DISCUSSION OF THE WEEK: MLB TRADE DEADLINE

[HOVA]

THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE A TWO WEEK TOPIC AND RUN TO A LITTLE AFTER THE MLB TRADE DEADLINE.

POST WHATEVER YOU WANT RELATED TO THE DEADLINE.  BE IT WHO YOU WANT YOUR FAVORITE TEAM TO GET, NOT GET, WHAT THEY NEED, RUMORS.  ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK IS INTERESTING.

AS ALWAYS DON'T BE SHY, GET INVOLVED, YOU WON'T REGRET IT.   

ALSO A GOOD SOURCE FOR HOT STOVE ACTIVITY IS

WWW.MLBTRADERUMORS.COM 

[HOVA]

AS A SOX FAN I CAN'T COMPLAIN WITH HOW THEY ARE PLAYING, BUT I STILL THINK THEY NEED TO ADD A LEFT HANDED BAT. MAINLY ONE THAT WILL PLAY RF AND DH.  

I AM SICK OF SEEING MARK KOTSAY AND ANDRUW JONES IN THE LINEUP WITH THEIR .2OO AVG'S.  

ADAM DUNN MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR THEM, BUT I THINK THE NATS WILL BE ASKING TOO MUCH.

PRINCE FIELDER WOULD ALSO WORK, BUT I WOULD ONLY WANT HIM IF THE SOX WERE ABLE TO SIGN HIM TO A CONTRACT EXTENSION.  

THE SOX ALSO NEED A VETERAN PITCHER TO FILL THE 5TH SPOT IN THE ROTATION NOW THAT PEAVY IS DONE.  

THEY MADE AN ATTEMPT TO GET LEE BUT THE M'S WANTED BECKHAM, BUT THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.  I DON'T SEE THE SOX TRADING HIM NO MATTER WHO'S AVAILABLE.  

TOP NAMES THAT COME TO MIND FOR ME ARE ROY OSWALT (THOUGH HE SAID HE WOULDN'T PLAY IN CHI) AND DAN HAREN.  IT SOUNDS LIKE BOTH ARE GOING TO COST A LOT TO ACQUIRE THOUGH.

I ACTUALLY WOULDN'T MIND SEEING THE SOX SIGN PEDRO FOR THE 2ND HALF IF HE WERE INTERESTED.    

ONE THING I KNOW IS KENNY WON'T STAND PAT, AND I THINK HE'LL DEFINITELY ADDRESS BOTH NEEDS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.  

[TheGame]

I would like to see the Tigers add Stephen Drew.
They need a SS and another left handed bat. He fills both.
Drew is only 27 and under team control until 2012.

They could use another starter. But nothing all that impressive is out there.

[TheGame]

Arizona has put a high price tag on Haren.
They want to starters and bullpen help.
Now if a team had two starters to trade. Would they really need to trade for one 

[HOVA]

Arizona has put a high price tag on Haren.
They want to starters and bullpen help.
Now if a team had two starters to trade. Would they really need to trade for one 

I'D GIVE THEM SCOTT LINEBRINK AND PEAVY   

[GreatLaker]

Are there any teams out there who are ready to blow it up?  Seems to me there should be several...starting with the Cubbies.

[TheGame]

Are there any teams out there who are ready to blow it up?  Seems to me there should be several...starting with the Cubbies.

I think they will be active pretty soon. A lot of rumors about Lee and Lilly on the move

[HOVA]

Are there any teams out there who are ready to blow it up?  Seems to me there should be several...starting with the Cubbies.

I think they will be active pretty soon. A lot of rumors about Lee and Lilly on the move

I alway liked Derek Lee, even when he became a Cub. 

He's probably the best defensive 1st baseman in the league so he would definitely help someone. 

But from the games I've watched it seems like age has caught up with him with the bat, he was routinely getting 88-90 mph pitches "blown" by him. 

I think he's making a lot of money this year, not sure about the next couple though. 

[TheGame]

Are there any teams out there who are ready to blow it up?  Seems to me there should be several...starting with the Cubbies.

I think they will be active pretty soon. A lot of rumors about Lee and Lilly on the move

I alway liked Derek Lee, even when he became a Cub. 

