Cafardo's Latest: Manny, Dunn, Fielder

i would take Darren Oliver and Chone Figgins for nady.

big papi and fielder give me a break.

Why anyone would want an old Darren Oliver is beyond me... and fielder would not hit 60+ hrs more like 45-50 in Boston

Atlanta may have a lot of left handed hitters in their line-up but Dunn would provide a ton of power, which is something the Braves lack.

If jim bowden let's dunn go to the stupid braves i'm going to never go to another nationals game i HATE THE BRAVES STUPID TAMAHAWK CHOP.

Prince Fielder makes absolutely no sense for Boston, especially if they have to give up Buchholz. That's just stupid. Not to mention, he's tremendously overrated.

Atlanta may have a lot of left handed hitters in their line-up but Dunn would provide a ton of power, which is something the Braves lack.

Well said. Other than Chip and McCann and maybe Kelly we don't have any power. I honestly believe we should try for Nady maybe Prado and Redmond/Locke could get it done. Kinda seems a little poor but hopefully we could work something out there. IMO we should sign Dunn to a 2 year deal worth 20-25 million ONLY if we sign Derek Lowe and i would think Dunn would sign after Lowe.

if the redsox want a prince fielder type, just go out and sign adam dunn. above average power, below average fielding, and fielder is only a 1b/dh, while dunn can play (terrible) left field if neccessary

"If jim bowden let's dunn go to the stupid braves i'm going to never go to another nationals game i HATE THE BRAVES STUPID TAMAHAWK CHOP."

You're assuming Dunn is willing to go to Washington. Tex didn't give Washington a chance to improve their offer. And Dunn already stated he wanted to sign with a winning franchise. Not sure if the Braves qualify for that though.

"what about a trade like swisher,Kennedy and Edwar Ramirez for Jose Arredondo"

Why would the Angels trade young, lights out reliever who is their closer of the future? He's also league minimum and under team control for 5 more years.

White Sox better be looking at Ben Sheets. This is getting ridiculous. Saying you're confident with the current rotation is complete and utter bullsh**.

"Angels might give up Oliver for Nady straight up"
and why would the yankees do that?

"what about a trade like swisher,Kennedy and Edwar Ramirez for Jose Arredondo"
why??

"If jim bowden let's dunn go to the stupid braves i'm going to never go to another nationals game i HATE THE BRAVES STUPID TAMAHAWK CHOP."

Do know why you'd want to go to a Nationals game anyway. And it's the Tomahawk Chop. Not sure what a Tamahawk is.

"their closer in the furture is right had 7 chances and blew them all."

Arredondo 2008 season: 1.62 ERA. 274 ERA+. 55K/52 innings. Rookie.

Did Arredondo ever pitch the 9th with a lead? Or were his "blown saves" just 7 instances he allowed a run in the 6th, 7th or 8th inning in a 1 run game?

Oh, and they also signed Fuentes for 2 years to be their closer. So yes, closer of the future.

"Dunn would sign after Lowe"
Agreed, pitching and defence is the Braves main focus of their rebuilding mode. The team's already got a good defence infield by not trading Yunel and aquireing Kotchman(who has the potential to win a gold glove IMO) so they definetley could use a good ground ball pitcher like Lowe. The newest addition to the club of Kawakami obviously helps us with pitching, but with defence too. Kawakami fields his postion well having won gold glove awards in Japan. So the Braves will settle their pitching and defence issues then aquire some power in the likes of Dunn or Nady.

"Brad Ausmus has had ongoing talks with the Padres and Dodgers, according to Cafardo's sources. The Red Sox aren't interested."

A 40 year old catcher who hits worse than Varitek? Who would even have the gall to ask if they were interested?

Everyone, let's get one thing straight.
Fielder is not some fat pig. He's big but that doesn't mean he doesn't work out.
His work out routine is crazy, he does lots of reps. He's just a big guy. He's very strong and he's even a vegitarian so that's pretty healthy right there. Look all of this up if you don't believe me. I'm not saying he can steal 30 bases but to say he's not athletic is kind of disrespectful. He's 24 years old and looks like he has a great slugging career ahead of him. I'd take him over Ryan Howard anyday who hits like what? .220? that's a joke.
Fielder hits .270 and above and while not mind blowing, it's still FIFTY points better than a Howard type.

