Links for Friday, before all eyes turn to Clayton Richard and Matt Cain…
- The D'Backs will likely bring interim manager Kirk Gibson back in 2011, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
- The D'Backs are close to an agreement with Jerry Dipoto that would keep the exec in Arizona as director of scouting and player development, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
- Astros GM Ed Wade told Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle that he can see Nelson Figueroa being the team's fifth starter in 2011. The 36-year-old goes to arbitration this winter, assuming the Astros offer a contract.
- Jonathan Papelbon would like to set the market for closer contracts when he hits free agency after next season, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Papelbon has his doubters after a tough season, but he says he's looking forward to a dominant 2011 campaign.
- Some MLB executives are convinced that the Royals will dangle Zack Greinke as trade bait this winter, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reminds us of some of Omar Minaya's best and worst moves, since it looks like the Mets may soon replace their GM.
- Free agent pitching prospect Barret Loux will start accepting offers today, according to Kendall Rogers of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
Sigh, Papelbon has got to be the most openly money-hungry player ever. I love the Sox, and I once loved Papelbon..but he talks about his impending free agency every October…it’s getting old.
Yeah, it’s comments like those that made me happy every time he blew a save this past year – and I had him on my fantasy squad. After he said he wouldn’t sign an extension and would rather go to arbitration year-to-year I secretly began hoping he would blow out his arm. Well maybe not that far
Papelbon: Forget Boston. I’m going to the highest bidder.
RSN: Well, buhbye.
and ironically enough, boston might just be one of his highest bidders.
Why would the Sox bid high on Papelbon when they have their closer of the future in Bard, who quite frankly imo is ready to take over the closer role? If Papelbon gets an offer from the Sox it will be a lesser contract for like a set-up man or mrp role. There are teams that will bid for his services as a closer but don’t expect the Sox to bring back a player who isn’t that productive and that no one wants around, especially when they have a player who can more than adequately replace him.
I agree but I like Bard in the set up role just fine…he pitches more high leverage situations.
remind me again who is going to pay Papelbon to be the highest paid closer in the game? i can’t think of a single suitor.
I can tell ya it wont be the sox….
Spot on and I am right there with you.. love the Sox and WAS a huge Papelbon fan when he first came up.
I still like the guy, but I think his attitude has interfered with his pitching. When he first came up he was treated like a rock star and that went to his head. I still think he can turn it around again, but he needs to remember to keep rock star status he needs to play more than one song.
What is Grienke worth? I’ve always been so skeptical about trading for aces, you always have to give up so much.
Yeah, usually a team gives up about 4 guys, and if the acquired ace blows his arm out, all is lost and you’re S.O.L.
Looks like Greinke has $13.5-million coming to him in both 2011 and 2012 before hitting free agency. So, what would 2 full seasons of Greinke for $27-million cost in return?
Since I’m a Rockies fan, I’ll make a quick proposal of Seth Smith, Esmil Rogers, and two minor league prospects for Greinke. Both Smith and Rogers are inexpensive and controllable through 2014. The Royals would get two major league players and extreme salary relief– even if they covered a minor portion of Greinke’s salary.
Jimenez, Greinke, and Chacin would be a great 1,2,3 in the Rox rotation!!
i would think the royals are going to want better prospects than that. maybe Esmil Rogers+Wilin Rosario+eric young jr(royals really need MI prospects).
I didn’t really list any prospects- just kinda left those two spots open-ended, but I hear ya. Everybody wants as much as they can get. Personally, I think EY2 has the potential to be a nice catalyst atop the line-up, so I wouldn’t trade him.
Also not sure the Royals would want Rosario since he is injured now, and they just acquired a catching prospect from the Dodgers in the Posednik trade (if I remember correctly).
If they’re looking for infielders, maybe Chris Nelson or Thomas Field get added t othe mix?
As a Royals fan, give us Tulowitski and you can have Zack. But seriously, you later mention that a catcher could be had in a trade. The Royals will need one next year with kendall hurt and that kid they got in the Podsednik deal isn’t going to cut it. But in two years Wil Myers (rated as the top catching prospect in baseball by Sporting News recently) will be up. The Royals greatest needs are many: the middle infield is weak, the outfield is a disaster with little help on the horizon and the pitching staff is too inconsistent. The Rockies could really put a package of prospects from any position (excpet first base) and it would fit for the Royals.
