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Price's Latest: Red Sox, Orioles, Tigers

By Steve Adams [July 12, 2009 at 2:13pm CST]

Ed Price's Baseball Brunch column is up over at fanhouse.com. Let's take a look at the highlights:

Price names several amusing first-half awards, including the "Bg Hitter" award for Albert Pujols, in honor of Albert's mammoth home run that took out the "I" in the Big Mac Land sign at Busch Stadium.
The Red Sox's strategy as the deadline approaches is dependent on Mike Lowell's health. The Sox have looked at Garrett Atkins, but have found Colorado's asking price to be too much. Colorado apparently isn't impressed with Takashi Saito. If Lowell is to miss an extended period of time, Price writes that the Red Sox would have an easier time getting a first baseman and putting Kevin Youkilis at third.
The Orioles know they're sellers, and have good trade pieces in Aubrey Huff and Danys Baez. However, Andy MacPhail has said he wants his team to be competitive in the second half, given the September slides his team has seen the past two seasons. Price briefly speculates that Baez could intrigue the Twins.
The O's would have to be overwhelmed to move George Sherrill, and Jeremy Guthrie is no longer a trade candidate, with Koji Uehara ailing.
Huff may interest Detroit, who needs some left-handed help in the order. They'd like someone who could play in the outfield, however. Price says that the Tigers inquired on Adam Dunn, but the finances didn't line up.
The Rockies are in need of a quality setup man, as they've been using Joel Peralta and Matt Daley to get to Huston Street.
The rumors of Doug Davis going to Milwaukee have died down for now.
The Rays would like to upgrade in right field; they're currently using a platoon of Gabe Gross and Gabe Kapler.

Comments

maybe the orioles could get some more young talent for huff and baez

Posted by: baseballman1438 | July 12, 2009 at 02:22 PM

Am I the only one that is amazed by the Sox interest in Atkins? Why not a guy like Kouzmanoff who has better numbers and is much cheaper. Kouz plays in the ultimate pitchers park while Atkins plays in the ultimate hitters park. Take their career road splits and they are similar players only kouz' defense is far superior. I realize Atkins has had some better very good years but, it was clearly a product of coors field. Just ask Matt Holliday.

Kouzmanoff.235.273.390
Atkins.231.305.342

Career away stats:
Kouz.275.318.464
Atkins.255.325.413

Kouz .432 Million
Atkins 7.05M

Posted by: bkoke | July 12, 2009 at 02:22 PM

Mike Gonzalez for Wade Davis?

Posted by: Braves for NL East!! | July 12, 2009 at 02:23 PM

Shouldn't "bg" be "big"?

Posted by: Braves for NL East!! | July 12, 2009 at 02:24 PM

Braves,

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905214667529&c_id=stl

The "Bg" was deliberate on Price's part.

Posted by: Steve Adams | July 12, 2009 at 02:34 PM

Oops! Sorry for accusing.

Posted by: Braves for NL East!! | July 12, 2009 at 02:40 PM

Never took it as accusation, no worries. :)

I appreciate when anyone points that kind of error out anyway!

No harm done.

Posted by: Steve Adams | July 12, 2009 at 02:44 PM

Orioles -
Huff

Tigers -
Ryan Perry
Casey Crosby
Pat Stanley

Posted by: John Porter | July 12, 2009 at 02:52 PM

I wonder what the source is for the comment about the Rays looking for an upgrade in RF. Kapler is hitting .320/.418/.680 vs. lefties. Gross does not have a particularly good line, .266/.364/.371, but has been getting on base at a good pace. And both are fine fielders.

And I would be shocked if the Rays dealt any useful player or prospect for a reliever. TB has an excellent bullpen and seems to have overcome the inane commitment to designating someone as an official closer. Certainly they are unlikely to offer their most advanced pitching prospect for a reliever.

Posted by: Bob R. | July 12, 2009 at 03:06 PM

Orioles -
Huff

Tigers -
Ryan Perry
Casey Crosby
Pat Stanley

Posted by: John Porter | July 12, 2009 at 02:52 PM

that is a lot to give up for Huff

Posted by: allstarlineup | July 12, 2009 at 03:12 PM

Mark Teahen has done well in his audition for the Sox this weekend, getting 9 hits in the series, so far.

Posted by: Little Bear | July 12, 2009 at 03:26 PM

Orioles -
Huff

Tigers -
Ryan Perry
Casey Crosby
Pat Stanley

This isnt really all that much a potentional closer, a 3rd or 4th starter, with a throw in prospect who could compete for a long man role

Posted by: John Porter | July 12, 2009 at 03:47 PM

Huff who had a great year last year isn't doing that much this year which has IMO hurt his trade value. Perry who IMO is being groomed as a close and even if he isn't he is young and can throw 100 mph's. Problem is he has been erratic so far this year so hopefully a trip to the minors fixes that. Crobsy is more of a #2-3 type SP. If you are looking at his stats, they are misleading. He had TJS and is still trying to regain his strength and control. Next year will be a make or break season for him

Posted by: allstarlineup | July 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM

What about Clete Thomas and Freddy Dolsi for Aubrey Huff?

Posted by: Braves for NL East!! | July 12, 2009 at 04:01 PM

I don't think the Orioles are really looking to add outfielders.

