Rockies Come Calling On Cordero

The Denver Post reports that the Rockies expressed interest in Washington Nationals' closer Chad Cordero.  The Nationals gave the Rockies the same answer they give everyone that comes calling on Cordero: he's not available.

Is March 31st too early to talk about a trading deadline that is four months away?  If The Nationals are smart, they will hang onto Cordero until they have the maximum amount of leverage, and that's in July.  General manager Jim Bowden proved last year in trade discussions regarding Alfonso Soriano that he isn't going to make a deal that he doesn't feel gets the proper return, so when July comes around, other general managers will have to factor that into their offers.

Having said that, the Nationals would be foolish not to trade Cordero at some point this season. An elite closer is a luxury a 100-loss team can not afford.

Tom Goyne is the author of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, a Phillies-centric site, and maintains the Phloggers' Pheeds page, a source for the latest commentary from around the "phlogosphere".

Comments

[SiddFinch]

The Nats have said Cordero's not available? Really? If so please provide link. eE've heard Bowden is as usual clueless about the trade market and still expecting 39 major league ready pitching prospects for a closer coming off an above average but down year, yes, but that is all. Its safe to say, as long is Cordero is no longer pictured on the banner on the Nats homepage (he was removed a few months back) he's available.

[jmonahan7]

Are you numb? The Nationals don't even control that site, that isn't an indicator for his availability, you moron.

As much as i love Cordero on the Nationals Jon Rauch, Ryan Wagner, and Zech Zinicola would all be good closers to succeed him so it would be questionable to not trade him at some point this year to a contender in need of a closer or relief help.

Maybe to the Reds for Chris Denorfia and/or Adam Dunn with a pitching prospect for Chad Cordero and Cristian Guzman and one of the bench players that will be available by then.

[Rayman]

The Nationals don't need Adam Dunn. They need prospects.

[Balls, Sticks, & Stuff]

I just assumed everyone would be reading "not available" the same way I did: "available, but only for the right price in July"

[SiddFinch]

BS&S thank you for confirming the intent was to say Coredero _is_ available. In the interest of this site retaining its credibilty, I don't respond to flamers.

[Iron Nat]

I don't think the Reds will ever make a deal with the Nationals again after the Kearns/Lopez deal.

[WHIPit]

jmonahan7:
"Maybe to the Reds for Chris Denorfia and/or Adam Dunn with a pitching prospect..."

Are YOU numb? Why would the Nats want Dunn for a half year...if at ALL? I love it, you call somebody else out and then spew THAT garbage. Priceless.

[jmonahan7]

haha, thats exactly why i suggested it.

Where do you think he would most likely end up, if he is indeed traded? The teams that i can think of that need closer/relief help would be the Red, D'Backs, Giants, D-Rays, Phillies, Cardinals, Cubs, maybe the Astros (depending on if Lidge returns to the old Lidge or continues to be affected by the '05 post season), and Pirates.

I think the Phillies would be most willing to trade for him because i think they need help the most, i doubt the Nats would trade him to a division rival even though they probably won't be in contention. The D'backs would also probably make a hard push because they don't even have an established closer. Jorge Julio? C'mon.

[jmonahan7]

""Maybe to the Reds for Chris Denorfia and/or Adam Dunn with a pitching prospect..."

Are YOU numb? Why would the Nats want Dunn for a half year...if at ALL? I love it, you call somebody else out and then spew THAT garbage. Priceless."

just throwing out a name of someone who may be available. i really wouldn't like them to get him, he K's too much and his power would probably be slightly diminished in the very large RFK.

I'd like to think they could trade him for Homer Bailey but it would take a helluva a lot more than Cordero and some expendable bench guys to get him.

[samael88]

gonna sound like an smart ass here, but when u sed this
" The D'backs would also probably make a hard push because they don't even have an established closer. Jorge Julio? C'mon. "

jorge julio is not a d-back anymore, he is a marlin.

[samael88]

d backs closer is some guy named jose valverde i think, and julio is now the marlins closer just so u know.

[jmonahan7]

sorry, i missed that one, jeez.

then they would be after him even moreso, unless they have a prospect to hand it to anyways

[Superstah]

I think the D-Backs, Indians, Cardinals, and Giants would be prime interests for Cordero because they also have a good shot at winnings. It doesn't make sense for the Pirates or Royals to get him, when they are pretty much in the same situation as the Nationals, just in a less drastic fashion.

The Indians and D-Backs have the prospects that would interest the Nationals. I don't know if Walt Jockety would part with Rasmus for Cordero, and the Giants system is barren, so they probably would have a 3rd team involved.

But Bowedan was stupid last year, for not trading Soriano. He asked for Humberto Sanchez AND Cameron Maybin, and when he didn't get it, he decided to not pull the trigger. I think he played chicken with Dave Dombrowski and Dave didn't blink. I would have taken Maybin atleast or something better than nothing. He didn't even get the Cubs 1st round draft pick, because its in the top 15 and thus protected, thus Washington got screwed. Obviously Bowedan is someone who does deals that he thinks he is getting the better end of the deal by far, and he'll wait till then because some team will get desperate. I highly doubt the Reds dealing with him again.

[baseballfan06]

Wouldn't surprise to see the Cubs go after this guy after Ryan Dempster proves hes incapable of closing ball games. The Cubs have a surplus of position players. How about Ronny Cedeno and an OF prospect such as Walker for Cordero?? The Nats would get some young, cheap, (not too mention speedy) talent. Good move for both clubs?

