Angels Trade Rumors: Alfonso Soriano and More

I spoke to my Angels source recently, and he had all sorts of good info about the team.

A recent hot surge has landed the Halos just two games out in the AL West.  Because of this, GM Bill Stoneman is upping his demands and won't cave in and send any of his future stars to the Nationals for Alfonso Soriano.  The Angels are pleased with 28 year-old Juan Rivera and think he's developing into a big bat in his own right.  Rivera is hitting .277/.337/.505 on the season and has had a blistering July.  Baseball Prospectus considers him most similar to Lou Piniella at the same age, though Rivera has more power.

Most of the Angels' top prospects are untouchable: Nick Adenhart, Jose Arredondo, Howie Kendrick, Joe Saunders, and Brandon Wood won't be moved (click their names to view their minor league stats this season).  A couple of excellent young players who could be used in trades this month or in the offseason: Jeff Mathis and Erick Aybar.  Aybar's big league showcase didn't generate the interest Stoneman wanted, and a Mathis became expendable with the emergence of Mike Napoli.

Some other players who have a good chance of being dealt are Brendan Donnelly, J.C. Romero, and Dallas McPherson.  On McPherson, my source says he "would've been the centerpiece of a Soriano trade had he not been hurt."  Mathis, Aybar, and McPherson will bring a fine bounty eventually, whereas the two relievers will be used more to acquire spare parts.

Comments

[nom3k]

I really doubt McPherson would've been the centerpiece of a Soriano deal. The Nats have Zimmerman.

[RotoAuthority]

True, but if McPherson is considered a tolerable defensive 3B then he could probably handle left field too.

[start_wearing_purple]

I don't think any GM would make a deal unless Wood or Kendrick... then again Bowden has never struck me as the brightest bulb in the box

[JammingEcono]

The difference between Wood and Aybar is somewhat negligible. I agree with Tim that Mathis, Aybar, and McPherson for Soriano would be a fine deal for the Nats.

[craig_willard]

Are the Angels interested in Abreu any more? I know the Phils wanted a top line starter for him, but Mathis and MacPherson could be building blocks for next year after bell and Leiberthal's contracts are gone.

[Kramerica Industries]

Interesting trade that just went down-Austin Kearns is a National

Reds and Astros complete 8 player trade

[Kramerica Industries]

Reds trade

Austin Kearns
Felipe Lopez
Ryan Wagner

to the Nationals for

Gary Majewski
Bill Bray
Royce Clayton
Brendan Harris
Daryl Thompson

[Kramerica Industries]

"Reds and Astros complete 8 player trade"
Sorry about that it was the Nats not the Astros

[TheRealErik]

Kearns and Lopez are better than anyone the Reds are getting. Terrible trade by the Reds. Awful.

[Kramerica Industries]

Soriano
Kearns
Guillen
Byrd
Alex Escobar

No cenetrfielders there (really Kearns is a corner outfielder and Bryd and Escobar wont start over Soriano and Guillen)

This trade may mean the Nationals have a deal set up involving Soriano

[TheRealErik]

Tim, couldn't the Cubs have offered Howry, Eyre, Neifi and a minor leaguer for Kearns and Lopez?Hendry asleep at the wheel.

[Meow Mix]

How does this trade make sense for the Reds?

[Blue]

Be cool, Blue. Be Cool.

Krivsky has never failed you. You always think he's wrong, but he has always been right.

Okay... justification...

Think of the trade as:

Lopez and Wagner for Harris, Thompson, and Clayton

Kearns for Majewski and Bray

still holding my breath.

[TheRealErik]

How does this trade make sense for the Reds?

1. They get a decent bullpen arm.
2. They get a mild defensive upgrade in Clayton.

So yeah, it's a stupid trade... VERY stupid.

[Kramerica Industries]

"How does this trade make sense for the Reds?"

The only way i can think of that this amy make sense is them inproving defense with Clayton over Lopez and Bulpen depth

[TheRealErik]

Clayton 570.2 -4.6 -11
Lopez 611 -7.5 -16

Um, that's not much of a defensive upgrade.

