to quit thinking like the WS are contenders next year and go after prospects that will be a winning team in 2009-2010. The Sox have no chance with the Tigers, Indians, and Twins not only better, but in most cases younger than they are.

Ben Maller is reporting: While the manager emphasizes today, Cards GM Walt Jocketty tilts toward the future. Though insisting there will be no "sell-off," Jocketty might have an opportunity to stir the market with right fielder Juan Encarnacion, pending free-agent shortstop David Eckstein or a righthanded reliever. Anthony Reyes, who Jocketty insisted last July was not introduced in trade talks with the Florida Marlins, can now be had. Kip Wells' two-hit performance against the Florida Marlins on Wednesday might create value where none previously existed. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch Encarnacion would certainly look good in RF for the Cubs. Of course the question is whether the Cards would deal inside the division and how much would they want for him. He is an interesting option.

I'm not sure why the Cubs would want Garland. If you put his numbers so far this season on the Cubs, he'd be the 6th best starter for the Cubs. He's been a mid 4's ERA guy for most of his career besides 1 year. He is certainly no better than Lilly or Hill. He probably is a little better than Marquis, but that's not nearly worth what it would take in talent and salary to acquire him. I'm not making an argument for or against Garland, just pointing out that a "mid 4's ERA" in the AL translates into a pretty good pitcher in the NL without the DH.

Garland would be great, but if Williams is seeking a king's ransom for players like Contreras and Dye, can you imagine what he'd want for Garland? Probably Hill, Pie, and Veal for starters.

If they think Dopirak is an elite prospect, I'd do Dopirak for Dye. :) Sounds good :D I don't know what Williams is exactly thinking here. Dye is a FA after this year anyway. You have to move him now before you end up with absolutely nothing. And based on his potential from last season and his HR totals from this season (on a bum quad), there will definitely be teams that are interested in him. You're not going to get a top of the line prospect for Dye, so he can stop thinking that. How about Neal Cotts :wink: The funniest line that I've read in the last few weeks is Williams wasn't sure on whether the White Sox would be buyers or sellers. KW is hilarious.

Let me start with a quick disclaimer: I'm only suggesting these moves as long-term suggestions, assuming they can be obtained very cheaply, and that they still have minor league options. The rumor mill has suggested that the Red Sox are basically willing to give up Willy Mo Pena for next to nothing and the Angels have already replaced Ervin Santana in the rotation. Perhaps some time at AAA with Joshua and spring training with Gerald Perry might straighten out Pena. He has shown the potential to be a .280 hitter with 40-50 HR power. As for Santana, he was wanted by a lot of teams last offseason and has a lot of potential to be a winning starter in the majors. Maybe Rothschild and the minor league pitching coaches can straighten him out. Both of these players are still young and have had some success in the majors, but are having terrible years and seemed to be "on the outs" with their current teams. Before I get blasted on these suggestions, remember the disclaimer at the beginning.

Pretty much, but he's got the defensive ability/reputation to actually get playing time in RF. Fun fact about Ethier: His OBP and SLG are identical this year v. RHP and LHP. Only a 4 point difference in OPS last year too, so he's not a guy that needs a platoon partner. I mentioned trading for Vazquez and then using Marshall in a deal, but the Dodgers want starting pitching, what about a 3-way deal with Ethier/Murton/Vazquez as main components? yeah thats a good idea, since vazquez is the only guy performing this year who can be had (other than oswalt). how does Cubs get: Ethier, Vazquez Dodgers get: Marshall, and Petrick White Sox get: Murton, and Meloan sound? Picking up Vasquez adds a lot of salary.

A 2-position platoon of Jones/Byrnes/Pagan in CF and Floyd/Byrnes/Derosa in RF with the leftovers on the bench would be pretty productive. I don't know how much he would cost as a rental, but my original post mentioned let him walk and getting the draft choices. I wouldn't mind getting Stairs, but Byrnes can play CF and platoon with Jones which stairs can't do.

Eric Byrnes might be an interesting option for a rental for CF and RF. Obviously, Arizona doesn't think they're out of it, but I would think they aren't going to make the playoffs this year. With all of the talk about Hudson leaving Arizona at the end of the season, maybe a deal centered around Eric Patterson plus ??? for Byrnes. At the end of the season, let him walk and get the draft choices.

This is actually an age-old debate which will continue as long as baseball is played. It usually is treated as a most outstanding player award, but given that it's called the Most VALUABLE Player, perhaps it shouldn't be. By definition, most VALUABLE means who made the most difference for their team, not who had the most outstanding individual performance. Given how it usually is looked at perhaps it should be re-named Player of the Year instead of Most Valuable Player. I've always thought that they should have a separate award for Player of the Year. The POY could be from any team, while the MVP would come from a team finishing 1st or 2nd.

Assuming the Cubs win the NL Central and Aram keeps driving in clutch runs, that he has a legitimate shot at MVP? I know it's not the end of the season, but I have trouble believing that anybody has been more valuable to their team.

That is true, but I think it also might have something to do with more playing time overall.

I agree with the posters that say Bonds is a total jerk, but you do have to give him some credit as a great ballplayer. Before we get all excited about Arod breaking Bonds' HR record, do we have any proof that Arod isn't using something? We are in an era where every batting and pitching record has a cloud of suspicion hanging over it. His physique? Isn't that proof enough? Unless he is using a lean mass roid, but I believe that only benefits track athletes and such. There isn't an inkling that ARod has used roids. There's very solid evidence, almost to the level of total proof even, that Bonds did. If someone comes out with solid evidence ARod cheated, then of course I'll be against him breaking big time records. Of course. By the time this "era" is over, I think we will find out that many players were using something even though we don't have any inkling that they were. Many of the players caught in the steroid hysteria have been small thin players, not bulked up giants. The rumors are starting to spread to golf, and they sure don't have players that look like Bonds.

I agree with the posters that say Bonds is a total jerk, but you do have to give him some credit as a great ballplayer. Before we get all excited about Arod breaking Bonds' HR record, do we have any proof that Arod isn't using something? We are in an era where every batting and pitching record has a cloud of suspicion hanging over it.

I don't understand all of this talk about Dempster going to the rotation. How can he possibly be a starter this year without stretching out his innings. Basically he has been a one-inning pitcher for the last few years and he is supposed to jump right back into a 6-7 inning guy. Maybe for next year after building up his stamina in spring training.

Does anyone know how the minor leagues handle the roster size for each team. With players moving up or down and major league players being sent out to rehab for a week (or a month), are there set rules for the size of the roster in the minors?

Plays every game against the Brewers. Steroids or not, it's amazing to see a fat,old, crippled guy who can hit HRs against 25 mph wind. Time to root for Barry, but only during the Brewer series.

Maybe they are considering that, if they're trying to trade Jack Wilson. which is hilarious, since izturis is more or less a hispanic version of jack wilson Yeah, but the Hispanic version has a much better contract than Jack Wilson. Wilson's contract is ridiculous.

How exactly do you go about replacing Hill? He's a top 20-40 starter in the game under team control for the forseeable future. You don't trade Hill for Salty because Salty has the potential to be a true superstar, but at this point he is still a prospect.