DISCUSSION OF THE WEEK: MLB TRADE DEADLINE

[HOVA]

If Roy doesn't go to Philly, he is an asshole. The Phillies have a legitimate shot at the World Series now and even with all the injuries to their offense they are beginning to gel, time to make the move Roy! I don't care if Philly wins the Division or makes the playoffs as a Wild Card, they would be favorites in the National League with Oswalt!

 

Unless they all get healthy quickly, I personally would still put the Braves and Cards as the favorites over the Phils even if they get Oswalt. 

Cardinals and Braves have holes in their batting lineups, by the time the playoffs start Utley will be back as well as Rollins and Victorino. Despite what has happened so far this year, the Phillies have the best offense in the league and with Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt plus the playoff experience over the past few years, they are undeniably the favorite. I would say that the Cardinals and Braves probably have better bullpens though, especially at closer but of course this is all hear say, let's see what happens over the next two months.

 

The bullpens were the main reason I made the statement.  Phils need to do SOMETHING about that situation.

I still wouldn't sleep on the Pads and Giants either though.

Phils are what 2.5 back of wildcard and 3.5 of division as of today? 

If they get healthy and back to old form quickly they could definitely make a run. 

[TheGame]

A source tells Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that Roy Oswalt plans to waive his no-trade clause to complete a trade to the Phillies.July 29 - 1:20 pm ET

[TheGame]

A source tells ESPN's Tim Kurkjian that the Orioles have hired Buck Showalter as their next manager.July 29 - 1:45 pm ET

[Oscarxena]

This is from www.phillies.com, WOO HOO - GO PHILLIES!

Phils acquire Roy Oswalt from Houston
One day after Phillies ace Roy Halladay twirled his eighth complete game of the season, the Phillies have added another ace named "Roy" - acquiring Roy Oswalt in a trade with the Houston Astros in exchange for pitcher J.A. Happ, and Minor League prospects Jonathan Villar and Anthony Gose.

Oswalt, 32, is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA in 20 starts this season. For his career, the three-time All-Star is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA.

 

[HOVA]

The latest on Adam Dunn, with more updates to come throughout the day...

The White Sox are saying internally that they're out of the Dunn sweepstakes, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Yankees are now out on Dunn. Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains that the Yankees would give up top prospects for a piece they need, but not for a luxury like Dunn. The Yanks lead the majors in scoring, so Dunn's bat is not an absolute necessity for the Bronx Bombers.

[HOVA]

WhiteSox exploring hitters other than Dunn, not all LH. Are "all over the place," source says. Also looking for mid-rotation starter.

[TheGame]

Corey Brock of MLB.com has confirmed that the Padres are indeed acquiring infielder Miguel Tejada from the Orioles.

[TheGame]

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Astros are now fielding offers for first baseman Lance Berkman.
The Astros acquired a replacement for Berkman when they flipped outfielder Anthony Gose to Toronto on Thursday for Brett Wallace. The 34-year-old Berkman is sure to draw interest from multiple contending teams. He's batting .245/.372/.436 with 13 homers and 49 RBI in 298 at-bats this year.

[HOVA]

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Astros are now fielding offers for first baseman Lance Berkman.
The Astros acquired a replacement for Berkman when they flipped outfielder Anthony Gose to Toronto on Thursday for Brett Wallace. The 34-year-old Berkman is sure to draw interest from multiple contending teams. He's batting .245/.372/.436 with 13 homers and 49 RBI in 298 at-bats this year.

PLEASE NOT THE SOX

PLEASE NOT THE SOX

PLEASE NOT THE SOX

[HOVA]

FUCK ME

According to Buster Onley

The White Sox consider Lance Berkman as one of their Plan B options, now what they don't expect to get Adam Dunn.

[TheGame]

FUCK ME

According to Buster Onley

The White Sox consider Lance Berkman as one of their Plan B options, now what they don't expect to get Adam Dunn.

