MLBTR Chat Transcript

Victorino and Carrasco for Bedard?! That's like getting Adam Jones and a poor man's Tillman, there's no way that gets it done... I mean you are talking about a sell low price for a guy that's still logged just 30 innings less than the league leader and has a 3.79 ERA. I'd say it would take a bigger piece than that... The Mariners don't need outfielders. Think Ryan Howard, Brett Myers, and Carlos Carrasco.

And then to replace Utley and Rollins, the phils trade Cole Hamels and 100 mil in cash for Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt.

Tim - you knocked down the suggestion of Beltre to the Dodgers, citing "in house candidates." I'm confused. Garciaparra is alwasy injured and has no power. Dewitt is pretty obviously overmatched (.261/.324/.382). I'm a big LaRoche fan, but his .220/.294/.333 career line in the majors doesn't exactly play for a team in a playoff race (and his AAA numbers are inflated by a great home park). Who is the in house candidate who can actually help the Dodgers this year? Kent's .265/.313/.432 bat?

Personally, I see Beltre-for-LaRoche as a win-win. Beltre anchors 3rd for a team trying to compete immediately through 2009, then Dewitt takes over. The Dodgers get some 2010 draft picks after Beltre (current Type A) leaves. Beltre is an elite defender and above-average offensively (SLG is 50 points higher away from Safeco).

Mariners get a cheap, long-term replacement for Beltre who can shift to 1st or DH if he continues having health issues (something he can't do in LA with the presence of Loney).

I don't see why the Mariners would be interested in Victorino or why the Phillies would be interested in trading him. The Phils don't have much depth in the OF (unless you consider Geoff Jenkins depth). Victorino is basically Ichiro-light (great arm, good defense, fast, can play CF or RF, not much power, not many walks).

Bedard for Cararsco and Cardenas might be workable for both. Sure, it takes the Phillies' top 2 prospects, but Bedard is a vast improvement over their #5 options (who he would replace) and isn't just a rental.