On this date in 1997, Mike Kelly became the first Major Leaguer ever traded to the Devil Rays franchise. The Reds sent the 27-year-old outfielder to Tampa Bay for a player to be named later, and that player eventually turned out to be Dmitri Young. Kelly hit .240/.295/.401 in 303 plate appearances for the '97 Devil Rays, then was released at the end of Spring Training the following season.
Here is this week's collection of links from the baseball blogosphere…
- Rum Bunter posted a podcast interview with Pirates GM Neal Huntington.
- Jays Prospects interviewed Jacob Anderson, Toronto's highest signed pick from this year's draft.
- Camden Crazies wrote about Dan Duquette's hiring and what it means for the Orioles.
- Nick's Twins Blog is intrigued by the recent change in the Twins' front office.
- The Outside Corner wonders if the Marlins are serious about spending this offseason.
- Only Baseball Matters believes the Melky Cabrera–Jonathan Sanchez deal only makes sense for the Royals.
- Call to the Pen also likes the deal from Kansas City's perspective.
- Royals Authority, on the other hand, believes it was a fair trade for both sides.
- Bay City Ball broke down the pluses and minuses of the swap trade for the Giants.
- McCovey Chronicles tries to figure out what the rest of the Giants' offseason will look like.
- Jays Journal wonders if the Blue Jays and Giants could get together for a Matt Cain trade.
- Rooftop View isn't sure that Carlos Zambrano is an expendable piece for the Cubs.
- Baseball Time In Arlington wrote about Prince Fielder and the Rangers.
- Prospect Insider also wrote about Fielder, except about how he would fit with the Mariners.
- Ol' Ball Game wonders if C.J. Wilson is worth all the money he is likely to get.
- Crashburn Alley took a look at Phillies' free agent target Michael Cuddyer.
- We Should Be GMs believes the Phillies should go cheap for their next backup catcher.
- Brotherly Glove examines some Phillies' pitching options.
- Orioles Nation did the same, just from the Orioles' perspective.
- Halos Heaven tries to find a potential replacement for Joel Pineiro.
- Giants Nirvana called Andrew Brackman a potential free agent option for the Giants.
- Redleg Nation says the Reds need to make a push for James Shields.
- Yankees Fans Unite looked at John Danks as a trade target for the Yankees.
- Rant Sports Yankees adds Josh Johnson as a potential trade target for New York.
- BoSox Injection says the Red Sox don't have much to offer in trades.
- Pirates Prospects believes the Pirates should trade Joel Hanrahan.
- DRays Bay tries to figure out what an extension for Matt Joyce would look like.
- Rays Insider looks at some potential DH candidates for the Rays next year.
- Wahoo's On First says the Indians made the right move by picking up Fausto Carmona's option.
- FanSpeak lists three move the Nationals should make this winter.
- Chicken Friars revisited last offseason's Cameron Maybin trade.
- Motor City Bengals wonders if Guillermo Moscoso is the next Jair Jurrjens, from the Tigers' point of view.
- Swingin' A's tries to figure out who should play first base for the Athletics.
- Royals Review mused about trading top prospect Wil Myers.
- M.C. Antil wrote about what the Braves have left following the Mark Teixeira trades.
- Gaslamp Ball wonders if all the Padres' prospects get caught in identity fraud cases is a problem.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.
I did…..but even making an article on something that literallly 100% will not happen is pointless.
Thats like me writing an article about why Robinson Cano would be a good trade target for the Sox. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN
dammit!
Well, while I don’t see this hypothetical trade as particularly likely, we obviously disagree on overall probability of it going down. I’d say there is a non-100% chance that it doesn’t happen, but to each his own.
Not to mention, the trade rumors that we discuss and speculate on each day are just as likely or unlikely to happen.
actually it wouldnt be, their giving up a big chunk of cash to where they could turn around and trade logan morrison to the rays for James Shields. Johnson hasonly cleared 200+ innings once in his career, has had tommy john surgery already and is owed 13.5 million each of the next two seasons. get prospects for johnson which the yankees do have 3 catchers, OF’s and SP’s they can dangle for johnson. and if they sign buehrle and can send morrison to tampa for shields their rotation wont be to bad with those two and sanchez and it in all actualality could help them. I say do it new york go get him
actually it wouldnt be, their giving up a big chunk of cash to where they could turn around and trade logan morrison to the rays for James Shields. Johnson hasonly cleared 200+ innings once in his career, has had tommy john surgery already and is owed 13.5 million each of the next two seasons. get prospects for johnson which the yankees do have 3 catchers, OF’s and SP’s they can dangle for johnson. and if they sign buehrle and can send morrison to tampa for shields their rotation wont be to bad with those two and sanchez and it in all actualality could help them. I say do it new york go get him
yankees dont want him because of his attitude and ability to explode in a dugout with teammates and coaches lol. the cubs would have to take his whole contract for teams to take him and that prob wont be good enough lol
yankees dont want him because of his attitude and ability to explode in a dugout with teammates and coaches lol. the cubs would have to take his whole contract for teams to take him and that prob wont be good enough lol
only way montero would hit a giants uniform was if the deal included lincecum and we all know that isnt happening lol. although some GM’s thing it would be good for the Giants to trade him while they can get good prospects out of him lol
if the yankees offered Montero-bentences-banuelos-nunez and taking on all of lincecums contract then you would almost have to take that deal, but that is a deal that is a win for the giants and maybe an over pay for timbo
lost of velocity on his fast ball, no controll over his sinker or change up any more…horrible attitude throws his team mates under the bus for making an error or not fielding a ball when they should/ could have…yet says nothing when he gives up a home run…mental case….yeah no one if going to take a chance on him unless the cubs DFA him and the new team literally only offers him a minor league deal
you didnt keep reading..it finished by “in sabeans dreams”
I do think the Reds and Rays match up well in a trade…but the offer that Redleg Nation’s blog is not enough for a guy like Shields, at least in my opinion. They really aren’t giving up more than the Indians gave up for Ubaldo…and while you can say the Tribe overpaid, fact is Sheilds is worth more, probably a lot more.
First off, he says he “assumes the Rays will want starting pitching”…hmm, not really. In fact, the Rays are overflowing with ML caliber SP, which is why a guy like Shields (or Niemann/Davis) could be available. Guys like Leake, Wood, Bailey and Volquez would struggle in spring trainign possibly to even make that Rays rotation, as they are just that deep. Even without Shields, you have Price, Moore, Hellickson, Niemann, Davis, Cobb, Torres, and some young guys coming up behind them.What the Rays would want is bats….you’d have to start with Alonso and Mesoraco, plus add another prospect, likely of the caliber of Billy Hamilton (or maybe Juan Francisco). They could have some interest in Bailey as a potential closer/setup guy I suppose though.
IMO, a much more realistic target would be Wade Davis….Alonso straight up for Davis could work IMO for both clubs. Davis is under team control thru I believe 2017? Isn’t an Ace or really a guy with Ace potential, but could be right up there with Cueto as a 2/3. Alonso is obviously blocked by Votto (who I think the Reds should consider dealing), but could start at either 1B or DH for the Rays. As mentioned above, the Rays are so deep they can afford to move Davis. Seems like a fit for both clubs…
Ubaldo is worth three times as much as Shields on the trade market. At the time of his trade Ubaldo had way more years of team control and at a reasonable contract. Shields is older than Ubaldo and he only has one year left on his deal.
There’s a lot more that goes into a trade than comparisons between two players. You also have to consider how many years of team control you’re getting, and Ubaldo had much more.