Graziano's Latest: Livan, Wily Mo

Dan Graziano at the Newark Star-Ledger has really stepped up in recent days with a lot of insider trade talk.  Let's see what he has in store for us this morning.

• Apparently Josh Byrnes is calling around, actively shopping Livan Hernandez.  According to Graziano, the Mets, Braves, and Mariners have expressed interest.  To the contrary, Ken Rosenthal wrote last night that the Mets and Braves are not interested.  Who to believe?  Hopefully the Mariners do better than Livan if they make a move for a starter.  To hear Nick Piecoro tell it, the Diamondbacks are more likely to just opt for the draft picks they'll get if they let Hernandez leave via free agency.
• The Yankees are in a quandary when it comes to dealing Scott Proctor or Kyle Farnsworth.  For Proctor, they want more than just a role player like Ty Wigginton.  They want a reliever back, which begs the question - why not just keep Proctor?  With Farnsy, the Yanks are reluctant to pay a big chunk of his $5.5 salary for '08.  They should toss in $2MM and see if that's enough to get Wiggy.
• If the Red Sox can snag Bobby Kielty, they might turn around and trade Wily Mo Pena to the White Sox.  Wily Mo in that ballpark with 600 plate appearances?  40 home runs.  Might make Theo look bad.  Dejan Kovacevic mentions that Epstein is "actively shopping" Pena, and seems to like the idea of the Bucs sending Salomon Torres to Boston for him. 
• The Brewers, Phillies, and Dodgers are looking at Oakland lefty and impending free agent Joe Kennedy.  Kennedy is only 28 and he has had National League success as a starter.

Comments

[Teetz]

Wily Mo has a high ceiling, but let's not forget about his basement which is deep.

[SoxFanatic456]

What would the White Sox give the Red Sox for Wily Mo Pena? Since the RS just DFA'd Joel Piniero, could the A's be interested.

[quintjs]

Wily Mo Pena, Joel Pineiro, two people who really need a minor leauge contract.

Tim, Wily Mo Pena may hit 40HR for the WS in 600 at bats, but it will be 54RBI's, and those 40HR will be from 70hits.

He wouldn't make in on any real major league roster anymore. He cannot hit, cannot really field, that doesn't go well for him.

He needs a whole year in the minors, make him field every day, make him hit every day.

[bravesbeast]

If the Dbacks would be willing to take a lower level middle infield prospect not named Andrus or Fontaine, I would say do this deal if I were the braves.

[Darin]

Finally, people that think Wily is all "potential". I've been screaming this for a few weeks now. Why would anyone want a guy who has arguably the worst plate discipline in the history of the game? No matter if he could possibly hit 40 homers.

[bsox1838]

Wily Mo really does need a year in the minors. He needs to play everyday. I dont see who the red sox need from the CHi Sox. They would be intrested in Garland but i dont see the White sox giving him away for Wily Mo.

[JitteryMcFrog]

WMP to the Bucs is an interesting idea; if I'm the Pirates, I gamble on a young high upside bat like Wily Mo. Then if he flounders, it's not like he hurts the Bucs' playoff chances.

[DentalPlan]

Wily Mo Pena is not even a safe bet to have Russell Branyan's career at this point. If he hits a lot of home runs it's going to look like Tony Batista 2004 and nobody looked bad giving up on Tony Batista.