Erik Bedard Trade Update

6:57pm: A momentous occasion: Bedard is in Seattle for the physical.  This indicates that Adam Jones and George Sherrill passed theirs.

1:58pm: And now for your daily Erik Bedard trade update: he's headed to Seattle for his physical.  It seems likely that a press conference will happen Friday.

Comments

[jrfukudome]

No posts on Bedard! We should go on strike until 3:00 friday!

[Aduncaroo]

So lets talk about roberts to the cubs...

[Darin]

Now if we can just get that new GNR CD to get done....

[jrfukudome]

Adun, let's talk about Peralta to the Cubs! There might be some fireworks on this thread yet!

[FineHamAbounds]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[shhango]

I'll see it when I believe it.

[Aduncaroo]

I think peralta for fontenot straight up! What do u think? Hahaha...

[Bernice Sorensen]

Darin - hilarious!

I think Axl is waiting for Duke Nukem Forever. Seems Duke still needs to take a physical as well, though he is a gritty veteran.

[Aduncaroo]

I think it would take some cash coming the cubs way as well...

[Bernice Sorensen]

Hey, who the hell is Bernice Sorensen? The login feature is messed up...

[Mace27]

Bedard stories are like Britney Spears stories to me now. Everytime I see the guy's name, it's the same ol' thing.

[jrfukudome]

Do you think the league would care if we kept 26 guys on our roster? You know, so we keep another lefty around?

[Aduncaroo]

Yeah right bernice...we know its you

[Aduncaroo]

Only id the 26th guy is only a good hitter in AAA because iowa was a hitters park...

[INOK]

I'm gona make sure darks not here before i join jrfukudome and adunc in this fun speculation :P

[Sesshomaru]

Well, according to the Baltimore Sun website, the O's are trying to sign Roberts to a five year extension now. It's on the Baltimore Sun website under the blog "O's leaving fans in the dark".

[jrfukudome]

Thanks for the info, Sess.

[BaseBallz]

I just want this to be done. It's a great deal for the Orioles and the Mariners for some reason want it, so whats taking so long.

I hope its not because Bedard decided to drive to Seattle from Ontario, instead of flying.

[basemonkey]

Look. In the earlier thread I said that the Sun reporters had talked to Erik on the phone when he was at home in Ottawa. Then a bunch of Seattle fans come up and tell me that he's not because Seattle blogs are saying this ain't so. Why do Seattle fans have so much contempt for every little thing Orioles fans might say? Why would I lie about that?

[DonCoburleone]

Hey Tim, on Dave O'brien's blog Chipper Jones was blogging with everybody! But anyway, this was his quote while answering questions:

"Just saw Klesko in Las Vegas for the SHOT show and he told me that he is officially retired. Guess who he was hangin with? Barry Bonds!"

So looks like Ryan Klesko may be done...

[darkstar1661]

(well, since Cubs fans insist on making every Bedard thread a Cubs one…)
Was just on RotoTimes and noticed something interesting…

This is what Tim posted the day before yesterday regarding the whole Roberts/Cubs stuff

“Cubs/Brian Roberts Update
Buster Olney has the latest on the Cubs' talks to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts. According to Olney:
Sources involved in Baltimore's trade talks with Chicago expressed confidence that at some point, the Orioles and Cubs will finish the proposed Brian Roberts deal.
Olney says Sean Gallagher would be the centerpiece of the deal. On February 3rd, ESPN's Jayson Stark said Gallagher or Sean Marshall would be included, but beyond that nothing has been decided.”

…Reading that would lead one to believe that it’s a package centered around Gallagher and maybe a couple lesser players. Today I find this on RT though:

“Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles Tuesday 2/5, 12:59 PM CT
Erik Bedard is already on his way out of Baltimore, and ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that, at some point, the Orioles and Cubs will finish the proposed deal for Brian Roberts. Pitcher Sean Gallagher would be the centerpiece of the package, with Felix Pie, Sean Marshall and Ronny Cedeno also being mentioned as possible parts of the trade. “

Does the rest of the Onley article really specifically mention Pie? And if so, why would Tim leave this information off of his post? Are you trying to deceive us Tim?