"How about Nady to the Braves for Jeff Francoeur and prospects. Francouer has been struggling but hes good defensively and could battle Gardner and Melky for the centerfield spot."

Francouer can't hit. Why would we trade Nady for him? If we want no offense from the position, we have Melky and Gardner.

"At least one of Cafardo's sources thinks Prince Fielder would make a lot of sense in Boston. Clay Buchholz could be a starting point if these talks were to start."

Clay and others wouldn't be enough to get Fielder to Boston. If I was MIL and heard Theo mention Clay, I'd hang up the phone. And yes, he makes sense in Boston, but Fielder makes sense for any other team. :P

"Why anyone would want an old Darren Oliver is beyond me... and fielder would not hit 60+ hrs more like 45-50 in Boston"

RollingNightHawk, I'm starting to really enjoy when you post. You're statements are never rooted in fact and you make assumptions like you have some crystal ball or something. Why anyone would want darren oliver? He's been one of the steadiest left-handed relievers in all of baseball for the past three years, that's why. And he can pitch more than just one inning, unlike most lefties out of the bullpen. Also, he was deemed a Type A free agent if I remember correctly, which is a pretty nice accomplishment NOT based on just one year. As for Prince Fielder, I realize it's going to be tough for anyone to hit 60 HR's again, but don't pretend like there's this huge difference between 50 and 60. If a guy can hit 50, then with more protection in the lineup and a short porch in right, is 60 really that much of a reach? How about inserting "I believe..." before these statements you make.

"He's very strong and he's even a vegitarian so that's pretty healthy right there."

He gave up the vegetarian thing halfway through the season last year...

Don't get me wrong, Varitek is obviously asking for far too much money for his services. However, defense is more important to the catcher position than any other. A catcher does more things on every pitch that help to decide the outcome of a game. A catcher with productive bat is a luxury in MLB. When you watch an outstanding defensive catcher over the course of a season, you get a true sense of what value to the team is. Take Mike Matheny, for example. I never watched him regularly before he came to the giants. But he had always been on successful teams with the Cardinals. After watching him call games, his excellent blocking/receiving skills and his ability to throw out runners, I couldn't care less if he hit .180. Unless I'm getting McCann-type offense out of the catcher position, I want the guy who knows how to catch.

"He gave up the vegetarian thing halfway through the season last year..."

That's news to all Brewer fans because if it did happen he didn't tell anyone in the Milwaukee media.

Varitek better take whatever deal the Red Sox have put on the table or the high point of his summer is going to be mowing the lawn and then enjoying a cold beer.

it doesnt matter if he quit or not, he's listed at 5'11, 270lbs, thats horrible.

"what about a trade like swisher,Kennedy and Edwar Ramirez for Jose Arredondo"

Yankees give up way too much here. Arredondo is good, but he's still fairly unproven in that reliever's performance can be volatile, and that package holds a lot of value.

And the Red Sox adding Michael Young makes no sense. Jed Lowrie is a similar player but not nearly the hitter than Young is yet, but he's also far cheaper. Considering that the Red Sox are set at second with Pedroia, and Youkilis is likely to move back to third when Lars Anderson is ready, that would mean leaving Michael Young at short for the duration of his five year contract. Young is not a good defensive shortstop, and will be downright awful in five years. Young makes zero sense for Boston.

As for Fielder, my main issue is what would the long term plan be then? Fielder is a very, very poor defensive 1B and really belongs at the DH spot. If the Red Sox did add Fielder and put him at first short term, they would likely need to have the DH spot open for Prince when Lars Anderson is ready. Which bears the question of what to do with David Ortiz?

I think the Red Sox are better off just going with the team they have, and looking at big time hitting options in the outfield and/or the left side of the infield.

Whatever you added offensively by having Fielder at first would definitely be negated by what you would lose defensively by replacing Youk with him.

