2011 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[sandman]

Nice! And it sounds like we r not giving up brown OR worley. Great trade that makes us a better team.

What a freakin day in philly!!!

[Falcon]

Nice! And it sounds like we r not giving up brown OR worley. Great trade that makes us a better team.

What a freakin day in philly!!!

It's a helluva pick up, Philly and SF are on a collision course for the NL pennant.

[tim_m]

Indians get Jimenz wow major deal for them. I think that makes them the favorite in the central. Reports are Boston are close to getting Harden.

[faldor]

Indians get Jimenz wow major deal for them. I think that makes them the favorite in the central. Reports are Boston are close to getting Harden.

Indians apparently going all in.  Good for them.  Still not sure that makes them the favorite in the Central though.  Detroit still has Verlander, and a better offense.

The Sox had a deal for Harden, but it looks like it's fallen through for some reason.

@IanMBrowne Ian Browne
Just confirmed through source on Boston end that deal for Harden did fall through. As of right now, not sure why.

He would've been a nice addition with some potential upside.  Nothing earth shattering, but better than Andrew Miller and possibly Wakefield as well for the meantime.  Plus, only giving up Lars Anderson was a plus as he USED to be a high prospect but has stalled in the past few seasons and obviously he's not going to be playing 1B for the Red Sox anytime soon.  Oh well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.

[D]

Still really don't understand why Colorado moved him...... His contract isn't bad and he had 2 years left..... They must feel he was a one year wonder and they may be right considering how he's been up and down this season.

[faldor]

Still really don't understand why Colorado moved him...... His contract isn't bad and he had 2 years left..... They must feel he was a one year wonder and they may be right considering how he's been up and down this season.

You could argue he was a HALF YEAR wonder.  He was 4-7 with a 3.80 ERA in the second half last year after an unbelievable 15-1, 2.20 ERA first half.

Don't get me wrong, he's a very good pitcher.  I just don't think he's as great as he showed the first half of last season.

[faldor]

Nice addition to the Ranger bullpen

Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
The Rangers get Mike Adams for Wieland and Erlin. NOT Heath Bell. #trades
6 minutes ago

Yankees are supposedly in on Heath Bell, though they're considered a long shot.

[tim_m]

Rangers also got Koji Uremoha from the Orioles for Hunter and Davis. I kinda feel bad for those two guys. Going from first to worst in the same day.

[Falcon]

Phillies seem to be biggest winner to me, I think Pence will absolutely tear it up for them.

Dude plays hard all the time, he'll be a huge fan favorite.

I kinda like the Cards Furcal pick up. Didn't cost anything of note, worth a flyer - maybe catch lightning in a bottle.

[D]

my braves made a nice move.. finally got a speedy igniter to lead off.

[faldor]

Red Sox acquired Erik Bedard at the last minute for 4 marginal prospects who might not have lasted past this year with the organization due to their Rule 5 status.  Basically they gave up very little, so it's worth a shot.  Bedard WAS a very good pitcher a few years back with Baltimore.  He's been pretty good with the Mariners when healthy, but that hasn't been very often.   

The Sox are very concerned about Buchholz, as they transferred him to the 60 day DL earlier today.  It's looking more and more likely that he could be done for the season.  He's meeting with yet another specialist tomorrow, so more should be known then.  But the move to acquire A pitcher was definitely much needed.  In fact, according to Peter Gammons, they were hoping to acquire both Harden AND Bedard/Kuroda, but they were put off by the medical reports so the Harden deal fell through.

[pilferk]

Still really don't understand why Colorado moved him...... His contract isn't bad and he had 2 years left..... They must feel he was a one year wonder and they may be right considering how he's been up and down this season.

First half of last year....he was amazing.

Since then...10-16 with a 4 ERA.

That's why they moved him.  Either they figure they're not getting more for him later, of they have some sort of questions about him (either his long term health or his mental toughness).

[pilferk]

Yanks basically decided that the cost of a WS championship this year wasn't worth paying with their farm system.

