Phils Talking To Giants, Reds About Helms?
THURSDAY: Jim Salisbury says the Helms for Kline idea has fallen through, and Hal McCoy nixes the Helms for Stanton possibility.
WEDNESDAY: The Phillies would like to conclude their offseason by swapping third baseman Wes Helms and the $2.9MM owed to him for a lefty reliever. According to Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phils are talking to the Giants and Reds about Helms. Steve Kline ($1.75MM) or Mike Stanton ($3.5MM) are the targets. The Reds may deem Stanton too pricey to cut.
The Giants recently picked up Jose Castillo, but they also lost Kevin Frandsen. Moving Kline would make sense, because then they could fit both Merkin Valdez and Erick Threets. The Reds have Jolbert Cabrera and Andy Phillips battling for a bench spot, and don't seem to have a place for Helms.
It could save the reds 600K to release him.... haha
Posted by: cincy_11 | March 26, 2008 at 10:20 AM
moving stanton would allow the reds to carry
merker
affeldt
bray
rh bench - helms
which is better than
stanton
affeldt
merker/bray
rh bench - cabrera/phillips
although cabrera has had a great spring. im not sure how much stock i would put into him
the key is suring up the bullpen, with all those rookies in the rotation
Posted by: braineater5000 | March 26, 2008 at 10:22 AM
As a Giants fan this would be a great move, we would be getting rid of Steve Kline (a pitcher with negative trade value), while also opening up a bullpen spot for one of our two out of options pitchers (Merkin Valdez and Erick Threets, who both deserve to be in the pen over Kline).
We would also be recieving a cheap 3rd base replacement who the Giants could possibly flip at the trade deadline if he puts up decent numbers. And to be honest the likelihood that Steve Kline puts up respectable numbers are SLIM to NONE.
Posted by: hiphopjunkie | March 26, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Why would the Reds need or want hELMS?? i'M all for getting rid of stanton but only for another reliever Cabrera is only needed for late inning defense at this point anyway.
Posted by: jason | March 26, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Based on career track records, Helms would be a nice upgrade over Phillips or Cabrera. Both Hatteberg and Votto struggle against lefties and could use a platoon partner. I have to imagine the Reds would pay the difference to be rid of Stanton.
Posted by: RedsManRick | March 26, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Helms for Kline? Helps the Phills and is an ideal situation for the Giants. Looks like SanFran’s patience and surprising restraint on the Crede situation might pay off in a huge way ~ this is such a better deal than paying 2X as much cash, giving up prospects and still being stuck with Kline for a little power increase that will hardly make a difference on that specific bound-for-seller club. Hopefully it gets done…
Posted by: darkstar1661 | March 26, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Seems like the mets with schoenweis would be a perfect fit for him...too bad it would never happen
Posted by: SkiBolton | March 27, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Son of a biscuit eating bulldog are you kidding me.. Wes Helms is not a starting 3rd baseman, hell he's not a back up 3rd baseman going to Phillies games last night and hearing him getting booed like David Bell before him makes me wonder why I'm a Giants fan anymore now that Bonds is gone. I hated Feliz but come on if he's starting over Helms and we hated Feliz what is the point. No matter how dirty Kline's hat is I'll stick him and a Fradsen, Castillo platoon. And that's all I have to say about that.
Sabean is turning into the Isiah Thomas of the MLB
Posted by: Giant Deric | March 27, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Frandsen is out for the season...
Omar hopefully will be back and Day to Day Ray is hurting as well...
We are running out of options.
Posted by: zito4cyyoung | March 28, 2008 at 04:11 PM