Even so, what could a deal possibly look like?

Could something like Prince Fielder and Angel Salome for Clay Buchholz, Josh Reddick, Stolmy Pimental and Michael Almanzar work?

The Red Sox get Prince and a good C prospect in Salome, ending their need to use other pitchers on a Texas catcher.

The Brewers get a potential ace in Buchholz, a top OF prospect in Reddick, a good 3B prospect in Almanzar, and another solid pitching prospect in Pimental.

The Brewers likely wouldn't want to include Salome though, so maybe just take Almanzar out of the deal if Salome isn't in it either.

how does lowell for helton make sense for the red sox/

Even if Nady is only for a yr, he comes with the possibility of being a Type A FA and if he leaves that team would get a 1st round pick. And knowing how players perform in their contract year it is very likely. CC was a 3 month rental and look want they gave for him. I'm not saying the Yanks will get the same but the Yanks are giving away a 2 draft pick by trading Nady.

why are the Reds not on the list of possible suitors, it seems them and the Giants are like the only two teams that are serious about him

The braves need to get Derek Lowe, before they worry about ben sheets. And i think that adam dunn would be a great fit for the braves, because he provides alot of power in the braves power needing line-up, altough i wish we could get someone that hit for a better average. Also i think that randy wolf would be a better fit, because he is a leftie, and the braves definately dont need an all right handed rotation.

"If a guy can hit 50, then with more protection in the lineup and a short porch in right, is 60 really that much of a reach?"

Fenway Park does not have a short porch in right; it has a short distance to the foul pole. Unless you master pulling the ball with just the right amount of slice and precision, it's not friendly to lefties. For slap hitters, the Green Monster is where homeruns go to die.

They'd have to rename Pesky's Pole to Pesky's and Fielder's Pole if he were to be traded to Boston...

"it has a short distance to the foul pole" = a short porch in right

I think my point was clear, though, seemingly insignificant factors like this are the difference between 50 and 60 home runs. It's not a huge disparity. The poster I was responding to was saying there was no way fielder hits 60, but that he would hit 50. I'm just saying that no one outside of miss cleo could know such a thing and stating it as fact is asinine.

This really is starting get ridiculous... at the beginning of the offseason everyone was in agreement that the Red Sox were still a team that would easily compete. Now all of a sudden there's this sudden belief that they don't have enough offense. Hell even some new york writters have gone as far as re-write history and proudly boast the Sox needed Tex even more. This is still a team that will easily compete in any division.

Braves wont get Randy Wolf because Kinzer is his agent and Wren said we will not do business with them. As for X. Nady please do NOT get this guy! He had a big year last year, but I am not sure if he could do it again. Get a guy like Dunn who is guarenteed to hit at least 30 if not 40 HR's and with Chipper getting on base all the time he should drive in some runs.

Lowe will sign before Sheets i think. Lowe will most likely sign sometime in the next week, since things seem to be heating up for him. Adam Dunn doesn't have a high average but he's very good OBP which is more important than average. If they could add those two and then sign Sheets to a one year incentive laden deal, that would be awesome. A rotation of
1. Sheets
2. Lowe
3. Vasquez
4. Jurrjens
5. Kawakami
with Morton, Reyes, Glavine potentially, and Hanson all as potential injury replacements

Posted by: bravesfan22193 | January 11, 2009 at 01:37 PM

You forgot about the Mexican Greg Maddux Campillo LOL

"...and fielder would not hit 60+ hrs more like 45-50 in Boston"

______ ________ __________

and you're on crack, Fenway is 302 down the right field line, and 310 to left, granted there is a 37 foot wall there, but if you don't think Fielder would hit AT LEAST 60 HR's there, you're on crack.

Yea I would love that rotation but I am kinda optimistic that we would get Sheets. I wish we knew the actual number we have to spend and plus we would have to see how much we would spend if we were to sign Lowe and LF. If we have the money SHeets would be a complete steal if he threw 120 innings and if we make the playoffs and he could pitch it would for sure make it worth it, plus he wouldn't be able to strike 16 guys against Atl LOL

http://firstinning.com/pf/?type=lhh&lg=AL&season=2008

The Park Factors for left-handed hitters in Boston show a decrease in homeruns from the league average.

