Jon Heyman has a new column up at SI.com, so let's dive on in…
- Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt are the two big name pitchers available on the trade market, but their value is very different because of the money owed to them. "At the end of the day," says one AL exec, "I don't think Houston will be able to move the entire (Oswalt) contract and get premium players back."
- Another AL executive noted that Lee has proven that he can be successful in the American League and will fetch two draft picks at the end of the season.
- The Red Sox turned down a straight up Lee for Clay Buchholz offer last year.
- The Yankees are happy with their rotation at the moment, but they plan on putting in a call in the coming days just in case they are "pleasantly surprised" by Seattle's asking price. Oswalt, meanwhile, isn't even on their radar.
- Some wonder if the Dodgers are saving money for a big score, but GM Ned Colletti will be hard pressed to acquire either Lee or Oswalt without ownership approval.
- The Cardinals might not be willing to take on Oswalt's deal with Albert Pujols' free agency rapidly approaching.
- The Mets might not want to give up the prospects to acquire another frontline pitcher, though the Rangers would be able to work Lee's salary into the budget.
- Heyman also goes through and offers some opinion on other teams that could use one of the two aces, including the Reds, Phillies, and Angels.
- Kenny Williams would like to fire Ozzie Guillen according to one person close to the team, but owner Jerry Reinsdorf is too loyal to let it happen.
- A trade of Xavier Nady to open up the Cubs' outfield logjam seems likely.
Glad the sox turned down the Buchholz for Lee trade considering Lee wouldn’t have put them over the top either last year or this year and Buchholz may be a consistent top of the rotation caliber starter by the end of this year.
The guy is just 26 and in 90 percent of his starts this year has been dominant.
He could end up being the center piece for a trade for a middle of the order bat that will be around for more than a year and a half but i am glad they didn’t give him up for Cliff Lee.
With the way he’s pitching now Buchholz won’t be traded… unless very suddenly in the offseason the Cards decide they can’t sign Pujols. And before that statement gets misinterpreted: 1) I’m not comparing values 2) I’m not saying Pujols will hit the trading block, hell my bet is he signs a massive contract with the Cards.
Though I’m having a little trouble believing it was Lee for Buchholz straight up. I thought there was something about the Indians trying to package Lee with Martinez and Buchholz was the deal killer.
i am suspect his stuff could ever be effective LT at Fenway honestly. Boston has been a graveyard for L/H starters over the years. Hurst and Lee being 2 exceptions.
Not taking anything at all away from Lee, he is as good as anyone in the game, but his style and stuff just does not seem to bode well IMO to 1/2 of his games pitched with “wall ball” and think the Boston FO would not have been willing to pay a ton to acquire him with that in mind. he reminds me a lot of Bobby Ojeda, who went on to have a much better career after leaving fenway.
Not a fan of Lester? You’re mostly right about lefties in Fenway, but it’s really the lefty flyball pitchers, which Lee is and Lester isn’t.
Absolutely correct on lester, was going back for ppl others may not remember and most everyone here is familiar with Lester.
John Tudor was another example who had problems, but one further back who I forgot to mention and did have success was Roger Moret.
Williams never wanted to hire, or give an extension to Guillen in the first place. It was all Jerry.
The Mets might not want to give up the prospects to acquire another frontline pitcher…
Here in the east we continue to hear about the team wanting to improve meaningfully – just about as often as we hear rumblings that they don’t want to spend $$ or hand over prospects. But then they went and blew a wad on a bonehead move like acquiring GMJ, only to later release him. With the farm system worries, holding onto prospects is understandable – but not the holding onto money routine. If the Mets really want to return to the big time they need to think big time. So if the opportunity to acquire Oswalt really is there, the front office needs to grow some guts and grab the opportunity while they can. They may not get a better one.
If we trade Nady who is going to bat against lefties? Really an ideal situation would be to find some1 to take on Fukudome’s contract. The way he’s been playing though that might be a long shot. But then Colvin could handle lefties and Nady righties.
It sure looks like Reinsdorf is being forced to pick sides and Williams is going to lose.
Williams hasn’t made a decent trade since 06 and threw away another 106 mil this season, all while destroying an entire farm system, was there ever really a doubt who would get the ax first?
There’s always a doubt when the owner plays favorites. Once you start moving in that direction just about anything can happen. Also, I think Reinsdorf isn’t being forced to choose anything. He’s been around long enough to move who he wants when he wants and to recognize when he’s choosing “his guy” over “winning”. Frankly if Ozzie is amusing him and the fans like him then that job is probably more secure than the guy who put this roster together. Williams is not is a great spot. If Kenny chose these guys then it’s his roster, and if they’re Ozzie’s choices then what is Kenny there for? EDIT: I’m agreeing with you, but not with the idea that that there’s no doubt how things will end.
There’s always a doubt when the owner plays favorites. Once you start moving in that direction just about anything can happen. Also, I think Reinsdorf isn’t being forced to choose anything. He’s been around long enough to move who he wants when he wants and to recognize when he’s choosing “his guy” over “winning”. Frankly if Ozzie is amusing him and the fans like him then that job is probably more secure than the guy who put this roster together. Williams is not is a great spot. If Kenny chose these guys then it’s his roster, and if they’re Ozzie’s choices then what is Kenny there for? EDIT: I’m agreeing with you, but not with the idea that that there’s no doubt how things will end.
I wouldnt choose sides at all if I were Reinsdorf. I would send both of their sorry asses packing. Seriously how bad can you run/manage a ball club as these two idiots have. I think Ozzie is half the reason people dont want to come to Chicago. Apparently that was the reason with Swisher being whisked away to New York to what it seemed like instantly after the last out of the World Series (it wasnt Im just saying). Now how come he can hit and contribute in the media Sodom and Gomorah that is New York but he struggled all season on the south side? To me it all comes down to Ozzie and his mouth and his attitude. Kenny Williams makes just as many bad trades as he does good ones easily. Why do the White Sox have the 23rd best (worst) farm system in baseball? Its not like they are always with great season records and never get high draft picks. They always lose enough to get decent position in the draft but between the suspect scouting and Kenny’s horrible wheeling and dealing they have a disastrous organization. If Reinsdorf wants to flush his money down the toilet then he needs to call me. If he wants to win some ball games and make a serious run at a championship he needs to can these two bozos and just face the facts that loyalty sometimes hurts.