I'm surprised they don't like that 1B for Pittsburgh.
Left hander with power and can also play in RF

[HOVA]

FUCK ME

According to Buster Onley

The White Sox consider Lance Berkman as one of their Plan B options, now what they don't expect to get Adam Dunn.

I'm surprised they don't like that 1B for Pittsburgh.
Left hander with power and can also play in RF

I honestly have no idea who you are talking about. 

I don't even think I know one Pirate

[HOVA]

except this one

[TheGame]

Jorge Cantu saw the light blinking on his cell phone when he got to his locker and knew it might finally be time. Then, he read the text message from his agent: He was headed for Texas.

The AL West-leading Rangers added another bat for the playoff push, acquiring Cantu from the Florida Marlins on Thursday for two minor league pitchers.

For Cantu, this ends more than a week of wondering whether he would be staying or leaving at the trade deadline. Still, shaking hands and saying goodbye to the teammates he's grown to love during three seasons in South Florida was bittersweet.

"Deep inside I'm very sad to leave the Marlins, of course," Cantu said. "My turn is to go right now to the Texas Rangers and help that ballclub out. They're playing well and winning the division. I think it will be fun. Whenever you go to a new team it's always fun and exciting. ... There's still two months to go. I know what I'm capable of doing."

Cantu had two singles, scored twice and made an error in the Marlins' 5-0 win at San Francisco before being replaced on defense in the bottom of the eighth.

"It was finalized within 30 seconds of the last out today," Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said.

After Beinfest told Cantu of the trade, the infielder spoke briefly by phone with Rangers GM Jon Daniels. Cantu is set to meet the team in Anaheim on Friday morning.

Texas acquired pitcher Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners earlier this month.

Cantu hit .262 with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs for Florida. The Rangers already have All-Star Michael Young at third base — Cantu said in recent days he was prepared to switch back to his former spot at first base, a position of need for the Rangers.

Cantu's arrival will help a club that just placed All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler on the disabled list with a strained groin.

Unlike many Marlins trades, this one wasn't about dumping salary. Cantu's 16 errors were concerning for a club that has struggled on defense. He also can become a free agent after the season.

Despite the mixed emotions, Cantu is ready for a fresh start after all the speculation he was on the trading block.

"I had a good feeling something was going to happen," he said. "I really wanted to win here for the Marlins. It is a good relief because it was lingering around in my head for about a week. I tried not to think about it."

The Rangers sent Double-A right-handers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda to Florida. Texas also receives cash in the deal.

Cantu's defense has been shaky of late and the Marlins didn't consider him part of their long-term plans.

"Jorge has been fantastic but he is a would-be free agent," Beinfest said. "We wanted to extract value for him now. We did not have plans to offer him a contract or arbitration this winter so we wanted to try to get value now for him."

Wes Helms will likely become Florida's regular third baseman. Beinfest said the Marlins also want to get a long look at outfielder Logan Morrison, called up Tuesday when left fielder Chris Coghlan went on the disabled list.

Poveda, someone the Marlins have tried to acquire in the past, is recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery but expected to be ready by spring training. He will rehabilitate in Jupiter, Fla.

Reed will report to Double-A Jacksonville, but is someone considered on the fast track to reach the big leagues.

[TheGame]

FUCK ME

According to Buster Onley

The White Sox consider Lance Berkman as one of their Plan B options, now what they don't expect to get Adam Dunn.

I'm surprised they don't like that 1B for Pittsburgh.
Left hander with power and can also play in RF

I honestly have no idea who you are talking about. 

I don't even think I know one Pirate

Garrett Jones 14 HR's , 60 RBI's and 277 average

[HOVA]

I honestly don't think the Sox are going to make a move until Friday night.
 
If Freddy Garcia sucks it up tonight along with Hudson on Friday, the Sox top priority becomes pitching. 

Either way they are going to need another arm in my opinion, but if Hudson and or Garcia falter in the next two days it will be more apparent.  Now the options aren't great out there but something will have to be done.