If Greinke is dangled, the Rockies need to make a strong offer and bring that horse to Coors Field! He seems a little “out there”, and I think he’d love the Colorado atmosphere and living in the Denver area.
He’s actually come out and said publicly that he hates denver.
Well he doesn’t have to live in Denver…
Hadn’t heard anything like that.
When and why did he declare he “hates” Denver? -He’s from Florida, and has only pitched at Coors Field once in his life, and he threw a spotless 1-1/3 innings with 2 Ks. Don’t see any reason for “hate” anywhere in there.
i was merely mocking your original post. just like you have no proof of him loving denver, i have no proof of him hating it. but aslong as we’re all just saying things.
remind me what pitcher loves colorado….
Didn’t Mike Hampton love it? LOL
I think most people feel good about Colorado (the state), but Coors Field might be a different story for pitchers. However, according to Cot’s he had limited no-trade protection for ’09 and ’10, but none listed for ’11 or ’12, so if he’s traded he won’t have any say one way or the other.
Ubaldo Jimenez?
his ERA is about .5 run difference away from coors.
A strong offer would be Tulo, Flower, Matzek and Rasario… hell I might even throw in Soria…LOL
How about the Rockies give us Tulo, Matzek, Fowler, Rosario and Young Jr. for Greinke and Soria… That would be a strong offer…LOL
With Rubin’s list, the Santana trade should replace Sanchez. Despite Santana’s injuries, he’s contributed more to the team and the players they gave up have turned out bad (though the Twins were successful in getting Jon Rauch and JJ Hardy out of Kevin Mulvey and Carlos Gomez). Plus, Sanchez going out for “take-out” lead to them acquiring Oliver Perez.
The reds would also need offer he is a ace and Cinnci is a high pressured town for the media like some of the other big teams like NY because with his disorder he could possiably have a melt down again. The Reds need true ace and ive been preaching this and Grenkie would fit great with this winning team and the club house atomosphere. What would it take?
Most likely Alonso, Maloney, and a low prospect with some upside
Greinke is probably the most valuable pitcher in the AL not named “Felix”. It’s going to take A LOT more than that. Dayton Moore would laugh you off the phone.
The Reds are better off going after a low risk-high reward pitcher like Brandon Webb with a highly incentive-laden deal. He has said he wanted to play closer to his home in Kentucky, and Cincinnati is the closest team to it.
Ive been preaching about Webb for a while now , but he i only throwing at 82 i know we still have a while for him to prove , but the Reds went hard after Cliff Lee and Dan Haren , Lee was one of the best pitchers in the American League and Haren was pretty good even with a bad season so i dont see it outta reach for the reds to try for Grenkie
what report said they went hard after cliff lee and dan haren? i remember one saying they showed a passing interest and it was speculated briefly but that was about it.
Reds blog writer John Fay posted it on his blog quite a bit around the trade deadline. Mostly interest and a strong push for cliff lee more so than haren, but he did provide quotes directly from the GM saying they tried and made what they felt was a very competitive offer. The offer was speculated to include Alonso among others
Webb is done.
He won’t laugh if he wants to clear that big contract off his books without picking up a dime of it. You are right the reds are better off going with someone like Webb but if KC doesn’t want to pick up any of the 27 mil owed then they won’t get the best package south of felix. Greinke’s medical condition will make sure of that.
The Royals don’t need to clear payroll. Dayton Moore will not only laugh, he may never talk to the Reds again. Greinke’s “medical condition” hasn’t been much of an issue (if any) of late.
27 mil over two years can buy a lot more to help the royals than one good start every 5th day. The Royals aren’t contending next year and most likely in 2012 so get some young cheaper quality players that are controllable and stock the farm. Khalil Greene was a great player before depression ruined his career. Nobody can predict what will happen to Greinke in a setting outside of KC. That will bring the price down whether they want to admit it or not. Documented mental illnesses are a red flag.
I would take that deal and run. Alonso has no place on this team and Maloney is average.How about Messaraco as the upside prospect i would even give Homer Bailey
Never would give up catching talent when we are so low on it. Alonso, Bailey, and Maloney I would think would be sufficient easily. They get a guy with top of the rotation talent in Bailey, Maloney to throw in the 5th spot, and a very talented 1B of the future.
We still would have Chapman, Volquez, Cueto, Arroyo, Leake, Wood, and Greinke to chose our rotation from.