Anyone with “ESPN-Insider” able to check the report and fill us in on what it really says?

Also from the Rosenthal article mentioned yesterday but not specifically mentioned in Tims recap of the entry:

“Trading Roberts would be the logical next step in the Orioles' tear-down, but even though the team finally is on the verge of sending Erik Bedard to the Mariners, a Roberts deal might not quickly follow. The Orioles and Cubs have spoken infrequently over the past several weeks, sources say, and while some Cubs officials believe that a deal remains possible, others aren't so sure. The Orioles are likely to insist on Pie, a player the Cubs are not willing to move in a package for Roberts ...

“The Orioles and Cubs have spoken infrequently”?
“while some Cubs officials believe that a deal remains possible, others aren't so sure”?

If Onley is saying possibly Gallagher & Pie while Rosenthal is saying “Likely to insist on Pie” and Cubs officials only believe its “possible” then I would say this whole mess is looking less and less likely to ever take place. And if the two sides have spoken infrequently, people might have been lead on during a good chunk of this whole thing...

[scribbletone]

I've come to hate the O's management. I'm glad I don't live in Baltimore, I really dodged that bullet. Their front office has no idea what they're doing. There is no direction to that organization at all. They won't commit to rebuilding, and they won't commit to winning. They just sit in the middle, winning 70-80 games a year while their fans sit there in disappointment.

This team needs to trade away its quality assets and rebuild around young, cheap guys like Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold and Bill Rowell. The only problem though is that Angelos won't do that, he'd prefer to continue to add overpriced mediocre talent from free agency and hold onto the only guys on his team that could get him some good young players. He'd much rather hold onto Brian Roberts and sign Aubrey Huff as a free agent, so the O's can win 76 games instead of 73. Hell yeah. At least teams like the Marlins and Rays are stacked with young talent, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. The O's gotta be up there for most dysfunctional franchise in baseball.

[Devlsh]

I agree Darkstar...every post seems to get twisted into a Cub post.

Hypothetical Thread:

Bonds to possibly retire!

Post1: Who'll replace him in SF?

Post 2: I bet they need someone...how about Murton and Wuertz for Cain and Linceum?

Hypothetical Thread #2
NY Giants win SuperBowl!

Post #1: NE must be super mad!

Post #2: Maybe the Red Sox need to steal the spotlight and make a trade.

Post #3: How about Gallagher, Murton and Cedeno for Beckett!

[jrfukudome]

Um. Didn't darkstar just turn this into a Cubs thread?

[basemonkey]

I of all people have been against the hemming and hawing between rebuilding and competing in Baltimore of the last decade (Angelos too). But, I think this past year there really has been a bottoming out in many respects with the Os which has led to a lot of changes thus far. And, so far I have to give Andy credit. He's made 3 trades so far. Here they are:

SP Trachsel
SS Tejada
SP Bedard

FOR

CF Adam Jones
RP Sherrill
SP Chris Tillman
SP Tony Butler
RP Mickolio
SP Troy Patton
SP Matt Albers
RP Safarte
OF Luke Scott
3B Scott Moore
3B Mike Constanzo

Consider that before these trades the Orioles had a strength in minor league pitching (at the expense of position player prospects) and that is pretty unbelievable. Add in a ROberts trade which will likely add some pitching, and suddenly I can't believe even the most cynical anti-Oriole crritics cannot believe the rebuilding has started in earnest. And, to that point, they've also done a pretty great job at it thus far.

[Devlsh]

No, Darkstar didn't do the deed; the "Cub" factor was introduced in the SECOND post in this thread, and got picked up from there.

[scribbletone]

nice jrfukudome.

darkstar, you just got douched so hard.

