Heyman On Pedro, Nats, Mets, Rangers

christ - give him the job stan

"Heyman says releasing Dontrelle Willis would be a drastic move."

I wonder if Heyman has seen Willis pitch. And this is coming from a Tiger fan. Willis is toast

Interesting how teams like the Rays and Rangers expect to continually compete and win with injuries, or shortages like the Rays have with injuries this year and the Rangers with holes in the rotation without spending a dime to fix obvious problems, even though it may stop them both from advancing to the playoffs.

Last year the Rays won with everything going perfect and this year injuries have hit them hard and they refuse to spend anything to fix shortages and the Rangers appear to spend anything to fix starter problems now. What will happen when the Angels rotation fully recovers? Wow, all those years of futility from Texas and the lack of a few dollars to upgrade? It's incredible.

Who's worse - Heyman or Rosenthal?

I say Heyman, Rosenthal has actually predicted some trades accuratly. Neither are as good as advertised though.

Well the Rangers aren't trading their top 2 offensive prospcets in Borbon and Smoak, and all their pitching prospects are AA or lower, with Martin Perez the only one a for sure ace (should be untouchable). No other appealing position players (Max Ramirez fits with the trade a catcher scenarios).

So that's convenient to throw out the "trade prospects" line but in reality could they even get a lower tier guy like Penny by giving up a crap shoot AA or A ball guy ? Would have to include a catcher most likely and go after a bigger fish.

The Brewers get Penny, Saito, and Lugo plus cash to pay some of Lugo's contract for JJ Hardy or A Escobar This Trade big time helps the brewers they get 4th starter who was clocked at 98 last game a set up guy and back up closer who also as an option for next season as well. Lugo can still hit and gives them a ss option until Escobar is ready and I think he already is. Plus they will get the sox to pay most his salary. The sox still have Smoltz, Clay Buch,and Bowden to take Penny' spot and they also have F. Caberera who was PR closer in the wbc and is lights out in AAA and has 4 yrs exp.in the majors. JJ Hardy gives them a solid ss and they can use Lowrie as a super utility for this season

"Last year the Rays won with everything going perfect and this year injuries have hit them hard and they refuse to spend anything to fix shortages and the Rangers appear to spend anything to fix starter problems now. What will happen when the Angels rotation fully recovers? Wow, all those years of futility from Texas and the lack of a few dollars to upgrade? It's incredible."

I see it much more like these teams have built for a long time to get to where they are, and they don't see one playoff run as good enough reason to dump off their high end prospects just to make on run at a championship. People get so focused on making the playoffs each individual year, when in reality, for rebuilding teams or smaller market teams there are much more important things then making the playoffs one random year. I am sure they would rather sustain success then make one run at a championship.

Would the Braves look at Jack Cust or Russel Branyan if they became available? Both would be cheap and and provide decent power?

Where would they stick Cust?
Kotchman seems stable at 1st and he's not really a guy I would want to see in the OF.

"Neftali Feliz is at Triple A Oklahoma so is Tommy Hunter, Moscoso, Poveda was just promoted to triple A. Kinsler5 you need to get your facts straight...we got Esteban German and Mitch Moreland tearing it up in the minors right now."

I'm not so sure how knowledgable you are of the Rangers farm system. All of their "legit" pitching prospects are in AA or lower like Kinsler5 with the exception of Feliz...like Kiker, Beaven, Main, Font, Boscan, and Perez!! Mitch Moreland is having a great year so far but is still not considered one of the top position prospects in the system. But Esteban German?? really?...he is a 31 year old scrub in AAA having a decent year.

hey If the brewers want to make playoffs they need to upgrade the pitching staff they have a few SS, these kind of need trades happen every year. Say what you want about Penny and Saito but alot of teams are looking at them cause there aint s h i t for pitching out there. Lugo sucks i agree but he can hit and steal a base .If the sox pay is salary then he has value. Hardy is good not great, so the sox add in a mid level prospect so the brewer fans dont cry, trust me this is a go for it this season trade,and if the brewers do the deal and make it to the world series then who cares Escabar will replace him anyway soon enough

If the Brewers did want to move Hardy they could get a much better return that that group you suggested. Good fielding 25+HR SS are very rare, and that's what Hardy's show he can be despite his slow start. Also he has been very unlucky with a extremely low BABIP. There is no way Escobar is goe for that because he is in the untouchable category. It seems ever since Hanley was traded, stud prospects have much, much more value.

How in the world do you know what is and isn't available? Why would the Brewers trade JJ Hardy anyway? They are trying to compete, why trade away one of their pivotal guys? Julio Lugo has negative trade value. He makes any package worse by being part of it. Brad Penny isn't good. The Brewers can (and should) sign Pedro Martinez, or they could even go get a Paul Byrd without giving up a very good shortstop.