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By Steve Adams [September 7, 2008 at 3:18pm CST]
John Perrotto at Baseball Prospectus has his Every Given Sunday column up. Here's the highlights from the Rumors and Rumblings section (with some added speculation here and there from yours truly):
- There's a growing rumor that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa could step down after this season and pursue a job as a general manager. We all know Seattle's looking...
- The Diamondbacks love Adam Dunn's production so much that they are considering re-signing him and possibly having him play first base. Dunn's racked up a .474 OBP since coming to Arizona... what's not to like about that?
- The Padres seem willing to move Kevin Kouzmanoff once again. Perrotto doesn't say, but it would make sense for young starting pitching to be the target for the Padres, and a move would allow Chase Headley to move back to his natural position, third base. The Giants are looking for help at third, but I doubt the Pads would trade him within the division. Minnesota, perhaps?
- The Marlins are considering playing Jorge Cantu at first next season, using Dallas McPherson at third, and trading Mike Jacobs in the offseason.
- The Royals will not re-sign Mark Grudzielanek this offseason, but will likely target both Rafael Furcal and Raul Ibanez. Given Mike Aviles' emergence at the plate, shifting him to second base and putting Furcal at shortstop would make for a very good middle of the infield in Kansas City. The Royals will also explore options for trading Jose Guillen. I personally didn't like the contract they gave him at the time, and I doubt many clubs like it now either. Moving him could be difficult.
- The Rangers will try to trade Gerald Laird for pitching, given their surplus at catcher. The Yankees could use some help behind the plate if Jorge Posada is unable to catch...
- Jeff Kent, Frank Thomas, and Kent Mercker are all mentioned as possibilites for retirement this offseason, with Jeff Kent being almost a certainty, regardless of how his knee reacts to surgery.
what!??! how could anyone like adam dunn on there team, and think about resigning him?? He doesnt even like baseball....
Lol, JK, Happy to see Dunn performing well and getting a chance to win.
Posted by: cincy_11 | September 07, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Kouz to Minnesota could make a lot of sense really. The Twins have the surplus SP the Padres could use.
Posted by: gatling | September 07, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Regarding possible retirees, you should add:
Curt Schilling
Todd Jones
Jason Isrinhausen (sp?)
Mark Mulder
Andy Pettitte (although he's still good enough to be a a 4th starter).
Posted by: luissojo | September 07, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Add El Duque and perhaps he's ineffective half-brother, Livan should be on that list too.
Posted by: luissojo | September 07, 2008 at 04:48 PM
I thought they were just cousins? He on't retire, someone will waste 5M on him arguing he's an inning eater.
Pettite won't retire, he'll come back as a yankee with probably the same salary.
As for Schilling, I see him pulling a Clemens, wait 2-3 months and come back as a hired gun for some teams playoff run. Probably the Phillies or Red Sox depending on standings and injuries.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 07, 2008 at 05:01 PM
when u say kent's retirement is almost certain which kent r u talking about?
Posted by: jpg1200 | September 07, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Sorry Jpg, I was referring to Jeff Kent. I should've made that clearer given the circumstances. I'll edit that.
And Luis, I could list several people who are possibilities for retirement, but I was just recapping the ones Perrotto mentioned in his article today.
I don't, however, see Pettitte retiring. I imagine he'll be back on another one-year deal with the Yankees, though I don't know if he'll get $16MM again.
Posted by: Steve Adams | September 07, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Oh please trade Mike Jacobs. A poor mans Adam Dunn pretty much.
Posted by: Barroid_Bonds | September 07, 2008 at 05:44 PM
I think the more impressive thing about Dunn is that he has actually made contact with the ball since the move. A .271 average is much more palatable, even with the high OBP. He has actually walked more than he has struck out, which makes him a more valuable piece.
The D'backs don't need 5 100+ K guys in their everyday lineup, 6 if you count Snyder who doesn't play every day. It just kills way too many rallies.
Posted by: AA | September 07, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Barroid- The poor man's Dunn that doesn't get on base.
This Kouzmanoff stuff just won't go away. I think it's never been true. Why would they sell off one of their only productive hitters for a mediore pitcher when they can just keep headley in left or switch them around. Also aren't they trying to cut payroll? Why give up on a player that is still cost controled? Letting Giles,Bard,Barrett,and Hoffman go and trading peavy makes much more sense. Peavy to the Red Sox would bring in a centerfielder like Ellsbury, Masterson and maybe another player like Chris Carter that may allow them to move Gonzales in the near future.
Mediocre pitchers can become exceptional in San Diego. I like some of the guys they have now. Reinke,Leblanc, Baek and banks can fill in at least the #3-5 spots and in that park be successful. Young moves up to the #1 and Masterson moves into the #2.
