Olney On Felix, Reds, Dye, Indians

Since everybody seems to think Yunel Escobar is headed to Boston, why not include Kotchman? Wonder if Atlanta could get, say, Lowrie ++?

Personally, the only person I'd trade Escobar to Boston for is Youkilis, but that ain't happening...

I think the reds still over-value bailey to swap him for Willingham. Honestly, the reds should just throw in the towel and firesale some of the elders, in order to compete next year. Rhodes, Arroyo, Weathers, and RHernandez are all valuable and could net prospects. Then they could get Bailey into the rotation and make him work out the kinks, get Hannigan some more playing time and go after a big bat in the off season.

Um, trades are meant to fill needs. Youkilis has mad power. The Braves do not. Bay's great, but he's a free agent in a few months. Beckett, Lester and Papelbon are great, but Atlanta has plenty of starting pitching and two closers. Pedroia might be nice, but he's less likely to go than Youkilis.

Sounded for years like Boston wants a shortstop. Gee, the teams match up in terms of needs!

This is MLBTRADErumors.com, not MLBWhosBetter.com.

No way the Reds trade Bailey for Willingham. If they are willing to move Bailey it would be in a bigger deal (Dye/Holliday).

Escobar isn't going to Boston. No lazy head cases allowed and especially SS that don't want to field, already had a run with the tail end of Garciaparra's career, Rent-A-Wreck and now Lugo and the Sox FO isn't going to take on another "problem child" like Escobar, that is EXACTLY like Rey Quinones that the Sox had in the mid 80's for a year and dumped off for Spike Owen to be rid of.

"Escobar isn't going to Boston. No lazy head cases allowed and especially SS that don't want to field, already had a run with the tail end of Garciaparra's career, Rent-A-Wreck and now Lugo and the Sox FO isn't going to take on another "problem child" like Escobar, that is EXACTLY like Rey Quinones that the Sox had in the mid 80's for a year and dumped off for Spike Owen to be rid of."

You're also forgetting O-Cab, who was apparently a nightmare in the clubhouse... still is, according to the Angels and Chi Sox.

Get a grip, man. Wow.

I honestly don't get a lot of the hostility towards Escobar. Yeah, he makes some mental mistakes and he clearly got way more upset than he should have with the recent scoring decision that apparently led to him sitting the past few days, but he's still a young guy and he's among the most talented young SS in the game. If the Braves end up trading him for pennies on the dollar just because he doesn't have the best relationship with Chipper and Bobby, I'm going to be real worried about the future of this organization.

Melonis/Nixa - I have no idea. He makes some stupid mistakes, but I don't think he's crazy or anything.

And yes, if he's traded because he and Bobby don't have an ideal relationship then I worry for the future of Atlanta.

I personally get sick and tired every year when Reds fans say that they should trade their veterans for prospects. The Reds have the BEST rated farm system in the major leagues right now. Why would they need MORE prospects? Let alone, trade their best relievers out of their pen for them?

Trades are meant to fill needs, and the Reds don't need more prospects. They have plenty. They need RAW major league talent to fill a gap in the lineup and on the field. Particularly a SS.

"Actually Rob, the Rangers have the best farm system according to most experts and the Reds are just midde-of-the-pack. That's what happens when guys like Bruce, Votto and Cueto graduate to the big leagues."

The top 2 farm systems, Rangers and A's, both promoted a TON of guys, so it'll be interesting to see how the systems rank after this season. Teagarden, Salty, Andrus, Holland won't qualify for prospect status next year, same with the A's system and Mazarro, Anderson, Cahill, Outman, Gio, Bailey, and Cunningham probably won't on the A's side.

"Trades are meant to fill needs, and the Reds don't need more prospects. They have plenty. They need RAW major league talent to fill a gap in the lineup and on the field. Particularly a SS."

Raw, young major league talent is so rarely traded though. You're more likely to get them as prospects who are close to MLB ready (as in AA or higher).

Dye may very well be solid, but given the current market conditions he's also clearly overpaid. Given that you also can't really risk offering him arbitration and thus can't get draft picks once he leaves, he becomes even less appealing. As a fan of neither team, I don't even know if I'd trade Bailey straight up for Dye.

the reds should trade Arroyo and Thompson for Dye

they could also trade Arroyo and a top prospect for Vernon Wells or Alex Rios since the Jays want to lose one of the salaries to help pay for Roy Halladay

Didn't I hear that Arroyo is having some kind of surgery or did I mis-read.

RE: Lowell, Red Sox -

Johnny Peralta to play 3rd for the Sox I'd think would be a solid fit. This way when/if Lowell can come off the DL the Sox can use Peralta at SS (on occasion) for the extra bat.

With Kotsay being solid defensively as well as a decent "professional hitter" (i.e he doesn't give away at bats but isn't exactly super productive either) the Sox probably aren't pressed to find a solution for Lowell.

Other possible options(although the first 2 are from AL East teams)

1. Aubrey Huff or Ty Wigginton
2. Scott Rolen or Lyle Overbay
3. Ryan Garko
4. Mark Teahen
5. Todd Helton (expensive but the Sox do have room in the budget for a move like this that won't cost prospects; just cash)
6. Chris Duncan - The Cards have too many OF's and Duncan really isn't that good; but he can "play" first.
7. Kevin Kouzmanoff
8. Jorge Cantu

Basically; its a pretty long list of available options so I don't see the Sox jumping in on the "best" guy and overpaying.

Teahan for the Sox would be a younger version of DeRosa it seems with his fielding versatility. We got the Royals to bite on taking Crisp....think we could get them to take Lugo? I know that's a dream scenario........

nixa + BravesAllTheWay:

If Escobar is being shopped around due to issues with Cox, do you think a deal with the A's, most likely involving two of the A's top position prospects and non-MAC/Ynoa pitching would fly? Braves probably would need some middle IF help and some young corner OF help, I'd think?

They Have a 1B Prospect already in AA, why can't they just wait till he's ready in a year or so & bring him up. If there looking for help now, why not go after Nick Johnson.

maloney,taveras and minor leaguer for yunel

dye- homer bailey, chris dickerson,valkia for dye or bailey arroyo and dickerson for dye

what you guys think?

maybe we can get jhonny to play third for

Yumel is far more valuable than Dye as a trade chip, yet you have the Reds giving up far less to get him. I don't care how upset the Braves are with him, they still laugh at that ridiculous offer as the phone gets hung up.

for the reds to get yunel it would take Stubbs, Bailey or Alonso, Thompson to get that done not Maloney and garbage....