He's probably the best defensive 1st baseman in the league so he would definitely help someone. 

But from the games I've watched it seems like age has caught up with him with the bat, he was routinely getting 88-90 mph pitches "blown" by him. 

I think he's making a lot of money this year, not sure about the next couple though. 

I think he is on the last year of his deal.
He might be a good fit for the Angels. They are looking for a rental player for first base

[HOVA]

Are there any teams out there who are ready to blow it up?  Seems to me there should be several...starting with the Cubbies.

I think they will be active pretty soon. A lot of rumors about Lee and Lilly on the move

I alway liked Derek Lee, even when he became a Cub. 

He's probably the best defensive 1st baseman in the league so he would definitely help someone. 

But from the games I've watched it seems like age has caught up with him with the bat, he was routinely getting 88-90 mph pitches "blown" by him. 

I think he's making a lot of money this year, not sure about the next couple though. 

I think he is on the last year of his deal.
He might be a good fit for the Angels. They are looking for a rental player for first base

That's my first guess of where he would go. 

[Lloyd]

Can the tribe trade their whole team except Santana?

[HOVA]

Sox have made pitch for Dunn - ball is in Rizzo's court

When discussing the trade market on Monday, Ken Williams chose his words carefully, using phrases like, "We'll see how that develops,'' and "... right now, I don't see anything materializing.''
It hasn't been from a lack of trying.
According to a major-league source, Williams spent the last few days trying desperately to pry Adam Dunn from the grasps of the Washington Nationals, offering up "anyone and anything he has in the minor leagues in a package.''
And no one is untouchable, including pitcher Daniel Hudson or infielder Dayan Viciedo.
"The problem Kenny is finding out is that [Nats GM Mike] Rizzo is acting like Dunn is Ryan Howard,'' the source said.
That means that Rizzo is still fixated on getting Gordon Beckham or Carlos Quentin, two players on the current big-league roster that Williams has refused to move.
While Williams was sounding like the talks were dead before his team took the field against Seattle, they are in fact alive and well, but just put in Rizzo's court.
"Real quickly, what it is, is a limited market for us,'' Williams said. "What we view as potential help is really, there's only a small group of players. And even with that, we all still have to have the conversation amongst ourselves and we kind of do it on a daily basis this time of year amongst ourselves what we're looking at the right fit.
"The right fit, both skill-set wise, fit in the lineup or fit, whether it be a bullpen piece, a starter piece. Is it the right fit? Are you going to gain exponentially by making that move in lieu of staying with what you have? And I'm very mindful of how this team has banded together and overcome a mountain of hurdles to get to where they want to get right now, so I think you have to be very cognizant of doing something that isn't, like I said, exponentially better and making sure it's not disruptive at the same time.''
By disruptive, Williams means acquiring Dunn - a free agent-to-be - and sending out controlled salaries of what the Sox deem proven players in Quentin or Beckham.
The one surprising name that Williams would be willing to move, however, was Hudson. It would seem that giving away Hudson would weaken the starting staff not only for now, but the immediate future.
Williams, however, feels like Dunn's presence would help the starters because of the production he brings from the left side, and also that they could limit the number of times that fifth starter would be used anyway, knocking it down to about 10 more starts this year with the off days.
"And I'll be honest,'' Williams continued. "If I'm being honest and completely transparent right now of the price that is being asked for some of the players that we've inquired about, for us, it's more detrimental to our present and our future than we'd like.''
Like team captain Paul Konerko told the Sun-Times over the weekend, Williams agreed that the 25 players that dug the hole and then climbed out of it should be afforded the chance to write the ending of this story.
"I like the fight in them,'' Williams said. "Obviously, we put the roster together thinking it can compete, it could be a winning roster.
"And as a general manager, you can only hope and pray that your coaching staff can get the guys to play at that level of intensity and the players themselves have to have it internally to keep that drive going. As I sit here, I'm very cognizant of all those things and we will go through our drills and have our conversations. But it's a very small group of players that maybe potentially available and can help.''
Added Williams, "And just because July 31 passes, that doesn't mean other opportunities won't come about.''