[Blue]

Brandon Phillips, Scott Hatteberg, Bronson Arroyo

Brandon Phillips, Scott Hatteberg, Bronson Arroyo

Brandon Phillips, Scott Hatteberg, Bronson Arroyo

[RotoAuthority]

I should start a separate thread on this one.

But I'm baffled. Reds got hosed, didn't get any impressive prospects, gave up solid young guys under contract...what gives here?

I don't think Krivsky is any kind of mastermind just because he had some initial moves work out. I'd be shocked if this helps the Reds when it's all said and done.

[Kramerica Industries]

with that another bad move has taken place Ponson is a Yankee!

[Blue]

Can you put a scouting report on Bray in the next thread? He must have something, being a former 1st round pick.

[RotoAuthority]

Will do in the new thread.

[Sunny Reiser]

well, maybe the Reds are thinking that Brandon Phillips will move over to short, and Ryan Freel will start at second, and Clayton is just veteran backup insurance.

It kind of was time to go for Kearns. Change of scenery might do both parties good.

I see they also called up Bergolla and Denofria as well after the trade, and the latter will be given every chance to take rightfield over.

Interesting.

[Rashidi]

"maybe the Reds are thinking that Brandon Phillips will move over to short, and Ryan Freel will start at second"

This is exactly what I thought.

Nobody has heard of Bill Bray, but he is clearly the best player the Reds picked up. He's 23 years old, lefty, and carries a 3.91 ERA so far in the bigs. Majewski isn't bad either.

If you want to talk bad, lets count the inning tallies for some of the Reds bullpen.

RHP
41.2 Dave Weathers (4.97 era)
27.1 Rick White (6.26 era)
13.1 Mike Burns (8.10 era)
6.2 Jason Standridge (8.10 era)

LHP
28.2 Chris Hammond (6.91 era)
24.0 Kent Mercker (4.88 era)
11.2 Brian Shackleford (7.71 era)

That's 153 atrocious innings right there.

Majewski and Bray may not be the best relievers in the world, but they're cheap, young, and significant upgrades.

Dempster's pricetag is too high, while Howry and Eyre are pricey and 10 years older than the duo the Reds just got. What kind of value do those guys have to the team past this year? A lot less than Bray and Majewski.

[=LePz=]

The Angels need power at 1st or 3rd... Rivera can clearly handle LF, so we dont need Soriano, who's already 30... The Angels should get MIGUEL CABRERA, he's only 23 or something like that, he's a kid, he's clutch in the playoffs, he's already won a title... or to solidify the outfield the Angels should get CARL CRAWFORD, by sending Chone Figgins, Jeff Mathis and either Maicer Izturis or Brendan Donnely... The Angels need power, but if they had a GREAT outfield defender since the beginning of the season the Angels would be in first place...

Trade:
Angels Get:
Dontrelle Willis
Miguel Cabrera

Marlins Get:
Jered Weaver
Jose Arredondo
Chone Figgins
Juan Rivera
Jeff Mathis
Maicer Izturis

Trade #2:
Angels Get:
Carl Crawford
Jorge Cantu(to play 3rd)

DevilRays Get:
Ervin Santana
Chone Figgins
Adam Kennedy
Nick Adenhart

[=LePz=]

New Lineup for Angels August 1st...
1-Howie Kendrick 2B
2-Carl Crawford CF
3-Vlad Guererro RF
4-Orlando Cabrera SS
5-Garret Anderson DH/LF
6-Juan Rivera LF/DH
7-Mike Napoli C
8-Jorge Cantu 3B
9-Kendry Morales 1B

Rotation:
John Lackey
Bartolo Colon
Jered Weaver
Kelvim Escobar
Joe Saunders

[pistonsfan133]

The Tigers will be getting Soriano when its all said and done and July 31st is past. heres there to be new line-up

OF-Soriano
2B-Polanco
C-Pudge
OF-Ordonez
SS-Guillen
DH-Thames
1B-Selton
3B-Inge
OF-Granderson

Put that line-up together with the best staff in baseball and what do you get? A World Series Championship.