Saturday night links as Livan Hernandez takes the loss against the Marlins, his first team…
- Troy Renck of The Denver Post spoke to Clemson reporters, who indicated that Rockies' first round pick Kyle Parker could decide on his future by Monday or Tuesday (four different Twitter links). Parker is choosing between baseball and football, and it's a matter of how much Colorado is willing to exceed MLB's recommended slot bonus of $1.5MM to sign him. The Rockies would be able to pay out his bonus over five years thanks to MLB's provision for two-spot athletes.
- Meanwhile, Brad Hawpe is making his first career start at first base tonight, and Renck says proving he can play the position would go a long way towards keeping him in Colorado beyond this season (Twitter links). The Rockies won't pick up his $10MM option for next season, but they do value his bat and his leadership.
- Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic sees the Diamondbacks either signing Barret Loux at a discount or not signing him at all, and using the savings on some tough-to-sign players they drafted in the lower rounds. Loux, the sixth overall pick in last month's draft, recently failed his physical due to a shoulder issue.
- Giants' manager Bruce Bochy indicated that he'd rather not sacrifice a starting pitcher in a trade for a bat, according to John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle.
- Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun wonders when the trade deadline will be something more than a time when the Orioles just sell off veterans.
- The Marlins have signed second round pick Rob Rasmussen, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Terms of the deal are unknown, but MLB's recommended slot bonus for the 73rd overall pick is estimated at $500K. Florida has now signed nine of their top 15 picks, though first rounder Christian Yelich remains unsigned.
Bochy doesn’t want to give up a starting pitcher? Well… If the Giants can’t trade a starter, who the hell is left? Aubrey Huff? Yeah, I can see a HUGE blockbuster centered around him. Gimme a break, guys.
I’ve been saying it for a while now. There’s got to be a pitcher out there in either league that has a contract similar to Aaron Rowands that is in need for a change of scenery. Perhaps a guy who is a little down on his luck who we can bring in and stick in the 5th starters spot, bumping Bumgarner to the 4th spot, freeing up not only more playing time for other outfielders but also allowing us to trade away Sanchez and some for a good bat.
Want Oliver Perez?
Wasn’t there a thread on MLBTR suggesting Zambrano?
If the D’Backs sign Loux, I will be one unhappy person.
The only reason Botchy doesn’t want to trade a starting pitcher for a bat is because he’d have to permanently bench one of his underperforming vets like Rent-a-joke or Rowtwat..
Renteria is doing pretty well so far in a small sample size this year. Rowand on the other hand, not so much. He is not completely useless, but his contract is too large for his production.
Renteria’s stats are pumped up by a torrid first week or two of the season. Take those away and he’s producing the same as last season, which was horrible. I think most Giants fans would rather have Uribe out there every day simply for the extra power in the lineup. Both of the guys mentioned are only getting starts for two reasons: contract status and Bochy’s affinity for veterans.
Renteria’s stats are pumped up by a torrid first week or two of the season. Take those away and he’s producing the same as last season, which was horrible. I think most Giants fans would rather have Uribe out there every day simply for the extra power in the lineup. Both of the guys mentioned are only getting starts for two reasons: contract status and Bochy’s affinity for veterans.
So is Hawpe available?
Hawpe WAS available.
for the past year the Rockies have been shopping him, as he was an extra outfielder who we didn’t need. Now that he can play first we need to keep him to replace helton.
Sorry. Helton is still signed for next year. Contract – 2011: $19.1 million, 2012: $23 million club option w/$4.6 million buyout, 2013: Free Agent
Hawpe – 2011: $10 million club option w/$500,000 buyout, 2012: Free Agent
If they keep both, one will not be starting at 1B.
Your numbers for Helton are wrong, those were right before he signed an extension March keeping him under contract thru 2013 but the big part of that is so that the 19 mil in 2011 is converted into a 4.6 mil bonus at the beginning of 2011 and a salary of 6 mil for that year and as for the 23 mil in 2012, 4.9 mil will be paid over 2012 with 13.1 mil deferred over 10 years(’14-’24) @3% interest and then 5 mil in 2013. So basically adding a year to his contract and reworking the ’11, ’12 years on the contract.
Thats what you call taking a hometown discount to stay with a team your entire career and giving the organization some finacial relief to go out and get guys to help him win that WS ring.
Helton isnt even able to play everyday at 1B right now let alone in 2-4 years time and he will be the first to say he cant. Having Hawpe sticking around and playing first half the time then playing right field is what should be done. Mora, Giambi, and Eldred are the backups…the first 2 are not spring chickens to say the least and Eldred is 29 and has not been able to make a name for himself at the major league level so if both stick around, playing time will not be an issue.
I wouldnt say Hawpe isnt available. If something can get done with Fl to pull Cantu or even Uggla, unloading Hawpe is not a bad idea for something decent in return because both Cantu and Uggla can play first and other positions when Helton does start at first. But for now he is not going anywhere.
I like the staff the way it is too, but you gotta give something up to get something in return. I just don’t want to see us trade away one of our starters for a guy that hasn’t shown consistency (Corey Hart). I’d like to see the Giants get Mr. Consistent aka Adam Dunn.
With Huff’s success in SF wouldn’t Dunn look at that and say “I can do better than that”
I mean come on. Half the league laughed at us when we signed Huff last winter.