[HOVA]

I think Viciedo will be a good player in the majors, but he is still very young and very raw.  His fielding is very suspect though, which was always the big knock on him.   He's actually hurting the Sox nowadays when he is in the field. 

Hudson is still kind of a work in progress as well, but he is closer to getting there than Viciedo. 

Although it would hurt the Sox rotation now and into the future, I agree with what Kenny said, that adding the power in the long run would actually help the pitchers.  And what's the old saying you need to give talent to get talent.  So I'd be willing to move either of those guys in a package to get Dunn.  The Sox desperately need a producing left handed bat in the order. 

I also think Kenny goes out and gets a veteran starter (though the market is thin) regardless or not if they get Dunn, so the pitching staff this year should be fine even if they gave up Hudson.   

[eddieh8823]

The Cubbies should break it up as mentioned but who can they trade?  Every single guy on that team is overpaid and underachieving.  Aramis Ramirez?  Who is going to take him?  Soriano?  Worst.Contract.Ever.  Makes "The Zito" signing look like a bargain!  Zambrano?  The 100 years and $65MM remaining on his contract?  This weeks special, buy 1 Zambrano, get an Anger Management counselor free!!  Cubs do not have a lot of movable pieces and the ones they have, they can't get much back.  Derek Lee has been absolutely terrible this year.  Napoli is a better hitter now than Lee, Angels should just put him there and let him play, since Sciossa has some weird Jeff Mathis fetish. 

Anyways, I am a Yankees fan and when the Mariners reneged on the Lee deal, it was the 2nd time in 24 hours I had my guts ripped out (anyone remember a little show called "The Decision" the night before?  Yes I AM a Knicks season ticket holder, but I digress).  I really thought we had Lee in the bag and we needed him.  With Burnett and Pettite now shelved, the Yanks need a cheap starter.  Going back to the Cubbies for a minute, Ted Lily is a movable asset and matches up well with the Yanks.  He has been on our team and can pitch in NY.  Brett Myers has looked pretty good too.  They say we need to strengthen the bench a bit too.  Not sure who we could get.  I keep hearing Adam Dunn, but we rotate that DH spot for our older guys who need days off in the field and its not like we want to put Dunn out in the outfield or have him replace the best defensive 1B in baseball.  It will be interesting to see if Cashman stands pat or just adds another middle reliever (god knows we need that too, our BP outside Rivera has been dreadful.)  Scott Downs maybe? 

[TheMule]

Rumor is the Dodgers are shopping Kemp for a starting Pitcher.  He's been my favorite player on the Dodgers for the past few years, but he's definitely been dogging it at times this year.  Manny Ramirez certainly hasn't been a good role model.

[HOVA]

Rumor is the Dodgers are shopping Kemp for a starting Pitcher.  He's been my favorite player on the Dodgers for the past few years, but he's definitely been dogging it at times this year.  Manny Ramirez certainly hasn't been a good role model.

It is probably because he finally got paid this offseason, signing that contract extension.

I doubt the Dodgers would move him, but if they actually did, he would bring back quiet a haul, Kemp's a stud when his mind is right. 

[Oscarxena]

The Cubbies should break it up as mentioned but who can they trade?  Every single guy on that team is overpaid and underachieving.  Aramis Ramirez?  Who is going to take him?  Soriano?  Worst.Contract.Ever.  Makes "The Zito" signing look like a bargain!  Zambrano?  The 100 years and $65MM remaining on his contract?  This weeks special, buy 1 Zambrano, get an Anger Management counselor free!!  Cubs do not have a lot of movable pieces and the ones they have, they can't get much back.  Derek Lee has been absolutely terrible this year.  Napoli is a better hitter now than Lee, Angels should just put him there and let him play, since Sciossa has some weird Jeff Mathis fetish. 

