Rosenthal's Latest: K-Rod, Maddux, Wolf, Street

I have a feeling that A's are just trying to gather prospects at positions where the free agent market may be bleak in the future, hence increasing the value of his just obtained 'above average' prospects...

I don't htink ther eis any chance the A's resign Ellis unless they trade Adrian Cardenas and Eric Patterson. I think they should trade Ellis now, give a year and a half to Eric Patterson as a stopgap. Then if Patterson plays well, Beane can trade him and give the job to Adrian Cardenas. Right about the time when Jemile Weeks is going to come up, the A's should be in contention. They could then trade Weeks for some power down the stretch or whatever else they need.

I dont think most people consider Patterson to be 2B depth. He kinda gets lumped in there but he's really not a candidate to ever start at 2B.

Reading further on in Rosenthal's comments, he states that the trade might come down to simply Tex and Ohman for Kotchman. If that's the case, I would certainly hope that the Braves decline. The value of trying to compete this year plus the two potential draft picks is worth more than Kotchman by himself.

I love the idea of Will Ohman being considered part of a "blockbuster".

I agree with Something Profound. Teams might be valuing young cheap players more highly these days, but Kotchman for Tex and Ohman is absurd. When you consider the draft picks the Angels would get when Tex goes elsewhere, even Kotchman for Tex straight up isn't enough.

I am sure K-Rod will ask that, and no one will bite. I am also pretty sure he will do a team friendly deal with the Angels if they reciprocate and do more years than the 3 they have offered.

On the Dodgers shortstop thing: John McDonald? Really? The guy is a defensive genius, but he barely hits his weight (no joke, he weighs about 180 and hits .190). They already have a good defensive back up in Berroa and McDonald has nothing on Hu, who is in the minors right now. I totally get Eckstein, though with the way Nomar is playing, I don't see trading for anyone.

Actually, Nomar makes me wonder a bit less about their desire to pick up McDonald. With Garciaparra playing so well and seemingly being healthy (knock on wood), there is no reason to give up real players/prospects for a starter like Wilson or Eckstein. Then again, I wouldn't mind seeing Eckstein come in and be used as a super sub who spells Nomar and Kent, which would mean Eck plays 3 days a week and the other 2 get 4 or something like that.

As for Huston Street, the Dodgers absolutely MUST fire Colletti if he gives up anything of value for that guy. A declining closer who's stuff doesn't compare to at least 3 guys already in your 'pen (Broxton, Park, Kuo) and possibly 2 more (Wade, Troncoso). He isn't worth anything near what Beane wants for him and Broxton is supposed to be the guy anyway. Aside from that Saito is targeted for 6 weeks, which means Street would be wasted at that point.

What would the A's get from the Cards? I'm thinking Tyler Herron and Pete Kouzma(sp?), but Herron hasn't been playing to well lately, so idk. Any thoughts?

I could see the Cards go after Nelson Cruz maybe Anthony Reyes?

could get the deal done

Ya, Colletti would be a moron to trade for a 24 year old closer with a career 2.86 ERA and over a K per IP. Besides, at 24 your right, he's obviously "declining". No offense to AA, or anyone else who calls Street on his obvious struggles this season, but give me a break. Were still talking about a guy who, prior to this season, has put up phenomenal stats in his young big league career. Obviously, he's having a down year. It happens, he's 24 and already in his 4th MLB season. He's bound to hit a bump in the road every once in a while. Most humans do from time to time. His velocity has been inconsistent at times, yes. Just two weeks ago I saw him hitting 94-96 on the gun, then a week later sitting around 90. Is he hurt?? Maybe. Fatigued?? Maybe. But the fact of the matter is the guy is, and will be one of the better closers in the game. He's just having a tough time right now. The beauty of it is, that as a closer he could come out and have a dozen solid appearences and lower his ERA nearly a full point. I think we'll see his ERA down below the mid 3's by seasons end. I just think its laughable sometimes how underrated the guy becomes after one mediocre, at worst, half season. Oh how quickly people forget how well he pitched over the past 3 seasons as a kid.

jpshark: I am not saying Street wasn't good in the past. He hasn't been good this year, and this year is what matters, as the Dodgers would have no interest in him beyond this year. Further, Broxton is the same age, has only 1 less full year int he majors, has a better K rate, a better HR rate, pitches more innings and has better stuff. Why would you pick the guy who has been a sub-par closer this year over a guy who throws 100 MPH darts to a guy he has been pitching to since he was in A ball?

Street is a good pitcher, but he is worthless to the Dodgers given their situation and what Beane would want for him.