Links out of the NL Central..
- The Reds need a leadoff hitter, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. Denard Span, Shane Victorino, Juan Pierre, David DeJesus and Coco Crisp could be among the options GM Walt Jocketty considers, Rosenthal suggests. Recently, MLBTR took a detailed look at the trade market for outfielders.
- Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said the club's initial focus was landing a starting pitcher but he has now "cast a little larger net to include relief pitching," writes Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- While skipper Dusty Baker is as feisty as ever, his future with the Reds is hazy, writes Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. Baker is on the back end of a two-year extension that he signed with the club on the heels of his original three-year pact.
- New Astros owner Jim Crane held a Q-and-A session yesterday and Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle has the goods. Crane gave GM Jeff Luhnow a positive evaluation for the first half of the season and credited him for making quality trades with the future in mind.
- Brewers right-hander Tim Dillard has accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A, tweets club Media Relations Director Mike Vassallo. Dillard has a 4.38 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 37 innings for Milwaukee this season.
Meanwhile, in AA:
“Billy Hamilton singles and steals 2nd and 3rd for Pensacola! Up to 107 for the year!!”
I’m thinking the Cards could use Garza & Camp from the Cubs. Thoughts?
i don’t think the Cards have the prospects for it. I could be wrong, of course, but near as i’m aware they’ve got no pitchers that project as front-of-the-rotation types and it’ll take at least one of those to pry Garza loose. There’s also the fact that trading within the division always costs a little extra, so you’re probably talking to two-flight pitching prospects.
Reds should try to swing a deal for Pierre and Wiggington. Bolster the lineup and the bench, then cut Cairo.
I doubt they would do that since Cairo can play so many positions. I am all for getting some more consistent hitting at the top of the order. Wondering if Stubbs has minor league options left?? Play Heisey in CF or bring someone in from outside. Stubbs just seems so lost this year at the plate. I am always shocked if he gets on more than once in a game. His speed is amazing I will admit that but still you need to get on
to score.
ps. I would not mind seeing those players here.
The Reds did Stubbs a disservice by letting into he bigs with no concept of strike zone. It may not be possible to fix that. Even Adam Dunn took walks. I agree that I like versatility on the bench, but we have frazier/rolen on third and wiggy can play 1st, 2nd and OF. Plus I’d rather see someone play out of position, than see Cairo hit.
Even if the Reds win the World Series, you do not re-sign Dusty Baker.
I don’t think AZ takes that deal for Upton. They’ll want two premium prospects for him. So you are looking at some combo of Hamilton/Corcino/Cingrani, plus a Gregorius and perhaps a reliever like Christiani, Joseph or Hoover.