2009
C Carlin/Hundley
1b Gonzales/Carter
2b Antonelli/Gonzales
ss Greene/Rodriguez
3b Kouzmanoff/Headley
Lf Headley/Kouzmanoff
Cf Ellsbury
Rf Gerut
Sp
1.Young 2. Masterson 3. Leblanc 4. Reinke 5. Baek
Rp
Lr-Banks,Hensley
Mr-Meridith,Hampson,Thatcher
Su- Adams
C-Bell
This team is for sure better then the Giants next year and is close to Colorado. Trading Greene is also an option. Dropping all these contracts would bring them to under 40 million and they would have a ton of room to grow.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | September 07, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Oh add scott hairston to that outfield mix filling in at all the spots. He can also play 2b so maybe making him a super-sub wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | September 07, 2008 at 08:06 PM
You need to get alot more than Ellsbury Masterson and another prospect for a perrenial Cy Young candidate who has a team friendly contract. Try Ellsbury Masterson or Lester Bowden Lowrie maybe another. This will also allow you to trade Greene.
Posted by: metsfan | September 07, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Why would the Sox trade their starting CF, their starting SS, a pitcher that is already a very solid number 3 and another arm that could be a solid backend type for another ace? You just don't see teams opening up three or four holes just to fill one that doesn't really exist.
If the Sox want a pitcher it would be far better for them to throw the Schilling dollars at one of the many thats on the FA this year. But really I don't think they need to.
I think the only reason they'd get involved would be to push the price up for the Yankees.
Posted by: schellis | September 07, 2008 at 09:55 PM
schellis: i think metsfan was making a point about the cost of Peavy is going to be a lot more than three pieces.
Posted by: AirmanSD | September 07, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Also joemorgan, i think you are forgeting that we do not need 1st baseman, it is one of the few positions in the minors in which we have good depth.
Posted by: AirmanSD | September 07, 2008 at 10:12 PM
joemorgan=#1: Chris Carter isn't even in the Red Sox organization; he's with the A's organization. And, the A's have no reason to trade him (cost controlled prospect, best power prospect in the A's system)
And, the Pads should get much more than Ellsbury, Masterson, and another prospect for Peavy, who's signed to a VERY team friendly contract and is relatively healthy.
Posted by: melonis rex | September 07, 2008 at 10:13 PM
melonis, the Red Sox do have a Chris Carter. They got him in exchange from the Nats for Wily Mo Peña. He's not a great defender so most people see his ceiling as a DH. He's actually a pretty smart and good hitter in AAA. But likely would have to have a future somewhere else.
As for trading for Peavy... don't see it happening. Mostly because the Pads won't trade him, he's a player to build around. But the cost would probably be more than what the Red Sox would want to pay. The youth that the Pads would want, the Red Sox were relunctant to trade for Santana and Peavy would cost more. Ellsbury, Lester, Lowrie, etc... my bet is they don't move. Well maybe Lowrie for a catcher.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 07, 2008 at 10:36 PM
There are two chris cater's guys one in oakland and one in Boston. 2007 .301/19/97
2008 .300/.356/.515 24hr 81rbi. He's 26 http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Chris%20Carter&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=452080
Again people keep dreaming that a starter will bring in another top of the line starter and basically an entire infield or something. Peavy is signed to a team friendly contract he is an elite pitcher and should bring in three or four good prospect basically a Dan Haren deal but with at least two sure thing players. The only problem is Peavy has a no trade clause and would have to wave it. Now the red sox could for sure let masterson,carter, and ellsbury go. Masterson is a good piece but the chance to get peavy is well worth the risk. Carter is a throw in that could end up pulling another adrian gonzales and can even play Lf and hit for good power. But again he's blocked in boston. Ellsbury is playing worse then crisp the red sox still have another year of cocco on the books and there outfield would be pretty set with bay,crisp,drew. You might throw in one more B+ prospect but Lowrie isn't going anywhere. Kyle Blanks could be a decent replacement in the near future for gonzales but he is no guarantee for sure after that I don't know what depth at 1b you are talking about because if it's Myrow and Huber then they have no depth. Now other teams can offer similar packages if not maybe a little better like the rangers,yankees,brewers who will all have serious interest and also have the prospects to get it done.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | September 08, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I would love to see Adam Dunn stay with Arizona. But sadly, unless they can find a way to unload Eric Brynes (2yrs@$20 mil), the D-Backs will settle for the two draft picks.
Posted by: sunblazer | September 08, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Yikes. I meant 2yrs@$10 mil.
Posted by: sunblazer | September 08, 2008 at 01:22 PM
"Barroid- The poor man's Dunn that doesn't get on base."
Please tell me you are joking.
Posted by: AA | September 08, 2008 at 06:42 PM