In the end I think they'll end up getting both an arm and a bat, its just won't be larger name guys.   

[HOVA]

I could see the White Sox trading for Adam LaRoche, they have a good history of making deals with Arizona. 

[HOVA]

Fielder & Hart Are Off The Market
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 29 at 8:23pm CST]
The Brewers have decided that they’re too close to contention to sell, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. An executive from a club that had interest in a Brewers player explained to Law that Milwaukee has changed its approach to Saturday's deadline. That means Prince Fielder and Corey Hart are no longer available to teams seeking power bats.


I'M GUESSING THIS GUY MEANS CLOSE TO CONTENTION GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT NOW I THINK THEY ARE LIKE 10 GAMES UNDER .500.   UNLESS THEY GET REALLY HOT AND WIN THE CENTRAL, I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.

[TheGame]

Aaron Gleeman of NBCSports.com confirms that Wilson Ramos has been traded to the Nationals for right-handed reliever Matt Capps.July 29 - 10:35 pm ET

[Oscarxena]

Aaron Gleeman of NBCSports.com confirms that Wilson Ramos has been traded to the Nationals for right-handed reliever Matt Capps.July 29 - 10:35 pm ET

Twins trade for Nats closer Capps

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the middle of another tight division race, the Minnesota Twins acquired All-Star closer Matt Capps from the Washington Nationals late Thursday night for prized catching prospect Wilson Ramos and minor league left-hander Joe Testa.

The Twins also received cash considerations in the deal.

"The motivation is that this makes us a better club," said general manager Bill Smith, whose Twins trail the Chicago White Sox by 1½ games in the AL Central. "This gives us more depth in the back of that bullpen. Matt Capps is an established, veteran closer who is going to give us a better chance to win our division and advance to the World Series."

ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian first reported the deal.

Capps is 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA and 26 saves in 30 chances this year for the struggling Nationals, who could make other moves before the non-waiver trading deadline Saturday. Slugger Adam Dunn has been mentioned in several possible deals.

He will immediately move into the closer role that was vacated when Joe Nathan had Tommy John surgery in spring training.

Jon Rauch moved from setup man to closer to fill in for Nathan and performed admirably with 21 saves in 25 opportunities. But Rauch is a pitch-to-contact thrower who does not have overpowering stuff. He was only given one save opportunity since July 11, perhaps a sign that the team's confidence in his capabilities as a closer were eroding. Rauch has a 5.40 ERA in nine appearances this month.

Now he will slide back into a setup role that he excelled in last season after being acquired from the Diamondbacks. He will team with veteran righty Matt Guerrier to give the Twins two experienced relievers for the eighth inning.

"Jon Rauch stepped up and has been phenomenal for us," Smith said. "This gives us three quality, veteran guys late in the game. I can't say enough great things about what Jon Rauch has contributed to this club and we expect him to continue to be a huge contributor to our success."

It also shows how the Twins' primary focus has shifted somewhat while playing in brand new Target Field. In the last few seasons, the Twins have grown more and more aggressive to build a veteran team that is capable of making a deep playoff run.

They brought in Carl Pavano, shortstop Orlando Cabrera and Rauch last year, three moves that helped the team win its fifth division title of the decade.

But the Twins have only advanced out of the first round in one of those five trips to the postseason, and it's clear there is a sense of urgency now.

This year they added veterans Orlando Hudson, J.J. Hardy and Jim Thome in the offseason to push their payroll near $100 million and now have shipped out one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball to bring in a closer, which is a position that is considered much easier to find production.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire lobbied hard for Ramos to make the team out of spring training after he hit .400 and also impressed with his defensive abilities.

But the Twins, of course, have MVP Joe Mauer entrenched in the catcher spot. Mauer signed an eight-year, $184 million extension in the spring, and Ramos knew his days with the Twins could be coming to an end.

