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By Tim Dierkes [August 20, 2008 at 11:09am CST]
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let's take a look.
- Rosenthal agrees with those who considered C.C. Sabathia pitching the ninth inning Monday a needless risk. Sabathia already had thrown 112 pitches and the Brewers had a seven run lead, but he pitched the ninth to bring the total to 130. The innings shouldn't affect Sabathia's payday, but hopefully he remains healthy.
- Rosenthal sees a minimal chance of Ryan Dempster signing elsewhere, given his strong relationship with Cubs GM Jim Hendry. Dempster will be the Cubs' top offseason priority. I also consider Kerry Wood unlikely to leave.
- Add Melvin Mora to the list of players who have cleared waivers. He, Aubrey Huff, and Ramon Hernandez will be shopped this winter. Mora has raised his numbers and stock significantly by hitting .378/.421/.652 since the beginning of July. He has a full no-trade clause and is owed $9MM next year.
- The Indians are almost certain to sign a closer this winter, with Brandon Lyon and Brian Fuentes perhaps the best available aside from Francisco Rodriguez and Wood.
- The Rockies will place Fuentes on waivers soon and may also shop Willy Taveras. Manny Corpas has already hit the wire.
- Rosenthal figures Mike Cameron's $10MM option for '09 will be exercised. Cameron is hitting .245/.333/.509 in 372 plate appearances while playing strong defense.
- Gary Matthews Jr.'s knee injury may prevent the Angels from trading him this winter. That, and the $33MM owed to him through 2011.
I would like to see the Indians make a run at Fuentes this offseason, but he will be pricey
Posted by: Adam | August 20, 2008 at 11:56 AM
It does my heart good to read that you think Dempster and Wood will be back with my beloved Cubbies, it makes sense. I just hope they resign Johnson/Edmonds as well.
Posted by: Teddyballgame | August 20, 2008 at 12:02 PM
With Mora through waivers, a possible trade for KW? Mora's bat has been stellar the last month.
Posted by: whitesoxfan424 | August 20, 2008 at 12:09 PM
How about the Mets trade Billy Wagner to the Brewers for, Mat Gamel and Lorenzo Cain.
Posted by: Chris | August 20, 2008 at 12:26 PM
With every complete game the Brewers allow C.C. to throw, he's one step closer to being unaffordable on their payroll. Talk about digging your own grave.
Posted by: Zoop | August 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Why cant a good bat go onto waivers? The Yankees are in dire need of one, and another reliever too, ill take Fuentes!
Posted by: yanks26ngoin | August 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Chris- LOL. I'd switch Jeremy Jeffress for Cain though.
whitesoxfan424-
I'm not really sure why KW would want to make that deal. You're absolutely right about Mora; he's been on fire since the All Star break, really, but particularly hot this past month or so. Still, don't you guys already have Crede AND Fields? What's the point of another 3B? I mean, I guess Mora could DH- but you've already got Thome there- or go back to the OF- where you have Quentin, Swisher, and Dye- but those don't seem like good options either. Where do you see Mora fitting in, I wonder?
I DO think Mora has raised his stock considerably this year, having come into the season as...well...a worthless hole at third base. That could obviously be great news for my O's, but let's not get carried away. The best case scenario is A)we eat a significant portion of his contract and trade him for a decent prospect or two (which actually seems like a perfect waiver deadline deal) B)he keeps it up and becomes a Type A (or at least B) FA and nets us some compensatory pick(s) after NEXT year.
If Andy waits until after the season, it hardly seems likely that he'll find many interested parties, given Mora's cost and age and the number of available alternatives also on the market. Thrilled though I am to see Mora back in good form, he isn't part of the Orioles' future. If we can turn him into ANYTHING- even salary relief- I think you have to do it...for the sake of rebuilding.
Posted by: milehigh78 | August 20, 2008 at 12:46 PM
yanks26-
Ummm...have you SEEN Aubrey Huff's numbers?!!!!
Posted by: milehigh78 | August 20, 2008 at 12:47 PM
whitesoxfan424,
If by KW you mean Kenny Williams Melvin Mora isn't gonna happen, its would happen if Uribe was producing but right now he is playing the best defensive 3b right now.
