We've completed the National League, so now it's time to jump over to the so-called junior circuit…
- Angels: They moved three pretty good young players to get Scott Kazmir last season, so they might prefer to hold onto the rest of their top prospects. Their best chip is someone you may not have heard of, out of options catcher Bobby Wilson. He's on the 25-man roster but has barely played as the third stringer, yet how many teams would love to have a 27-year old catcher with a very good defensive rep, a .290/.345/.425 batting line in 820 Triple-A plate appearances, and six years of team control left? Pretty much all of them. He'll never clear waivers if the Halos try to send him back to the minors.
- Athletics: Oakland has plenty of young pitching, but Billy Beane likes to hang on to those kind of guys, and for good reason. With ten infielders on the 40-man roster, someone like Jake Fox or Eric Patterson could be moved, as could outfielders Travis Buck or Gabe Gross since Michael Taylor is coming fast. Plus there's always Ben Sheets.
- Mariners: Jack Zduriencik surrendered a good amount of prospect depth this offseason by acquiring Cliff Lee, but no one will argue with that move. Dustin Ackley, the second overall pick in 2009, will make Jose Lopez expendable in short order, and they could choose to make one of two minor league outfielders – Michael Saunders or Greg Halman – available. Seattle's best trade chip might be their potential ability to absorb some money.
- Rangers: Texas is absolutely loaded with young players, so they have plenty of pieces to offer. They can move Chris Davis because Justin Smoak is knocking on the door, or they could move Derek Holland because Martin Perez isn't too far away. They dangled Max Ramirez this winter, and outfielder David Murphy is about to get expensive through arbitration, so he could find himself on the block. Bottom line: the Rangers have the pieces to go out and get anything they need or want.
I’m sorry but Kazmir is just not that good anymore. He’s also injury-prone so any team would be overpaying if they had to give up even one good prospect for him…
He’s also only 26. He has plenty of time to straighten things out.
He’s also only 26. He has plenty of time to straighten things out.
What about dealing Mike Napoli?
The Angels have been playing Mathis most of the time, and Napoli’s bat makes him better than most of the everyday catchers in the game. If the team needs pitching help or something, they may be more interested in dealing away Napoli.
Then again, maybe they view Wilson as more of a placeholder for Hank Conger.
Imagine if Napoli went to Texas. Why not add a power hitting catcher to an already powerful lineup?
I think the Rangers could make a big move at the deadline, and they probably should. This is their best chance to win the division, they might need one more starting pitcher to really have a great team.
But why would the Rangers add yet another catcher to a team that already has Saltalamachia, Teagarden and Ramirez?
Why on earth would the Angels deal Napoli to a division rival?
Napoli is definitely the more valuable piece, and for whatever reason, Scioscia just doesn’t want him behind the dish. There’s a lot of talk about defense, and while everyone gives Mathis the edge, he is hardly Yadier Molina. Even if he was, it STILL wouldn’t make up for the chasm of 240 points in career OPS between Mathis and Napoli.
It’s becoming obvious that Napoli just isn’t going to play in Anaheim because Mike Scioscia doesn’t want him to. There are no DH ABs either, so let’s trade the guy for a reliever who doesn’t give up an endless barrage of homeruns and let Wilson be the backup.
ben sheets…
Wow, my mistake. Major brain fart. Thanks, I just added him.
Maybe Sheets goes to Texas if the A’s are really out of it when the deadline comes around?
Maybe Sheets goes somewhere because the A’s have too many SP? Mazzaro, Cahill and Outman are right on the horizon. If they keep playing like they have then Beane will be trading for a big bat to play at DH, not selling.
I don’t see sheets going to texas, nor do i see napoli going to texas… AL west teams don’t like to trade within the division.
but yea the a’s don’t really need sheets. I’ve been less than impressed so far by a guy getting paid 10 million dollars. cahill and mazzaro or outman could all do just as well at a fraction of the cost.
I’m sorry but Kazmir is just not that good anymore. He’s also injury-prone so any team would be overpaying if they had to give up even one good prospect for him…
send Napoli to the Mariner’s, they can take Adam Moore lol.
You could probably add Brandon Wood to Anaheim, Mark Ellis to Oakland
Doubtful. There is no other 3Bman in line for the Angels, and Izturis (a good option for 3B) just sat out a game with “shoulder tightness” – yet another in a long string of nagging injuries. I presume he’ll remain a super-sub type guy so that he doesn’t fall apart, and Wood will be given a lot more time to adjust.
ellis just got a new contract. I think he’ll stay put, but i would like to see rosales get a chance to start, that guy hustles.
If the Rangers deal Holland that would be the stupidest move ever. The strength Texas has is in the young guys that have come up. It would be extremely unwise to deal for someone like Sheets? Oswalt? noooo thanks.
Anyone who says deal for a pitcher to win now has lost it mentally. The Rangers can win the division with what they have NOW, and if the hold on to the young guys they have they can win for a long time to come…
The only two players that should be considered in a trade would be Davis and Ramirez. That is because of the depth now at those positions. Trading a pitcher at this point would be pointless and defeat the whole purpose of all the transactions that got the Rangers to where they are today.
Dustin Ackley for Adrian Gonzalez?
then the M’s would have to move Kotchman. could they?
Shirley, you can’t be serious.
Geez, I hope he/she isn’t.
I can see the A’s trading Mark Ellis since Rosales is here already and Cardenas seems to be coming up soon. I can also see them trading anyone of their OF’s, except Sweeney. I won’t mention Sheets because he’s just about good as gone; although they will end up eating a good chunk of his contract.
Dont forget that if the M’s fall out by the deadline for whatever reason then Cliff Lee will probably be available. Jack Z would shop him to see if you get more value out of a trade then the two draft picks, but thats of course if he leaves
American League = “so called Junior Circuit”?
Total Games Won in Interleague Play: AL: 1,674 NL: 1,534
Total All-Star Games Won since 1997: AL :12 NL: 0
World Series Won: AL: 62 NL: 43
Argue all you want about how the DH makes the league less strategic (I agree for the most part), but don’t discount what the AL has done vs. the NL.
So in theory, if the Royals aren’t contending towards the trade deadline… Could anyone else see a possible deal between them and the Rangers?
Jose Guillen is coming back to the mariners for a OK pitching prospect in Double A
and a year later how funny napps a ranger and yall made it happen