Rosenthal's Latest: Laird, Washburn, Nady, Bay

Arroyo and Dunn to the Yanks continues to look more and more like the perfect match

Besides everything....what are the Orioles needs or what is it going to take for the Cards to land Sherrill?

"Arroyo and Dunn to the Yanks continues to look more and more like the perfect match"

Wow.. I literally just wrote this exact same thing on another post..

"I still think that an Adam Dunn/Bronson Arroyo blockbuster makes so much sense for the Yankees that its obscene." - me

Great minds think alike.

-I don't think that the Yankees would be a good fit for Nady, because he needs to be a starter which he'll probably do this year for long term he would sit the bench watching Damon, and Abreu play.

If the Pirates landed Nady they would probably let Abreu walk during free agency. Nady is cheaper and probably is as good a player at this point. An outfield of Damon, Cabrera and Nady is pretty solid.

Cabrera shouldn't start. He's a 4th outfielder. The Yanks are probably letting Giambi go after this year. Plus Matsui and Damon are injury prone. So between OF and DH, Nady will get plenty of starting time next season.

Now, an aside. I am sick and tired of hearing the Pirates "are asking too much" for their players. As if we're doing something outrageous because we don't want Aaron Heilmann or Kyle Farnsworth.

I have MLB.tv and last night, this is what I saw: The Mets blew an important game they should've won but their bullpen stinks.

The Rays got blown out by the A's because they only have 2 decent relievers and their starting RF is hitting .194

Then I hear the Yanks are likely losing Matsui & Posada for the year, and thinking of bringing #1 pitching prospect Hughes back as a reliever because their bullpen needs help.

I see these things and then see the NY teams have like $200 million invested in players and the Rays have finished dead last like 11 years in a row.

So somebody please help me here. I understand Kennedy or Niese or Brignac are good prospects but why do you care about maybes and could bes when you can win RIGHT NOW? And if you can win right now and are just one or two little pieces away, isn't a Kennedy or a Niemann worth it?

I mean, there are more drafts, right? You can always find new good prospects. Why would you spend all this time and money to assemble a championship team and then refuse to part with a AA prospect in order to get the part you desperately need?

I don't get it.

"An outfield of Damon, Cabrera and Nady is pretty solid."

Actually, it's downright awful. As a Jays fan, I sincerely hope and pray the Yankees take that sort of an OF into next season.

Many teams have started over-valuing their prospects. They seem to have forgotten that not all of them will even make it to the majors and that most of them will not reach their ceilings.

Look at a team like the Angels who have hoarded prospects and consistently refused to trade them in deadline deals. McPherson, Wood, and Mathis are former top prospects they held way past peak value as prospects. Some of their other top prospects have certainly worked out (Santana, Weaver, Kotchman, Kendrick). But imagine the quality major leaguers they could have acquired for guys like McPherson and Wood a few years ago.

Was foregoing a potential world series championship really worth holding onto Wood and McPherson? Decidedly, no. But it is just a gamble.

Teams like the Braves, D-Backs, and Red Sox seem to have the best mix of holding on to some prospects, but also being willing to trade guys for the right acquisition.

I think the Rays will go down the path of the Angels if they don't watch out. All those prospects will not pan out (especially all those pitchers). Use some of your depth to help your run in 2008 and 2009!

I'd like to see Josh Fields traded to the Royals for Ron Mahay.

Cory-
What are you smoking??????????? Fields has double the value Mahay does.

I'm VERY curious as to what the White Sox offered or were considering offering for BRob...

While the Sox have a decidedly weak farm system at present, there are a few players that could have been packaged to make it work. I know he's in the low minors, but the O's need for a SS would have almost certainly had them asking for Silverio, probably Getz to replace Roberts, and one of Poreda or Fields. Throw in a couple filler prospects (Andy likes numbers) and it might've been a go.

I'm VERY curious as to what the White Sox offered or were considering offering for BRob...

While the Sox have a decidedly weak farm system at present, there are a few players that could have been packaged to make it work. I know he's in the low minors, but the O's need for a SS would have almost certainly had them asking for Silverio, probably Getz to replace Roberts, and one of Poreda or Fields. Throw in a couple filler prospects (Andy likes numbers) and it might've been a go.

Redbirdfan- Just a guess... The O's probably want Rasmus, since the Cardinals' secondary prospects are a bit underwhelming (not bad, mind you, just...not really TOP prospects). The Birds want a SS prospect; preferably one in the upper minors. Since the Cards' 'only' two SS prospects of note are Kozma and Niko Vazquez (just drafted and therefore, can't be traded), the match up isn't great.

Even as an O's fan, I can't sit here and pretend that Sherrill is worth Rasmus, which I'm sure is where the problem comes in. Even thought St. Louis has a nice CF'er in Ankiel, who has proven himself able to crush MLB pitching and another decent CF prospect behind Rasmus in Jay, they're still unlikely to part with the crown jewel of their farm system for a reliever.

Maybe they can pull something off with an offer of, say, Jaime Garcia (who the O's actually drafted a few years before St. Louis, but were unable to sign), Kozma, and Allen Craig, OR Jess Todd, Kozma, Herron, and a couple spare parts...but it won't be an easy match.

It sounds like the O's are looking for an offer of 2-3 legit prospects, one of them a SS. The best fits appear to be in-division- TB and Boston- but McPhail seems averse to dealing with 'rival' clubs.

Still, something like Brignac and Mitch Talbot or Jed Lowrie and Chris Carter, might appeal to McPhail's sense of value.

I'm glad the Rangers are asking for young pitching for Laird. He's had a solid season, and if the Yankees even have young pitching to part with, I say pull the trigger.