Anyways, I am a Yankees fan and when the Mariners reneged on the Lee deal, it was the 2nd time in 24 hours I had my guts ripped out (anyone remember a little show called "The Decision" the night before?  Yes I AM a Knicks season ticket holder, but I digress).  I really thought we had Lee in the bag and we needed him.  With Burnett and Pettite now shelved, the Yanks need a cheap starter.  Going back to the Cubbies for a minute, Ted Lily is a movable asset and matches up well with the Yanks.  He has been on our team and can pitch in NY.  Brett Myers has looked pretty good too.  They say we need to strengthen the bench a bit too.  Not sure who we could get.  I keep hearing Adam Dunn, but we rotate that DH spot for our older guys who need days off in the field and its not like we want to put Dunn out in the outfield or have him replace the best defensive 1B in baseball.  It will be interesting to see if Cashman stands pat or just adds another middle reliever (god knows we need that too, our BP outside Rivera has been dreadful.)  Scott Downs maybe? 

I sense anger since you dropped Ramirez in our fantasy league and I picked him up!   J/K buddy but he's been tearing the cover off the ball lately, he might approach .300 by the end of the year if he stays healthy. I think the Yankees should go for Oswalt truthfully. I believe he can still dominate and while going to the AL will be tougher, we saw what he could do on a contending team for years. Also, have the Pirates started their annual fire sale, myabe someone is there like Maholm that they can pick up for a Single A guy or something!

[Oscarxena]

I think Viciedo will be a good player in the majors, but he is still very young and very raw.  His fielding is very suspect though, which was always the big knock on him.   He's actually hurting the Sox nowadays when he is in the field.  

Hudson is still kind of a work in progress as well, but he is closer to getting there than Viciedo.  

Although it would hurt the Sox rotation now and into the future, I agree with what Kenny said, that adding the power in the long run would actually help the pitchers.  And what's the old saying you need to give talent to get talent.  So I'd be willing to move either of those guys in a package to get Dunn.  The Sox desperately need a producing left handed bat in the order.  

I also think Kenny goes out and gets a veteran starter (though the market is thin) regardless or not if they get Dunn, so the pitching staff this year should be fine even if they gave up Hudson.  

Washington would be silly not to try and trade Dunn while his value is up. The guy is having a career year as far as batting average goes and is still hitting for power but he will return to his .230 BA soon enough. I understand why the White Sox want him and it makes sense for them to get him as well so the trade is good for both teams, hopefully they will be able to work it out. By the way, I have Dunn on my fantasy team as well!

 

[HOVA]

I think Viciedo will be a good player in the majors, but he is still very young and very raw.  His fielding is very suspect though, which was always the big knock on him.   He's actually hurting the Sox nowadays when he is in the field. 

Hudson is still kind of a work in progress as well, but he is closer to getting there than Viciedo. 

Although it would hurt the Sox rotation now and into the future, I agree with what Kenny said, that adding the power in the long run would actually help the pitchers.  And what's the old saying you need to give talent to get talent.  So I'd be willing to move either of those guys in a package to get Dunn.  The Sox desperately need a producing left handed bat in the order. 

I also think Kenny goes out and gets a veteran starter (though the market is thin) regardless or not if they get Dunn, so the pitching staff this year should be fine even if they gave up Hudson.   

Washington would be silly not to try and trade Dunn while his value is up. The guy is having a career year as far as batting average goes and is still hitting for power but he will return to his .230 BA soon enough. I understand why the White Sox want him and it makes sense for them to get him as well so the trade is good for both teams, hopefully they will be able to work it out. By the way, I have Dunn on my fantasy team as well!

 

Anything's better than Kotsay. 

Yeah Dunn's batting avg has always been suspect.  He has picked up the last two years though. 

He has always had a very good OPS though, which in my eyes is more important, and can over ride a weak batting average.  He makes pitchers pitch around him drawing a lot of walks.   

[Oscarxena]

I totally agree about Dunn, that is why I drafted him in my fantasy league, it was due to the OPS. He is also valuable as he is eligible at both 1B and OF. We had a hiccup in our league that was my fault in that we put the DH in just as that as we all thought that we would be able to plug anyone into that position when in fact you needed to have a DH. The presence of Dunn really helped me because although I couldn't use him at DH, I could use him as an OF. I got Miguel Cabrera at 1B so those two guys are solid. Dunn has never really competed for a playoff spot to my knowledge so I would love to see him get a shot at Chicago. He could probably send some bombs out in that park.