The current combination of Reimold, Jones, and Markakis is probably a trio you should get used to seeing in Baltimore for a long time.

I agree that Perry for Huff sounds like too much. Huff's value isn't what it was last season, especially when you consider the struggles Detroit has had with their bullpen.

Posted by: Steve Adams | July 12, 2009 at 04:08 PM

I think huff is a good fit for the tigers. Then they could have another bat in the middle of the lineup with ordonez , cabrera , inge and even granderson . and their pitching can get it done to

Posted by: frank bob | July 12, 2009 at 04:47 PM

"The Rays would like to upgrade in right field; they're currently using a platoon of Gabe Gross and Gabe Kapler."

I really don't like professional journalists who can't check/ignore stats. The Gabes in RF are a very productive platoon. This team is still VERY good offensively and defensively. If they could get some bullpen help, they'd be fine.

"Mike Gonzalez for Wade Davis?"

I don't care how bad the Tampa Bay bullpen is, Friedman should never make that trade, ever.

Posted by: melonis rex | July 12, 2009 at 05:21 PM

This is a crazy trade proposal but it could work.

Orioles
-Casey Crosby(Tigers)
-Reid Brignac(Rays)
-Casey Weathers(Rockies)

Tigers
- Aubrey Huff(Orioles)

Rockies
- Danys Baez(Orioles)

Rays
- Clete Thomas(Tigers)

Posted by: John Porter | July 12, 2009 at 07:43 PM

John, i am taking it that you are pretty high on Casey Crosby lol

Posted by: allstarlineup | July 12, 2009 at 07:48 PM

As an Orioles fan, here's my wishful thinking trades based on the information given here and in other recent posts...

O's send RP Danny Baez to Minnesota for 3B Danny Valencia

O's send 1B Aubrey Huff to NY Mets for SP Dillon Gee and SS Ruben Tejeda

O's send UT Oscar Salazar to Cincinnati for RP Robert Manuel

Posted by: mstrchef13 | July 12, 2009 at 08:00 PM

I like this a lot too

As an Orioles fan, here's my wishful thinking trades based on the information given here and in other recent posts...

O's send RP Danny Baez to Minnesota for 3B Danny Valencia

O's send 1B Aubrey Huff to NY Mets for SP Dillon Gee and SS Ruben Tejeda

O's send UT Oscar Salazar to Cincinnati for RP Robert Manuel

But Huff trade needs one more I think

Posted by: John Porter | July 12, 2009 at 08:16 PM

I don't think we can get any more from the Mets. There is a decent chance, based on today's report on ESPN, that Delgado will be back by September. If that's true, then Huff has no place on their roster. He can't play the OF, and he definitely won't supplant Wright at 3B.

Maybe we can send Huff to the Giants if they are still unhappy with Ishikawa, and get back, say, 3B Ryah Rohlinger and SP Kevin Pucetas (both are at AAA Fresno right now). Just another thought.

Posted by: mstrchef13 | July 12, 2009 at 09:22 PM

Brignac is an interesting all-around player. Solid glove, power, contact, and speed guy at SS. I can see him be an Itzturis type with less glove but more pop. I'd be happy if the Os could trade for him with one of their vets, and he works into a slap-hitting tough out OBP guy with a good glove. Power is not necessary at that position if he's reliable at defense.

Personally I think the value of Huff has evened out. It's not as high as it has been in recent memory, but it's not especially low either. His price is probably at his true value at this point in his career, a reliable veteran Lefty RBI bat who has some power and underrated defense. Above-average player who will stabilize 1B for a contending team, but nothing spectacular. Then again, Huff has been known to have ungodly second half streaks too of hitting ~8 HR/month at a .350-ish clip when it gets really warm, so there's some potential for a big payoff. Either way he'd be comfortable for a contender to trade for because there's no mystery if he'll perform since he's done it consistently for years now in both leagues. The Os would probably deal if they can get a legitimate longterm answer at SS or 3B under or around the age of 25. As the Os GM, MacPhail has not pulled the trigger on any deal without either having a surefire centerpiece player coming back (e.g. Bedard deal), or, having a trade with numbers (e.g. Tejada deal).

I think it's a done deal if the Os can get a B prospect at SS or 3B, or, 3-5 C prospect package.

Posted by: basemonkey | July 12, 2009 at 11:12 PM

I like Brignac, but I have doubts about getting him because (1) it would be an in-division trade during the season, and (2) the O's already have two major league SS that they are enamored with in Izzy and Andino.

Huff has said publicly that he wants to stay in Baltimore. He likes where the organization is going, and doesn't want to leave before they get competitive like what happened in TB. Since the O's future 1B, Brandon Snyder, may not be ready until 2011 I wonder if the team will trade Huff with the understanding that they will look to resign him in the offseason.

Posted by: mstrchef13 | July 13, 2009 at 05:35 AM

Twins wouldn't trade Valencia for Baez... they're handing the 3B job to Valencia in 2010... it'll take more than 2 months of Baez, even if the O's pay the rest of his salary.

Given our third base struggles, I find it hard to see the Twins moving the only legitimate, near-MLB-ready third base prospect in the system at all.

Posted by: MorneauVP | July 13, 2009 at 08:57 AM

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Price's Latest: Red Sox, Orioles, Tigers

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