And I hate that people hate Cubs fans. It just seems like such a cheap shot. Every team has dumb, obnoxious fans.

And the reason that a lot of threads end up being about the Cubs is because thats one of the few things to talk about. Considering most of the trade talk for the winter has been wrapped up, it seems like the Roberts to Chicago proposal is the most interesting of the remaining potential deals. If there was some fascinating Aramis Ramirez to the Angels rumor that was going on for a while, it'd get brought up a lot too.

And also, because the Bedard trade appears to almost directly affect the Roberts trade. Theres another reason why Roberts to the Cubs gets brought up in most if not every Bedard thread.

[Aduncaroo]

Dark, weren't u the one upset that roberts was brought up in the original post that bedard was traded?? Hahaha

All it sounds like to me is that they talked about doing a deal for robrts that involved gallagher and maybe marshall, and they would talk about the rest when bedard was finfally shipped off. The os might hope one of those others is pie...but it won't be. They will settle on a combination of patterson, veal, cedeno, murton, and if they get real lucky, colvin. Sounds pretty easy to me...

[Devlsh]

I for one don't hate Cubs fans. What I don't care for is when every thread has to be twisted to fit a Cubs theme. I'd be just as annoyed if every thread was twisted into a Yankee or Mets rant.

This thread is about Bedard. Not Bedard to Chicago but Bedard to Seattle. How does that equate to "the reason that a lot of threads end up being about the Cubs is because thats one of the few things to talk about"?

If the thread even MENTIONED Roberts or the Cubs, I'd have no issue with the discussion focusing on that...but it doesn't! If Cubs fans want to talk about Roberts, there are Roberts threads in which it fits.

[jrfukudome]

Devlsh,

Read the posts again. We were fluffing on about the Cubs; we were just poking fun at darkstar because he doesn't like us talking Roberts on Bedard threads. But he couldn't let sleeping dogs lie...

[jrfukudome]

Devlsh,

First of all, because the Bedard deal is DONE (or should be). It's time to move on.

Second, you are correct. Not every thread should be a Cubs thread. I think you will see less of it when the dominoes fall.

[scribbletone]

Basemonkey,

I was primarily talking about the previous ten years in regards to their lack of a direction.

I agree that now the team is finally committing to rebuilding, but I almost directly associate that to MacPhail. MacPhail is trying to start a new epoch in Baltimore, and so far I would say its been working. They have added a lot of young, high quality players so far. Orioles fans should be happy that the team is committing to a route. I just get this vibe that the Bedard and Roberts trades wouldn't have gotten done/get done if Angelos had full control. Hopefully MacPhail will be the GM for the full extent of the rebuilding, because otherwise Angelos will screw it up.

And devlsh,

I see talking about Roberts as perfectly justifiable in this thread. Roberts getted traded is directly correlated to Bedard getting traded.

Plus, considering the players involved in the Bedard trade have already been settled, there really isn't much speculation left for us commenters. Most of us, I presume, are just interested in being fantasy GM's and playing around with trade proposals. Once the outline of a trade has already been set, it eliminates a lot of discussion. Pretty much like jrfuku said, once deals are made, then the amount of Cubs speculation should go down.

[Devlsh]

Of the first nine posts in this thread, at least four refer to the Cubs. All of that preceded Darkstar's post.

[jrfukudome]

Dude, those are all references to a long argument that took place last night. Peralta, the 25-man roster... It was obvious to dark, god love him.

[jrfukudome]

"There may be some fireworks in this thread yet..."

[Devlsh]

From my perspective, when I click onto a thread entitled Bedard or Oliver Perez or Schilling, I rather expect a discussion involving those players.

And I disagree that the Bedard trade directly correlated to Roberts getting traded. Are you saying if Bedard doesn't get traded, Roberts won't? Where is that written? Or, that the two trades are linked in terms of players? Again, where is that written? Sure, both involve Baltimore, but if I were a Mets fan, I wouldn't interject Mets stuff into every Twins discussion just because Santana was dealt to NY.

