Odds And Ends: White Sox, Bonds, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers

MacPhail shouldn't be fielding calls, he should be making them. He should be smart enough to realize that the Marlins have a need at catcher, and offer them Hernandez for a high but reasonable price, then work backwards to what he'd like to get. Same thing with the Dodgers/Brewers/Cardinals with Sherrill, and with anyone who will listen on Payton, Huff, Millar, and Bradford. Be proactive, Andy. Be a go-getter.

With the Yankees getting Nady, what is the need for Bonds? We have a surplus already of Christian, Gardner, Cabrera, Damon, Nady.

Sal,

(from the link)
"I'm talking about a high-on-base, steal-bases, cause-havoc leadoff hitter," Washington said. "Let Kins hit down in the order and drive in runs."

nope

I was watching the Rays/KC game before it got delayed and one of the rays announcers said that Toronto is quietly looking at what kind of value they can get for Halladay. Apparently he has expressed his desire to be traded because of the teams lack of success.

As far as the Rangers go,

I don't necessarily see a need for a leadoff hitter, just because I fear if Kinsler hit further down in the lineup it would somehow mess him up (maybe like soriano?). However, I know the Rangers would have to give up a lot, but if the Mariners are folding and finally realize they won't compete for another 4 years, I wouldn't mind seeing the Rangers give some high prospects for Ichiro. I know its the same division, but at the same time, it's not like the M's are going to compete for a while, so they should try to get something from one of the top 5 farms in baseball. I'd offer them at least Hurley, Murphy, Cruz, Arias, and Salty (not necessarily this as my deal, just a few names I think could work). Basically as long as the Rangers didn't part with too much pitching (Feliz,Beavan) or Andrus, I'd be fine with it. Imagine this lineup in 2009/2010:

Ichiro - CF
M. Young - 3B
Hamilton - RF
Bradley - LF
Kinsler - 2B
Davis - 1B
Ramirez - DH
Teagarden - C
Andrus - SS

Incredible. I think the Rangers pitching depth in the farm will eventually be ok. If Feliz can develop into a solid pitcher, I think the Rangers have a serious shot to compete the next 3 or 4 years, when their prospects really start to come into their own.

Oh and not to meantion, unless we totally strip our team bare and sell off Beltre (no place for German), move Ibanez (no place for Boggs), Murphy is not a center piece, just a piece, and Salt projects as a catcher not 1B, loses value away from catcher, and so we don't need two catchers of that level as we already have Clement!

Anywho, the Mariners article about what the scouts said is spot on accurate! I've been feeling that Lopez and Betancourt were not a good match up the middle offensively... Defensively they are great, but they are pretty much the same player offensively and that's the type of player you only want one of in your lineup, typically somebody who sparks the team, and can lace line drives around the field, but not someone that you build an offense around, having Betancourt as a #2 and Lopez as a #5 would make for a very weak lineup, but if either of those two stayed by himself, they would be a great piece to the lineup. Lots of good stuff in there... It's true that the Mariners have lots of good pieces, but it's also true that the team was built all wrong and that they don't mesh well together, not Lopez and Betancourt, but more of just the team in general.

Tmoney352,

There is no way the rangers would give up all of those good prospects for just Ichiro. Why give up all of those under-23 (exception Cruz, Murphy) year old major-league ready players for a 34 year old player who maybe has 2 decent years left as a hitter.

Maybe one or two of those names would work but that's about it. Murphy is a solid line drive hitter who reminds me a lot of Rusty Greer. Plus Hurley was the rangers leading pitching prospect this year before Neftali Feliz came into the picture.

And it's not like the rangers need anymore offense, of course they wouldn't say no to a deal that would bring a quality hitter in, but still.

My vote is to try to bring a good starting pitcher in while giving up Cruz, One of the catching prospects, and another decent prospect. But then again everybody needs starting pitching, and the trade market this year is pretty low on good pitching.

"Why is Bobby Parnell an untouchable?"
I think the mets are trying to raise his value.

i know its not going to happen, but i would gladly welcome ichiro if we gave up those prospects. murphy is good, but in retrospect we would have him under control for 3 more years. And you can't honestly believe he has 2 decent years left??? His down year this year consists of hitting .300 and stealing close to 40 bases thus far. And throw him in a lineup like the Rangers and his average probably goes up (especially in Arlington). The man can flat hit and will continue to do so for a long time (much like Edgar Martinez - just instead of doubles it would be singles). The Rangers would willingly part with Salty/Cruz to get a player of that quality, and even if we did trade Murphy, you have Borbon in waiting if Ichiro somehow didn't work out. Or bring him in and trade him to somebody eventually for pitching. My thinking is that he would ultimately help the ballclub, either playing for a few years or just a couple and then being traded.

As far as pitching, I think the Rangers should go after John Lackey when he becomes available. I think he has an option for next year, but he's a Texas native who might actually want to play for the Rangers, especially if we are sending out a quality team.

Milehigh, like the trade proposal, but why do you think Texas wants/needs BRob?
They have Kinsler.

No, no, no ... the Rangers MUST keep David Murphy! He will be our lead-off hitter, once he has a full season under Rudy Jaramillo! This guy has been a steal, (and he was just a throw in on the Gagne` deal). I really believe this guy will be somebody, with a little more work. And, unfortunately (for him), Gerald Laird has earned the catcher job a hundred times over. It's time to GIVE IT TO HIM! But, by earning it, he has been just about the only one to draw legitimate trade interest. He's got to be wondering what he has to do to be LEFT ALONE!