In today's blog post at ESPN (Insider req'd), Buster Olney says that even though things aren't going so well for the Royals at the big league level, rival scouts and executives gush about the quality of their farm system. "Our goal is by 2012 and 2013 to have as many homegrown guys playing as we can," said GM Dayton Moore, which Olney likens to the way the Twins and Rays are built.
Here are the rest of his rumors…
- One scout opined that we're likely to see more managerial changes this offseason than ever before. Olney lists 12 teams that could be looking for a new manager this winter, and reminds us that Tony LaRussa, Joe Girardi, and Dusty Baker do not have contracts in place for beyond this season.
- The Nationals are concerned about whether or not Adam Dunn's body will hold up during a three or four-year deal, but Olney spoke to one AL evaluator who pointed out that Dunn's ability to hit homers is gaining more value as time goes on.
- The Diamondbacks have prioritized the acquisition of a closer, hence their request for Joba Chamberlain in a potential Dan Haren trade.
- Olney speculates that Lance Berkman could be a fit for the Rays next year, since they'll need to replace Carlos Pena.
What did he say about the fracture in the M’s organization?
Nothing more than what’s in this morning’s Odds & Ends post.
Cool, thanks.
Two things
1) Girardi isn’t going anywhere.
2) D’backs want a closer? Throw in Melancon, who the Yanks have said was their heir to Mo’s throne.
Girardi is pretty awful. He doesn’t know how to handle a bullpen. He even blew the All-Star game with an amazing team. Girardi killed the streak.
Yeah I agree with that, sometimes he does make stupid mixing and matching choices, he out thinks himself alot. However, when you bring in Thorton to get an out with his nasty numbers you expect Thorton to get an out. Girardi made the right call there, Thorton didn’t perform.
they never said that
Well, if the Yanks win the World Series, he stays, if they don’t we’ll see.
Gee golly, don’t trade Joba. It’s good to keep him around, remind them how NOT to handle a young pitcher. They couldn’t possibly find another guy to run out there to give up big flies & lose games for them.
Dunn is a DH, end of story. He will be a white sock by the wed
That just took a small leap of greater likelihood. For reasons unknown to man, the Washington Nationals may be starting Alberto Gonzalez, utility infielder not so supreme, for his first start at first base today.
Any deal for Soria would start with Montero, end of story. Not even Moore is stupid enough to deal for Chamberlain.
I don’t think so.Montero is one of the better prospects in baseball, even considering his lack of position.Soria is just a reliever. One of the best in the game, but still a reliever.
im surprisedin dont see the yankees proposal of Joba for Haren straight up
Because the D’Backs wouldn’t do that. Trading an ace for a reliever… it’s just unintelligent.
obviously i was making a small slight at the Yankees fans overvaluing Joba
Ah, my bad then. Sarcasm can be missed pretty easily over the internet.
no problem, btw sorry about your guys’ season i know us padres fans expected you to do a bit better than us this year.
As a Royals fan I’m not trying to overvalue Soria here. Yes he’s “just a reliever.” But he’s also one of the game’s most dominant closers with one of the most club-friendly contracts in all of baseball. If the Yankees were to trade for him, he wouldn’t be a set up guy for too long, probably becoming the heir apparent to the closer role when Mo hangs ’em up. The fact that the Yankees bullpen is their biggest weakness, combined with a heated pennant race with two of the best teams in baseball nipping at their heels, leads me to believe that I could see Cashman would eventually offer Montero in a deal for Soria.
No he wouldn’t, unless he’s planning on making Soria a starter.
That would be incredible stupid. There is no way he gives up Montero for a setup guy.
Soria is basically a young cheap version of Mariano Rivera. A lot of non-sabermetric GMs, that overrate the value of a closer, would think he was worth a very good hitting prospect who probably ends up as a 1B or DH. Those GMs would be setting the price.
Actually that probably would be enough for Soria but I don’t think the Yankees would want to give up that much for a lights out closer who will end up just being an 8th inning man. And I think The D-Backs would want more for Haren. Sure those are guys they like but you have 2 pitchers whose upside is limited because of the lack of an out pitch which hurts strikeout numbers and the other is a good prospect. I’m sure in their original offer they would have been wanting Nova, Joba, and Z-Mac + another prospect. So I don’t think swapping Meloncon with Joba and the other prospect is enough. And like I said before. Vazquez for Werth isn’t going to happen
I’m against this….Soria won’t get me saves for my fantasy team if he goes to NY.
I’ll give you a reason why: Because that is not enough talent to get Soria. The Yankees will have to give the Royals Jesus Montero to get Soria. Aside from sending one of their big-league all-stars, that is the only player worthy of getting Soria. Why in the world would the Royals trade our two-time All-Star closer for your failed starter and average middle relief pitcher (Joba). The Royals do not need to trade Soria and are not looking to get rid of him. He only moves if we actually get something and your teams garbage won’t do.