Those 3 pretty good players or could be but i still see them wanting a lower level prospect like you said with promise what about Cozart?
Bailey, Maloney, and Alonso may get you a nice #2 guy….may being the key word.
No way does that land you Greinke. Bailey is young, but FAR from a top of the rotation talent. Still a long ways to go before you can call him that. Kid is a decent #3 now.
They’d ask for Leake, Alonso, and another player for Grienke. And that is being generous on the Royals part.
You guys are so undervaluing Greinke is scary. Think the Mark Teixiera deal with the Braves-Rangers, not 1 prospect and then some fillers.
Its a tough call. greinke is probably closer to 2008 and 2010 than 2009. Still a great pitcher, but at $13.5 mil you eliminate a lot of teams. If Cinci stays around $75 mil they can’t afford to bring in Greinke as much as they can’t afford to give up that much cheap talent…
$13M for a guy that’s worth $20+M fits in to just about every team’s budget……let’s not forget how much the Reds threw at Chapman. They have Harang coming off the books and Arroyo may be as well if they chose. That’s more than enough to cover Greinke’s CHEAP salary.
Heck, even a team like the Indians could afford $13M for a guy of Greinke’s caliber.
Bailey, a former #1 pick, has shown flashes of the talent he possesses to be a #1 or 2 at the least. You are undervaluing Bailey. Once he puts it together this kid will be something.
Alonso was a top 50 prospect in all of baseball and posted strong numbers considering it was his first season after breaking his hamate bone.
Maloney is a rotation filler. Someone to give you cheap innings and buy time until you’re farm develops some of the talent it is starting to compile.
No way do you get two of our past three #1 picks for Greinke especially without paying any of the $27 mil owed to him. That is laughable.
Bailey has shown flashes of being a #2, not an Ace. Key though is “flashes”. Not likely to reach it based off his stuff. Just no consistency. Doesn’t help that he’s playing in by far the weakest division in baseball and still can’t get his ERA under 4.5.
And Alsonso was a top 50 prospect….but that is not close to enough to get Greinke. You must give up at least 3 of your top 4 prospects or Leake and 2 of your top 3 to even get the Royals to listen on Grienke. One of the 5-7 best pitchers in the AL this year and the best last year.
Greinke was worth over $20M this year and has a higher WAR than CC Sabathia…….$27M owed to him is CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP! Royals will not, and should not pay a penny of his salary.
You sir, are nuts. End of story.
I’m nuts? Offering you two major league pitchers to put into your rotation and one of the best 1B prospects in the game while taking on all of Greinke’s salary? Pujols was worth 39mil to the Cards last year but what is his salary? 16 mil.
Just because a guy is ‘worth’ something by a statistic does not mean he gets paid that much. There is reality, something you are not thinking of right now. No big market team would take him due to his disorder. Why would people pay an arm and a leg for a guy who could completely flop because he has anxiety? KC hasn’t played a truly meaningful game in a long time so he has no pressure on him for these performances. Greinke has a 4.17 ERA this year and career 3.82. You are nuts believing Leake, Alonso, and Frazier is a starting point. Reds say enjoy the AL central cellar and laugh at that proposal then hang up.
You must be a huge Royals fan because you are making Scott Boras look like a reasonable negotiator right now. We will see what the Royals get for Greinke. I GUARANTEE it won’t be a team’s top 2 prospects plus a major league rookie pitcher who had an era only .06 higher than Greinke last year.
LOL Royals already have a ton of 1B do your research before throwing out something like this…
Anybody remember when Votto had some mental health issues? He had trouble handling stress and may have been suffering from depression after losing his father. I think the Reds handled him and his problems with a clear eye on him as a person and going forward as a professional baseball player. Baker’s still there. Jocketty’s still there. Dr. Timothy Kremchek is still there. Those guys have recent experience with a player with mental health issues.
I think the Reds would be well equipped to keep Zach in good mental condition to stay on the mound. Heck, I think Zach is well equipped now to stay on the mound. Whatever his treatment and therapy involved, he’s had no known problems since. Cincinnati is a hi pressure town? They don’t even go the games there.