Cashman basically gave up. 

With this rotation....I think it's almost a foregone conclusion that the Yanks make the playoffs...and then crash and burn in the playoffs.  You simply can't depend on Colon/Garcia/AJ as your 2-4....Yanks needed to make a deal (maybe more than anyone else) and didn't.

[faldor]

Reports are that Clay Buchholz has a stress fracture in his back and is done for the rest of the season. The Red Sox aren't ruling out the possibility that he could start throwing again in September to get ready for the playoffs, but I'd say the chances of that are very low. So it's time to put faith in Erik Bedard that he can be a capable and reliable 4th starter. We will see about that. It's possible they could look to acquire another starter before the waiver deadline Aug. 31st depending on what happens between now and then.

[tim_m]

That's a tough blow for you guys Faldor.

[tim_m]

Yanks basically decided that the cost of a WS championship this year wasn't worth paying with their farm system.

Cashman basically gave up. 

With this rotation....I think it's almost a foregone conclusion that the Yanks make the playoffs...and then crash and burn in the playoffs.  You simply can't depend on Colon/Garcia/AJ as your 2-4....Yanks needed to make a deal (maybe more than anyone else) and didn't.

I'm not sure how you feel about this but i for one am glad for once we didn't sell the farm team to win now. Betances and Banuelos and Montero are just too valuable to give away imo.

[Falcon]

Betances and Banuelos and Montero are just too valuable to give away imo.

I think the 2 B's are high end guys that could've brought high end return, I'm just not sure Montero is a guy that's a centerpiece of a major deal at this point.

[pilferk]

I'm not sure how you feel about this but i for one am glad for once we didn't sell the farm team to win now. Betances and Banuelos and Montero are just too valuable to give away imo.

I think you could've brought in a guy (possibly King Felix) with EXACTLY that package (and throw in Hughes or Nova, maybe) that would've made it worth it.   Let's face it: The chances ANY of those guys turn into a pitcher like Felix are slim.

I also think there were other, lesser, deals that could have been made that would have helped the club...and wouldn't have cost them the entire farm.  But, in recent years, it seems the Yanks are holding on to prospects a little TOO much.  I'm not one of those guys who wants the Yanks to sign every high profile free agent or make a blockbuster trade every year at the break.   HOWEVER, I'm also of the mind that the farm system is there for a reason....and it's not JUST to move guys from there to your big league club.  Your farm system may have "value", but if you're not willing to use the equity built up there...you've just got a bunch of guys stalled in the minors.

[pilferk]

I think the 2 B's are high end guys that could've brought high end return, I'm just not sure Montero is a guy that's a centerpiece of a major deal at this point.

He's still one of the top guys asked about....whether he can be successful in the majors or not, we don't know.  But (like Jackson and Tabata) he's the position player everyone asks about, first thing, when talking trades with the Yanks.

He's a young catcher.  Catchers, typically, take longer to develop defensively.  THAT'S his knock.  The guy is still well ahead of other players his age in terms of the stick....the kids only 21.  He's hitting close to .300 this year in AAA....and he got off to a HORRIBLE start and battled some injuries.

[Falcon]

I think the 2 B's are high end guys that could've brought high end return, I'm just not sure Montero is a guy that's a centerpiece of a major deal at this point.

He's still one of the top guys asked about....whether he can be successful in the majors or not, we don't know.  But (like Jackson and Tabata) he's the position player everyone asks about, first thing, when talking trades with the Yanks.

He's a young catcher.  Catchers, typically, take longer to develop defensively.  THAT'S his knock.  The guy is still well ahead of other players his age in terms of the stick....the kids only 21.  He's hitting close to .300 this year in AAA....and he got off to a HORRIBLE start and battled some injuries.

I didn't realize he was just 21, that leaves time to develop his defensive skills for sure.

I saw on on hardballtalk he could be called up soon, I'm pumped to see the kid in action at the Big League level.