All I'm saying is, it does get annoying. If I wanted to do a grouphug with Cubs fans, I'd go to a Cubs message board.

[jrfukudome]

Do you have something to say about Bedard or not?

[scribbletone]

"All I'm saying is, it does get annoying. If I wanted to do a grouphug with Cubs fans, I'd go to a Cubs message board. "

Well yeah I mean, this site is essentially one huge Cubs fan orgy. They should just call it Cubs.com 2. I haven't heard anything about another team yet on this website.

[Devlsh]

Actually, I do (grin).

If this becomes a 4 or 5 for one deal, how does that affect the Orioles 40 man roster? Does anyone have a guess as to which guys would be displaced?

[darkstar1661]

“Um. Didn't darkstar just turn this into a Cubs thread?”
Posted by: jrfukudome

“nice jrfukudome.
darkstar, you just got douched so hard.”
Posted by: scribbletone

“Dark, weren't u the one upset that roberts was brought up in the original post that bedard was traded?? Hahaha”
Posted by: Aduncaroo

“No, Darkstar didn't do the deed; the "Cub" factor was introduced in the SECOND post in this thread, and got picked up from there.”
Posted by: Devlsh

Hehehe…

But both sides are kind of correct… Devlsh, they were just doing their trolling like JrFukudome admits ~ but the Trolling had already made this from Topic to Trash anyway so…

[darkstar1661]

Now, I don’t think that’s the interesting thing though ~ I expect the bashing from Cubs fans when I post because that’s what they always try to do. I’m more curios as to why THAT is what became the conversation. What about the topic of my post? Why wasn’t THAT ever mentioned by anyone? Arent you guys curios as to whats going on? Are the Cubs and O’s even really talking about a trade? Have the Cubs pretty much given up on trying to get Roberts? Yet all you can do is try to bash me??? How strange the mind of you guys…

[jrfukudome]

Dark, let's not go into it again. They haven't talked because they are waiting on Bedard (see topic of thread).

Devlsh, I'd say Cherry, McCrory, Bynum, and if its 5, then Leicester.

[Devlsh]

Since I have the Cub Club already in session, grin)...

jr, would McPhail dump all those "ex-Cubs" after acquiring them in the first place?

[scribbletone]

Now that it appears that the Bedard trade is done, I just got a question to throw out there: Which team do you think came out the best in their respective blockbusters?

Tigers: Cabrera, Willis
Marlins: Maybin, Miller, Rabelo, De La Cruz, Trahern, some other guy

White Sox: Swisher
A's: Gonzalez, De Los Santos, Sweeney

Mets: Santana
Twins: Gomez, Guerra, Humber, Mulvey

Mariners: Bedard
Orioles: Jones, Sherill, Tillman, Butler, Mickolio

Astros: Tejada
Orioles: Albers, Patton, Scott, Sarfate, Costanzo

Tigers: Renteria
Braves: Jurrjens, Hernandez

D-Backs: Haren, Robertson
A's: Gonzalez, Anderson, Cunningham, Carter, Smith, Eveland

Astros: Valverde
D-Backs: Qualls, Burke, Gutierrez

Just curious of what people think of each of these respective deals

[Devlsh]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just bite the bullet on a couple expensive contracts, like Baez, Payton or Millar?

[jrfukudome]

Money is an issue but not that much of an issue: potential stopgap closer, versatile OF, and good clubhouse guy. Just cut the worst guys.

Devlsh and Darkstar, I just want to warn you: Do not look at the Blanton thread! I beg you! Avert your eyes!

[Devlsh]

Excellent question, scribble.

I think the answer HAS to be the Mets. Santana is a differencemaker and a guy they desperately needed. Add in the fact that they didn't hurt themselves in what they gave up, and the Mets win hands down.

As for second place ...