Cincinnati is a small market but they are drawing over 2 mil for the year. That’s not a lot compared to the Yanks or Cubs but their markets are large. Votto had a known cause for his depression, he wasn’t having anxiety attacks for no reason. He did not know how to cope with the death of his father. He is dealing better with that. If Greinke has some tragic event he needs to get over then yes he is similar to Votto, but if he is depressed and nothing has explicitly caused his depression then that is an entirely different animal.
People support teams that win it’s a natural fact. Reds go to the playoffs a couple years in a row and they will sellout as much as the next team.
i meant cinnci isnt a high pressured town
Given his three year downward trend, if Papelbon is going to set the market, I feel bad for the other closers.
Don’t worry.The best Papelbon will get,even with a rebound year, is 3/30 or 2/3 of what Mariano got. Can’t wait to get the 2 first round picks as he eats crow for all his years of cocky comments about getting paid!
“Free agent pitching prospect Barret Loux will start accepting offers today, according to Kendall Rogers…”
He gets to accept more than one? His free agent status just gets more and more unique.
Ha, I was about to post the exact same thing. Assuming they mean “field” offers…..not accept offers. Or maybe he’ll accept ONE of his offers….
Haha, yes, I assumed they meant “field” and not “accept.” Sloppy word choice on Kendall Rogers’s part. Journalism fail.
How much would Greinke himself cost in terms of prospects? As a Sox fan, I’d like to believe that we could throw our garbage at KC (Papelbum, Dice-K, Bowden, etc.) but we all know it doesn’t work that way. My thinking is KC would probably get the ball rolling with something that’s too much, but not so outragous that the Sox or any other team would just say “F You” and hang up. So, let me know what you guys think of this. KC gets a call from Theo and he’s looking to talk about a deal for Greinke. KC management starts out by asking for Rizzo, Kalish, Doubront, Kelly, and Pimentel. Now, Theo ponders that for a sec and thinks that’s too much, but it can be brought down some. Theo counters with Anderson, Reddick, Britton, and Pimentel. The conversation goes on for a few minutes and KC gives Theo a take it or leave it proposal. In exchange for Greinke, the Royals receive Daisuke Matsuzaka, Lars Anderson, Stolmy Pimentel, and Oscar Tejeda. IS that a realistic deal? Is it even fair?
Social anxiety disorder. Greinke wouldn’t survive in Boston.
Just curious? where’d you get your phd?
It’s well known that Greinke suffers from social anxiety disorder and Boston is a high-profile, high-pressure baseball city. Hell, he almost didn’t make it playing for Kansas City. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what would happen if he were playing for one of the big-market teams like Boston.
He could make it. He’s been getting psychotherapy since his diagnosis and it is a method that is highly effective in treating SAD.
Assuming Daisuke would waive his no-trade to go to Kansas freakin’ city and Boston assumes all of the remaining dough, why would the Royals replace Greinke with a pitcher whose contract runs out the same time Greinke’s does?
However, as far as the prospects you’ve proposed…yes, I think it’s a realistic deal in the sense that it may happen but no, I don’t think it’s fair. You’ve named 3 of the top 15 Sox prospects in a very deep system, but they are far from my favorite guys. Replace Daisuke with Bowden (KC would likely use him as a starter) and you may be onto something here.
Sorry but no, that’s not nearly enough.
Dice-K has NEGATIVE trade value – two injury-marred seasons, and he’ll make over $10m in the last two years of the deal. The Sox would have trouble trading Dice-K for salary relief alone.
Lars rebounded to have a decent season at AAA, but his stock is not remotely what it was 18mo ago. He’s a B-grade prospect now.
Pimentel is young and has upside, but he didn’t show any of the big “indicators” that catch attention at the A-ball level (K/IP of 1+, 4+ K/BB ratio, low BAA, etc). I wouldn’t say he’s B-grade, but he’s not a blue-chip kind of guy.
Tejeda is a nice prospect, but he’s in limbo. He’s nice defensively, but wastes his talents at the plate and didn’t make a tremendous amount of progress after two seasons in the Sally. He’s a B-grade guy with a ton of upside.
To get a guy like Grienke, the Sox are going to have to give up some actual blue-chip guys. Unfortunately, so many Sox prospects had bad seasons they really don’t have many bullets. Casey Kelly would be the starting point, and there would need to be SIGNIFICANT pieces in addition to him; think the three guys you listed plus another desirable piece, maybe Kalish?
I love reading comments on just how badly other teams fans de-value a player of Greinke’s caliber.