Posted by: ChiSoxKilla23 | August 20, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Never mind, it seems Crede's been out since late July and Fields is in the minors. So...maybe Mora WOULD fit. I don't know if Uribe would be a deterrent, ChiSoxKilla. He kind of sucks.
Andy Mac has to stop dragging his feet with these guys! Look at Sherrill! Should have struck while the iron was hot. I doubt he'll ever be worth more than what he was worth at the trade deadline. That's just shortsightedness and represents the continued lack of vision on the part of the Baltimore front office. We've made real strides over the last year/year and a half, but we're never going to be anything more than an also-ran until we truly commit to the future...even if it means sacrificing the present.
Posted by: milehigh78 | August 20, 2008 at 01:34 PM
lol at the Angels for being stuck with Matthews. Now if Hunter goes down, they will have the most expensive outfield benchwarmers in the AL West.
Posted by: MadmanTX | August 20, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Praying the Yanks get Huff, which makes room for money to get C.C. Then again they wont trade within the division.
Posted by: yankfan1 | August 20, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Mora had a cortisone shot in his shoulder sometime near the All-Star break, and has been arguably the best hitter in baseball since then. I've also noticed he can throw the ball to first base easily again. It's amazing what happens when you're healthy. He's not going anywhere, though. He's got a full no-trade clause, he lives in Baltimore suburbs with his wife and six children. I think the only team he would think about waiving it for would be Philadelphia so he could stay close to home.
Posted by: mstrchef13 | August 20, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Anyone else think Lyon is overrated as a closer? I would love to see the Tigers go for Fuentes since we need a lefty reliever and a closer. Why not get 2-in-1? I think he would prefer Comerica Park over Coors Field. If not Fuentes then Ohman looks like a solid pickup for lefty relief.
Posted by: Calriver | August 21, 2008 at 04:26 AM
I could be wrong, and I know this is his first season starting since 2003, but does anyone really think Ryan Dempster will come anywhere close to replicating this season? If you look at his career numbers, he has only 1 other season as a starter with an ERA under 4. The last 2 years his ERA has been nearly 5 out of the bullpen, as well. In my opinion, whoever signs this guy in the offseason is going to grossly overpay since he picked an ideal year to have a career year.
Posted by: The Big Cat | August 21, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Dempster is impossible to gauge. I kept saying that he was never going to keep it up 1 week into the season, then 3 weeks, then 2 months, and he just keeps doing it. The indications are that he is just pretty darned good...and while I'm not sure he is going to keep being a cy young contender...I think he is going to be well worth a 3 year 30 mil contract.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | August 21, 2008 at 12:03 PM
"I think he is going to be well worth a 3 year 30 mil contract."
You make a good point. If Lilly is worth 4/40, and I think thus far he has proved to be, Dempster is certainly worth 3/30. I did the same thing waiting for him to have a bad outing that would bring him back to reality. I stilldon't think he's worth any more than 3/30 though, and I wouldn't be surprised if got an offer from somewhere for 4 years at 12-14 mil a year. He's not worth that, but the market might decide with the year he has had this year he's earned it. Several teams have a significant amount of funds coming off the books, and that will result in Dempster being aggressively pursued by numerous teams, driving up his vale. Somebody will make the mistake of overpaying him unless he accepts an offer similar to the 3 and 30 mil from the Cubs in the early offseason. I guess this is guy I would be wary of. But it all goes back to what you said about waiting for him to drop off, making it difficult to gauge him.
Posted by: The Big Cat | August 21, 2008 at 02:06 PM
True on Dempster, but he also could be Chris Carpenter over again. A very talented, always highly touted kid, struggles for a while, then around the age of 30 the light switch goes on and you have a legit to of the rotation pitcher. Tough to tell.
Posted by: nrmax88 | August 21, 2008 at 02:10 PM
If I were Hendry, I would see if he would take 3/30 like tomorrow. What is good for the Cubs is that if they do lose him, he will easily be a type A free Agent from what I can tell. he is going to be judged as a reliever bc he has the most appearences as one...even though it will be judged from one year as a closer and one as a starter. So put all of his brilliant starting numbers into the formula with his closers number from last year, and he is going to blow them away in numbers like innings, strikeouts etc...
Posted by: Aduncaroo | August 22, 2008 at 10:31 AM