 

[HOVA]

I totally agree about Dunn, that is why I drafted him in my fantasy league, it was due to the OPS. He is also valuable as he is eligible at both 1B and OF. We had a hiccup in our league that was my fault in that we put the DH in just as that as we all thought that we would be able to plug anyone into that position when in fact you needed to have a DH. The presence of Dunn really helped me because although I couldn't use him at DH, I could use him as an OF. I got Miguel Cabrera at 1B so those two guys are solid. Dunn has never really competed for a playoff spot to my knowledge so I would love to see him get a shot at Chicago. He could probably send some bombs out in that park.

 

YEAH, I BELIEVE 13 OF HIS 22 HR'S HAVE COME AT HOME.  AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THE NATS DON'T PLAY IN A HITTER FRIENDLY PARK. 

HE COULD DO SOME REAL DAMAGE TO THE SEATS IN THE OUTFIELD AT THE CELL.   

[TheGame]

Tigers are sniffing around John Buck.
They are also in the market for a 3B since Inge will be out 4 to 6 weeks.

[HOVA]

Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced today that he'll retire after the season.

IS IT JUST ME OR DOES IT SEEM LIKE HE'S BEEN THERE LONGER THAN 4 YEARS?

[HOVA]

The Sox are focused on Dunn, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, and they're not in on Prince Fielder or Lance Berkman.

[HOVA]

The Prince Fielder Market


By Tim Dierkes [July 20 at 10:58am CST]
Earlier this month we learned that the Brewers are listening to offers for first baseman Prince Fielder.  One school of thought is that Fielder's value is at its highest since, as one GM told ESPN's Buster Olney, "he can impact two pennant races."  Another is that Brewers GM Doug Melvin can get more teams involved in the offseason and drive up the price.  At any rate, let's summarize the current Fielder situation.

Contract

Fielder, a Scott Boras client, signed a two-year, $18MM extension in January of 2009.  $4.34MM remains on that contract through the end of the season, and then Fielder will be arbitration-eligible for 2011.  One exec I spoke to feels the slugger could earn around $15-16MM in '11 before reaching free agency and seeking $100MM+ on a multiyear deal.

Performance

Fielder's power is down overall this year, as he's hitting .265/.396/.509 and striking out more than ever.  However, he's slugging .618 since June 1st - more in line with his '09 performance.  And even though doubles and triples are down, Fielder leads the NL with 23 home runs.

Asking Price

In today's blog Olney writes that "the Brewers' clear preference will be for young power pitching."  The deal would have to be built around a household name - a hurler found on Baseball America's midseason top 50 prospects list or a flamethrower who was recently promoted.  I'm guessing the Brewers would want a top 100 prospect as well, and those two players would form the foundation of the deal.

Interested Teams

White Sox: GM Kenny Williams says "only a small group of players" can help him, and many baseball writers feel that Fielder is probably on Williams' list.  Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel notes that the Brewers scouted Daniel Hudson last night.  Is Hudson the type of player you can build a Fielder deal around?  It may be a moot point, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Sox are "not on Fielder."
Rays: They certainly have the goods, with pitchers such as Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis.  However, a source of Yahoo's Jeff Passan says the Rays "won't go near" Fielder, perhaps because of his likely 2011 salary.
Giants: With Madison Bumgarner or Jonathan Sanchez, Passan feels the Giants could swing a Fielder deal.  They've also got Zach Wheeler, who is further away but rates very highly.  On the other hand, ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted on July 3rd that there had been no recent trade talks between the teams.  That same day Olney opined that he didn't think the Giants could acquire Fielder without Matt Cain.
Angels: It's believed they prefer a rental at first base, since Kendry Morales will be ready for the '11 season.  For what it's worth, Torii Hunter would like to see the Angels acquire Fielder or Adam Dunn.
You could dream up various other scenarios, though we haven't seen anything about the Mets, Dodgers, or Rangers being interested in Fielder.  Things could open up in the winter, as a surprise team could splurge for a year of Fielder in the way that the Athletics acquired Matt Holliday.