Greinke is a Cy Young winner from ONE year ago. He didn’t win it 5 or 7 years ago. ONE year ago.
He has 2 remaining years on a verrrry payroll friendly contract. When a GM is calling Dayton to check on availability, the conversation starts with 2 of your top 5 prospects PLUS an established GOOD major league player currently contributing to your team.
Gone are the days of robbing the Royals bank of talent. Our old GM (Boston’s current assistant GM) traded away an OF that had Beltran, Dye and Damon in the outfield at once and we got SQUAT in return. Never again.
Greinke if its a prospect package (which I doubt, since we are loaded on our farm already with 6 of our kids currently on the USA Baseball 24 man roster (that’s 25% of a roster for those missing the math)..will take likely a #1 AND #3 or #4 top prospect. No wanna do that? No Greinke in your rotation.
The Cincy offer of a package built around Alonso sounds pretty good, cept we have Butler and Ka’ahuie already at 1st base with Hosmer and Clint Robinson nipping at their heels. Hosmer, who hit 7 home runs in 10 playoff games for AA, and Robinson winning the AA triple crown on their way to winning the championship.
Greinke will bring about some interesting offers, and it would take a blow-away offer to get him…I think a team steps up this year, but I won’t be upset if no one does.
Alonso’s ceiling is so much higher than Butler and he is on the brink of being ready. If we didn’t have Votto, he would be the starter next season if not already. I agree it will take a nice package but there are some factors that will offset the cy young argument.
I thought Alonso, Bailey (a former #1 prospect who has shown he has the talent to dominate teams just needs to improve consistency), and Maloney was fair. We could throw in Fransisco, our #4 prospect and i wouldn’t be too upset. That would leave our #1, 4 prospects and two pitchers that have major league experience with one of them being a top of the rotation talent.
Alonso’s ceiling be be a bit higher than Butler’s…but not “much” higher.
Alsonso, Bailey (who cares WHERE he was ranked, fact is he’s out of options and has an ERA over 4.5 in the worst division in baseball), and Maloney (spot starter really) is not even close to enough to land Greinke. I agree with the above guy though, Alonso may not even be a target of the Royals as Butler is very, very underrated in the AL. I doubt Alonso ever reaches his level of play to be honest.
Alsonso, Frazier, and Leake…..THAT would get the Royals attention and may be enough for Greinke.
Hosmer will be better than both, so it kinda kills Alonso’s value to the Royals.
Who cares about Alonso’s ceiling… Hosmer is already in our system and is ranked in top 25 says Baseball America…I think they have Alonso 35th not that it matters but why in the HELL would the Royals trade for another 1B… If any thing the Royals will try to trade away Butler to make room for Hosmer…
Rizzo has said that the Nats are interested in acquiring a front line starter. Do you thiink that the Royals would be interested in Derek Norris, either Desmond or Espinosa, Tyler Clippard and a top 5-15 prospect of their choosing? I don’t think the Nats will trade one of the middle infielders, which is why I think that they are dreaming if they are talking about getting a no. 1 starter. Nats could consider doing something like that because they have an option for Adam Kennedy for next year and they may hit on one of the three 2B prospects they currently have (Lombardozzi, Hague, or Sanchez) in the pipeline.
Norris would be of interest I’m sure….maybe Wilson Ramos instead.
Clippard? Doesn’t have a lot of value as an AL starter and doubt they’ll worry about middle relievers in a Greinke trade, though could be an ok throwin.
Desmond would be a nice middle infield guy….but not a huge fan personally (though the Royals may be).
Top 5-15 prospect? Try top 3 prospect of their choosing.
These offers are worse than what teams were giving up for half a year of CC and half a year of Cliff Lee. Greinke is BETTER than CC right now and locked up for a few more years at a very reasonable price.
He’s gonna cost more than Santana, CC, or Cliff Lee did in any trade without question.
I do think the Nationals could give up enough though…..but not sure it’s worth it. I think they need to rebuild from within and take their lumps in 2011. Wait til 2012 when Strasburg is back to make some crazy trades.
But just my opinion.
He’s gonna cost more than Santana, CC, or Cliff Lee did in any trade without question.
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Only because the team acquiring him gets him for 2 years instead of 1 or as a rental. I would take CC and Lee any day of the week before Greinke. Those guys have pitched in big-stage games before and delivered.