I think it's the D-Backs, though I'm not sure they didn't pay a hefty price for Haren. His acquisition solidifies that rotation nicely. One has to include the Valverde deal in the mix too, since it potentially weakened them at the same time, but I'm inclined to believe that Valverde isnt' all he's cracked up to be, and that Arizona sold high on him.

One is tempted to say Detroit, with the Renteria and Cabrera deals, but I dont' see Willis as an asset, and think he actually detracts from the Cabrera deal.

[Devlsh]

jr, I was already there, and that's what helped spark my rant.

[darkstar1661]

Jr,

"while some Cubs officials believe that a deal remains possible, others aren't so sure. The Orioles are likely to insist on Pie, a player the Cubs are not willing to move in a package for Roberts ..."

I'm curios as to why Tim left off the Pie inclusion from Onley, aren’t you? If (as it seems he did) Onley DOES actually say Pie (despite Tim leaving it off his post), and Rosenthal says Pie, and Cubs say no Pie, and Rosenthal says likely no deal… Well, fits perfectly with the "spoken infrequently" don’t ya think? Yet that doesnt interest you guys? You guys instead just interested in the “maybe we can get Burnett” stuff instead of finding out the truth behind some of this stuff?

...And that hasnt been discussed... Sure, ADun gave his theory of a deal being in place for 2 months for Gallagher and a bunch of Cubs fans said that the O’s aren’t asking for Pie ~ but thats about it; and that seems as though it might have been misleading from Tim...

[Aduncaroo]

the second post was a joke...its really not that hard to get it...especially since the person it was joking about actually did it! Don't you see the humor and irony in that???

Anyway...Dark, I did address your post, and it makes complete sense to me. I don't really think its as difficult as everyone is making it, especially you frankly. They talked about Marshall and Gallagher, focused on Gallagher, decided they would continue talking about the others involved after the Bedard trade, which we are STILL awaiting. Why is that so difficult??

Devlsh,
The second post was a joke!!! Dark is the first one to acutally make this a Roberts topic...obviously. Dark "did the deed" whether you like it or not.

[Devlsh]

Sigh....it's hopeless.

[basemonkey]

The Mets didn't hurt themselves? I would say that considering where their system was before the trade, now with the trade, they might be competing for last place among all farms. If that isn't hurting themselves, then what is? I think to gauge which blockbuster was the best you have to factor in what that team gave up vs. what they gained. With that in mind I have to think the Togers and Orioles are arguably at the top.

[Aduncaroo]

"and a bunch of Cubs fans said that the O’s aren’t asking for Pie "

NO one said that, just said that they wouldn't get him. Its not that hard here...

Tim isn't misleading, like three threads later he posted that stark said it might not get done bc the O's might insist on Pie. If he was being misleading, why would he print that? Geez...everything is a conspiracy theory now? ITS NOT THAT HARD!

[darkstar1661]

As far as Scribbles question…

I think its hard to pass up the A’s trading Swisher for two Ace-Potential SP prospects and a questionable but recently touted CF as quite a haul. I think that’s the most glaring “WTF were they thinking” move (KW in this instance). So if we can take the reverse for the winning team, I say this one from the A’s is the best…

Otherwise I agree that the Santana deal is not much haul for the exclusive rights to the best pitcher in the game. They win bigtime.

The Tigers risked quite a bit of future to acquire Cabrera ~ a player who might be their DH within 2 years. They gave up mostly pitching to do so, something the team isnt deep on to begin with… I don’t like their move from a long-term standpoint ~ it could bit in a horrible way…

[Aduncaroo]

well, if they did say that, it was others. I never said the O's didn't or wouldn't ask for Pie...but they aren't getting him either way. I know one guy said they probably aren't going to because they have MANY other needs, and OF is among the least of them.

[darkstar1661]

"The Mets didn't hurt themselves? I would say that considering where their system was before the trade, now with the trade, they might be competing for last place among all farms. If that isn't hurting themselves, then what is?"

