Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero could be the next to end up in a tug of war between the Angels and Rangers. Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, of course, used to be with Arizona and the Rangers could lose Mike Napoli on the open market. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are looking for a young catcher as insurance if they lose Montero.
- The Pirates should be in position to trade Alex Presley or Jose Tabata once Starling Marte refines his strike zone judgement in Triple-A. Presley will increase his value if he can prove that he is a solid leadoff option. As for Tabata, he is under a club-friendly deal through 2016 with club options through 2019.
- The addition of a second wild card in each league could reduce the number of sellers at the deadline which could put the Rays in position to extract maximum value for one of their starters such as Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, or Alex Cobb. The Rays will be more willing to part with rotation depth when they're looking at the final few months of the season.
- Derrek Lee has continued working out and is said to be in excellent shape. Rosenthal wonders if he would want to play for the Brewers after they lost Mat Gamel to injury as he turned down offers from the Pirates and several other teams last offseason. Lee would probably need to be convinced that Milwaukee is ready to win and will likely seek a contract similar to what Johnny Damon got from the Indians – $1.25MM plus $1.4MM in incentives.
It’s weird how D-Lee has pretty much been done for the past two seasons, despite being so good in 2009.
Lee ripped it up for the Bucs last year – .900+ OPS. Unfortunately he got injured in the middle of that. Disappointed he didn’t want to come back – Bucs offered $7.5 mill. Guess he wants a ring or nothing.
I’d like to see a poll come out:
Next catcher to get grossly overpaid (after Molina) with 3 names on it:
Russel Martin
Mike Napoli
Miquel Montero
All 3 will (somehow) end up with huge deals. Montero and Napoli probably even 5 years. Catching deals are becoming the new “team burner” now, thanks to St. louis and Moloni and a few teams are going to have to get really burned by deals before sensible deals become the norm again for catchers.
I hope no teams give this “Miquel” got a five year deal.. We haven’t even seen if he can produce at the MLB level
It will happen.. You watch and I agree with you also..
Montero has been hitting at Arizona, decent home park as well and only really played 2 full seasons, yet someone is going to throw a LOT of money his way.. Same with Martin. Can see Martin getting 10-12mAAV over 4 seasons from someone and for what? Hitting through the month of May in 2011?
Dude, Miguel Montero is good, you just misspelled his name which is what the comment is in reference to
Won’t get too much for Presley unless hes packaged.
Lee seems content to price himself out of the game.
Gosh AA should be all over lee. Lind is dead weight etc, maybe 2M is too much lol
Dback want JPA? One of their better pitching prospects would probably do it.
One might wonder how the Angels can afford to add another big time free agent such as Montero.
does anyone know how close marte is maybe a Eta, i know that it is this year but does anyone have a guess at what day or week or month???
I doubt the Pirates will trade Tabata, given the team friendly extension he signed last year. I’d guess it’s more likely that the Pirates would cut Nate McLouth when Marte arrives, and make Presley the 4th outfielder.