Right now Norris is probably a Top 3 prospect in their organization. A choice between Espinosa and Desmond is also the equivalent of a Top 3 prospect in their organization.
Norris’ value will depend on scouting reports coming out of the Arizona Fall League. Based on power and defense that the scouts observe he’ll either be a Top 75 prospect or a Top 25 prospect. A lot of people are pretty high on him.
I’d be shocked if the Nats did this kind of move, though.
I also think the Reds would a good fit for Greinke, and they have prospects that should interest KC. The Reds are not going to overpay for a guy that might stay two years, and KC does not need Alonso although he could fit in at DH. Reds have abundance of pitching prospects and KC has a need. I’d offer Francisco, Maloney and LeCure. Thats guys that go right into the rotation and a starting third basemen with power. Greinke is not so dominant that he is worth more than this, although if KC likes maybe Alonso could be worked into the deal.
Greinke not so dominant?
I’m sorry, but do people on this board even know who Greinke is? He is one of the 5 MOST DOMINANT starters in the AL!!!
If Francisco, Maloney, and LeCure are all the Reds are willing to offer then they might as well not even bother calling.
Starting 3rd basemen with power = see “Mike Moustakas” (on the cusp of the majors, 36 home runs, 124 RBI’s) so think we are set there.
I do like Cincy as a suitor, and that rotation would be SICK..just sick as hell.
and Cincinatti isn’t a press hotbox like Boston, New York or Chicago would be..his social anxiety disorder makes that situation dicey. Cincy would be such a beautiful fit for him…and they have the bats to give run support.
Another side comment… I think I remember hearing that Greinke loves to HIT. He would probably welcome a move to a non-big-market NL team that will be in contention next season.
Papelbon is obviously money hungry but he cloaks it by saying he wants to set the market for relievers as if every last penny he gets will benefit all other relievers. Sure, if he gets $25 million a year there are going to be ripple affects but in this economy he’s fooling himself if he thinks he’s going to set any records. I see him ending up disappointed when he doesn’t get what he thinks he’s worth. Oddly enough players who try to position themselves for a big payday are usually angling to go to one of the big money teams, like Boston, not trying get away from a place like Boston. Papelbon should really recognize the great position he’s in right now, a winning team with money and an overrated position on the field which generally gets paid more than they’re worth already. The more he keeps talking about his next contract the less that contract is going to end up being worth. Maybe he can’t see it, kind of a can’t see the forest because of all the trees type thing but he’s really not doing himself any favors. I don’t begrudge anyone getting every last penny they can and taking the best care of their financial situation but for someone to be so solely focused and one-track minded it makes me question his integrity and desires. I hate calling anyone greedy but the more he talks the more it seems like he is.
Greinke’s WAR is over 5. All these low ball offers are crazy.
Dodgers get Greinke
Royals get: Matt Kemp, Ethan Martin, Dee Gordon and Trayvon Robinson
Jerry Sands would take over for Matt Kemp. Ivan Dejesus back to SS. Top 3 starters: Kershaw, Bills, Greinke.
Brett Cecil + Marc Rzepzcynski + Zach Stewart for Zack Greinke.
if i’m the jays i dont do that.. you have cecil, rzep and stewart cheap for so long. granted grienke is individually better then all of them. but is a #2 starter better then a future 2-4 starter(stewart) #3 starter, cecil and late innings reliever (rzep) tough to say..
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Greinke to the Braves. The whole world knows that Dayton Moore covets all things Braves. If it touched, looked, smelled or saw Atlanta, Dayton Moore will over-value it and dump his load all over it.
Two moves that are hard to make but needs to be done to move forward. Cut Ortiz and Paps loose. I dont care if Paps signs with TB or NYY, thank you – good luck – and enjoy the change of scenery. Paps can look for excuses elsewhere. I think for the money he makes, it would not kill him to cover 2B when the situation arises. Bard is ready and even if he blows a few early in the season by post season, he should be a monster. Broxton, Hoffman, Thatcher, Bell, Capps, any number of guys could come in and bolster what we have that calls itself a bullpen. Clean house, see ya Okajima, try throwing strikes for your money next season, somewhere else. I would rather go with all young guns from AAA than what we saw this season. Hey Theo, call your understudy in S.D. and ask him how to staff a bullpen.
Greinke to the Yanks for Gardner, Montero, Nova + another mid level prospect. Then the yanks go after either Crawford or Werth.