The "short porch" in Boston isn't truly a short porch.

""it has a short distance to the foul pole" = a short porch in right"

Not exactly. "Short porch" implies that the reachable portion of the stands is close to home plate. Yankee Stadium has a short porch. Fenway does not. Unless he made a habit of hitting the 302-foot mark by strategically placing all of his long flyballs directly down the right-field line, with little margin for error toward left-center, then Fielder would lose a lot of homeruns to Fenway's dimensions.

Oh and I forgot to mention that Miller Park's factor for left-handed hitters hitting homeruns is +0.012, whereas Fenway's part factor for homeruns is -0.007. It is actually easier for a left-handed hitter to hit a HR in Milwaukee than Boston.

Also, since when is 60 HRs easy for ANYBODY? He's guaranteed AT LEAST 60 in Boston? You, Gosser, are freaking nuts.

"The Angels, Giants and Mets are possible suitors for Xavier Nady"

OK, Angels go out and sign Type A free agent Cruz or Lyon from Arizona, (we are losing a first rounder anyway for Fuentes), trade Spier and minor leaguer for Nady, then swallow some salary and trade Gary Matthews Jr. for anything, or simply release him if he doesn't agree to a trade.

can the dodgers just sign manny already who thinks they will

Howard's not available. Didn't you hear? Fielder ate him when he went off the veggie diet.

Don't see why the angels would be a possible suitor for Nady, they have 4 outfielders already.

"Don't know how Prince would hit in Fenway, but you know who would be an absolute beast?

Ryan Howard."

This one can see being successfull beyond his FA years plus by not over eating his way to a size 50 pants by the age of 28 from the way Fielder's waist line has grown over each of the past season's. only Philly is not going to be trading Howard and Boston will be having to wait for him to hit the FA market in 4 more years unless he either signs a long term extension, or something drastic happens and his career derails.

I cannot see Fielder hitting 60 HR's either at Fensway, plenty of big, strong lefties before have never done this, Vaugn and Ortiz being only the last 2 never accomplishing it and Fielder does not (yet at least) have the knowledge of the zone that ortiz does, nor his patience at the plate either to get it done.

"Don't see why the angels would be a possible suitor for Nady, they have 4 outfielders already."

Anaheim need a power righty however to protect Vlad and none of the OF'ers they have ar much of a threat to hit for any kind of power. While nady does fill that bill, swapping Figgins for him helps the Yankees way more than it does the Angels, not to mention that Nady is a FA and Figgins is still under control for 2 seasons, plus brings speed that the Yankees need, gives them then actual stolen base threat, CF'er.. Just far too many posives that go to the Yankees for this proposal to be anything but a pipedream dreamed up by a NY writer it seems like to me and the Angels can sign a power corner OF'er off the FA market for what Nady will get in 2009 and give up nothing. It just sounds way too bogus and made up.

I should have said trading for Nady rather than signing Nady... But the Free Agent OF class dosen't seem too good on the defensive side of the ball, Nady can play defense.

"how about instead of the sox giving up prospects for Fielder, a position they don't really need to improve, a trade to Texas for a combo of Young and Salty/Teagarden. That fills two positions the sox need instead of wasting money and prospects on a guy who has 1 year left in his contract."

This is exactly why Prince makes no sense in Boston (except for the contract part). Thank you.

Other things in this post that don't make sense:

Why would the Giants NOT be willing to make an offer like that? Any team would love to get Manny with three club options attached, and no team would want him with three player options attached.

Why would the Red Sox trade for Todd Helton? If they think Lowell is going to be too hurt to be productive, why would the Rockies trade for Lowell?

And this is my personal opinion, but the Red Sox would be smart to try to get Ben Sheets.

There's no doubt Nady would be more productive than Gary Mathews Jr. and Juan Rivera, but those guys have significant salaries that can't just be pushed aside to add yet another outfielder to the team.