...But Basemonkey, the Mets didnt give up the best of their prospects really. What they gave up for what they got is extreme, and it does hurt but it didnt knock the top off of their system.

[Devlsh]

Base, given the transient nature of prospects and the lack of any true blue chippers in the deal (Gomez' ceiling is still very much in question), I still think the Mets won that deal hands down. Sure, they lost some depth, but the odds are against all four prospects becoming established ML ballplayers and the ceiling on those that do is also in question. Obviously, we won't be able to accurately assess this deal until several years from now but looking at how the Mets filled their greatest need, one has to give them credit.

[Aduncaroo]

I agree with Devlsh...

Santana is the best pitcher in the game, and I'm not even sure its that close. They gave up one guy that could really be good, but his value, even at its ceiling, will almost certainly never be that of Santana's. I have to go with the Mets on this one.

[jrfukudome]

I like the Mariners getting Bedard. It really takes the franchise up a step. The only cloud is that the package for Santana was so similar.

[scribbletone]

darkstar,
I was thinking the same thing about Detroits moves. This winter they added Miggy, Renteria and Willis, but gave up essentially everything. They gave up their best young pitchers in Miller, Jurrjens and De La Cruz. They gave up their best young hitters in Maybin and Hernandez. They only come out of this situation well if they win a World Series soon.

I would have to say the A's come out the best. They did trade their best two players, two possible stars with cheap long term contracts. But look at what they got in return. They got a potential offensive stud in Carlos Gonzalez. And when everyone wonders how the A's manage to keep on churning out quality starting pitching (first Mulder-Hudson-Zito, then Haren-Blanton-Harden), just immediately look to the trades they have made. They have three possibly top of the rotation starters in Gonzalez, De Los Santos and Anderson. They haven't even dealt Blanton, Chavez or Street yet, so they could potentially get more for them as well. I think the Haren trade was pretty even, considering thats generally the price you pay for youngish, cheap top of the rotation starters. But I think the A's come out of the Swisher trade unbelievably. Kenny Williams is a moron, and this trade confirmed that. He wouldnt give up Brandon McCarthy for Alfonso Soriano, but he'll move both Gio and Fautino, as well as Ryan Sweeney, for Nick Swisher? What the hell is that.

And by the way, I would be willing to argue that at this point Jake Peavy and C.C. Sabathia are close to as good if not equal to Santana.

[Aduncaroo]

I would consider the package the O's got a good deal better than the one the Twins got...

[jrfukudome]

That Detroit lineup is going to age really fast... Sheffield, Ordonez, Guillen, Pudge, Polanco, Jones... Ouch! Literally, those guys are all going to be hurt soon...

[Aduncaroo]

Peavy is pitching against the NL West in one of the best pitchers parks in the game. Put him in another park consistantly and facing a DH and we will talk...Santana is the best, CC is next, and then you might be able to talk Peavy with the likes of Beckett Haren etc...

[Aduncaroo]

and webb, oswalt...didn't mean to leave people off...just saying its Johan first.

[darkstar1661]

“He wouldnt give up Brandon McCarthy for Alfonso Soriano, but he'll move both Gio and Fautino, as well as Ryan Sweeney, for Nick Swisher? What the hell is that.”

…yeah, isnt that just the dumbest thing ever ~ but why really? That’s the real kicker! Where does it put the team, does it really even make them better? Swisher in CF will be a disaster ~ so then you have to think of Swisher as a 1B or DH. The problem? Oh yeah, that’s where the only two really productive hitters are to start. RF? Nope, that’s where the 3rd most productive hitter is. LF? Sure, but why did they just bring in Quentin then? It’s the most head scratching move I have seen a team make, and I don’t see how it really helped the club much because he is what he will take playing time away from ~ or, he is misplaced in CF…

“And by the way, I would be willing to argue that at this point Jake Peavy and C.C. Sabathia are close to as good if not equal to Santana.”