Smith wanted the 22-year-old Venezuelan, who only had 54 career at-bats in Double-A, to get more plate appearances in the minors. He hit .241 with five homers and 30 RBIs for Triple-A Rochester this season.

In his one call-up in May, Ramos went 7 for 9 with three doubles in his first two games before cooling off. He went 1 for his last 18 in the seven-game stint.

"He's a tremendous talent and he's got a bright future," Smith said. "Anytime you're going to get an All-Star closer, you have to give up a good player. It was a tough decision, but one we felt we had to make."

The addition of Ramos to a talented young core led by ace Stephen Strasburg gives the Nationals the flexibility to move slugging catcher Bryce Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft, into the outfield.

[TheGame]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the White Sox are in "serious discussions" to acquire Edwin Jackson from the Diamondbacks for Daniel Hudson and another prospect.
Interesting. Rosenthal had it first, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times feels that a deal could go down as soon as this morning. Both Rosenthal and Cowley are of the opinion that the White Sox are looking to bolster their starting rotation, but it's worth mentioning that the Nationals also really like Jackson. Spurned in their efforts to acquire Dunn from the Nats, it's possible that the White Sox are looking for a better match.

[HOVA]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the White Sox are in "serious discussions" to acquire Edwin Jackson from the Diamondbacks for Daniel Hudson and another prospect.
Interesting. Rosenthal had it first, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times feels that a deal could go down as soon as this morning. Both Rosenthal and Cowley are of the opinion that the White Sox are looking to bolster their starting rotation, but it's worth mentioning that the Nationals also really like Jackson. Spurned in their efforts to acquire Dunn from the Nats, it's possible that the White Sox are looking for a better match.

Its seems to me that they could get Jackson for a lot less than Hudson and another prospect.  He's an innings eater, but sometimes he loses it.

If it does go down, I hope they just flip him and probably someone else to the Nats for Dunn.

I read yesterday that the only reason the Nats traded Capps was to clear money for Jackson (who they loved), so we will see. 

[TheGame]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the White Sox are in "serious discussions" to acquire Edwin Jackson from the Diamondbacks for Daniel Hudson and another prospect.
Interesting. Rosenthal had it first, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times feels that a deal could go down as soon as this morning. Both Rosenthal and Cowley are of the opinion that the White Sox are looking to bolster their starting rotation, but it's worth mentioning that the Nationals also really like Jackson. Spurned in their efforts to acquire Dunn from the Nats, it's possible that the White Sox are looking for a better match.

Its seems to me that they could get Jackson for a lot less than Hudson and another prospect.  He's an innings eater, but sometimes he loses it.

If it does go down, I hope they just flip him and probably someone else to the Nats for Dunn.

I read yesterday that the only reason the Nats traded Capps was to clear money for Jackson (who they loved), so we will see. 

I was thinking the same thing on that trade.
Make the trade. Then tell Jackson to wait at the airport 

[TheGame]

The Nats trade with Capps makes sense. They drafted their closer of the future not too many picks after Strasburg.

[HOVA]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the White Sox are in "serious discussions" to acquire Edwin Jackson from the Diamondbacks for Daniel Hudson and another prospect.
Interesting. Rosenthal had it first, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times feels that a deal could go down as soon as this morning. Both Rosenthal and Cowley are of the opinion that the White Sox are looking to bolster their starting rotation, but it's worth mentioning that the Nationals also really like Jackson. Spurned in their efforts to acquire Dunn from the Nats, it's possible that the White Sox are looking for a better match.

Its seems to me that they could get Jackson for a lot less than Hudson and another prospect.  He's an innings eater, but sometimes he loses it.

If it does go down, I hope they just flip him and probably someone else to the Nats for Dunn.

I read yesterday that the only reason the Nats traded Capps was to clear money for Jackson (who they loved), so we will see. 

I was thinking the same thing on that trade.
Make the trade. Then tell Jackson to wait at the airport 

Apparently Kenny Williams has something else cooking that is pretty big according to Joe Cowley.