Rosenthal's Latest: Dempster, Mora, Cameron

I would like to see the Indians make a run at Fuentes this offseason, but he will be pricey

With Mora through waivers, a possible trade for KW? Mora's bat has been stellar the last month.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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...