Rosenthal's Latest: Nathan, Garza, Bedard

What are the Cubs going to do with Nathan? I mean, he is awesome, don't get me wrong...but how much money can you possibly spend on a bullpen?? With Eyre, Wood, Howry, and Nathan, thats a ton of money. I wouldn't consider them contenders...

What would Melky fetch back?

@AngelicDoctor:

They probably see Melky as a stopgap and future 4th OF. They just want him, his league average offense, and his arm for the next year and half probably.

Either that or both the Twins and the Braves see something in the numbers we don't.

The reason that the braves want melky cabrera is because he is a defensive centerfielder, will hit for a decent average at teh bottom or top of the order, and is very cheap. Also, by the time that schafer or hernandez is ready to roam center, melky could easily be traded somewhere else for a young starter, or schafer or gorkys could be traded off if cabrera turns out to be a nice all-around centerfielder. With Melky, the braves have a very good defensive player in center and a young leadoff hitter, one that could develop into our CF of the future, could be the long term option in center, or could be traded off for more pitching. Melky is not going to block schafer or gorkys because he is cheap and still will be in a few years, so he can be moved. Any way you look at it, Melky gives the braves an option in center that will probably have a positive impact into the future.

With that being said, what will the braves have to give up to get melky. I could see us trading them joey devine as a young bullpen piece, and if the yanks want to talk about trading cano, i guess they could have interest in lillbridge to play second. Beyond that, i really do not see how the braves and yankees match up.

I mean that we could move melky to left as our long term option there. As mentioned above, the fact that melky will still be young and cheap in a few years means he can be moved for some young pitching, which will have a need for at that time since smoltz, hampton, and glavine will all likely be gone. In either melky, schafer, or gorkys hernandez, the braves have 3 legit chances to find a star long-term option in center and another in left, and still another to help them get a need in the future. I do not know which of those 3 will fit which need, but getting melky would be an awesome move. I do agree with FineHam, the one problem would be the yankees wanting too much for him.

remember, the braves have had interest in cabrera in the past as a left field/lead off option last year. It was a three team trade, adam laroche to hte pirates, mike gonzo to the yanks, and melky to us, so I can see why Rosenthal would think of the braves as a good fit.

Yankees need not to sign any free agent relievers, we have too much bad luck with them (Karsays,Farnsworths,Stantons,Heredias, Vizcainos,and Nelsons). I really hope we trade for Santana, Pettitte returns, and then we can place Joba back in the setup role.

1.Santana
2.Pettitte
3.Wang
4.Mussina
5.Kennedy (or Hughes, whichever one isn't traded)

SU-Joba
CL-Mo

The Yanks could get lillibridge for Melky and play him at 2nd base then sign-off on moving Cano to Minnesota in the Santana trade. I am a Sox fan so this hopefully wouldn't happen, but there would be some logic there if Minny is demanding Hughes/Cano. The Yanks would get a young, athletic player that they could hit 9th and who would likely turn into a better 2b then Cano at some point. Lillibridge could end up being a Chuck Knoblauch lite type (less sb's and hopefully without the throwing to 1b issues. But I am admittedly pretty high on the guy.

Why would the Twins want Juan Pierre? Melky is better than Pierre and costs the league minimum while Pierre makes 11M/Yr I believe. Pierre isn't even worth half that.

Wow bjsguess:

Did you even read the posts above? Or do you just pick random statements from a few idiots and then make sarcastic statements all day, adding nothing to the discussion?

Everyone knows that right now, Melky is a young, cheap, defensively good, offensively average CF.

If some fans have an attachment to him, it's because he and Cano were the first in years, YEARS, to come up from the organizations' ranks.

Jeez let go of it already. It's not like there aren't other homers on here.

Lester and Sox fans.

Cabrera and the Orioles (he has to be good sometime!!!).

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Anyway. Lillibridge would be nice, but if the Yanks get him, he's probably on his way to Minnesota with Kennedy. Cano isn't going anywhere.

Cano's numbers blow Lillibridge's out of the water.

But that is one kickass name :D

If you would like henry14theking I would be happy to provide you a sampler of quotes about Melky from this post as well as others.

These comments from Yankee fans are neither "random" or from a "few" fans.

In the past 2 months I have read ZERO posts about D. Cabrera being a hot young player. Lester does get too much love but at least the guy has legitimate upside. He was a top prospect and if not for the unfortunate development of cancer he would still be a top young stud.

And to call Cabrera average offensively is simply not true. Out of all ML CF's with at least 400 AB's, Cabrera ranks 16th out of 20 in OPS, 16th out of 20 in SLG and 14th out of 20 in OBP. Not a burner either, 15th out of 20 in SB's. His career minor league OPS line was 769 - we aren't talking about a high ceiling guy. He is below LA at best, and awful at worst.

The only redeeming qualities is that he is cheap and plays good defense. Plus he is young so he will really blossom with time (or so Yankee fans say).

You can't imagine how frustrating it is for non-Yankee fans. If I posted on every Miggy/Johan/Haren deal that a fair package would be Reggie Willits for those guys you might get a little sarcastic. Now multiply my posts by about 20 representing the Yankee homers and you will start to get a feel for what it is like for everyone else on this board.