…I would agree they are getting close, but there is one big difference. Consistency. Peavy was off what, a 4.09 ERA in 2006? For his career he has 3X 4.0+ ERA and 3X -3.0 ERAs. He’s a great pitcher, but doesn’t seem Santana-ish because of his fluctuating performence. Sabathia is just now becoming that after years of waiting. Problem is he might be an injury waiting to happen with his pitching style/weight, oh and those 1400+ IP since the age of 20. Every year since he turned 20 he has pitched 180+ innings ~ that’s frightening headed forward.

The Tigers gave up so much to make these slight short-term improvements ~ I just don’t get it… (yeah I know Cabrera is probably more than “Slight” if at 3B, not not if he is there DH…) Their team failed last year because of a lack of pitching depth, so they go out and trade not only three of their top 4 pitchers, but more than half the pitchers in their top-12. What they added is a one-year stop-gap (w/bad option) at SS so they could move their other SS to 1B (***rolls eyes***), traded for a 3B who is one of the bottom three in league as far as fielding so they can displace their near-#1 in the league in fielding 3B (who they still hold onto) and get a total unknown in Willis. Huh?

[scribbletone]

The other thing I think about the Cabrera trade is what about all that money. The Tigers are really getting up there in payroll now. They could've had Miller and Maybin and all those other guys for practically nothing for the next seven years. Instead they have Dontrelle for 3/29 and Cabrera is setting himself up for a historically huge contract. They are definately a better team in 2008. But they have tied up pretty much all of their assets into the next couple years.

[darkstar1661]

"Instead they have Dontrelle for 3/29 and Cabrera is setting himself up for a historically huge contract."

...and the team doesnt even stop there though... On top of that cash added, they have paid their Extreme-Hitting SS turned Avg-Hitting 1B like he was still a E-H SS. They lock the Below-Avg Robertson into a longterm deal. They overpay comparables (by up to 14-15M over 6YR) for Granderson. Renteria isnt a huge cost this year, but will be 11M next year. And who fills the holes when guys like Pudge, Jones, Sheffield, etc leave? You would think they would have learned from watching the Division-Rival WhiteSox; guess not though…

It might turn out ok, but it might turn into a fire-sale just the same…

[BraunHolio]

The Orioles have done pretty well.. plus at the deadline this year, they could definitely get something for Ray(if he comes back healthy) and Baez. Considering how long they waited on Tejada, that is a nice haul as well. The Tigers probably have painted themselves into a corner after the next couple of years but even before the moves they made they were built to win now.

The Astros and Mariners probably came out the worst.

[basemonkey]

I think they are probably going to keep Ray. He's young. Though if someone is willing to deal a top position player/prospect then I'd do it. Closers and RPs can be overrated, and, I don't like their shelf lives.

[jdouble777]

Little late night jazz, both on the record player and in the thread...
First, what is the deal with cutting the payroll by $20 million and just the fans expected (and are seeming) to be cool about it??? -sidenote- Is this permenant? Thoughts?

Second, does anyone think that dropping another whatever million to get Bedard and sidekick (one two punch)...keeping Tejada and Roberts etc. that they could have figured it out? It is just baffling to me how all these things are good, seemingly right, and they are SOOO bad.
Third, in a best case scenerio, is this at all likely to work? I mean, could this realisitically equivlate to a pennant chase? Honestly? If not, best case secnerio?

Loosing two .300 batters, a man who is the best second basemen in the AL (50SB), and arguably one of the most domiant pitchers of tomorrow-- It would take A LOT to make the scales balance, no?

[basemonkey]

These are good moves by Baltimore. Finally.

[HouseThatKirbyBuilt]

Now that this is all over I can just see Kazmir getting traded.

[darkstar1661]

“Little late night jazz, both on the record player and in the thread...
First, what is the deal with cutting the payroll by $20 million and just the fans expected (and are seeming) to be cool about it??? -sidenote- Is this permenant? Thoughts?”

Sounds like you are having visions of Mohammedan angels staggering on tenement roofs illuminated…