Perrotto's Latest: Ross, Jacobs, Kent, Burnett

Two things here:

First, why would the Rays want Kent? They don't need more power in their lineup, and Kent has been pretty one dimensional this year, basically just providing power, and at a much diminished rate from last year. He still has plenty of bat speed, but his batting eye seems to have disappeared, though he has gotten robbed a lot this season on hard hit balls.

Still, it could mean salary relief if the Dodgers were to get Iwamura out of it.

Any chance the Rays get in on the Braves’ Jeff Francoeur and Will Ohman?

I hate the Mets but I would say I have to expect them to land Ibanez I seriously doubt they will pony up for Bay and Randy Winn I just don't think is a good idea and with Matt Holliday all but off the market it just seems things are falling into place for Ibanez to the Mets.

Another thing no one wants Kent that's just the Rays exploring every option they would be stupid to give up their deep farm and/or Iwamura on Kent who is way less productive than he used to be.

One last "wish" I'd guess you call it is as a Pirate fan I'd like to see us come up with the cash in the off season to at least make a decent offer to Sheets or in a more perfect world Sabathia I think we should have at least 25 million available with Nady gone Marte gone and no Matt Morris contract after this year.

What do you expect Sheets and Sabathia to go for? Input anyone?

"What do you expect Sheets and Sabathia to go for? Input anyone?"

Sabathia will want Johan money and years and probably get something around that.

Sheets will probably get 4 years at $15m per or 3 years at $18m per.

I didn't see Trembley's post-game conference, and don't know if you're being ironic, but Trembley is pretty funny--a good manager, too, for an Orioles team that isn't very good.

Sabathia is a West Coast guy, and Avid Bay Area Sports fan (A's, Warriors [he has season tickets to them, I believe]). I believe he spends his off season in the Bay Area, and he's on TV all the time doing comercals for Toyota Valeho.

So my guess is he aims for a West Coast team. Obviously the A's probably are not going to sign him (though they can afford him with their payroll currently at Marlin-esque levels), the Giants might take a bite though the Barry Zito contract might have put down any more ideas of signing former Cy Young Left Handers with connections to the Bay Area. Dodgers or Padres could do it though. Don't see the Angels though-they have plenty of pitching for much cheaper.

Not sure on Sabathia, but I have to go with Zonis, I see him going to a West Coast team. I see Sheets going to Houston. Not being a homer, but it is a real possibility with him being good friends with Oswalt and living a short distance away in Louisiana. The Astros need pitching next year to be competitive and give them a chance at the playoffs, which htey are obviously lacking this year. They will push, or should but you never know with McClane owning the Astros, for Sheets pretty hard. And they will also go for a second tier pitcher, like a Lowe. If Oswalt regains his ace status, like he has lately before the injury, it would look like a good staff with Oswalt, Sheets, Lowe/or other second tier guy, Wandy, and a 5th starter.

The Sherrill rumors seem like they wouldn't happen, due to the O's repeatedly saying they'd have to be "blown away" to trade him. Does anyone have an over/under on him getting traded?

I'll say somewhere between 15-20 percent.

I'd say Sherrill is 50/50 to be traded. All these guys are posturing. MacPhail says he has to be blown away. Other GM's say MacPhail is asking too much. And so on.

Kent for Brignac. Good riddance to officer Kent.

Though it would be nice to have Iwamura in LA. Gold glove D 2nd baseman. And it'll be even cooler to get a look at that gator skin glove of us. O_o

Gravedigger: the only teams of the five you listed Sherrill would close for would be St. Louis and Detroit. The others have Broxton, Gregg, and Lidge.

2 more mil per season for AJ? Burnett is getting paid what he should be getting paid, and until he gets more consistant that doesn't change. People say well if Silva can get the same amount what can AJ get on the Market.

Just because acouple guys are getting contracts they shouldn't doesn't mean you'll get better or that you deserve more.

Silva is getting paid for what they thought he could do, not what he's actually doing.

So...the Rays are looking at Kent and they have (in the past) been said to be interested in Sherrill in the past. Just a thought...The O's give Tampa Brian Roberts and Sherrill and the Rays give Baltimore Reid Brignac, Jeremy Hellickson, and Mitch Talbot (or Akinori Iwamura, Brignac, and Jeff Niemann). Unrealistic though it may be, you could even take it further and have the O's give BRob, Sherrill, and Huff for Iwamura, Brignac, Hellickson, and Talbot. The Rays certainly get better for the stretch run (without any 'rentals') while Baltimore improves their farm system in order to, perhaps, make a run a few years from now. Whatd'ya think?

I have no problem trading Kent if we get a helpful piece this year. It would probably mean a bit of salary relief, which may facilitate another deal. That said, Kent has been a second half player and had a hell of a year last year under the radar.