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By Tim Dierkes [June 19, 2008 at 11:45am CST]
MLB.com's Jim Molony tackles the hot stove in today's article.
- Molony says Omar Minaya is on the hot seat, though others feel his job is relatively safe.
- Roy Oswalt is not available, but he was recently scouted by the Angels, Braves, Mets, and Phillies.
- The Yanks have scouted C.C. Sabathia and Bronson Arroyo but haven't made any offers. I just don't see how Arroyo could be effective back in the American League.
- The Phillies are still looking for a lefty reliever. Looking at my Trade Market post, Alan Embree, George Sherrill, Brian Fuentes, Eddie Guardado, Damaso Marte, John Grabow, Ron Mahay, or Jeremy Affeldt could fit the bill. It still doesn't seem like a pressing need to me, though.
- Molony speculates that Tim Redding could be a popular name on the trade market. Redding has a 4.10 ERA, but it's propped up by a .258 BABIP (as a team, the Nationals have a .307 BABIP).
I think the reason that the Phillies continue to look for a lefty reliever is that they are afraid of over using J.C. Romero...he has been great, but seems likely to wear down come September
Posted by: 7thinningstretch | June 19, 2008 at 11:53 AM
How about Sherrill to the Red Sox to help with the late-inning relief? The Sox could use someone reliable and seem to have a deep farm system but would the teams trade with each other?
Posted by: cmac1973 | June 19, 2008 at 12:00 PM
How about Jimmy Gobble to the Phillies for a box of unsharpened pencils?
Posted by: PJH | June 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM
I don't think the O's have an issue with trading Sherrill in the division. Its only an RP not an everyday player or Starting pitcher. I think its mostly who will give up the best package.
Posted by: XD23 | June 19, 2008 at 12:54 PM
I can actually see why the Yankees would be interested in Arroyo if you look at the old NL - Fastball, AL - Junkball tradition. Arroyo has actually had a very good K rate and his overall BAbip of .356 is insanely inflated. Also, if you look at his more recent history (between 1 and 4 weeks back) he has significantly lowered his BAA. The main trouble spot for him is his crap fastball, which doesn't move like it used to, but his breaking ball seems even sharper than before.
Posted by: AA | June 19, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Cmac- How do you see that working? I'm serious; as an O's fan, I don't have any issue with trading in-division, but Sherrill to the Sox never really crossed my mind.
I was thinking something along the lines of Sherrill and a starting pitcher- either Brian Burres, Daniel Cabrera, or Jeremy Guthrie (each having their own respective value; Guthrie's being the highest, naturally), for a package headlined by Adrian Cardenas with secondary parts dependent upon the starter given up. If, for instance, we're talking Burres, who'd be a nice lefty for the back of the rotation- shoring up depth for the stretch run- we're probably talking Cardenas, Heitor Correa, and one or two other low-level prospects. If, however, the O's included Guthrie, who would slot in behind Hamels, maybe we're talking more along the lines of Cardenas, Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown, and Correa.
Just a thought.
Posted by: milehigh78 | June 19, 2008 at 12:56 PM
...the idea being that Cardenas is hopelessly blocked at 2B and has less value at another position, making him expendable despite being one of the better 2B prospects in all of the minors. As such, the Phillies don't really lose much more than trade value in picking up a top setup man (or closer if Lidge inevitably implodes) and as much as a #2 starter.
Seems more than fair...literally...I think I maybe have my team getting the lesser of this deal (if it's Guthrie at least).
Posted by: milehigh78 | June 19, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Milehigh - I'm a Sox fan in case you hadn't guessed and it's getting embarrassing watching 7-0 leads in the sixth and seventh innings go to 7-5 with Timlin, Hansen, Delcarmen and even Okajima. Sherrill was very reliable in the 8th last year and has been great as a closer, but I don't think he'd balk at going back to the 8th inning if it meant a chance at a World Series title. The Sox seem pretty hesitant to deal their main prospects so that could kill the deal. I honestly doubt it would happen but I would love to see it work.
Posted by: cmac1973 | June 19, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I don't see why the Orioles would care about dealing Sherrill in the division. It's not like they're going to compete in Sherrill's lifetime.
Posted by: thehoagster07 | June 19, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Why in the world would the Angels want to pick up Oswalt. I realize he has been a great pitcher over the years (this year a HUGE exception), but the Angels have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball.
Lackey
Weaver
Saunders
Santana
Garland
Lackey is a better pitcher than Oswalt and seems to be getting better, not declining, despite being only about a year younger. Even if Garland goes away after this year, Escobar looks to be recovering really strong and Adenhart is still a big time prospect. Where is the need there?
Posted by: AA | June 19, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Oswalt's not hurt, and he stills sits at 93/94mph throughout most of the game. His curve isn't always there, but I think most of it has to be mental. I think he's tired of playing for the Astros. They have been bad for the last 3 years and there's no end in site. Honestly, I think he's the perfect case of needing a "change of scenery".
And any team that aquire him get's a legit ace (assuming he only needs a change of scenery - which is just my opinion).
The Astros should get something similar to the Santana package, seeing that Roy is signed to an affordable contract.
But I really don't think he'd agree to go to NY, at least not the Mets. Plus the Mets don't have the prospects anymore to match up with the Astros.
Posted by: Darin | June 19, 2008 at 03:03 PM
i wonder how much the nats want to trade redding, since they have him under arbitration control for the next year or two.
Posted by: greg | June 19, 2008 at 03:31 PM