"Arroyo and Dunn to the Yanks continues to look more and more like the perfect match"

They may be an ideal fit, but the reds are in no position that they have to trade, which allows them to get maximum value, and the yanks won't be willing to give up what it takes.

A trade for both of these guys would have to start with at least Ian Kennedy or Phil Hughes and go from there. Dunn will be a Type A free agent so they have to get what is worth at least that and Arroyo is sitting at 5 straight wins, which means his value isn't as deflated as it was June 1st. He can be seen as a solid 3, maybe two starter that eats innings...probably the equivalent of blanton on a higher contract.

"I have MLB.tv and last night, this is what I saw:"

"the Yanks are likely losing Matsui & Posada for the year, and thinking of bringing #1 pitching prospect Hughes back as a reliever because their bullpen needs help."

cactusbix

This i find a little odd. I have mlb.tv as well, and i watched the whole yankees game. And not once didn't the announcers say the yankees need bullpen help. In fact if you cared to look up anything, you would she that there bullpen has been lights out. I believe they have given up 6 runs since the break. Edwar hasnt given up a hit in over nine innings, and Farnsworth has a streak very close to that. So, when Hughes comes back there are probably going to limit him, thats why he would go to the pen.

RedSoxHater3, they have given up like one or two runs since the break. They have something like a 1.6 ERA in the last 20 games. Since Joba left the pen, it has actually been like better. Veras, Farnsworth, Mo, Robertson, and Edwar have been lights out. The last thing the Yanks need is bullpen help because they have two guys in the minors gearing up in Sanchez and Melancon. They could use a starter like a #3, #4, or #5 and maybe some outfield help but right now, the Yankees even with injuries look decent. Plus, Cano is on FIRE!!! and really picked it up and based on numbers, you cna say he will play well here on out.

And what would the Dodgers have given in return for Cabrera? LaRoche? Elbert and DeJesus?

I'd definitely like the Yankees to make a push for Dunn. Not interested in Arroyo, though.

Six years of Kennedy seems like a lot to pay for half a year of Dunn + two draft picks, though.

What about this scenario:

White Sox trade Orlando Cabrera and another prospect, say a pitcher or second baseman, to the Dodgers for Chin-Lung Hu and Andy LaRoche/Blake DeWitt. The White Sox then trade Josh Fields and Hu to the Orioles for Brian Roberts. You could also throw in Juan Uribe or another mid/low-level prospect.

OR

White Sox trade Josh Fields, Brian Anderson, a pitching prospect, and possibly another prospect to the Mariners for Ichiro. Put Ichiro in center, move Swisher to first, and platoon Thome and Konerko in the DH spot.

Does either situation sound plausible? Any other thoughts?

Jarrod Washburn and Jose Vidro for Kei Igawa? That better come with a long island iced tea or some coney dogs or something...

I'm betting the Cardinals might be interested in Sherrill AND Roberts. In that case, Rasmus becomes more possible, perhaps--I don't know--it's be hard for the Cards to give him up. Of course, the Rasmus injury may be a spanner in the works.

Playwright suggestion acually makes sense if we can trade Roberts and Shrrill in a package for Rasmus and 1 or 2 lesser prospects preferably a shortstop or a pitcher(s). As Tim has said in recent days Rasmus's availablity is questionable. But a package in the two areas the Cards desperatly need some depth has to be very attractive. Also this only increase La Russa'a ability to do his pitcher batting 8th with a true lead off hitter to get on in front of Pujols. However this scenario is the only way we can possibly get Rasmus.

Yanksown,

I just checked and it is four runs, two in each series. But, ya, the pen has been unstoppable lately.

1. Rasmus won't be traded. He was just injured and will be out approximately 1 month. He's worth too much anyways...

2. "The O's probably want Rasmus, since the Cardinals' secondary prospects are a bit underwhelming (not bad, mind you, just...not really TOP prospects)."

Your probably wrong about this. New prospect rankings would probably rank the Cards system in the top 10. I definately don't see Sherrill being worth either package you mentioned. Your basically throwing in Kozma as a secondary player in those deals, when, if he's involved, he'll be the primary guy. I could see Kozma, Ottavino, and Worrell or something along those lines.

3. I disagree that the teams don't match up. Certainly if the O's expect Rasmus, Garcia, or Todd, I don't think they match up. Not for a 30something reliever with limited closing experience. But there is a lot of value in the minor league system for the Cards that is under the radar of most fans because its only blossomed this season. The Cards probably have between 7-10 of the top 150 prospects in the league

Tim,
Theriot is riding a 12-game hitting streak, has a .328 average, and has 38 multi-hit games this year...tops in the NL. Rich Hill says he's "found his control again"...in AAA. Rounds 10, 11, 12 to Deke. And is Hill even going to be a September call up? Ask Bill James. Or PECOTA. Or refer to the sabermetrics charts. They may (not) know.

I can't see MacPhail trading two All-star caliber players (Sherrill and Roberts) for a single prospect no matter how good he has the potential to be. Rasmus is still unproven (OPS of .742 in the PCL isn't very overwhelming despite his age), and if the Orioles have any position where they don't have needs to fill, it's OF. Jones and Markakis are going to be anchors, and Scott will be just fine until Reimold is ready. I don't think that STL has enough in the non-Rasmus department to get Roberts.

Just wondering.... who is better?

Andy Laroche or Josh Fields

"Andy Laroche or Josh Fields"

Hell I'm from Chicago and I would definately take Andy LaRoche. Fields has more power potential, I wouldn't be shocked if he jacked 30-35, but LaRoche has him basically everywhere else.

LaRoche is a better overall hitter. He hits to contact better and takes a ton of walks. And he's the better fielder as well, Fields can be a little choppy at times.

Oh and LaRoche is like two years younger.