[oxfrat1665]

It would take a hell of a GM to trade a guy that isn't even on his team

[oxfrat1665]

It would take a hell of a GM to trade a guy that isn't even on his team and by the way Denorfia isn't going to be traded now that he's done for the year

[jmonahan7]

"It would take a hell of a GM to trade a guy that isn't even on his team and by the way Denorfia isn't going to be traded now that he's done for the year"

when did he get hurt and what do you mean by "It would take a hell of a GM to trade a guy that isn't even"?

[ZachAttack]

"Wouldn't surprise to see the Cubs go after this guy after Ryan Dempster proves hes incapable of closing ball games. The Cubs have a surplus of position players. How about Ronny Cedeno and an OF prospect such as Walker for Cordero?? The Nats would get some young, cheap, (not too mention speedy) talent. Good move for both clubs?"

The Cubs couldn't trade for him. You guys are really underestimating Cordero's value. If it was from the Cubs, I would say Veal or Pie would have to be in it for the Nats to even think about it.

From the Reds, I really don't see a match. And for you guys to be saying they won't ever be dealing again, that really isn't true. Krivsky did what he had to do to "solidify" the bullpen. Now look what happens? Josh Hamilton can now be starting.

The Devil Rays are not a buyer at all, so you can rule them out.

The Indians have some good, young SP they could trade, but I just don't think they would part with Adam Miller or Chuck Lofgren.

So I guess the moral of the post is it is going to be hard to get Cordero for absolutely nothing.

[jakec]

Ronny Cedeno for Cordero? Why not try for Mariano as long as you are willing to trade Cedeno.

Seriously, the Cubs could be a good fit for the Nationals. Bowden will ask for Pie first; if the Cubs say no, it can still be done, with names like Murton, Guzman, and dare I say Prior?

As for whether Cordero is available- the Nationals should be making everyone not named Zimmerman available right now. They are going to be really, really bad, might as well embrace that fact and look to the future. Acquire a bunch of AAAA guys, or talented players who are blocked (WM Pena, S Hairston), let them play, and see if you can't discover a couple of gems to add to the nucleus.

[bravesbeast]

I agree to a certain extent, even though i would be inclined to keep nick johnson, giving he can do same damage when healthy. I would not trade cordero now, but would go into the season with him and strengthen your hand. I mean say izzy gets injured and the cards are in a pennent race and he needs a closer badly, so he trades colby rasmus for cordero. That trade would not happen, as jocketty is too shrewd for that type of move. But injuries and disappoints will occur, and when that happens, bowdens demands will seem a lot less outrageous, and at that time hell lower his demands just a bit and get 2 young players that would help out his team.

[Megastahr]

speaking of rockies...bradhawpe...

I just noticed that Dan Haren is availble in my fantasy baseball leauge some how he went under radar. I am trying to decided who I should drop between these outfielders

OF Gary Sheffield
OF Ichiro Suzuki

But want to drop one of these
OF Brad Hawpe
OF Nick Markakis
OF Dave Roberts

Its a hard decision for me cause I have great pitching but if I added Haren id be unstopable from a pitching aspect here is my whole roster if that helps.

Jason Kendall
, Oak C
Conor Jackson
, Ari 1B

Rickie Weeks
, Mil 2B
Morgan Ensberg
, Hou 3B

Hanley Ramierez
, SS

Nick Markakis
, Bal OF
Gary Sheffield
, Det OF
Ichiro Suzuki
, Sea OF

Dan Uggla
, Fla 2B

Brad Hawpe
, Col OF DTD

Dave Roberts
, SF OF

Empty
P Chris Carpenter
, StL SP PP
P Roy Oswalt
, Hou SP PP
P Daisuke Matsuzaka
, Bos SP

P Carlos Zambrano
, ChC SP PP

P B.J. Ryan
, Tor RP

P Chris Ray
, Bal RP

Bench Jake Peavy
, SD SP

Bench Ben Sheets
, Mil SP PP

[Megastahr]

speaking of rockies...bradhawpe...

I just noticed that Dan Haren is availble in my fantasy baseball leauge some how he went under radar. I am trying to decided who I should drop between these outfielders

OF Gary Sheffield
OF Ichiro Suzuki

But want to drop one of these
OF Brad Hawpe
OF Nick Markakis
OF Dave Roberts

Its a hard decision for me cause I have great pitching but if I added Haren id be unstopable from a pitching aspect here is my whole roster if that helps.

Jason Kendall
, Oak C
Conor Jackson
, Ari 1B

Rickie Weeks
, Mil 2B
Morgan Ensberg
, Hou 3B

Hanley Ramierez
, SS

Nick Markakis
, Bal OF
Gary Sheffield
, Det OF
Ichiro Suzuki
, Sea OF

Dan Uggla
, Fla 2B

Brad Hawpe
, Col OF DTD

Dave Roberts
, SF OF

Empty
P Chris Carpenter
, StL SP PP
P Roy Oswalt
, Hou SP PP
P Daisuke Matsuzaka
, Bos SP

P Carlos Zambrano
, ChC SP PP

P B.J. Ryan
, Tor RP

P Chris Ray
, Bal RP

Bench Jake Peavy
, SD SP

Bench Ben Sheets
, Mil SP PP