Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Trades Possibilities

I wonder what kind of package the Cubs could put together for Hoyt Wilhelm. Maybe a couple mid-level prospects?

He doesn't trust Cotts and Patton, yet he's totally fine putting Heilman in during close games.

...don't know what you're seeing, Lou.

The Joba guy mentions a trade of Yunel Escobar for 1/2 season of Matt Holliday? No way.

Really, really stupid Indians reliever trade speculation. Why in the world would the Indians trade Tony Sipp, a young lefty with huge upside and under control for years? And who the hell would give up anything for Matt Herges? Betancourt? Sure.

I don't think the Red Sox should target Adrian Gonzalez, simply because they'll be paying for both his offense and defense. You don't trade for a really really good defensive 1Bman just to DH him, which is what the Sox would be doing with Adrian. Waste of resources for the Sox.

Sox should target a guy who is a primary DH type, and it doesn't necessarily have to be a big name. Prince Fielder makes more sense than Adrian, but the Brewers probably won't trade him (although they should). Russell Branyan, Hank Blalock, etc.

Why not move Adrain Gonzalez to 1B, Youkilis to 3B and move Mike Lowell to DH?

"Buchholtz for Hardy maybe, but not Penny. Hardy was a top 5 SS last year, the Brewers have at least 4 starters who could outperform Penny and Escobar would be more useful than Lugo if they were going to trade Hardy."

I would really hesitate to deal Buchholz for Hardy at this point.

Buchholz is absolutely dominating AAA, posting a 1.03 ERA, 2.31 FIP, 37/10 K/BB and just one home run allowed in 35 innings. He still looks an awful lot like a young top of the rotation starter.

Meanwhile, Hardy's service time is starting to accumulate, and unless I'm mistaken he's due to become a free agent after 2010.

Now, Hardy is a great shortstop that provides good defense and a lot of offense for the position, but he's also pretty inconsistent, and he's had some struggles this season.

Considering the fact that Hardy is sure to get a major payday in less than two years, I would really hesitate to give up a guy with as much upside as Buchholz that's so close to the majors.

If the Red Sox could get a deal done around Penny and some lesser prospects, then that'd be a great idea.

But if the Red Sox decide that it's time to move someone from the Buchholz/Bowden/Masterson trio, then they should go for it and pursue a star-quality player, and I'm not convinced that Hardy is that kind of player, even after he was worth 9.4 wins in 2007-2008.

There's also rumours in the Toronto media that JP is making subtle but purposeful calls to teams for a top 3 starter and also for a power hitter.

Far as I can see, there's not much room in the blue jay line up for a power hitter unless they move Lind or Overbay which are both possibilities but if youre JP you have to question as to whether you screw with chemistry right now.

Personally, when I see Tallet starting games, I worry about the starting pitching situation so if they were to acquire someone like Chris Young or Erik Bedard, it wouldnt surprise me.

However with the power hitter situation, I would wait until the off season and try and sign a veteran power hitting DH into the fold. I wonder if Carlos Delgado would come back to Toronto and finish where he started.

I could also see JP going all out and making a real splash with a big name free agent like Bay in the off season. Bay would be a hero in Toronto with the Canadian connection and if he is a free agent, I could see the Jays taking a very serious run at him and then trading Lind for some depth.

i would hope the dodgers kept Loney around. as much as he's struggling a bit, its really nice to have that young core on the team.

i can only hope that billingsley, broxton, either, kemp, martin, and loney are torre's new pettite, rivera, williams, and posada

also, i can see the bosox getting rid of ortiz for somebody more (how should i say this?) WHITE. Adam Dunn makes sense, especially if the Nats continue to be horrible.

"Im not saying trade Lind for power. Im saying IF the Jays were lucky enough to sign Jason Bay, theyd have to move someone from the outfield picture if possible."

But why sign Bay when you have a young, cheap guy that could potentially produce similarly?

The Blue Jays have far bigger issues than their outfield/first base situation, and they should address the situations in the rotation and at catcher, shortstop and third base before spending huge money on an aging left fielder.

If the Blue Jays decide to let Scutaro go, bringing in someone like Orlando Cabrera, as well as a catcher that doesn't have a .291 career OBP (his OBP is fueled by a very high BABIP so far in 2009).

The Blue Jays should be more concerned with their pitching, retaining Halladay, and fixing other positional issues, because they're alright in the outfield and at first base.

"IF he ends up a free agent come the off season, JP will make a huge run at him."

Just like, where did this claim come from?

"The Blue Jays have far bigger issues than their outfield/first base situation, and they should address the situations in the rotation and at catcher, shortstop and third base before spending huge money on an aging left fielder."

Nevermind on third base, I didn't realize that Rolen was signed through 2010.

But yeah, the Jays have long term issues at catcher and shortstop unless Justin Jackson and J.P. Arencibia can emerge at those respective positions, and I just think that maintaining quality pitching depth should also be a big time priority.

I think that the plan for 2010 will be the same as 2009: Split the OF/1B/DH spots between Wells, Rios, Lind, Snider, Overbay and an additional, power-hitting veteran.

Penny was a retread signing.. and then you package him with another retread Lugo. And bam you get Hardy? What the hell, Hardy will take legit prospects or maybe Penny and Kalish or Bowden, Exposito, and Rizzo. They Brewers will be buyers this summer.

And trading Loney for Cantu gives me a headache.

Loney is going to hit and is a great glove.

I will take a 800 ops. from my First basemen, when you have Kemp, Ethier, Martin(whos coming around) Blake, Hudson, and Manny coming back..

Loney should bat 3rd. Kemp 4, Ethier 5, and Martin 6th, Furcal 7 and Blake 8.

However with the power hitter situation, I would wait until the off season and try and sign a veteran power hitting DH into the fold. I wonder if Carlos Delgado would come back to Toronto and finish where he started.""

FYI, Delgado may need surgery. i wouldnt put any bets on him.

As for the Dodger lineup, this is how id i do it:

Pierre
Hudson
Kemp
Ethier
Martin
Loney
Blake
Furcal
Pitcher

If furcal is in the 8, he can get on base, potentially steal 2nd then get bunted to 3rd, and the lineup turns over. There is almost too much speed at the top, and the other are doing well, no need to change them