As today's games try to top Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter and the Mets' marathon victory, let's browse a few links….
- The Astros will likely make a roster room to clear the way for Lance Berkman's return, tweets Alyson Footer of MLB.com.
- A Mets official told Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated that the club has to "win now" (link goes to Twitter). Earlier today, Mike Jacobs was DFA'd in a move that could clear space for Ike Davis.
- Benjamin Kabak at River Ave. Blues looks back at the Alfonso Soriano–for-Alex Rodriguez trade, and how the Rangers had the opportunity to select Robinson Cano as a second player in the deal. Instead, they chose Joaquin Arias. Think they regret that one?
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post lists ten players and managers who are on the hot seat two weeks into the 2010 season, with Jerry Manuel and Dave Trembley earning the top two spots. Mike Puma of the New York Post writes that Mets' players have jumped to Manuel's defense, while Bill Madden of the New York Daily News thinks that Orioles' players have given up on Trembley.
- With Michael Wuertz nearly ready to come off the DL, the Athletics will have to clear a roster spot for him. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle runs down a few of the players whose status could be in jeopary, including the recently acquired Edwar Ramirez and the out-of-options Chad Gaudin.
- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic examines the Pirates' organization in search of pitchers with ace potential.
- In a mailbag, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer defends the Indians' signings of supposed "marginal, aging players." He also notes that if the Indians end up losing the Cliff Lee deal, they have no one to blame but themselves, since they scouted many of the same Phillies prospects when they discussed a potential CC Sabathia trade in 2008.
- Fantasy baseball season is in full swing, and saves are at a premium as always. Don't forget to follow @closernews to keep up with the ever-changing late-inning scenarios in Major League Baseball!
Hopefully the Pirates can trade for an ace pitching prospect this season. What’s a healthy Doumit or Duke worth on the trade market?
I have a bad feeling they will trade Duke. Not a good idea at all. He’s not a superstar and won’t put up insane peripherals, but he’s the best pitcher on the team. I like his attitude and ability to go deep into games.
I agree with you here. While I think teams like the Pirates should sell most of their great but not elite veterans while they aren’t competing, they should hold onto a few solid veterans for continutiy and to hopefully have them around when in a few years the team is competing. I think Doumit could bring in a nice haul if he has a healthy and productive year as he is capable. Maholm could also be traded though he may not be as valuable. Duke is the ace of the staff now but can also be a very soild MOR innings eater durring the years the Pirates are competing.
Don’t think the Pirates are the type of team that is going to pay $10M per for a MOR innings eater.
But could either of them truly bring back elite prospects? For instance, what’s Martin Perez’s cost? I’ve heard Doumit linked to Texas before, but I’d imagine it would take more than just Doumit to get Perez. Correct or no?
I would have to believe that it would take more. However if the Texas offense struggles for a while and Pit throws another piece to expand the package, it could get done.
I would happily give up Doumit, Gorkys Hernandez, and Jordy Mercer for Perez.
I’d give up Doumit, Gorkys and maybe someone else, but not Mercer.
Yeah, I don’t think Doumit would net Perez. It seems like most teams are holding onto their very good prospects, even for guys like Cliff Lee, so Duke or Doumit will not fetch a ton in return.
That’s why I feel instead of trading good players for guys who may never pan out, just hold onto them and continue to build the team. You can acquire prospects in the draft as well, and maybe trade some guys who are expendable because of positional depth.
The Pirates are not in position to trade away their best pitchers. There are some promising arms like Lincoln and Alderson but no guys that make us feel like we have to clear a spot for them to pitch in the rotation as soon as possible.
There’s truth in that statement, but there’s also wisdom in dealing Duke/Aki/Doumit/Maholm if there’s a deal that makes sense. The Pirates have a ton of young arms, but most are below AA still. I’d be very willing to deal if I were Huntington if the package was appealing.
“A Mets official told Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated that the club has to “win now”.”
Did a Mets official need to tell Heyman that for him to figure it out?
That Texas/Cano tidbit of information is interesting. I’m surprised the Rangers didn’t scout the Yankees better. I mean, there were only a few teams who would even consider taking on A-Rod’s Texas contract. I’m not certain, but pretty sure Cano was considered a better prospect than Arias back then also.
How about if the Rangers took Cano, Kinsler would be somewhere else now, or would be a very different player.
I wish I could tell you, but to be honest, I didn’t follow the minor league team very closely until about 5 years ago. I would say that he probably was considered one of the better prospects, since the Yanks shipped Tony Womack as soon as he began to slump to make room for Cano.
“A Mets official told Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated that the club has to “win now”.”
Yeah, and good luck with that.
Typical attitude from a front office that doesn’t understand the concept of rebuilding. If the Mets don’t finish last in the East, it’s going to be because Atlanta collapses into the earth during a home game.