Rosenthal's Latest: Prior, Bedard, Haren

What veterans are you talking about? Belliard and Young? They've both turned out pretty useful so far, and they were fairly cheap - Belliard especially so.

As for the farm system, yeah, it was ransacked, but it's gotten a ton better the last couple of years, and isn't as bad as you seem to think. AAA is, but the rest is going to do really well this year!

Brian Buscher is redundant after the Lamb signing, and Darnell McDonald has always been redundant. So I don't think the 40-man roster problem is real.

Or rather, the 40-man being full problem. The problem where the Twins don't have a clue how to manage to 40-man is obviously still around.

Let me just say that I would not mind seeing Bedard in a Braves uniform. I have to wonder what would be required. I have a feeling it may be that the Braves are just trying to up the ante for the Mets to make the trade, maybe push them towards trading Reyes (which probably won't happen anyway).

wildo05: I really hope you're wrong. Monroe is pathetic. He's reached league-average in OBP once in his career, barely. At least Kielty can hit lefties, which is what the Sox needed; Monroe OBPed .309 vs. lefties last year.

I wonder who the Braves would ahve offered to get Haren... Doesn't seem like they have anyone Beane would want. Maybe that was their way of getting their foot in the door on Blanton? As of right now though, Atlanta's pretty much locked into it's starting rotation, so I'm not sure why they would even be after Oakland for a starter.

Lets just say that if the Braves could get Blanton for a reasonable price it would be huge. Smoltz, Hudson,Glavine, Blanton, James.
Blanton and james as the 4/5 would be a very solid back end. Way less pressure on James, give reyes and jurjjens another yearin the minors would be very beneficial. This would also allow Blanton who would be cost controlled for a few more years to step into the #3 spot in 09, and then have 3 options for the 4/5. this could be the making of a solid rotation for the next few years. The roration would also be very cheap in this stretch as well.

I agree with you Metafrantic. Bedard was above average but wasn't great before las season. Not to mention that he has never thrown 200 innings in a season. If he does have another great season though, any trade now could seem like a deal. I view it as a kind of high risk, high reward sort of thing.

Actually we do have a ton to offer, but a trade from the braves would have to be a quantity trade instead of a quality trade. If that is the case, I really do not thin the Braves are going to give up a bounty like they gave up for Teixera for a pitcher. I also like the fact we are going after another pitcher, and would love for use to acquire one, but even Blanton, who I have wanted all along, may be too much now that Haren is off the Market.

One Suggestion however, Ian Snell of the Pirates. Perhaps Chris Duffy could be thrown in as well.

I disagree, Beane loves MLB ready prospects, and with lillibridge he would get the young shortstop he wanted, and we also have Schafer,Devine, Brandon Jones, Jair Jurrjens/Jo-Jo Reyes, that package probably would have gotten a deal done, as their depth is closer to contributing at the majors than the dbacks offer was.

If Luke Scott hits 30 HRs this year tell Mr. Mitchell to add an appendix to his report.

I was just pleased by the whole Braves-Haren situation. The fact that they were looking to add a top tier pitcher, but were not willing to give away the future of the franchise. One day there is going to be another of those Hudson deals. Man the A's got fleeced.

Ahh Go Bosox yes that comment....

Well i guess I was wrong when it comes to the stats, yes sorry about that, however I will say that the difference between the two offenses is far greater than the difference between two pitching staffs, and with the addition of chamberlin as well as hughes being one year older, the difference between the two staffs will probably shrink, but you could say thayt for the Blue jays with marcum and mcgowan as well, so pick your poison. So if you want your glory, yes I was wrong. However, the fact that the yankees have brought everybody back without the bluejays making any real significant moves does mean that the Blue Jays are not going to make up for the 11 game difference, (and no BJ Ryan is not going to make that big of a difference.) Oh yes, btw,

Blue Jays team ERA 4.00
Yankees ERA 4.50

that .5 run differential does not make up for the

Yankees runs per game 5.98
Blue Jays 4.64

Until the Jays ERA can make up for teh difference between run production, or at least not have the run differential be less than the double the ERA differential, the yankees are the better team.